Elite Paintball Guns

Those are pants worth comparing to Dye and Empire. If we talk about good pants like Dye ones and Empire ones we know we’re talking about good high prices as well. But sometimes there is a product that can also be called good, but at the same time comes on a reasonable price. JT Team pants are exactly that product. Of course they are not better than the Dye or Empire, but considering the price are pretty good. Some say those are the most comfortable pants they’ve owned…I say they deserve the third place in that category (after the above mentioned two). Check the pants features before we continue:
• Constructed with 1000 denier fabric
• Kevlar-Mix knees with internal padding
• Ballistic nylon and sewn together with the toughest Nylon thread on Earth
Not too much of features included so let me fill that gap for you. the pants are strongly made although some people are complaining about the knees tearing up easily because of the lack of stretchy material around them, but those are insulated cases and can be just the “rotten apple” effect. The pants are quite well vented and can keep you cool in hot days just as well they keep you warm in cold ones. People consider them comfy mainly because of the net material on the inner side that keeps the rougher material away from your feet, but also because they are baggy and provide you that so important extra space. They are well padded, especially on the knees and the tights where you need it most. What I consider a flaw is the design, although many people find it great. I just think it’s kinda rough and edgy if that makes any sense to you. The pants cost $74.99 and as we already said this is a decent price, but you have to decide for yourself. The color choices are urban camo, black and desert camo. And for all you guys who like pink (I seriously doubt there are many of you) you are lucky as this is probably the only brand that has pink pants to offer, and not only that but they offer them 10 bucks cheaper for $64.99 (I sure hope I don’t have to explain why).

Now here’s what’s supposed to be the Invert SS upgraded version (I’m sure you’ve heard that before, trust me there’s a reason for that). I’m sorry to tell you but what they changed here is only the design and the price. Unfortunately for them that means two points down – one for the screw up of the design and the other for the raise in the price. The pants are absolutely identical (don’t get me wrong they are truly some good pants, but there must be at least a little bit of difference so you can justify the price raise, right?). Well just so you make sure what I’m saying is right see the features (again):
•  Lightest weight pants we make….some may call them fast pants
• Wide hole belt loops! You asked for them we delivered!
• Custom Empire zipper pulls
• 1680 Durra knee construction padded and pre-curved with dual density foam protection
• We not only started the 4 way stretch panels above the knees but we have perfected it. These panels give so your pants don’t have to
• CB pad and waistband padding. You (and your girlfriend) will thank us later.
• Cinch cord cuffs because we know not everybody is the same height
• Colorfast custom Digi-camo sublimated polymesh panels
• Available in Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Do you notice any difference? If you do please tell me. So about that price difference – it is actually not such a big of a deal…10 dollars, but yet again it’s just for the change in the design. So at a total price of $79.95 you can feel happy to have the Invert 08 edition. Oh, and I just found another difference – the shades. No basic colors here – you can chose from Digi blue camo, urban digi camo, woodland digi camo, us army digi camo and red digi camo. I just don’t wanna say anything else. If you’re into giving 10 more bucks for different shade of pants that’s entirely up to you.

Here’s another brand making good paintball pants. Invert brand (if you haven’t noticed) is under the guise of Empire. This is why their products are so similar to each other. There are some differences of course (mainly in the price), but usually the products are as similar as possible. It’s no excuse here. The Invert SS pants are very similar to the Empire React 07. Basically the only difference is the design. Check the features before we continue:
• Ultra light weight
• Wide hole belt loops!
• Custom zipper pulls
• 1680 Durra knee construction, padded and pre-curved with dual-density foam protection
• We not only started the 4 way stretch panels above the knees, but we’ve perfected it. These panels give so your pants dont have to.
• CB pad and waistband padding
• Cinch cord cuffs because we know not everybody is the same height
• Colorfast custom camo-sublimated polymesh panels
It’s great that the Invert are so similar to the Empire React 07 cause if you’ve read the React review you know that there are very few flaws pointed out. Same thing goes for the Invert SS – they are very durable and comfortable pants, padded on the exact right places, greatly vented and really good looking. What’s better here is that they are just a little bit cheaper costing $69.95 (with 5 bucks difference it’s not that important, but I’m obliged to tell you anyway). You can get the pants in blue, red, urban camo and woodland camo, which is not so bad considering that the React SS come in blue, red and black. So basically if you want some good pants on a reasonable price this should be your choice. I’m not saying that they are better than the Empire collection, but they are certainly not stepping to much down of it.

Evil 06 get great reviews with hardly any complain about them. Still there is another version out the 07 and even though it is considered slightly worse the 06 may be kinda hard to find already. Which is unfortunate as these are a great pants. They are strongly made and less likely to fall apart after just a couple of games like some other cheaper pants you can find on the market. The padding is good and on the right places so you’re safe from all those painful hits you can get. The pants are also pretty well vented and have plenty of pockets you can keep your stuff in. there’s not much of characteristics to show you, but anyway check what we have:
• New for 2006 cup-shaped articulated knee pad allows for perfect fit around pads and bare body
• Removable belt closure system with integrated biofoam 2 pod harness offers more secure fit
• Vented mesh for better movement and cooling
The pants look pretty good and to tell you the truth they look much better than, what should be their upgraded version – the Evil 07. There are some flaws, I dug up for you that keep repeating in players reviews – sizing is one of them. If you have another pair of pants and think the same size will be ok it may turn out that you are wrong. The Evil pants tend to be a size up of the one you actually wear (meaning that if you usually wear medium you should probably get small Evil’s so they can fit). This in many cases is not such big of a deal as there is a belt you can tighten, but if you get the pants too big there’s nothing that can help you (except maybe put in some more weight). Another thing that’s sort of bugging is that the pants need a lot of breaking in. The material is kinda rough on the skin and gets better after several washings – but it does get better. The best thing of the next version – the 07 – being out is that it actually drops the price for this one. Right now you can find them for $64.99 which you have to admit is not that bad. Before the 07 was out those were about 100 bucks – so you’re in a deal right now. The thing is newer and newer versions will come out constantly so if you decide to wait for the price to drop even more you may actually miss your chance. As I’ve said earlier those are already hard to find. And if you do find a pair it may not be the color you like (there are probably some red and blue left). So if you like what you’re reading, don’t wait too long to get them.

Here comes the time for the newest in the Empire pants collection. The Contact SE 08 pants are basically an upgrade of the Contact 07. The differences are not much, actually if I understood correctly by reading the features it is only one big difference and this is a padded lumbar and rear panel. It’s not bad that they still can come up with newer and newer ideas for upgrades, but the price those pants hold is so not worth that one difference they have from their predecessor - the 07 edition. Even the design haven’t changed that much…yes it’s a little better than before, but it’s definitely not worthy the 35 more dollars. Anyways check the features (maybe I should say again):
• Built in hip slide pads- Whether you are the guy running out to the corners or the snake on the break our all new Slider Hip pads will keep you from limping off the field. These built in pads keep the raspberries in the produce department, not on your hips. Self contouring design rises above the waistline to cover your hip bones.
• Wide hole belt loops! You asked for them we delivered!
• Kevlar pre-curved Dual density knees. The most technically advanced & protective knee on a paintball pant period.
• Em-Flow Panel design tm Air intake in the front and output in the rear. Heavy duty lilac mesh Construction
• CB pad and waistband padding. You (and your girlfriend) will thank us later. Not only is there a pad in front of the family jewels but then ENTIRE area!
• Belt Buckle internal hideaway key pocket. Now you can take your car key on the field with you with out fear of losing it on the field.
• Neoprene covered Zippers. Keeps the dirt out of your zippers and the paint away from any hard spots
• Dual density reinforced pad zones on shin and side of knees, because not all sliding happens directly on your knee
• Newly designed padded lumbar & rear panel with Rubberized pop outs to grab onto your harness. Not only will this help keep your harness in place but the lumbar pad helps cushion the weight of the pods against your lower back
• Neoprene lined internal swab pocket
• Triple stitched double mesh inseam
• We not only started the 4 way stretch panels above the knees but we have perfected it. These panels give so your pants don’t have to.
• Cinch cord cuffs because we know not everybody is the same height
• Adjustable Velcro waist, that can cinch down an extra few inches
• Colorfast sublimated polymesh panel
• Available in Sizes: S, M, L, XL
So here’s what I think…yes, those are the newest and slightly better pants than the Contact 07, but if you can hold up for a while buying them I’m sure their price will drop…and if you can’t I suggest you get the 07 ones. So the total price of the Empire Contact SE 08 is $124.95 and they come in black, blue, red, desert camo and woodland camo shades. They also come in two limited editions – American legion and Fire shades which do look nice (although they are kinda flashy for me), but you have to say goodbye to $149.95 to get your hands on them. Still, they are a limited edition and that almost guarantees that you’ll be the only one wearing them. The choice again is nothing but personal.

So as promised here’s the review for the Empire Contact 07 pants. Compared to the Contact 06 edition those are a little bit updated and a little bit better looking, but if I have to compare the looks to the React 07 I stuck with the React. It’s my personal opinion, but the React 07 just looks cleaner and cooler than those ones. As to the performance – it’s great again. The padding is amazing…and the knees are reinforced with Kevlar for even better protection and durability. And if we’re gonna speak for durability, those has got to be one of the most durable pants ever. You can spend all day crawling or sliding and at the end of the day they’ll look just as good as when you bought them. As to the venting – it’s even better than with the Contact 06 and similar to the React 07 – meaning it’s great and on the right places. Before we continue check the pants features:
•  Built in hip slide pads- Whether you are the guy running out to the corners or the snake on the break our all new Slider Hip pads will keep you from limping off the field. These built in pads keep the raspberries in the produce department, not on your hips. Self contouring design rises above the waistline to cover your hip bones.
• Kevlar pre-curved Dual density knees. The most technically advanced & protective knee on a paintball pant period.
• Newly designed rear panel with Rubberized pop outs to grab onto your pack. Not only will this help keep your harness in place but you also use the loop to hang your pants after a muddy practice.
• 4 way stretch panels above the knees perfected. These panels give so your pants don’t have to.
• Wide hole belt loops! You asked for them we delivered!
• Em-Flow Panel design. Air intake in the front and output in the rear. Heavy duty lilac mesh Construction
• CB pad and waistband padding. You (and your girlfriend) will thank us later. Not only is there a pad in front of the family jewels but the ENTIRE area!
• Belt Buckle internal hideaway key pocket. Now you can take your car key on the field with you with out fear of losing it on the field.
• Neoprene covered Zippers. Keeps the dirt out of your zippers and the paint away from any hard spots
• Dual density reinforced pad zones on shin and side of knees, because not all sliding happens directly on your knee
• Neoprene lined internal swab pocket
• Triple stitched double mesh inseam
• Cinch cord cuffs because we know not everybody is the same height
• Adjustable Velcro waist, that can cinch down an extra few inches
• Colorfast sublimated polymesh panels
The pants fit perfectly and feel a little baggier than other pants – we put that as a plus as this makes them even more comfortable than other pants. Again just like with the React 07 they have zipped pockets that are a very nice touch and they, too tend to bounce balls - so no difference here, but definitely not a bad thing. They are slightly pricier than the React 07 version - $89.95, and to tell you the truth I have no idea why as they are almost the same pants as the React 07. And I definitely won’t spend 15 more bucks for different design (that’s even worse than the other one – again according to me anyway). But that’s a matter of opinion. Oh, I almost forgot the colors…but they’re not hard to guess though – red, blue and black, just like with the React 07 plus a Digi Camo so you don’t say they are completely the same.

So much better looking than the Empire React 06 and even more upgraded than them - I don’t think there’s anything else to be desired from the Empire React 07. We are gonna talk about the Empire Contact 07 and 08 later on and compare differences, but for now let’s focus on those ones. They are really well padded as all paintball pants are expected to be. Even the knee padding (which if you remember the Dye review was a little weak in theirs) here is on top level. With those you can forget about the knee pads as you just won’t need them. The React 07 pants are very comfortable, too. They are a little bit baggier from the other pants out there and are quite stretchy so they feel really well. They are greatly vented and light weighted. But enough talking – check the features:
• Built in Slider Hip Pads! They aren’t just for Contact anymore!
• CB pad and waistband padding.
• Em-Flow Panel design. Air intake in the front and output in the rear. Heavy duty lilac mesh Construction
• EVA molded foam pad with mesh inserts and TPR logo.
• Wide hole belt loops! You asked for them we delivered!
• Airprene thigh protection
• 1680 Nylon Dura knee construction padded and pre-curved with dual density foam protection
• Cinch cord cuffs because we know not everybody is the same height
• We not only started the 4 way stretch panels above the knees but we have perfected it. These panels give so your pants don’t have to. The 2007 React pants are so flexible you could go rock climbing in these things!
• Colorfast sublimated polymesh panels
• TPR molded waist snap buckle
• Neoprene padded squeegee/pod pockets
So basically Empire and Dye are the two brands standing out in the crowd, but the Empire pants have this small advantage before the Dye – they tend to bounce balls sometimes. How “small” that advantage is depends on you. Another thing that differentiates the two brands, again in favor of Empire according to me, is that their pants’ pockets are zipped. Not a biggie, but still it’s important. So you can find the Empire React 07 in blue, black and red and for the price of $74.98. Not bad price at all if you ask me…for the quality you’re getting. So whether you’re an Empire fan or not those are pants worth considering. Differences with the other types of the same brand expect in the next review.

Those are the latest and greatest in the Dye paintball pants collection. They are basically an upgraded version of the C7 (obviously they are upgradeable). They possess absolutely every one of the C7 characteristics minus the weight issue some people were complaining about. Another thing Dye altered a little bit is the design…there are slightly more different than the C7 and look more like the c6, but better. I think there’s no need to repeat the previous review, but yet again I’ll give you the features so you can spend some more time reading:
• Padding - Paintball pants probably take the most abuse out of all of the playing gear. Let’s face it, slides, dives, constant kneeling and crawling; all cause wear and tear on pants. Dye’s design team has taken all of these aspects into consideration when developing the C8 pant. They recruited their top professional athletes and developers to figure out how to make the C8 pant withstand the abuse from professional play. They have added heavy-duty multi-panel ballistic nylon kneepads with Kevlar stretch joints for maximum strength. Dye developed compression formed crotch protection to offer total coverage in the most critical areas. New for ‘08, is wrap around side panels. These new panels are compression formed and provide a more durable and protective surface on the sides of the pant.
• Venting - We cannot stress venting enough. This year, Dye integrated up to 50% more venting into the pant. This large increase in ventilation will allow air to circulate faster and more efficiently from your body. They have strategically integrated air channels in the front and rear of the pant. These channels optimize airflow. Again, allowing you to cool off faster. The C8 pant features a dual layer mesh. The top layer is a small hole mesh that is extremely durable. This top layer keeps debris from entering into the second layer. The second layer is a large hole mesh material. This large hole mesh is what allows maximum airflow.
• Harness Stabilizer - The back yoke of the pant features a new harness stabilizer design incorporated into the new flow through venting system. The new harness stabilizer is a direct inject design that is adhered directly to the small hole mesh. The small hole mesh provides an excellent surface for the direct inject, making it extremely durable. Because the harness stabilizer is on the top surface, it has the ability to grip your harness firmly and prevent any annoying harness twist. Once again, flow through venting has been incorporated into this section of the pant and also wraps around the sides and front of the pant.
• Adjustable Waist - Dye’s adjustable waist not only allows you to change the fitting of your pant, but the internal elastic belt also acts as a small comfortable kidney belt.
• Swab Pocket - Holds standard flex swabs or stick swabs.
• Adjustable Cuffs - For those of you who like a tight cuff, the adjustable ankle cuffs allow the perfect fit for any type of cleat.
So as I said those are the newest in the Dye collection and if you though that they’ll be pricier than their predecessors, you’re right. They cost $149.95 and this is probably the only disadvantage they have. They come in the same colors as the C7 – red, blue, gold, olive green and black/grey. So with that said I just can’t think of something else. Again this is a product you won’t regret buying if you decide to. And if you want to have the best pants out there this is the right pick.

Now here’s the next Dye paintball pants generation – the C7. With those everything that lacked on the C6 version has been taken care of and a new stuff had been added for even better protection and comfort. The C6 version was a little weak on the knee padding, but here this problem has been solved and there are no complains about that anymore…at least none that I’ve heard of. The C7 are even more durable than the C6, because Dye added ballistic nylon in the knees where pants usually rip first. They are also better vented than the C6 (yeah, I thought that’s impossible, too). Here’s the huge amount of features for you:
• Padding - Paintball pants probably take the most abuse out of all of the playing gear. Let’s face it, slides, dives, constant kneeling and crawling; all cause wear and tear on pants. Dye’s design team has taken all of these aspects into consideration when developing the C7 pant. They recruited their top professional athletes and developers to figure out how to make the C7 pant withstand the abuse from professional play. They have added heavy-duty multi-panel ballistic nylon kneepads with Kevlar stretch joints for maximum strength. Dye developed compression formed crotch protection to offer total coverage in the most critical areas. New for ‘07, is wrap around side panels. These new panels are compression formed and provide a more durable and protective surface on the sides of the pant.
• Venting - We cannot stress venting enough. This year, Dye integrated up to 50% more venting into the pant. This large increase in ventilation will allow air to circulate faster and more efficiently from your body. They have strategically integrated air channels in the front and rear of the pant. These channels optimize airflow. Again, allowing you to cool off faster. The C7 pant features a dual layer mesh. The top layer is a small hole mesh that is extremely durable. This top layer keeps debris from entering into the second layer. The second layer is a large hole mesh material. This large hole mesh is what allows maximum airflow.
• Harness Stabilizer - The back yoke of the pant features a new harness stabilizer design incorporated into the new flow through venting system. The new harness stabilizer is a direct inject design that is adhered directly to the small hole mesh. The small hole mesh provides an excellent surface for the direct inject, making it extremely durable. Because the harness stabilizer is on the top surface, it has the ability to grip your harness firmly and prevent any annoying harness twist. Once again, flow through venting has been incorporated into this section of the pant and also wraps around the sides and front of the pant.
• Adjustable Waist - Dye’s adjustable waist not only allows you to change the fitting of your pant, but the internal elastic belt also acts as a small comfortable kidney belt.
• Swab Pocket - Holds standard flex swabs or stick swabs.
• Adjustable Cuffs - For those of you who like a tight cuff, the adjustable ankle cuffs allow the perfect fit for any type of cleat.
If you’re not tired of reading let’s go through the disadvantages those pants are claimed to have. Now some players complain about the weight, but I don’t think they’re that much heavier than the C6 version – yes, they have some more padding added, but it sure doesn’t weigh a ton (their weight is around the weight of 2 pair of jeans). And the other thing people murmur about is the price…and I get it, on one hand, they do cost $99.95, but on the other those pants are worth much, much more. The design is absolute killer – they simply look awesome. They come in red, black/grey, blue, gold and olive green. Those are pants worth every one of those near 100 bucks you’ll spend for them. Get them, you won’t regret it.

Paintball pants. There’s no complete outfit if those are not present. And if you want the best out there you should think about getting Dye ones. The C6 paintball pants are one of the highest rated pants on the market right now, and I say “one of the” because there are also C7 and C8 versions to follow. But that’s another review we’re talking about. As to the C6 - there are plenty of advantages and I’ll be lucky to find someone to complain about anything so I can share it with you. The pants are very light and you know how important that is if you want to be able to move fast. They are also very well padded and have great ventilation. It’s easy to clean them, too, so you don’t have to spend your next two days after the paintball game cleaning your gear. They are durable and you can rely on them not tearing up when you slide or crawl. But see the features for yourself:
• Heavy Duty Ballistic Knees - Will withstand the most aggressive abuse, built to last longer than the average paintball season.  Dye has also added reinforced joints for better flex and comfort while crouching or kneeling.
• Kevlar Flex Knees - Providing a maximum range of motion without being stiff, the Kevlar flex knees offer durability with movement
• Adjustable Waist - The adjustable waist not only allows you to change the fitting of your pant, but the internal elastic belt also acts as a small comfortable kidney belt.
• Front Venting - The core of your body generates the most heat.  So, it just makes sense to help ventilate this area.  Trust us, you’ll notice a difference.
• Triple Stitch - The seam has 3 times the strength of a normal stitched seam.  It’s a feature that adds longevity.  So you can get a full season from these pants…minimum.
• Inner Thigh Venting - Your legs host the largest muscle groups of your body.  During intense play, these muscles generate quite a bit of heat.  Inner thigh venting adds extra circulation to help you cool down faster.
• Vented Nylon - The entire back of the leg, from the knee joint down, is now vented nylon.  This large of an area can provide more circulation than your car’s air conditioner.  Well, almost.
• Swab Pocket - Holds standard flex swabs or stick swabs
• Adjustable Cuffs - Allow the perfect fit for any type of cleat
• Back Grip - Flex-ribbed, so your harness stays in place
• Reinforced Seat - Will extend the life of your C6 pant
• Hyper-Flex Yoke - Developed with maximum ventilation in mind, featuring a specially woven vented stretch design.
• Vented Seat - Perforated ballistic nylon to the seat of the C6 pant.  This unique material allows for even greater circulation
• Rear Air Channel - Help direct heat away from your legs
• Padded and Vented Crotch - Increased ventilation offers even more cooling comfort
• Vented 4-Way Stretch Crotch - Built with custom developed vented 4-way stretch nylon; the stretch crotch gives you a complete range of motion in all directions.
• Wrap around Sublimation - Style is always one of the top priorities.  New wrap around sublimation panels add color and a unique look to an already good looking pant
It’s a lot of reading indeed but you have to go through it if you want to know what it’s all about. So back to the short version – I don’t know if I have to mention the style here, but it’s simply awesome. Those pants (just like all the other Dye products) look absolutely great…especially when combined with the same jersey and gloves and stuff. Probably the only thing that can be strengthened in them is the knee padding which some players find a little thin, but I suppose that’s been settled in the next versions. Well’ they can’t be perfect after all. Colors are also available – blue, red and grey.They can seem a little pricy to some of you, though as the price is $79.94, but with the C7 and C8 out already I can assure you that this is the lowest price you will ever find them…well unless you want to wait another more year or two.