Have you heard that bang?

Many players place great importance on protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and head protection in paintball and airsoft, but hearing protection is often neglected.

"The loud noises of markers, grenades, and other pyro effects can especially damage the hearing in the long term," explains hearing acoustician Franziska Clawin in conversation with the Verband Deutscher Büchsenmacher and Waffenfachhändler e. V. (VDB). She herself has been passionate about playing paintball for many years.

Although it is recommended to keep a safety distance of 10 meters, grenades are often used, which produce a bang of 120dB at that distance. In "battle," however, it is often impossible to ensure that distance. If you are standing right next to the grenade, the bang is even louder and more intense. In the worst case, it can lead to an acute or chronic acoustic trauma. The possible consequences: reduction of hearing ability up to a (permanent) loss of hearing, balance problems, and/or tinnitus. All these symptoms can occur temporarily or in the long term.

So protect your hearing, even in supposedly quiet airsoft games. 

You can find the full article on hearing protection in paintball and airsoft HERE on the VDB.