Case King: Gear for the common Player
Lots of useful stuff from Case King
Most of the time, when I write about a product, it's from a larger company that's well established, and usually it's specific to stuff I would use. While very helpful for some, it can be useless to others (heathens who don't shoot cockers) or is from a company that you've already heard of. This kind of goes in the opposite direction. Today, I'm reviewing some gear that's not expensive, from a small paintball start up, and something that any player could toss in their bags and use immediately.
Case King is a brand new paintball start up, specializing in 3D printed gear for paintballers. I ran into them at ION, and was able to use the gear over the weekend. And, as a result, wanted to less you all know how they performed.
Case King is a brand new paintball start up, specializing in 3D printed gear for paintballers. I ran into them at ION, and was able to use the gear over the weekend. And, as a result, wanted to less you all know how they performed.
For every king a crown
If you look at the intro picture here, you can see that the first thing that I am reviewing is the Paint Bag Cutter. They come well packaged, in those cardboard sleeves sealed with wax and string. Pretty sweet looking, right?
This crown-shaped object is the thing I used the absolute most. This handy little piece of gear is actually for opening bags of paint. The bag cutter is extremely light, roughly 1/3" thick, and is used to consistently cut the plastic bags that hold paint across their corners at about the length of the top of a pod.
This crown-shaped object is the thing I used the absolute most. This handy little piece of gear is actually for opening bags of paint. The bag cutter is extremely light, roughly 1/3" thick, and is used to consistently cut the plastic bags that hold paint across their corners at about the length of the top of a pod.
Hidden stabby bit!
So how does a 3D printed crown cut the bag for you? Well, that crown hides a razor blade edge in it. And it's incredibly simple to use. All you need to do is pull the edge or corner of a paint bag in through the hole in the middle of the crown itself. In other words, just pull the corner into the central hole of the cutter, grip the outer crown, and then drag the bag across the edge of the razor blade. Cuts like butter, absolutely cleanly, every time. Then, fill your ball hauler or pods up nice and easy, with minimal spill. It's a simple tool that literally every paintballer can use, and is extremely useful for most of us.
Now, why not just use your hands to rip open the bag, or just bring a razor blade with you?
Well, as I mentioned, they cut is super clean and consistently roughly the size of a pod. That means less spilling when I am filling from some giant, clumsy tear with my fingers. And, just as good for me as a player who always wears full gloves, I can now cut bags open without taking off my gloves, and just do my filling. Is this a little convenience? Yes. Do I appreciate little conveniences at this point? Also yes.
And another thing that I appreciate it is that it's a simple, NON-EXPOSED blade.
I fly to play. Almost all of the time. This is something I can toss in my checked bag, and not have to worry about. It's not heavy, at all, weighing virtually nothing, so I don't ever have to worry about my weight limit. And, just as importantly, I do not trust TSA to act responsibly with my gear. Ever. I have had a gearbag ripped open with a broken zipper and come out on the carousel looking like a yard sale. The very last thing I want them to ever have access to in my gearbag would be an open razor blade.
It's a cheap, simple, lightweight piece of gear that players can toss in their bags, and is actually useful for doing something that's a minor annoyance to deal with, and makes it better. That's a win in my book, and something I'll be consistently using in the future.
Now, why not just use your hands to rip open the bag, or just bring a razor blade with you?
Well, as I mentioned, they cut is super clean and consistently roughly the size of a pod. That means less spilling when I am filling from some giant, clumsy tear with my fingers. And, just as good for me as a player who always wears full gloves, I can now cut bags open without taking off my gloves, and just do my filling. Is this a little convenience? Yes. Do I appreciate little conveniences at this point? Also yes.
And another thing that I appreciate it is that it's a simple, NON-EXPOSED blade.
I fly to play. Almost all of the time. This is something I can toss in my checked bag, and not have to worry about. It's not heavy, at all, weighing virtually nothing, so I don't ever have to worry about my weight limit. And, just as importantly, I do not trust TSA to act responsibly with my gear. Ever. I have had a gearbag ripped open with a broken zipper and come out on the carousel looking like a yard sale. The very last thing I want them to ever have access to in my gearbag would be an open razor blade.
It's a cheap, simple, lightweight piece of gear that players can toss in their bags, and is actually useful for doing something that's a minor annoyance to deal with, and makes it better. That's a win in my book, and something I'll be consistently using in the future.
A little Key to stop losing your Allens!
Next up is something that is also useful for a lot a players---a 3D printed wrench holder that holds 3 of the most common wrenches that players use regularly. There's a loop at the top of the key print, with friction being used to hold the keys in the body of the piece. If you don't want to bring a whole set with you for something like chrono-ing (the biggest hole in this is reserved for the 1/8 wrench, aka the wrench needed to adjust the IVG for a ton of cockers), this can be a useful tool holder in that it's harder to lose than a wrench on it's own, but not so big and bulky as a full set.
Again, the common theme there isn't something that's going to revolutionize the sport, but is something that's nice looking, light weight, durable, and useful. This checks the boxes again.
Again, the common theme there isn't something that's going to revolutionize the sport, but is something that's nice looking, light weight, durable, and useful. This checks the boxes again.
Useful little crowns!
The last tool that I tested was, again, something simple and useful. These handy little crowns are for keeping track of your thread savers. They have a nice little bungie attached at the top, a decorative crown, and then threads that are the same as your tanks. Just screw on your tank covers, loop them somewhere secure in your bag, and you won't need to hunt that little bastard down.
I actually used it for something different, again, because I fly. I keep my regs in small padded carbon fiber cases, so I don't really need thread savers. What I do need to keep track of is the on/off I use to bleed my tanks before my flights, since flying with a reg on a tank is frowned upon---and also a felony. I just used this to keep track of that handy little piece that flies everywhere with me, and keep it protected. It's actually a pretty vital little tool for people who fly, and these can keep those threads from getting beat up.
I actually used it for something different, again, because I fly. I keep my regs in small padded carbon fiber cases, so I don't really need thread savers. What I do need to keep track of is the on/off I use to bleed my tanks before my flights, since flying with a reg on a tank is frowned upon---and also a felony. I just used this to keep track of that handy little piece that flies everywhere with me, and keep it protected. It's actually a pretty vital little tool for people who fly, and these can keep those threads from getting beat up.
In summary, because of things like weight restrictions and limitations of storage space, I really have to value something to keep it my gearbag for flights. If it's not useful, it's not going in the gear bag. If it's heavy, it's not going in the gear bag. I just don't have the extra space and I have to keep a full gear bag under 50 pounds when I fly. These are light and useful enough to get tossed in consistently, especially the bag cutter. If you want to support a new, small paintball company, and actually get something useful, check out Case King Paintball.