The Duality of HK Army

Thank you to www.sundaypaintball.com/ for supporting this video
Special thank you to Drew Hollowell and everyone else who took the time to discuss this topic with me
Check out my media page at / painteaterpaintball

[@kennyrosenberg7667]

Hey brotha - great video. As an OG HK Army player and now employee, I echo much of your sentiment. In the beginning, things were different - we were kids with no money, no families, no discipline and So Cal Paintball is what brought us together. It carried a deeper meaning back then - 15ish years ago. I often reflect on the obstacles & challenges the co-founders had to overcome to get HK to where it is today - watching them stamp out headbands in a busted apartment, facing the backlash by corporate king pins, learning discipline to manage an organization without any experience or college education - for years. I couldn't be more proud of their individual maturation. For me - I'm biased on what HK Army means to me - and it's subjective just like anyone else's personal experience with a brand from any industry. I've learned over the years that any sustaining brand goes through changes each decade: they rise, they die, they're cool, they're not cool, they make a comeback, etc - it's all a cycle and they're forced to evolve to a changing demographic. I respect your perspective and glad you understand what we're doing to lower the barrier of entry to paintball...and this ultimately benefits everyone in the end. A rising tide lifts all ships.

[@painteaterpaintball]

Hey man thank you so much for weighing in, I was really glad that I was able to change my perspective on the brand and realize it's ore important to take care of each other and not worry as much about what we all play with, I hoping I can continue to use this platform to encourage this same positive and community building in a sport that doesn't always allow us to be nice to each other

[@MachinedFace88ttv]

If I buy an hk" gold machine " etha 3, do I send it to HK OR planet E , for fixes

[@orangerights2397]

@@MachinedFace88ttv message HK first and worst they can say is message PE for the fixes.

[@brandonw7190]

Shout out kenny the True OG HK player. Use to watch you at the psp events I played. Fastest mother fucker around.

[@Agerkillzz]

finally a channel that commentates on paintball culture rather than more footage of games from the same three angles or obvious product placement

[@awol10199]

Love HK and I’m 43 and have been playing since 1996. I was always drawn to the more bright colors. But they are also good quality and functional. They remind me of the band Good Charlotte, every punker said they were posers and fake but like HK they influenced a lot of people to explore more avenues in the punk music genre, one could even maybe say that about Blink 182. We need companies like HK to bring in more youth and keep the sport alive, god knows there are more older people leaving paintball then joining.

[@Bsfeeblegrind]

Great video with a great message definitely looking forward to more videos

[@El-jb5fg]

This kinda of info should reach more audience nowadays, keep the good job men. My 2022 fav pb channel

[@seth5212]

This is another great video!! Bunch of info I didnt know about "the good ol' days" and very insightful. They really are growing the sport. Weather they're annoying about it or not, Its a good thing!

[@andrewweddle1007]

Keep it up man dope videos so far

[@salmanilla2000]

Great videos please keep them coming

[@Go-For-Broke]

Great job on this video! 👏🏾

[@bobtim9968]

Looking forward to more great videos. Subscribed.

[@taylorwhite6022]

Hey, another paintball channel! Liked and subscribed! All the best of luck!!!

[@destr0yka]

Really great video, I personally don't wear much HK stuff anymore because I've always had issues with my jerseys/pants I've had ripping and such after only idk, a month or two? If that. The pod packs I've had always stretch wayyy too easy and become practically useless after less than half a season. All of that being said HK markets the sport on levels that no one else has been able to in recent years. They bring in the most views online and they more than likely sell the most products, so good on them. Again, great video my man. Keep up the good work.

[@kalebdoom7944]

when i was first stating out the first pair of gloves i had were HK army, i loved them and i wasn’t even a speed ball player. me as a person (this might not make sence to some people) if i look good i feel good and i play good. HK army had good looking stuff.’plus it’s super comfortable to wear

[@DD-jx9jd]

say what you want about HK but HK has been in this sport before most of you were born and have been making good products that rival the biggest manufacturers. If their style doesn't suit you then there are plenty of other manufacturers that make good stuff as well

[@DD-jx9jd]

they have put in a major contribution to this sport and have grown this sport more than most companies looking to make a quick buck

[@painteaterpaintball]

@@DD-jx9jd I was very glad I was able to come to this conclusion while working on this video

[@MARKKRESSIN]

🫡🫡

[@somebrains5431]

Kressin, the Pewdiepie of paintball. It’s hard to be SoCal youth culture edge lords when they’re entering the enlarged prostate age.

[@zedthemexicanmadman9542]

I have a lot of things to stay about quilty when it comes to hk! Because i love the magtec and its my favorite harness, even over my bunkerkings fly. And its great. Then they shit the bed on the lower end products like the gun cases. Bought 2 on sale for pumps, both handles ripped. Still glad there doing stuff but they need to get the build quality up.

[@cruxfoto]

Honestly, I don't use HK Army after a horrible time with their products when I was running an NCPA team. Jerseys coming with completely wrong names and sizes, pants ripping in one practice, products just not showing up at all. I respect that their name has brought attention to the sport and brought youth into the community. Working with them as a team, a player, and an orgnaization was a rough time.

[@Lonewolfoperations]

Well hopefully another company will come to fill the void competition is good for the sport.

[@cruxfoto]

@@Lonewolfoperations Absolutely. Beauty of the market. Especially today! Just got home from NXL Lonestar, and the number of providers for custom team products is immense. Teams can really go with their choice, and the hope is that level of competition pushes HK, or any company that may have or had a quality issue at some point to step up to stay competitive in the market.

[@MARKKRESSIN]

We have come a long way since the NCPA days. Sorry about your experience back in the day. We have definitely got the right team in place now to produce the most efficient and quality custom team jerseys in the game. 🫡

[@cruxfoto]

@@MARKKRESSIN Hey Mark, I respect this a lot, and I agree the team at HK has come a long way since the NCPA days and the CPX Living Legends days. I held onto this grudge for a bit too long, my college team was my baby and my family. You know how those teams run, many on a shoestring budget, so I took it hard when we were scrounging to make funds meet and had the kind of issues that we had. I am glad to see it grow, and many of the teams I work with and cover today talk to me about how it is a different product today than the Hardline days. I can see a difference for sure. I will always hold a brand accountable based on their current actions and how they resolve problems. I see for many other teams you addressed much of the communication and product issues, so I feel HK is in a better spot now than the Hardline days for sure. If you going to be around NXL Philly, let's crack a beer or a beverage of your choice. Good to hear from you, and hope you are doing well.

[@painteaterpaintball]

@@MARKKRESSIN Thank you for stopping by

[@CharleswoodSpudzyofficial]

Hey, I like this. Subbed

[@serious310paintball]

“For every single dollar that they make..” “Stop fighting!” For every dollar that they make.”

[@ExelArts]

Actually seems smaller then ever before less brands out there

[@fndkombatant1500]

I played a little bit almost 20 years ago as a young 12yo lad but nothing serious, just shot at each other at a farm cause we didn't have a field to go to nearby so had to make do. That being said getting back into playing I really like that HK Army has some pretty good stuff at a not scary price and it's definitely helped me get back into playing not only in getting gear but back into the mindset of paintball. The new Bro culture is whatever for me I just like that I can play and look the part somewhat Edit: I'm not totally bought in. Knee pads I went with free flexs and shoot a PE etha 3

[@lej5319]

more videos please

[@casualcall8591]

If I ever played again I would only rock HK stuff because that's where I want my money to go. SC streetball made PRO paintball what it is today, HK was a running force in that. Mouse, Raney, Marcello...........imo no one gave lil Marcello more looks than Mark

[@Pitman556]

I need some good pants. Was considering the social grit pants. What else would you suggest? I wore jt back in early 2000s but they seem baggy and not vented as well as the social grit. What pants would you pick 100-150 range?

[@painteaterpaintball]

Personally my favorite pants I've owned have been my social grits or contract killers

[@RTHLSJohn187]

fire

[@jonlight1499]

Could you do anything with my j4 torque

[@jcrulzhere1]

HK was just up and coming while most of the older generation left the sport. HK is hostile toward competition. They want to monopolize the sport and every piece of gear they sell. HK is hostile. They don't care about the sport but would rather make bank.

[@paulh7631]

I'm 51 Just got back into the sport again after 12 years playing nppl When I went to buy new gear Hk army is by far the best choice of top quality products I got mostly everything I can buy gun stand gun case pod packs tank I'm definitely hk army gear

[@SuperNaughtyKat]

They do make good pod packs tho

[@nogotrip6]

Tell me about macdev

[@SammEHoe]

I gotta give HK army credit where it’s due. They fill the hole in products via color. They also have all their own products and crossovers with other companies. Some HK products I don’t have faith in vs others but overall I agree, by catering towards the non mainstream and giving them what they want versus some of us that just buy the product without care on the color. Good job HK and no hater from me for their products it’s just not something I buy off first glance.

[@luckmonster80]

I don't care what you wear or brand. A lot of us just started with jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie I'm there on the field to enjoy myself.

[@kylekincade9763]

What your home field? I was born and used to live in Dayton Ohio and I used to go to I-70 paintball

[@painteaterpaintball]

Cabin Creek Paintball near Hamilton

[@darkstalkers2]

My thing with any brand is quality control. Make it last not like hk

[@BradleyLayton7]

So many cats 💙

[@painteaterpaintball]

theres actually one more thats shy and didnt want to get in the frame

[@BackToBalling]

I don't find the HK kid any more annoying than the all Dye kid. (would have to admit I've been away from the game for a while but this was a common player when I played consistently) People identify with brands, and early on tend to fanboy too much. I do love that you gave HK a fair chance. Just like any brand I think they do make some good products at a decent price point. No brand has a 100% track record, and I find it weird people aren't complaining about GI and their fumbling of iconic paintball brands. At least HK has a overall design philosophy that translates to their products.

[@cynikaleyes]

HGay!

[@ryansonnenberg9274]

I don't think they're terrible, but they are easy to make fun of. We like to call them the "Monster Energy Drink of Paintball". Plus their comical attempts to use sex to sell products.

[@grantlamb9140]

I hate HK because I feel like their gear is really shitty. That skull mask thing they came out with is uncomfortable as fuck, hurts your ears getting it on and off, and they can’t make a loader to save their lives. They had to use 15 year old technology that wasn’t theirs to get one to work right lol. And I just find Mark to be suuuuuch a douche bag.

[@Damitsall]

As a player in the sport for decades, I originally didn't mind HK. My problem is the culture they created in the sport. They made it "cool" to bonus ball and make fun new players. Even their semi pro team was known for not being very good, but starting a lot of drama on the feild. It led me to realize how bad Hghey is for the sport and how much I can't stand that terrible style.

[@yakitoriPB]

3 points. 1. Audio sucks 2. 2 all my HK pants have holes inside the pockets within 2 months. 3. I still wear HK

[@cbradquillen]

HK does not priorize quality. They do sell some good stuff, but they also have stuff that's utter garbage.

[@two-bit463]

HK Army is great Mark is a great guy and my brother works for HK Army your not going to find a better product for the price, plus HK Army does make the best paint in the business ! With that said, haters are going to hate! If you don't know now you know, ya know #buyhkarmy

[@ExelArts]

not really a fan of HK armys style

[@jpl6596]

Never been a fan

[@thewiseguy7100]

I dislike HK Army. They make decent quality and they want to make every single thing . Everytime I go play paintball, I see HK Army everywhere, it’s annoying. Dye and Planet Eclipse are much better brands.

[@Jarandjar]

Brand loyalty in general is stupid.