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Created page with "'''HK Army''' is an American paintball equipment, apparel and lifestyle brand founded in 2007 in Southern California. The company developed from the '''Hostile Kids''' (HK), an informal community of tournament paintball players associated with the Southern California paintball scene during the early 2000s.[1][2] According to a history published in ''Paintball Media Magazine'' in February 2025, HK Army was founded by brothers '''Mark Kressin''' and '''Brandon Kressin''',..."
 
Expand HK Army history with documented team origins, early apparel and media, sponsorships, equipment development, Marq rights, Pinokio acquisition and October 2026 Valken brand acquisition; replace unsupported and repetitive material.
 
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'''HK Army''' is an American paintball equipment, apparel and lifestyle brand founded in 2007 in Southern California. The company developed from the '''Hostile Kids''' (HK), an informal community of tournament paintball players associated with the Southern California paintball scene during the early 2000s.[1][2]
'''HK Army''' is an American [[paintball]] equipment and apparel company which dates its founding to 2007. It developed from the [[Hostile Kids]], a Southern California tournament team active during the early 2000s. The business began with custom headbands and clothing before expanding into playing equipment, paintballs and branded paintball markers.[1][2][3]


According to a history published in ''Paintball Media Magazine'' in February 2025, HK Army was founded by brothers '''Mark Kressin''' and '''Brandon Kressin''', together with '''Jason Pineda''', '''Steve Nabi''' and '''Josh Meyers'''.[2]
HK Army's growth included professional team sponsorships, promotional films, tournament organisation and acquisitions. It acquired [[Pinokio Hoppers]] in 2018 and announced the acquisition of the [[Valken]] brand in October 2026.[4][5]


The company initially became associated with headbands, clothing and the paintball subculture known as '''[[Agg]]'''. It subsequently expanded into tournament apparel, protective equipment, goggles, loaders, harnesses, air systems, barrels, paintballs and other paintball equipment.[1][3]
The company is based in Long Beach, California. According to its official company history, its products are distributed in more than 60 countries.[1][6]
 
HK Army developed a distinctive marketing identity based on professional paintball, online video, tournament sponsorship and action-sports fashion. Its association with the Hostile Kids community helped establish the brand's identity before its commercial expansion.
 
In November 2012, HK Army announced a two-year sponsorship agreement with [[San Diego Dynasty]], covering the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The agreement represented an important milestone in the company's development as a supplier to professional tournament teams.[4]
 
HK Army is headquartered in Long Beach, California, and distributes products internationally. The company states that its products are distributed in more than 60 countries.[1][5]
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ HK Army
|-
! Name
| HK Army
|-
! Legal entity
| HK Army Inc.
|-
! Former or associated name
| Hostile Kids
|-
! Founded
| 2007 (company's stated founding year)
|-
! Origins
| Southern California, United States
|-
! Headquarters
| Long Beach, California, United States
|-
! Industry
| Paintball equipment and apparel
|-
! Founders
| Mark Kressin, Brandon Kressin, Jason Pineda, Steve Nabi and Josh Meyers (reported)
|-
! Key historical figure
| Mark "Mr. H" Kressin
|-
! Original community
| Hostile Kids
|-
! Early products
| Headbands and apparel
|-
! Product categories
| Goggles, protective equipment, apparel, loaders, harnesses, air systems, barrels, markers, paintballs and accessories
|-
! Associated culture
| [[Agg]]
|-
! Notable sponsored team
| [[San Diego Dynasty]]
|-
! Markets
| International
|-
! Website
| https://www.hkarmy.com/
|}


== History ==
== History ==


=== Origins in Southern California ===
=== Hostile Kids origins ===
 
HK Army developed from the Southern California tournament paintball community during the early 2000s.
 
The region was home to several influential paintball fields, tournament teams and professional players.
 
[[SC Village]] in Chino was an important centre of competitive paintball.
 
Players associated with the Hostile Kids community developed a distinctive identity combining tournament competition, individual style and influences from skateboarding, surfing and streetwear.
 
The abbreviation '''HK''' originally referred to '''Hostile Kids'''.
 
=== Hostile Kids ===
 
Hostile Kids was originally a player community rather than a conventional equipment manufacturer.
 
Its members were associated with tournament paintball and the emerging agg subculture.
 
The community became known for distinctive clothing, headwear and attitudes toward competitive play.
 
The group helped popularise the use of the term agg within paintball.
 
=== Early use of the Hostile Kids name ===
 
A United States trademark registration for '''HOSTILE KIDS''', owned by HK Army Inc., records a claimed first-use date of 31 October 2002 for clothing-related goods.[6]
 
The same record lists a claimed first-use-in-commerce date of 23 March 2006 for those goods.
 
These dates are useful evidence of the brand's asserted early history.
 
However, trademark first-use dates are supplied by applicants and should not be interpreted as independently verified dates for the creation of the player community or incorporation of the company.
 
=== Formation of HK Army ===
 
HK Army's official company history identifies 2007 as its founding year.[1]
 
The company developed from the Hostile Kids identity into a commercial paintball brand.
 
Its early products included headbands and apparel.
 
The company combined equipment sales with a strong emphasis on tournament culture and visual identity.
 
=== Founders ===
 
A February 2025 article in ''Paintball Media Magazine'' identifies five founders:
 
* Mark Kressin
* Brandon Kressin
* Jason Pineda
* Steve Nabi
* Josh Meyers
 
The article describes Mark and Brandon Kressin as brothers.[2]
 
Mark Kressin was also publicly identified as '''Mr. H''' in contemporary company announcements.
 
The individual founding roles, ownership percentages and original corporate structure have not been fully established.
 
=== Early growth ===
 
HK Army expanded during a period when tournament paintball was becoming increasingly connected with online communities and video media.
 
The company developed products that combined performance equipment with distinctive styling.
 
Its marketing emphasised the relationship between paintball, individual identity and competitive play.
 
== Agg culture ==
 
=== Meaning ===
 
'''Agg''' is paintball slang associated with style, appearance, equipment and attitude.
 
The term became popular within Southern California tournament paintball during the early 2000s.
 
It was closely associated with the Hostile Kids community.
 
=== Influence on HK Army ===
 
HK Army's early identity drew heavily on agg culture.
 
Its headwear and apparel reflected styles associated with tournament players.
 
The company helped bring elements of this subculture into the commercial paintball market.
 
=== Relationship between agg and HK Army ===
 
Agg should not be treated as a term invented exclusively by HK Army.
 
Paintball-related definitions of agg were documented online by 2004, before the company's stated 2007 founding.
 
The Hostile Kids community helped popularise the term, while the later company commercialised aspects of the associated style.
 
=== Commercialisation ===
 
HK Army's development illustrates the transition of a player-led subculture into a commercial sporting-goods brand.
 
Styles originally associated with particular players became available through branded apparel and equipment.
 
The company's identity remained connected to its early cultural origins as its product range expanded.
 
== Products ==
 
=== Headwear ===
 
Headbands and related accessories were among HK Army's earliest product categories.
 
Headwear was particularly important within the agg subculture.
 
Players used headbands and headwraps to express individual style and team identity.
 
HK Army developed a range of headwear products reflecting these preferences.
 
=== Tournament apparel ===
 
HK Army expanded into tournament clothing.
 
Products included:
 
* Jerseys
* Paintball pants
* Gloves
* Headbands
* Protective padding
* Casual apparel
* Team uniforms
 
The company offered designs intended for both individual players and sponsored teams.
 
=== Hardline ===
 
The '''Hardline''' range was part of HK Army's early performance apparel offering.
 
A November 2012 announcement concerning San Diego Dynasty identified Hardline jerseys, protective pads and professional tournament pants among the equipment supplied under the sponsorship agreement.[4]
 
=== Harnesses ===
 
HK Army developed paintball harnesses for carrying spare paintball pods.
 
Its product lines have included the Eject and Zero-G ranges.
 
Harnesses became part of the company's broader tournament equipment catalogue.
 
=== Goggles ===
 
HK Army expanded into paintball protective goggles.
 
Its goggle systems have included the KLR, HSTL, SLR, Skull and RMX families.
 
These products extended the company's activities beyond apparel and accessories.
 
=== Loaders ===
 
The company also developed and marketed paintball loaders.
 
Its product range has included the TFX, Speed and Sonic families.
 
HK Army's patent and trademark information identifies licensed technology used in certain loader products.[7]
 
=== Air systems ===
 
HK Army expanded into compressed-air equipment.
 
Its catalogue includes tanks, regulators and related accessories.
 
The AlphaAir range is among the company's air-system product families.
 
=== Barrels ===
 
The company markets paintball barrels and barrel systems.
 
Its product catalogue includes the LAZR and HEX ranges.
 
=== Paintball markers ===
 
HK Army has also marketed paintball markers.
 
The company's current catalogue includes markers for recreational and competitive use.
 
The exact development and manufacturing arrangements vary by product and should be established individually.
 
=== Paintballs ===
 
HK Army supplies paintballs for recreational and tournament use.
 
Paint sponsorship became an important part of its competitive team-support programmes.
 
== Tournament sponsorship ==
 
=== Early team relationships ===
 
HK Army developed relationships with competitive paintball teams as its commercial operations expanded.
 
Sponsorship allowed the company to promote products through tournament competition.
 
Teams also provided opportunities for product testing and feedback.
 
=== San Diego Dynasty ===
 
On 4 November 2012, HK Army announced a two-year sponsorship agreement with [[San Diego Dynasty]].[4]
 
The agreement covered the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
 
The announcement identified HK Army equipment including:
 
* Hardline apparel
* Protective pads
* Tournament pants
* Eject harnesses
* Rock n' Roller gear bags
* Rider backpacks
* Epic Speed Feeds
* Shredder cleats
 
The agreement also included plans for collaborative product development.
 
=== Mark Kressin ===
 
The 2012 announcement identified Mark Kressin as a representative of HK Army and referred to him by the nickname '''Mr. H'''.
 
Kressin discussed the company's history of competing alongside Dynasty players before establishing the sponsorship relationship.
 
His comments provide contemporary evidence of the connection between HK Army's early player community and professional tournament paintball.
 
=== Ryan Greenspan ===
 
[[Ryan Greenspan]] commented publicly on the Dynasty sponsorship.
 
He described the relationship between the two organisations and their shared history within tournament paintball.
 
The agreement also included promotional activities involving Dynasty players.
 
=== Product development ===
 
The sponsorship announcement stated that Dynasty would participate in research and development testing.
 
The arrangement connected professional players with HK Army's equipment development.
 
=== NXL sponsorship ===
 
HK Army subsequently developed sponsorship programmes for teams competing in the [[National Xball League]].
 
A February 2016 announcement described packages involving custom jerseys, equipment, discounted tournament paint and contingency rewards.[8]
 
The programme was available to teams competing at different divisional levels.
 
=== Contingency programmes ===
 
The 2016 programme included paint-credit rewards for teams placing first or second at NXL events.
 
The rewards were conditional on teams using specified HK Army products and paintballs.
 
Such programmes encouraged tournament participation while promoting the company's equipment.
 
=== International sponsorship ===
 
HK Army also supported teams participating in international tournament circuits.
 
Its sponsorship activities have included competitions in Europe and other regions.
 
The company continues to operate a team sponsorship programme.
 
== Media and marketing ==
 
=== Online video ===
 
HK Army became associated with promotional paintball videos.
 
Its media activities included tournament footage, player features, product demonstrations and event coverage.
 
Online video helped connect the company with players who followed professional tournament paintball.
 
=== Early internet culture ===
 
The brand developed during the growth of online paintball communities.
 
Forums such as [[PBNation]] allowed players to share photographs, discuss equipment and follow tournament personalities.
 
HK Army's visual identity was well suited to this environment.
 
=== Cassidy Sanders ===
 
[[Cassidy Sanders]] was a paintball videographer associated with the Hostile Kids and HK Army media scene.
 
His work included promotional tournament videos.
 
Sanders was also associated with [[pbFashion]].
 
These overlapping activities illustrate the relationship between apparel brands and independent paintball media during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
 
=== Tournament coverage ===
 
HK Army used event photography and video as part of its sponsorship programmes.
 
A 2016 sponsorship announcement described the company's YouTube and social media channels as promotional opportunities for sponsored teams.[8]
 
=== Player-focused marketing ===
 
The company's marketing frequently featured competitive players.


This approach connected equipment with the personalities and culture of tournament paintball.
The initials HK came from '''Hostile Kids'''. In an account republished in 2008, [[Alex Fraige]] recalled encountering the team at [[SC Village]] in early 2002. Former captain Alex Cadalso traced its origins to a youth tournament organised by Hostile Takeover at Tombstone Paintball in Corona, California. Scott Kressin, [[Mark Kressin]] and Steve Nabi won that event and adopted the Hostile Kids identity.[2]


It also distinguished HK Army's early identity from manufacturers whose advertising focused primarily on technical specifications.
The team subsequently recruited additional players and competed in tournament paintball. Fraige's account described its eventual break-up as members were recruited by professional teams.[2]


== Business development ==
In a 2012 interview, former player [[Cassidy Sanders]] recalled returning to paintball after several years away and finding that former teammates had developed HK Army into a clothing business. He then contributed his filmmaking skills to the company.[7]


=== Expansion beyond apparel ===
=== Headbands and the early business ===


HK Army developed from a headwear and apparel brand into a broader paintball equipment supplier.
HK Army's official history identifies 2007 as the company's founding year. A retrospective in ''Paintball Media Magazine'' describes its initial products as custom headbands and apparel.[1][3]


The company added protective equipment, loaders, air systems, goggles and other products.
Mark Kressin, known as '''Mr. H''', identifies himself as a co-founder of HK Army.[8][9]


This expansion allowed it to serve a wider range of players.
Contemporary evidence of the early business survives in reports from the 2008 Bears Cup tournament series. A post published by organiser Bear D'Egidio on 10 March 2008 described a booth for HK Army clothing and [[pbFashion]] headgear. It identified Mark Kressin at the booth and recorded the attendance of Hollywood HK with its tour bus.[10]


=== International distribution ===
=== Online video and brand identity ===


HK Army states that its products are distributed in more than 60 countries.[1]
During the early 2010s, HK Army promoted its products through tournament films featuring both competition and activity away from the field. Sanders's work provided a direct connection between the original Hostile Kids players and the company's media output. In his 2012 interview, he discussed filming for HK Army, using DSLR cameras and setting paintball footage to music.[7]


Its international distribution network includes paintball stores, fields and online retailers.
One documented example was the company's film of the 2011 [[Paintball Sports Promotions|PSP]] World Cup, released in February 2012. Filmed and edited by Sanders, it combined footage of play with scenes away from the field.[11]


=== Headquarters ===
HK Army and pbFashion also became associated with [[Agg]], the paintball subculture concerned with playing style, clothing and appearance. Contemporary commentary in ''Social Paintball'' discussed that association and recorded the brands' promotion of paintball at music events including Warped Tour.[12]


The company's LinkedIn profile identifies its headquarters as Long Beach, California.[5]
=== Equipment and professional sponsorship in 2012 ===


The profile also identifies HK Army Inc. as a privately held sporting-goods manufacturer.
By early 2012, HK Army was selling equipment beyond its original headwear and casual clothing. In February, ''Social Paintball'' reported the introduction of Shredder paintball cleats. The report also identified sponsorship relationships with [[San Diego Dynasty]], [[Russian Legion]] and Arsenal.[13]


=== Corporate identity ===
In May 2012, HK Army signed the professional team [[San Francisco Explicit]]. The arrangement included new playing jerseys and a redesigned team logo. Steve Nabi represented HK Army in the announcement, while Explicit owner Rob Montiero confirmed the relationship.[14]


HK Army Inc. is identified as the owner of the HOSTILE KIDS trademark.
On 4 November 2012, HK Army announced a two-year agreement with San Diego Dynasty covering the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The equipment specified in the agreement included Hardline jerseys, protective pads and playing trousers, Eject harnesses, gear bags, backpacks, speed feeds and Shredder cleats.[9]


The company has also registered trademarks associated with its equipment and apparel products.
The agreement also provided for Dynasty to test new products and collaborate on their development. Plans included Dynasty-branded merchandise sold through ANSgear and joint promotion of training sessions, Streetball events and professional player clinics.[9]


The company's public trademark records provide evidence of its commercial development.
=== Goggles, loaders and tournament events ===


== Trademarks and intellectual property ==
HK Army expanded into protective goggles with the KLR, announced in 2013. The product established a separate goggle range alongside the company's clothing, padding and accessories.[15]


=== Hostile Kids ===
In 2014, HK Army and Chuck Hendsch organised the Surf City Paintball Open at Huntington Beach after the [[National Professional Paintball League]] suspended its event programme. The standalone tournament offered two-player and five-player competition. Some planned divisions were cancelled because of low entry numbers, but the remaining competition went ahead on a field on the beach.[16]


The HOSTILE KIDS trademark was filed on 29 October 2013.
The TFX electronic loader followed in 2015. A contemporary product report in the July issue of ''Paintball Magazine'' described its recent release, including a spring-loaded tray intended to move paintballs towards the feed mechanism and a design allowing maintenance without tools.[17]


It was registered on 29 September 2015 under United States registration number 4822739.[6]
By February 2016, HK Army offered a sponsorship programme for teams competing in the [[National Xball League]]. It combined custom jerseys, equipment packages and discounted tournament paint. Teams could arrange participation through local shops and fields as well as directly with HK Army.[18]


The registration covers clothing and paintball-related goods.
The programme included paint credits for qualifying teams finishing first or second at NXL events. It also offered opportunities for sponsored teams to appear in the company's photographs, event videos and social media coverage.[18]


=== Product trademarks ===
=== Marker range and the Marq platform ===


HK Army's published intellectual-property information identifies trademarks associated with several product families.
HK Army marketed branded versions of established paintball markers as its equipment range expanded. These included private-label [[Shocker]] RSX models. On 10 August 2016, Shocker Paintball's recall of affected RSX markers included HK Army editions. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that the main chamber assembly could eject from the rear of the marker. Eight failures and no injuries had been reported, and a replacement chamber was offered without charge.[19]


These include:
In February 2017, ''Paintball Media'' reported that HK Army had recently acquired rights to the Marq marker platform associated with [[Bob Long]]. The report stated that HK Army intended to develop its own version of the design.[20]


* AlphaAir
=== Apparel business expansion ===
* RMX
* Hostile
* GelStrike
* HK Army logos
* HK Skull
* TFX
* HSTL
* Hostile Kids


=== Patents ===
HK Army's experience producing paintball clothing also contributed to the development of the esports apparel business Meta Threads. In a 2017 interview, Meta Threads lead designer David Siqueiros identified HK Army as its parent company and described moving from designing custom paintball jerseys into clothing for esports teams. He explained that the businesses shared design approaches and overlapping audiences.[21]


The company publishes patent information relating to certain equipment products.
=== Pinokio acquisition and marker collaborations ===


These include loader technology, goggle designs and other paintball accessories.[7]
In 2018, HK Army acquired Pinokio Hoppers. The acquisition added established loader designs to its range, including the Pinokio Speed, which was subsequently sold as the '''HK Army Speed'''.[4]


Patent ownership and licensing arrangements should be evaluated individually rather than assuming that all technologies were originally invented by HK Army.
The Speed was a pre-existing Pinokio product. Following the acquisition, it was marketed alongside HK Army's TFX loader range. A 2019 review also recorded its adoption by San Diego Dynasty.[4]


== Relationship with other organisations ==
The company also continued working with other marker manufacturers. In 2019, its A51 Luxe X models used the underlying [[DLX Technology|DLX]] Luxe X platform with distinctive body milling. A further A51 version was announced ahead of that year's [[NXL World Cup]].[22]


=== Hostile Kids ===
In November 2019, HK Army and [[Planet Eclipse]] introduced the Invader CS2 Pro. The special edition used the CS2 Pro platform with a different body design and an HK-themed rear cap.[23]


Hostile Kids was the player community from which HK Army developed.
=== Product development during the 2020s ===


The community's history predates the commercial company's stated founding year.
HK Army reissued the original Pinokio hopper in 2020. That design used an optional front extension to increase its paintball capacity.[24]


=== PBNation ===
The company continued developing its protective equipment. In May 2021, the SLR goggles were introduced as a successor to the KLR. Contemporary coverage described changes to the mask's ventilation, construction, rear strap support and chin strap.[25]


PBNation was an important online paintball forum during the 2000s.
HK Army also remained involved in national tournament events. The NXL's report on its 2021 Mid-Atlantic Major identified the company among the event's major sponsors and exhibitors.[26]


It helped spread the terminology and fashion associated with agg culture.
By April 2024, HK Army was promoting the Alpha Air range of compressed-air systems for paintball and airsoft. The range included carbon-fibre-wrapped cylinders in several capacities, with the company's launch material emphasising reduced size and weight.[27]


The forum was part of the broader environment in which HK Army developed.
Further goggle products included the skull-shaped Skull range, covered in ''Paintball Media Magazine'' in February 2025, and the RMX system, reviewed by BFPGear in November 2025. The RMX incorporated a flexible lower mask and a lens mechanism designed for changes without tools.[3][28]


=== pbFashion ===
By this period, the company's catalogue encompassed goggles, loaders, barrels, air systems, protective equipment, playing clothing, casual apparel and accessories. HK Army described its distribution as extending to more than 60 countries.[1]


pbFashion was another paintball lifestyle brand associated with tournament apparel and online media.
=== Acquisition of the Valken brand ===


Cassidy Sanders's promotional work connected the two brands within the same media scene.
In October 2026, HK Army announced that it had acquired the '''[[Valken]] brand''' and become its exclusive worldwide manufacturer and distributor.[5]


The available evidence does not establish common ownership.
The announcement stated that the company intended to develop Valken's paintball and airsoft activities. It also said that further announcements would follow during the week and at the NXL World Cup.[5]
 
=== San Diego Dynasty ===
 
San Diego Dynasty became a major sponsored team in 2012.
 
The relationship included equipment sponsorship, promotion and product testing.
 
=== SC Village ===
 
SC Village was an important venue in the Southern California tournament paintball scene.
 
The field was associated with the early Hostile Kids community.
 
== Historical significance ==
 
=== Transition from community to company ===
 
HK Army is an example of a paintball company developing from an informal player community.
 
Its early identity was rooted in the culture of competitive paintball rather than solely in equipment manufacturing.
 
=== Paintball fashion ===
 
The company helped commercialise styles associated with agg culture.
 
Its early apparel and headwear reflected the influence of streetwear and action sports.
 
=== Equipment diversification ===
 
HK Army expanded from clothing and accessories into a broad equipment catalogue.
 
This development illustrates the commercial growth of paintball lifestyle brands during the 2010s.
 
=== Tournament sponsorship ===
 
The 2012 San Diego Dynasty agreement was a major documented milestone.
 
It connected HK Army with one of the most successful professional teams in paintball history.
 
=== Online media ===
 
HK Army made extensive use of online video, photography and social media.
 
These activities contributed to the changing relationship between paintball manufacturers, professional players and fans.
 
=== International reach ===
 
The company's expansion into international distribution demonstrates the global market for tournament-oriented paintball equipment and apparel.
 
== Timeline ==
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Event
|-
| Early 2000s
| Hostile Kids develops within Southern California tournament paintball
|-
| 31 October 2002
| Claimed first use of HOSTILE KIDS trademark for clothing
|-
| 2004
| Agg terminology documented in online paintball slang
|-
| 23 March 2006
| Claimed first commercial use of HOSTILE KIDS trademark for clothing
|-
| 2007
| HK Army founded according to official company history
|-
| Late 2000s
| Company expands its apparel and promotional media activities
|-
| 4 November 2012
| HK Army announces two-year San Diego Dynasty sponsorship
|-
| 29 October 2013
| HOSTILE KIDS trademark application filed
|-
| 29 September 2015
| HOSTILE KIDS trademark registered
|-
| February 2016
| HK Army announces NXL team sponsorship and paint programmes
|-
| 2025
| Paintball Media Magazine publishes company history identifying five founders
|-
| 2026
| HK Army continues international equipment distribution and team sponsorship
|}


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[Hostile Kids]]
* [[Hostile Kids]]
* [[pbFashion]]
* [[Agg]]
* [[Agg]]
* [[PBNation]]
* [[Pinokio Hoppers]]
* [[pbFashion]]
* [[Valken]]
* [[Cassidy Sanders]]
* [[Mark Kressin]]
* [[San Diego Dynasty]]
* [[Ryan Greenspan]]
* [[SC Village]]
* [[Paintball equipment manufacturers]]
* [[Paintball apparel]]
* [[Paintball media]]
* [[History of paintball]]
* [[Paintball in the United States]]


== References ==
== References ==


# [https://www.hkarmy.com/pages/about-us "About HK Army"], HK Army, official company history. Identifies 2007 as the founding year and describes the company's international distribution and product categories.
# [https://www.hkarmy.com/pages/about-us About HK Army]. HK Army, official company history. Accessed 27 October 2026.
# [https://viewer.joomag.com/paintball-media-magazine-february-2025/0455820001739310440/p67 "HK Army Skull Paintball Goggles"], Paintball Media Magazine, February 2025, page 67. Identifies Mark and Brandon Kressin, Jason Pineda, Steve Nabi and Josh Meyers as the founders of HK Army.
# [https://thisispaintball.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/from-street-rats-to-world-class-pros-the-hk-army/ From Street Rats to World Class Pros: The HK Army]. Alex Fraige, including an interview with Alex Cadalso; republished by ThisISPaintball.ca, 12 May 2008.
# [https://www.hkarmy.com/ "HK Army"], official website. Current product catalogue, company information and equipment categories.
# [https://viewer.joomag.com/paintball-media-magazine-february-2025/0455820001739310440/p67 HK Army Skull Paintball Goggles]. ''Paintball Media Magazine'', February 2025, p. 67.
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/11/04/san-diego-dynasty-signs-with-hk-army/ "Breaking News: Dynasty Signs with HK Army"], Social Paintball, 4 November 2012. Contemporary announcement of the two-year sponsorship agreement, including comments from Mark Kressin and Ryan Greenspan.
# [https://paintballruinedmylife.com/2019/10/17/hk-army-speed-review-lightweight-and-baby-tiny/ HK Army Speed Review: Lightweight and Baby Tiny]. Brad Johnson, ''Paintball Ruined My Life'', 17 October 2019.
# [https://www.linkedin.com/company/hk-army-inc "HK Army Inc."], LinkedIn company profile. Identifies Long Beach, California, as the company's headquarters.
# [https://www.instagram.com/p/De-iXZ4jVhs/ HK Army acquires Valken]. HK Army, official Instagram announcement, October 2026.
# [https://trademarks.justia.com/861/04/hostile-86104696.html "HOSTILE KIDS Trademark"], Justia Trademarks, United States trademark registration 4822739. Records application, registration and claimed first-use dates.
# [https://www.hkarmy.com/pages/privacy-policy Privacy Policy and Information]. HK Army, official business address and company information. Accessed 27 October 2026.
# [https://www.hkarmy.com/pages/patents-trademarks "HK Army Patents and Trademarks"], HK Army. Official information about company trademarks, patents and licensed technology.
# [https://davemcauley14.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/cassidy-sanders-interview/ Cassidy Sanders Interview]. ''ProPaintball'', February 2012; reproduced by Dave McAuley, 19 May 2012.
# [https://paintball.media/hk-army-nxl-team-sponsorships-and-paint-deals/ "HK Army NXL Team Sponsorships and Paint Deals"], Paintball Media, 8 February 2016. Contemporary details of the company's NXL sponsorship and paint-contingency programmes.
# [https://www.threads.com/@markyhkarmy Mark Kressin]. Public Threads profile identifying Kressin as an owner and co-founder of HK Army Inc. Accessed 27 October 2026.
# [https://www.hkarmy.com/pages/hk-army-sponsorship "HK Army Sponsorship"], HK Army. Official current team sponsorship programme.
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/11/04/san-diego-dynasty-signs-with-hk-army/ Breaking News: Dynasty Signs with HK Army]. ''Social Paintball'', 4 November 2012.
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/01/20/on-hk-army-and-agglettes/ "On Agglettes"], Andrew Levick, Social Paintball, 20 January 2012. Contemporary commentary discussing HK Army's relationship with agg culture.
# [https://bearscup.blogspot.com/2008/03/ HK Army Booth!]. Bear D'Egidio, Bears Cup blog, 10 March 2008.
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/02/23/new-hk-army-video-psp-world-cup-2011-championship/ New HK Army Video: PSP World Cup 2011 Championship]. Israel L., ''Social Paintball'', 23 February 2012.
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/01/20/on-hk-army-and-agglettes/ On Agglettes]. Andrew Levick, ''Social Paintball'', 20 January 2012.
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/02/09/hk-army-shredder-paintball-cleats-and-new-pbfashion-video/ HK Army Shredder Paintball Cleats and New PbFashion Video]. Paul Forcier, ''Social Paintball'', 9 February 2012.
# [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/05/08/breaking-news-hk-army-signs-san-francisco-explicit-new-logo-and-jersey/ Breaking News: HK Army Signs San Francisco Explicit, New Logo and Jersey]. Israel L., ''Social Paintball'', 8 May 2012.
# [https://www.paintballsports.de/ausruestung/masken/hk-army-masken/ Die HK Army KLR Paintball Maske bei Paintball Sports]. Paintball Sports, historical product description. Accessed 27 October 2026.
# [https://paintball.media/?p=820 HK Army Surf City Paintball Open]. John Amodea, ''Paintball Media'', 11 January 2015; report on the 2014 tournament.
# [https://viewer.joomag.com/paintball-magazine-july-2015-issue/0548846001435490793/p8 New Product Spotlight: HK TFX Loader]. ''Paintball Magazine'', July 2015, p. 8.
# [https://paintball.media/hk-army-nxl-team-sponsorships-and-paint-deals/ HK Army NXL Team Sponsorships and Paint Deals]. ''Paintball Media'', 8 February 2016.
# [https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2016/Shocker-Paintball-Recalls-Paintball-Markers Shocker Paintball Recalls Paintball Markers Due to Risk of Injury]. United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 10 August 2016.
# [https://paintball.media/?p=2481 Dynasty Switches Guns]. ''Paintball Media'', 15 February 2017.
# [https://esportsinsider.com/2017/07/meta-threads David Siqueiros: Meta Threads: We've seen a lot of new companies come up and do their own thing]. Lydia Mitrevski, ''Esports Insider'', updated 3 August 2017.
# [https://paintballruinedmylife.com/2019/10/30/hk-army-a51-luxe-x/ HK Army A51 Luxe X]. Brad Johnson, ''Paintball Ruined My Life'', 30 October 2019.
# [https://www.paintball.de/blog/HK-Army-x-Planet-Eclipse-Invader-CS2-Pro-Limitierte-Edition/b-299/ HK Army x Planet Eclipse Invader CS2 Pro Limitierte Edition]. Paintball.de, 7 November 2019.
# [https://paintmagazine.com/paintball-history/the-pinokio-hopper/ The Pinokio Hopper]. ''Paint'', historical account. Accessed 27 October 2026.
# [https://paintballruinedmylife.com/2021/05/05/hk-army-slr-paintball-goggles/ HK Army SLR Paintball Goggles]. Brad Johnson, ''Paintball Ruined My Life'', 5 May 2021.
# [https://www.nxlpaintball.com/post/2021-nxl-mid-atlantic-major-event-recap 2021 NXL Mid-Atlantic Major Event Recap]. Quinn Nadu, National Xball League, 3 July 2021.
# [https://popularairsoft.com/news/hk-army-alpha-air-system HK Army Alpha Air System]. ''Popular Airsoft'', 24 April 2024, reproducing HK Army product information.
# [https://www.blackfridaypaintball.com/blogs/products/first-look-and-product-review-hk-army-rmx-goggle-system First Look and Product Review: HK Army RMX Goggle System]. Samuel Severson, BFPGear, 13 November 2025.


== External links ==
== External links ==


* [https://www.hkarmy.com/ Official HK Army Website]
* [https://www.hkarmy.com/ Official website]
* [https://www.hkarmy.com/pages/about-us HK Army Company History]
* [https://www.instagram.com/hkarmy/ Official Instagram account]
* [https://www.hkarmy.com/pages/patents-trademarks Patents and Trademarks]
* [https://www.youtube.com/hkarmyclothing Official YouTube channel]
* [https://www.socialpaintball.com/2012/11/04/san-diego-dynasty-signs-with-hk-army/ 2012 San Diego Dynasty Sponsorship Announcement]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.hkarmy.com/ HK Army — Internet Archive]


[[Category:Paintball equipment manufacturers]]
[[Category:Paintball equipment manufacturers]]

Latest revision as of 01:05, 27 October 2026

HK Army is an American paintball equipment and apparel company which dates its founding to 2007. It developed from the Hostile Kids, a Southern California tournament team active during the early 2000s. The business began with custom headbands and clothing before expanding into playing equipment, paintballs and branded paintball markers.[1][2][3]

HK Army's growth included professional team sponsorships, promotional films, tournament organisation and acquisitions. It acquired Pinokio Hoppers in 2018 and announced the acquisition of the Valken brand in October 2026.[4][5]

The company is based in Long Beach, California. According to its official company history, its products are distributed in more than 60 countries.[1][6]

History

[edit]

Hostile Kids origins

[edit]

The initials HK came from Hostile Kids. In an account republished in 2008, Alex Fraige recalled encountering the team at SC Village in early 2002. Former captain Alex Cadalso traced its origins to a youth tournament organised by Hostile Takeover at Tombstone Paintball in Corona, California. Scott Kressin, Mark Kressin and Steve Nabi won that event and adopted the Hostile Kids identity.[2]

The team subsequently recruited additional players and competed in tournament paintball. Fraige's account described its eventual break-up as members were recruited by professional teams.[2]

In a 2012 interview, former player Cassidy Sanders recalled returning to paintball after several years away and finding that former teammates had developed HK Army into a clothing business. He then contributed his filmmaking skills to the company.[7]

Headbands and the early business

[edit]

HK Army's official history identifies 2007 as the company's founding year. A retrospective in Paintball Media Magazine describes its initial products as custom headbands and apparel.[1][3]

Mark Kressin, known as Mr. H, identifies himself as a co-founder of HK Army.[8][9]

Contemporary evidence of the early business survives in reports from the 2008 Bears Cup tournament series. A post published by organiser Bear D'Egidio on 10 March 2008 described a booth for HK Army clothing and pbFashion headgear. It identified Mark Kressin at the booth and recorded the attendance of Hollywood HK with its tour bus.[10]

Online video and brand identity

[edit]

During the early 2010s, HK Army promoted its products through tournament films featuring both competition and activity away from the field. Sanders's work provided a direct connection between the original Hostile Kids players and the company's media output. In his 2012 interview, he discussed filming for HK Army, using DSLR cameras and setting paintball footage to music.[7]

One documented example was the company's film of the 2011 PSP World Cup, released in February 2012. Filmed and edited by Sanders, it combined footage of play with scenes away from the field.[11]

HK Army and pbFashion also became associated with Agg, the paintball subculture concerned with playing style, clothing and appearance. Contemporary commentary in Social Paintball discussed that association and recorded the brands' promotion of paintball at music events including Warped Tour.[12]

Equipment and professional sponsorship in 2012

[edit]

By early 2012, HK Army was selling equipment beyond its original headwear and casual clothing. In February, Social Paintball reported the introduction of Shredder paintball cleats. The report also identified sponsorship relationships with San Diego Dynasty, Russian Legion and Arsenal.[13]

In May 2012, HK Army signed the professional team San Francisco Explicit. The arrangement included new playing jerseys and a redesigned team logo. Steve Nabi represented HK Army in the announcement, while Explicit owner Rob Montiero confirmed the relationship.[14]

On 4 November 2012, HK Army announced a two-year agreement with San Diego Dynasty covering the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The equipment specified in the agreement included Hardline jerseys, protective pads and playing trousers, Eject harnesses, gear bags, backpacks, speed feeds and Shredder cleats.[9]

The agreement also provided for Dynasty to test new products and collaborate on their development. Plans included Dynasty-branded merchandise sold through ANSgear and joint promotion of training sessions, Streetball events and professional player clinics.[9]

Goggles, loaders and tournament events

[edit]

HK Army expanded into protective goggles with the KLR, announced in 2013. The product established a separate goggle range alongside the company's clothing, padding and accessories.[15]

In 2014, HK Army and Chuck Hendsch organised the Surf City Paintball Open at Huntington Beach after the National Professional Paintball League suspended its event programme. The standalone tournament offered two-player and five-player competition. Some planned divisions were cancelled because of low entry numbers, but the remaining competition went ahead on a field on the beach.[16]

The TFX electronic loader followed in 2015. A contemporary product report in the July issue of Paintball Magazine described its recent release, including a spring-loaded tray intended to move paintballs towards the feed mechanism and a design allowing maintenance without tools.[17]

By February 2016, HK Army offered a sponsorship programme for teams competing in the National Xball League. It combined custom jerseys, equipment packages and discounted tournament paint. Teams could arrange participation through local shops and fields as well as directly with HK Army.[18]

The programme included paint credits for qualifying teams finishing first or second at NXL events. It also offered opportunities for sponsored teams to appear in the company's photographs, event videos and social media coverage.[18]

Marker range and the Marq platform

[edit]

HK Army marketed branded versions of established paintball markers as its equipment range expanded. These included private-label Shocker RSX models. On 10 August 2016, Shocker Paintball's recall of affected RSX markers included HK Army editions. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that the main chamber assembly could eject from the rear of the marker. Eight failures and no injuries had been reported, and a replacement chamber was offered without charge.[19]

In February 2017, Paintball Media reported that HK Army had recently acquired rights to the Marq marker platform associated with Bob Long. The report stated that HK Army intended to develop its own version of the design.[20]

Apparel business expansion

[edit]

HK Army's experience producing paintball clothing also contributed to the development of the esports apparel business Meta Threads. In a 2017 interview, Meta Threads lead designer David Siqueiros identified HK Army as its parent company and described moving from designing custom paintball jerseys into clothing for esports teams. He explained that the businesses shared design approaches and overlapping audiences.[21]

Pinokio acquisition and marker collaborations

[edit]

In 2018, HK Army acquired Pinokio Hoppers. The acquisition added established loader designs to its range, including the Pinokio Speed, which was subsequently sold as the HK Army Speed.[4]

The Speed was a pre-existing Pinokio product. Following the acquisition, it was marketed alongside HK Army's TFX loader range. A 2019 review also recorded its adoption by San Diego Dynasty.[4]

The company also continued working with other marker manufacturers. In 2019, its A51 Luxe X models used the underlying DLX Luxe X platform with distinctive body milling. A further A51 version was announced ahead of that year's NXL World Cup.[22]

In November 2019, HK Army and Planet Eclipse introduced the Invader CS2 Pro. The special edition used the CS2 Pro platform with a different body design and an HK-themed rear cap.[23]

Product development during the 2020s

[edit]

HK Army reissued the original Pinokio hopper in 2020. That design used an optional front extension to increase its paintball capacity.[24]

The company continued developing its protective equipment. In May 2021, the SLR goggles were introduced as a successor to the KLR. Contemporary coverage described changes to the mask's ventilation, construction, rear strap support and chin strap.[25]

HK Army also remained involved in national tournament events. The NXL's report on its 2021 Mid-Atlantic Major identified the company among the event's major sponsors and exhibitors.[26]

By April 2024, HK Army was promoting the Alpha Air range of compressed-air systems for paintball and airsoft. The range included carbon-fibre-wrapped cylinders in several capacities, with the company's launch material emphasising reduced size and weight.[27]

Further goggle products included the skull-shaped Skull range, covered in Paintball Media Magazine in February 2025, and the RMX system, reviewed by BFPGear in November 2025. The RMX incorporated a flexible lower mask and a lens mechanism designed for changes without tools.[3][28]

By this period, the company's catalogue encompassed goggles, loaders, barrels, air systems, protective equipment, playing clothing, casual apparel and accessories. HK Army described its distribution as extending to more than 60 countries.[1]

Acquisition of the Valken brand

[edit]

In October 2026, HK Army announced that it had acquired the Valken brand and become its exclusive worldwide manufacturer and distributor.[5]

The announcement stated that the company intended to develop Valken's paintball and airsoft activities. It also said that further announcements would follow during the week and at the NXL World Cup.[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. About HK Army. HK Army, official company history. Accessed 27 October 2026.
  2. From Street Rats to World Class Pros: The HK Army. Alex Fraige, including an interview with Alex Cadalso; republished by ThisISPaintball.ca, 12 May 2008.
  3. HK Army Skull Paintball Goggles. Paintball Media Magazine, February 2025, p. 67.
  4. HK Army Speed Review: Lightweight and Baby Tiny. Brad Johnson, Paintball Ruined My Life, 17 October 2019.
  5. HK Army acquires Valken. HK Army, official Instagram announcement, October 2026.
  6. Privacy Policy and Information. HK Army, official business address and company information. Accessed 27 October 2026.
  7. Cassidy Sanders Interview. ProPaintball, February 2012; reproduced by Dave McAuley, 19 May 2012.
  8. Mark Kressin. Public Threads profile identifying Kressin as an owner and co-founder of HK Army Inc. Accessed 27 October 2026.
  9. Breaking News: Dynasty Signs with HK Army. Social Paintball, 4 November 2012.
  10. HK Army Booth!. Bear D'Egidio, Bears Cup blog, 10 March 2008.
  11. New HK Army Video: PSP World Cup 2011 Championship. Israel L., Social Paintball, 23 February 2012.
  12. On Agglettes. Andrew Levick, Social Paintball, 20 January 2012.
  13. HK Army Shredder Paintball Cleats and New PbFashion Video. Paul Forcier, Social Paintball, 9 February 2012.
  14. Breaking News: HK Army Signs San Francisco Explicit, New Logo and Jersey. Israel L., Social Paintball, 8 May 2012.
  15. Die HK Army KLR Paintball Maske bei Paintball Sports. Paintball Sports, historical product description. Accessed 27 October 2026.
  16. HK Army Surf City Paintball Open. John Amodea, Paintball Media, 11 January 2015; report on the 2014 tournament.
  17. New Product Spotlight: HK TFX Loader. Paintball Magazine, July 2015, p. 8.
  18. HK Army NXL Team Sponsorships and Paint Deals. Paintball Media, 8 February 2016.
  19. Shocker Paintball Recalls Paintball Markers Due to Risk of Injury. United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 10 August 2016.
  20. Dynasty Switches Guns. Paintball Media, 15 February 2017.
  21. David Siqueiros: Meta Threads: We've seen a lot of new companies come up and do their own thing. Lydia Mitrevski, Esports Insider, updated 3 August 2017.
  22. HK Army A51 Luxe X. Brad Johnson, Paintball Ruined My Life, 30 October 2019.
  23. HK Army x Planet Eclipse Invader CS2 Pro Limitierte Edition. Paintball.de, 7 November 2019.
  24. The Pinokio Hopper. Paint, historical account. Accessed 27 October 2026.
  25. HK Army SLR Paintball Goggles. Brad Johnson, Paintball Ruined My Life, 5 May 2021.
  26. 2021 NXL Mid-Atlantic Major Event Recap. Quinn Nadu, National Xball League, 3 July 2021.
  27. HK Army Alpha Air System. Popular Airsoft, 24 April 2024, reproducing HK Army product information.
  28. First Look and Product Review: HK Army RMX Goggle System. Samuel Severson, BFPGear, 13 November 2025.
[edit]
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