I umpire HS and everything below. I have been in search for a new chest protector for some time now. The problem I have is that I am 5'7" and around 150 lbs. I am trying to find something that fits my body and is not very bulky. I have a protector by UmpGear. It was given to me by the local league president. I have looked at a couple different brands and styles and I find the West Vest to be very good. (from what I hear from other umpires as well) but I do not want to purchase it and then have the same problem I do now. My protector is very good and in great condition and I do not want to sacrifice protection for anything.

Does anyone have suggestions to me? If you do feel free to email me or simply reply

Thank you
Brandon

Brandon,
I'm 5' 7'' and approximatley 160 pounds. I hope to return to 150 again.

I find the West Vest Gold in the 13" model is the best fitting vest I've tried. I did remove the two smaller plates on the lower ouside edge of the protector, and adjusted the attachments of the shoulder plates to fit me better.

Roger Greene

[Edited by Roger Greene on Jan 5th, 2004 at 09:04 PM]

Thank you so much for you input. I really like the look of the West Vest.

And from what I have seen as it being in action I think it works very well too

I have used this chest protector since I started umpiring nearly 8 years ago. Just want a change and something to better fit

Thank you

Brandon

I would check out the Honig's K1, I recently bought the West Vest Platinum but understand you not wanting something too "bulky" or "heavy." Everybody I know who uses this one really likes its combination of lightness and coolness combined with great protection needed for HS varsity level baseball but can also be worn with little kids because its so light.

What do you think about the Platinum?

i have seen one fellow umpire use a honig's protector. he almost preaches by everything honigs. so you believe the honig's k1 would give me excellent protection? that is my major concern. granted i do want a less bulky protector but without the sacrifice of the protection.

thank you for your reply and help

I've got a Platinum and I love it. It does make you look like RoboCop though. The protection is unsurpassed. My son uses a Cooper UMP1000. Less bulky, flexable hard plates, washable and very cool. It's a nice rig, but hard to find.

to be honest my protector makes me look like robo cop especially with my body size.

i think the platinum looks really great (meaning protection and fit)

From the people i know (I have a WV Platinum), they love the Honig's K1 Protector. It offers the protection needed during a HS varsity game but with the size & weight of a softball protector (according to them). Personally, I love my West Vest, but I havent heard any knocks against the Honig's K1 myself

to mrm

how is the fit of the WV Platinum protector?

i am looking into purchasing either this one or the K1

My Platinum fits well. I like it -- it offers superior protection.

I work college, HS, and adult amateur baseball, and I wouldn't ever wear a lighter protector just because it's a "lesser" game. That baseball is dumb and it doesn't know it's not supposed to hurt you because it's a LL game.

I would work with a balloon, though, if they ever came back into vogue :)

Rich

Platinum Fit
 

When I first tried it on (I ordered it from Honig's), I absolutely hated it and thought of taking it back. After messing around with it and sizing it (My body size isnt THAT much bigger than yours), i totally love it. Basically the back straps are pulled very tight so the protector sits up "high" around my neck and stuff, but its definitley the best out there for the money. Actually it is not that bulky when you look at when im in full uniform, its not as bad as you might think. Take care, hope this helps :)

I went from the West Vest to the K1 and was pleased.
Went from feeling like a turtle to free as a bird, and it's taken some shots at 90 mph, too!!

Everyone has given me great info....there is only one prob...it is all good news about each...but that is great

i guess it is all up to me from here
torn between which to get...i guess order if i dont like send it back and get the other one...

thanks to all for your help input...if you have further info feel free to add it

and Good Luck for this upcoming season hope all is well on the diamond

Don't forgot Cece - best protector I've ever used.

http://www.calsportsofficials.com/cece_carlucci.html

AL

When I started umpiring in 1965 (age 16, in a 13–15 league), I used the outside balloon protector and actually liked it. Even in the early 1970s (semipro league), the balloon was what they gave you. I know you don't have the mobility, but I always felt safer behind the balloon than wearing an inside chest protector. You could get your whole body, arms and all, behind it. I can't remember ever getting hurt with the balloon.

But the balloon is obsolete now. I don't see them in any catalogues. And I admit they didn't look very cool.

Remember a few years back when the umps went on strike and they had to use the "replacement umps" There was one guy, he was doing a Yankee game and he was using the balloon. About dropped over when I saw it.

I've owned the +POS armour, I've used the WV, and I own the K-1. K-1 is the best protector on the market today. It is light, breathes very well, and does not compromise my safety one iota. It is AWESOME.

BK:

Thanks that helped a lot. Since posting this I have continued to be back and forth between which I wanted, whether it be the K1 or the WV Plat. Your post really helped. Everyone else's helped too though.

Again thanks to all for helping me out

how about this for you?
 

what about the Douglas Vest Chest Protector??? (douglaspads.com) heard that they're pretty good too. have even heard that it could be better than the West Vest brand.

The douglas Vest looks sharp. Though it looks to be bulky. this is on the net. But it looks very sharp something worth looking into. Thank you

Douglas made the West Vest prior to Wilson. I have one of the originals (along with a newer West Vest model). It is bulkier than the new west Vests.


The newer Douglas Vests are also bulkier. What Douglas does VERY well, is shin guards.

I merely glimpsed across the shin gaurds as i went to the chest protectors

i honestly think i have a very good, excellent, set of shin guards. i bought mine thru pluspos tho.

thank you

I currently use the West Vest, and I absolutely love it. It is very comfortable, and it does the job very well.

One of the shots I ever took while wearing the West Vest was one right down the pipe in the chest, and I never felt a thing.

The West Vest is the only chest protector I will ever use.

johnsandlin

what size are you? I am 5'7 around 155 lbs.

The WV looks to be superior as far as protection goes but is it bulky? (your opinion) I have read others say no and yes to that question.

thanks for you help

brandon

I'm 5' 10" and weight 150.

I started with the K-1. After taking a shot during a LL Big League game that left me with a bruise in the shoulder area (the older K-1 has less protection in that region), I decided I wanted a hard shell protector. I tired the Platinum, but gave up on it after one year. It was too bulky for me and just didn't fit well. I tried a couple of other protectors but had the same problem.

I was going to try the Douglas this season until I ran across the new ITECH UMP3000 from Lester's Upstate Sports. It seems to fit well and is quite comfortable. It has the Cool Max lining for those hot days (if we ever get them again). I eager for our snow and ice to get out of here so I can give it a try. You might want to give it a look.

where can i find the itech protector?

Here's a link to Lester's Upstate Sports.

Click here:
<A HREF="http://www.lestersupstatesports.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LUS&Product_Cod e=BA818&Category_Code=CH" target="_blank">Lester's Upstate Sports - ITECH UMP3000</a>

[Edited by Delaware Blue on Jan 30th, 2004 at 05:51 AM]

Hmmm... maybe you could try itech.com

i have a regular Douglas protector that i bought 4 years ago, and i will say it is 10X the protector my wilson west vest was. reason is, i'm about 5'8" and 170 and the wilson WV was too bulky. i looked like robocop, as someone put it. i was working a tournament and a guy my size had a the douglas and he said he loved it. he let me wear it a game and it was smaller fitting, lighter, and was much better in forming to my frame. for me, the douglas is THE way to go. i have taken some legit shots with it with college kids runnin' it up there better than 90 and i noticed no difference in protection in comparison to the WV.

I just purchased the Platinum WV and tried it on. It was not only bulkier than I expected, it was hell getting my umpire shirt to go over the shoulder pads(I ripped a seam on my shirt). Its almost a 2 man job. Does anyone else who uses the WV have that problem? I'm 6'tall and about 225lbs.
Not sure if my size is the problem.
Even getting the shirt off was not an easy task.
I'm tempted to return the WV and stick to my Honig's.

nah, keep the west vest.....slip off the arms of the shirt first and then take it off, i know what youre sayin though, it was quite a hassle in the beginning

K1 chest protector
 

If you like the Honig K1 chest protector you should check out the Pro 9 CPU chest protector. Its the same protector and I've seen it on a few sites selling at $45 to $60.

Honig's sells one, it is in their catalog page 13 http://www.honigs.com/detail.asp?Cat=&Sub=&Item=365. There is no picture of it but they do sell an outside chest protector. It's number is K202. I too have used an outside chest protector in the past, and I did feel very protected. And for only $42.95 it is much cheaper than a good inside protector. MC Sports aslo sels one and it is made by Rawlings. Only $39.99 too. http://www.mcsports.com/product/inde...entPage=family. Does anyone still use one of these anymore?