The Pro Nine is almost a verbatim knockoff of the Honig's K1. I've owned both, and the Pro Nine is not less protective than the Honig's. And I like Honig's and the K-1 was fine while I used it, although I prefer the West Vest Gold for maximum, the ultimate, in protection.

If you are going to do HS ball, the only recommendation I have is a hard shell chest protector. Being one that got creamed, during a varsity game using a soft protector a few years ago, I have the experience of the white hot searing pain after a foul ball nails you square in the chest. It was a interesting afternoon of meeting paramedics, doctors and nurses. It was also expensive after they had to chop off all the gear. It took several hours and a lot of drugs to get my heart back to a normal rhythm.

I bought a WV Platinum after that incident and never regretted it. It gets a little hot but the protection is unmatched. I did experiment with a K1 but I think I was a little gun shy of soft protectors after that incident. Besides, when you get hit, all you hear is the sound - you don't feel a thing!

Hey all,

I also have the V-Sport, 17" version, and I love it. I do also own the Pro-Nine CP and I NEVER had a complaint about it until I took a foul ball in one of the lesser protected crease areas.:eek: The shoulders are fine for a lot more than the body is, hence, I now use the V-Sport for anything over LL Minors.

LomUmp:cool:

yeah, thats my only thing where the creases are..but it should be fine. I know a guy that uses a flimsy Diamond chest protector (the one that looks like a catchers protector) doing upper level games on the 90' diamond. So im protected then he is :D