new Wilson mask

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by gotblue?

Now that the grammar lessons appear to be finished, and the posts are veering back toward relevancy, I would like to ask a question.

Posts in this thread refer to the Wilson Chrome Moliben mask as being "new", and one poster discusses his purchase of one this Spring as putting him in the category of being an "early adopter".

I have a Wilson Chrome Moliben mask that is going into its fourth Spring season, so I would have a hard time referring to this model as being a "new" one. Mine does not have wraparound pads (at least I don't think it does), so is this a design change that has people calling it "new", or has Wilson modified the mask in some way such that it is different from the one that I have been wearing for three years now? Just a matter of curiosity to me.

I like the view that the mask provides nearly as much as the view afforded by the AllStar2300 hockey style mask that was given to me as a Christmas present about 14 months ago. That, combined with its light weight, and no damage to date, make it my choice over the AllStar HSM and other masks.

I believe it was introduced originally with the normal, traditional mask pads. Then after about a year or so, the new "wrap around" Wilson mask pads appeared on the mask. It is also called the "new view" or "Davis new view mask" because of the closer mask frame. Same mask, though.

[ctblu40]

... and I love it. Very light, great view. I bought my newest one last month (my other was dented just a little) complete with wrap around pads. After doing some pre-season cage work, I've decided to switch the wrap around pads out with the pads from my 3 yr old mask. The wrap arounds are simply not as comfortable as the old "square" ones, IMO.

BTW- I was going to look into getting a different brand, but I just really like the Wilson.... so I stayed with that.

[gotblue?]

I just picked up my second Wilson ChromeMoliben mask (got a reasonable deal on eBay, new, not used), as my teenage son began boosting my original one last fall to umpire LL games. My first has the original mask pads, the new one has the wraparounds.

My first impression is that the old pads are more comfortable, also. I will, however, give the wraparounds a fair trial.

One thing that I notice about the wraparounds is that, on the lower (chin) pad, the groove in the front of the pad that the cage is supposed to seat in (it is supposed to do that, isn't it?), does not seem to be contoured to match the corresponding wire of the mask. When the mask arrived, the cage was not seated in the groove, and the pad felt much bulkier. After considerable tweaking of the Velcro fasteners, I got it close to being seated, and the pad was more comfortable after that.