NB Plate vs. Davis Patent Leather?

[RPatrino]

Used my new NB plates yesterday, and I have to say, they are the most comfortable plate shoes I've ever worn.

Rich, have you got yours yet?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Used my new NB plates yesterday, and I have to say, they are the most comfortable plate shoes I've ever worn.

Rich, have you got yours yet?

Worked a college DH yesterday. I'm ready to order a few more pairs of each. They are the most comfortable plate and base shoes I've ever owned.

[UMP25]

Figures that the NB site wouldn't have my exact size in extra wide. They seem to have all the sizes above and below mine. I had to do a lot of searching and found an officials' site that did have my 11.5 EWs, and it was even cheaper than the NB site's price.

[MajorDave]

I got my son's NB450's for him. They are very light and have good traction compared to the Gerry Davis high top's. The gloss is no where near as nice on NB. Has anyone tried to Leather Luster the NB450's? If so, how did it go, can you post or forward a link to some pic's?

I did my first games tonight-Plate at HS varsity then bases on JV. Shined up the GD's this afternoon using the Pedag polish from Honig's (other's have it, too) and heel/edge dressing from Kiwi. As soon as I took the field to inspect gear the kids all exclaimed "look at that ump's shoes! I've never seen any shoes so shiny? They look like mirror's!" and other stuff like that. So, I am happy with the GD's for now.

During JV game the winning varsity coach coached first and he started a conversation with me about how much he enjoyed playing in our region (his school is in a neighboring region) because the umpires all looked and acted professionally, unlike the stiffs who just show up for a check in his region. I laughed to myself because I teach at a school in his region but officiate in a different region primarily due to the reason he mentioned. Hard to believe it but only three or four professionals who look and act the part in his entire region.

I see it as a personal choice. Great looks and some comfort but lots of weight versus okay looks, great comfort and light weight. Simply a personal style decision. If they leather luster up nicely, the NB 450s would definitely be the choice due to the weight and comfort. I am reasonably quick so I have no problem covering what I need to in the GD patent hightops. I hope this helps.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MajorDave

I got my son's NB450's for him. They are very light and have good traction compared to the Gerry Davis high top's. The gloss is no where near as nice on NB. Has anyone tried to Leather Luster the NB450's? If so, how did it go, can you post or forward a link to some pic's?

I did my first games tonight-Plate at HS varsity then bases on JV. Shined up the GD's this afternoon using the Pedag polish from Honig's (other's have it, too) and heel/edge dressing from Kiwi. As soon as I took the field to inspect gear the kids all exclaimed "look at that ump's shoes! I've never seen any shoes so shiny? They look like mirror's!" and other stuff like that. So, I am happy with the GD's for now.

During JV game the winning varsity coach coached first and he started a conversation with me about how much he enjoyed playing in our region (his school is in a neighboring region) because the umpires all looked and acted professionally, unlike the stiffs who just show up for a check in his region. I laughed to myself because I teach at a school in his region but officiate in a different region primarily due to the reason he mentioned. Hard to believe it but only three or four professionals who look and act the part in his entire region.

I see it as a personal choice. Great looks and some comfort but lots of weight versus okay looks, great comfort and light weight. Simply a personal style decision. If they leather luster up nicely, the NB 450s would definitely be the choice due to the weight and comfort. I am reasonably quick so I have no problem covering what I need to in the GD patent hightops. I hope this helps.

To me it's all about comfort. The NB shoes are shiny enough. I don't need to see my reflection in a pair of shoes. It doesn't make me any less of a professional to not have a mirror shine on my shoes.

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by MajorDave

I did my first games tonight-Plate at HS varsity then bases on JV. Shined up the GD's this afternoon using the Pedag polish from Honig's (other's have it, too) and heel/edge dressing from Kiwi.
I am reasonably quick so I have no problem covering what I need to in the GD patent hightops. I hope this helps.

I'm confused (nothing new there).

Do you mean that you actually use the Pedag polish on patent leather shoes? I thought the beauty of patent leather was that you didn't need to shine them?

[MajorDave]

Yes, it is a cleaner, polisher specifically made for patent leather to fill in cracks, condition the "leather", etc. It is amazing. Another "blue" told me about it and I had a credit balance with Honig's from a 15% off gift certificate I bought myself at Christmas so I said "what the heck" and tried it for the first time yesterday. As I stated earlier, a significant number of folks noticed the shine on my GDS high tops. I got offered some summer games (they are usually not centrally assigned like HS and College around here) by both coaches. I spent 23 years in the Army and Army Reserve and was a pretty good spit shiner of boots but I am not interested in doing that anymore. I recommend it for patent leather shoes/boots. This is a great product. I understand that there is also a black Pedag polish (German product) for regular leather shoes. I might try that sometime too. A little bit goes a looooooong way.

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by MajorDave

Yes, it is a cleaner, polisher specifically made for patent leather to fill in cracks, condition the "leather", etc. It is amazing. Another "blue" told me about it and I had a credit balance with Honig's from a 15% off gift certificate I bought myself at Christmas so I said "what the heck" and tried it for the first time yesterday. As I stated earlier, a significant number of folks noticed the shine on my GDS high tops. I got offered some summer games (they are usually not centrally assigned like HS and College around here) by both coaches. I spent 23 years in the Army and Army Reserve and was a pretty good spit shiner of boots but I am not interested in doing that anymore. I recommend it for patent leather shoes/boots. This is a great product. I understand that there is also a black Pedag polish (German product) for regular leather shoes. I might try that sometime too. A little bit goes a looooooong way.

Hmmm.... this sounds great to me. I have a pair of SpotBilt patent plate shoes that have a scratch on the met-guard. I never knew that there was polish specifically designed for patene leather. I'll buy some today.

BTW- I used to use the regular Pedag on my old POS plate shoes, nice shine. I also use the Pedag neutral on my base shoes. Again, very nice shine.

I too spent some time in the Army and National Guard, I will never "spit shine" with Kiwi again!

[mikebran]

I just "broke in" my new NEW BALANCE plate shoes for a 3:20 9 inning JC game. My strike zone was still for crap...and my partners hate me.


Oh, sure, they are light and comfy and all that.. but I swear the brochure says.. "You'll master the low pitch with these babies".. or something like that...

[Mark Pierce]

I purchased the NB 350's (mid-high base) last week. I had some difficulty locating the mid-high at the normal outlets and stumbled upon the zappos.com website. They had the shoe in my size with FREE OVERNIGHT shipping. Ordered at 9:00am on Thursday and had them before 10:00am Friday. Very comfortable shoe and the mid-high provides good support for us weak-ankled people.

Mark

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

Worked a college DH yesterday. I'm ready to order a few more pairs of each. They are the most comfortable plate and base shoes I've ever owned.

Rich,

I've owned NB "gym shoes"--remember when we used to call everyday sneakers "gym shoes"?--for several years as my general walkaround wear and love them. They beat Nike, Adidas, Reebok, and everyone else for comfort. I purchased NB high top base shoes a few years back and LOVE them! It's like I'm walking and running on sponges that give me so much comfort.

Well, yesterday I strapped on my NB plate shoes for the first time. They truly ARE the most comfortable plate shoes I have ever worn! I've worn the Davis plate shoes for the last several years and really liked their look--that can't be beaten. However, they're sadly so darn heavy, and when one has to rotate in a 2-man or 3-man crew and run around, well...these shoes wear on you. Not to mention having to do this for 9 innings!

With the Davis shin guards I use, which are the lightest ones around, the NB plate shoes make it seem like I've got nothing on below my waist (equipment-wise, that is). I no longer feel like I'm treading water trying to run. It's a big help on my legs and feet, that's for sure.

So now it has come down to: do I go with the look of the GD shoes or the comfort of the NB shoes? Guess which one wins?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Rich,

I've owned NB "gym shoes"--remember when we used to call everyday sneakers "gym shoes"?--for several years as my general walkaround wear and love them. They beat Nike, Adidas, Reebok, and everyone else for comfort. I purchased NB high top base shoes a few years back and LOVE them! It's like I'm walking and running on sponges that give me so much comfort.

Well, yesterday I strapped on my NB plate shoes for the first time. They truly ARE the most comfortable plate shoes I have ever worn! I've worn the Davis plate shoes for the last several years and really liked their look--that can't be beaten. However, they're sadly so darn heavy, and when one has to rotate in a 2-man or 3-man crew and run around, well...these shoes wear on you. Not to mention having to do this for 9 innings!

With the Davis shin guards I use, which are the lightest ones around, the NB plate shoes make it seem like I've got nothing on below my waist (equipment-wise, that is). I no longer feel like I'm treading water trying to run. It's a big help on my legs and feet, that's for sure.

So now it has come down to: do I go with the look of the GD shoes or the comfort of the NB shoes? Guess which one wins?

Worked a college DH today and both pairs are full of slop. Still no complaints, though. Great comfort.

[Rich]

Not to sound like a shill, but:

NB Web Express is having a 10% and free shipping sale for the next 48 hours.

So base shoes are only $58.49 and plate shoes are only $89.99 shipped for the next 2 days.

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

Not to sound like a shill, but:

NB Web Express is having a 10% and free shipping sale for the next 48 hours.

So base shoes are only $58.49 and plate shoes are only $89.99 shipped for the next 2 days.

Any non-believers will thank Rich for pointing out this deal...

[RPatrino]

While comfy as all get out, they sure don't shine up like my GD patents.... and MikeBran, that low pitch claim was referring to the GD system (Plate Stance) !!!!