NB Plate vs. Davis Patent Leather?
 

Has anyone had experience with both? Just got done with a 3 hour HS marathon ( long game, long story) and my dogs were BARKING!! I have never had any problems with my feet using my Davis Patents, until yesterday!!

I have had these shoes for about 2 1/2 years. How long do most keep your plate shoes?

I am thinking strongly about getting NB, what do those who use them think?

i used the NBs all throughout last summer, and i think they are great. they are incredibly comfortable and lightweight, not to mention a good price. the only thing i was unsure of was that they are high-tops, which i never used before. i have always used low-tops but it was a quick and easy switch, not to mention a comfortable one on those long hot summer days.

i have used the NB base shoes since they came out, and ive been an everyday wearer of NB shoes for running or just their casual shoes, so that is part of the reason i jumped to them right away. im very happy with them though.

I have a pair of Honigs high tops for about 6 years. I have had them re-heeled once, and completely re-soled once. The uppers are still in good condition. The lining is begining to wear on the inside at the heel location. So, I figure I get another year out of them at least, and I bought a pair of Tanel 360's thinking I would need to break them in. They are very lightweight and by the second game they were broke in, but I have been using high tops for so long it is taking some getting used to. The shoes are fine but my shins are rubbing my ankle bone and that didn't used to happen with high tops. I worked with a partner on Thursday who had a pair of NB plate shoes and I asked him how he liked them and he said he loved them, the most comfortable plate shoe he has ever had.

Mine should be here by Tuesday. I special ordered a pair of 4E widths from NB itself, free shipping, $99. Base shoes came in a separate shipment, $64, free shipping, 2 days ground delivery. I got a DH next Saturday, so I'll post a review.

Rich, thanks for the heads up on the NB site. I ordered a pair myself.

Thanks everyone.

The plate shoes are here:

http://www.nbwebexpress.com/newbalanceMU450MK.htm

The base shoes are here:

http://www.nbwebexpress.com/newbalanceMU350LK.htm

If you need an unusual size (especially 4E width), they'll do a free ground shipping drop ship straight from their warehouse.

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.

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.

I wear Gerry Davis-Son wears NB 450
 

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.

I can't get past the fugly rivets or whatever the fasteners are on the top and bottom of the metatarsal plate.

http://www.nbwebexpress.com/alt_view.asp?style=MU450MK

Garth:

That is an older photo of the shoes before a redesign last year. Davis has the current picture. They arent that bad IMO.

There are still black rivets, but only two near the toe and one near the ankle.

http://tinyurl.com/2jp9cy

They have a gloss finish, but not patent. And they are the most comfortable shoes I've worn. Actually the base shoes are more comfortable.

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?

Pedag Polish for Patent Leather
 

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! ;)

NB 350's
 

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

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.

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.

Not so great
 

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...

I have the 350 base shoes. Excellent shoes, I may buy a second pair with the NBX special....

Hey, I wore mine yesterday -- D3 college game suspended the day before. My plate game - 3.5 innings in 40 minutes. Still covered in dirt and mud and whatever else was on that field.

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

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) !!!!

NB plate 10.5 D available
 

They are unused, just a tad too small for me in the hard portion of the toe. I need to get a 10.5 wide or an 11. I was undecided about giving these a try and now it's too late to return to Ref Shop.

I know some places are back ordered for this shoe. Pls PM me if interested.

Last year I purchased some GD high top patent leather shoes. I love the no-fuss, no-muss care, but now I can't wear the GD shin guards that I had purchased the year before. The shin guards worked well with a pair of regular height steel-toe shoes, providing great protection for my ankles.

Like many of you, I have been wearing NB shoes as my regular shoes for many years now. They are the only wide athletic shoes that I have been truly satisfied with.

So, for those of you who have started using the NB shoes, and who use shin guards with the ankle protection (like the GD guards), do you find that guards sit nicely along your ankles, or do they get splayed out a bit from the higher top of the NB shoes?

Bob

I've used the GD shin guards with the GD plate shoes for the last several years with no problems. I just switched to the NB plate shoes and also have no problems.

I recently purchased the New Balance 450 plate shoes and the Wilson A3409 Triple Knee Shin Guards new for this year, and the guards fit perfectly & protect my ankle just like you would expect.

Alright, okay, enough...I give.

I will test whether comfort can overcome my dislike for the fugliness of these shoes. I ordered a pair yesterday. Unfortunatley NB Web Express doesn't have the quality of customer service/delivery of Honigs or Hit, Run, Score but I'll try not to hold that against them.

Bit the bullet
 

Well, ordered a pair of the NB 450's from Honigs today. With my ABUA membership, I get 10% off anyway, plus I needed to order some other things anyway. I'm excited to get them. I'll get back with you when I get them.

Bob

Everyone gets 10% off at Honig's. :D

And they don't carry the 4E widths, which was the real reason I sought out and found NB Web Express.

Hey Rich,

Yeah, I saw the 4E shoes at WebExpress. I don't need them that wide. The 2E width should be just fine. If I were just buying the shoes, I would have ordered them from WebExpress. But there were some other items that I "needed" to purchase ;) , and I was going to get hit with the S&H charge regardless, so I decided to order from Honig's. Unfortunately, they are being shipped from their NW office, and won't be here until Monday.

Not a big deal, but I'm just anxious to get them.