which CP should I buy
 

which cp is better? i am torn between the 2

http://www.allaroundsportsllc.com/Wi...90_p/a3290.htm

or

http://www.allaroundsportsllc.com/Pr...roductCode=CPU

For serious baseball, neither.

if you have any plans of moving higher than maybe 12U you should consider at least the wilson hardshells or just spring for the West Vest Gold or Platinum, you won't regret it.

http://www.pro-ref.com/catalog/all_a...or_2130439.htm

this is the best protector i have every had.

For softball, either.

For baseball, neither.

I've used a WV, a WV Platinum, and a WV Gold.

Currently, I use a Honig's K1 for everything from LL to college baseball.

Will the K1 provide the same protection as a WV Gold? Doubt it. I took a shot last year and I felt it. Wouldn't have felt it with a WV, but I feel it worth the tradeoff -- the K1 is light and comfortable.

I can't speak about the Davis protector, but I purchased the ProNine protector last summer.

I like it. It fits me well, and I'm a big guy. Don't bother with the bicep protectors though. They do not attach well to the rest of the protector, IMO. I've only used it through Junior League ball in Little League.

It is a much cooler, lighter CP than the Plus Pos CP I got a couple of years ago. If you go with the ProNine, just make sure you get the correct size for your build.

Bob

I agree with Clint, this is the best, most comfortable CP I've ever had.

I've had the Platinum, Gold and 2 Plus POS CP's and this All American is head and shoulders the best.

Save up a little more dough, and buy pro gear.

And as we all know, once you go "balck" you never go back!:)

Hey all,

I have the V-Sport version of this CP and love it! I have the Pro-Nine and that is the reason I now use the V-Sport.

IMHO, the Pro-Nine is great for shots that hit in the middle of the larger pads or shoulder/collar bone areas, HOWEVER, baseballs that hit in the "break point" areas or on the smaller AND THINNER side pads HURT! Don't consider anything other than a hard shell CP. There are great ones out there for some good prices, you just have to search them out.

I have the V-Sport UPRO-17 and my friend has this one: http://www.smitteez.com/index.php?cr...on=show_detail He has the UPRO-15 and he loves his.

LomUmp:cool:

http://www.pro-ref.com/catalog/all_a...or_2130439.htm
I have this one for sale if you are interested it was used for 1/2 season. Please email for any questions.
[email protected] or [email protected]

You can't beat a West Vest Platinum chest protector in my opinion. I bought it at Honigs for around $150 and it was WELL worth it. :)

I own this one:

http://www.allaroundsportsllc.com/Wi...17_p/a3217.htm


Love it. Great cheaper version in the west vest series that has great quality.

so the pro nine I guess is a good CP. For $60 on Ebay I think it looks like a good CP to do U12 in. Would I be correct in saying that?

I'm sorry, I can;t resist
 

There is a Riddell Power chest protector on Ebay, it's magic, buy it now.


:cool:

Hey all,

For the same cost, you are MUCH better off with this one...

http://www.smitteez.com/index.php?cr...on=show_detail

LomUmp:cool:

You mean this one?

http://www.smitteez.com/sc_images/pr...arge_image.jpg

I think it would be just as good to buy one of those ugly *** umpire shirts with the stripes on the shoulders. I mean, those shirts are so ugly even a baseball would avoid hitting it.

Interesting...
 

Hey Rich (and understand, I'm writing this with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek), you mean the shirts that look like the jackets with the shoulder inserts in them, which I seem to notice that MOST umpires seem to be sporting these days? ;)

And, who cares how ugly the CP is....aren't we wearing them UNDER our shirts? Just curious. :D

(takes tongue out from cheek)

No, he means the shirts that have shoulder trim, collar trim and sleeve trim, unlike the jackets which, just have the shoulder trim.

My feelings exactly. I've worn the WV Platinum for years, then tried the K1 and have never looked back.

Leo

K1's are worn on the Major League Level as well by a few guys. You cant go wrong, but the Wilson CP's are, overall, "more protective."

Rich, I have to agree with you. I have used the K1 for about 4 years now, it is light and fairly protective. I have taken a 80+ shot near the collar and I felt it. I have also been hit directly in the sternum and it took my breath away.

I purchased the $39.00 special WV on Ebay and have used it on a couple of occasions, but have yet to take a hit with it. So the jury is still out. I think I'll continue to use the K1 for anything below the HS varsity level.

I could be wrong, but isnt that just as bulky as the WV Gold? I am looking for something very, very light that I can take a pitch that goes no more than 65.

Hey all,

All I am saying is that the cp fom Smitties is very close to the V-Sport that I own. I have, and still do own, the Pro-Nine cp you are looking at. The V-Sport is a little hotter to wear than the Pro-Nine, but that is pretty standard for a hard shell. The Champro or Champion version ( I forget which it is) is more comfortable and offers more protection, IMHO, than the Pro-Nine does.

So, to me, better comfort and protection at the same price...I would choose the hard shell over the Pro-Nine EVERY TIME! It is light and not much bulkier than the Pro-Nine.

This is just the opinion of someone who owns both and can tell the difference from experience with each item.

LomUmp:cool:

I'll say it again. Don't buy a cheap chest protector.

Two reasons. First is your safety. Good gear might save you some day. Hey, I know a guy that does adult ball with a thin Cooper softball protector. He's just lucky. I got nailed in a little kids game in a medium weight Diamond, and felt goofy for a week. Your health is not worth it.

Second, when you go to sell a good quality cp, you'll get a good return on eBay. Your real out of pocket expense is minimal (tell your wife I said so). A $150 cp will bring back $100, but a $60 one will only net you $20. A ten buck difference, but you're wearing top 'o the line gear.

Long after the money is spent, you'll never regret buying the best.

p.s. go ahead and buy cheap shinguards. Those $100+ WV's are a waste of dough. Light, vented, CoolMax lined Coopers will put enough cash in your pocket to buy a Platinum.

Kyle nailed it!!!

You can go cheap on shinguards and even on your mask (inexpensive usually means 'heavy', but protection wise, they should be ok).

Don't skimp a penny on your chest protector or plate shoes. Cups are generally about $5, so that covers your three most important protective items.

A Question
 

I have an older model POS plate coat (at least I think it is an older model), and with the K1 and old Douglas West Vest (which is the best WV ever made), the plate coat does not fit well acorss the stiff upper chest area. It stretches the coat in front (even though the coat is too big for me) , and even sometimes the shoulder cups will start to pull out from under the coat.

Does anyone else have this problem, or do I need to buy a new plate coat?

http://www.baseballjunk.com/umpireequip_cp.htm

See the Cooper CPU23. I have a used one in my attic I will sell you for half of a new one, you pay shipping. Mine is a model 20, and modified, I cut the bottom 4 inches of it off, the part at the bottom in the picture. It is the lightest and coolest chest protector I have ever had, but I have not used it in awhile. It will stop anything but you begin to feel it at levels above JV ball.

Just what exactly is so magical about the Riddell Power?

Do they offer some unimaginable level of protection? Comfort? Durability?

If you put one on and click your heels are you granted three wishes?

Can they be appreciably better than any of the other hard-shells on the market?

Saw two in use today. The PU's in the Boston/LAA and Cleveland/CWS both had them poking out of their plate coats.

They make money disappear.

Try the All American Sports one they offer good protection but they do look a bit big.

Tim Timmons was the umpire in the Boston/Los Angeles game, and he looks sharp in his. They really do look good, especially with a plate coat.

I think it is a matter of confidence for one thing. When I would wear my Power I felt pretty invincible back there. Is it any better than other hard shell protectors on the market these days? Probably not, but besides the Douglas West Vest, it was the premier hard shell on the market when it first came out, and was THE sought-after chest protector. And despite Garth's little joke, they only cost $175 when they came out (at least that's what I paid for mine), and folks considered it a bargain.

It's no joke. They're going for $400 now.

When I worked for and ad agency I had a client who bragged he made the most expensive product of it's type in the world. I asked him who he thought his market was. He answered: "People with more money than brains."

Duh!...on me!

Tim rose through the ranks in my local association, and comes in to speak to our group every year right before he leaves for spring training. I had a chance to chat with him seven or eight weeks ago.

I only saw a few minutes of the game and didn't even realize that was him. But in all fairness...he was wearing a mask! I did see the the second digit on his sleeve- "5", Tim is number "95"- but in the few minutes I watched didn't see the whole number or his face.

And the Riddell did look pretty good under his plate coat!

But back to the main reason for checking back in on this thread...

A local gear supplier is running a special on the basic Wilson hard-shell, and will also throw in a Dyna-Lite mask with free shipping, to boot.

http://www.refandsport.com/

I don't think charging $55 means he will "throw in" the dyna mask.


"WILSON MLU CHEST PROTECTOR...$79.99
SAVE $20 ON THE WILSON MLU CHEST PROTECTOR NOW THRU MAY 1ST. ADD ON A WILSON DYNA-LITE MASK FOR ONLY $55 AND WE'LL PICK UP THE SHIPPING!!"

Right.

"Purchase both at the reduced price and shipping is free" would be a better way to put it!

When I wear my Platinum with my plate coat I remove the shoulder pads in the cp, and just leave the plastic in place. Things fit much better.

My Platinum fits perfectly under my Plate Coat.

YMMV, and everyone is built differently.

I agree with both of you. I have worn the K1, Power and the Westvest (douglas) and will say that it is slightly better than the Power.

I took a shot last year when I had a Canadian National Team pitcher on the hill the foul caught me right square in the chest as the catcher turned around to see if I was okay, I picked up the ball and tossed in back to the pitcher.

Hey all,

One thing that I do like about the All-American/V-Sport/Champion/ whatever other brand name it is sold under, when compared to the Platinum or Gold is that there are larger size options than 13.5". I am not saying that the platinum and gold are not good, but if you need something longer to adequately protect yourself...
BTW, I had tried on the platinum and found that it was comfortable, but short enough to leave ribs exposed ON ME. The V-Sport I ended up purchasing feels every bit as solid as the platinum, but covers all areas I need covered.
Bottom line, I would get a good hard shell that fits well. If it is not a hard shell, IMHO, it is not an option.

LomUmp:cool:

Hey Lou, do you mind if I ask how tall you are? No this isn't a pick up, just trying to figure out if height is a factor in the coverage. ;)

Who is Lou?

Some dude that tends bar I would presume.....'scuse my reading problems....LOM. :o