FYI...Equipment Rant

[jdmara]

Ok, I'm not as angry as the title might suggest but this situation sure is frustrating.

I, admittedly, am a small guy (5'7") with a runner's build. And have never had so many problems finding equipment as I have this year. After years of having shin guards that were a little too long for my legs, I finally decided to order a pair that should work great. While I was at it, I've been putting off for years buying an official umpire jacket for those cold, rainy nights. So I was looking as some websites and found the navy blue-style that is required by my local association and found that the website I was purchasing from carriers only Medium-XXXXLarge sizes. Well I searched a bunch of websites and found the same sizing issues. So I was stuck with a medium.

I get the equipment in last week and decided Monday, I better try it on to make sure everything is good to go. Low and behold, I should have ordered some tent poles with the jacket because I could hold a circus in there while I'm wearing it, the thing it gigantic! I call the company and they tell me that the jackets "run big" to allow for a chest protector. I'm sorry miss but over the years I have quite a collection of chest protectors and I could wear all three chest protectors and still invite my girlfriend in to come play if needed. It would be quite a party.

In other words, I have to send the jacket back because I look like Tom Hanks at the end of movie "Big" when he turns back into the little kid wearing the suit.

To me it makes more sense to sell a small sized jacket instead of a 4XL. No offense to the big guys, but how can an umpire move well if he's packing around a 4XL sized body?

*Stepping off the box carefully*

I apologize for the above rant. Hope I didn't offend anyone! If I did, it was inadvertent.

I've searched all the sites I know. Has anyone seen a small sized Major League-Style 1/2-Zip Navy Pullover Microfiber Jacket? Or anything similar in style? At this point I'm on the mindset to get one but not if I'm going to swim in it. Thanks everyone

-Josh