FYI...Equipment Rant
 

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

Josh,

Not sure if this fits the bill, but try:

http://www.honigs.com/detail.asp?Cat=2&Sub=42&Item=1067

JM

Thanks UmpJM

I will definitely call them and find out what the actually size is. I don't know how I didn't see it on their site earlier this week. Their "small" size is only 1 inch smaller than the coat I ordered. Too bad they don't sell them in kids sizes;) Just kidding

-Josh

Per the sizing chart right at the top of the page:

Jackets
S 36-38
M 40-42
L 44-46
XL 48-50
XXL 52-54
XXXL 56-58
XXXXL 60-62 That's a whole lot of X's....

Gerry Davis has jackets in Small:

http://www.gerrydavis.com/Merchant2/...egory_Code=JCK

His small is listed as 34" - 36" and medium 38" - 40".

You could always "remedy" this problem with a steady MickeyD's Big Mac diet. ;)

I gotcha. The problem is that is the same sizing chart used for their basketball jackets as well (or so I'm assuming). Umpiring jackets always leave extra room for the pesky chest protector. So hopefully they'll be able to tell me if it's really 36-38. The jacket I bought before said it was a 37-39 (or maybe it was 38-40). But it was ridiculously big. Which is ironic because I buy my umpiring shirts from that same company and the mediums work great under a chest protector, but I buy a small for the bases. *shrug* I appreciate all the help. It's just a pain and waste of money to send stuff back. I'm sure you all understand.

-Josh

Holy rusted metal bat boy! What the heck was I looking at on Gerry Davis?! I know I looked there. I guess maybe the fans are right, I'm not only short, skinny, and now I'm blind too. lol I feel so foolish now :o

Believe me Welpe, if I could gain a little weight I would go for it. Then again it doesn't help that I got into running this past fall with a buddy. We just ran a marathon last weekend in Nashville. What an experience! But I couldn't gain weight before I was running marathons either *muttering* stupid metabolism!

I might be too embarrassed to ever complain again about anything. Thanks

-Josh

My son is a 20 year old, bean pole (didn't take after me there!). His Gerry Davis jacket fits nicely with or without a chest protector. I did, however, order him a medium and he likes the room when he is on the bases.

Good Luck

Josh,

If you can't fill up a jacket, you should get a long-sleeved umpire shirt and just wear some under-armour cold gear underneath. I do this a bunch when I work the plate and it feels great (although I own a 3X jacket because I like the room. My shirts fit perfect at 2x).

http://www.gerrydavis.com/Merchant2/...ry_Code=SHIRTS

you could also try the honigs base jacket (k17n), they run to a more true size. the only problem is it doesn't have a pocket