Equipment Care

[aschramm]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. Are there any New Balance shoes that are the "convertible" style that can be worn in the field or behind the plate? From what I've heard they are very comfortable.

[mbyron]

As Click and Clack say, "The stingy man pays the most." Convertible shoes are good for neither purpose.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by aschramm

Thanks for all of the replies so far. Are there any New Balance shoes that are the "convertible" style that can be worn in the field or behind the plate? From what I've heard they are very comfortable.

Spend the money and get a pair of plate shoes and base shoes. A good pair of both will pay for themselves very, very quickly.

[aschramm]

I can totally agree with that statement "the stingy man pays the most". I had a pair of "convertible" shoes I got from Gerry Davis this year, my first year of umpiring. While it is nice to have it all in one, my feet really started getting sore any time I did more than three games in a day. I just thought it might be more of the brand that was causing problems.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by aschramm

I can totally agree with that statement "the stingy man pays the most". I had a pair of "convertible" shoes I got from Gerry Davis this year, my first year of umpiring. While it is nice to have it all in one, my feet really started getting sore any time I did more than three games in a day. I just thought it might be more of the brand that was causing problems.

The problem is the "all in one" shoe has to be sturdy enough to withstand use at the plate so it is not flexible enough to be on the bases (kind of like some umpires I know ). Your best bet is to by plate shoes and base shoes. They are each designed for a specific job and will give you the best protection and comfort.

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by aschramm

I just thought it might be more of the brand that was causing problems.

I'm not trying to be knit-picky but I hate when people use similar statements (note that this is not directed towards you aschramm, it's just a rant).

In the past year I've became a runner and have learned a lot about shoes. People have grips about footwear all the time but I believe that the problem is not with the shoe, but with the buyer. Shoes are made to fit a certain type of foot. Yes, everyone knows that they make different widths of shoes but nobody thinks about the arch support and other important factors. I'm all about finding the best product for the cheapest, hence I use the internet to buy all my equipment. But many overlook the fact that they need to try their shoes on and make sure they are the right fit for your foot. Personally, I know I have high arches and need a control-type shoe. Umpiring shoes don't necessarily offer such "arch-types" so when I get my shoes I typically buy insoles that offer that support that is needed dictated by my feet. If I get the shoes and they don't fit right, I just send them back and get a refund/credit.

It's different if a shoe is made crappy and doesn't last, however, if your feet get tired/ache/knees hurt/etc...It might be because you have shoes that do not support your feet correctly. Consider going to a local specialty running store and get fitted for a pair of running shoes. Ask them what type of shoes you should get based on your feet. Should you get low/mid/high arch shoes? Is your foot overpronator/supinator/neutral? Do they recommend cushion/orthotics? I stand throughout the day at work and have found that then I wear shoes that don't support correctly I have all sorts of problems. The moment I start wearing the correct-fitting shoes the problems seem to dissipate. I've applied the same theory to my officiating shoes and have had wonderful success.

I know the local running store here is more than willing to fit someone for shoes without pressure to buy. I'm sure that many local stores are the same way. Although I do admit that I buy from them because I love their business style and I know they aren't out to sell the top priced item, in fact they've talked me out of the more expensive models plenty of times.

One more thing, shoes are not made to last forever. Even the top of the line running shoe is made to last for 300-500 miles. Yes, this seems like a long time for a pair of shoes (for a non-runner). But then you consider the distance most marathon runners train, shoes last anywhere from 13-23 weeks Of course, I'm not advocating we all buy new officiating shoes every 13 weeks; However, we have to be realistic about how often we replace our shoes as well. I don't think that 10 years is realistic for a pair of shoes. Most of us, I can safely say, put a lot of wear and tear on our shoes. Personally, I replace the insoles at least every year. And since running has become a hobby, I now have a pretty good feeling about when shoes aren't support as they should anymore. Every couple of weeks I also evaluate the tread on the shoes. If they are wearing thin, it's time to replace.

If I were to put a number on how long a pair of quality officiating shoes would last, I would say 1-4 years. Of course that depends on a lot of different factors. Here are some factors that I can think of off the top of my head:

• Sport being officiated
• Contests wore per year
• Weight of the official

For instance, I would venture to say that basketball/baseball officials need to replace their shoes more often then volleyball officials Obviously, the more weight put on a pair of shoes, the more stress is being put on the material

I will step off my soapbox now. Sorry for the rant

-Josh

[johnnyg08]

nice post ^^

[aschramm]

Haha, that was definitely a very nice post. I've never really paid much attention to arch in my foot, maybe I'll have to look into that.

One of my problems was that somehow I completely forgot that I would need to get protective equipment, so that hit my budget alot harder than I thought (I'm a full-time college student). But after working this season, I'm starting to reinvest in better equipment that I'm hoping will last much longer than the shoes I currently have.

Thanks for all of your help.

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

The problem is the "all in one" shoe has to be sturdy enough to withstand use at the plate so it is not flexible enough to be on the bases (kind of like some umpires I know ). Your best bet is to by plate shoes and base shoes. They are each designed for a specific job and will give you the best protection and comfort.

Now that I'm off my rant..

I do agree that separate shoes for the plate and bases are best.

-Josh

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by aschramm

Haha, that was definitely a very nice post. I've never really paid much attention to arch in my foot, maybe I'll have to look into that.

One of my problems was that somehow I completely forgot that I would need to get protective equipment, so that hit my budget alot harder than I thought (I'm a full-time college student). But after working this season, I'm starting to reinvest in better equipment that I'm hoping will last much longer than the shoes I currently have.

Thanks for all of your help.

many of us have been there bro...but your equipment almost always pays for itself the 1st year you work with it...then it becomes an investment

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

Originally Posted by mbyron

As Click and Clack say, "The stingy man pays the most."

I also agree.

Before my first year of umpiring, I listened to my wife and I tried to piece it together with cost as the primary object. Before the first campaign was over, I was upgrading my mask, chest protector, plate shoes and leg guards.

The total cost of the original gear:

Mask: $45 ... CP: $60 ... LGs: $45 ... Plate shoes: $60 ... TOTAL: $210

New gear:

Mask: $180 ... CP: $140 ... LGs: $90 ... Shoes: $100

The total cost after upgrading: $720

What cost would have been if I had been wise (not listened to wife): $510

[johnnyg08]

Yep, buying stuff twice because you don't like the cheaper option...is not always that wise...but we've probably all made that mistake a time or two

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

Swallowing $200.00 is never fun, but when you can blame it on your wife, it is almost painless, and actually opens the door to a spate of unbridled spending. So it's really a plus.

[mick]

Originally Posted by jdmara

I will step off my soapbox now. Sorry for the rant

-Josh

Yes, good post.
You are fortunate to have confidence in your local shoe salesman, but the folks on this forum have never let me down with their recomendations for my average feet or sport.