Plate Pants vs. Combo Pants

[Kevin Finnerty]

A lot of this advice is great. I am one of those muscular leg guys who wears combos as base slacks. And, plates are the only thing that'll fit over my WV Golds.

The shin guards are everything. Base pants have a 22" knee area, Combos have a 24" knee area and Plates have a 26" knee area. Plate pants are the only ones that fit over double knee and triple-knee leg guards. As already stated, combos can be worn behind the plate by thinner guys with single-knee shin guards, and on the bases by guys with bigger legs or a heavier build.

Everything Ozzy stated about the appearance standard matters. You can't stretch combos over your leg guards, and you can't have too much material flapping as you run on the bases. Where they fall over your shoes also matters. I am a 32'' inseam guy, who has them tailored at 32 1/2'' on my plate pants.

[Forest Ump]

Definitely lot of good advice here. Especially ordering the pants 2 inches bigger. I hadn’t thought of that. I did find that the best advice came from my dear wife who said just order both (combo and plate) and send one back. Now why didn't I think of that?

I use a local seamstress to do all of my alterations. I have found that my umpire shirts usually have too much material below the belt. I always have that part of the shirt cut off so that I’m not tucking too much in. When I get my pants, I’ll take all of my gear over to the seamstress, dress for the plate and have her alternate from there. A little expense and inconvenience but everything will fit and look good when I’m done.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

Definitely lot of good advice here. Especially ordering the pants 2 inches bigger. I hadn’t thought of that. I did find that the best advice came from my dear wife who said just order both (combo and plate) and send one back. Now why didn't I think of that?

I use a local seamstress to do all of my alterations. I have found that my umpire shirts usually have too much material below the belt. I always have that part of the shirt cut off so that I’m not tucking too much in. When I get my pants, I’ll take all of my gear over to the seamstress, dress for the plate and have her alternate from there. A little expense and inconvenience but everything will fit and look good when I’m done.

A) It costs as much as $16.00 to return a pair of pants that you bought online ($8.00 each way). Of course, what would a wife know about any of that.

B) I can just see myself standing in the middle of the local cleaners with my sweet, little seamstress and I'm all geared up in my plate gear. Sure.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

B) I can just see myself standing in the middle of the local cleaners with my sweet, little seamstress and I'm all geared up in my plate gear. Sure.

I like my plate pants to fit properly when I work games, so I always wear my plate shoes and my shin guards when I have them "fitted" for alterations.

Where's the problem?

[Kevin Finnerty]

Sorry, no worries. I just put myself in that picture and it was an amusing image.

[Forest Ump]

Kevin...I would not want to see myself in your scenario either.....however my seamstress works from the privacy of her home. That does makes it a bit easier. I'm short and stocky so I find anything off the rack to rarely fit well. The extra shipping cost doesn’t compare to the convenience of shopping from home. Works for me anyway.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

Kevin...I would not want to see myself in your scenario either.....however my seamstress works from the privacy of her home. That does makes it a bit easier. I'm short and stocky so I find anything off the rack to rarely fit well. The extra shipping cost doesn’t compare to the convenience of shopping from home. Works for me anyway.

This is a great idea.

I'm going to invite my seamstress to the house! I'll have to coordinate my next slacks purchase with one of my wife's out-of-town jaunts, but it could work.

Thanks!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

I like my plate pants to fit properly when I work games, so I always wear my plate shoes and my shin guards when I have them "fitted" for alterations.

Where's the problem?

Me too. Only way to get a really accurate fit. I had my last plate pants custom made for me, and I wore leg guards and plate shoes for the fitting. They featured extra-wide legs, as I wore Douglas leg guards with the double knee, and had extra reinforced crotch area and double clasps built in and reinforced. They looked and felt great.

[Rcichon]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

....clipped....

B) I can just see myself standing in the middle of the local cleaners with my sweet, little seamstress and I'm all geared up in my plate gear. Sure.

I have my wife pin the hem while at home while wearing the shoes and shin guards. Take these to the seamstress and she charges me $8.00 per trouser.