umpire equipment
 

Hello guys I officiated football for the last few years now I think its time for baseball I have been looking at all the different brands of equipment so I thought I would ask for some opinions on what brands are good and what brands isnt so good and if there is a place you prefer to buy from I seen the thread about the combo pants vs plate pants which was helpful I see that with combos most guys wear single knee shin gaurd i guess? well I appreciate any help you guys would provide THANKS

I haven't found much that was "bad" in my days as an umpire. Here is a list of equipment that I have and a brief review of it:

Shirts - I like the Cliff Keen shirts the most. Smitty's "comfort tech" shirts are ok, but the local supplies store only sells Smitty, so I'm limited on selection.

Hat - Richardson hats are very good

Mask - I have the Wilson Dyna-lite mask and it has served me very well. There are lighter masks, but this one doesn't bother me and it's not that expensive.

Chest Protector - I have the Wilson MLU. I think it is the best value out there for a chest protector. If you buy one, you should get one that is hard shelled.

Pants - Smitty pants are fantastic. I've had my pair for about 3 years now and they are JUST starting to show some color fading. I had a pair of Cliff Keen combos and they lasted about 1 season before turning pink. Stay away.

Shin guards - Dime a dozen. Not really important which ones you choose. I have wilson shin guards and they work just fine (I cut the metatarsal flap off of it because it's useless with my plate shoes).

Shoes - I have the Tanel 360's and I love them. They are very light and comfortable. I also like the look of them (as opposed to the frankenstein Spot Built shoe). But there are many different brands of shoes out there to try. I have spot built base shoes and they are very good as well.


I hope this review was helpful!

Buy professional gear. Even if you have to save up a little longer, it will pay off in the long run.

First priority: Chest protector. West Vest Gold or Platinum. You won't go wrong, nor lust for anything else with these. The Douglas isn't bad, and I use one now and then with my plate coat. (Don't buy a plate coat until your five years into it).

Mask: Most of the West Vest single bars work great. Honig's single bar. The Diamond/Schutt/Pro9 etc. light weight is good IF you swap out the pads. I'm not sold on the low profile masks. I'd like the ball to defected from, instead of absorbed into my brain. That's just me though.

Shoes: The New Balance 450s are great plate shoes. Not nearly as pretty as some others, but very comfortable. If you can find a pair of +POS plate shoes, they will last you a very long time. The NB 350 base shoes are not too shabby either. An all, or nearly all, black athletic shoe with a sole with good traction is what you're looking for. No need to go overboard here.

Cup and supporter: I like the McDavid ankle legth tights, but have switched to the Shock Doctor brand for this season. The cup is all yours, friend.

Pants: Find out what color is used in your area, charcoal or heather. Every one is built differently, so it's tough to make a recommendation.

Shirts and Jackets: Ditto above. Find out what the locals wear.

Accessories: Black ball bags. Black belt. A good gear bag with wheels. Garment bag for shirts/pants/jackets. Several indicators. Spare shoe laces. A damp cloth in a ZipLock bag for cleaning off shoes in between games. A small key ring with just your car key on it. Line up folder. Several pens. (Most guys will put the pen in their front shirt pocket. Good idea, until it gets cracked by a ball, and leaks on your shirt.) The tiny pencils are cute, but not for me.


eBay, Honig's, your local sporting goods store can order most of the Wilson stuff.

I will add that whatever you get, a few things to consider...

If you have a cap caddy from your football bag, use it for baseball.

Any spandex long pants you may have for cold weather games, if there is a cup pouch, use them! If you do alot of games, its easy to start rashing on your legs from the straps, particularly if they are hairy. Even in 95 degree heat, I go with long spandex underneath.

Check with your local association about patch placement for your shirts. I'm sure you're used to this concept coming from football.

Lastly, you NEED two hats. Your plate hat needs to have a smaller brim, at least 4 stitch. Otherwise, have fun taking a ball right off the cranium. The brim, if pushed up against the mask and if its hard, will give you a nice headache.

Some will say go a half size bigger on plate shoes. I'd just go with what you are comfortable wearing, if they are steel toed your piggies aren't going to get bit anyway.

I'm about to start a thread on a new reference material, but the musts are the FED and OBR books, and the JEA will be a nice addition for your OBR material.

Enjoy!

I was thinking about the Diamond iX3 cp because it dosent look as bulky but I dont want to sacrifice not being able to go to work lol so what are your opinions on this cp

Read your private message that I sent you. I'll send you a review and a cute clavicle injury story involving that very Diamond cool vest.

Junk.

Buy pro gear.

Honestly, you might be able to get away with it for a while. Years even. But that one shot will get you.

I know it's half the price of a Gold, but trust me, TRUST ME, it's worth it to save up a little longer and get the good stuff. Plus, you're going to be paying the same amount in the end. Allow me.

Buy a Gold for $140, or a Diamond for $70. Use them for three years, and sell them on eBay. You'll get $100 for the gold, and $30 for the Diamond (maybe). Net cost is the same, and you've had three years of pro protection. Plus, after three years you'll want to ditch the Diamond for something else, so now you've got another expense. You'll be keeping the Gold around for years to come. It's not even close, brother.

Feel free to cut above part out, and show it to your wife.

You need to buy the New Balance 450 plate shoe one half size up. TRUST ME AGAIN. The +POS and Gerry Davis run pretty true to size, as do the NB base shoes.

If you want to save some dough, do it on the shin guards. I use Bauer hockey official guards, and the work GREAT. $10 at my local Play it Again Sports store. Just make sure whatever you buy fits with your plate shoes.

Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT....
 

buy that vest if you ever want to work above little league level.

I had that vest when I started because it looked protective, cool and was a good price. I took a few less than full speed high school level throws (I actually let some of my students who played for our high school team where I teach and coach football throw at me-pretty cool/stupid huh?) I felt EVERY ball they threw. I then put on a WestVest-original with adjustable sizing/velcro plastic plates and let them throw at me again wearing that. Never felt one. Wore the WestVest for a season and now wear WestVest gold. Never feel a thing, ever!

Buy the good stuff. It's your money, do what you want but if you ever wish to work higher level ball you will need better protection than that iX3, I promise and you will end up spending the money again. Why not spend it now, once?

Same for plate shoes-get steel toe and metarsal protection. I recommend NB 450 for lightweight and comfort. They shine up nice with liquid kiwi.

Just my two cents....your mileage may vary.

yeah I understand I was pretty leary about it that is why I was asking about it before I spent any money

whats the main difference in the west vest gold and platinum

Then don't read your private message and don't email me and I won't send you the informative, time and money-saving gear review. ;)

i went to my private messages and therer isnt anything in there

I can't believe that I failed to do a computer operation properly. It's the first time that's ever happened to me.

I wish someone would have had this talk with me ten years ago. It would have saved me a lot of money on marginal gear.

More gear.

Undershirts. Depending on the color shirts you wear, you'll need a few. The Under Armour are okay, but you can get some others that are nearly as good, or even better. Me, I love the Adidas Climacool shirts. Not cheep though. My next favorite comes from WalMart. It's actually cooler than the UA shirts on me.

Updating my gear as well
 

Been a few years since I spent some serious money on gear and while I am not suggesting that you do what I did, here is where I got various things from.

I went with Honig's for most of the stuff, because they have always been pretty good to me.

Honig's
Shirts (Long sleeve Black, Short sleeve Black and Powder Blue)
Plate Pant's (their ML style one's, They fit the West Vest Shins very well)
Base Pant's (their ML one's)
Indicators (the 3 ball and 2 strike one)
Wilson Titanium Frame Mask
Tan Doe skin pads for the mask
NB 995 base shoes
Large Black Ball bags (theirs has pockets inside the bags for stuff, pens/line-ups/bruse/indicator)
Black Jacket with white over shoudler
Black convertible jacket the half zip one on the arm
Black Plate coat
Richardson hats (I wear 6 stich on plate and base)

Joe West's Site
West Vest Gold CP (my old one was purchased in 1997)
West Vest Shins (my old ones were purchased in 1997)

Lester's Upstate sports
Black Ankle length McDavid's with cup pocket (only place I could find em in the country in black with cup pocket)

Jim Evan's website online store
Travel bag on wheel's my old Honig's one has seen better days, and honig's no longer makes em and I can't locate a Swiss one at the moment

SOS Sport
Reebok-Low plate shoes (I am returning the same shoe to Honig's because a friend told me that these guys can get the same plate shoe in a EE width and with two pair of socks the regular width is killing me after 3 days of wearing them around the house)

Target
Black socks

Sports authority
Under armor

Have fun shopping I did! :)

JL,

Kyle puts a lot of cash into his equipment, which is a good thing. For starters though, you'll want to go economical on a few things. Here are some cheaper alternatives to people's suggestions:

---Buy $4 cotton undershirts from walmart instead of getting under armor... although walmart does have cheap imitation under armor if you want it for $12 - I think it's Athletics Wear brand.
---You can get away without buying a designated equipment bag. If you have a big duffel bag at home you can use it, but a bag is not a necessity since you'll rarely have to take your stuff into a locker room (except in kyle's area... lucky!). Plus bags generally run kind of expensive.
---You'll be fine with 1 indicator for the whole year, but you should have another just in case. You can also get away with 1 ball bag, but having 2 is so much more convenient (and I think it looks a little better too).
---Combo hats are fine to wear for both plate and bases for the first year or two. Eventually, you'll want to accumulate some base hats, but my first year I bought 2 combo hats - 1 wool and 1 micro-mesh from Richardson.
---Get 1 pair of good combo pants for the year. Don't go cheap on the pants, but you can get away without buying plate pants and base/combo pants for your first few years. Again, you'll probably want to get a pair of plate pants in the future.

Having said those suggestions, you should not go cheap on things like your chest protector, mask, and plate shoes. Like I said in my original post, go with the Wilson MLU. It's 99 bucks and is a fantastic protector for the money (you won't have to fork out $150+ for a gold or platinum and it should last you many many years). Also, don't cut corners on your uniform. Buy everything from an offical's supply store (so don't be getting your pants from macys or using old baseball cleats as base shoes. That's just sloppy).



Here is a link to the MLU
http://pa.purchaseofficials.com/prod...&cat=63&page=1

I did the same thing Major Dave did. buy the cheap stuff.... Wrong. Spend some money and buy good stuff. Like said here

CP...West vest gold or platinum. Only way to go...

Mask any single bar. But get some thing real light, schutt makes a mask that is really light and cost about $80...

Shoes... NB 450 best i have ever had, comfy and look great. base shoes NB 350 but hard to find now so the 995 are looking good.

Shin guards well I have some honigs ones that I really like that cost 50 bucks..

Shirts. Cliff kleen are really good and so are the honigs.. but you will pay a little more. Of course all of these are just my opinion...LOL

I think the approach is different if you are sure you will stick with it. It's also different if you jump in right at the high school level with no youth ball.

It amounts to $200.00 for crap you'll replace after one season or less of unnecessary risk; $335 for suitable comfort and protection for years of competitive umpiring; $550.00 for the ultimate in comfort and protection:

Cheap mask: $50.00; Good Mask: $80.00; Great Mask: $200.00
Cheap Chest Protector: $50.00; Good CP: $100.00; Great CP: $150.00
Cheap Leg Guards: $40.00; Good Leg Guards $75.00; Great Leg Guards: $100.00
Cheap Plate Shoes: $60.00; Good Plate Shoes: $80.00; Great Plate Shoes: $100.00

As far as the equipment bag:

I agreed with Bossman about the bag at first. I just emptied out my son's catcher's bag and loaded all my umpire gear into it and hauled it away. And I struggled to keep things organized and clean, and I had to employ a system of other bags to segregate and carry all of my accessories and undergarments.

Then, I sucked it up and bought the Diamond Wheeled Umpire's gear bag.

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...re_2036_994875

Good grief, you wheel the thing out to the SUV (Standard Umpire Vehicle), throw it in the back, and aside from your slacks and shirts, absolutely everything you need to umpire a game is in one bag! (I keep the pressed duds on hangers.) The big gear (plate shoes, leg guards, chest protector, two masks and an HSM) is all situated in the bottom compartment. In the top section there are three main compartments, which hold two cap keepers with six caps and a travel kit on the left; a dozen compression shirts, two pairs of tights and a cup in the middle; knee, thigh, back and ankle braces, belts, socks and ball bags in the right section (I don't put my uniforms in it like the picture shows); and in a separate vented compartment: base shoes. The top flap has mesh pockets for your brush, wallet, indicators, stopwatch, sunglasses, etc. And it has several zippered pockets for your other supplies and accessories. It's awesome. Wilson makes a similar one, but, despite being a Wilson man, I went for the Diamond. And it takes a beating.

It helps you stay all managed and prepared and eliminates a great deal of the stress and anxiety about having everything you need when you're going to a game. It's not cheap ($120.00-$150.00), but it is easily the best investment in organization and peace of mind that I have made as an umpire.

Now, my straps are fuzzy when new, but hairy?:)

Apparently he's a college student. (Not an English major, I assume.) :D

thanks guys I appreciate all the information you have been giving me I am definatley going to buy the good stuff it seems like it is with anything else you get what you pay for and that is why I asked you guys your opinions i figured this was no different Thanks

History with Teacher Liscensure, for the record. I plan on extending my grammatical inaccuracies to another generation if this whole crazy umpiring thing doesn't work out... :p

Will your license have liscense written on it?

You've gotten some great suggestions about buying top quality gear, etc. Keep umpiring long enough and you might end up with something approaching Tim_C's (in)famous list!:D

I have been looking at the west gold and platinum and it seems they have two different sizing methods one by chest and one by plate size so I am 5'7 165lbs my chest is about 40 inches I was just wanting to make sure the one I bought was going to fit well so if anyone has my build or even if you dont and have an opinion I would appreciate you advice on what size and style you have the experience with I hate to buy one & wish I had the other lol

Thanks for all your help guys

Great question.

I'm not small 6'0''/210, and I use a Platinum and it fits perfectly. Both guys I know who are your size or even a little thinner use the Gold.

I know the gold comes in two sizes...and your the same height as me.. get the meduim size.. big difference between the 2 CP WV GOLD is thicker, and the WV Plat has a little more shoulder protection.. I think either way you go will be the right way.

this is a great bag... the evans bag is great, and I have the Wilson bag which is awesome as well... I have seen the diamond and its pretty cool. and they have 2 different sizes..

It's six Diamond/half-dozen Wilson it seems. I think one inspired the other. The Wilson actually looks better.

But our point, Mazza's and mine, is that a specially designed umpire's bag prevents a lot of problems (as all good organization tools do), and makes going from the house to the car and back as easy as possible.

I don't look at equipment expenses in dollars; I look at them in games. How many games do you need to work to get this fabulous bag? Less than two?! Where do I order?

Doesn't that seem less costly?

I look at it the same way, couple of weekends and all the stuff I bought this year is paid for. And I look great and am protected for seasons to come.

Ultimate Umpire Bag
 

I have the Diamond Umpire Bag and since I'm no longer umpiring, I won't be needing it any longer.

I'll sell it for $85

It has my name embroidered on one end, but you can remove with some scissors.

Email if interested...bcraig@mcgillsmithpunshon.com

Shipping Is Extra!

And if I get assigned more games than I expected, I buy even more gear that I don't really need.

Does the Wilson have separate compartments for t shirts and gear, like the Diamond has?

It does.

The top separates from the bottom in the same fashion. But I am not sure that the mesh pockets for the accessories are there on the top flap of the Wilson.

http://www.sportskids.com/sportskids.../0204-0405.jpg

I might have to buy one to see what it's really like. ;)

Does anyone have this Honigs bag? How does it compare to the Wilson and Diamond? It's alot cheaper.

http://www.honigs.com/detail.asp?Cat=1&Sub=4&Item=85#

FWIW, Lester's has it for $115 right now.

And this place has it for $99.00:
http://yhst-96303703817937.stores.ya...on-wh9779.html

Good lookin out! Just ordered. Thanks.

Welcome!

The Wilson really does look like a great alternative to the Diamond or the Jim Evans bags. At $99.00, you halfway stole it.

I just received this bag last night. I really like it, but I had a little problem with the side inserts. They were a little to big, I couldn't get one of the sides zippers to close without breaking the zipper, so I went into my wood shop, fired up the band saw, and trimmed em a little. Put em in, ipped up the sides, and loaded the bag. It is exactly like the old honigs bag and the Swiss bag, and I think it is the best bag you can get.

Must have been an individual glitch. I didn't experience any similar problem.


Not exactly the same. But similar and better.

I agree that it's the best bag I've seen. I also like the option of having a name embroidered.

Mine will be delivered on Mon.:)

I have this bag and really like it... Its biog enough to hold all my stuff, and the wheels make it nice to pull around.

Check this out!
 

They just jacked it up to $119.00:

http://yhst-96303703817937.stores.ya...on-wh9779.html

Glad I didn't hesitate!

I didn't know you only had four hours to bite.

This place has it for $99.95 ($100)
 

Of course, shipping is $4 extra due to size/weight.

http://cat-sports.net/Merchant2/merc...gory_Code=BBEB


I recommend the Evans Bag. It is a heavier weight nylon. and much more discrete without the huge Wilson and MLB logos.

this place is 99.99 as well

http://www.hitrunscore.com/a9779-wil...eeled-bag.html

Coincidence???

Isn't this equipment browsing fun stuff there, JL?

I got mine about a half-hour ago, and I have the same problem, sans band saw...I'll figger something out.

Try some scissors
 

That's what I did.

Instead of bending them into a "U" to fit in the pocket, I made a multi-curved "S", and worked the excess behind the part of the pocket that was already zipped as I went along. Worked like a charm!

Wilson Bag
 

Thanks all for the bag discussion - I just received the Wilson one from T & B Sports (http://www.tandbsports.com) for $100 with FREE SHIPPING!!

The website will want to add $10 for shipping b/c it's not over $100 - you have to call and ask for Stephanie Camara at 707-544-2433 -- she will take your order and give you the free shipping...have a great season!!

Bob

This is the only piece of equipment worth buying on their site. The rest of the umpire gear is crap. How come these companies sell crap, and not the top of the line stuff? I see it with many other minor companies out there and it puzzles me. If I were a gear shop owner, I would only carry the top protective gear out there and would draw the line at higher quality than this!

(deleted by censor)

Kevin --

Just to be accountable and publicly state the reason for my "censorship", two posts have just been removed from this (several month old and otherwise dead) thread. One was a spam post -- trying to get us to buy some bag. One was your apparent response to that post.

Very nice. And very patronizing. A non-controversial, lame spam post is deleted and you take that opportunity to account for your censorship practices.

I'm still looking forward to the first time you account for censoring a thoughtful, meaningful, relevant post or series of posts that are censored because of your obvious bias in favor of select members of this forum. You also censor and then fail or refuse to respond when questioned why.

As always, I am not merely speaking for myself, but for others whose posts are censored because you choose to censor or lock rather than moderate.

We're adults, Bob. It's only fair that we be accorded the respect that adults have earned.

Seriously boys - GROW UP!!!!! Umpires dont cry!!!!!!

Ya, I hate that spam stuff too. BTW, you can pick up The Official's Locker Room at The Official's Locker Room or most major equipment sites like Honigs, Gerry Davis, little league.org.....order today and I will throw in some Hercules Hooks and Sham Wows!!**









**I am not throwing in some Hercules Hooks and Sham Wows

They're accountable, though ... normally.

And this isn't "crying," it's a simple plea for fairness and responsibility, which is what umpiring is based on.