What mask to buy - Page 2

Hock9 · #1 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 23, 2009, 02:50pm

I've had the Diamond ultra light weight mask. The frame is great; the pads are cheap - so you'll want to replace them.

I just bought a wilson titanium, haven't used it yet, added a throat protector because it's about 1/2" shorter (in terms of the built-in extension) than the traditional Wilson A3009.

I have an allstar - light weight, double bar frame, great visibility (better than the west vest wilson a3009)....comes with either tan (more like orange) or black leather pads. On sale for $59 at Zebra sports I think.

Kevin Finnerty · #2 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 23, 2009, 03:01pm

A) Wilson Titanium for both the weight and the pads
B) Diamond featherweight with Wilson wrap-around replacement pads like Hock and Kyle and others have said
C) West Vest Chrome Moliben (no sense going this route these days ... it's not that light compared to the others)

Additional note: lighter-colored cage is easier to see through.

umpduck11 · #3 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 23, 2009, 09:33pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hock9

On sale for $59 at Zebra sports I think.

Zebra sports is out of business, unfortunately.

Hock9 · #4 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 23, 2009, 10:07pm

Yes, they've gone out of business - but their website said they'd take orders until the end of this month (looks like inventory is now very limited, which makes sense....but the mask I bought from them last year for $79 is still there for $59 - the All Star one with leather pads)

kylejt · #5 (**permalink**) Fri Jan 23, 2009, 11:57pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hock9

Yes, they've gone out of business - but their website said they'd take orders until the end of this month

Yeah, that's not a recipe for disaster.

Kevin Finnerty · #6 (**permalink**) Sat Jan 24, 2009, 12:25am

"Tell you what, you send me your credit card number and I'll send you your merchandise ... I swear."

SanDiegoSteve · #7 (**permalink**) Sat Jan 24, 2009, 02:54am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jl2207

Hey guys I am sorry for bothering you guys once again I did get my new West Gold CP on wed. tried it on and like it so thanks for your info guys now im ready to buy a mask so I was wondering what mask you use and why you like it or why you dont like other masks from what I can get from reading everything is the Diamond is the lightest but the pads arent any good and the Wilson is the most comfortable so if I buy the Diamond do I need to replace the pads immediatly if so with what other pads (Wilsons pads ?) will Wilson pads fit a Diamond mask or does Diamond make better pads that you can upgrade to also if you have any other suggestions on other masks I would like to hear them as well

Wow, this is the longest run-on sentence I've ever seen!

Tim C · #8 (**permalink**) Sun Jan 25, 2009, 10:59pm

We haved a winnner. Someone wants us to send money when they cannot even communicate in written English:

How sad:

Quote:

"Hey guys I am sorry for bothering you guys once again I did get my new West Gold CP on wed. tried it on and like it so thanks for your info guys now im ready to buy a mask so I was wondering what mask you use and why you like it or why you dont like other masks from what I can get from reading everything is the Diamond is the lightest but the pads arent any good and the Wilson is the most comfortable so if I buy the Diamond do I need to replace the pads immediatly if so with what other pads (Wilsons pads ?) will Wilson pads fit a Diamond mask or does Diamond make better pads that you can upgrade to also if you have any other suggestions on other masks I would like to hear them as well"

Welpe · #9 (**permalink**) Sun Jan 25, 2009, 11:24pm

Jim, that was me. I guess my post was one of the ones caught in the cross fire.

I noticed that you carry both the low profile and "regular" profile Wilson titanium masks. Have you noticed a higher demand of one over the other?

JimKirk · #10 (**permalink**) Mon Jan 26, 2009, 03:14pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welpe

Jim, that was me. I guess my post was one of the ones caught in the cross fire.

I noticed that you carry both the low profile and "regular" profile Wilson titanium masks. Have you noticed a higher demand of one over the other?

Great question. Yes, we are noticing a higher demand for the standard or "regular" profile as we had suspected - about 2 to 1 so far this year.

However, some of this may be due to the fact that we are one of the only ones who has this mask in that frame shape.

Jim Kirk
Owner
www.ump-attire.com

Kevin Finnerty · #11 (**permalink**) Mon Jan 26, 2009, 03:31pm

I bought the Wilson Titanium in the first week, and I got the low-profile, because that's all they came in at the beginning. I was disappointed when I saw that they were offering it in the standard profile soon after, and even considered asking Wilson to swap my cage for a standard cage.

Then I took a full-on 88-mph shot between the eyes, and it really was not nearly as severe as a similar shot to the chrome-moliben low-profile or standard profile (my other two masks). With that experience, I stuck with the low-profile in the titanium and it has been remarkable. The light-colored bars are easier to see through, and the low profile makes it easier to see the bottom part of the strike zone, allowing me to set up a little higher. It's a superb view. Its reputation for taking blows that stick is well-founded, I suppose; but the thing's so light that it doesn't shake you up like a standard low profile. It's worth the trade off--so far.

Welpe · #12 (**permalink**) Mon Jan 26, 2009, 11:04pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimKirk

Great question. Yes, we are noticing a higher demand for the standard or "regular" profile as we had suspected - about 2 to 1 so far this year.

However, some of this may be due to the fact that we are one of the only ones who has this mask in that frame shape.

Jim Kirk
Owner
www.ump-attire.com

Thanks, Jim. I did not know that you were one of the only suppliers carrying the standard profile mask. Unfortunately, I think the mask is out of my price range for now but it is definitely on my wish list.

Rcichon · #13 (**permalink**) Mon Feb 09, 2009, 12:40pm

East has a helmet Frank is offering as an 'inside the mask' helmet for those that want the top protection of a HSM but the comfort of a traditional facemask.

Fitted construction, hard hat bump style in Navy blue. Fits fairly snug and the facemask pops right off when you want it to. I tried it on but it's a helmet and (IMO) looks awkward when your mask is off.

Frank said he sold 5 at the Jim Evans school recently. No picture to be had yet, at least I cannot find one.

Would you use one?

Kevin Finnerty · #14 (**permalink**) Mon Feb 09, 2009, 01:34pm

Most of us would never wear anything that looks stupid when you take off your mask, irrespective of whether it keeps your coconut from cracking.

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