"Starter" Mask

[johnnyg08]

You'll love the team Wendy pads.

[RPatrino]

My view is to not skimp on the mask, get a decent mid priced chest protector (not a catchers chest protector), always wear a cup and find some steel toed shoes. You can save on shin guards, even wear catchers stuff.

If he is serious, most major umpire gear suppliers have reasonably priced starter packages. Check that out. I would not use the league supplied gear at LL Majors or above.

[kylejt]

Hard to beat this for less than thirty clams delivered.

CATCHER/UMPIRE MASK | eBay

Light and stout.

The next price point would be that Honig's, with the Team Wendy pads.

[MrUmpire]

What's your son's face worth? $30?

The mask and chest protector are not the items go cheap on.

[dash_riprock]

Diamond lightweight (black) - about $70. If he likes umpiring and moves up, replace the pads with Team Wendy's - $40 from Honigs.

Titanium is not worth the money, IMO. The Diamond is just as light, and the titanium is no stronger than steel (although it is a whole lot lighter). It also bends just like steel, then you have to throw it out.

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Diamond lightweight (black) - about $70. If he likes umpiring and moves up, replace the pads with Team Wendy's - $40 from Honigs.

Titanium is not worth the money, IMO. The Diamond is just as light, and the titanium is no stronger than steel (although it is a whole lot lighter). It also bends just like steel, then you have to throw it out.

Depends on what fits you. I have tried the Diamond lightweight mask on, and while it is very light and is a nice mask, I hated the way it fit me. I thought it was hard to see out of personally. I had a low-profile Titanium and loved it, and sold it and got a standard profile Titanium and really like it so far.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by zm1283

Depends on what fits you. I have tried the Diamond lightweight mask on, and while it is very light and is a nice mask, I hated the way it fit me. I thought it was hard to see out of personally. I had a low-profile Titanium and loved it, and sold it and got a standard profile Titanium and really like it so far.

Whatever floats your boat. If you don't like the fit, then that mask is not for you. You were wise to get rid of the low-profile (aka new view) mask. They don't work well with 6 or 8 stitch hats (I refuse to wear a combo hat) and, more importantly, when you take one to the mask, they transfer energy to your face rather than deflecting it.

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

What's your son's face worth? $30?

The mask and chest protector are not the items go cheap on.

Actually, that All Star frame is pretty stout, and the padding is decent. Far better that the wimpy stuff most "light weight" frames from Diamond, Schutt, Champion, etc, come stock with. I have a couple of those in my locker for my Junior umpires to use, so I know by experiece they're okay.