I bought a helmet earlier this year and have been using it about 50% of the time -- on really hot days I've been working with the mask/hat combo since with a helmet I have no hat to catch the sweat.

Anyone else using the helmet this season? Any ideas for keeping the sweat under control?

Rich

I use the helmet, but so far no way to beat the heat. Although I do wear a promesh combo hat that makes for a little relief

I would suggest a black or blue headband that tennis players wear.

The headband is a pretty good suggestion but I just use a hand towel that I keep with my water off to the side of even a wash cloth or hand towel in my second bag.

Two ways to keep heat off with helmet. One keep hair very short .Two wear a black UnderArmour skull cap to keep the sweat off, IMO looks better than wearing hat backwards.

eek! Backwards caps! blah!

never seen the skullcaps before, they seem like a good idea, about how much are they?

Skull caps are about $10.

Just do like the umpire I saw on an ajoining field a couple of years ago. He was wearing a black "dew" rag tied on his head with ASA emblazoned on the front. Oh, and he was also standing in the first base coaches box, talking to the coach, with an R3 while the ball was live and in play!!!!

Roger Greene

Another thing you can do is put a Cool-Max patch inside to stop the sweat from running into your eyes

Better yet
 

Wear a mask and cap.

No good reason to, except the sweat. A helmet gives better vision -- it's no contest.

I predict that a majority of umpires will be wearing helmets in 10 years.

Rich

Rich asked: <b> Any ideas for keeping the sweat under control? </b>

Staghorn answered: <b>Wear a mask and cap.</b>


Rich replied: <b> No good reason to, except the sweat. </b>


Uh....wasn't the question about the sweat?

I can deal with the sweat.
What I cannot deal with is lack of vision created by a mask compared to my helmet.
What I cannot deal with is the whiplash and the mask twisting all over my face when it is hit by a foul tip. That does not happen with my helmet.
And in response to most umpires using one in 10 years, I have to agree. I was the only one in Tulsa that I knew of that used on last season. I now know of better than a half dozen using it now and a number of others saying the are going to one in the next year or 2.
I have even noticed a few more MLB blues have gone to it.

My experience hasn't been as positive. The damn thing kept slipping downward, obscuring my vision. I tightened it to the point of a migraine and it still slipped.

Shots from foul balls rattled the thing and were LOUD.

My WV mask has excellent vision and stays put until I take it off. My mask spins and comes off like it's supposed to off when hit by a foul, sparing me of the full impact and noise. My cap fits well under my mask so when I do take my mask off I don't have a barehead and strange looking hair. (Okay, my hair might be strange looking, but at least it's covered by a cap.)

And contrary to what you have "seen", reports are that there are one or two fewer MLB umpires using the helmet this season.

I'm not anti-change or anti-progress. I work best with what is both comfortable and safe. For me that's a mask. For some others, that's a helmet. I don't believe that either one will fit the bill for everyone. I have an occasional partner who wears one and swears by it. I have another partner, who, like me, gave his away after a few games.

I believe in the concept of "Whatever floats your boat," which I believe Garth is trying to say.

If you feel more comfy with the helmet, then go for it, if the mask gives you thrills, then all the better.

In regards to Umps "converting," In a way, you might consider it fashion. Sure it may create some psuedo "trend." But nothing more than a Fad. It just seems so cumbersome. but thats jmho, and doesn't really mean anything to you guys heh!

Garth, just curious, but why did you "try" the Helmet?