Dude, they're 100% polyester. I suppose your shirts are made out of imported Italian polyester. Wear a t-shirt like everybody else.

I think this April has proven me right.

This is April?:confused: I was thinking it is still mid-December...between the weather and the fact that this part of Nebraska has NO highschool ball.

I don't think so.

Lots of cancellations, of course, but not so many "foul weather games"

Yes -- every Dalco shirt I've seen for any sport is awful. By far the worst of the lot. There are things I like and don't like about most brands but there is nothing I liked about Dalco.

HOWEVER: the pants are NOT that bad. They probably aren't the quality of the Honigs PW or the Davis but if you want to grab a lesser expensive pair for summer or youth leagues, you can't go wrong.

I don't see the difference in anything Honig's or Dalco sells except Honig's has their name sewn on the back. I've never encountered any problem with the umpire shirts. They hold up fine in the laundry, and on the field.

I think the pants are 100% polyester, not poly wool, and thus not as heavy. I thought they might wrinkle easy, but I just hung them up right out of the dryer, and they held their crease well, and didn't wrinkle or pucker.

I've been at district, and state meetings with the major vendors, and really never noticed any difference in shirts. Many people just use Honig's because they have easy access, and fast shipping. The guy I bought from was close by. Just easy to go by, and shop from.

Personally, I think you're doing Dalco a disservice by bashing them in public. Let the user decide what they want. I do remember several going gaga over the "cheap" shirts from Officials Choice. Several "Jeckyl and Hyde" comments ensued.

I think that officials posting their opinions of vendor products is one of the reasons a forum like this one exists.

Unless Dalco has changed their shirts, I'd steer clear of them -- when I got one a few years ago at a tournament, it was as heavy as the original Cliff Keen pullover shirts. CK has improved since then, however.

I've handled most major brands of shirts and the Dalco were some of the worst in my opinion. The fabric was similar to burlap in its consistency and it creased easily. For the money, Smitty shirts are some of the best I've found, they don't wrinkle easily, have a soft yet durable weave and wick moisture away very well. I think I'd rather have my first ever polo style umpire shirt which was the heavy Majestic dazzle shirt.

I will agree with you on Honig's except for their polywools which are pretty much the gold standard for pants these days. I still wear the 100% polyester Smitty pants and I like them well enough. The Dalco pants aren't terrible but not my first choice.

And there's a reason they're the gold standard. I bought my first four pair this season and had them tailored -- they are the best umpiring pants I've ever owned. I'll let you know how long they last.

The Honig's polywools are indeed the best pants you can buy. My older set was new in 2011 so they're on their third season and they are still in great shape. I bought a new set before this season and sold my oldest set of base/plate polywools from 2009 to someone on another forum and he was shocked at how good of shape they were still in.

Dalco shirts suck. I had them in 3-4 colors my first year and they wrinkle easily, don't fit well, and the material is bad.

Honig's and Smitty shirts are my favorites. Just got a new Smitty short sleeve black shirt and it is great. They reduced the width of the collar (My older one had a really big collar for some reason) and the material is really light and doesn't wrinkle.

I'm simply washing them (on a handwashing / delicate setting with cold water) and hanging them to dry. So far they are doing great, although I've only worked 10 games this season because of the weather here.

I'll probably dry clean them once a month or so to keep the crease good and sharp.

Seriously?? Over 40 messages about umpire pants? What the hell...

The shirts are 100% polyester, a man made material. Polyester is polyester. The material may be thicker or thinner. There is no variation.

Polyester can be woven in all sorts of variants. From itchy burlap (Dalco, Teamwork) to silky smooth (like old Cliff Keens). True, it starts like a lump o' plastic, but all polyester is not created equal.

Nobody is forced to read this, or any other, thread. Right?