Does anyone currently use the Umpire Helmet? I am going to umpiring school this coming January in Florida, and I have been very serious consideration in switching from regular mask to umpire helmet? Could I get some customers opinions on the product?

Helmet
 

I use the helmet and stay cooler since I don't have a plate hat on trapping in body heat. My field of vision is also greater wearing the helmet. I've only taken one shot to the helmet from a foul ball and it absorbed hit well and there was no rattle or echo. Had I been wearing my POS Ultra lite mask, this same shot would have spun the mask across my face.

Michael

I use the helmet, and usaully i dont wear a hat unless its asa then i have too. But overall I like the helmet. Much better vision than the traditional.

I'm sold on it
 

After using a +POS ultralite mask for the last 2 years, which I really liked over my previous heavy wire mask, I swtiched to the All Star helmet this year. I wouldn't think of going back to my mask and cap again. It is cooler than the mask/cap, and the field of view you have with the helmet, is excellent.
Try one on before you buy it. I think you'll like what you see and feel.

I have to agree on the above. I have taken a number of shots off the head in the 2 years I have used the helmet and none of them and hurt. One of them was from a pitcher with a mid to upper 90's fastball, off an aluminum bat and it never phased me. That same foul tip has put MLB blues with a mask in the hospital a couple times this year.

While it keeps you cooler, you will need to keep a small towel handy to whipe sweat since you do not have the cap to catch the majority of the sweat.

They force you to wear a hat under the helmet?

That's laughable. Of course, they tell you EXACTLY how to do everything in ASA, don't they?

Rich

ive never had a problem with my +POS mask. ive been a catcher all my life, and in umpiring for 7 years its never been too bad. ive taken upper 80's foul balls straight in the mask and it didnt bother me. i dont have a problem with the mask's field of vision either. im sticking to it, im not sure where everyone all of a sudden started seeing problems with them.

Not a problem with +POS
 

Brian,
I had no problem with my +POS mask at all. I really liked it, and would go back to it without hesitation, if I had to for a short time.
I bought my helmet after a "friend" took my +POS ultralite on a "short vacation". I bought the helmet and really liked using it. When my +POS finally found its way back into my hands, I was already hooked on the helmet. If not for the lost mask, I'd without a doubt, still be using it. Stuff happens. I made a change, and I liked it enough to stay with it, when it came time to make a choice between the two.
It's not for everyone, but for some like me; I love it.

Thank you very much guys for all of the great feedback on the umpire helmet.

Earlier this year, I saw on another board, where the +POS ultralites had a safety problem. Seems under cold conditions, a fast hard ball may cause the composite to crack. This may be a problem way up north, but, down here in Texas, I don't worry about umpiring baseball in cold months.

I have heard recently, that the safety issue has been resolved and +POS are now selling them again.

Newter

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Newter

Quote:

Originally posted by brian43 Earlier this year, I saw on another board, where the +POS ultralites had a safety problem. Seems under cold conditions, a fast hard ball may cause the composite to crack. This may be a problem way up north, but, down here in Texas, I don't worry about umpiring baseball in cold months. I have heard recently, that the safety issue has been resolved and +POS are now selling them again. Newter

i thought that was with the old (sort of old) +POS SUL masks, not the regular single bar ultralight frames. maybe im wrong.