Shoes

[Forksref]

I got the New Balance 950 low cut. The size 13 fits well. Just a tiny white baseball logo on the heel and tongue I easily covered with boot black and they are good to go. Thanks for the help!

[jchamp]

Originally Posted by Forksref

If there are different shirts or pants in our crew I have never been able to tell. I don't care about fans or coaches. We have our own standards of dress. Must be my military experience, but I like a "uniform" appearance. Those shoes that are not sold all black are made black by our crew members to make us look like a team. "Attention to detail," as I heard so many times in the Navy. It pays off.

On the football field it works to a fault. Unfortunately, the officials community is too small of a market to demand many manufacturers cater to our needs. But that aside, the DoD has varying allowances for the nature of member's equipment in garrison. It's hard to find boots that don't say "Belleville" on them, and my last DO always had sunglasses with a giant Wiley-X logo on the side. Even in a deployed environment, way out in the sticks, the Army's grunts and even the snake-eaters types personalize their equipment or customize it a little to make it work better with their bodies. This even includes colors on weapon components (analogous to flags/whistles, etc.) This does include wearing glasses, footwear, or MOLLE attachments that have logos on them. I've never heard of a Specialist getting even a "counseling" session for it. ... Probably also helps that at those places, you almost never seen anyone above O-4.

Point is, while the military example on the surface (for planned formations) works quite well, once you get into the day-to-day operations, the military example breaks down quicker C-5 in the Med.

[JimmieB]

Football now has an answer to the Reebok Zig basketball shoe. It's called the Reebok Zig Magistrate and it is awesome for turf or grass and are incredibly lite weighing 1.75 lbs for both shoes. You can find them on our web site at
Officiallysports.com or call us at 412-635-9949

[PocketSidewalk]

I'm looking to buy a new pair of shoes this year, and I think I've settled on Reebok.

Can anyone give a comparison or opinion of the REEBOK NFL REFEREE II LOW QUAG versus the REEBOK ZIG MAGISTRATE??

I know the Zigs are new, and the Quags are tried and trusted. I'm just on the fence right now as to which one to go with.

[umpirebob71]

I wore the Reebok Zig all spring & summer to umpire in, and I'll never wear another shoe until they quit making them. I have a pair of Zigs in casual wear on my feet right now.

[BktBallRef]

As I said earlier, the Energy Zig Energy is the best basketball shoe I've ever worn. Haven't worn my Zig Magistrates yet but anticipate they're going to be great.

But if your foot has any width at all, you're going to have go up a 1/2 or possibly a full size for the best fit. I had to go up from a 13 to a 14 in the Magistrate.

[wvumpire1807]

I just bought a pair of 3N2 Momentum shoes. My bad ankles need more support, so i need a mid cut shoe. I bought these shoes they do not come in all black. They have a little white on there, which i blacked out with a Sharpie and then shoe polish. They also have a gray plastic/rubber logo on the side, which i was able to take off without any harm to the shoe. These shoes are very comfortable. Because my ankles are so bad i ahve to have mid cut shoes. These are great shoes and i am looking forward to wearing these all season.
I did not buy the NB shoes because i dont like the cleats on the bottom. They are not very good in wet weather. These shoes have excellent cleats/studs.

[JasonLJ]

Originally Posted by legend

I wear the new balance 995 in the 3/4 (high top) they have a "turf" bottom but have held up fairly well (3 years old and still look like new) and don't get plugged up as easily because the turf bottom isin't as deep and "grabby" as an actual cleat is. I purchased mine from Officially sports in Pittsburgh. their web site is www.purchaseofficialssupplies.com

I wear these as well and love them. I did notice I slipped a little on wet grass so you want to make sure you take short steps and not over stride.

I'm also hoping that PA comes into the 21st century and allows us to wear some white in our shoes. Very limited selection when you need to go all black.