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Anyone know a good place to buy gear in the Chicago/ Northwest suburb area? What kind of chest protector do I need? Do they come in various sizes? Should it come all the way down or just cover the chest? How about shoes? Do I need steel toes for softball?
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Can't help you with your location, Chas. Some of the better ones I've run into include Honigs, Gerry Davis, Lester's Upstate Sports. These are not often the cheapest, but their price is competetive and their service is excellent. I'd suggest that you check with the folks in your local chapter - who do they deal with?
For the most part, you will not see a whole lot of speed in high school ball - especially in your first year or two working junior high, JV, and lower level varisty games. But there is nothing soft about a softball. Get regular steel-toed plate shoes. The protection is indescribably better and you will be able to put a much better polish & shine on plate shoes than anything else. addition - I forgot the chest protector. For high school, college, and beyond I have been well-satisfied with "The Ump" for softball (there is a hard shell baseball model too). another addition - For those in Pa, the only dealer for PIAA uniforms & all is Mike Shields of Purchase Official SUpplies of Pa - no relationsihp to PlusPOS that I know of. Mike has decent prices (and he pays the shipping) and also provides outstanding service. I buy a lot of stuff there every year. [Edited by Steve M on Jan 5th, 2004 at 04:13 PM] |
All three Sports Stores listed by Steve M have a web site. They are very prompt, and, fairly competitive. You definitely need steel toed shoes for the plate. I had a partner once get a toe nail pulled back, off a foul ball. He learned his lesson. I have a chest protector, but I just never wear it. Sometimes you get hit and it hurts like crazy, especially off foul balls, but it's just too hot down here to wear one. I'd rather get a bruise, than melt down from the heat. That's just me. I have a lot of fellow umpires who wear one all the time. Talk to the folks who you're calling with, they'll tell you a lot of good information.
Rick |
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Steve gave you three good ones. There is one more I can think of that has good equipment also. http://www.pluspos.com The others: http://honigs.com http://gerrydavis.com http://officialgear.com The K2 Fastpitch Elite chest protector from Honigs is great for FP umpires. glen |
And yet another very good online supplier is http://www.stripesplus.com
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A bruise is one thing, but a broken collarbone is another. It does not take much force to snap the collarbone and it can put you out of action for a long time. I work in Phoenix, so I know about hot also. I wear the Honigs K2..good protection for the collarbone and sternum, very lightweight and much less hot than the full chest protectors. |
I call in the Houston area, so I work in the heat also. Until I found the Honig K2, i worked most of my games without a chest protector. With the K2 i always wear one now. Its very lightweight, and offers good protection.
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Yeah, I have a few friends who use the Honigs K-2 and they keep pushing it to me. It's light and covers the sternum, collar bone and the upper chest. They keep trying to get me to try it and they all love it. I guess that's the way to go if you're getting for Softball. I keep saying I'm gonna get one, I just haven't gotten around to it. It'll probably take one off the collar bone and causing some pain to get me to do it. http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/sobbing.gif
There used to be a collar bone protector around, It was just a piece of soft pliable rubber that hung around your neck and covered the collar bone. I haven't seen those in quite a while now. Rick [Edited by TexBlue on Jan 5th, 2004 at 12:53 PM] |
Chasbo,
I have some gear that I'm looking to get rid of. In particular I have a K-2 protector, a pair of over the knee shinguards, and two ultra lite single bar masks, as well as assorted clickers, brushes, gray and navy ball bags, a pair of size 14 EE plate shoes, two powder blue and 1 navy shirts (sizes XL and XXL), nd a ;arge gear bag. If you ( or anyone else) is interested in any of these items, please email me and we can work out a deal. SamC [Edited by SamNVa on Jan 5th, 2004 at 02:05 PM] |
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14EE -
Can you mount an outboard motor on one of them and go duck hunting on the bay??? |
Now guys, don't go gettin' Sam riled - he just might stomp on something. And with 14EE's it's not that far a hike no matter where he goes.
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his cowboy boots his stomp will leave a large mud hole. glem |
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SamC |
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SamC |
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