How do you protect your legs from your guards?

wadeintothem · #1 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 02:41pm

I must use knee high socks and if I know I'm working more than one game, I also use underwrap and tape on key areas of my legs to keep the shin guards from rubbing a sore on my leg. Any secret tricks of the trade? Any really soft comfy shin guards that dont hurt the leg at all?

Skahtboi · #2 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 02:43pm

I have always used the knee high dress socks and they work fine with me. Never had any problems.

Some people wear the umpskins style compression pants.

wadeintothem · #3 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 02:45pm

*runs to google-- "umpskins style compression pants" ... holy moly whats that...

Skahtboi · #4 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 02:49pm

Try this:

http://www.honigs.com/detail.asp?Cat=1&Sub=93&Item=607

There are cheaper alternatives, such as the ones made by McDavid.

wadeintothem · #5 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 02:57pm

Are they hot? I'm working 70-80's now, 90's soon... I already suffer.... those things look like heat stroke magnets..

Dakota · #6 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 03:02pm

I usually wear soccer (gasp!) socks but I don't roll down to tops. For most soccer socks, this is "almost" high enough to avoid chaffing from the knee guard straps. I have found a couple of pairs that are plenty long - they go all the way to the legs of my McDavid compression shorts.

For all-day tournaments this year, I'm going to try the McDavid compression pants.

I've seen one umpire in my association who uses calf-length socks plus a pair of athletic tube socks with the feet cut out that he pulls up over his knees.

Dakota · #7 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 03:03pm

Quote:

Originally posted by wadeintothem
Are they hot? I'm working 70-80's now, 90's soon... I already suffer.... those things look like heat stroke magnets..

I expect they'll actually be cooler than knee-high socks, since they are thinner and (hopefully) wick away the moisture better.

wadeintothem · #8 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 03:04pm

hey that socks with foot cut out thing is the type of top secret umpire tricks i was looking for... because of my football background.. I instantly started taping and never went beyond that... but its a time consuming hassle.

WestMichBlue · #9 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 04:58pm

Buy a pair of longjohns and cut the top off where you want the tops of your "socks" to end.

WMB

Steve M · #10 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 07:55pm

I wear the long McDavid tights AND knee socks. I prefer the extra support and live with the sweating that I do - I'll sweat a lot with or without the tights.

Daryl H. Long · #11 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 08:35pm

I wear the long McDavid tights. They keep me warm during the freezing cold games of March in Ohio and keep me cool when umpiring during blazing heat of August in Florida.

Also, you could cut the toe end off of a pair of socks and then you can position them in exactly the place where you need extra padding where shinguards bother you.

LDUB · #12 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 10:24pm

I did a doulbe header last saturday. I had on some high socks but I still managed to get a few cuts above my knees on both legs. This weekend I'll be sure to wear my McDavid tights.

whiskers_ump · #13 (**permalink**) Fri Apr 09, 2004, 08:37am

I use the Honig's K9 and until last nite have never been
hit in the knee. Wear the thin knee sock under the K9's.
No problems.

FUBLUE · #14 (**permalink**) Fri Apr 09, 2004, 10:20am

I either wear UnderArmour socks (knee high) and then a pair of black socks over those. The UA socks keep the sweat away from my legs, so I feel cooler. With this I wear the standard McDavid Compression shorts. I also wear two neoprene knee braces for extra support and also provides "cushion" on the knee shots.

The other thing I do is the McDavid compression pant/tights. They are really good, and provide the cup pocket as well in you need it. Then I still wear the socks and the knee braces. I wear them in the spring when it's cool, but also in the summer.

TexBlue · #15 (**permalink**) Fri Apr 09, 2004, 11:12pm

Yeah, I wear the McDavid compression pants always. They aren't hot at all. And I call in Texas. They actually help your legs feel better after a long day, protect against the shin guards. Oh, yeah, if you're getting a little too big for your britches, they are also a protection against any embarassment after you get into postition behind the plate, if you wear the black. I've seen this twice and it camoflauges the ripped seems well. Of course, we made sure the blues were embarassed once they got back into the field house, away from folks. Gotta have some fun at their expense, doncha know?