Fechheimer pants sizing ASA
 

Now that I have to order Fechheimer pants from ASA for my national can anybody comment on the sizing? Do they run small, lrg or to size? I have about 8 pairs of gray pants that are non-Fechheimer and even though I wear a size 36 I order them in 37. I can not get the odd size from ASA so was just trying to get the right size first time out. Either 36 or 38.

Go with the larger size. I found that the western cut makes them a bit tight around the butt.

Yeah, but at least we don't (horrors!) see any white from the pockets! :rolleyes:

Or get the correct size and tone your butt...:eek:

Then again, my skinny a$s doesn't have to worry about things like that... :D ;)

I usually wear a size 38/34 in jeans, 38/32 in khakis. So I ordered a 38/33 from ASA. The waist was right, but the inseam was way too long for me. My wife hemmed them a couple of inches, and they fit perfectly after that.

I never pay to have the inseam sown in by ASA Properties or any other online vendor. Too much of a chance of wasted money followed by even MORE work (for my wife) to fix it v. just hemming them in the first place.

Those are the only brand of pants I've ever worn for umpiring. I would go with the 38. Just a little too big can be solved with a belt, too small well......
Dave

The 38 waist fits me just fine, and looks sharp (well, as sharp as umpire's pants can look). The 40" waist just doesn't look right on me, though. Looks a little too loose, and my protective equipment for "the boys" moves around a little too much.

I wondered who would be the first to comment about my fat ___ :cool:

This doesn't sound like a pant issue to me! :eek:

Maybe it could be attributable to the fact that I don't have a big a$$. The compression shorts don't hold the bottom of the cup tightly enough. ;)

Just a bit of a gut. Hurray, beer!

Fechheimers are wonderful, especially for my tight butt.

It's just covered by my fat @$$.:D

would much rather have Fechheimers than the pink/gray with the white pockets -- unless I am doing VERY REC SP, when I pull out the old pinkish grays because I am too tight to trash 'em.

Give 'em a little time (OK, in Seattle - a LOT of time)... even the Fech's fade badly.

As an aside, that is why the ASA's insisting on Fech's from ASA for nationals in order to get uniform color won't work. But, maybe they will be satsified with uniform style (western cut, no pleats, etc.).

I wouldn't say they're insisting... They're requiring. If I remember right, the letter I got said it had to be bought straight from them. Don't know how they'll enforce that...

Does one have to buy from ASA?
I'm not ASA, can I buy from ASA?
Any other places to buy?

Thanks

The picture on Fechheimer's web site has regular pockets. It looks like ASA has the western pockets. Is that correct? Surely the western pockets are not a good thing?? Gotta be harder to get into for coin, indicator, mints, etc.

Guess I should have though of all of this at one time - one post.

Any comments on likes / dislikes of various brands of pants?

I have only used +POS and Honigs. Prefer +POS, but obviously not available.

They seem more durable and are crisper looking. Hold the seams better. More comfortable in general.

To work and ASA State or National, yes, you have to buy from ASA. Some Metro organization are now expecting their members to have the ASA uniform required for State or National work.

You don't have to be a member of ASA to buy their equipment. Trust me, they will sell anything they have to anyone. That is what the whole issue of ASA pants for National assignments is really all about, the money.

Any other places to buy ASA certified equipment? No. Any other places to buy umpire pants and equipment. Yes. Bunches of them. Honigs, Lester's Upstate Sports, Officials Supply and lots of others.

For my money, I prefer Cliff Keen or Fechheimer. I personally feel they are the best of the bunch.

I wasn't aware that it was mandatory to have the Fechheimer pants for anything below National level. However, if you want to advance, I'd recommend wearing them.

The purpose of the Western pockets is that they will not flare out like a set of ears when the umpire goes into a set position. Looks better on the field than the regular pockets.

Put the coin in your hip pocket, the indicator in your belt and who the hell cares if you have sweet smelling breath when you talk to the coaches? :rolleyes:

Which is why I usually get the onions on my burger before the game. ;)

IMO, this is a silly fixation on the part of the ASA chief honchos.

I do understand trying to tighten the standards on uniforms - you should see some of the stuff worn around here.

But, really, worrying about the pockets "flaring out"?

No other diamond-sports orgnization worries about that... which is, of course, why you can ONLY get the western cut pockets from ASA Properties.

Wait... that there IS the reason they mandate western cut - you can only buy them from ASA!!

Fech and Keen make the best quality umpire pants, IMO, and ASA's price is competitive for Fech. But, I hate the western cut pockets. And, I prefer pleated - more comfortable.

Where did I say anyone including ASA worries about this?

The issue was raised and I suggested a reason why Western may be preferred.

If you are worrying about needing pleated pants and/or regular pockets to feel comfortable, maybe you should be trying the next size up.

I dont "need" pleated, I prefer them because they look better. ASA's ugly pants are by far the ugliest umpire pants available, except perhaps the Walmart Special Umpire pants for 14.95 (although those are more comfortable).

Did I use the word "need"? I said "prefer." They are more comfortable; they allow more freedom of movement; and like wade, I think they look better. Western cut pockets are borderline useless as pockets.

Yet with my belly and big tail, I don't have a problem using them. Go figure.

I agree. Personally, I hate the flat front pants with the western style pockets.

1) if you are doing an ASA National starting this year you have to have Fecheimer pants,and ASA is the only place I have found to get them.
2) yes anyone can order from them! officialgear.com
3) not that I have found for these pants, even went to the company website...they make a lot of uniforms but I couldnt find where to buy these western cut pocket pants, not saying there isn't but if there is let us all know!!

Also I agree with the length thing...the plate pants for sure are long in the crotch (no comments, I know I just don't have enough there to make them fit right :cool: ) so the inseam starts from a farther point and makes them about 2" too long. I got mine and pinned them up where they were about half way up the back of my plate shoes, keeps them from getting filthy in dusty fields and hangs just about perfect with the front hitting the metatarsel support on my plate shoes.

"Metatarsel?" Is that another word for half-@$$?

Ok metatarsal....foot bones, toes are tarsals....like your carpals and metacarpals...carpal tunal gets its name from somewhere you know!

Backordered
 

Getting ready for the upcoming tournament season, I ordered three pair of pants from ASA (officialgear.com). Imagine the shock when I got one pair and found out that the other two are BACKORDERED!!! :mad: To make matters worse, they charged me for all three. I contacted them and was told that they hope to receive them in about four weeks. If that is true, it will leave me about five days to get them hemmed before I leave for the nationals.

Has anyone else had this problem?

The first time I ordered, the plate pants were on BO. I decided to size up one size to 38 and found the pants to be too big. Plate pants look like clown pants...I called to set up return and ordered size 36 in both types. Plate pants were in stock this time but base pants were not available. I was told it could be 2 days or 2 months. She said they were flying off the shelve as fast as they came in. I wonder why? Maybe it has to do with the mandatory use of their pants this year. I guess they didn't plan ahead for this. Any way if the base pants do not come in I will have to wear the 38's. Leave in about 11 days for the National. Tough to spend another $100 for pants when I have 8 high quality pants hanging in my closet.

Im wondering why people are buying pants this late for a national....????

Because we live in a world of putting things off until the last moment. ;)

Not to mention some needed to earn a few game fees to pony up $45+ per pair. :eek:

Fortunately, I bought mine a couple months ago, so I'm all set for Burlington.

Anyone from here going to Bloomington, In for the 10U???

Oh and to stay on topic, I have been trying to loose some weight this year (so far about 25 lbs.) I usually wear a 40 or 42 waist size depending on the pants/brand. Talk about a shot in the ole' motivation... I had to get 44's in the Fechheimer pants:mad:

Don't let it be. Both Fechs and Cliff Keens tend to run a smaller than normal sizes. Most folks wear a size larger than with their street clothes.

you mean you dont eat peanuts too?

Nah, I don't eat my game fees.

what if you were at a men's major? :eek:

Chili dog.

well at my mens major in 1983 I had a play where a fan threw a chilli dog at me because I talked about my 1977 woman's major so it ruined my chilli dog experience hahahah ;)

Well, for me it is because I recieved my assignment within the last three weeks. 12U in Alabama. My first National Championship.

Congratulations. They will treat you well in Montgomery; just start preparing for the heat by hydrating early.

I look forward to meeting you, Scooby. Will you be there for the social on Saturday evening?

When would you suggest people start preparing, a couple of months before you get the contract. In the real world, seven weeks prior to the tournament should be plenty to order, receive and alter a pair of pants.

I agree, but I didn't want to take that chance myself, especially with a pant size that I correctly suspected as being quite common: 38. I placed my order on May 30, 3 months in advance.

If ASA is backordered, maybe they'll lighten up on allowing umpires to purchase them directly from ASA. There are a number of third-party vendors that, if I've heard correctly, are ASA-approved. There's one here in the Triangle area, if anyone's interested. I'd want an official statement from ASA before ordering from this guy first.

If ASA does allow this, I'll be happy to send you guys his way. I'm sure he has plenty of Fechheimers in stock.

From Official Gear:

I won't put the person's name in there, but if you've dealt with Official Gear long enough, you know who I got that from. Granted, this is not an official statement from ASA, but it's an indication in the right direction.

I ordered my new ASA pants back in the spring.

Although I was not assigned a national at that time, my UIC (the guy that Darrell knows), indicated that he would require the ASA pants for any qualifiers or other tournaments that led to ASA nationals.

No problems getting them in a few days.

Sounds like a Crock :D

Can't wear those unless they're all black, remember? :eek:

Ok you tell me, if they are Fleck's western cut pockets and no pleats, how are they going to prove they are not from ASA properties? I don't remember there being any tags or identification inside my pants does anyone else? Now granted the above has to be the case, western pockets no pleats and they better say Fleckheimer (sp?) around the waistband or it's easy to tell they aren't the right ones!

I've never seen flat-front, western pocket, heather gray Fechheimers except at ASA properties. But then, I haven't looked very hard - but they aren't at any of the big name internet umpire supply houses.

BTW, were you aware that Fechheimer is part of the same company that makes Fruit of the Looms?

Robbie,

If I remember correctly you are from Indiana. I am not sure that you can order from officialgear.com. We've been told in the past that Wayne (our state commissioner) has gotten the national office to agree not to sell equipment to anyone from Indiana. I don't know if that's true or not, as I've always bought all my ASA equipment from Wayne as each year he attends all the state schools and clinics. Saves the cost of shipping, plus you get to try on anything before you buy it. I also don't believe that he will sell equipment to anyone who is not an ASA registered umpire.

YMMV, but that is my understanding!

I have ordered from Officialgear.com several times this year and I was never asked whether I was an ASA umpire. No questions were asked of any kind. Kinda got the impression that if you had the money they had the product. Have also ordered ASA stuff from TexasSportsServices.com and what I received was exactly the same as what I got from Officalgear. They also did not ask any questions- just accepted my money and shipped the product. TexasSportServices offers pretty much the same line-up of ASA uniforms and gear as Officialgear at the same prices.

Are you serious? :eek:

I wouldn't doubt that there is a relationship there that is a bit more than just the product line.

That's what I assumed and I suspect there are other suppliers like that as well. Since some folks are having a hard time finding items in stock, it occurred to me that they could get "official" uniform pants from other suppliers.

Yes I will. We should be pulling in about an hour before it starts.

Looks like our PMs crossed in the ether. :)

Being from Indiana I will speak to this somewhat. Wayne does sell stuff as a courtesy to umpires, state UIC has been toting the stuff since Wayne has been sick, got a hat and shirt off him last weekend. He has in the past visited all the clinics and State tournies and he does have a large selection that you can try on very nice with hats for sure :) But to my knowledge Wayne has never said anything about not ordering from ASA and has even told me "I'm out of that you can get it from national or I will get it for you and send it to you, just let me know" so I don't think he is trying to keep anyone from ordering from the national office, or official gear in this case. And I can tell you for a fact that they will ship to Indiana, the local state school got cancelled this year and I needed a pair of gray base pants so I ordered them after I realized I wouldnt see Wayne until after the high school season (IN uses gray in FED and blue in ASA) and their was no issue ordering or recieving the stuff. Again I think Wayne would prefer you bought from him, since any profit on the sales will stay in Indiana that way, but I don't think there is any agreement for anyone not to sell to Indiana folks.

I would suspect there is no such agreement. That could be seen as collusion.

Only if they are competitors. A business (in this case, ASA Properties) can choose to set up exclusive distributors / retailers in any area they choose. It would be collusion of they got Honigs (for example) to agree to not sell in Indiana, but it is not collusion if they themselves choose to sell their product in Indiana through only one outlet.

I've never tried to order from ASA so you would know better than me Dave. Obviously either I have comprehension problems or I am more gullible than most since I took what I perceived to have heard and have only ordered equipment from Wayne, which I have no problem doing. It's not like he price gouges us, and he has always had whatever I needed. I too get my Fed pants from him, along with ball bags, indicators, etc. that I use for Fed. About the only thing I get from Honig's are my IHSAA shirts and caps.

By the way, I didn't know Wayne was sick. Hope he's doing okay now.

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of ASA "agreeing" to stay out of IN, but secretly allowing one person to make the purchases. This could drive the prices up, and could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

So basically what I'm saying is... I heartily doubt ASA would ever enter into such an agreement.

I also doubt they would do it. But if they did, it would not be illegal. Annoying, perhaps, but not illegal.

Personally, if I have a quality local retailer of umpire uniforms, I prefer that to mail order. I won't buy hats online, for example, since hat size is a joke. Even when I go in the local store, I have to try on several of the "same size" to find one that fits properly.

Yeah, I have a 7 3/8 fitted cap that I mistakenly ordered from the Official Gear website. Anyone want to buy a fitted cap for $5? Tried it on only once...

Are sombreros that different in their sizes? ;)