Umpire pants
 

I'm having difficulty finding a good fitting pair of umpire pants. The Fechheimer flat front pants are too high waisted for me and tight across the groin area. This is the only brand carried by officialgear.com.

(1) Is there another brand and source that you can recommend?

(2) I've come across Smitty umpire pants which are pleated. Thoughts on these?

(3) Is there a brand of combo pants that look good when worn as base umpire pants as well as plate umpire pants?

Thanks!

I've been wearing the Smitty combo pants for about 2 years, and I like them just fine. I absolutely do not like the Fecheimer pants. They fit terribly.

If you work an ASA National level tournament, the Fechheimer pants are required. I don't like the way they fit or look either, but that is the requirement.

In my part of the world, pleats are discouraged....pleats are for baseball umpires, not softball umpires.

As they say on the basketball board...YMMV

(your mileage may vary)

There are several styles of Fechheimer pants, not just the ones manufactured for ASA. Personally, I prefer the non-ASA Fechs to just about any other umpire pant out there. (Dalco, Keen, Smitty...etc.) And I have tried most of them. Fechs tend to last longer and keep their color longer. You can find the Fechs in pleated front, flat front with normal pockets, combos, both pleated and flat front, and of course the ASA style with the western cut pockets.

One purveyor of the non-ASA style pants is Lester's Upstate Sports.

I do recommend with both Fechheimer and Cliff Keen pants that you purchase a size larger than what you normally wear. If you wear a size 34 daily, for example, purchase size 36 for your umpire pants. Other companies, such as Dalco, you purchase the size you wear.

I also have a problem with pants: Only Honig's delivers in Europe and their pants are for men with a beer-barrel in front:rolleyes: We have no problems with pleated or flat front but most won't deliver outside the USA.
So I contacted Larry White from LAS, Legends Athletic Supply: Softball and Umpires Equipment, : Home . He wrote me not to do much in pants (yet). He sells the pleated pants...

I've got a big *** and wide hips and I have no problem with Fechheimers to the point they are my casual wear for work and other activities. But, that's me.

:rolleyes:

So are you saying that having a beer belly is a problem? And you call yourself Dutch? :D

I love my beer.

if you opt to go with the flex-waist base pants @ lester's, you can stay w/ your normal waist size.

here's a place for cheap plates, but the clearance sizes are limited now:
Stripes & Strikes

I gotta tell ya -
I needed pants because I thought my pants were "too pink." The local sporting goods store only had Smitty expando waist pants. I bought them - my waist size. I am SOOOO disappointed for the following reasons -
1. The the little rubber stripes to keep your shirt in don't work - had to buy the extra inside belt thing
2. The waist folds over the top of my belt - so I look sloppy - had to buy a new belt
3. The position of the belt loops do not keep my bag close to my side so it bunches open - new ball bag I dont think so
4. I am not comfortable with expando yet - pants just "feel" droopy
5. No heather gray just the "darker" shade of gray

Maybe I'm just picky

I have always used Cliff Kleen pants and have had no issues.

Just FYI

Well Dave, while typing this I'm having a 33cc bottle "pilsner". I'm more a wine lover. Beer, as you know, appears in barrels, bottles and six-pack. I think a six-pack is still the way my love wants to see (or remember) me:)
I can buy, if I find them, two new pants but she also wants me to lose some more weight...

Do softball umpires still wear Heather Gray? I ask because I have several pairs of plate and base pants, Honig's brand, size 34 waist that I no longer need (baseball is almost exclusively the charcoal gray now). I"m not sure of the inseam, but I wear a 34x32 in "regular" pants.

If there's any interest, I'll measure and count and make someone a good deal.

email me at Jenkins Robert L at att dot net (smush all the spaces)

Oh, to have a 34" waist again... :D

Yes, we still use heather grey, even in slow pitch. I'll ask a newer ump I know if he's looking for pants. Our assignor wants us in heather grey, but doesn't require the Fechheimers.

i am interested. I will e-mail you. hope I have it right. Thanks Dave

You and me both, Brother!

Earlier today I was looking on eBay for a good pair of used heather grey pants. Even though I don't have to have them, every once in awhile I get a partner that only has the heather and I would wear them just to match.

About three years ago I bought three pairs of heather Cliff Keen, figuring that I would be set for pants for a few years. The very next year, our state approved the charcoal grey for high school baseball and softball. Still got a few more miles out of the heathers, then they started "going pink" on me. I hate that look and will never wear them again. It's really a shame because other than the discoloration these pants are comfortable and free of any wear or tear.

Around these parts (central Ohio) both high school baseball and softball require grey pants and they may be either heather or charcoal. Our local ASA softball association requires navy blue long pants ONLY- no grey and no shorts.

Honigs sells a navy blue combo pant that I really like- very high quality, comfortable and durable. The Smitty's pants with the adjustable waist- I have their charcoal grey (which are a touch lighter than the Cliff Keens if you look at them side-by-side). No problems with them for me and I'm thinking of picking up another pair.

The Smitty's navy blue pants, I have had a problem with. Bought a pair on-line last year that was advertised as having the adjustable waist. When they arrived, they did not and were way too snug for me (unusable). I called the retailer and they in-turn called the manufacturer. The manufacturer told them that due to some last-minute manufacturing issue the navy pants were never produced with the adjustable waist- even though all of their advertising literature had already been sent out stating that they had it.

After checking several internet sites that sell these, some advertise that the navy Smitty's have the adjustable waist and some say they do not. One of the retailers that says they do is located a few miles from me. I plan on stopping in there sometime next week to see what they have.

The Honig's have been sold, but I found a stash of +POS pants. 5 pleated, 4 plain front.

Also in good shape, but the color varies a bit compared to the Honigs. Nothing purple or pink though.

And, I have some Navy shirts (moslty size L), one light blue softball shirt (with the navy trim), and some red McDavid mock undershirts. All but 2 of the outer shirts have some patches, but they were sewn, not glued on.

Jenkins Robert L at att dot net

I just wish someone would make pants that don't shrink up in the off season!

heather grey spandex... hrmmm?? might be a market for that.

I have 1 pair of the original +POS pants. They are the BEST I have owned in my opinion.

Do you want to add to your collection? (assuming you are a size 34 waist, of course).

Went from 40/42 to 36, but no, dont think 34 would work. Thanks though.

Follow up on the navy blue Smitty brand combo pants...

I went to the "brick and mortar" umpire store near me today to check out the navy Smitty combos. This store advertises on their website (as many do) that the pants feature the adjustable waistband.

Greeted at the door by one of the owners, I asked if they carried these pants and he said they did. Then I asked if they have the same adjustable waistband as the grey Smitty pants. He assured me that they did.

He then pulled a pair from stock. On the label attached to the pants it says that they feature the adjustable waistband. We pull the pants out of the wrapper, take a look inside and....NO adjustable waistband!

The owner seemed quite surprised and assured me that he would be changing his advertising/web site accordingly (this is the second different store that I've gone through this with in two years).

I'm glad I double checked and tried these on in the dressing room. I wear a 36 in their grey pants with the adjuster and they are fairly roomy- not just in the waist, but in the thighs and legs. In the navy, I couldn't even button them and they were skin tight in the thighs and legs!

The pants themselves look great and seem well made. I bought one size bigger than my usual size and we'll see how they hold up this season.

ASA umpires:

Remember if you work a national tournament and Heather Grey is the pant color then you need to buy the Fechheimers from Oklahoma City.

I worked a national last year and bought three new pairs of plate and base pants both and it will be a worthwhile investment for years to come as I wear them for High School ball as well.

I would also recommend purchasing your Navy Pants if that is your color for national from Oklahoma City as the NUS staff has had discussions about making the Navy's from OKC the only accepted pant.

Also, I purchased the navy shorts from OKC at love them. Much more flexible and comfortable for slowpitch then off the rack Navy shorts from Wal-Mart or K-Mart.

The requirement to buy pants from a single source already applies to navy pants, doesn't it?

Don't I know you from Facebook? :)

You could put your mind at ease?

I don't know which is worse...your oddball reference or the fact that I get it! :)

Not sure about the "at ease" part since I was rarely at attention to begin, but I understand all 13 reasons why you would have a problem with them in the navy.

As Hillary - It takes a village, people.

Well, that's just one more thing with which I.....well, never mind:rolleyes:

Come on Mike, everyone knows that you were a substitute for the biker in '79 at the Spectrum when he had the flu. :D

The mandate already is that any National (whatever color the UIC makes the uniform) must be Fleckheimers with western cut pockets. But I have not seen any umpire kept from umpiring because they didn't have these pants on, and there was no lineup pant inspection at any of the nationals I have been to since this mandate, and there were people that were OBVIOUSLY not wearing the "required" pants. But you are right on paper they require you to wear them, and I personally like them but that's not fair it is all I have ever owned so I have no reference to compare them to.

I have seen umpires get called out on the carpet for not having the correct pants at Nationals. The first year was understandable, as the National Office ran out of their supplies and asked UICs to be understanding.

Maybe they should've looked for the pants in this closet instead...
http://chzsomuchpun.files.wordpress....1/supplies.gif

What is the likelihood of ASA et al going to the darker gray? I'm tired of heather gray fading to brown/pink while otherwise they still look good.

Dave,


I am with you I have always worn the heather grey pants from ASA and they are fine with me. Now navy, I usually just you a pair of old navy khaki's that I do not use for my day job anymore. However the only time I wear navy pants is in my city league and that is rarely.

If I were to work an ASA national I would buy the navy blue pants from OKC.

I just wish my shin guards were smaller so I could just use base pants for both positions so I did not have to change between games. I hate wearing plate pants on the bases but have done it and will continue to do it if I do not have time to change between games.

I do wonder if ASA would consider working with Fechheimer to come out with a set of combo pants. I don't know how OKC feels about this, though. Maybe they don't like the look of combo pants when umpires are out on the bases.

Not an issue for me, though. I don't need plate pants as I only call SP.

NCASA,

If ASA were to wuthorize combo pants and sell them, I would be the first in line to purchase them.

That is a great idea that I will pass along to my State UIC to run it up the ladder.