Umpire in Chief

This is the line up card you've been waiting for. 

I know how people get excited over new masks, chest protectors, shoes and bigger items. Many of you know my theory that your line up card holder is the most powerful piece of equipment an umpire carries. Maybe I'm a little crazy, but this is probably one of the reasons I am I'm excited about this line up card holder. 

First, it looks sharp. In a position where we are judges by our appearance and the items we use this fits the bill very well. It is a professional grade item.

Second, design. Ray knocked it out of the park with this design. It's so simple yet functional it's hard to believe nobody thought of it earlier. The previous version (the one I own) had magnets which when closed were stacked on top of each other. I never had an issue with it, but Ray took it to the next level with his next design offsetting the magnets so when it is closed it is less bulky.

Function. This functions like it is supposed to. You don't have to fidget with it, tuck corners of the line up holder into difficult little plastic tabs or anything like that. It is extremely functional. 

If you haven't noticed I can't say enough about this line up card holder. But the proof is where my wallet is. As I mentioned I have the previous version, but I love this line up card holder so much after getting my own, I placed an order with Ray to get one for each member of the moderation team here. 

Another thing, while you can order the standard line up card holder from our friends at Ump-Attire.com, you can also order customized ones directly from Ray.

So I finally retired my nearly 10 year old Diamond 30" equipment bag. It served me well and overall I enjoyed it, but it was seriously showing its age. After debating and reading people's comments on the site. I decided on this new Force 3 Ultimate Equipment bag and I am extremely satisfied about my choice. My only experience with a dedicated equipment bag was this diamond so I will be using that as my basis of comparison. 

First thing I notice is the canvas material. It is thick and seems more substantial than the Diamond I had. 

Next thing I looked at were the zippers. From my research across many brands of equipment bags peoples' number one complaint is about the zippers on their bags. In nearly 10 years I never had a single complaint of my previous one. The zippers on the Force 3 seem to be pretty sturdy and don't leave me wondering if that is going to be a failure point' I think they will be just fine.

I then examined the wheels. Don't ask me why, but for whatever reason I am very opinionated on the wheels that are on things. From luggage to garden wagons and even the tool chest in my garage; items that have wheels I don't like, don't make the cut. So this was an important feature on my check list that would be under extra scrutiny.  I will also say one of my decision factors in choosing the Force 3 bag over the eBags Mother lode were the wheels. I believe these wheels are going to meet the needs of umpires. Specifically I like that there is an axle running through the wheel to both sides of the wheel well. I also like that the wheels are more rugged and offer decent clearance. I feel these are important items because as umpires we're not always lugging our bags down nice carpeted corridors or smooth concrete walkways, we have to drag our equipment down dirt/rock/ grassy paths to get to the designated umpire locker room and I feel the extra strength of these wheels are up to the task.

The Force 3 Ultimate Umpire Equipment Bag also features more than enough room for your gear and uniforms. The bottom area is designed for your uniforms and features straps that will help keep your uniforms in place and not slide around or down to the bottom and become a wrinkly mess. The upper compartment is a little larger and offers plenty of room for your gear and shoes. In the upper compartment I have 2 masks, my chest protector, a pair of double knee shin guards, my base shoes, my plate shoes, several cups as well as belts and accessories. It sounds like a lot and it is, but with a little organization it can be done easy enough. 

Additionally the bag has 2 zippered pockets along the inside of the bag and 2 zippered compartments on the outside of the bag. These are adequate, however, if I have to cite a shortcoming of this bag it would be the lack of storage pockets on the inside of the top flap. I miss this about my Diamond bag. With that bag I had a dedicated space for things like my line up card holder, pens, indicators, brushes, etc. It made it much easier to find than looking in various large pockets. Additionally, on the Diamond bag many of the accessory pockets were mesh and I could easily see if my stopwatch was in its pocket rather than looking at it. So maybe Force 3 will include similar accessory pockets on a future version.

One of the features I like best about this equipment bag is that, and it may seem silly, is that this bag will stand up on it's end. This was the biggest issue I had with my previous bag. If the shoe compartment of that bag was not filled all the way up there was no way it would stand upright on it's end. This was an unnecessary hassle. Imagine pulling out your equipment bag and having to lay it down while you get out your garment bag, cap caddy, among other things, then bend down to pick up your equipment bag. It may not sound like much but it really gets old. The Force 3 Ultimate Umpire Equipment Bag takes this hassle out of my life and is one of the features that I appreciate most. 

All in all I really like this bag. I feel it is sturdy enough to stand up to the rigors an umpire equipment bag needs to while offering nearly all the functionality and storage you need. 

This is my first new mask in over 10 years. I placed a rather large order from Ump-Attire.com and threw it in just because I wanted to and I'm glad I did.

First, I must say this mask is light, very light. I was amazed at how light it was. 1lb, 3.4 oz by my kitchen scale. That's 7oz lighter than my older Wilson Dyna-lite.

I've worked several games since I received the mask and have been dying to try it. Unfortunately, my partners all really wanted the plate. So last night I had a fall ball JV game. Perfect for trying out my new mask. As any umpire will attest when we get a new piece of equipment the masochist in us comes out and we want to take a hit with our new gear. A JV fall ball game is the perfect place to get those wanted hits so I demanded the plate.

Second batter of the game is all it took. Uncaught "fastball" (maybe mid 60's) straight to the center of my jaw. No ill effects to either me or the mask. 

A couple of innings later, bam! A pretty hard foul to my right eye. Everything was fine. The game offered me several other opportunities to be hit in the mask among other places. 

I was impressed. the memory foam padding is light and comfortable and took the shock out of the blow just as it should have. 

It was comfortable and as I mentioned ultra-light weight. I actually believe the weight of entire of the mask is supported by the bill of the cap. 

I believe I will be enjoying this mask for years to come!

I wanted to like this chest protector; I really really did. I wanted this to become my long-term replacement for my Wilson West Vest Gold which I wore for 8+ years. But sadly, it will not be.

I bought this in April of this year and wanted to wait and give it a full workout before posting a review on it. I've probably worn it for 30+ plate assignments. 

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Comfortable overall
• Low profile
• Looks good
• Removable - chest lower extension piece
• Minimal metal to rust
• Highly adjustable for a great fit
• Comes with a delta-style harness

Cons:

• Serious concerns about long-term durability
• Cost - probably the most expensive chest protector on the market

Here's where the Force3 lives up to its reputation. It's fit, it's weight,  it's low profile and it's comfort. In these areas with one exception it is heads and shoulders above the crowd. In terms of being cooler which it touts, I will agree. But don't expect a massive difference. 

I really like the lower profile of the Force3 chest protector. I'm not the leanest of umpires and extra bulky chest protectors don't help me look the part any better. This chest protector is probably the lowest profile available that you can feel comfortable taking on to a field at the high school level and above. For those of you who are a little more svelte than myself, this also looks really sharp. I have a friend who wears one who is quite possibly half my size and he looks really sharp wearing it If you didn't know how thin he already was  you wouldn't even know he was wearing one. 

The next great feature of the Force3 is how adjustable the chest protector is. It has a detachable extension. I do not use but could come in handy in youth rec games or if you are taller. It also is adjustable at the neck by moving the neck piece with the velcro attachment. 

As for protection, I can't speak to how well it protects from a harsh shot as over the 30+ games I haven't taken a really bad hit. I've been grazed by a couple of 59' pitches, a couple of fouls, a pitch off the catchers glove. But no uncaught fastballs or horrendous fouls. However, when I've been hit it has protected me well. 

I also like that it has minimal metal to rust. I liked my West Vest Gold, however after 8 years all the metal has rusted, which is very disappointing. 

Here's what I don't like...

One of the primary differences between V1 & V2, and the one that made me want to purchase this over it's predecessor, was the addition of plastic plates inside of the chest protector. They call this the "Blast Shield." For me, this ended up being a huge disappointment. 

My Force3 arrived with the large center plastic piece being concave vs convex or even flat. This is the crux of my problem with the Force3 chest protector. Here is why:

1. All 4 corners of this center plate protrude outward. I believe this will drastically shorten the life of my chest protector. The constant rubbing and abrasion of this plastic against the neoprene will undoubtedly wear out the neoprene.
2. Being convex drastically reduces the comfort level of of this chest protector. Even with this issue it is still one of the most comfortable chest protectors, but is is a constant push in a single spot which does become uncomfortable. 
3. I have serious concern about if/when I take a harsh hit in this area being convex, rather than dispersing the impact, it will focus the impact. 
4. It also diminishes the low profile look sticking out the way it does. 

Now, one of the reasons I've waited so long to post this review is that I hoped with wear I could "break it in" and have it conform better. After consulting with multiple people I was advised this would be the best route. But even after the many games it has not conformed to any noticeable degree.

I also tried manually fitting it myself by heating it up with a heating pad underneath and using a hair dryer on the top. Once it got warmed up after a few minutes, I then placed a folded pair of socks under the chest protector and placed up to 4, gallon sized baggies of hot water on top of it to attempt to form it to a concave shape. After multiple attempts there was still no difference. 

I also grabbed and attempted to bend the corners back, which resulted in a cracking sound, so I immediately stopped that.

Yes, most likely I was the unlucky sole who received one with a manufacturer's defect. But that doesn't make me feel any better especially that this would get through and to a customer. I expect a chest proctor to treat me well for many years as long as I care for it properly. While there are no visible signs of wear yet, I can only imagine that it is only going to be a matter of time before one of the corners on the plastic plate rub through rendering the chest protector useless. I severely doubt this will last the 8 years and multiple hundreds of games of my previous chest protector. 

So given all of the above along with the highest price point in the market, I simply cannot recommend this chest protector. 

I bought these pants this year. Overall I've been pleased with Smitty brand merchandise. I think I may be being generous in giving them 2 stars. 

The good:

• They look sharp
• They're the right color
• They cost less than the Honigs

The bad:

• It all boils down to one thing... The clasp of these pants are cheap and flimsy.
  The top clasp of BOTH my base and plate pants broke on my first time wearing on the field. Were these pants too tight? No I would classify them as comfortably snug. Not too loose but not too tight. 
  Strangely enough it was the top clasp on both the bottom clasps on both pairs seems to remain fine so I wonder it was a manufacturer defect. 

So needless to say I'm not the happiest with this purchase. I will probably not be buying the Smitty Poly-Wool pants again. 

My wife bought me the Oakley Flack Jacket XLJ with the photochromic lenses for my birthday a few years ago.

These are by far my favorite sunglasses ever!

Typical for Oakley the design is modern, stylish and comfortable. The arms are comfortably snug and hold them in place even running, jumping or other times of high activity. 

There are dozens of lens options and I specifically wanted "transition" type lenses that Oakley calls photochromic. In bright light these darken to a moderate darkness level, and in lower light levels they lighten to an orange/amber color. I love this as a baseball umpire. For those late afternoon games that start in full sun light the dark is great, but as the sun sets and the lights come on the amber is perfect and even enhances your ability to see in those low light/ twilight times very well. 

I use it and LOVE it. Here's the caveat...

It's not "Plug and Play." I added it to my Wilson WV Gold and the straps it comes with are not quite long enough for me ( I wear a size 46R coat for reference). To make it work takes some finagling. I have seen people who sew additional elastic on to extend; Just note if you choose this option you may have to sew it further in than just onto the end of the strap because it may make the T-buckle (if that's even its name) be too far out due to the overlap. The strap also won't be able to fit through the holes in the buckle with the overlap. Some people have gone to a fabric store and bought additional comparable elastic and just replaced the entire thing.

But I love it. Once you get it fit, It holds your chest protector in place with no slippage, ever. I've never had to readjust my chest protector once I have it on since changing to the All-Star Delta Flex harness.

I may be getting a new chest protector in the not too distant future and if I do not choose the All-Star system 7 chest protector I will put this harness on it. 

I've been overdue in getting new shin guards. For the last 7 years I've used the Douglas West Vest shins I got used.  Shin guards have been on my "like to have" list but never made it to my "need to have" list. 

Then All-Star released these and the feedback from anybody who had used them was great, so I took the plunge. I didn't do so without reservation. I've always worn triple knee shins. These are double knee, so I had concern.

I took them out of the box, they look nice, unlike any other shins I'd seen. They had the toe plate attached. I removed these immediately. The great thing is that they were only velcroed and not permanently riveted like other brands. 

Looking at them I could tell they were designed for both comfort and protection. Comfort in the facts that the inside padding is completely adjustable giving you greater flexibility in sizing.

Now getting your initial fitting of these shins is different from any other I've tried, and that's not a bad thing. It actually takes some trial and error. You can adjust the patella pad and the straps. These shins use the All-Star DeltaFlex harness which is a tremendous improvement over traditional straps. The Delta harness has sturdy steel hooks and loops, is made of a neoprene type material and the crossing pattern of the straps is very comfortable.

Another thing about these shins is how breathable they are. Unlike other shins these have designed vents in the plastic and the fixed padding. This will be a welcome feature for those dog-days of summer.

Protection - This is the most important factor. In full disclosure I feel it is only fair to remind readers that I can be quoted numerous times both at Umpire-Empire and other sites telling people the one place you can afford to go cheap on your equipment is on shins. That said, while I haven't taken a hit in the 3 games I've worked with them so far, I feel there is no better shin protection available than the All-Star System 7 shin guards. The plastic is plenty thick and the shins wrap around to give you ample side and ankle protection. Another thing which is different from other shins is that there is a slight gap in between the plastic shell and the fixed padding. I like this because the way the fixed padding is riveted to the shell towards the edges of the shell that provides yet another level of protection by transferring the impact further back and over a greater area. 

I mentioned concern of being double knee. After trying them on that concern is gone, and actually they offer greater protection in terms of how far up my leg they go than my triple knee shins.  

When worn with my plate pants (I do not use combos) they are low profile enough that they are not noticed while either standing or while in my squat. There is a small All-Star logo on the ankle wings which is small enough and will not stand out. I wear mid-cut plate shoes and the wings are comfortable along the outside of my shoes. 

I weighed the shins and was surprised they weigh more than my former shins. While I don't recall the actual weights, it was nominal. And I think the way the DeltaFlex harness supports the shin on your leg you will never notice.

Another feature All-Star Sports added was making the shins with Aeigis Microbe Shield to kill bacteria which leads to funky smelling equipment. I think this is a welcome feature with the moisture/sweat they are exposed to.

I've been criticized in my reviews that I never say anything negative about products, so I will attempt to give cons of products going forward.

Here are the cons of the All-Star System Seven Shin Guards:

1. When trying the shins on I found the top strap uncomfortable as I practiced getting in my squat, standing and running. The strap would slide on the back of my thigh. I found it annoying, but in 3 games I have yet to notice it.

2. Foot plates. At this price I would assume any umpire who is willing to pay $100 more for shin guards than than they could find other shins for they would not come with these plates. Fortunately they are easily removable. 

3. Price. These retail for approximately $135.00 making them the most expensive umpire shins on the market. Yes, these are new and prices drop over time. Are they worth the price? That depends on your outlook. These shins are an investment and would qualify as a luxury item. Think of it like this, both a 1975 AMC Pacer and a 2012 Mercedes CLS will get you from point A to B just fine, but when it comes to secondary functions like style, comfort and protection that's where the differences comes in and you need to decide what is important to you. These are the Mercedes CLS of shin guards.  

Conclusion:

All-Star Sports has hit the nail on the head with these shin guards. They offer the absolute best protection available plus other features like ventilation, anti-microbial shield, style, low-profile design and almost as important as protection, comfort. They are incredibly comfortable. What else would you expect from a company who truly listens to the umpiring community and takes their feedback into consideration when designing their equipment. 

While I wouldn't consider this a must have item based on the price, I would consider them a highly recommended item if you are in a position to make the extra investment in yourself. You will not be disappointed!

This is more than your typical rules and interpretation manual. You can actually sit down and read this manual cover to cover almost like a novel; it is much more than a reference guide.

Here I what I like about it:

Harry's Hints - Scattered throughout the manual you will find Harry's Hints. These are little gems of advice and how to apply the rules are great. Many times they help clarify the concept being covered.

Historical References - This is also one of my favorite parts of the book. Through the book you will see little history tidbits. These really speak to me. I think it really helps in some situations to know where a rule came from.

Rules inconsistencies - The Wendelstedt Rules and Interpretation Manual "targets" some inconsistencies in the OBR. While there are only about 5 of these in the manual I really like how in certian ones it gives the official ruling and the preferred ruling. Very thought prevoking.

Official MLB & PBUC Interpretations -  The manual gives both interpretations together. I find it interesting to see how 2 professional baseball orgainizations can differ, even if slightly.

Example Plays - In the footnotes you will find example plays. These example plays clarify rules discussed.

Organization - The manual is well put together and well indexed. The citations reference FED and NCAA rules. But not this is not a FED or NCAA manual; it is dedicated to OBR.

Appearance - The book is well put together very much like what you would expect. The cover is attractive and bound well. I am not a fan of spiral binding or three ring binder style.

Reference Plays- This Manual has 400 reference plays. What an incredible resource.

My only suggestion for improvement would be to make the font of the Course Notes & Information larger. I understand why it was made smaller, to separate it from the other areas of the manual.

Also if at all possible I'd like to see more Harry's Hints.

This is a must have for your umpiring reference library.

Full disclosure... Yes I obviously have some bias and the manual was provided at no cost. That said I am writing this as objectively as humanly possible.

Here's my mouthguard story. I had been in favor of mouthguards but didn't feel it was something for me. Then in a varsity game last year I took a foul straight to the jaw. I was stunned, but tried to play it off. I immediately threw another ball to the pitcher. Then put the ball in play and start into my squat. My partner comes running up the line calling time. He comes up to me and asks if I'm okay. I tell him yes. He points to my mask which is almost all the way to the backstop and tells me he really thinks I should think about putting it on before putting the ball in play. I never realized I wasn't wearing it. I was fine the rest of that game, but had a dull headache for a few days. I diagnosed myself with a mild concussion. 

Back to the review...

I ordered this mouthguard for a few reasons:

1. I thought being that it went over your lower teeth it would be less visible.
2.  It is advertised as allowing foe more natural speaking.
3. Shock Doctor has a great reputation and I expect high quality products from them.

Our friend Jim at Ump-Attire sent me a complimentary XL Ultimate Ball Bag.

I must admit I've been a fan of these since the first version. I bought my first Ump-Attire Ultimate Ball Bag in 2004 after reading a review in the Amateur Baseball Umpire Homepage. It was my first piece of "non-traditional" piece of equipment.

I had already put these on my "to-get" list when I first saw on Facebook they were being released.

At first look they are obviously larger than the last version I would say about an inch wider at the bottom, and about half an inch deeper. The stitching is top notch. I actually looked absolutely everywhere on the bag there are no loose ends, no frayed final stitches.

I also like the texture of the material. It is not cheap feeling polyester. It just feels like quality material much higher quality than most other ball bags.

One of the reasons these ball bags have become so popular is they are lined with waterproof material  to keep the baseballs dry even if you sweat enough to soak through the bags. You may remember the CWS about 2 years ago where the umpire had sweat through and they had to throw baseballs in from the bench. 

The newer version takes things a step further and not only are lined on the side which is against your hip, the other side is now lined too. I think this will help on those damp drizzly games where we are still able to play.

Another improvement of the new XL Ultimate Umpire Ball Bags is that the opening has been made wider making it easier to get your hand in versus the previous version. I never had an issue with this as I bellowed out the opening after I put the bag on and all was well. In tonights game I made a conscious effort not to bellow out the opening and had zero problems. 

The belt openings are large and had no problem handling my 1 3/4 inch belt.

It almost feels weird to say how much I enjoy something like a ball bag. But these are a really great addition to your equipment bag. These are a must have.

On an additional note I really think it's great seeing a company make changes to their product based on their customers feedback.  

I bought these this year to replace my aging NB 350s. So far I really like the shoes. They are comfortable, look sharp and easy to care for just like the plate model.

But also like the plate model the tread will get clogged up if the field is even slightly damp, I think there my be a potential safety issue when they become clogged and you have virtually no traction. I will not wear these in damp/ light rain conditions.

I got these at the beginning of the year to replace my NB 450's.

I really like these shoes.

They are lightweight, easy to clean, sharp looking and give great protection.

My only con to these shoes is that they are not mudders to any extent. Even if the dirt is damp from morning dew, the knobs at the bottom will become completely clogged up and you could loose all traction. Be aware of this and be sure to kick out the dirt regularly. I will not wear these in damp/ light rain conditions.

I was at a "Big Box" Sporting goods store and saw these on sale. From the description on the packaging I thought they'd be perfect-- Hardly so.

I like moisture wicking socks, I like compression and I liked the though of the thicker material in the heel and toe.

I wore 1 pair 1 time in a scrimmage. I found these socks uncomfortable and they would not stay up, so much for over the calf socks. The fact that they wouldn't stay up is just a portion of why they were uncomfortable.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!

I always visit Ump-Attire.com first when there is something I want to buy. They have a good selection and good products. The best thing about Ump-Attire.com is the service. If my scale had a higher rating I would give it in service. They also ship very quickly. With standard shipping it only takes a few days to get your goods. The owner, Jim Kirk, is very knowledgeable and responsive. A while back I placed an order and for whatever reason needed to make a return. It was taken care of immediately with no problems. Jim also posts his email address on his website and does respond quickly to questions. The prices are average among suppliers but they do run some sales with great prices. The selection is good and changing keeping a pulse on what umpires want. I've never been disappointed in Ump-Attire.com and give my highest recommendation!

I just got these shorts in from Ump-Attire and haven't worn them for a game yet but wanted to share my initial thoughts.

As a background I worn the McDavid compression shorts since I began umpiring and have always been very satisfied.

When I received these the first thing I noticed was the stitching. While I no longer have the McDavid ones the stitching in the Shock doctor ones look sturdier. Which is a primary concern of mine because all of the McDavid compression shorts I've owned have ended up, after several years so not terribly disappointing , coming apart at the seam in the crotch. I feel confident with these that I wont have the same problem.

Also like my McDavid ones, they have a built in cup pocket.

EDIT:

1. My other ball bags are black and my association some time ago apparently changed the appearance standards and black is no longer an option.
2. I love my Ump-Attire ultimate ball bags. But there is one particular evaluator who hated them and will ding me when he sees me with them.

I have never worn gloves behind the plate before. I then saw the positive feedback here people had given to these gloves and kept them in the back of my mind to get someday. Then I when preparing to go to camp I saw Atlanta got hit w/ 10" of snow and the extended forecast for the area to have temps in the mid-40's. I then thought is was probably a good time to grab some gloves.

I initially went into town to just grab some at the local big box sporting goods store. I found the Under Armour equivalent and really liked them. Unfortunately, the store somehow had paired 2 right hand gloves. Fortunately my wife noticed this as we were checking out but they didn't have other in my size.

So I went home and fired up the laptop and placed my order at Ump-Attire.

I get down to Atlanta and then it was absolutely beautiful. The gloves didn't get used. Just my luck I rush and get the gloves and then didn't need them.

Well today I got my chance had a HS scrimmage the temps were in the mid 40's with a really strong wind.

These gloves fit really well as the name implies they are made of a stretch material. In the past I've had problems with gloves because I have long thin fingers, but these gloves stretch material made the difference in giving the perfect fit.

I was pleased with the warmth. Not perfect given the windy conditions, the wind did cut through the gloves but anything thicker would have been over kill and clumsy behind the plate. But overall they will provide enough warmth for the cold weather we experience here.

These gloves function well. Which was my biggest concern. I wondered how it would be working my indicator and handling baseballs. I will admit it was awkward for the first couple of innings and initially I didn't throw any balls back to the pitcher myself. I must have looked like a rookie having to look at my indicator as I changed the count because I couldn't feel the wheels click into position through the gloves and I was constantly over rolling the count. After a while I decided to throw one back to the pitcher myself and was amazed how much control I had while throwing. I think with more time I could get the hang of using the indicator with the gloves.

These gloves also look really good and I actually like their look over the gloves I almost bought. They are solid black with the Manzella logo discretely placed on the wristband in a black on black design. As you may know from my other posts I'm not a fan of big logos on my clothes or other items. The Control Dot Grip does the job and fits the look of the glove well. Now unlike the picture above they have the whole palm all fingers and the thumb have the dots. They are very sharp looking and will look good with any uniform.

I think umpires will really enjoy these gloves as long as their expectations are in check. These are classified by Manzella as their "warm" series which is their basic level. They will do well in cooler temps above the freezing level. I don't think they'd cut it in freezing temps for you guys in the north, west or other colder climates. But for moderately cool temps they'll do the job well. Also in windy conditions like I experienced today the wind will cut through.

I received this shirt compliments of Jim Kirk at Ump-Attire to review. 

The Ump-Attire Ultimate Umpire Shirt impressed me right out of the package. The very first thing I noticed was how good it looked. I liked the look of the material. Unlike the majority of the material of my other shirts, the Ultimate Umpire Shirt material is not a mesh style shirt, it is more like the newer golf shirts. This gives it a distinct crisp look among my umpire shirts. Also, the shirt is a true navy blue. This is always a concern of mine because there are so many things out there which call themselves “navy blue” but aren’t including umpire gear/uniforms. Next I noticed the weight of the shirt, it is truly lightweight especially in comparison to my older model Cliff Keen shirts. While I didn’t weigh the shirts I believe it was about half the weight of the CK shirt, the difference is significant. The next thing I noticed was how soft and smooth the material was. I hadn’t worn the shirt yet but as I was feeling the texture of the material I was thinking this is going to be comfortable. Another thing I like about the Ultimate Umpire Shirt is that there is no tag at the back of the neck, but a care label on an inside seem and the Ump-Attire Logo tag at the bottom. This is a personal preference of mine, but I love the fact that many shirts have removed the tag from the back of the neck.

So of course like a kid with a new toy I wanted to try it on. I first put on my red generic Under Armour shirt to see how it will really look. No color bleed through. The only red you see is at the open collar. This was impressive to me given how thin and light weight the material was. I even brought in another 100 watt reading lamp to make it as bright as possible. This is important to me because I do not want to look purple on the field like the Dalco and one of the +POS shirts I own do. This is another thing I always liked from my Cliff Keen shirts.

The extra large size I ordered fit like an extra large size should. Comfortably loose without being too baggy on the bases yet large enough that I also use it with my West Vest Gold CP behind the plate. This gives the Ultimate Umpire Shirt an advantage over my previous favorite CK shirts where I needed 2 different sizes for both the plate and bases. This is also another concern of mine when ordering shirts getting the right size.

I finally got to wear it on the field. And it was a good day to wear it too. The temperature was only in the low to mid 80’s still a bit unseasonably warm, but the humidity was 100%. The wind would go from a steamy dead calm to a nice refreshing breeze. I had 2 plate assignments and 1 base assignment that day. I changed undershirts between each game, but kept the same shirt.

Going into the game I had a concern about the breathability of the shirt because how it blocked out the red of my undershirt so well.  This concern was put to ease by the Ultimate Umpire Shirt soon enough after the 2nd or 3rd inning I had worked up a good sweat and could feel the breeze, when there was one, cooling me off. So I will give it good marks for breathablity.

The Ultimate Umpire Shirt also gets high marks for comfort. I wore it for three games in a row and had no comfort issues at all. Usually I change both my shirt and undershirt after each game to make sure I’m most comfortable. While I did change undershirts the Ultimate Umpire Shirt remained comfortable the entire day.

This shirt is also easy to care for. I clean my clothes a bit different than many other people. I wash as usual but only dry my clothes until their about 90% dry. When they are still lightly damp I remove them from the dryer and hang them up to dry the rest of the way. Note, if you choose to do this it only takes a few minutes in the dryer for this and most other moisture wicking materials to get most of the way dry. The shirt looked ready to wear immediately. Like all moisture wicking articles do not use any fabric softener on your Ultimate Umpire Shirt. I will also have to remember to not iron the shirt per the directions. I am a bit of a stickler for having well ironed clothes and would often iron some of my other shirts. But based on how it looked after drying I don’t believe there will be a need to iron it.

This shirt is priced well for the market. At $32.95 it is the same price as the Honigs Shirts, generally a bit less expensive than the Cliff Keen and Majestic shirts which I see generally in the $35.00 to $40.00 range, and a bit more expensive than the Dalco, Smitty, or other shirts which are commonly found between $22.00 and $30.00.

Overall a great shirt.

• Looks: A
• Color/ Sizing A
• Breathability B
• Comfort A
• Price B

This is my new favorite shirt as I retire older shirts they will be replaced with the Ump-Attire Ultimate Umpire Shirts. I will follow up sometime late and discuss the durability of the shirt.

I've posted elsewhere that I bought this protector from Ump-Attire a few months ago. I really like it, but for better or worse I haven't taken any shots in about 12 or so games with it. (Okay I know I've just cursed myself and will probably be in the ER after my next game).

What I can tell you is that it is comfortable. My only gripe is that the connector on the harness is hard plastic and when I pull it off it scrapes against the back of my head and doesn't feel too good. I intend on getting a leather one made.

Just wearing this CP gives you more confidence behind the plate. You know you are well protected and can lock in better.

It's light weight and very durable. Unlike the platinum I feel like I have better and more natural arm movement.

I will say it's a bit short. I know Rob Drake posted on his site a newer even shorter WV. I don't know how comfortable I'd be in his. I'm only 5'10" and my bottom ribs are not fully protected. The hard shell doesn't cover that far, and the padding barely does.

Also the passing is the thickest I've seen. I haven't measured it, but it seems it must be 1/2 an inch thick.

Like I said I've got about a dozen games in with this CP and I love it so far.

These are the one piece of equipment I haven't changed since I've gotten them. That's how much I've liked them.

One of the features I like most is the triple knee protection. It covers the lower thigh just enough and gives me a perfect reference for where I put my hands when I lock in my stance.

Another feature I like is the wrap around ankle protection.

It has been said shin guards are the one place you can go cheap on your equipment and get away with it, but these make me not even want to try.

They are a bit bulkier than most others and because of their bulk I can not wear combo pants with them.

Great Plate shoes. While they are very comfortable, the run a bit small in size both lenght & width. They are easy to care for and look good.