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If you (or anyone) can't find an Adams let me know - I have one that's in great shape, but I moved to the All-Start System7 (CPU4000), the predecessor to the Cobalt, and love it - can't see going back to my Adams, but just haven't had the time to put it up for sale yet. I love the AS S7 so much I bought a second one as my backup when it was on sale after the Cobalt came out.

I bought an Adams at the end of last season. Got it in time for 3 games or so. I changed the harness to an F3. Once I got it adjusted I really liked it. Almost forgot it was there. It’s going in the rotation this Spring I was on the fence with the same choice as you are. The decider for me was, when I bought it, the Cobolt was not in stock. I don’t think you can go wrong with either choice.

I still have my System 7, in addition to the Cobalt. I think the S7 is a bit more protective, especially at the collar bone. The Cobalt is a bit slimmer and lighter on me. It's been a game day decision on what I use. I do like having extra pads on the S7, in case I need to do two plates in a day.

😲 Hey! @wolfe_man, Jeff just called us "gear whores"?! That's insulting and outrageous! ... ... ... Because it implies that we get paid for this! Which we don't... Lemme get this out on the table first – both of these CPs are fully capable and adept at Major-League speeds and environs. There is nothing magical about the Wilson WestVest -series units that make them more advantageous or protective than the All-Star Cobalt, the All-Star System 7, the Douglas Pro, the Schutt / Adams XV, the Riddell Power, All-American AA37, +POS Cobra, +POS ZRO-G, and even the Champion P2xx, and brand-new Champro CP-AMT (which is a direct WV Gold knock-off). Hell, I'll even throw in the Force3 UnEqual, which itself is a wholly unique animal, and is often misunderstood when we're talking "Pro -level gear". For the sake of the forthcoming explanation (purchasing advice), we can cross the pre-22 Wilson WV Gold and Platinum off the list, the Riddell, and the All-American... since you can't buy them anyway. Once I explain the fundamental difference amongst these units, especially how the Cobalt, Adams XV, and Force3 UnEqual behave, you're not going to see any of the other CPs in the same light. The difference is in the foam padding. Everybody other than All-Star, Schutt-Adams, Force3, +POS, and Champion is using varying degrees of what amounts to be open-cell upholstery foam as padding in their vests. The stuff has no ventilating properties (in fact, it is insulating), and requires volume (thickness) to be protective and energy-absorbing. So that increases weight and bulk. Only now, in 2022 (some 25 years after they introduced the damned thing!), is Wilson finally addressing the foam in the WV Gold and now producing it in MemoryFoam, which is technically a viscoelastic open-cell foam, but behaves thermodynamically so as to control resilience rate and conform better to contours and shapes without having to increase volume. If you've read any of my other (mega-)posts, I've used a term called "laminated foam", which is a sandwich of several types of foams so as to benefit from their individual properties. +POS does this, as does Force3 (to a certain extent), except here Force3 is infusing a layer of Kevlar. Yes, just like on bulletproof (more like, bullet-catching) vests. Champion uses a foam that is more akin to closed-cell foam, acting as the meat of a laminate sandwich – which is why they can pull off the almost-ridiculously low profile silhouette they can achieve. That leaves us with All-Star and Schutt-Adams, which are using EVA-TPU foams as the basis of their laminates. In the case of Schutt-Adams, Schutt was the first to employ a trademarked version of this EVA-TPU foam called D3O, having placed it in their football helmets because of its dynamic resistance and hydrophobic properties. Relevant to you, the hydrophobic properties means that it wicks and transfers moisture, which would otherwise be trapped by common foams weighing it down, near instantly. In order to aid in that moisture dissipation, the foam best functions with (rather) large cylindrical holes in it, further reducing weight and promoting ventilation. This foam was then installed in specific locations on its line of football shoulder pads. As such, it went into its baseball chest protectors and helmets just as easily. Because Schutt is endeavoring to optimize its football presence, they had to have an unbranded variant of D3O produced, and supplied to its Adams subsidiary, which has taken over the baseball aspect of Schutt's business, at least as far as umpires are concerned. All-Star has kept abreast of these developments, too, and has been using laminate foams in its entire family of catcher's shinguards, chest protectors, and HSMs. They, too, produced their own variant of holed EVA-TPU foam, and its found its way into shinguards and chest protectors. To improve contact and fit on the Cobalt, All-Star not only structured their foam pads in an egg-carton manner, but placed them tactically within the carapace as pods, further promoting airflow. Additionally, borrowing a page out of +POS's playbook, they used HDPE plastic as the carapace plates instead of ABS, significantly reducing overall weight without compromising integrity. Both units offer similar accessories and features: they both have lower abdominal extensions, both have flex harnesses, both use plastic side-release buckles for fasteners (instead of those wretched metal T-hooks, which corrode and cut into your shirt when impacted), and both have the ability to separate the carapace from the pads so as to wash the pads. Even the much-anticipated Wilson Gold II can't boast this ease of use! Not only will the memory foam version be heavier (because of the use of memory foam), but in both the MemFoam and AMT models, the foam jacket is one piece. This means that the foam vest makes full contact to you, and acts as the connective "tissue" between the carapace plates, which attach to it via Velcro tabs (which are no longer patented). What a hassle! Not easy to adjust, modify, and has the all the comfort of a hot, wet teddy bear embracing you. So what it comes down to, between the All-Star Cobalt and the Adams XV is cost, not capability. I've worn both, loved both. The Cobalt is substantially more of an investment, while the XV just boggles the mind as to how or why it is so affordable. Indeed, I think it's so "out there", some umpires cannot believe that it is as capable as it is. And, to that point, I (continue to) wear it every game I can to prove it, and I'm doing 150+ plate games per year, with more than a few seeing speeds over 90 mph and temperatures routinely over 90º.

It's pronounced "Smock"

I've never run across any (non-pro, non-college) league, tournament or organization that requires softball helmets to even match in color, let alone brand. Even the club organization where I coached we told players/parents the exact helmet they could buy, but it wasn't mandatory as it was their own expense...they also ended up doing it because they didn't want to be different. But if we had affiliate callups or new joiners any safety certified helmet was acceptable. In fact, our manufacturer did stop selling in our colors after one year, so new players had to buy a new brand, so we did have a mix of brand as well.

My Bad! I didn't know your resume. You, Thunderheads and Maven give some GREAT advice. You should be an official because you know more than most and definitely more than any coach I've been acquainted with. Your advice coupled with Senor Azul's vast library of rules, case plays etc., have made many hundreds, if not thousands of officials much better umpires. THANK YOU!! ⚾

64oz, that's good to know I've been exceeding that for years. With 2 of these regularly per day, I've been getting 80oz!