Yeah, the thing is loud, isn’t it? Surely, everyone knows you got hit, as that clacking sound is inimitable by anything else. You’ll never hear, “Are you okay, Catch? Where’d that get you?” inquired from the sidelines again!
Now, on this point, this is where the Force3 Ultimate has a leg up on the XV, P2xx and other carapace-based CP’s. With its neoprene outer skin, there is much less noise and deflection. Also, the XV is a tad bit broad, but it’s not bad. The Champro segmented CP’s and the Force3 can all get more conforming, especially around the torso.
I just got hit with a straight fastball, center chest, a few days ago. Circa 90 mph, and the catcher and pitcher got crossed up, with the pitch coming at (or optically from behind) the batter’s hands. Batter moved his hands at the last moment, while the catcher didn’t get his mitt high enough, and it hit me dead center. Didn’t phase me at all.
When one understands that the padding in this thing is used in current football helmets, where heat dissipation is a vital function, and that the holes in both the carapace plates and the padding itself promotes airflow and doesn’t retain moisture, you are left with one convicting question:
Why are they (the other manufacturers) still using sofa cushion foam?!