Story of my (umpire-empire) life!
You should never have to compromise the fit of gear. As Arik ( @BT_Blue) mentioned, the All-Star System 7 shinguards were made in shorter sizes, but they may not be available for retail purchase anymore since All-Star progressed to the Cobalt line. Would I wear them? Sure! The S7 shins are very good, certainly better fitting and lighter than any of the Wilson shins, but the Force3’s are just that much better, dollar for dollar.
Huh! Funny! You found the West Vest to be... what’s that? “Bulky”?... too, huh? Hmmm... must be a characteristic of a CP that hasn’t improved in 20 years!
Anyway, the All-Star System 7 CPU4000 provides the most amount of coverage, short of wearing a bear suit. The carapace plates are shaped and segmented in such a way so as to conform to your torso as best as possible. My fellow Vulture and colleague @KenBAZ owns and uses both the CPU4000 and the Force3 UnEqual (V2? V3? Ken?) and he has been mightily impressed by the CPU4K. I fully endorse it for what it represents, save how confining the neck opening is. While it does fit me, I as a gear-geek look at it and wonder why/how All-Star could have made it more variable or accommodating. That’s it’s only real limitation.
Otherwise, I will always stump for (my) Schutt-Adams XV, if only because it is the lightest and most well-ventilated CP in the market. Are there things that the CPU4K and Cobalt CPU5K do better? Certainly (such as coming with an actual flex harness by nature, and having an adjustable width).
Know what “CP” means to Wilson? Couch Potato. Wear a West Vest, using that bulky couch-cushion upholstery foam, and ya look like a spud.