Minnz

I love Smitty pants this year. Only thing I will say, their combo pants do not fit well over some shin guards. They do not look great so I would recommend plate pants when behind the dish. I will admit my shin guards are a little thicker than most...I wear the Rawlings Lobsters.

I personally like the Shock Doctor line. Great for baseball and hockey. They have compression shorts and pants and all types of stuff. Cup very flexible and moved with you yet stays where it needs to.

IMO there is a big problem with misuse of the hockey style mask. The mask was made and intended to never be taken off. That is what makes them safer in addition to the shell on the back of head an ears. Catchers and umpires should not have to take the hockey mask off. They are supposed to give a better view than a standard mask while it is worn. This is why I think it is dumb states require kids to wear the hockey mask. They still take it off 99% of the time on foul balls and plays at the plate. Look at major league guys, many of the catchers and umps leave those thing on 100% of the time. Then you are using the mask correctly. That being said...I personally prefer the traditional mask. I was in HS when hockey masks came out and tried then playing HS ball but always went back to traditional.