DerekGDS

Don't tempt me to make a real jacket for you Idaho folks.

If traditional navy hasn't gone anywhere, the side panels won't either, but there is more adoption of the new MLB style. For example SWAC, Big South, ACC, CUSA have all switched to the new MLB style for 2025 and I'm sure we'll see more follow suit.

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I'll keep this short since it's a porn thread. Because the risk to a healthy adult is virtually negligible. I believe your chances of getting struck by lighting are even higher. With that being said - everything we've made in the past few years still has supplemental protection in the chest but testing for it is not something we'd do.

@concertman1971 I bought the new Davis V2 Tapered and ordered the BFX Tapered. Pricey Great value and impeccably built, and now I dont have to pay the tailor to taper them for me. Glad we got that sorted! In all seriousness, I haven't gotten hands on the Smitty's yet. All I know: Three colors (Dark Grey, Charcoal, Heather Grey) It appears to be their lightest fabric It has more Spandex than any other pant on the market There isn't a size chart so no direct comparisons against the standard cut Jim probably has more answers on this than anyone at the moment but a fairly light fabric and extra stretch. I'll be very curious to see how this holds up certain environmental conditions.

The update I got last week was late January to mid February. If it ends up being sooner than that I'll post a quick update.

They stopped making this 4-5 years ago. We haven't had it for years and I don't know anyone who has had it in stock for years either. Might be able to help you in a year with something similar it wont be Adams though.

Still a work in progress - based on the notes I have looks like there are still fit and ball bag adjustments going on. There are some other updates though. Customization Options Custom measurements/alterations to our rack sizing 8-12 interior lining color options Applique Numbers Embroidery Velcro Patches Airtag pocket (working on this per Max's recommendation in the thread) Estimated MSRP $300 - Standard rack sizing with no customization (Black/Black Lining) All other pricing is still TBD Standard delivery times are anticipated to be 6-8 weeks with rush options at 3-4 weeks. There may be some common sizes stocked for quick delivery but it would be minimal.

I’d argue that overall, All-Star develops some of the best products out there and offers one of the strongest value-for-cost ratios for umpires.

Sure, it’s true that demand dictates price, but Wilson’s pricing isn’t purely market-driven. They’ve leveraged MLB licensing to create artificial product differentiation. The MLB logo doesn’t just sell the product—it sells the idea that it’s what the pros use, which commands premium pricing. This isn’t about a purely undifferentiated market... it’s about perception. The MLB logo creates demand that allows Wilson to keep prices high, even if their products aren’t fundamentally different or, as @MadMax argues, potentially worse. It’s a psychological advantage that skews consumer perception and props up their pricing. It’s more than just efficiency. Sure, Wilson benefits from scale, but a big chunk of their cost advantage comes from using cheaper materials. As MadMax pointed out, if we’re ranking materials on a $-$$$$ scale, a lot of Wilson’s raw inputs sit closer to $ or $$ with the exception of the Fidlock. That lets them produce cheaper, but it doesn’t mean they’re producing better. Their lower costs aren’t just about smart production, it’s a tradeoff that prioritizes margin over quality. I think that’d be a risky move for them. Wilson’s premium pricing strategy rests entirely on branding and licensing, not on product quality. Lowering prices would shift focus from the MLB association to direct quality comparisons, where a lot of competitors have a clear edge. Dropping their prices would also erode the perceived value of their brand. I just don’t see Wilson doing this—it’d weaken their positioning, and the long-term consequence wouldn’t be increased profits it’d be a diluted brand. Markets don’t stay static, and I wouldn’t assume this one will. Sure, Wilson’s branding and MLB association are huge drivers of demand, and right now, it might seem like the market doesn’t care much about quality. But that could change quickly, especially if competitors find better ways to communicate their advantages. I’m not saying consumers will necessarily prioritize quality over branding in this case, but the possibility is there. The idea that “the market doesn’t care” might hold for now, but it overlooks the potential for disruption if competitors play their cards right. My too many cents.

Protective equipment currently enters the US duty-free. A proposed 10% blanket tariff on Chinese imports would apply to gear from China, but most protective equipment manufacturing (for umpires) occurs outside China, primarily in Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan.

That is honestly hilarious. Is this pricing in response to a government RFP…

HDPE is high-density polyethylene. The big thing is its ability to disperse impact energy better than ABS. It also weighs less and is more flexible than ABS. Laminate foams are more common now, but in the most general sense, they are a combination of foams with different properties to achieve the desired protection while typically aiming for a lower profile. Most protective gear at some point was some form of medium-high density open cell foam and for some brands it still is.

I'm surprised these devices can't be easily self updated via firmware. Are there no competing products?

No, those pants were never sold retail. That fabric is 120 gsm, so what we'd consider ultra-lightweight - they wont hold a crease.

It's showing Jan 1 but I highly doubt that. I'm not showing the lab dips/fabric dye swatch approved yet. My answer is I don't know. I'll look into it more and shoot you a PM when I have a realistic range.

According to our system it is showing me Thursday, Oct 31.

They are available in pleated. Looks like those recently came in and are waiting on photography.

I don't know if Douglas has an established MSRP honestly. We sell it for $230 but we only do that because we don't stock it. To me, $290 would make reasonable sense knowing the wholesale pricing.

This is accurate.

We've been experimenting with this a lot. Everything from blends and how we weave yarn, UV stabilizers/additives, dyeing but it all comes with costs. In some cases they are significant and in some cases I'd rather not have CA Prop 65 warnings. We start to get into the price point of performance outdoor gear with some available solutions and I believe that'd be a pretty tough sell. Nevertheless, I think we made some good progress with our BFX Pro fabric providing the stretch without the Spandex (which is more sensitive to UV rays) and the weave which helps reduce UV penetration but I do believe we can do more. It's just finding the happy medium that won't cause the cost of manufacturing to sky rocket.

@Jackrabbitslims Yes it's a Smitty dark charcoal color match. The HG for the BFX Pro will match Smitty's "Heather" Grey which is really just a light grey. That screen shot is from some unreleased changes. It will be very limited stock and I do not have an ETA on availability but it's being produced at the request from some NCAA umps.

Davis Core Lightweight Fabric weight is roughly 150 gsm (Lightest) 100% polyester (no stretch) One Fit: Straight Davis BFX Pro Fabric weight is roughly 176 gsm (Lightweight/Midweight) 100% Polyester (Lycra T400 so you get stretch on the horizontal axis) One Fit: Straight (not like our other Straight fits, its actually an aggressive straight fit with minimal excess fabric) Davis 94X V2 Fabric weight is roughly 254 gsm (Heaviest) 100% polyester (no stretch) A lot of different fits: Tapered, Straight, Classic The Core Lightweight would seem to be a good option, and it is a solid pant, but the fabric is woven fairly tight so it is actually less breathable than the BFX Pro. The 94X V2 is heavy, but that fabric isn't woven as tight as the Core Lightweight so for a heavy pant it breaths decently well. The Core Lightweight admittedly does have a weak point. While we haven't had any reported failures that I can see, it does use a plastic track in the waistband. Overtime this is going to be an area that is most prone to becoming brittle and breaking. We have another pant being released late spring, that is designed for the hottest and most humid climates but I cannot really comment more than that at this time. It will be the most breathable pant we make, but it also means less structure. It will be harder to hold a crease, if at all which some people may not like. We know our public information is rather poor, but the team is working on it...

It’s being put to good use!