cgroom

Looking back over the summer, I worked thirty plate games with the D3O across two professional leagues and one collegiate wooden bat league. I took two shots directly to the chest and five to the right shoulder/clavicle area. I feel like the protection is solid and I never had any loss of confidence. In my opinion, the low profile appearance is its best feature. Every game from this summer was streamed with a solid center field camera view and the look is so solid. Gone are the days of looking like the lead blocker on a sweep play in Southwest Conference. For the last 20+ years umpires have been buying the West Vest if they could afford it. I honestly don't know how you'd pick a Wilson chest protector if you knew about the D30. Godspeed, @DerekGDS. I hope you're able to get the word out.

We all just going to act like you didn't flash a non-stock color palette in front of us?

Pardon the hotel mirror selfie. Ugly model aside, how great does this look under a plate coat?! I love that it's a matte finish and that the logo isn't a harsh contrast in color (like two gallons of yellow paint on a shiny black plastic). For the summer I took the neck pad out because I'm used to wearing my original Douglas pushed up high. I'm not sure if I'll keep it that way or not. Honestly I haven't had any issues with my Fechheimer snagging on the front of the CP nor have I had any problems with the shoulders. I'll have to try to recreate shoulder problems in the locker room the next time I get an opportunity to wear it.

Ahh yeah. I don't think I've been capturing the leagues that were nuked after the COVID shutdown. I'll have to sort that out.

2021 - 67 games in Single A (California League), 59 games in High A (South Atlantic League) 2022 - 137 games in Double A (Texas League) 2023 - 131 games in Double A (Eastern League) 2024 - 3 MLB Spring Training games, 149 games in Triple A and an unknown number (I just haven't collected) of games in the Arizona Fall League 2025 - MLB Spring Training, number 45 assigned, added to Call Up list and MLB regular season debut as well as being a Triple A Crew Chief

I'm four games into wearing this chest protector and its the real deal. All the little details matter. The harness doesn't get fouled up when putting my shirt on and the buckles are held in place even when they're not fastened.

Sold out! I decided to pull the trigger a day late and I blame @Rock Bottom for nabbing the last one.

I think the new style looks better after being skeptical for a long time. The material...has fewer ridges(?)/less waffle-like(?)/flatter(?). The horrid Smitty logo on the back has been removed. But for me the number one improvement is the removal of the gray bottom trim which looks like underwear on the rise if the plate umpire doesn't have shirt stays. I think it will grow in popularity with the conference changes like @DerekGDS said and so many assigners having a "just match" policy for other levels.

@Thunderheads lock please

Sold

I took a quick trip to the big box store this morning. The 3-way 3/4" schedule 40 connectors were $4.39/each 🫠 Amazon has a set of 8 "furniture grade" connectors for $13.99 that should do the trick.

I seem to recall that several umpire equipment companies from the 90s would sell "professional" travel cases like this guy:

Now that its complete, do you think 1/2" would suffice or if you had to do it again would you still roll with 3/4"?

Here's 850 shoes to look through.