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We all know about the “unicorn” chest protectors. Riddell and All American come to mind. What are the equivalents in face masks?

I've seen a few people around who seem to specialize in some of the other masks, but was wondering if anyone does the F3 ones? My F3 (picked up used, but in good condition) has worn poorly after a season of play. I attribute this to using a metal indicator, which has done a number on the paint in a few places. I've got the new version showing up this week, but would love to get my old one cleaned up enough to be a decent looking backup.

Just wondering what you guys think of older mask styles. I frequently use my old FM25 and am happy with it but understand why others might not be. Also wondering if anyone knows about the All-Star DXP 2500, the old carbon fiber one. Found one for sale at a good price but wondering if it's worth it. I read on this site that they would shatter sometimes on a hit because of heat changes or something.

I sat in on a training here at work where it was discussed some of the equipment our employees use from harnesses to helmets and so much more have expiration dates. I was probably the only person in the room who this was new information to, but it got me thinking should our umpire equipment have an expiration date? We've had threads about foam/padding deteriorating in CPs and they become less effective. The plastic in our CPs, helmets and shins ages and becomes more brittle, steel rusts and such. So should our equipment have an expiration date?

... convince me which one to get - go! (For background, I'd wear it primarily for 13U up to summer college league games.)

Has anyone tried mag pads on another mask? I’m curious to see how they’d fit and look. I know Max has them in his AS 4000 Steel version, but was wondering if anyone tried these in a Nike/Adidas or something else. Thanks

Hi everyone, i am looking to upgrade my mask. I currently own the champro drigear hollow wire mask(18 ounces) as a initiation mask but i'm calling higher leagues so i might want to upgrade to a stronger mask. I am concerned about weight though, i would like to get a strong but light mask. I've been looking at the allstar black magnesium mask(17.3 ounces). To be honest i'm not really sure what material is strongest. Magnesium, titanium, steel. Money is not really the issue. Just need some advice from you guys when it comes to material and fitting. Thanks in advance. Yannick

I am looking at buying a mask but it is aluminum. What are your thoughts about aluminum masks? Do they hold up? Would you buy an aluminum mask?

Wilson has these available on their site... I know some of you were looking for the flag and camo one for games on special days.

What are the differences between the Diamond iX3 mask and the Big League Ump masks?

Am I the only one that wants the Father's Day mask? I think it would be a great gift! @JimKirk any chance we will see it available for sale?

Guys that have had a mask done by Tony in silver. He has three types silver metallic, silver nonmetallic, and carbon silver. Does anybody remember the color they had done and could you post an example? Want to get this mask done. Thanks

Has anyone ever ordered from this seller on Ebay? is it legit or is it a scam? I've always liked the Mizuno masks and am trying to find one. Also, the flip side of the coin is I would like to see if anyone here has a Mizuno mask they would be willing to part with for the right price. Let me know if you have one and would be willing to make some money from it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mizuno-PRO-Japan-Baseball-Umpire-Catchar-Mask-with-Throat-Guard-2QA129-Black-/222292626522?hash=item33c1ac4c5a:g:CYQAAOSwOVpXWRZz Thanks

Let this thread be the end-all-be-all answer to the question: What mask does (Insert MLB Umpire name here) wear??? First the stats at a glance: Frames: 30 - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 17 – Nike 16 – Wilson Titanium 9 – Mizuno 5 – All-Star System 7 4 – Wilson Shock FX 2 – All -Star double bar "i-vision" 1 - Honigs K94 1 – Diamond Mask Padding: 48 - Wilson pads (black, tan, two-tone, gray) 24 - Team Wendy 3- All-star standard pads 1 - Mizuno pads Other: 28 - Guys wear throat guards 5 - Guys wear sun shields --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Umpire face mask combo's as of 6/21/2012 Note: if padding not specified, the umpire uses Wilson pads (black, tan or two-tone) Listed by Uniform number including current minor league rovers 1 Bruce Dreckman – Mizuno / Wilson pads 2 Dan Bellino - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 3 Tim Welke - Wilson Shock FX helmet 4 Tim Tschida - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 5 Dale Scott - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 6 Mark Carlson - Wilson Titanium/team Wendy pads 7 Brian O'Nora - Nike /Team Wendy Pads/Wilson throat guard 8 Jeff Kellogg -Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/Wilson throat guard 9 Brian Gorman - Wilson Titanium 10 Phil Cuzzi - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 11 Tony Randazzo - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/sun shield 12 Gerry Davis - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/ throat guard 13 Derryl Cousins – Diamond mask (Black)/ Wilson pads 14 Bill Miller - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 15 Ed Hickox – all-star system 7 helmet 16 Mike DiMuro - all-star system 7 helmet 17 John Hirschbeck - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/Wilson throat guard 18 Brian Runge - Wilson Titanium 19 Ed Rapuano - Wilson Titanium/Wilson throat guard/sun shield 20 Tom Hallion - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 21 Hunter Wendelstedt - Wilson Titanium 22 Joe West - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 23 Lance Barksdale - Wilson Titanium 24 Jerry Layne - Wilson Titanium 25 Fieldin Culbreth - All-Star double bar “i-vision†27 Larry Vanover - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 28 Jim Wolf - Nike /Team Wendy Pads/Wilson throat guard 29 Bill Hohn - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 30 Rob Drake – Mizuno/Wilson pads/throat guard 32 Dana DeMuth - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/sun shield 33 Mike Winters - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/honig’s throat guard 34 Sam Holbrook - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 35 Wally Bell – Honigs K94/wendy pads/ Wilson throat guard 36 Tim McClelland - Nike /Wilson Pads/throat guard 37 Gary Darling - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 38 Gary Cederstrom - Wilson Shock FX helmet with modified frame 39 Paul Nauert - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 41 Jerry Meals - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/ Wilson throat guard 43 Paul Schrieber - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 44 Kerwin Danley - Wilson Shock FX helmet with throat guard 45 Jeff Nelson - Mizuno/team wendy pads 46 Ron Kulpa - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 47 Mark Wegner - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/ wendy pads/ Wilson throat guard 49 Andy Fletcher - Wilson Titanium/Wilson throat guard 50 Paul Emmel - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 51 Marvin Hudson - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 52 Bill Welke - all-star system 7 helmet 53 Greg Gibson - all-star system 7 helmet 54 CB Bucknor - all-star system 7 helmet 55 Angel Hernandez - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 56 Eric Cooper – Mizuno/Team Wendy pads/ Wilson throat guard 57 Mike Everitt - Wilson Titanium/Wilson throat guard 58 Dan Iassogna - Mizuno/wilson pads/ Wilson throat guard 60 Marty Foster - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/sun shield 61 Bob Davidson - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/throat guard 62 Damien Beal - Wilson Titanium 63 Laz Diaz - Nike /All-Star Pads/sun shield 64 Alan Porter - Wilson Titanium/Wilson throat guard 65 Ted Barrett Wilson powder coated titanium/Mizuno pads/Throat guard 66 Jim Joyce - Wilson Titanium 68 Chris Guccione - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 70 D.J. Reyburn - Mizuno/team wendy pads/throat guard 72 Alfonso Marquez - Mizuno/Grey wilson pads/ spyder throat guard 73 Casey Moser - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 74 John Tumpane - Wilson Titanium 75 Chad Fairchild - Wilson Titanium/Wilson throat guard 76 Mike Muchlinski - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 77 Jim Reynolds - All-Star double bar “i-vision†79 Manny Gonzalez - Wilson Shock FX helmet 80 Adrian Johnson - Nike /Wilson Pads 81 Chris Tiller - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 83 Mike Estabrook - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 84 Angel Campos - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/team wendy pads 85 Vic Carapazza - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 86 David Rackley – Mizuno/Spyder throat guard 87 Scott Barry - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 88 Doug Eddings - Wilson Titanium/Wilson throat guard/sun shield 89 Cory Blaser - Nike Modified/Team wendy pads/throat guard 90 Mark Ripperger - Mizuno/Team Wendy pads/throat guard 91 Brian Knight - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007/ wendy pads/ Wilson throat guard 92 James Hoye - Wilson Dyna-Lite WTA3007 94 Lance Barrett - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 95 Tim Timmons - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 97 Todd Tichenor - Nike /Team Wendy Pads 98 Chris Conroy -- Nike /Team Wendy Pads/Wilson throat guard ***Updated 6/22/12 to reflect the correct # of Wilson Dyna Lite Frames***

Is a Nike really worth $300-$500 Simple answer is hell NO! I understand it's. Cool thing to have and some umpires don't mind paying for coolness. And I'm ok with it. It's your money. Yes I have owned 2 Nikes myself but flipped them for a profit. They are very nice masks but are they the best? No. Your thoughts?

I haven't seen the +POS masks listed on ump-attire recently. Do they still carry those masks?

I am noticing many masks that have the metal guards cut off from the bottom of masks. I have even seen pictures of them on here. My question is why? Isn't the metal that is cut off part of the safety of the mask? I have a Mizuno that is designed that way, but can't see myself cutting protection away if the mask has it on it. Is there something new or is this sort of a throw-back look?

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2015/Diamond-Sports-Recalls-Umpire-and-Catcher-Face-Masks/ 1 of 3 photos Diamond face mask DownloadShareRecall SummaryName of product:Diamond Sports face masks Hazard:Stitching on the face mask’s harness can fail causing the mask to loosen or come off, posing a risk of impact injury. Remedy:View DetailsReplaceConsumer Contact: Diamond Sports toll free at (888) 558-2250 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, by email atred@diamond-sports.com or online at www.diamond-sports.com and click on Recall Information for more information. Report an Incident Involving this ProductRecall DetailsUnitsAbout 10,000 DescriptionThis recall involves Diamond Sports umpire and catcher face masks with Diamond harnesses. The masks and harnesses are black. Diamond is printed in white on the harness. The face masks have lot number D-0143, D-0842, D-1041, D-1142, D-0152 or D-0451. Lot numbers can be found on a sticker on an inside metal bar in the face mask. Only faces mask harnesses that do not have box stitching, a reinforced “X” stitching inside a box, located on the harness straps are included in this recall. Incidents/InjuriesThe firm has received 36 reports of the stitching failing on the harnesses. No injuries have been reported. RemedyConsumers should immediately stop using recalled face masks and contact Diamond Sports for a free replacement harness. Sold atSporting goods stores nationwide from February 2014 through May 2015 for between $31 and $106 for the complete mask with harness. The harnesses were also sold separately for between $3 and $6. Importer(s)Diamond Sports Inc., of Santa Ana, Calif. Manufactured inTaiwan

I did a couple of searches, and while this was occasionally mentioned in threads, I didn't find one that specifically discussed it. I'm looking to upgrade from my starter mask, and am seriously considering going the HSM route after borrowing a friend's for a game today (I had to fill-in when an ump didn't show up after I finished coaching, and didn't have my mask with me). However, the one thing I'm not sure about is that I wear glasses - for those of you who have glasses, what have your experiences been with HSMs and glasses (or traditional and glasses?). I hate wearing the glasses straps, but I want to avoid the glasses coming off when I remove the mask. Today it seemed to go pretty smoothly, but wanted to poll the masses before I take the plunge. If I do go the traditional route, are there any masks you've found that work particularly well or particularly poorly with glasses?

Inspired by acpar72 who did this for a single mask ("New Mask by Wilson"), in my continued wait for the Northeast snow to go away, I weighed a bunch of mask components. More considerations important than just this of course, but a couple of the comparisons are interesting (at least for anyone else waiting out the weather): Units: grams (ounces) FRAMES Dynalite Steel 620 (21.9) Dynalite Aluminum 361 (12.7) All Star FM4000 348 (12.3) HARNESSES Honigs 43 (1.7) MLB (Wilson?) 67 (2.4) All Star 39 (1.4) PADS UPPER Wilson 2-tone Wrap 62 (2.2) Mizuno 2-tone 46 (1.6) TW tan 62 (2.2) Wilson Memory Foam 57 (2.0) All Star LUC 44 (1.6) PADS LOWER Wilson 2-tone Wrap 97 (3.4) Mizuno 2-tone 64 (2.3) TW tan 80 (2.8) Wilson Memory Foam 63 (2.2) All Star LUC 41 (1.4) 6" THROAT GUARD All-Star 65 (2.3) Diamond 74 (2.6) Mizuno (that new ABS one) 59 (2.1)

Time marches on, and we've got some new offerings in masks for the upcoming season... Hockey -Style Masks (HSM) All-Star is still the iconic HSM producer, but several rivals have made significant improvements to their product lineups. • All-Star: Showing focused refinement, the MVP4000-UMP and MVP2500-UMP models get updated padding and (supposedly) better paint jobs. In fact, the MVP2500 "Molded" is now black through-and-through, meaning that a ding or knick isn't going to discolor the shell. The MVP4000 is now offering a titanium cage, to keep pace with Wilson (see below). The System 7's, showcasing their I-Bar Vision construction, really allow the best sightlines of the HSMs on the market. • Diamond: The brand-new iX5 system is now on the scene, featuring a much more sculpted shell and 3D-formed cage. Unique to Diamond, the iX5 is the only HSM with a "shovel-front chin" on the cage. Looking like a throat-guard on a TM, this adds another deflective geometry to the mask, especially for those that drop the chin. The iX3 name has been dropped, and the previous model (the iX3) received some tweaking and has been released as a value-price-point named the EDGE Core. Of course, because umpires get much less "love" from the manufacturers, the "for-umpires" HSM is an EDGE Core labeled as DCH-EDGE-UMP. While it doesn't have the curves of the iX5, it still has the pronounced chin cage guard. • Easton: Made some needed improvements to the Mako, and are heavily marketing it as their flagship unit. For 2015, they've introduced the M7 (in two finishes – "grip" (matte) and "gloss"), which is a less-technical, slightly-lighter-weight unit that is posed to be their workhorse. It has a 3D-formed cage and a sculpted shell, indicating that is concentrating on deflective properties instead of mass and bulk, and appears to be so much more comfortable than the elder Rival. With the M7 now on the scene, Easton looks to be consolidating the Rival and the Stealth into a mask named Black Magic, and is aiming that more on youth (ie. 12U) baseball, and the budget price points. • Mizuno: Nothing new to report in their Samurai G4 line. It has the largest standoff and padding concentration in the crown of an HSM. • Nike: ... (sigh)... uh... Yes, Nike makes a HSM. It's called the De3539, and is made more as a branding piece (see? We're in baseball!) than as an advanced piece of protective gear. Unlike rival UnderArmour, who re-branded All-Star units, Nike... you can't tell who produces the Nike unit. • Rawlings: The Slowest-to-Update-Baseball-Company-In-the-World finally, finally introduced a new HSM after All-Star kicked their keester all down the 1BL. The CH1 (which, undoubtedly, stood for "Catching Helmet One") saw its shell redesigned, outfitted with new CoolFlo pads, and stuck with a curvy, sleek new cage that, strangely, looks like the negative (opposite) of All-Star's System 7 geometry. Hmmm. But it does look impressive! Debuting as the CH950 (so what happened to the 948 other versions?), look for this to be on a Molina near you soon. The entire lineup received CoolFlo pads. • Schutt: As one of the premier football helmet manufacturers, Schutt took their AiR technology and (finally!) applied it to their baseball HSMs. The catcher's HSM gets the AiR treatment first, labeled the AiR Maxx 2966. Unique and intriguing, Schutt extended the cage back along the temples, covering the ears and flanks of the shell. That means that's even more protection on the sides, and the cage carries and dissipates more energy before it reaches the shell. No one else is doing that! If you don't need the customizable comfort-fit of the AiR system, the 2966 is offered as an "umpire" version, but it (appears) to not get quite the cage treatment, still using the fall-2014 cage. • UnderArmour: UA is really trying to make headway in baseball, and they partnered up with one of the best in the business to do so in All-Star. UA's "Pro", though, is a re-branded All-Star MVP2300, which has the same shell, but doesn't have the iconic System 7 cage. • Wilson: Having already seen a significant improvement mid-season in 2014, the Shock FX 2.0 returns to the field, this time showcasing a titanium cage. The most technologically-advanced HSM of the bunch (for now, unless and until Force3 debuts a HSM entry), the SFX 2.0 is the apex protector for umpires; it just gets kinda haughty about it with the ... ahem... particular paint-job Wilson loves to show off. If you can't afford a Shock FX, but still want an HSM with the... Wilson paint job... look for the Prestige. Traditional Masks • All-Star: With a trimmer, more defined lineup, All-Star presses forward with the FM25Ti, FM25, FM4000 and FM2000. All four are offered as "umpire versions" with a hat-harness (instead of the Delta-Flex helmet harness), and give All-Star some distinction between itself and Wilson. This is noteworthy with the FM25Ti, which may be physically (titanium alloy and double-wire, more difficult to deform) and financially (titanium alloy, less costly) more appealing to a mid-level umpire than the pure-titanium show ponies Wilson and Nike trot out. Besides that, the FM4000 and FM2000 are instantly recognizable because of their bar layouts. • Diamond: How can you mess with one of the best-selling TMs in the industry, but still make it more appealing? Fix the pads! The iX3's geometry didn't change, but Diamond now offers new, improved pads on a re-labeled mask called DFM-UMP-BL (for "Big League", woo woo). This, and the venerable iX3, are one-in-the-same mask... one's named Ed, the other Fred. Oh, and you can get pads that have no logos on them. For those who really cling to tradition – we're talking Charleton Heston's grip – the DRM-PRO (used to be iX3) and DFM-43 double-bar masks are still available. • Easton: The Speed Elite returns, still with exceptionally lightweight construction in a robust geometry. It has some of the largest ear-guards in the business, and very reliable pads (think the complete opposite of the miserable pads on the Diamond iX3). It also has one of the smallest chin-throat guards, such that it encourages and makes easy the mounting of a hanging supplemental throat guard. • Force3: The mask everyone is rooting for. Now available in colors (and tan pads!! Sexxxxyyyyy), the Defender is a tangible promise that someone, somewhere is looking out for us who stand behind the plate. While it still is noticeably heavy, that weight has been steadily declining as Force3 continues to pare down the geometry and improve the hardware. The standoff distance is still something to be negotiated, as it feels like you're in cage, but this is the mask that should be your chief candidate if frontal, concussion-inducing impacts are your main concern. • Mizuno: Nothing new to report on out of Japan. • Nike: Unknown if Nike is even going to offer a mask for retail sale this year. • Schutt: Teamed up with Diamond, and offers the DFM-UMP labeled as the Comfort-Lite Mask. (If anyone from Schutt ever reads these forums, please contact me – I've got an intriguing mask design for you.) • UnderArmour: Continuing the relationship with All-Star, UA's UAFM Pro is a rebranded FM25, complete with I-Bar advertising tab on the chin. • Wilson: The big news came during the 2014 season, with the debut of new Memory Foam pads! They are meeting with rave feedback, and are probably the best rival to Team Wendys. Additionally, while the pads were developed independently, they debuted with the new Dynalite Aluminum mask, taking the spot as Wilson's lightest traditional mask in their lineup. This mask may be a Titanium-slayer, because with the lighter weight (marginal, but still), better pads, and lower cost, it addresses the three main issues umpires face (bad pun!) when selecting a mask. Disclaimer: I did not list Champro nor +POS because Champro's HSMs are rebrandings, and they have nothing new in TMs, while +POS designs some really innovative TMs, but has nothing obviously new for 2015 announced yet. Bonus Note: For those needing to protect a banged-up forearm, these might do the trick: https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/ua-forearm-pad/pid1220728-001

The folks at All-Star disturb me. Oh, I applaud the effort and attention to detail their product designers have. The FM2000 (which @Thunderheads loves) screams "Branding!" with its bar layout in the shape of the company logo. Cute. Verrrrry cute. Then, All-Star took an even more aggressive step in the development of their System 7 MVP masks (MVP4000, MVP2500, et.al.) and gave them an iconic, readily-recognized grill layout, different from everyone else's (at the time). Nearly every HSM-wearing catcher in the Majors was equipped with one, and that form has since driven the market. The grill layout got to be so recognizable and trustworthy that the design team then placed it as the foundation for their debuting FM4000 traditional mask {TM}. It really stands out amongst the rest of the U-&-inverted-U masks on the market. Now, in a super-hush-hush move, it looks like the design team has been at it again... or, a MVP2500 and a FM2000 were left alone overnight in the lab together. Cue the Barry White... The FM1500 - A few online retailers have it available, but I can't tell if it's a legit baseball mask, or is intended for softball only... Or this is the mask that All-Star doesn't want us to know about yet. Oh the scandal!

I got a couple of the ump attire bags but they are huge! They are they shoe book bags kids wear at school as book bags. Plus pos used to sell a mask bag that was perfect but don't see it on their website anymore. Are the Gerry Davis bags smaller than the ump attire? Suggestions please.

I saw @acpar72 's gold powder coated mask and thought it looked sooo awesome that I needed to get myself one. So I purchased another Rawlings LMWXTI mask for 20% off and will have the one I have now powder coated by Maskit gold. I was thinking something like a day mask with tan TW pads and a night mask with the tradition TI frame and black TW pads. What is the consensus on the color gold as masks? Do you think this color of frame is acceptable?

Saw a craigslist post today at work that had me rolling. I was going to link it on here but it was flagged as spam. Hopefully it will come back up so I can link it. The items listed where an All-Star I-Bar mask (the steel frame $20 variety), a softshell CP that was a champion I believe, and some of the cheaper All-Star shin guards (the kind that the pads don't wrap around and only have 2 straps with the gap between the knee and the shin plates being about an inch wide.) I've never read a post with gear similar to this with a more honest assessment of what the gear is actually worth. I copy and pasted the post and sent it to a few friends so I'll at least post that. The post read as fallows... " Posting Title- Cheap used umpire gear I have for sale a set of used umpiring gear. The shin guards are All-Star and quite frankly I don't recommend them unless you are brand new to umpiring and need something to get started with otherwise you would be better off just cutting up some plastic bins and duct taping them to your legs. The chest protector is just some old soft shell that is great for really hot days and not much else. The mask is an All-Star, just like the ones you can buy at Academy. It's like the Honda Civic of masks, a late model Civic to be more exact. It isn't really comfortable, doesn't have a whole lot of great technological features, and people might look at you funny when you use it, but it does get the job done. I'm willing to negotiate on price and by negotiate I mean if you come pick it up you can have it or I can come to you and you can give me 10 bucks for gas and buy me a cheese burger at McDonalds and we call it even."