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I'm thinking about getting a second set of pants. My first set are the Smittys. Does anyone know how the GD 94X Pants compare to them (fabric, cut, etc)? I'm not sure, if I want to get the Smittys again. While I really like the fabric of them (super light and breathable), I'm not the biggest fan of the cut (base pants are too lose, seat of them is also a bit too lose imo) and I also had some (minor) quality issues with them right from the start.

I bought 2 sets of the 6 packs. I use the larges for shirts and pants. Medium for tights and undershirts. Slims for accessories.

I am planning on using the large for shirts/jackets, the medium for more shirts or pants, and maybe the slims for accessories… pens, Lineup Cards, or brush. Know a lot of people who have them and they say the cubes are a must.

It's worse than that, @UmpRandy . . . USA will tell you that you can't wear any heather grey pants if you want to do a state/national tourney; you need their heather grey with the western-cut pockets. I'm sure it is all about umpires matching and not the fact that you can (when I called, anyway) only get them from USA Softball. It is nice to see our local softball bigwigs starting to say "charcoal is fine" in an effort to get guys to cross the line.

Yes. Agree. In my region (Washington state) the urban myth is perpetuated that softball is heather gray and baseball is charcoal. USA softball (on their bad "officalgear" website) shows only heather gray pants, so I believe this is one of the sources of the myth perpetuation. Having just said that....I guess it's not a myth....USA softball wants heather gray. ETA: I wanted more than one choice. I found the Smitty poly/spandex pants on a website I hadn't seen before....can't remember what it is right now.

Randy, I’m saying this kindly, and any ire or animosity you detect is not being directed at you, Randy the umpire, but at any “parent” association and/or Softball itself. Why do you need (still) heather grey??! Because your parent association / assigner is directing you to do so? To maintain some “uniform standard”?? Is that association or assigner providing the uniform items?? No?? Then they’ve got no say as to what specific items / colors / brands / tones / shades you wear, or more importantly… purchase. Associations – and this goes for Softball, too – have to get with the times. Everyone makes this big ta-doo about “looking like Major League Baseball”. All those uniform items are provided. Even in MiLB, those items are purchased under a directed stipend. Even in NCAA baseball, there’s a degree of friction between what the assigners expect, what’s provided (under stipend or otherwise), what the umpires actually purchase and use, and the assignments they receive. But outside that, especially at the amateur level, there is no way they should have that kind of grip and sway over us. It (whatever stylistic template the assigner or association PTB holds) doesn’t matter. Wear charcoal. Wear 3-years faded pants, especially on a 1:30pm JV game at a class 1 school in the middle of nowhere… no one cares. Heather grey umpire pants – that you were directed to purchase yourself – doesn’t mean you’re a better / great / effective umpire. It means that you’re fulfilling the direction (wishes, whims) of some stooges sitting at a desk.

This will be my first umpire season. I found 3 Smitty pants from facebook marketplace. The seller marked the pants himself; 2 being plate pants, 1 base pants. Trying on the base pants, they too seem to be wide/baggy in the legs. I'm thinking these might be combo pants instead of the specific base pants. The tag looks to say SM289 which doesn't seem to bring up anything Smitty product related. Is there a way to tell if these are combo or base pants?

@Jimurray The 94X V2 in the classic cut retains the sizing we have had for over a decade, longer than that I am sure. As the size increases, the rise increases. Every two sizes there is a rise increase of about 1" but the size chart does include the rise for all pants as well as the "true" waist size, thigh, and leg opening measurements. The straight cut shares the same rise currently, but this is highly likely to change based on internal and external feedback for future runs. The straight cut combos are likely to see a smaller rise anywhere between 1.5" - 2" shorter than the classic fit based on the latest notes I can see. I appreciate the feedback and I will add another vote for shorter!

I resemble that remark! (As I push past four styles of black shirts to get to my navy blue polos with red and white trim so that I can "match" my partner. I use "match" loosely as his navy blue polo is more like a darker blue with frayed pink-ish trim and his sun-faded pants that are probably older than I am, so they look . . . brownish?)

Several of our product lines are transitioning to reflect fabric styles or features. For over a decade, 94X has served as the product code for our original pants, and due to its frequent searches, we've chosen to maintain its consistency. I admit that finding details product lines can be challenging unless you're directly on the product page. This is an area we definitely need to improve on the site among others. They have excelled in managing relationships across various levels, including states and conferences. While I'm not certain of the exact count, they have effectively monopolized partnerships with numerous high school associations, including those in Florida, Arkansas, Michigan, among others and good for them. They capitalized on the failures of competitors like Honig's, Gerry Davis Sports, and Cliff Keen over the last ten years. Without delving too deeply into this topic, it's worth noting that states opting for a single master license agreement certainly do so for their own advantage rather than for the benefit of their officials.

Good job. I haven't lost that much, just 50 or so, but it's pretty nice being able to purchase and wear athletic cut umpire pants. And have gone from an XL shirt to medium, but should actually be wearing a small on bases. Way easier to run around the field now.

I am enjoying the commentary and information from the man of mystery @DerekGDS Curious on the logic of some of the naming conventions of these new products. I had to search the GDS website to learn BFX is a type of material. Names like that and 94X for certain lines of pants seem like they could be confusing. None of those terms would register with me at first glance. Excited to see GDS shake things up and try to bring some innovations to umpire gear and apparel. I miss the good ol days when there was some more choice and options in gear and apparel. We have moved to a landscape where it seems like everyone is a Smitty retailer. In Smitty's defense, their pants are being worn by MLB guys, and shirts/jackets/pants are being worn by MiLB and most large college conferences.

Do SSK Plate Pants have a reinforced stitch in the seat? I ask because I see several pairs of SSK Pants for sale but it’s difficult to tell from pictures whether the pants are plate or bases.

Time for new pants. I gather, and am good with, charcoal being the preferred style. But am curious about people's views on 1) Plate vs Combo pants for the plate. I've always thought the wide wide wide plate pants and mad mad mad mad and have gone with combo as my plate pants. 2) Pleated vs flat front. I think flat looks cleaner but see mostly pleated for sale and in use.

This right here... ALL Smitty pants (base, combo and plate) are baggy in the legs. Either that or I have extraordinarily skinny legs...regardless, I always take my pants to the tailor and not only have them hemmed to the proper length but, once I have them on, I explain to the tailor that I don't like how baggy they are around the legs. They will then chalk and pin the pants and make notes. They then cut a wedge of fabric out from the inside of each pant leg and then re-sew the inner hem. If you are doing this to your plate or combo pants, make sure you are wearing your shin guards when you put the pants on for your tailor so they can observe how much bagginess to reduce from the pant legs while also respecting the girth of the shin guards. Then there is the conversation of the BREAK in your pants which is how they fall around your shoes and ankles. I am a Real Man of Carriage and I have all my pants tailored to a medium break. YMMV...For more information: https://hespokestyle.com/pant-breaks-length-guide/ ~Dawg

That’s a good point. It’s not something that someone buys everyday. It’s not like pens, or hats, shirts, pants, belts… etc….. So make something that lasts?

Thanks for the quick replies. Compared to the plate pants, did not see any reinforced stitching in the seat, and sure enough pleat to pleat was 9 1/2; so going to say these are base pants. But wow they sure are baggy

Laying flat, the bottom of the base pants are about9 1/2 “ pleat to pleat. There are a little baggy.

Combo pants will usually have a reinforced seat, much like plate pants. If they do not, then they are base pants. The Smitty base pants had very wide legs as it is.

We have revamped the HG line up as well. It is largely getting the same treatment as Charcoal pants but based on the last 3 years or so of sales data HG is on a steady decline. Much of the HG line up should be fully released in the next week or so as well but sizing may be limited. We weren't willing to take a huge gamble with all of the SKU variations. We'll be offering the newer Smitty stuff as well but it will all be special order. We've gotten much better. I'll be the first to admit our policies, support, etc. were terrible for quite sometime and we cleaned house a bit to make more positive changes in our attitude towards customers and the whole experience in shopping with us. I cannot argue with that. They are a very nice pant as well.

Purchased a pair of SSK umpire pants from Amaon.co.jp and absolutely love them.

I was impressed with the quick response and engagement from GDS in the last few years when placing an order and asking a question about something. Sure the Davis Fechheimer pants were a good idea - but guys gravitated to the Smitty poly spandex. Prob didn’t help they the MLB guys went with the Smitty and the Davis Fech pants were a little lighter color, a trim fit, and a lot more expensive. Would gladly pay more than Smitty’s prices for an improved poly spandex type pant. Excited to see what GD comes out with. They seem to be trying to disrupt the market which is a good thing.

Bummer. I was hoping for some more information as I need new pants this year and there don't seem to be a lot of options. I need heather gray and from what I can find online, heather gray is dying out. Seems like everyone is heading to charcoal. Ump-Attire can't help me here. They're not stocking anything in heather except for some old Smitty brand poly-wools. And anyone needing pants for spring HS softball (and baseball) are missing out from the new Gerry Davis line described above.

I was a fan of this idea of how to tie them down. Using a single strap (which I think was Ray's idea if I remember right), Ala a belt band to hold your shirts in your pants, not work with those of us that are more... ummm... pear shaped than others. Then again... I'm not tall enough to use the extention. So it was one of the first things to come off. (I actually moved the pec pads down as a rib protection at the bottom. Much in the same way the System7 extends down.)

Anyone tried the new Honigs pants out yet? Comparing to other brands of course.