Jump to content

Help with Plate Pants

Scott

By Scott
in Umpire Equipment

 Share
Umpire-Empire locks topics which have not been active in the last year. The thread you are viewing hasn't been active in 5955 days so you will not be able to post. We do recommend you starting a new topic to find out what's new in the world of umpiring.

Recommended Posts

Scott

Scott

Posted
Posted

Our assoc has gone with the charcoal grey for HS ball. What is the opinion of which is the better pants for plate or can you get by with combo? Is there one manufacture better that the other for durability and price? That's for helping a "newbie" out.

  • Replies 21
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Posted Images

BrianC14

BrianC14

Posted
Posted (edited)

Our assoc has gone with the charcoal grey for HS ball. What is the opinion of which is the better pants for plate or can you get by with combo? Is there one manufacture better that the other for durability and price? That's for helping a "newbie" out.

Warning:

Do not buy combo pants if you wear a triple knee shin guard. Even some double-knee shin guards also do not work well with combo pants. Too tight. ;)

With the exception of the Honig's PolyWools, I think you'll find that most brands of 100% polyester plate pants cost about the same as a pair of combos; and base pants the same thing.

Example:

Plate Pants $48

http://www.ump-attire.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=S376-CC&Category_Code=CHARCOAL-GREY-UMPIRE-PANTS&Product_Count=0

Base Pants $43

http://www.ump-attire.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=S374-CC&Category_Code=CHARCOAL-GREY-UMPIRE-PANTS&Product_Count=2

Combos $46

http://www.ump-attire.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=S375-CC&Category_Code=CHARCOAL-GREY-UMPIRE-PANTS&Product_Count=1

If I were starting out, I'd get one pair of plate pants and one pair of base pants. I wore combos for one season (just a handful of games, really) and never liked the way they looked on the bases.

Then a couple years ago I tried on a pair of Cliff Keen dark gray combos, (using a double knee shin guard) and I could barely get the pants over that shin guard... and those guards were smaller than the ones I use).

One thing I would NOT do is try to get by with just one pair.

You have to be careful about getting uniform advice from McLeod up there... he's a clothes horse. If he had his way, we'd all be wearing Hart Shaffner & Marx suits out there. Great looking, yes - but impractical as all get out. ;)

:)

Edited by BrianC14
NWA_UMP

NWA_UMP

Posted
Posted

Smitty's are durable...I don't like them however. They are too narrow in the hips and thighs for me..too many years of football I guess. We use Davis pants in our area...durable and roomy. I use plates and combos for the field. I wish the Davis looked like the smitty or that the smitty were cut like the davis....

kylejt

kylejt

Posted
Posted

I'm not sure about greenish, but they are different. Heck, they're all a little different.

So what's the standard we're toeing the line to? Poly wools, as seen on TV? By shear numbers in the field, I'd guess the Davis's would be king.

Umpire in Chief

Umpire in Chief

Posted
Posted

Hey NWA...

I have a question about the Davis Pants. Are they a true Charcoal Grey or do they have a green tint to them as has been described to me?

Look at the picture I've attached.

I'm in the center wearing heather gray. The other instructors are wearing charcoal gray except Tony all the way to the left. He's wearing Gerry Davis. In this picture the green tint is not that noticable, but you can tell there is a difference b/t the charcoal, heather and Gerry Davis.

kristoffae

kristoffae

Posted
Posted

Hey NWA...

I have a question about the Davis Pants. Are they a true Charcoal Grey or do they have a green tint to them as has been described to me?

The Davis Charcoal Grey's DO NOT have a green tint. The pictures of them on the Davis website appear to show them having this green tint to them. I have 5 pairs of them and they DO NOT have a green tint to them. There was also a competitor spreading the green tint FUD about the Davis pants as a reason to stay away from them.

BrianC14

BrianC14

Posted
Posted

I'm not sure about greenish, but they are different. Heck, they're all a little different.

So what's the standard we're toeing the line to? Poly wools, as seen on TV? By shear numbers in the field, I'd guess the Davis's would be king.

Agreed. Even the same brands can vary in color - it all depends on the manufacturer of the material being used by the makers. One year you could have a certain "charcoal gray" shade from Brand X, and the following year, the same pants by Brand X have a slightly different shade.

Machine washings / dry cleanings as well as sun exposure and simple age of the pants can also make a difference - and again, even within the same brand.

Shirts are no different, either. I've got two Cliff Keen MLB polo blue shirts.. if you put them side by side, you can see a difference in the color.

Kevin Finnerty

Kevin Finnerty

Posted
Posted

Hey NWA...

I have a question about the Davis Pants. Are they a true Charcoal Grey or do they have a green tint to them as has been described to me?

Green to color blind people. To the rest of us, it's blue ... ish.

I don't especially care for them in comparison to polywools, but in poor conditions, or hot weather, or when a partner has them, I wear them. They're serviceable pants, comfortable and easy to care for.

Minnz

Minnz

Posted
Posted

I personally think for the price and quality the best is Smitty. DO not use combo pants they are too tight for shin guards. Buy a plate and a base and you will be very happy. As for color heather is a thing of the past. Darker is nicer.

Kevin Finnerty

Kevin Finnerty

Posted
Posted
Agreed. Even the same brands can vary in color - it all depends on the manufacturer of the material being used by the makers. ... Shirts are no different, either. I've got two Cliff Keen MLB polo blue shirts.. if you put them side by side, you can see a difference in the color.
And their polo blue matches only Smitty's polo blue; the rest are the same as the duller Honig's tone.
NWA_UMP

NWA_UMP

Posted
Posted

I prefer the look of the Smitty pants over the davis....Davis are a flat color with no texture to the fabric. No they are not green..or have a green tint. They may have a "putty" color to them but not green. I saw some guys with the Officials Choice pants the other day...they look good....I wonder about the quality, however. I don't like their shirts for a number of reasons...one being fit and finish-but they are light and cool in the summer heat.

Kevin Finnerty

Kevin Finnerty

Posted
Posted

I personally think for the price and quality the best is Smitty. DO not use combo pants they are too tight for shin guards. Buy a plate and a base and you will be very happy. As for color heather is a thing of the past. Darker is nicer.
They had huge issues with their first wave of charcoals and got swamped with returns, and to their credit, they fixed and upgraded and reissued them. They did a Toyota, if you will. But they still have those thin belt loops.

At around the $50 price, the Honig's ultimates (with the adjustable buckles) are the best in that category also. The difference is that they have that professional crease. They're polys and not polywools, but they're the best of the polys.

(Their site's down again, or I would provide the link)

zm1283

zm1283

Posted
Posted

well the only pants you should buy are the poly wools... they will last you 3-5 yrs, and they look the best... My opinion, I have a pair that are on there 3rd yr.

Kind of paints it with a broad brush, wouldn't you say?

Some people don't need polywools, and/or don't want to spend the money on them, which is fine. I have a set of polywools and just ordered a set of the Honigs ultimates last night as well. I needed a second pair of plate and base pants to rotate in and didn't feel like spending $160 on pants again.

mstaylor

mstaylor

Posted
Posted

Most companies have charcoal that are similar, GDs are completely different. They are excellent pants but I don't like the color. Heather pants were worse between companies, the charcoal are much closer. I use the Smitty's myself.

mazzamouth

mazzamouth

Posted
Posted

Kind of paints it with a broad brush, wouldn't you say?

Some people don't need polywools, and/or don't want to spend the money on them, which is fine. I have a set of polywools and just ordered a set of the Honigs ultimates last night as well. I needed a second pair of plate and base pants to rotate in and didn't feel like spending $160 on pants again.

I have 2 sets of poly wools.. 2 plates 2 bases..so yea I have spent over 300 bucks...LOL but I look at it as 2 games fee's..... plus how often do you buy pants, and how often will I?....like I said 3-5 yrs..at 160 for a set...is 50 a yr or about....Plus your right how many need them.. I only work college, and a great majority of guys wear those pants, and I dont want to stick out...LOL

zm1283

zm1283

Posted
Posted

I have 2 sets of poly wools.. 2 plates 2 bases..so yea I have spent over 300 bucks...LOL but I look at it as 2 games fee's..... plus how often do you buy pants, and how often will I?....like I said 3-5 yrs..at 160 for a set...is 50 a yr or about....Plus your right how many need them.. I only work college, and a great majority of guys wear those pants, and I dont want to stick out...LOL

Right. I'm just pointing out that not all guys work all college or any college for that matter. If you only work high school, you can easily get away without them, as there are other pants that are more than sufficient that are cheaper. I was just saying that poly wools aren't the ONLY pants you should buy.

Umpire in Chief

Umpire in Chief

Posted
Posted

I just ordered the Honing's ultimate plate pants, liked the professional permanent crease. Thank you for all your help.

I like permanent creases as well. For $10 my seamstress will sew in permanent creases. I will be getting this done on all future pants purchases.

 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...