Poly Wools

[Thunderheads]

Ok, stay with me here .....

You know how often I'm on here, and you know how much I love to chat gear, but seriously. Even though this topic has been discussed quite a bit, I wanted to run this by the experts:

I've been in touch with an old friend/coach/umpire who can set me up with many more games than I've been working. I'm very excited about the whole thing. That said, ... I'm going to need more clothing, in the tune of wearables, not necessarily 'gear'. I currently only have one of each, charcoal plate and base Smitty's which have been very nice to me

I"m looking at picking up an additional pair of plate pants, and considering PWs. I know it's worth the investment, so everyone has said, but I wanted to get the final word from all. It's either that, or go with another pair of Smitty's. If I go the Smitty route, I could probably feel comfy going with an additional base pant as well with the price difference.

I'm leaning towards rocking a pair of PWs, ...... all in favor say "YE" !! :)

[Kevin Finnerty]

The moment you slide on a pair of polywools, you will look and feel more professional.

Smitty's recent edition (with the wider belt loops) are okay, but polywools are markedly superior. The way they feel; the way they are creased; the way they drape; the way they fall over your shoes; they way they hang on a hanger--they are that outstanding. I will never wear anything else, unless the weather and ground conditions are so poor that they would get trashed.

I originally bought a set (plate/base), and as soon as I realized that I would wear them almost all the time, I bought another set. I'm now at three plate and two base. I rotate them constantly and they wear extremely well. They do not require dry cleaning after each wearing, but they should be dry cleaned.

The cost: You will never regret the expense of the slacks or the dry cleaning. The only thing you'll regret is waiting so long.

[Thunderheads]

The moment you slide on a pair of polywools, you will look and feel more professional.

Smitty's recent edition (with the wider belt loops) are okay, but polywools are markedly superior. The way they feel; the way they are creased; the way they drape; the way they fall over your shoes; they way they hang on a hanger--they are that outstanding. I will never wear anything else, unless the weather and ground conditions are so poor that they would get trashed.

I originally bought a set (plate/base), and as soon as I realized that I would wear them almost all the time, I bought another set. I'm now at three plate and two base. I rotate them constantly and they wear extremely well. They do not require dry cleaning after each wearing, but they should be dry cleaned.

The cost: You will never regret the expense of the slacks or the dry cleaning. The only thing you'll regret is waiting so long.

And that's what I was looking for!! LIke I said, ..I'm already leaning this way, and I think I just fell over!!

Dry cleaning won't give them that "sheen" that you can see from time to time?

[plateumpire29]

Poly Wools are, by far, the best. I work well over 100 games a year and one set of base and plates hold up extremely well, even though I machine wash them (minimal soap, delicate setting,cold wash, cold rinse, tumble dry, low setting) after every wearing. Next year I'll rotate in a new set, although this year's will certainly be in nice enough shape to use. You can't beat them for professional look and comfort, although they are a tad warm when the temp gets into the 90's. The reason I had only one set this year was I bought a "fat" set and never got out of them. Its hell getting old!

[Kevin Finnerty]

My current mentor is an accomplished and highly ranked and respected college umpire (D-II on down), who has brought me up the ladder along with him for almost two years now. I have moved up several levels in that time due to his guidance and representation, received tons of invaluable training and exposure to higher level umpiring, and I now spend my summer, fall and winter doing tournaments and off-season games at many of Southern California's leading D-I universities.

The reason the guy took me under his wing is that he was impressed with my organization and preparation and other signs of devotion to the craft. But the first words out of his mouth after he greeted me and we shook hands were, "Polywools ... I'm impressed."

[Kevin Finnerty]

Cleaning:

I take a fabric steamer and steam out the sweat and loose dirt from the inside. After a low-temperature/low-perspiration game, I just lightly Febreze them. I also use Blue Coral Dry Cleaning Wipes to touch up the cuffs and around the pockets or knees if they get soiled. In these ways, I space out the dry cleaning considerably, extending their life and preserving their appearance considerably.

[Thunderheads]

Cleaning:

I take a fabric steamer and steam out the sweat and loose dirt from the inside. After a low-temperature/low-perspiration game, I just lightly Febreze them. I also use Blue Coral Dry Cleaning Wipes to touch up the cuffs and around the pockets or knees if they get soiled. In these ways, I space out the dry cleaning considerably, extending their life and preserving their appearance considerably.

I see ...

And why am I having a brain fart on this 'sheen' thing I asked? I'm thinking of something being pressed, aren't I ?? My dress slacks for work don't get that sheen when they're dry cleaned....so .....forget I asked! :mellow:

[Kevin Finnerty]

Did I say that they have a permanent crease?

Choose your dry cleaner carefully, and they won't press 'em to death.

[johnnyg08]

The polywools are great...I know that ump-attire.com is coming out w/ their own version of polywools.

That being said, the Honigs ones are great. I had a problem with a pair of mine and I will say that Honigs stood behind their product 100%.

I am thinking that I'm going to wait for Ump-Attire's version to be released because I want to have a "Tournament" set of gear from the plate or base cap down to the shoes that I only wear for "big games" while I umpire all games the same way, I have read that other umpires in here have a "Tournament" set of gear so they always look the very best when working high profile games.

You can't go wrong w/ the poly-wools. Take the advice you've been given on here, but tread very, very lightly if you are going to try to wash them on your own.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I started out wearing them only for big games, and graduated to wearing them unless it's muddy or something. The tournament set is my newer polywools, Majestic shirt, Honig's long-sleeve, +POS jacket, and nearly new New Era cap. I even have a newer belt and newer set of Dri-Los. But the once-exclusive polywools have made it into the regular rotation.

[Umpete]

After I read (and read, and read, and read some more) Kevin's constant praise of the poly-wools, I broke down and bought a pair of plate and base pants for this year. Kevin speaks the truth.

That being said, I know that Jim Kirk at Ump-Attire is almost ready to release his pants. He previewed them on his Facebook page in late summer. I suspect they will be of great quality. I know that one difference will be an adjustable waistband of some sort. Maybe he will chime in and release a few more details.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Thanks for the props. Sorry to be so incessant, but Grandpa Finnerty was a tailor, so I tend to get a little gushy about a fine garment.

[Umpire in Chief]

And that's what I was looking for!! LIke I said, ..I'm already leaning this way, and I think I just fell over!!

Dry cleaning won't give them that "sheen" that you can see from time to time?

That sheen in wool pants comes from being exposed to too high of heat in either cleaning or ironing.

Be careful ironing, set your iron a little lower than the wool setting, you can actually set it quite a bit lower than the wool setting and still get good results.

I had to wear suits daily for many years and became all to familiar with the wool sheen.

Be sure to go to a reputable cleaner not the $0.99 cleaner.

[kylejt]

I joined the Poly wool brigade, after years of not understanding. I bought this huge box of stuff off a retiring minor league umpire (everything fit me, including the plate coat!), that included six pair of slacks. Yeah, there's really nothing like sliding on a proper fitting, newly dry cleaned pair of 'em. I've given a couple pair away, and replaced them with new ones. I have run into a few pair of MLB pants (same maker, just a little more heavy duty). They have no tags, and white pockets. Hold on them, if you find them.

I just the ol' Davis pants for muddy days, or when I work from a knee for little shavers. Thankfully, that's not that often.

Buy a pair of plate pants, and see what we mean. Just have them hemmed properly, with about 4-5" of material turned up, for some extra weight.

There's a reason you very rarely see these pants on eBay. Who would part with them? (Outgrow, yes.)

[zm1283]

And that's what I was looking for!! LIke I said, ..I'm already leaning this way, and I think I just fell over!!

Dry cleaning won't give them that "sheen" that you can see from time to time?

That sheen in wool pants comes from being exposed to too high of heat in either cleaning or ironing.

Be careful ironing, set your iron a little lower than the wool setting, you can actually set it quite a bit lower than the wool setting and still get good results.

I had to wear suits daily for many years and became all to familiar with the wool sheen.

Be sure to go to a reputable cleaner not the $0.99 cleaner.

This is what I do. Wash them on cold and hang them to dry. Most of the time they don't need an iron, but if they do, set it on the lowest setting and go over each leg briefly. I have a pair of plate and base PWs that are each about three seasons old that still look fine. I just got my second set this past winter/spring and they look fine too.

I don't know why anyone needs a "tournament" set of gear. Take care of your stuff, clean it up after use, and your stuff will look fine for any game. To each his own I guess.

[kylejt]

I have one set (plate/base) that I machine wash on the Hand Wash setting in my washing machine. Then I hang dry them, then iron them. They look great, but not as great as the other ones I dry clean.

Try to find the dry cleaners that the local cops use. That's usually the best deal in town, price and quality wise.

[Kevin Finnerty]

For those of you who get away with washing them, please don't take this wrongly: Do NOT wash them in the washer. Dry clean them. They last considerably longer and stay sharp and crisp, like Kyle stated. It is well worth it! Washing something is not cost-free, so the cost of dry cleaning (what, $3.00?) is not that great. Plus, they come back all pressed and ready.

Just because you can wash them doesn't mean you should.

[UmpTTS43]

I spend the summer on the road and have never had any problems with washing my poly wools. Mine will show wear before fade.

[zm1283]

I spend the summer on the road and have never had any problems with washing my poly wools. Mine will show wear before fade.

Yep. I don't have time to take them to the cleaners during the spring and summer. If I had 4-5 pair of plate and base maybe I could. Detergent is still cheaper than $6 every time to get your pants dry cleaned.

[Kevin Finnerty]

If you're going to wash your polywools, then after a while, rather than replace them, you're going to need some of this stuff. It's the best fabric dye you'll find. I recommend No. 637 Gunmetal.

It restores your polywools to their original color, as though they were dry cleaned the whole time.

[BigUmp56]

I own 6 pair of the poly-wool plate pants and 6 pair of poly-wool base pants. Pretty much at any given time during the season, 3 sets are at the cleaners and 3 sets are in the back of the vehicle. I'm think I read earlier that someone else keeps a pair or two of other types of pants for muddy games? I do exactly the same thing. And believe it or not, a couple of my oldie but goodie pants are +POS.

Tim.

[Thunderheads]

After I read (and read, and read, and read some more) Kevin's constant praise of the poly-wools, I broke down and bought a pair of plate and base pants for this year. Kevin speaks the truth.

That being said, I know that Jim Kirk at Ump-Attire is almost ready to release his pants. He previewed them on his Facebook page in late summer. I suspect they will be of great quality. I know that one difference will be an adjustable waistband of some sort. Maybe he will chime in and release a few more details.

Kind of interested to see how Jim's poly wools will turn out .......

[Kevin Finnerty]

I could see myself adding a pair of Jim's polywools to the rotation.

[Thunderheads]

I could see myself adding a pair of Jim's polywools to the rotation.

Actually considering trying Jim's first! The adjustment capability in the waistband makes this big-guy lean that way! ;)

[Kevin Finnerty]

I could see myself adding a pair of Jim's polywools to the rotation.

Actually considering trying Jim's first! The adjustment capability in the waistband makes this big-guy lean that way!

You shouldn't wait that long. The sturdy waist in the polywools is actually a plus. Make Jim's be your second pair or your base pair. Honig's is the one right now, and you should own a pair sooner rather than later. You're going to want more than one pair anyway.

So, place your order, get them tailored* and work a few games. Then let us know. After you have these things, you will give a higher level of importance to umpire slacks.

* make sure you take your shins and your plate shoes with you to the tailor.