Schutt Air Flex CP

[slo8140]

I recently was able to acquire an Air Flex CP and had the opportunity to wear it for the first time last night. While we all know that Pete at the midwest ump blog is going to do a full review, I thought I would post a mini one based on my one game wearing it.

Sizing: It only comes in one size, but it did a fine job of covering my ribs. I am short and round and was a little concerned about how it would fit, but I felt well protected. It seems to be just as wide as my 15" Douglas, but it is only 13"-14" inches in length.

Protection: I felt protected. I never took a shot to the CP...it is kind of sad that I was hoping to get hit the entire game so I could see what the results would be. The plates feel substantial and my collar bone seemed to be covered. The plates are narrower than they are on my Douglas, but the narrower plates allow the CP to fit better. My Douglas always feels stiff, but the Schutt really molded quickly.

Comfort: The straps on the Schutt are different from most other ump protectors. It has the same wrap around strap and shoulder pad type hooks as the Wilson CPs, but there is a fabric piece that goes over your neck. Similar to some of the newer CP that catchers wear. This part was extremely comfortable and the coolmax lining on the piece did the job on a hot day. The CP really seemed to fit me well. There was hardly any slipping and I could barely tell that it was there. This thing is incredibly light weight. It also breathes very well. I am not sure if that is due to the holes in the plates or the Brock Bead padding, but it is light and breathable. Much cooler to wear than my Douglas and my Gold. Since it fits so well it is also much lower profile than both the Gold and the Douglas. The Air Flex is also very easy to take on and off. The way the straps attach in the back do not allow them to get tangled like the Douglas.

Until I take a shot, I will not know for sure, but I can easily see this CP replacing my Douglas as my low profile option. While the Gold will always be my top of the line choice. The Schutt just fits so well. I really hope it holds up to some shots. If they do not go out of business, I think that Schutt has a successful CP on their hands. I will keep everyone updated.

[NaiCam]

I am looking forward to your update.

[midmoump]

I just (finally!) published a review of the Schutt AiR Flex Chest Protector on the Midwest Ump website.

Pete

[kylejt]

I'll be saving my money, and crossing my fingers, for the new All Star entry to this field.

[Thunderheads]

Pete, nice review. However, ...it may help if you could 'circle' the area where you got hit, so it's clear where your concern areas are....

[BrianC14]

Pete, thanks for the updated review.

...while testing this protector at a high school baseball game, I took a foul ball to the right shoulder. The pitcher was throwing no more than 75 mph. The impact was not painfully sharp, but created discomfort and was more painful than similar impacts I have experienced with the Wilson West Vest Platinum. The day after the impact, my shoulder is sore. I am not interested in being a human guinea pig to test this CP against college pitchers throwing 90+.

Not to mention high school pitchers throwing more than 75 MPH... B)

[Kevin Finnerty]

I do summer, fall and winter leagues and scrimmages, in which the pitching gets up into the high-90s. Virtually all D-I pitchers live in the 90s--even in games that don't count.

I would NEVER trust anything other than a Gold at this point in time for this level of pitching. Sleekness, lightness, coolness and all that other stuff is meaningless to me when I'm facing some serious gas. I own two Douglases, a Platinum and a Gold, and the Gold is the only one I trust at high speeds (high-80s and up).

When this Schutt thing was introduced, I stated that it was a softball protector that I would never trust at any advanced level of real ball. Pete has now confirmed this with some real life field testing.

All our hats are off to you, Pete, for your marvelous work. This gear junkie stuff is a hell of a lot of fun, and Pete brings the fascination to a new level.

[kylejt]

If Pete's not recommending it for anything over 70, it's a softball protector. I've run across two LL kids that have thrown 80+ from 46'. So this thing is a waste of time for baseball.

It has good ideas, though. But job one is protection. Fail that, and it's just a design exercise gone wrong.

[iowacentral]

I think this shines a light on the big problem with all umpire protective gear, there is no standardized testing of the equipment. I have only seen one producer that istesting their product in a controlled fashion. Who is to say what is the best protection on the market. Nobody can really back up they have the best protective gear on the market. And I really do not buy the line "its the best because the pros are using it". Nobody has tested it. What one guy uses and feels safe useing, another guy says its the biggest piece of junk on the market. I think we as umpires should start demanding that there is some sort of standardized testing so we know what is the best equipment for our money.

[kylejt]

That's a nice idea, but we're much too small of a market to warrant that sort of effort.

MLB guys don't impress me with their gear selection. There's a lot of goofy @#$% on TV being worn by these guys.

Me, I like the Gorilla gluded baseball attached to the end of a graphite golf shaft, and being flailed at by my laughing 6'4" son. I can easily find the Achilles' heel in the protector, and make adjustments or ditch it.

I'm worried about my collar bones and my ribs. Protect those with big pieces of plastic (or carbon fiber, hint, hint), and we're good. Little plates don't work, witness the dopey Davishield. Again, that had good ideas incorporated into it, but failed the protection end of the deal.

[zm1283]

I do summer, fall and winter leagues and scrimmages, in which the pitching gets up into the high-90s. Virtually all D-I pitchers live in the 90s--even in games that don't count.

I would NEVER trust anything other than a Gold at this point in time for this level of pitching. Sleekness, lightness, coolness and all that other stuff is meaningless to me when I'm facing some serious gas. I own two Douglases, a Platinum and a Gold, and the Gold is the only one I trust at high speeds (high-80s and up).

When this Schutt thing was introduced, I stated that it was a softball protector that I would never trust at any advanced level of real ball. Pete has now confirmed this with some real life field testing.

All our hats are off to you, Pete, for your marvelous work. This gear junkie stuff is a hell of a lot of fun, and Pete brings the fascination to a new level.

The average fastball in the SEC during the regular season is 87 mph.

[Kevin Finnerty]

The average fastball in the SEC during the regular season is 87 mph.

Gerrit Cole throws 99 m.p.h.

Trevor Bauer throws 93 m.p.h.

Rob Rasmussen throws 93 m.p.h.

Garret Claypool throws 92 m.p.h.

Erik Goeddel throws 95 m.p.h.

Dan Klein throws 92 m.p.h.

Scott Griggs throws 95 m.p.h.

Matt Grace throws 91 m.p.h.

Mitchell Beacom throws 91 m.p.h.

Those nine guys all went to one school: UCLA. Rasmussen, Klein, Claypool, Grace and Goeddel all signed pro contracts, and Cole and Bauer are going in the first two rounds next year. Eight of the ten Pac 10 teams made the regionals. Many of the other teams' pitchers live in the 90s as well. There are still others that I see in the Big West at Pepperdine and Loyola as well.