Nike Umpire Shoes

[Thunderheads]

I wanted to canvas the community and get a good idea of everyones wants and needs for a Nike umpire shoe, plate and base.  I have this up as a poll, but as much info as you'd like to add, please feel free.

 

I'd like to use this information to pass along to anyone at Nike who will listen, and/or anyone on here currently in contact with Nike.

 

Enjoy!

[GreyhoundAggie]

Thunder,

 

I ordered some of the nike airmax 2013 to use as my base shoes. They are not leather, so that could be a problem, but i saw a lot of the MiLB umps using them, said they were the most comfortable damn things ever.

 

I had to use NikeiD to get them in wide.

 

Would be interested in Nike's if they came in wide fit stock and weren't crazy expensive.

[slo8140]

They really do have a base shoe...although in limited supply. Honigs has the ones that the NFL guys wore this past season. When Rebook had both contracts (NFL and MLB) their football shoe (Quag) and baseball base shoe (Field Magistrate) were identical except for the NFL or MLB logo. I know because I have both in the mid cut purchased in 2009-2010.

 

http://www.honigs.com/sub/9/NKTURF

 

So in reality, all they really need to do is make a plate shoe. The one that Fits mocked up last week would be a good start.

 

NikePlateShoeConcept_zps3bd7eff6.png

 

 

I prefer the Reebok toe plate to the one on the NB 460. It looks a little more sporty and less bootish. 

 

The air max + (insert Year here) are great shoes, but I think having a base shoe starting at $170 (which is what the air max + typically sell for new although they can be found cheaper) is a little steep for most guys.

[JaxRolo]

I didn't answer the poll because the choices given do not apply to me.

 

I'd be interested in the Shoe if it was made in WIDE Sizes.

[Thunderheads]

I didn't answer the poll because the choices given do not apply to me.

 

I'd be interested in the Shoe if it was made in WIDE Sizes.

Ok then, answer it as if they WERE AVAILABLE in wide

[Thunderheads]

They really do have a base shoe...although in limited supply. Honigs has the ones that the NFL guys wore this past season. When Rebook had both contracts (NFL and MLB) their football shoe (Quag) and baseball base shoe (Field Magistrate) were identical except for the NFL or MLB logo. I know because I have both in the mid cut purchased in 2009-2010.

 

http://www.honigs.com/sub/9/NKTURF

 

So in reality, all they really need to do is make a plate shoe. The one that Fits mocked up last week would be a good start.

 

NikePlateShoeConcept_zps3bd7eff6.png

 

 

I prefer the Reebok toe plate to the one on the NB 460. It looks a little more sporty and less bootish. 

 

The air max + (insert Year here) are great shoes, but I think having a base shoe starting at $170 (which is what the air max + typically sell for new although they can be found cheaper) is a little steep for most guys.

Good points ...but let me ask ....

 

As an umpire, are you really happy with the NFL Turf?

[slo8140]

Honestly, except for my air max +2011s, All of the rest of my "base" shoes are used for both football and baseball. I have the Vero Zigs in black and black/white...plus the Magistrates and Quags. They really are interchangeable. While I don't need as aggressive a cleat on the diamond as I might on the gridiron, I see so issue in the tread pattern on Nike's NFL shoe.

 

In this world, the best we can probably hope is for one shoe that would be usable in both sports with minor cosmetic differences. It is what Reebok and NB have done with their officiating lines, so if Nike decides to do a full production run on an officials shoe I see it being something that would work in multiple outdoor sports.

[Thunderheads]

So ...are you saying YES to my question ?

[slo8140]

I think it is fine. It looks like a turf cleat that would work great on Field turf (most of the HS football fields in our area) and on the shorter grass of most baseball fields.

[boyinr]

 I actually do not care if Nike ever makes an umpire shoe.  Trust me, if Phil Knight thought for a minute he could line his pockets with one more nickel they would already be on the market.  They have a staff of 100's scouring this planet and likely others for new products.  I like some of thier stuff but I certainly do not worship at the alter of Swoosh.  I am not as hung up on the logos that I wear as I am the performance of the item.  I have never had a performance issue with the New Balance, Reebok or Mizunos that I wear.  BTW I have a pair of Nike that I use on the bases (don't know the model) but, they were $35 at the outlet.  They work just fine but, I am not a better umpire when I wear them.

 

Maybe some other polls could be:

• If Ralph Lauren were to make umpire shirts would you buy one?
• If North Face were to make a Gore Tex pull over from would you pay $300 for one?
• Maybe I can contact Apple about an indicator that can be downloaded to track meaningless stats.

We seriously need some baseball.......... 

[Thunderheads]

 I actually do not care if Nike ever makes an umpire shoe.  Trust me, if Phil Knight thought for a minute he could line his pockets with one more nickel they would already be on the market.  They have a staff of 100's scouring this planet and likely others for new products.  I like some of thier stuff but I certainly do not worship at the alter of Swoosh.  I am not as hung up on the logos that I wear as I am the performance of the item.  I have never had a performance issue with the New Balance, Reebok or Mizunos that I wear.  BTW I have a pair of Nike that I use on the bases (don't know the model) but, they were $35 at the outlet.  They work just fine but, I am not a better umpire when I wear them.

 

Maybe some other polls could be:

• If Ralph Lauren were to make umpire shirts would you buy one?
• If North Face were to make a Gore Tex pull over from would you pay $300 for one?
• Maybe I can contact Apple about an indicator that can be downloaded to track meaningless stats.

We seriously need some baseball.......... 

Why waste your energy in responding then Roger?

 

There are some decent, nice tasting decafs on the market

 

On a serious note; Reebok, New Balance.  That's it basically, that's your choices.  The only other manufacturer I can think of that's large enough to even consider offering a shoe to fit our needs would be Nike.   Trust me, no living and dying by the swoosh here, .... just getting options, or at least TRYING to get options for all of us ......

 

Trust me, I'm still a month and a half away from games, I know how you feel ..........

[slo8140]

The joys of living in the south. I will have my 4th and 5th high school scrimmages this Friday and Saturday and I also have already called a couple of JUCO games this month. I am glad baseball is here.

[Guest]

I don't understand the obsession with umpire specific shoes - with the exception of plate shoes of course.

 

An umpire-specific shoe doesn't give you an advantage when it comes to making calls or handling situations. More than likely, you're paying a marked up price for a shoe with nothing more than a name change than a different model, unless you're with NB and you get to have an MLB logo on your shoe. Any black turf shoe will do.

 

For the last 4 years, I wore an Under Armor turf shoe that held up well and performed nicely. Doing 200 games a year wore it out, so I'm making the switch to the RBK Magistrate this year, not because it's an "umpire" shoe, but because a friend found an absolutely ridiculous deal on them at the RBK outlet in Niagara Falls.

 

Regarding customizable Nike iD, I think stuff like that is cool, but I don't see a need for them to develop an umpire-specific model. All I'd need is a spot to put my initials or '24' on a shoe with a few other custom options and I'd be set, assuming they didn't come at a significant markup, in which case - again, a turf shoe is a turf shoe.

[Thunderheads]

Well, I guess there's no reason to keep this going, so I'm going to lock it.  Thirteen responses and no one really cares, that speaks volumes for me.

 

Chris, yes, a turf shoe will suffice....one that has leather on it (or synthetic leather) and that it's cleanable.  The term "umpire shoe" is moreso used as "a shoe suitable for our uses".