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Advice For A New Mask/Helmet

TravelUmp4425

By TravelUmp4425
in Umpire Equipment

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3rdGENump
3rdGENump

All Star FM4000UMP Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2

Jocko
Jocko

My advice? WEAR ONE!

BigUmpire
BigUmpire

ix3 with Team Wendy pads is the best for you right now. Mike Prince has that exact rig for sale on this forum. @Mike Prince

Moe

Moe

Posted
Posted

I have the All-Star FM400 and the Wilson TI. I love both. I actually prefer the All-star. I'd say get the All-star and put on TW pads. I put TWs on both and they are amazing!!! The all-star was about 80$ and the Wilson TI was about 200$. Get the All-star, you will not be disappointing.

Pops

Pops

Posted
Posted

Steer clear of the Diamond featherlight series unless you have a strong desire to get your bell rung into submission.

Just bought one last month.  Why do you make this statement?

Thunderheads

Thunderheads

Posted
Posted

 

Steer clear of the Diamond featherlight series unless you have a strong desire to get your bell rung into submission.

Just bought one last month.  Why do you make this statement?

 

he's probably referring to the pads ..........

JaxRolo

JaxRolo

Posted
Posted

Steer clear of the Diamond featherlight series unless you have a strong desire to get your bell rung into submission.

Replace the pads. Big Difference.

Mike Prince

Mike Prince

Posted
Posted

 

 

Steer clear of the Diamond featherlight series unless you have a strong desire to get your bell rung into submission.

Just bought one last month.  Why do you make this statement?

 

he's probably referring to the pads ..........

 

 

If you search, there are some posts on here that the iX3 is so rigid that the welds have broken on some rather than the mask bending.  I used the mask for several seasons and took plenty of mask shots with no ill effects or damage, but I believe it was Kevin Finnerty who posted some time ago (anecdotally) that he knew more than one person whose iX3 had cracked at the welds.  I will agree that it is a very rigid mask and that the stock pads are focused on achieving a low advertised weight more than protecting the head inside the mask.  Aluminum is certainly not an elastic metal like steel; it is very much more difficult to bend and is comparatively brittle so if it does bend it is on the verge of its failure point.

 

Coincidentally, I have strayed away from the ultralight masks (iX3, Champro Mag, etc.) into slightly heavier equipment (one titanium mask and a couple of steel ones) the past year or so.  I say coincidentally because it just happened - there was no thought of "hey I need to get rid of this mask because...".

 

I don't have a problem recommending the iX3, the recommendation just comes with a caveat that replacing the stock pads is a requirement.

Pops

Pops

Posted
Posted

 

 

 

Steer clear of the Diamond featherlight series unless you have a strong desire to get your bell rung into submission.

Just bought one last month.  Why do you make this statement?

 

he's probably referring to the pads ..........

 

 

If you search, there are some posts on here that the iX3 is so rigid that the welds have broken on some rather than the mask bending.  I used the mask for several seasons and took plenty of mask shots with no ill effects or damage, but I believe it was Kevin Finnerty who posted some time ago (anecdotally) that he knew more than one person whose iX3 had cracked at the welds.  I will agree that it is a very rigid mask and that the stock pads are focused on achieving a low advertised weight more than protecting the head inside the mask.  Aluminum is certainly not an elastic metal like steel; it is very much more difficult to bend and is comparatively brittle so if it does bend it is on the verge of its failure point.

 

Coincidentally, I have strayed away from the ultralight masks (iX3, Champro Mag, etc.) into slightly heavier equipment (one titanium mask and a couple of steel ones) the past year or so.  I say coincidentally because it just happened - there was no thought of "hey I need to get rid of this mask because...".

 

I don't have a problem recommending the iX3, the recommendation just comes with a caveat that replacing the stock pads is a requirement.

 

Thanks.

BT_Blue

BT_Blue

Posted
Posted

Steer clear of the Diamond featherlight series unless you have a strong desire to get your bell rung into submission.

Just bought one last month.  Why do you make this statement?

he's probably referring to the pads ..........

 

If you search, there are some posts on here that the iX3 is so rigid that the welds have broken on some rather than the mask bending.  I used the mask for several seasons and took plenty of mask shots with no ill effects or damage, but I believe it was Kevin Finnerty who posted some time ago (anecdotally) that he knew more than one person whose iX3 had cracked at the welds.  I will agree that it is a very rigid mask and that the stock pads are focused on achieving a low advertised weight more than protecting the head inside the mask.  Aluminum is certainly not an elastic metal like steel; it is very much more difficult to bend and is comparatively brittle so if it does bend it is on the verge of its failure point.

 

Coincidentally, I have strayed away from the ultralight masks (iX3, Champro Mag, etc.) into slightly heavier equipment (one titanium mask and a couple of steel ones) the past year or so.  I say coincidentally because it just happened - there was no thought of "hey I need to get rid of this mask because...".

 

I don't have a problem recommending the iX3, the recommendation just comes with a caveat that replacing the stock pads is a requirement.

I partially disagre with Mike's assessment of the Diamond mask. I had one for years and years. People would actually ask me (other umpires) if it was one of the titanium masks. True, in hind sight, it did seem a bit more rigid then a standard steel mask. But I loved the weight and feel of the mask. Took many a shot with it with no ill effects until the last game of the HS season lask year. I have documented what happened to me many times on this board. But the only thing that happened waa the mask, harness, and TW pads did their jobs. Had only one weld break on it which was at the very bottom of the throat guard where the impact had. O where else to go but break the weld.

I would recommend this mask to just about anyone and almost bought the black version as my new rig this year if it wasnt for the recommendations of @catcher and @Thunderheads to look into the All Star FM25.

grayhawk

grayhawk

Posted
Posted

I have had the Diamond for 3 years and have taken many shots to every portion of the mask with no ill effects to me (as far as I know)  :crazy:  or the mask. I've used both the Wilson wrap arounds and TW.  For the money, I think it's hard to beat this mask. 

BT_Blue

BT_Blue

Posted
Posted

@Mike Prince, I think the only disagreement we have is whether or not we would recommend this mask. You wouldnt, I would.

 

Ok, just to be clear I said I would recommend it as long as the user puts in servicable pads  :beerbang

Then I believe, as the movie line goes, what we have here is a failure to communicate. Oh and completely agree about the stock pads. Few things are more garbage then those pads. Only ones that could be worse was the pads that came with my FM2. Those things were ratty as hell and smelled like the former "user" smoked four packs of cancer sticks per inning while wearing it.

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Stan W.

Stan W.

Posted
Posted

Understand that those are the entry level pads on that mask.......will they work?...yes....are there other choices or better ones .......yes......there are plenty of threads here with guys selling differnet pads, you can buy a set of TW's or others later to upgrade....... 

Jayumpref19

Jayumpref19

Posted
Posted

I have the diamond ix3 with the diamond half and half pads. I have taken 2 hard shots off my new mask and I love it. I use to wear a helmet and I will never go back

BaltimoreUmpire

BaltimoreUmpire

Posted
Posted

Rather than start another mask thread I'll ask this here: Are the stock FM25 pads any good I'm buying one fron academy sports(link: http://m.academy.com/shop/Product_10151_10051_37676_-1__true#). Do they work or absolutely need to be replaced, I have looked/searched for the answer but haven't found an answer

@BaltimoreUmpire - You could throw on the Wilson Wrap Around pads or TW pads on there I just used it for the first time yesterday I will buy TW's someday but the stock pads are fine I love the FM25 but I still intend to use my HSM's alot as well
siz

siz

Posted
Posted

If you are budget conscious, I recently bought the All-Star MVP2500 for $110 Shipped and like it a lot. 

umpstu

umpstu

Posted
Posted

Just ordered a Wilson WTA3009.  Are the wrap around Wilson pads good enough or do I need to stick my TW pads on there?

Depends who you ask.  IMH, the TW aren't any better than stock pads.  For that matter,  I received much more pain from shots to the mask while wearing TW pads then stock pads.  The pads that are used by Wilson are really good.

Majordave

Majordave

Posted
Posted

Personal choice.

I've used Wilson's various types-wraparounds (tan, two-tone, black), amara (black sueded leather wraparounds), doeskin traditional. Also used Gerry Davis two-tone leather/vinyl and black Team Wendy's, +POS doeskin.

All have plus and minuses. I've settled on Wilson Traditional. Probably won't be sucked in to trying anything else unless I have to.

Try as many as interest you and choose what works best for you.

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