All-Star working on a new mask design

[Doc01]

New All-Star Titanium Mask design on top left. What do you guys think of the new design? Looks like a darker titanium color than the previous version.

[Umpire in Chief]

I actually like it vs the silver look.

[JaxRolo]

I like the darker color.

[acpar72]

Ear guards are better. Just make a single bar already. 

[kylejt]

I've got no trouble with the All Star double bars, as they're flattened and fairly slim.

 

I wonder, with all the really lightweight hollow tube steel, aluminum and magnesium frames out there, if a Ti frame is still the way to go, $ wise.

 

I do like that color, but if the rig is north of 2 bills, and a lighter Champro is around 80, I don't see the point. Then you've got pretty light Honig's, loaded with TW pads, for under an hundy.

 

Ti used to be the bomb, when your only lightweight choice was the SUL. That's just no longer the case.

 

Oh, and I prefer the upper loop to go above the frame, for those balls that want to hit the button on my hat. Catchers don't need that, as they wear a skull cap, for protection. But umpires, IMO, do.

[MadMax]

This thing looks – pardon my use of the vernacular @Thunderheads (Jeff) and @Umpire in Chief (Warren) – bad-freakin'-ass!!!

We're talking New Tron vs. Old Tron. New Battlestar Galactica vs. the campy s#%t starring Dirk Benedict.

From my professional design perspective, I estimate they are doing a double-bar design because this mask is targeted, primarily, for catchers. Rough guess, between HSM's and TM's, All-Star has 60% of the catchers equipped. Another 30% are Nike, with the last taken up by Rawlings and UnderArmour*. You don't see any catchers using Wilson. All-Star isn't going to (openly) challenge the Official MLB-Supplier contract Wilson has on umpire gear.

Catchers' masks need to be tough. Whereas an umpire's mask can afford to be solely constructed to one protective purpose – that is, getting hit in the face by a ball – a catcher's mask not only gets hit by a ball, but also gets thrown, stepped on, kicked around, hit by a bat (potentially), lugged around in a gear bag, dropped down a flight of stairs, or is in close proximity to destructive hissy-fits taken upon items in the dugout. Umpires take care of their gear; catchers, for the most part, do not.

The trouble with magnesium and aluminum, despite being lightweight, they don't strike me as being as robust as titanium and steel.

Now, on to the mask at hand:

• The earguards have been reshaped, with a tapering (it looks like) in two dimensions. The predecessor, with its big square earguards, made you look like a radar tower.
• It looks like the throat guard is broader.
• The forehead horizontal bar is more aggressively pointed. Looks mean.
• The U-and-Inverted-U primary bars, in this squared off fashion, look bold and menacing. Noticeably different than everyone else's masks.

A darker, more-gunmetal-esque finish looks top-notch, and introduces yet another characteristic that is going to differentiate this mask from everyone else's (on the market). This is likely anodized (titanium is extremely cost prohibitive to paint... but it might be color-in-alloy), and the color chosen so as to find the best compromise between those who'd favor black and those who wouldn't. Given that it's a premium product, and is undoubtedly going to be used by catchers like Jonathan Lucroy and Stephen Vogt next season, it will be interesting to see if they'll do one-off anodizing in metallic colors, like blued-steel, cobalt, zinc yellow, or any other tint.

A single bar version, @acpar72, would be a great idea. Don't know if it's going to happen. 

 

* - I don't have confirmation, but I believe UnderArmour and All-Star are in a partnership.

[BaltimoreUmpire]

This thing looks – pardon my use of the vernacular @Thunderheads (Jeff) and @Umpire in Chief (Warren) – bad-freakin'-ass!!!

We're talking New Tron vs. Old Tron. New Battlestar Galactica vs. the campy s#%t starring Dirk Benedict.

From my professional design perspective, I estimate they are doing a double-bar design because this mask is targeted, primarily, for catchers. Rough guess, between HSM's and TM's, All-Star has 60% of the catchers equipped. Another 30% are Nike, with the last taken up by Rawlings and UnderArmour*. You don't see any catchers using Wilson. All-Star isn't going to (openly) challenge the Official MLB-Supplier contract Wilson has on umpire gear.

Catchers' masks need to be tough. Whereas an umpire's mask can afford to be solely constructed to one protective purpose – that is, getting hit in the face by a ball – a catcher's mask not only gets hit by a ball, but also gets thrown, stepped on, kicked around, hit by a bat (potentially), lugged around in a gear bag, dropped down a flight of stairs, or is in close proximity to destructive hissy-fits taken upon items in the dugout. Umpires take care of their gear; catchers, for the most part, do not.

The trouble with magnesium and aluminum, despite being lightweight, they don't strike me as being as robust as titanium and steel.

Now, on to the mask at hand:

• The earguards have been reshaped, with a tapering (it looks like) in two dimensions. The predecessor, with its big square earguards, made you look like a radar tower.

• It looks like the throat guard is broader.

• The forehead horizontal bar is more aggressively pointed. Looks mean.

• The U-and-Inverted-U primary bars, in this squared off fashion, look bold and menacing. Noticeably different than everyone else's masks.

• A darker, more-gunmetal-esque finish looks top-notch, and introduces yet another characteristic that is going to differentiate this mask from everyone else's (on the market). This is likely anodized (titanium is extremely cost prohibitive to paint... but it might be color-in-alloy), and the color chosen so as to find the best compromise between those who'd favor black and those who wouldn't. Given that it's a premium product, and is undoubtedly going to be used by catchers like Jonathan Lucroy and Stephen Vogt next season, it will be interesting to see if they'll do one-off anodizing in metallic colors, like blued-steel, cobalt, zinc yellow, or any other tint.

A single bar version, @acpar72, would be a great idea. Don't know if it's going to happen.

* - I don't have confirmation, but I believe UnderArmour and All-Star are in a partnership.

2 notes, yes most under armor catchers gear you see in the pros is really allstar(ua has some gear of their own but most of the pro stuff is all star) and also Aj Ellis uses wilson catchers gear.

[Stan W.]

Ear guards are better. Just make a single bar already. 

 

+1.........nice color, good ear guards..........definitely would want a single bar version

[kylejt]

Ti has gone out of favor for bicycle frames for two reasons: One, cost. They were pretty pricey, when they were all the rage. Two: Performance. They were great, until carbon fiber came around. And aluminum technology, and low cost, ended titanium's run, around 10 years ago.

 

True, TI does have that "cool factor", kinda like wearing a Riddell, so it's got that going for it.

[Majordave]

I love my Ti Wilson low-profile. I will keep and wear it until it is either broken or I am. I'm betting the mask will be around longer than I am. Been hit dozens of times. Most recently with a full on barrel of a BBCOR aluminum bat in a high school showcase at Kansas. Thank God the mask did it's job and no injuries to me or the mask.

I understand others have not been as lucky as I have been with Ti nor with the low-profile style masks.

They work for me. Knock on wood.

[acpar72]

IMO, they will NOT sell less titanium masks (or give less away to big leaguers) if they make a single bar for catchers.  And, they will sell more to umpires if they do make it a single bar.  Regarding durability, they only double bar I ever used was the least durable mask I ever used.  It was an FM25 and it broke at the weld on the bottom eye bar. 

[Mr Ump]

I have not used a double bar mask in 10 years.....don't need the extra vision blocking and don't like the look. The GunMetal Gray is sweet.

[jkumpire]

I might be wrong about this, but the mask looks like a different set of curtains in the same room.

 

What All-Star needs to do, and others as well, is work to find a new technology from the safety aspect for masks for F2's and us. Ti masks and the HSM were the last two safety improvements, and they were years ago. there has to be something better out there, I'd liek to see people look for it.

[acpar72]

I might be wrong about this, but the mask looks like a different set of curtains in the same room.

 

What All-Star needs to do, and others as well, is work to find a new technology from the safety aspect for masks for F2's and us. Ti masks and the HSM were the last two safety improvements, and they were years ago. there has to be something better out there, I'd liek to see people look for it.

 

Is someone going to check if @gnhbua93 is alive?  

[Majordave]

@jkumpire

John,

Go to ABUA site and view the Force3 Defender Mask. Do a search of this site and that one. Lots of discussion about that new technology. Video to view.

I'm intrigued by it. I love my Force3 chest protector and shins with Kevlar. I just don't like the mask pads on that mask and I have yet to see one in person. When I get to touch it I'll probably buy it and try it.

[acpar72]

or @Majordave

[kylejt]

I tried on the Force3 mask. To me, it was heavy, and far from my face. I took it off, set it down, and put my current rig on. Not even close.

 

It's a neat idea, being spring loaded. At least someone is thinking. Perhaps the second generation will be closer.

[jkumpire]

@Majordave

 

Looks like a redo of the Wilson HSM with more shock absorbers, but it is different and obviously an new attempt.

[Majordave]

@jkumpire

That's the only new development in masks I know of. Wilson has re-fooled the Dyna-lite frame a bit as reported by Aaron (@acpar72)

But your comment about needing new developments is something the equipment manufacturers should listen to.

[Magic]

@jkumpire

John,

Go to ABUA site and view the Force3 Defender Mask. Do a search of this site and that one. Lots of discussion about that new technology. Video to view.

I'm intrigued by it. I love my Force3 chest protector and shins with Kevlar. I just don't like the mask pads on that mask and I have yet to see one in person. When I get to touch it I'll probably buy it and try it.

Tried one on. It's not that heavy. And from what my friends say (3 have it) it is unnoticeable during a game. Might buy one when I am at Evans camp. We will see.

[Thunderheads]

I like the look and the fact that the ear guards are smaller than the original titanium. I just hope the new FM 25 design is the same

[gnhbua93]

@Doc01 question, to the best of your knowledge the ear flap on the new All-Star titanium mask will bend like the ear flap on the Nike titanium mask?

[midtnump]

I like it. I would like to try one out.

[boyinr]

I like it. I would like to try one out.

Me too. I have worn the original version titanium for the past three years or so. I really like the FM25 design. I have a steel version as a second mask.

[Thunderheads]

I inquired with Brad at All-Star and they have only redone the Ti version.   The steel-original FM25 will stay the same.