Lost in Wilderness, Looking For New Shinguards

[jkumpire]

Gentlemen and Ladies,

This summer and Fall has been a physical disaster, starting with a severe case of Sepsis in May I am still trying to recover from. I need to shed some weight from my gear so i can try and find a little more speed in the Spring, because sadly I am not a spring chicken anymore either.

My old Carlucci SG's need new straps, and they do not fit great, I had a pair on System Seven SG's that did not last long. I tried some hockey shins that were ok until I had an F2 ole a HS fast ball that caught me directly on the lower leg and I still have a bruise 10 days later. Yesterday I got out a pair of  Wilson Platinum WV guards, which are fine, but maybe on the heavy side.

Many lightweight shins look great for Little league and FPSB. Anyone have recommendations for light shin guards that can stand up to upper levels of play? Just browsing around recently I saw that the Force 3 and System Seven are close to lightest of the serious shins, do they breathe well, do they protect well? 

What I am looking for:

1. Light weight

2. Superior protection.

3. Breathability/'Comfort

4. Durability

5. Easy to clean

 

Thank you for the help!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gnhbua93]

Get the Force3 shin guards. The best shin guards out there.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

[Mister B]

I have a pair of Honig's 20-19s which are too big for me, thus too difficult to move around in, but I'm on the shorter size. The Honig's also have the thigh plate, which adds to their bulkiness. I have since gotten a pair of Diamond DLG Ump-Lites and they are great. Very lightweight. I was skeptical of only using 2 straps, but they work great. I only go up to 12u, so I'm not getting the same pounding that you take, but I've taken 3 direct hits with pitches, 2 foul balls and one bat and barely felt any of them. 

[jkumpire]

15 minutes ago, gnhbua93 said:

Get the Force3 shin guards. The best shin guards out there.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

What else have you worn the past five years?

[jkumpire]

11 minutes ago, Mister B said:

I have a pair of Honig's 20-19s which are too big for me, thus too difficult to move around in, but I'm on the shorter size. The Honig's also have the thigh plate, which adds to their bulkiness. I have since gotten a pair of Diamond DLG Ump-Lites and they are great. Very lightweight. I was skeptical of only using 2 straps, but they work great. I only go up to 12u, so I'm not getting the same pounding that you take, but I've taken 3 direct hits with pitches, 2 foul balls and one bat and barely felt any of them. 

Thanks for the help! If you are short those 19" guards are way too long. The DLG guards are good for maybe HS ball, not real impressed with the padding or protection. I am glad to see a person working your level of BB on this site. I hope you enjoy it for years and move up if you want to!

[BT_Blue]

@jkumpire, I seem to remember @Razzer thinking about doing shin guard straps. Might want to contact him about straps for your Carlucci.

[WES2006AG]

I've got a pair of the Wilson Platnium shins that I had TW retrofitted that I never wear because I only wear the Force3 shins now.

 

The Force3s sound like exactly what you are looking for.

[gnhbua93]

9 hours ago, jkumpire said:

What else have you worn the past five years?

I'm going to start with the shin guards that I used since I started back in 1999, Champion, Gold, Gerry Davis 1st. gen, Diamond Ump-Lite, Bauer, Douglas 1st. gen.. Platinum and Force3. Also have in my equipment collection Gerry Davis 2nd. gen and Honig's, That's what you do in the search of the right piece of equipment and i found it on the Force3 the last  2 years and will replace it with another set when the time comes.

[dl1340]

I have had Honigs shin guards, then went to Wilson Platinum WV shin guards(too heavy), switched to All star system 7 for about year or more, tried Bauer Hockey Shin guards. Then bought the best I have used in over 7 years of umpiring, Force 3 shin guards. These things rock

[grayhawk]

I have used the Honigs, All Star LGU-2000, Gerry Davis and the Wilson Platinums.  None of them were even close to the Force 3 shins for a combination of protection, profile, weight, comfort and price.

[LittleBlue]

As others have said the Force 3's seem to be the way to go for you. There everything you're looking for in a shin guard. 

[BT_Blue]

I am going into my third year with the Bauer (aka FinnShins... Does that date me as to how long I have been here/been away from the forums?) Second with the added ankle protection.

So far, no real issues. Even at the college level. But for sure the Force3 shins will be the next pair I get.

For reference I have had +POS, Honigs, WV Pro, and now Bauer.

[udbrky]

Love the Force 3's. They're lightweight, very good protection, and the snaps are so much better than clips imo.

[MadMax]

I'll throw my endorsement of the Force3 Ultimate shinguards on the pile as well. Everything is just done right on them. They look substantial – almost massive – but are a relative feather. They conform to the legs very well, and don't shift and move all about when you yourself are roving about behind the plate and down the 3BL. I can do entire 9-inning games and not once have to adjust their position or check a strap.

They have tremendous value. MLBU advises that, while we need to change our mask pads every 1-2 years, and our CP pads 2-3 years, the shinguards, if undamaged, can be 5+ years to infinity. The Ultimates also fit under Combo pants and Plate pants just fine, without much notice that you have something so protective on.

With that said, I have one qualifier to this – you ( @jkumpire ) did mention that you endured / survived a Sepsis attack. The Ultimates are Single-Knee only, and are intended to be paired with plate shoes. They do NOT have a (often removable) toe cap / metatarsal flap. Nor do they have the (sometimes removable) additional "double knee" or "triple knee" extensions that are placed up the thigh for added protection. Some catchers and umpires favor them, some don't, but some need them. Hockey shinguards lack them (which I've had before, and have used for hockey referee'ing). All-Star and Diamond shinguard models are offered with them. It's just something to consider if you want to minimize bruising / injury.

The only reason I would ever touch Wilson shinguards was if I was heaving them into a dumpster.

[JimKirk]

More information than you could ever need is in this umpire shin guard buying guide. Good luck finding the pair that is right for you!

[D62 blue]

Largely over looked in most circles , but a quality shin guard is PRO 9 . I use them frequently they are my first choice , never had an issue of any kind . comfort,value,protection,breathable . BTW i also own the newer generation Douglas model (triple knee). Very $$$ , well built , light weight , bullet proof protection . I use them with questionable catcher's  

Cant beat the value of PRO 9 though , there patella knee pad is second to none .

 

my 2 cents

marc

[Stk004]

34 minutes ago, D62 blue said:

Largely over looked in most circles , but a quality shin guard is PRO 9 . I use them frequently they are my first choice , never had an issue of any kind . comfort,value,protection,breathable . BTW i also own the newer generation Douglas model (triple knee). Very $$$ , well built , light weight , bullet proof protection . I use them with questionable catcher's  

Cant beat the value of PRO 9 though , there patella knee pad is second to none .

 

my 2 cents

marc

I don't know if I'd say the Douglas shins are lightweight but I sure do love them. Too bad mine are 2" too short. 

[jkumpire]

Wow,

A majority of umpires in this thread actually agree on something?

Thank you so very for all the replies so far. I have been very fortunate to be able to wear Carlucci's for so long that I lost touch with a few modern brands. In my career I've worn Rawlings, Nocoma, 2 +POS, 2 Honigs, Platinums, System Sevens, WV Pros, Bike (yes they did have shin guards at one time), Carlucci, Medialist (late '70's early 80's brand) and some hockey shins, so I've worn a few different guards over the years.   

Yes Mad Max, you have hit on an issue of significance that I am looking at. That is one reason why I came here looking for information.

Jim, great to hear from you as well, as I was looking over the internet for reviews I ran into a thread or two about our meeting in Chicago in 2009, was it really that long ago? I had already read your buying guide before I posted yesterday. I still use the ball bags we talked about back then you were so kind to make me.

D62, I've seen many people wearing Pro Nine and Champion SG's not real impressed by what I saw, they look good for HS and below, I am leery of using them above HS.

STK, if the Douglas gear is as good as the original Douglas West Vest I had at one time, they are great SG's. I regret to this day selling it when I got my Carlucci gear, but a CP that good should not be hiding in a closet when some good young umpire could use it.

 

I will report further on the subject later, but please keep passing recommendations on!

 

Sincerely,

jkumpire

 

[Razzer]

Send me some photos of the Carlucci's 

I may be able to make new straps for them

 

Ray

[JimKirk]

5 hours ago, jkumpire said:

Wow,

A majority of umpires in this thread actually agree on something?

Thank you so very for all the replies so far. I have been very fortunate to be able to wear Carlucci's for so long that I lost touch with a few modern brands. In my career I've worn Rawlings, Nocoma, 2 +POS, 2 Honigs, Platinums, System Sevens, WV Pros, Bike (yes they did have shin guards at one time), Carlucci, Medialist (late '70's early 80's brand) and some hockey shins, so I've worn a few different guards over the years.   

Yes Mad Max, you have hit on an issue of significance that I am looking at. That is one reason why I came here looking for information.

Jim, great to hear from you as well, as I was looking over the internet for reviews I ran into a thread or two about our meeting in Chicago in 2009, was it really that long ago? I had already read your buying guide before I posted yesterday. I still use the ball bags we talked about back then you were so kind to make me.

D62, I've seen many people wearing Pro Nine and Champion SG's not real impressed by what I saw, they look good for HS and below, I am leery of using them above HS.

STK, if the Douglas gear is as good as the original Douglas West Vest I had at one time, they are great SG's. I regret to this day selling it when I got my Carlucci gear, but a CP that good should not be hiding in a closet when some good young umpire could use it.

 

I will report further on the subject later, but please keep passing recommendations on!

 

Sincerely,

jkumpire

 

Excellent! So glad to see you on here. You were always one of the most informed forum participants on umpire gear and adviser for others back in the day - even before UE.

Yes, it has been that long. I want to say even before your 2009 reference, I have communicated with you as early as 2007 or 8. Plus, you go back even before my involvement. I learned a lot from you as well. Time does fly for sure.

On the shin guards, looks like others have provided good advice on what you are looking for, Don't hesitate if I can help further.