Are the New Smitty Performance Polyspandex the Next New Umpire Pant?

[JimKirk]

On 1/30/2017 at 5:10 PM, alex7 said:

 

Thanks Warren! We are starting to get reviews rolling in as well. Here is one from a Danny P from Dallas:

"Just received my Smitty Poly Spandex charcoal plate pants and as advertised they are AWESOME, the color is the best charcoal BAR NONE, and they are very light weight and the % of spandex material really makes them stretch. I think Smitty's has hit a home run with these."

[JimKirk]

On February 1, 2017 at 5:02 PM, umpstu said:

Any recommendations on ironing?

Warm iron is the care listed on the tag.

If you were worried you could either turn down lower or place an additional fabric in between the pants and the iron (say a cotton pillowcase).

[JimKirk]

3 hours ago, BT_Blue said:

Placed my large order yesterday. Get to look first had at the new NB plate shoes as well as the pants. VERY excited! I just have to wait until middle of next week before I get them.

Thanks @bt_blue. Glad we had your size.

More Polyspandex (or whatever you guys want to call them...naming rights to your pants are yours with your purchase) set to arrive in all sizes in just 7 days.

[umpstu]

14 minutes ago, JimKirk said:

Warm iron is the care listed on the tag.

If you were worried you could either turn down lower or place an additional fabric in between the pants and the iron (say a cotton pillowcase).

Woot Woot.

[BT_Blue]

1 hour ago, JimKirk said:

Thanks @bt_blue. Glad we had your size.

More Polyspandex (or whatever you guys want to call them...naming rights to your pants are yours with your purchase) set to arrive in all sizes in just 7 days.

I'm a fan of polydex. But that is just me.

[umpstu]

2 hours ago, JimKirk said:

Thanks Warren! We are starting to get reviews rolling in as well. Here is one from a Danny P from Dallas:

"Just received my Smitty Poly Spandex charcoal plate pants and as advertised they are AWESOME, the color is the best charcoal BAR NONE, and they are very light weight and the % of spandex material really makes them stretch. I think Smitty's has hit a home run with these."

But will they make my butt look bigger?

[kylejt]

"Polystretch" was offered up by someone on the UMPIRE Facebook page. That has a nice ring to it, without the chemical aftertaste of polydex (isn't that used to hold your dentures in place?)

[BT_Blue]

Not a fan of Polystretch. Doesn't roll off the tongue like some of the others.

[kylejt]

Yeah, golf pants is sounding more and more better.

This is kinda like hockey style helmet (HSM). Something will stick, and we'll all use it down the road.

If someone has them, and has had them hemmed, let us know how much material you've turned up, and how you think we should proceed. I've always turned up about 4-5" on the plate Honig's/Hardwicks pants, to give them some extra weight at the bottom. I'm thinking, because they're so light, of putting some extra material into the bottom, to better pull down over the shin guards. Any thoughts?

[BT_Blue]

9 minutes ago, kylejt said:

Yeah, golf pants is sounding more and more better.

This is kinda like hockey style helmet (HSM). Something will stick, and we'll all use it down the road.

If someone has them, and has had them hemmed, let us know how much material you've turned up, and how you think we should proceed. I've always turned up about 4-5" on the plate Honig's/Hardwicks pants, to give them some extra weight at the bottom. I'm thinking, because they're so light, of putting some extra material into the bottom, to better pull down over the shin guards. Any thoughts?

Interesting thought. I am curious as well.

[Hawkman]

On 1/29/2017 at 6:29 PM, LMSANS said:

A fine would be levied up to a full varsity game fee.

 

Really? That's nuts. The state here dictates we wear navy shirts for postseason play (or did the last time I worked it in 2013) but otherwise just say grey pants and partners shirts should match. Guys wear all kinds of colors around here; I have navy, polo blue with black trim, light blue with black trim, black and grey shirts. Most guys wear charcoal pants now but I've still worked with a few guys that wear heather. Umpires are in demand around here, particularly at the jv level or any level at the smaller schools. They're lucky to get two guys to show up for jv games so not many uniform demands are made. 

[JimKirk]

On February 4, 2017 at 11:56 AM, kylejt said:

Yeah, golf pants is sounding more and more better.

This is kinda like hockey style helmet (HSM). Something will stick, and we'll all use it down the road.

If someone has them, and has had them hemmed, let us know how much material you've turned up, and how you think we should proceed. I've always turned up about 4-5" on the plate Honig's/Hardwicks pants, to give them some extra weight at the bottom. I'm thinking, because they're so light, of putting some extra material into the bottom, to better pull down over the shin guards. Any thoughts?

Glad you asked that but these pants are not THAT light. You shouldn't need to turn up the extra fabric...but your call if something you have preferred.

It was one of our concerns early in the process with our input. They had to hang well...not hang like "golf pants".

You can see on our product video where Scott is wearing them just how they hang. They hang well like "umpire pants" should.

[kylejt]

Thanks Jim.

On all my Honig's/Hardwick plate pants I've always turned up about 4" of material for a couple of reasons. I didn't want my shoes or laces to catch on the hem. Plus, the extra weight always drew the pants downward, and prevented any catching at the knees. I had one pair with only about 3/4" hemmed up, it seemed to be an issue.

[JimKirk]

39 minutes ago, kylejt said:

Thanks Jim.

On all my Honig's/Hardwick plate pants I've always turned up about 4" of material for a couple of reasons. I didn't want my shoes or laces to catch on the hem. Plus, the extra weight always drew the pants downward, and prevented any catching at the knees. I had one pair with only about 3/4" hemmed up, it seemed to be an issue.

Really your logic on both those benefits. Good stuff.

I can certainly attest that pants getting caught on shin guards should be less with poly spandex compared to other fabrics.

 

[umpstu]

Received mine yesterday and have to say I like them on first impression.  A darker color than other pants.  Pockets are dark.  Now to actually put them through a game.

[codizzle]

I got mine a week ago and already have them hemmed and pressed. I wore both the base and the pate pants last night during a scrimmage. Very comfortable and sharp looking. With my OCD, I wish all the guys in my chapter would get these so we can all match. They are a true, dark charcoal that doesn't exactly match with the poly-wools. But, at least, we match better than those guys who refuse to buy anything but heather grey. I still like my poly-wools and will be keeping them for use as back-ups. However, I feel that when I need new pants in the future I will be going with the Smitty "golf-pants".

Also, thanks @JimKirk for helping to bring us these pants.

[JeBa]

Looks like Ump-Attire has a lot of the Poly-Spandex sizes back in stock.

Looks like a lot of positive reviews, so I ordered a pair of the plate pants yesterday...(along with some other items that needed replacement).

I'm hoping that they'll come out with a flat front base pant version of the Poly-Spandex soon.

[Mr Ump]

Got my first look at the new pants today at a clinic. Nice! I will be getting them prior to March 15. I still like my Fetch by GD but these seem perfect for warmer weather. As a gear junkie I must have.

[umpstu]

I'll wear the plate pants on Wednesday and will give a full review.

[BT_Blue]

Sadly I will be returning mine. Just didn't look right on me at this time. But for sure will be buying them in the future.

On the upside... returning the pants  (which, like I said will be purchased again in the future) may help convince my wife to be cool with me holding onto the Force3 shins that were part of the same order.

The ol addition by subtraction. 

[Majordave]

11 hours ago, Mr Ump said:

"...... As a gear junkie I must have."

I love this. I feel ya man!

[Majordave]

9 hours ago, BT_Blue said:

Sadly I will be returning mine. Just didn't look right on me at this time. But for sure will be buying them in the future.

On the upside... returning the pants  (which, like I said will be purchased again in the future) may help convince my wife to be cool with me holding onto the Force3 shins that were part of the same order.

The ol addition by subtraction. 

It's situations like this that make me glad there is no SWMBO in my life right now. No bartering or groveling for gear or games. 

[BT_Blue]

3 hours ago, Majordave said:

It's situations like this that make me glad there is no SWMBO in my life right now. No bartering or groveling for gear or games. 

I like mine. And she seems to like me. So might as well as hold on to her right now. Lol

[Majordave]

3 hours ago, BT_Blue said:

I like mine. And she seems to like me. So might as well as hold on to her right now. Lol

Good on ya brother. Best wishes for continued wedded bliss. 

[BT_Blue]

16 hours ago, Majordave said:

Good on ya brother. Best wishes for continued wedded bliss. 

Thank you. So far so good. She was not happy about my "just ordering them to look at them." It was originally for the poly-spandex pants. But transitioned to the Force3 shins pretty quickly.