Official 2-Minute Review: Schutt XV HDX Umpire Chest Protector

[JimKirk]

Official 2-Minute Review: Schutt XV HDX Umpire Chest Protector

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[MadMax]

Feedback bits:

• It’s the XV H_D_X,  not “XV HXD”
• It’s “abdominal”, not “abominable”
• this, or any CP, is not going to keep you dry; you _will_ get wet with this thing. However, the reason I, and many other umpires, stump for this CP over all the others is the ventilation (Ty does point this out). The ventilation (airflow) and holes enabling it not only induce convection and cooling, but also reduce weight. Not only is the unit itself lighter, but it also doesn’t retain as much liquid sweat as the typical upholstery foam CP’s.
• the XV-HDX is one size fits most. It doesn’t fit everybody. The pectoral wings increase the width, while the abdominal extension increase the height; neither of which, though, are required to make this fit and protect you. I’m 6’2”, 210 lbs, and wear a 44 Long jacket. I don’t use the pectoral wings, and don’t use the abdominal extension. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been hit in the tummy, below the bottom edge of the CP, despite doing well over 1000 plate games in my career while using a Schutt AiR Flex, Flex II, or XV.
• the elasticity of the harness needs to be emphasized; this is a dynamic, conforming fit we are aiming to achieve, not a loose, static one which past, typical harnesses could only provide. This is to be worn more like body armor than like a shop apron.
• Ty did mention this, that the padding vest can be separated from the carapace. Furthermore, while the ailettes (what most call gap protectors) are fixed, the shoulder pauldrons can be repositioned. The unit should not be used right out of the packaging; instead, it should be fit, and if that means separating the best from carapace a few times, and getting the pauldrons in the best spots, then so be it. @wolfe_man and I have actually gone so far as to reposition our ailettes, but that shouldn’t be necessary for most. All the separating and re-adhering of the vest and carapace, though, exposes the one weakness of the XV – the Velcro stuck to the carapace plates is paltry. Mine has gotten all gummed up, lost its tack, and I’m on the verge of replacing it all.

Additional notes, not necessary in a video review:

• The shift of brand from Schutt to Adams is an organizational / efficiency move. Schutt needs to focus the majority of its efforts on football, and the team-sports aspect of baseball. By dedicating partner Adams to the umpire products in their catalog, they can deliver better products, service, and value.
• The EVA-TPU foam, the real guts of the CP, is either 3DO, or a close approximation to it. If you’ve read any of my, or Wolfe’s, or @BT_Blue’s posts about 3DO foam, it is a proprietary development of a British company, licensed to Schutt specifically for their line of football helmets. The terms of this license likely mean that 3DO is not intended to be deployed on other gear, or at least marketed as such. So, Schutt (and Adams, by proxy) likely developed a facsimile of 3DO, and is implementing it into CPs and shinguards for both catchers and umpires. The foam is still the same – a modern, adaptive polymer that is lightweight, flexible-yet-structured, and hydrophobic (meaning that it sheds liquid). Far better than upholstery foam.
• As Ty points out, this CP is ideal for both baseball and softball. It can absolutely do both, without question and fail. A one-stop solution. I routinely am facing Minor League pitching (and yes, have done a few Major League names), and I have used no other CP than the XV to do so. Just because there isn’t a MLB logo on it doesn’t mean it can’t handle what the Major League game throws at it. In that same vein, it is as lightweight and even better ventilated than most “only for softball” CPs. There is no need to buy two CPs if you’re operating under a budget; and, there’s certainly no reason to break your budget on an “exclusive” piece of gear, just because it’s endorsed by The Show.