Official 2-Minute Review: All-Star Magnesium Umpire Masks

[JimKirk]

Official 2-Minute Review: All-Star Magnesium Umpire Masks

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[wolfe_man]

This is one of the best masks on the market.   Wicked light, great looks and gives you an excellent field of vision.

[MadMax]

(Regarding the black w/ tan pads mask style) “Antique-y look”??!! Antique-y??!! @Aging_Arbiter, should some of us be outraged at our tastes being “antique-y”?

That aside, Ty & Ump-Attire are dead-on correct that the All-Star FM4000-Magnesium mask is a top-flight, elite-level mask. It’s in that “rare air” amongst the Titanium masks (Nike Icon, Wilson, and Mizuno), especially in terms of strength and lightness, but surpasses these masks because, being injection-molded magnesium alloy, it will not bend and will not break*.

With it being injection-molded, there are no welds or bonds (reduces weight, no joints to break). In All-Star’s process, the molten magnesium is force injected into the mold from “back” to front, forcing the densest material to be where it’s needed – at the nose. All-Star has gone to great lengths and effort to test and refine their masks. They’re one of the few companies to own and routinely use a high-velocity test rig, and have employed dynamic 3D modeling software & CAD/CAM to develop a shape which presents a much more angular edifice. As Ty points out, this is more effective at deflecting the impact force – like a prow – than a typical half-spheroid bar mask.

Ty was correct that the magnesium is low density, but isn’t quite right on its purpose in this regard; it’s the low density that makes magnesium so light. Of course, magnesium itself is too brittle to be protectively practical. However, when alloyed in specific ratios with manganese and aluminum, the resulting alloy can be “tuned” to maintain its integrity without deformation. Why do I mention this? Because this rigidity and low density compelled All-Star to develop the other great component of the mask... the advanced pads.

As mask bars get thinner and less dense, the less mass and pad surface area is engaged when an impact force assails them. Mask pads can only be so thick before they get impractical. However, if more, or all of the pad’s volume can be engaged, then much more of that energy can be absorbed by the pad, completely, before transferring to your face. To distribute that energy, originating at a point, across the entire pad, an ABS plate is embedded in the pad. No other company (currently) does this! Only one other company (Under-Armour, with their “AirCloud” pads) does this!

Hopefully, Ump-Attire can continue to encourage and press All-Star to include a distributor plate in the upper pad, just for us (umpires). This might be unnecessary, though, if another product from All-Star gains traction .

In summary, if the Force3 Defender embodies “Better Protection Through Physics & Mechanics”, the FM4000-Mag is the champion of “Better Protection Through Geometry & Materials Science”.

*- Under typical use and conditions.

 

Edited July 23, 2020 by MadMax
Forgot that UnderArmour has its new mask out.

[Aging_Arbiter]

5 hours ago, MadMax said:

“Antique-y look”??!! Antique-y??!! 

Did he just call me old?

ok, for those of us who ARE Antique-y..........remember when MAG (short for Magnesium) wheels were popular? They were the next best thing to put on your car in HS!!  They were still popular when I was in HS.   It's because they were lighter!!

[SeeingEyeDog]

6 hours ago, Aging_Arbiter said:

Did he just call me old?

ok, for those of us who ARE Antique-y..........remember when MAG (short for Magnesium) wheels were popular? They were the next best thing to put on your car in HS!!  They were still popular when I was in HS.   It's because they were lighter!!

As far as I'm concerned...go antiquey, or go home. I'll never own a mask that isn't black frame with tan pads. Antiques...we do it with age.

Moving on...

@JimKirk, this is precisely why your videos are such an effective marketing tool and why I enjoy them so much. I have never really seen this mask up close because we don't live in an era anymore where umpire equipment is fully stocked at brick and mortar sporting goods stores anymore and I have yet to work with a partner who has one either. I had heard about the angular geometry of this mask helping to provide additional protection but, it wasn't until I saw this video that I could really see those angles and how this is sloped for our protection. This will be the new direction of masks going forward, regardless of what they are made of.

Speaking of brick and mortar, Mr. Kirk...do you also have a showroom there in addition to warehouse operations? I might have to take a bit of a detour to the Bluegrass State on my next trip southbound...post-COVID, of course.

~Dog

[BT_Blue]

I am not a leather pad guy. I like the micro fiber feel and look. Which leads to an issue that I am curious about.

I acquired a Force3 v2 mask in trade this off season and was wondering I could take one of the MAG LUC bottom pads and transfer it to a Force3?  I wouldnt DARE do it with the top pad. But the standoff size of the lower LUC pad might be far enough for the springs to not come and get me. Plus the added bonus of the extra blast plate in the MAG pads for that extra bit.

Just riffing an idea I had.

[JimKirk]

On 7/23/2020 at 5:01 AM, MadMax said:

In summary, if the Force3 Defender embodies “Better Protection Through Physics & Mechanics”, the FM4000-Mag is the champion of “Better Protection Through Geometry & Materials Science”.

This is REALLY a great line! Very good analysis, simplified and well-put. 

[JimKirk]

16 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

@JimKirk, this is precisely why your videos are such an effective marketing tool and why I enjoy them so much

Thank you very much! (Wish Warren had a “tip of the cap” emoji) 

[JimKirk]

9 hours ago, BT_Blue said:

I am not a leather pad guy. I like the micro fiber feel and look. Which leads to an issue that I am curious about.

I acquired a Force3 v2 mask in trade this off season and was wondering I could take one of the MAG LUC bottom pads and transfer it to a Force3?  I wouldnt DARE do it with the top pad. But the standoff size of the lower LUC pad might be far enough for the springs to not come and get me. Plus the added bonus of the extra blast plate in the MAG pads for that extra bit.

Just riffing an idea I had.

Will not fit. You can end your riff.

[JimKirk]

16 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Speaking of brick and mortar, Mr. Kirk...do you also have a showroom there in addition to warehouse operations? I might have to take a bit of a detour to the Bluegrass State on my next trip southbound...post-COVID, of course

Sorry, no showroom. Not enough space for 812 products.

We like to say the showroom is in your pocket (on your phone). Order what you want to look at. Send it back on our dime.

Do come by, and we can do lunch - if you let me know in advance.

[SeeingEyeDog]

1 hour ago, JimKirk said:

Sorry, no showroom. Not enough space for 812 products.

We like to say the showroom is in your pocket (on your phone). Order what you want to look at. Send it back on our dime.

Do come by, and we can do lunch - if you let me know in advance.

812, brothers...if they don't have it, you don't want it.

That's a very kind lunch invitation. Thank you, Mr. Kirk.

~Dog

[BT_Blue]

4 hours ago, JimKirk said:

Will not fit. You can end your riff.

Way to crush my dreams Jim!

If you can get in their ear a bit. Maybe they will eventually come out with a fabric pad at some point. 

[grayhawk]

I like this mask, with the exception of the ugly "filled in" parts on the ears. What were they thinking?