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Posted

My New Balance 460v3's are shot. Kaput. Muerto. When you do around 150 plate games per year, on a wide variety of surfaces that do nothing less than punish your shoes, something's going to eventually wear out. I tried to keep my 460's as functional as possible, but the heel cups interiors are shredded, the rim (around the ankle) where the shinguards rub against is splitting and fraying, I'm on my third set of footbed / insoles, the vaunted tread is starting to flatten out after sweeping the plate several hundred times trying to uncover it, or at least reveal it enough so a plate brush can go to work, I'm on my third set of laces, and there's a significant bunch of gouges and scars from catchers' and pitchers' (dammit! stop stepping on me while backing up the throw!) metal cleats on both toe boxes. Ultra-depressing, though, is the large, jagged tear in the outer portion of the shoe, right along the (fault) line that is the hinge between the shoe and the metatarsal guard. It's ugly. 

New ones are needed. And they won't be in until... October??!! 🤬

I've had 3N2's. Twice. And both times, the composite toe caps shattered, and both times, the pleather skin bubbled up and peeled and flaked off, likely unable to deal with the intense heat and sunlight that we here in the Southwest have to endure. So can't do that again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me a third time... what the hell is wrong with me??! 

So! After searching for New Balance 460v3's across the landscape, I found some optional places to purchase them from, but decided, instead, to give these a try: 

image.png.2ab13cdcbbf140225305b8823e6b3e29.png

These are the Mizuno 11GU1601 Pro Plate Shoes, and they're being offered on eBay, via several vendors, most with Free Shipping! from Japan. 

I was skeptical about their fit and sizing, until I did a game with the Royals, and was offered to try on a pair of Mizuno turf shoes from one of the AAA players. They're excellent, and run true to size. So I ordered them in the Size 11 I need, in they came 8 days later, and I tried them on... 

WOW. 😍 I'm not usually a fan of the mid or high tops, but I re-laced them to skip using the top eyelet... but again, WOW, these things feel incredible. Solid, without being heavy. Responsive. A smidge on the narrow side, but absolutely comfortable. The metatarsal guard doesn't shake or flap all over when running with them. I will definitely be saving these for HS and NAIA playoffs and for stadium games I'll have this summer! If ya see me quick-stepping away from a pitch or throw in the dirt, it ain't because I'm worried about my feet getting hit by the ball; instead, I won't want to get stepped on or grazed by the catcher as he lays out to block the wayward ball!

 

Posted

I had bought the ssk plate shoes, they were comfortable but I wear size 13s as my feet are like 12 and 1/4, and they only go up to 12 so I took a foul ball to a tow and for a while there thought I'd fractured it my doctor said it was just bruised. So hobbling around on a big toe for about a week sucked, make sure that you get one size up if you can whatever shoes you get

 

To be honest with you New Balance are okay but reeboks if you can still find them I live and die by

Posted
2 hours ago, MadMax said:

My New Balance 460v3's are shot. Kaput. Muerto. When you do around 150 plate games per year, on a wide variety of surfaces that do nothing less than punish your shoes, something's going to eventually wear out. I tried to keep my 460's as functional as possible, but the heel cups interiors are shredded, the rim (around the ankle) where the shinguards rub against is splitting and fraying, I'm on my third set of footbed / insoles, the vaunted tread is starting to flatten out after sweeping the plate several hundred times trying to uncover it, or at least reveal it enough so a plate brush can go to work, I'm on my third set of laces, and there's a significant bunch of gouges and scars from catchers' and pitchers' (dammit! stop stepping on me while backing up the throw!) metal cleats on both toe boxes. Ultra-depressing, though, is the large, jagged tear in the outer portion of the shoe, right along the (fault) line that is the hinge between the shoe and the metatarsal guard. It's ugly. 

New ones are needed. And they won't be in until... October??!! 🤬

I've had 3N2's. Twice. And both times, the composite toe caps shattered, and both times, the pleather skin bubbled up and peeled and flaked off, likely unable to deal with the intense heat and sunlight that we here in the Southwest have to endure. So can't do that again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me a third time... what the hell is wrong with me??! 

So! After searching for New Balance 460v3's across the landscape, I found some optional places to purchase them from, but decided, instead, to give these a try: 

image.png.2ab13cdcbbf140225305b8823e6b3e29.png

These are the Mizuno 11GU1601 Pro Plate Shoes, and they're being offered on eBay, via several vendors, most with Free Shipping! from Japan. 

I was skeptical about their fit and sizing, until I did a game with the Royals, and was offered to try on a pair of Mizuno turf shoes from one of the AAA players. They're excellent, and run true to size. So I ordered them in the Size 11 I need, in they came 8 days later, and I tried them on... 

WOW. 😍 I'm not usually a fan of the mid or high tops, but I re-laced them to skip using the top eyelet... but again, WOW, these things feel incredible. Solid, without being heavy. Responsive. A smidge on the narrow side, but absolutely comfortable. The metatarsal guard doesn't shake or flap all over when running with them. I will definitely be saving these for HS and NAIA playoffs and for stadium games I'll have this summer! If ya see me quick-stepping away from a pitch or throw in the dirt, it ain't because I'm worried about my feet getting hit by the ball; instead, I won't want to get stepped on or grazed by the catcher as he lays out to block the wayward ball!

 

I have worn these for years. I'll take a pic of how I lace them--you'll likely find them even more comfortable with the method I use, especially if you have a wider toe.

  • Thanks 1
Posted
7 hours ago, MadMax said:

My New Balance 460v3's are shot. Kaput. Muerto. When you do around 150 plate games per year, on a wide variety of surfaces that do nothing less than punish your shoes, something's going to eventually wear out. I tried to keep my 460's as functional as possible, but the heel cups interiors are shredded, the rim (around the ankle) where the shinguards rub against is splitting and fraying, I'm on my third set of footbed / insoles, the vaunted tread is starting to flatten out after sweeping the plate several hundred times trying to uncover it, or at least reveal it enough so a plate brush can go to work, I'm on my third set of laces, and there's a significant bunch of gouges and scars from catchers' and pitchers' (dammit! stop stepping on me while backing up the throw!) metal cleats on both toe boxes. Ultra-depressing, though, is the large, jagged tear in the outer portion of the shoe, right along the (fault) line that is the hinge between the shoe and the metatarsal guard. It's ugly. 

New ones are needed. And they won't be in until... October??!! 🤬

I've had 3N2's. Twice. And both times, the composite toe caps shattered, and both times, the pleather skin bubbled up and peeled and flaked off, likely unable to deal with the intense heat and sunlight that we here in the Southwest have to endure. So can't do that again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me a third time... what the hell is wrong with me??! 

So! After searching for New Balance 460v3's across the landscape, I found some optional places to purchase them from, but decided, instead, to give these a try: 

image.png.2ab13cdcbbf140225305b8823e6b3e29.png

These are the Mizuno 11GU1601 Pro Plate Shoes, and they're being offered on eBay, via several vendors, most with Free Shipping! from Japan. 

I was skeptical about their fit and sizing, until I did a game with the Royals, and was offered to try on a pair of Mizuno turf shoes from one of the AAA players. They're excellent, and run true to size. So I ordered them in the Size 11 I need, in they came 8 days later, and I tried them on... 

WOW. 😍 I'm not usually a fan of the mid or high tops, but I re-laced them to skip using the top eyelet... but again, WOW, these things feel incredible. Solid, without being heavy. Responsive. A smidge on the narrow side, but absolutely comfortable. The metatarsal guard doesn't shake or flap all over when running with them. I will definitely be saving these for HS and NAIA playoffs and for stadium games I'll have this summer! If ya see me quick-stepping away from a pitch or throw in the dirt, it ain't because I'm worried about my feet getting hit by the ball; instead, I won't want to get stepped on or grazed by the catcher as he lays out to block the wayward ball!

 

How is the width?  I wear 4E width shoes and the New Balance shoes that say 4E are nowhere near the 4E the Reebok Field Magistrate plate shoes are.  Not even close.

Posted
1 hour ago, umpstu said:

How is the width?  I wear 4E width shoes and the New Balance shoes that say 4E are nowhere near the 4E the Reebok Field Magistrate plate shoes are.  Not even close.

I could wear the Magistrates comfortably but not the NB. I would say these are a little tighter than the former.

  • Like 1
Posted
10 hours ago, Matt said:

I could wear the Magistrates comfortably but not the NB. I would say these are a little tighter than the former.

So, narrower and nothing in a wide width?  My Field Magistrates are getting to the smooth stage on the bottoms. Dang it.

Posted
2 hours ago, umpstu said:

My Field Magistrates are getting to the smooth stage on the bottoms. Dang it.

Ah! Keep your eyes peeled here… My Mad Lab will be re-treading plate shoes (Reebok Zigs, specifically) in the next few weeks. I hope to have a video capture of it, if not at least photos. 

Posted
2 hours ago, MadMax said:

Ah! Keep your eyes peeled here… My Mad Lab will be re-treading plate shoes (Reebok Zigs, specifically) in the next few weeks. I hope to have a video capture of it, if not at least photos. 

If you can figure it out I'll send you mine at the end of the season and I'm sure a few of my local brethren would be interested as well.  LOVE my field magistrates.  There have been no others to come close.

 

  • Like 1
Posted
18 hours ago, Matt said:

I could wear the Magistrates comfortably but not the NB. I would say these are a little tighter than the former.

The previous NB plate shoe was much wider in my opinion.

Posted

There was just a pair of field magistrates on ebay Saturday, I was umpiring a juniors game and with less than 2:30 the next inning started, I dropped a $120 bid, lost it for a $122.50 bud. Guessing they musts put like$130... Sigh

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Posted
On 4/15/2022 at 4:45 PM, MadMax said:

My New Balance 460v3's are shot. Kaput. Muerto. When you do around 150 plate games per year, on a wide variety of surfaces that do nothing less than punish your shoes, something's going to eventually wear out. I tried to keep my 460's as functional as possible, but the heel cups interiors are shredded, the rim (around the ankle) where the shinguards rub against is splitting and fraying, I'm on my third set of footbed / insoles, the vaunted tread is starting to flatten out after sweeping the plate several hundred times trying to uncover it, or at least reveal it enough so a plate brush can go to work, I'm on my third set of laces, and there's a significant bunch of gouges and scars from catchers' and pitchers' (dammit! stop stepping on me while backing up the throw!) metal cleats on both toe boxes. Ultra-depressing, though, is the large, jagged tear in the outer portion of the shoe, right along the (fault) line that is the hinge between the shoe and the metatarsal guard. It's ugly. 

New ones are needed. And they won't be in until... October??!! 🤬

I've had 3N2's. Twice. And both times, the composite toe caps shattered, and both times, the pleather skin bubbled up and peeled and flaked off, likely unable to deal with the intense heat and sunlight that we here in the Southwest have to endure. So can't do that again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me a third time... what the hell is wrong with me??! 

So! After searching for New Balance 460v3's across the landscape, I found some optional places to purchase them from, but decided, instead, to give these a try: 

image.png.2ab13cdcbbf140225305b8823e6b3e29.png

These are the Mizuno 11GU1601 Pro Plate Shoes, and they're being offered on eBay, via several vendors, most with Free Shipping! from Japan. 

I was skeptical about their fit and sizing, until I did a game with the Royals, and was offered to try on a pair of Mizuno turf shoes from one of the AAA players. They're excellent, and run true to size. So I ordered them in the Size 11 I need, in they came 8 days later, and I tried them on... 

WOW. 😍 I'm not usually a fan of the mid or high tops, but I re-laced them to skip using the top eyelet... but again, WOW, these things feel incredible. Solid, without being heavy. Responsive. A smidge on the narrow side, but absolutely comfortable. The metatarsal guard doesn't shake or flap all over when running with them. I will definitely be saving these for HS and NAIA playoffs and for stadium games I'll have this summer! If ya see me quick-stepping away from a pitch or throw in the dirt, it ain't because I'm worried about my feet getting hit by the ball; instead, I won't want to get stepped on or grazed by the catcher as he lays out to block the wayward ball!

 

It'd be super sweet to get that Mizuno logo 'white'! :nod: 

image.png

  • Like 3
Posted
It'd be super sweet to get that Mizuno logo 'white'! :nod: 
image.png.565761d668e7f8cd5062faec46234a03.png
That would be sick! Do they make a size bigger than 30cm JP/sz 12 US?

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Posted

Side effect of raising prices here in the US - the Japanese gear is almost the same cost as the US now!

A Mizuno 2qa-122 is only $197 shipped on eBay, whereas that same price in the states now buys you a Wilson aluminum or F3 V2.  If I can get something unique for the same costs as what everyone else has, then I'm going Japanese too!

  • Like 4
Posted

Here's a couple photos of the Ssk's, love the look of them, but I need size 13 or like 32 CM I guess and they don't make anything higher than 30 cm

20220310_083100.jpg

20220310_082900.jpg

20220310_082833.jpg

20220310_082457.jpg

  • Like 1
Posted

Samurai Gears has Mizuno (sizes 6.5 - 12) and SSK (7 -12) both at $185.

I have had my Mizuno's for 5 years now. Still looking great. They are comfortable.

  • Thanks 1
Posted
24 minutes ago, BCBrad said:

Samurai Gears has Mizuno (sizes 6.5 - 12) and SSK (7 -12) both at $185.

I have had my Mizuno's for 5 years now. Still looking great. They are comfortable.

And the width?

Posted
51 minutes ago, Ump242 said:

Here's a couple photos of the Ssk's, love the look of them, but I need size 13 or like 32 CM I guess and they don't make anything higher than 30 cm

20220310_083100.jpg

20220310_082900.jpg

20220310_082833.jpg

20220310_082457.jpg

The 30s fit perfectly for a 13. I’m a size 13

Posted
The 30s fit perfectly for a 13. I’m a size 13
I'm actually selling these, because I took a foul to the very front of my right shoe, I felt the entire ball hit my big toe, which never happened with my reeboks or my new balance, and my doctor said my bone was bruised for about a week and a half. Try hobbling around a little bit. It really sucked. Size 30 cm are listed as 12 us, and I'm like 12 and 1/4 so my big toe is right up against the steel toe plate and it almost felt like it wasn't even there...

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Posted
Samurai Gears has Mizuno (sizes 6.5 - 12) and SSK (7 -12) both at $185.
I have had my Mizuno's for 5 years now. Still looking great. They are comfortable.
I don't get why samurai gears is so expensive though

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Posted
10 hours ago, Ump242 said:

I don't get why samurai gears is so expensive though

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He's high on some prices and low on some others.  I think it's because his prices are fixed whereas eBay fluctuates with the market and exchange rate for the Yen (vs. Dollar).

Posted
On 4/19/2022 at 12:13 PM, umpstu said:

And the width?

My foot is not a D, but it probably isn't a 4E.

I have no record of width in my invoice or the shoe itself. For a 8 1/2 the sole is 4" wide.

 

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