Force3 Defender V2 harness: Massive on everyone else, or am I doing it wrong?

[ErichKeane]

So thanks to @ATXBlue I recently acquired a Force3 Defender V2 to replace my Champro mask (which after a few foul balls, didn't feel like it was protecting enough!). 

I received the mask without the harness attached, but I think I did it right...  Either way, I have a size ~7-1/4 head (so not small, but not huge either), and when I adjust the mask to 'fit' my head, I'm at basically the 'smallest' setting for the top, and near the smallest on the sides, so I have super long tabs sticking down on each side.  Is this just normal (in that this is sized more for wearing with a helmet), or have I done something wrong?

[Ump242]

You maybe using the very first bar to wrap the harness on, if you actually wrap it through the second bar and then bring it over the second bar and the first bar it'll probably work better.

 

See image I drew for better description

[ErichKeane]

Ah! That's exactly what I did wrong. Switched to going through two bars on sides and top and the harness fits way better!

[Mister B]

IIRC, you want the F3 to fit snug to your head. It shouldn't spin like a traditional mask .

[Ump242]

11 minutes ago, Mister B said:

IIRC, you want the F3 to fit snug to your head. It shouldn't spin like a traditional mask .

Yes, the balls will "ting" off of it and it should remain stably on, I never feel a thing, rarely has it ever twisted even slightly and I'm doing highschool ATM, it's possible that may happen more often in college, once I start working those

[tpatience]

I hated the F3 harness and I took it off the moment I tried it on. You’re better off using Ray’s harness or a MLB harness 

[MadMax]

9 hours ago, ErichKeane said:

in that this is sized more for wearing with a helmet

Obligatory Warning ⚠️: Wilson Flaming Following – 

Yes, this is more styled for a hardhat / skullcap / helmet than for a typical hat. Why? Because who is this primarily intended for? Catchers. Do catchers ever not wear a helmet with this? No. 

So what’s the “Official MLB Umpire Supplier” doing for us? 

Hmm? 

🦗  🦗  🦗 

[wolfe_man]

F3 does make a traditional harness as well that is fine for use with regular hats.  It's the catcher's version (i.e. Sports bra-esque) that isn't really built to sit on hats.

As others have said, wear it tight.  The springs are supposed to absorb most of the impact and it can't do that when it's loose and spinning on your head or falling off on the ground when it is impacted.

 

[BLWizzRanger]

6 hours ago, MadMax said:

Obligatory Warning ⚠️: Wilson Flaming Following – 

Yes, this is more styled for a hardhat / skullcap / helmet than for a typical hat. Why? Because who is this primarily intended for? Catchers. Do catchers ever not wear a helmet with this? No. 

So what’s the “Official MLB Umpire Supplier” doing for us? 

Hmm? 

🦗  🦗  🦗 

Nice!  Very Constrained.  Namaste brother!

[ErichKeane]

So I got to use the mask last night in a 10U "Minor Fed" game (the top division, but... well, still 10).  When trying the mask on, my biggest fears were the size and weight, both of which were significantly greater than my Champro.  In practice, I noticed neither on the field!  I didn't really have any further problems with the harness, though I dont-know-what-I-dont-know when it comes to harnesses

I DID take a few to the mask, and felt well protected.  I WILL say based on the stiffness of the springs, I have some doubt as to how effective they are.  It just seems that based on how stiff they are, they would never get close to bottoming out.  Though, perhaps that is because I'm only working 14 and under kids, and these are configured for MLB fouls

[ErichKeane]

SO another question for those with a F3 v2/harness issues.  One thing I noticed is that the mask doesn't have a bar on the side, so the side-parts of the harness slide up and down a TON.  the harness itself ended up being in the wrong position quite a few times!  Has anyone done anything to solve this?  Would a better harness have this problem less?