wolfe_man Posted June 15, 2022 Report Share Posted June 15, 2022 Anyone get one yet and want to give a review? I'm curious if the new CP truly offers a lower profile. I believe the old Wilson padding was like 1" thick whereas the new "low profile" memory foam is advertised at 0.75", so you're saving 0.25". A new buckle system, removable/adjustable Velcro wings and a neoprene harness - with only a quarter-inch savings towards lower profile doesn't really offer that much of an improvement to me for $230-250. The plastic plates looks exactly like a normal Wilson Gold's plates, so are the new updates worth an additional $80-90? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Short Umpire Posted June 15, 2022 Report Share Posted June 15, 2022 I got mine today. I know @MadMax won't like this but I had to try it out. It has a lower profile for sure. The padding feels similar to the original because the use the same material to cover the foam, but the memory foam is much more pliable. It condenses quite a bit and gives a low profile from the front. The magnet buckles are pretty cool, but bulky and plastic. The biggest downfall is that it uses the same shoulder caps as the original. They are too wide for me, making them very noticeable from the side. I will stick with my Schutt/Gold cross-up. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfe_man Posted June 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2022 15 hours ago, The Short Umpire said: I will stick with my Schutt/Gold cross-up. I now have the Adams/Gold Frankenstein also. I'd thought about it before, but liked the way you did it and did similar. Mine uses Adams CP jacket, Gold chest and shoulder plates and epaulets (gap cover), Adams shoulder caps and Adams wings. I may remove the wings, we'll see. I used industrial strength Velcro to put it all together and it seems to be holding up well so far. I wore it last night for the first time. 95 degrees at game time - I had forgotten how much cooler the D30 foam makes a CP! It was hot, but not too terrible. 2 hr 20 min Sr. Legion game and I still felt good after it. I still like my F3 V3, but this Frankenstein may become my go-to during hot weather games. FWIW, send that puppy back and just buy some FidLocks if you like them and want them on your Frankenstein. Amazon has them at the link below (1 for $13.99 or 3 for $35). https://www.amazon.com/Fidlock-Magnetic-Buckle-Slider-Replacement/dp/B07TRHK57R/ref=asc_df_B07S2S1V49/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=343221166983&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=897684739281442245&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014977&hvtargid=pla-765753016958&ref=&adgrpid=69167794975&th=1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfe_man Posted June 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2022 15 hours ago, The Short Umpire said: I got mine today. Can you take some side-by-side pics of the new CP next to your Frankenstein and any other CP's you have currently? I'd love to see how different it looks next to other CP's. Sometimes the marketing emails or sales websites don't give you a full presentation because you don't know the model's size or how it compares to existing CP's. If you can take some shots of front, back and sides, then that'd be appreciated. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyg08 Posted June 19, 2022 Report Share Posted June 19, 2022 I have it. I'll be using it this week. I also own the other more recent Gold. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfe_man Posted June 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2022 3 hours ago, johnnyg08 said: I have it. I'll be using it this week. I also own the other more recent Gold. Share your after-action review please. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErichKeane Posted June 19, 2022 Report Share Posted June 19, 2022 I just ordered the memory foam one on Friday, so hopefully will have it next week! My only comparison is a Champro Pro-Plus though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfe_man Posted June 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2022 1 hour ago, ErichKeane said: I just ordered the memory foam one on Friday, so hopefully will have it next week! My only comparison is a Champro Pro-Plus though. Any honest feedback is appreciated. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErichKeane Posted June 19, 2022 Report Share Posted June 19, 2022 1 hour ago, wolfe_man said: Any honest feedback is appreciated. Thanks Will do! I'll be pretty critical of it, though again, I'm comparing it to just my Champro. I'll be getting it Friday if Ump-Attire's estimate is right, and doing 2 full days of a 3 day tourney with it (unless it shows up early, as my Friday games start at 245!). Funny: This past weekend I guess I took my first real 'shot' with the champro, in a 13U game. Pitcher was throwing gas, and a foul popped me right over the heart. Took the wind out of me for 3-4 seconds, hit harder than I expected! I feel like I've been hit with harder/older kids and not noticed it/shrugged it off, so I was shocked at how much I felt this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man in Blue Posted June 20, 2022 Report Share Posted June 20, 2022 @ErichKeane ... time to step it up. Try this ... 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umpstu Posted June 20, 2022 Report Share Posted June 20, 2022 1 hour ago, ErichKeane said: Will do! I'll be pretty critical of it, though again, I'm comparing it to just my Champro. I'll be getting it Friday if Ump-Attire's estimate is right, and doing 2 full days of a 3 day tourney with it (unless it shows up early, as my Friday games start at 245!). Funny: This past weekend I guess I took my first real 'shot' with the champro, in a 13U game. Pitcher was throwing gas, and a foul popped me right over the heart. Took the wind out of me for 3-4 seconds, hit harder than I expected! I feel like I've been hit with harder/older kids and not noticed it/shrugged it off, so I was shocked at how much I felt this one. Was wearing a system 7 for college ball and took a 92 mph on my right nipple. Sure felt that one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man in Blue Posted June 20, 2022 Report Share Posted June 20, 2022 43 minutes ago, umpstu said: Was wearing a system 7 for college ball and took a 92 mph on my right nipple. Sure felt that one. Bah. I took one to the bicep a few weeks ago (no bicep guard). I know it was 92 because I looked at the scoreboard ... really didn't want to know that. 😬 Took four days for the bruise to even show up. Maybe pasties instead of a chest protector, @umpstu? 🤣 (skipping posting an image) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyg08 Posted June 20, 2022 Report Share Posted June 20, 2022 12 hours ago, The Man in Blue said: Maybe pasties instead of a chest protector, @umpstu? 🤣 (skipping posting an image) A sentence that I thought would never appear in an umpire forum. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErichKeane Posted June 20, 2022 Report Share Posted June 20, 2022 WELP, I won't be able to give you a review @wolfe_man! Ump-attire.com JUST cancelled my order as 'out of stock'! SO, looks like I won't be getting it any time soon. It looks like S/M is the ONLY size that sold out, and ONLY the memory foam one, which kinda stinks The biggest concern I had about the west-vest after having messed with an original at a local store, was the bulkiness, so the memory foam was a big selling point for me. I'm also a 35" chest, so going up a size, while possibly do-able, is probably a mistake. Apparently it won't be available any time soon either according to the email, so they just cancelled it entirely. @JimKirk: Did a ton of folks get caught by this, or am I an unlucky few? EDIT TO ADD: Gerry Davis seems to list it in stock for a few bucks cheaper, and for 'cheaper' shipping (though we'll see if that means I still get it by the weekend; it was $13 to ship, or $105 for 2 day... so I can miss a weekend or so with it if necessary for that big of a difference ). I haven't ordered through them yet, but hopefully I didn't just get stuck getting it cancelled again! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimKirk Posted June 21, 2022 Report Share Posted June 21, 2022 4 hours ago, ErichKeane said: @JimKirk: Did a ton of folks get caught by this, or am I an unlucky few? It’s unfortunate and rare. It’s important you trust our inventory levels as they are synched real-time warehouse to website. I will research your order. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErichKeane Posted June 21, 2022 Report Share Posted June 21, 2022 38 minutes ago, JimKirk said: It’s unfortunate and rare. It’s important you trust our inventory levels as they are synched real-time warehouse to website. I will research your order. I definitely appreciate your inventory being as descriptive as it is! I'm glad to hear it is typically spot on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Bottom Posted June 21, 2022 Report Share Posted June 21, 2022 On 6/19/2022 at 8:32 PM, umpstu said: Was wearing a system 7 for college ball and took a 92 mph on my right nipple. Sure felt that one. That's what I wear too, but I haven't taken a hit that hard. Is it just that 92 is going to hurt no matter what we are wearing, or are you looking at something other than a S7? I had always heard the S7 might be the best (or one of the best) protecting chest protectors on the market - any thoughts on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umpstu Posted June 21, 2022 Report Share Posted June 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Rock Bottom said: That's what I wear too, but I haven't taken a hit that hard. Is it just that 92 is going to hurt no matter what we are wearing, or are you looking at something other than a S7? I had always heard the S7 might be the best (or one of the best) protecting chest protectors on the market - any thoughts on that? That pitch was a perfect storm type of thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErichKeane Posted June 21, 2022 Report Share Posted June 21, 2022 INTERESTINGLY, I was able to play with both versions of the Pro Gold 2 today! I walked into my sporting-goods store (which has a very small umpire gear area) today, and in addition to the West-Vest Platinum they've had on the shelf for god-knows-how-long, they had 1 each of the Pro Gold 2 Memory Foam, and Pro Gold 2 "Air Management". Both were MSRP, and both were M/L (and by the size guide, I'm a S/M). FIrst, they both seem to use the same foam, or at least, similar feeling foam to eachother, which is significantly softer than the Platinum. The only difference I could tell was that the Memory Foam one was significantly lighter feeling, and a bit smaller. The clips were interesting as well, but I wouldn't consider it much of a selling point. The harness on the new one is a lot like the ump-life one, I was a fan. I tried both on, and perhaps could have been happy with that size, and if I didn't have the Gerry Davis order coming(which is going to miss this weekend's tourney... ugh), I probably would have picked one up. I spent the extra money on the Memory Foam version for the lower-profile, but after trying both on, I'm not sure it is that much lower-profile to be worth the extra money (though, the Memory Foam WAS basically weightless). I didn't use a shirt over them, so I cannot be sure. EITHER seems like really nice chest protectors. The interior material was the same as the Platinum in feel, and I fear it won't be as breathable as my current CP as a result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man in Blue Posted June 22, 2022 Report Share Posted June 22, 2022 11 hours ago, umpstu said: That pitch was a perfect storm type of thing. This is something worth noting, and a great point @umpstu ... No matter what you are wearing, flukes happen. You made me think of a question to ask though ... do you stand with your shoulders square to the plate or do you stand with your body at a slight turn/angle? I never thought about it until a guy I was working with asked me why I have my body slightly turned behind the plate. I was taught to work with a slight angle to my body, it helps to dissipate the impact of a ball coming straight back at you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umpstu Posted June 22, 2022 Report Share Posted June 22, 2022 43 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said: This is something worth noting, and a great point @umpstu ... No matter what you are wearing, flukes happen. You made me think of a question to ask though ... do you stand with your shoulders square to the plate or do you stand with your body at a slight turn/angle? I never thought about it until a guy I was working with asked me why I have my body slightly turned behind the plate. I was taught to work with a slight angle to my body, it helps to dissipate the impact of a ball coming straight back at you. I use the Gerry Davis stance and my shoulders are directed towards the pitcher as much as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeingEyeDog Posted June 22, 2022 Report Share Posted June 22, 2022 It sounds like Wilson has made some improvements but, the one they really missed for me is something @JimKirkhighlighted in their video. They were in the room with the Wilson team and told them an extended length was something they have gotten a lot of requests for and...they kept the same lengths. I have taken so many baseballs to the gut this spring, I am completely adjusting my approach to CPs now and keeping only the longest models in my bag. ~Dawg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMax Posted June 22, 2022 Report Share Posted June 22, 2022 12 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said: They were in the room with the Wilson team and told them an extended length was something they have gotten a lot of requests for and...they kept the same lengths. And you wonder (and mock) why I loathe Wilson so much. 🙄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimKirk Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 On 6/20/2022 at 10:41 PM, JimKirk said: It’s unfortunate and rare. It’s important you trust our inventory levels as they are synched real-time warehouse to website. I will research your order. Researched @ErichKeane. Seems we made a packing mistake that attributed to having 1 less when you ordered the last 1 of that size. We have a really good system that prevents this but looks like it was human error on our part. Our apologies for the extra work on your side. Hopefully you’ll put your trust back in us for next time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErichKeane Posted June 23, 2022 Report Share Posted June 23, 2022 2 minutes ago, JimKirk said: Researched @ErichKeane. Seems we made a packing mistake that attributed to having 1 less when you ordered the last 1 of that size. We have a really good system that prevents this but looks like it was human error on our part. Our apologies for the extra work on your side. Hopefully you’ll put your trust back in us for next time. Thank you SO much for following up on this, it really means a lot! I definitely understand these sorts of problems, but I'm glad you were able to figure it out. Just my bad luck that I managed to be the 'last one' You'll definitely see more orders from me in the future of course, these little things, while disappointing, are no big deal particularly with the transparency. Thanks again! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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