Hockey Shin Gaurds

[boyinr]

I seem to recall others have tried these. I was always intrigued. Picked up a pair recently and I really like them. Two straps and almost zero weight. They stay in place. They are sparse around the ankle area but with the mid cut shoes I feel I’m fine. Picked them up for <$60. They aren’t F3 good but they are better than a lot of others IMO as the outer shell is off the interior shell/padding. My line of though is, If they will stop a puck, they will stop a ball. Took a couple hits in the four games.  I like them and won’t hesitate to rock them anytime.  This is the model I bought. 
 

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[BT_Blue]

I did this when it was first talked about and I was looking to replace my BULKY AND HEAVY West Vest Pro shin guards. Went with a pair if Bauer 1000s and they worked really well. Even found a pair of unloved ankle extentions off an old set of Davis Shins.

Needed to modify them a bit because the knee cap area didn't have its own strap and would float in inopportune ways. But they were very serviceable and VERY light.

I moved to my current F3v1 shins when mid game, one of the knee cap sections practically disintegrated. Actually made it so I couldn't take the plate in a playoff game because I was waiting on my order from UA at the time.

[834k3r]

On 10/9/2022 at 2:03 AM, BT_Blue said:

...one of the knee cap sections practically disintegrated...

How did that happen?

[MadMax]

Both @Razzer and I are endorsers of hockey shin guards for baseball umpires. One of the factors that I repeatedly point out is how contoured and conforming they are, designed and constructed to move with you. Additionally, they are going to be as lightweight as possible, and they're going to be hydrophobic, able to shed water as rapidly as possible... because when you play hockey, you are wet the entire time. As such, you will also find exclusive use of plastic buckles instead of metal hooks. So, no corrosion or obnoxious squeaks! 

And no, plastic buckles are not more prone to breaking than metal clips. I've had my Force3 Ultimate shins for what... 8?... 9? years now, with at least 150 plates per year, and I haven't broken one yet. Not one. 

If you look at the DaviShins and the Champro shins, there's a passing resemblance to hockey shin guards, especially in how the knee is hinged or connected to the main greave. While I'll take a hard pass on a DaviShield CP for how paltry and pathetic it is, I will certainly endorse DaviShins as being quite adequate for umpire shinguards. 

Of course, one of my product reviews and posts would not be complete without a salvo fired at the Wilson  bandwagon. Their umpire shinguards are far too bulky, cumbersome, heavy, and stuffy to make them feel anything beyond a chore to wear. Over time, they begin to take on the flatness (and weight from that upholstery foam holdin' all yer sweat) of cricket-batsman's leg guards... 

... and you look just as ridiculous traipsing around in them.

As you can see, it's a conforming, ideal fit, with the greave ending immediately above the top of the NB plate shoe. This umpire was extremely mobile on plate rotations. 

[BT_Blue]

On 10/10/2022 at 11:31 AM, 834k3r said:

How did that happen?

The knee cap plate was not attached to the leg part except for the foam padding. After a few years it just broke. If the knee was attached and not floating, like in Max's photo, it would have lasted longer.

[834k3r]

I'm a hockey fan, so this idea really intrigues me. @BT_Blue, and @MadMax:  what modifications did you do to provide ankle protection? When I'm in the slot, I actually turn the leg that's behind the catcher toward the opposite middle infielder (F6 for LHB, F4 for RHB) so ankle protection is necessary with my stance.

[MadMax]

4 hours ago, 834k3r said:

what modifications did you do to provide ankle protection?

None. The umpire in the above photo is not me, and as you might be able to see, his lower legs are so thin, the hockey shins complete encase his limb, while the plastic carapace plate ends tight at the top of the NB plate shoe he is wearing. 

I’ve seen other umpires do this, too, especially when wearing 3/4 (mid) top plate shoes. 

I myself have worn hockey shins once for a baseball tournament back in Wisconsin… when my primary gear was back in Arizona. Ankle protection, or any meager amount thereof, was not a pressing concern.