Official Review: Force3 V3 Ultimate Umpire Chest Protector

[JimKirk]

Official Review: Force3 V3 Ultimate Umpire Chest Protector

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[SeeingEyeDog]

@JimKirk, on some of the V2's, I have seen where the kevlar backing cuts through the fabric on the corners and edges of the chest protector's padding so, I have shied away from this for that reason. Do you know if that has been addressed in the V3 and if so, how, please?

~Dawg

[wolfe_man]

6 minutes ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

@JimKirk, on some of the V2's, I have seen where the kevlar backing cuts through the fabric on the corners and edges of the chest protector's padding so, I have shied away from this for that reason. Do you know if that has been addressed in the V3 and if so, how, please?

~Dawg

It is the same in the V3. Over time, the plates pop through the neoprene cover on the corners.  You'll have little holes on almost every chest plate corner along the outside edges.

I will add that F3 is aware and will not do anything about it if you have one.   Now, I am certainly hoping that they have fixed the issue on the V4 if/when it comes out.

[834k3r]

51 minutes ago, wolfe_man said:

It is the same in the V3. Over time, the plates pop through the neoprene cover on the corners.  You'll have little holes on almost every chest plate corner along the outside edges.

I will add that F3 is aware and will not do anything about it if you have one.   Now, I am certainly hoping that they have fixed the issue on the V4 if/when it comes out.

Knowing that, would you buy it again?

[wolfe_man]

1 minute ago, 834k3r said:

Knowing that, would you buy it again?

I'm a fan of the V3.  If it were $229 or less, I'd be all over it again.  At $299, it's a non-starter for me with the known issues. I love the slimming profile and never got hurt when hit, but I cannot pay premium price for a non-premium product.   I really think they could cut out the Kevlar at this point and it'd be just as good - and much cheaper.  I'm not sold that Kevlar is what makes the CP great - or what makes the mask safer - the plates and neoprene and other padding protect you in the CP and the spring protect you on the frame IMHO.

[MadMax]

You know when you observe a house being built, and it is made known that "So and So Prestigious Architect / Homebuilder" is on the project, you follow the process, and then attend the Open House... and you tour it, and are impressed by the quality materials, and the promotion of latest technology and building techniques, and appreciate how the house functions in certain adverse weather conditions, and how it is LEED-certified... and then as you walk away, you conclude, "Awesome, but I couldn't live there." ?

Yup. That. 

Then you find out from the homeowner / occupant that it has some quirks and flaws, and – you might share it with them, or you might keep it to yourself and gossip with your friends – those flaws could have been remedied had the architect considered the input of people in the neighborhood who actually live here. 

And now we've watched 3 entire work crews come in and renovate and upgrade the house, but it still has those quirks, and still doesn't attract you enough to want it (or that same blueprint), and especially since we've seen where it's come from and all the costs within its walls. 

Yup. Exactly.