Core Energy Umpire Belt Review

[Chris Hickman]

Full disclosure, I was sent this belt for free to test out. I have worn many of belts… I own them all. I primarily wear a Mizuno Power Belt on the plate. This is the new “go to” belt for the plate. It’s like wearing a back brace. It gives you a lot of support. Like the Mizuno belts they are cut to fit. If you look around, I’m sure you can find some kind of coupon code out there to get a discount.

 

https://coreenergybelt.com/products/umpire-belt?_pos=1&_psq=Umpire&_ss=e&_v=1.0

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[SeeingEyeDog]

Pragmatically and practically speaking, this indeed appears to be the next generation...

Appearance and aesthetics wise, it does not meet with my approval.

~Dawg

[MadMax]

Anything that defies the spit-&-polished-black-leather-with-shiny-box-buckle convention, and instead satisfies a technical benefit (in this case, more structure and support as @Chris Hickman discloses) … 

I fully endorse. 

[834k3r]

2 hours ago, MadMax said:

Anything that defies the spit-&-polished-black-leather-with-shiny-box-buckle convention, and instead satisfies a technical benefit (in this case, more structure and support as @Chris Hickman discloses) … 

I fully endorse. 

Max, you rebel you.

[The Man in Blue]

I'd love to . . . [checks price tag] . . . 

 

[wolfe_man]

On 2/28/2024 at 9:44 PM, The Man in Blue said:

I'd love to . . . [checks price tag] . . . 

 

Tell me about it brother. I was all excited, then went and looked at the price!  $100? For a belt? 

 

[JSam21]

So it says that it is "Cut to fit"... How does that work for this belt? I have never seen a cut to fit belt that was in this style. 

[wolfe_man]

59 minutes ago, JSam21 said:

So it says that it is "Cut to fit"... How does that work for this belt? I have never seen a cut to fit belt that was in this style. 

I'm going to guess you cut from the buckle end, because the other end is leather and can't be cut for aesthetic reasons. 

I've had a couple of other belts that allow you to remove the buckle, make the cut, then reinsert it into the buckle and clamp it down tight.

[JSam21]

10 minutes ago, wolfe_man said:

I'm going to guess you cut from the buckle end, because the other end is leather and can't be cut for aesthetic reasons. 

I've had a couple of other belts that allow you to remove the buckle, make the cut, then reinsert it into the buckle and clamp it down tight.

I would assume that as well. Just makes me leery of having to spend $100 on a belt, then have to cut it and reattach it. Too many things to go sideways that essentially washes the manufactures hands of responsibility. 

[wolfe_man]

2 minutes ago, JSam21 said:

I would assume that as well. Just makes me leery of having to spend $100 on a belt, then have to cut it and reattach it. Too many things to go sideways that essentially washes the manufactures hands of responsibility. 

Oh, I fully agree. For $100 it should be fitted to you.

[MadMax]

1 hour ago, wolfe_man said:

It better perform miracles and make me an MLB umpire if I'm dropping that kind of cash!

Here’s the sick irony… if that is/was the latest belt used by MLB Umpires, we’d see a swarm of ASSociation PTBs telling/directing/“influencing” their drones (swarm? Bees 🐝? Get it?) to get it, too, as that anything a MLBU wears – or, in twisted logic, doesn’t wear – is going to make you a “better” umpire. 
 

 

@concertman1971, this is your biggest challenge. 
 

1 minute ago, JSam21 said:

Just makes me leery of having to spend $100 on a belt, then have to cut it and reattach it.

Well, JS, it could be your (generally, not you specifically) best motivation to slim’n’trim the ol’ middle! 

“Measure once, cut twice, and still too short”.

[Chris Hickman]

I did find this coupon code to save 20%. The Mizuno belts have been cut to fit for 20 years with no issues… well except the minor leaguer who lost his belt a few years back and had to EJ the manager…





Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Chris Hickman]

You can also use the coupon code

CHRISNEEDTOPAYHISMORTGAGE




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[The Short Umpire]

1 hour ago, Chris Hickman said:

I did find this coupon code to save 20%. The Mizuno belts have been cut to fit for 20 years with no issues… well except the minor leaguer who lost his belt a few years back and had to EJ the manager

 

 

1 hour ago, JSam21 said:

I would assume that as well. Just makes me leery of having to spend $100 on a belt, then have to cut it and reattach it. Too many things to go sideways that essentially washes the manufactures hands of responsibility. 

Not an umpire product but The brand “Mission Belt” from shark tank has been cut to fit since the beginning as well and they seem to be doing just fine… granted their belts are “only” $50 so it’s half the cost of this belt but I don’t think having to size it yourself is that big of an issue.

[The Short Umpire]

1 minute ago, The Short Umpire said:

 

 

Not an umpire product but The brand “Mission Belt” from shark tank has been cut to fit since the beginning as well and they seem to be doing just fine… granted their belts are “only” $50 so it’s half the cost of this belt but I don’t think having to size it yourself is that big of an issue.

However I put that out there knowing I won’t get a core energy belt since I blew my whole gear budget for the next 10 years on a power CP… 🤷‍♂️

[JSam21]

4 hours ago, MadMax said:

Here’s the sick irony… if that is/was the latest belt used by MLB Umpires, we’d see a swarm of ASSociation PTBs telling/directing/“influencing” their drones (swarm? Bees 🐝? Get it?) to get it, too, as that anything a MLBU wears – or, in twisted logic, doesn’t wear – is going to make you a “better” umpire. 
 

 

@concertman1971, this is your biggest challenge. 
 

Well, JS, it could be your (generally, not you specifically) best motivation to slim’n’trim the ol’ middle! 

“Measure once, cut twice, and still too short”.

I'm actually down roughly 105lbs since I got back into umpiring in 2016. From this  to this 

[umpstu]

1 hour ago, JSam21 said:

I'm actually down roughly 105lbs since I got back into umpiring in 2016. From this  to this 

Good job. I haven't lost that much, just 50 or so, but it's pretty nice being able to purchase and wear athletic cut umpire pants. And have gone from an XL shirt to medium, but should actually be wearing a small on bases. Way easier to run around the field now.

[MadMax]

5 hours ago, JSam21 said:

From this  to this 

We’re tremendously proud of you, and you have every reason to be proud of yourself. 

[The Man in Blue]

2 hours ago, MadMax said:

We’re tremendously proud of you, and you have every reason to be proud of yourself. 

Well, mostly.

Something about taking bathroom mirror photos of yourself that contradicts that.  For the sake of all things good, man . . . you have a partner, have them take the picture.  You aren't some dime store floozy on a dating app! 😋  

Seriously, though . . . congrats!  I'm jealous!  What did you do?

[JSam21]

10 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Well, mostly.

Something about taking bathroom mirror photos of yourself that contradicts that.  For the sake of all things good, man . . . you have a partner, have them take the picture.  You aren't some dime store floozy on a dating app! 😋  

Seriously, though . . . congrats!  I'm jealous!  What did you do?

With inflation I am 100% a Quarter Store floozy. As for what I did, being consistent. Log what I eat. Get to the gym. Don't intake so many empty calories (i.e. booze). The biggest thing is, when it is time to enjoy yourself, do so without worrying about it. When it is time to work, work. No matter how much you work out, you will never outwork a fork.

[umpstu]

On 3/1/2024 at 5:07 AM, JSam21 said:

With inflation I am 100% a Quarter Store floozy. As for what I did, being consistent. Log what I eat. Get to the gym. Don't intake so many empty calories (i.e. booze). The biggest thing is, when it is time to enjoy yourself, do so without worrying about it. When it is time to work, work. No matter how much you work out, you will never outwork a fork.

Never thought about logging in what I eat. But it might cause me to buy a smaller belt.

[The Man in Blue]

Ehh . . . think I'm still holding out for one of these:

[Velho]

[Chris Hickman]

Listen guys, all this chatter is nice, but is anybody gonna order the damn belt? I have bills to pay….






Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[concertman1971]

On 2/29/2024 at 6:42 AM, MadMax said:

@concertman1971, this is your biggest challenge.

Working on it......

From the F2 side of the game, they are the "early adopters" and are eager to try new products. On the U1 side of the game, many umpires are on the "late majority" side of the chasm. I am a firm believer that this is why many manufacturers are hesitant to release new products that are costly to develop, are largely unnoticed, and can not have logos showing (think of elbow guards/sliding mitts/batting gloves/etc).

As the younger, more "player-aged" umpires come into the avocation of umpiring, I am confident that there will be a shift towards a "early adopter" or "early majority" who purchase innovative and new products. 

Many of us who have been umpiring for 10/20/30 years have seen little to no change in umpiring tech (yes, there are a few exceptions), so those umpires have a "prove it" mentality.

Just my $0.02