SeeingEyeDog Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 Greetings brothers, Well, I have found the Douglas chest protector to be so nice...I ordered it twice. My DIY plate coat came back from the tailor today (thank you again to @MadMax for the tips!) and when I tried it on with the CP for final fitting, I realized that all of the commie pinko stickers I put on the outside of my Douglas CP which are normally hidden under a uniform shirt or jacket are now visible when wearing a plate coat. So, we can't have that now can we? The only way to "solve" that "problem" would be to order a brand new chest protector...right? 😎 Mrs. Dawg: Hon, what's this $385 charge to Douglas Pads? Me (demurring...): Oh that...yeah, yeah...that's a new chest protector. Mrs. Dawg (confused...): Don't you have a chest protector? Me (fumbling...): So, my plate coat came in and there's these commie pinko stickers and...wow! Would you look at the gutters...lemme get right on those... Mrs. Dawg: Uh huh... So, our good friend Jeff Cook at Douglas is building me a 15" CP with gap protection and this time I optioned for T-hooks instead of their standard side release buckles. The first one I bought 2 years ago has side buckles and I have come to understand that the T-Hooks mod while more expensive is the optimum setup. The gap protection is a non-negotiable unless you were only wearing this to work 12U down...maybe. So FYI, here then is their current pricing: 15" base CP $289.99 Gap protection $30 T-hooks $25 Shipping $24 Tax $16.60 TOTAL $385.60 (not the cheapest CP ever made, just the best choice for me...) SHAMELESS PLUG: If you'd like all the fine folks at Douglas to build you your new CP, please contact Jeff "Cookie" Cook directly at jeffcook@douglaspads.com or 713-697-9787. ~Dawg 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMax Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 7 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said: The first one I bought 2 years ago has side buckles and I have come to understand that the T-Hooks mod while more expensive is the optimum setup. If I might interject… I have discovered, and since implemented, the best CP fastener, hands down. Unlike T-hooks, which are steel, these are aluminum, so they don’t corrode. There are no sharp edges, and nothing protruding upon which your ( 🤬 stupidly more expensive) umpire shirt (or plate coat!) won’t snag or get a hole gouged thru it when hit by a marauding ball. They’re not plastic, either, unlike the breakable side-release buckle. They utilize the same rigging (webbing loop) as the side release buckle, and I dare say, I would break any stock-standard side release buckle off, and replace it with this right from the get-go. Annnnnnd, they’re a heckuva lot cheaper than SR buckles and T-hooks! It’s a G-hook. (Ugh! I gotta compress all these photos I have! I’ll include them later.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeingEyeDog Posted October 19 Author Report Share Posted October 19 Thanks once again, @MadMax...this is what Google says is a G-Hook. Is this the right thing? Does the female end in the CP need modifying to accept a G-Hook? Do you recommend a 3/4" or 1" size hook? ~Dawg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyinr Posted October 19 Report Share Posted October 19 For $385 I might have undecorated my existing rig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeingEyeDog Posted October 20 Author Report Share Posted October 20 8 hours ago, boyinr said: For $385 I might have undecorated my existing rig. Yeah...not good...it's $100 more than my first one purchased 2 years ago. But, this is the last CP I should ever need...famous last words... ~Dawg 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMax Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 On 10/18/2024 at 9:42 PM, SeeingEyeDog said: Thanks once again, @MadMax...this is what Google says is a G-Hook. Is this the right thing? Well yeah, but not quite. I used contoured, aluminum G-hooks that I found on Amazon (see link below). You want to use the metric equivalent of 1.5". I had been using T-hooks on my original Schutt MaXV, until I finally exchanged the main chest plate (and corresponding lower rib plate) from a brand-new (Adams) XV that @The Short Umpire supplied me (he kept the shoulders and TPU-EVA foam jacket). This new XV used SR buckles, but placed further back on the trailing edge of the flank (by the kidneys?). Ya just can't get them tight enough, and they're a PITA to contort and buckle. All-Star had the right idea on placing them much more up front, but of course, they're more prone to being impacted and breaking (as you all have been pointing out). Well, I had to try it, so I modified my MaXV and mounted two loops of 1.5" seatbelt webbing to hold the female (block) part of the SR buckle. I was doing alright with them, and had achieved the fit I wanted... but I did break two of these buckles on impacts. Ya just didn't see me post about it. 😁 Sure, I had to replace buckles, but at least I didn't bruise or cut shirts because of the T-hooks. So when these G-hooks started to show up on Amazon in variety, I took a leap... Removed the old SR buckle. Chicago Screws are the key, here. Now, if you have an existing SR buckle, then just kill it (break the plastic), and leave the webbing loop. In my case, I just had to reinsert and refasten the Chicago Screw. This is the little magic gem. Aluminum – DOES NOT corrode, DOES NOT bend or break (unless extreme circumstances), DOES NOT cut or hole your very expensive shirts. Re-rig it as you did the male (fork) part of the SR buckle. I placed it in the exact same spot that it was on the webbing strap. In my case, I have a lot of surplus strap, because I often loan my CP out, or pass my harnesses off to other umpires. As such, I use a prodigious amount of tri-glide ladderlocs to secure the excess straps. Tape gets messy. However, I've found that the contour of the G-hook not only results in a low profile, but it bites the strap more securely. See? It just hooks perfectly. Check out the profile... The finished product: I'm on the verge of buying 1" and 3/4" G-hooks, and redoing all the used shinguards I have (for sale... I only use Force3 Ultimates myself), that's how much I endorse these guys, and how much I despise those rusty, squeaky steel ring-and-clips that always come apart on ya. @The Man in Blue, I think this is the way you could/should go to replace that damaged SR buckle on your shinguards. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man in Blue Posted October 25 Report Share Posted October 25 5 hours ago, MadMax said: @The Man in Blue, I think this is the way you could/should go to replace that damaged SR buckle on your shinguards. If I had to do it myself, I LOVE this G-hook! I am not a fan of "moving pieces" in safety equipment. As a catcher, I always hated the hook and D-rings. (FWIW, F3 responded fairly quickly and said there was an error or a glitch when my return was processed. They shipped them out the next day. I have the new box sitting here unopened since I had hung up my gear for the season by that time.) I really need to get with you, @MadMax, on modifying my Schutt. I've reverted back to it and I think that is where I will likely stay. I like my Cobalt but I don't love it (not sure why -- the fit is great, it handles the heat fairly well ... I guess it just still feels a bit thick). I pawned off my F3 after just a few uses. The original DaviShield donated its body to science . . . I need to dial this Schutt in. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekGDS Posted October 25 Report Share Posted October 25 49 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said: The original DaviShield donated its body to science It’s being put to good use! 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
834k3r Posted October 25 Report Share Posted October 25 17 hours ago, MadMax said: I'm on the verge of buying 1" and 3/4" G-hooks, and redoing all the used shinguards I have (for sale... I only use Force3 Ultimates myself), that's how much I endorse these guys, and how much I despise those rusty, squeaky steel ring-and-clips that always come apart on ya. I don't mind my stock Cobalt buckles, but I think I'm going to go the G-Hook route... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranklinT Posted October 26 Report Share Posted October 26 Isn’t the Douglas CP $230 retail? Why do you have it as “starting” at $289? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekGDS Posted October 26 Report Share Posted October 26 I don't know if Douglas has an established MSRP honestly. We sell it for $230 but we only do that because we don't stock it. To me, $290 would make reasonable sense knowing the wholesale pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeingEyeDog Posted October 27 Author Report Share Posted October 27 4 hours ago, FranklinT said: Isn’t the Douglas CP $230 retail? Why do you have it as “starting” at $289? Mine is a 15"...the larger size is more expensive... ~Dawg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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