Gerry Davis or Smitty Pants

[Jackrabbitslims]

There is nothing out there that clearly explains the difference between umpire pants. Looking for a pant that is going to last, and keep me cool, or as cools as possible when wearing gear. How does Smitty, Davis Pro, Davis light weight and Davis V2 match up?

[DerekGDS]

Davis Core Lightweight

• Fabric weight is roughly 150 gsm (Lightest)
• 100% polyester (no stretch)
• One Fit: Straight

Davis BFX Pro

• Fabric weight is roughly 176 gsm (Lightweight/Midweight)
• 100% Polyester (Lycra T400 so you get stretch on the horizontal axis)
• One Fit: Straight (not like our other Straight fits, its actually an aggressive straight fit with minimal excess fabric)

Davis 94X V2

• Fabric weight is roughly 254 gsm (Heaviest)
• 100% polyester (no stretch)
• A lot of different fits: Tapered, Straight, Classic

The Core Lightweight would seem to be a good option, and it is a solid pant, but the fabric is woven fairly tight so it is actually less breathable than the BFX Pro. The 94X V2 is heavy, but that fabric isn't woven as tight as the Core Lightweight so for a heavy pant it breaths decently well.

The Core Lightweight admittedly does have a weak point. While we haven't had any reported failures that I can see, it does use a plastic track in the waistband. Overtime this is going to be an area that is most prone to becoming brittle and breaking.

We have another pant being released late spring, that is designed for the hottest and most humid climates but I cannot really comment more than that at this time. It will be the most breathable pant we make, but it also means less structure. It will be harder to hold a crease, if at all which some people may not like.

We know our public information is rather poor, but the team is working on it...

[834k3r]

31 minutes ago, Jackrabbitslims said:

There is nothing out there that clearly explains the difference between umpire pants. Looking for a pant that is going to last, and keep me cool, or as cools as possible when wearing gear. How does Smitty, Davis Pro, Davis light weight and Davis V2 match up?

I haven't worn the Davis BFX Pro pants yet (got them after the season was over), but I'm looking forward to wearing them. I posted my first impressions in this thread here, if it helps any.

[Jackrabbitslims]

BFX NCAA Charcoal....what is that color similar too? Does it match the Smitty Color more closely?

[DerekGDS]

@Jackrabbitslims Yes it's a Smitty dark charcoal color match. The HG for the BFX Pro will match Smitty's "Heather" Grey which is really just a light grey.

That screen shot is from some unreleased changes. It will be very limited stock and I do not have an ETA on availability but it's being produced at the request from some NCAA umps.

[MadMax]

11 hours ago, DerekGDS said:

that is designed for the hottest and most humid climates

The GDS Bayou Bloomers? The GDS Swamp Slacks? 
We know nothing of humidity here in the desert. 🌵 All we ask is that our umpire pants don’t fade… ☀️ … 

… 

… as fast as 1 season. 🥵

[DerekGDS]

We've been experimenting with this a lot. Everything from blends and how we weave yarn, UV stabilizers/additives, dyeing but it all comes with costs. In some cases they are significant and in some cases I'd rather not have CA Prop 65 warnings. We start to get into the price point of performance outdoor gear with some available solutions and I believe that'd be a pretty tough sell.

Nevertheless, I think we made some good progress with our BFX Pro fabric providing the stretch without the Spandex (which is more sensitive to UV rays) and the weave which helps reduce UV penetration but I do believe we can do more. It's just finding the happy medium that won't cause the cost of manufacturing to sky rocket.

[FranklinT]

It is my understanding that the MLB guys are wearing the Smitty poly spandex pants.

I always thought it was odd they don’t have a heavier cold weather option. I know when it’s cold here in the spring or fall I reach for my Honig’s polywools or the Davis Fechheimer polywools 

[DerekGDS]

9 minutes ago, FranklinT said:

It is my understanding that the MLB guys are wearing the Smitty poly spandex pants.

This is accurate.

[FranklinT]

On 10/25/2024 at 1:48 PM, DerekGDS said:

It will be harder to hold a crease, if at all which some people may not like.

 

One of the things that frustrates me about the Smitty poly spandex is this - feels impossible to keep a crease and keep wrinkles out 

[Aqualung]

On 10/25/2024 at 1:48 PM, DerekGDS said:

Davis Core Lightweight

• Fabric weight is roughly 150 gsm (Lightest)
• 100% polyester (no stretch)
• One Fit: Straight

Davis BFX Pro

• Fabric weight is roughly 176 gsm (Lightweight/Midweight)
• 100% Polyester (Lycra T400 so you get stretch on the horizontal axis)
• One Fit: Straight (not like our other Straight fits, its actually an aggressive straight fit with minimal excess fabric)

Davis 94X V2

• Fabric weight is roughly 254 gsm (Heaviest)
• 100% polyester (no stretch)
• A lot of different fits: Tapered, Straight, Classic

The Core Lightweight would seem to be a good option, and it is a solid pant, but the fabric is woven fairly tight so it is actually less breathable than the BFX Pro. The 94X V2 is heavy, but that fabric isn't woven as tight as the Core Lightweight so for a heavy pant it breaths decently well.

The Core Lightweight admittedly does have a weak point. While we haven't had any reported failures that I can see, it does use a plastic track in the waistband. Overtime this is going to be an area that is most prone to becoming brittle and breaking.

We have another pant being released late spring, that is designed for the hottest and most humid climates but I cannot really comment more than that at this time. It will be the most breathable pant we make, but it also means less structure. It will be harder to hold a crease, if at all which some people may not like.

We know our public information is rather poor, but the team is working on it...

Are the new Pros going to have a pleated version? Or is flat front the only option?

[JSam21]

On 10/26/2024 at 11:45 PM, FranklinT said:

One of the things that frustrates me about the Smitty poly spandex is this - feels impossible to keep a crease and keep wrinkles out 

Take them to a tailor and have them put a permanent crease in them. I do this on all of my pants. Also, get pant hangers and hang them from the bottom cuff to help them keep the wrinkles out until it is time to pack or put them in the car.

[DerekGDS]

On 10/27/2024 at 9:07 PM, Aqualung said:

Are the new Pros going to have a pleated version?

They are available in pleated. Looks like those recently came in and are waiting on photography.

[Jackrabbitslims]

On 10/25/2024 at 2:54 PM, DerekGDS said:

@Jackrabbitslims Yes it's a Smitty dark charcoal color match. The HG for the BFX Pro will match Smitty's "Heather" Grey which is really just a light grey.

That screen shot is from some unreleased changes. It will be very limited stock and I do not have an ETA on availability but it's being produced at the request from some NCAA umps.

@DerekGDS will we be able to order the college pants on the website? 

 

[DerekGDS]

It's showing Jan 1 but I highly doubt that. I'm not showing the lab dips/fabric dye swatch approved yet. My answer is I don't know. I'll look into it more and shoot you a PM when I have a realistic range.

[umpstu]

On 10/25/2024 at 10:48 AM, DerekGDS said:

Davis Core Lightweight

• Fabric weight is roughly 150 gsm (Lightest)
• 100% polyester (no stretch)
• One Fit: Straight

Davis BFX Pro

• Fabric weight is roughly 176 gsm (Lightweight/Midweight)
• 100% Polyester (Lycra T400 so you get stretch on the horizontal axis)
• One Fit: Straight (not like our other Straight fits, its actually an aggressive straight fit with minimal excess fabric)

Davis 94X V2

• Fabric weight is roughly 254 gsm (Heaviest)
• 100% polyester (no stretch)
• A lot of different fits: Tapered, Straight, Classic

The Core Lightweight would seem to be a good option, and it is a solid pant, but the fabric is woven fairly tight so it is actually less breathable than the BFX Pro. The 94X V2 is heavy, but that fabric isn't woven as tight as the Core Lightweight so for a heavy pant it breaths decently well.

The Core Lightweight admittedly does have a weak point. While we haven't had any reported failures that I can see, it does use a plastic track in the waistband. Overtime this is going to be an area that is most prone to becoming brittle and breaking.

We have another pant being released late spring, that is designed for the hottest and most humid climates but I cannot really comment more than that at this time. It will be the most breathable pant we make, but it also means less structure. It will be harder to hold a crease, if at all which some people may not like.

We know our public information is rather poor, but the team is working on it...

Were the pants you sent me the ones that won't hold a crease? They are extremely light, but won't hold a crease. My mother in law had a press and she couldn't get them to hold a crease. I ironed them and couldn't get them to hold a crease.

[DerekGDS]

1 hour ago, umpstu said:

Were the pants you sent me the ones that won't hold a crease? They are extremely light, but won't hold a crease. My mother in law had a press and she couldn't get them to hold a crease. I ironed them and couldn't get them to hold a crease.

No, those pants were never sold retail. That fabric is 120 gsm, so what we'd consider ultra-lightweight - they wont hold a crease.

[concertman1971]

1 hour ago, DerekGDS said:

No, those pants were never sold retail. That fabric is 120 gsm, so what we'd consider ultra-lightweight - they wont hold a crease.

But they sure are lightweight and cool!!!

 

[834k3r]

16 hours ago, concertman1971 said:

But they sure are lightweight and cool!!!

 

Oh, realllllly?

[JasonB]

On 10/30/2024 at 1:57 PM, DerekGDS said:

It's showing Jan 1 but I highly doubt that. I'm not showing the lab dips/fabric dye swatch approved yet. My answer is I don't know. I'll look into it more and shoot you a PM when I have a realistic range.

@DerekGDS  Any update on potential release date of the BFX pants NCAA charcoal? Do you think these will be available on the website prior to the start of the season in mid-February?

[DerekGDS]

3 hours ago, JasonB said:

@DerekGDS  Any update on potential release date of the BFX pants NCAA charcoal? Do you think these will be available on the website prior to the start of the season in mid-February?

The update I got last week was late January to mid February. If it ends up being sooner than that I'll post a quick update.

[JasonB]

Great, thanks for the update!!