Thatsnotyou Posted January 4 Report Posted January 4 Does anyone use one on the field? Considering getting one for the bases when it’s 38 and windy in the Midwest for half the spring. Quote
834k3r Posted January 4 Report Posted January 4 I hadn’t thought about it for bases…might be a good idea (I live less than two hours’ drive from the Canadian border). 1 Quote
Replacematt Posted January 4 Report Posted January 4 If it works, it works. You'd be the first I know of to use it (and I'm in a very likely place where it would be used.) I can say that there would be no issue with using it at the college level as long as it didn't hinder your game, so no one else should have a problem with it, either. 1 Quote
AL-Ump Posted January 4 Report Posted January 4 A couple guys here use them. Not the frozen tundra but Alabama boys don't like it when it gets even a little chilly. 2 Quote
The Man in Blue Posted January 5 Report Posted January 5 I still retell the story of umpiring outside of New Orleans when it dropped to the 60s one night. The umpires and fans were all bundled up with everything they owned -- literally parkas, scarves, stocking caps, hoodies, blankets, and gloves -- and I was wearing short sleeves. More than once I heard, "You aren't from here, are you?" My son actually bought a heated vest to use this upcoming spring. Don't know yet though. I could see wearing it on the bases under my jacket. No way I would attempt it on the plate. 2 Quote
Thatsnotyou Posted January 5 Author Report Posted January 5 I got the idea from a few coaches last year. I’d be like aren’t you cold with only that pull over jacket? And they would tell me about their heated vest underneath and swear by it. It wouldn’t interfere with umpire duties and you wouldn’t see it underneath a top jacket anyway. Why freeze on the bases for two+ hours (always feels 20 degrees colder out there) when it’s one of those wind howling days? If anyone has specific brands, features they prefer, I’m all ears. 2 Quote
MadMax Posted January 5 Report Posted January 5 19 hours ago, AL-Ump said: Not the frozen tundra but Alabama boys don't like it when it gets even a little chilly. … and boy, do they ever let ya know it! 21 hours ago, Replacematt said: as long as it didn't hinder your game, “Why is my partner (umpire) continuously trying to hug me between every inning?” On 1/4/2025 at 11:43 AM, 834k3r said: (I live less than two hours’ drive from the Canadian border). … annnnd this matters, how? 🥶 Wait, does that mean you’re measuring stuff in Celsius and Commi-metrics? 11 hours ago, Thatsnotyou said: If anyone has specific brands, features they prefer, I’m all ears. I’m a Milwaukee Tools fanatic, and I have the M12 battery-heated jackets. Just this year, Milwaukee updated their batteries and heating elements for their clothing line into a technology they call Hexon. The batteries are now flatter, looking like small flapjacks (or fat CD’s) and are direct-to-USB•C rechargeable (no separate charger). Milwaukee Heated Gear 3 1 Quote
The Man in Blue Posted January 5 Report Posted January 5 Looking at those Milwaukees, Max . . . When it gets that cold around here, just about everybody is willing to overlook uniform requirements in lieu of personal safety. (At which point I ask, why are we playing then?) Given that the jacket has pocket warmers (vest appears not to), I am curious if anybody here would take serious objection to wearing the all black jacket? Quote
humanbackstop19 Posted January 5 Report Posted January 5 Absolutely have one, use it, and recommend it. I grabbed a TIDEWE brand, black, low profile model on Amazon that fits under my thermal coat. I used it last spring on sub-40 days with some breeze. It's a permanent accessory in my bag from now on during the spring season. 2 Quote
MadMax Posted January 6 Report Posted January 6 20 hours ago, The Man in Blue said: When it gets that cold around here, just about everybody is willing to overlook uniform requirements in lieu of personal safety. (At which point I ask, why are we playing then?) Given that the jacket has pocket warmers (vest appears not to), I am curious if anybody here would take serious objection to wearing the all black jacket? Ya know, what really is the problem with pockets on an “umpire” jacket? Any critic who professes that their presence alone is “a bad look” is just flinging flippant poo 💩. I’ve seen plenty of umpires, kitted out impeccably, stand out at B (or C), with arms crossed, completely disengaged with the game, or worse, just seething contempt for the rest of the participants. Really, is stuffing one’s hands into (any!) pockets so as to stave off frostbite on par with this attitude?? Not even close. So, back in 2019, we western collegiate umpires were directed to buy 2 jackets – one a black w/ grey shoulders “wind shirt”, and the second a grey-torso’d golf ⛳️ jacket with black shoulders & sleeves. Both jackets had pockets. That’s awfully overbearing to direct us to buy jackets – with pockets – and then demerit us for using them! For all my frigid non-NCAA or 2-man work, I myself use a Majestic -brand ThermaBase jacket. It’s awesome! It’s black, with grey shoulders. Complete complement to the panel-side umpire shirt. I got it for… $12!!! 🤑 And!… it’s got pockets!! Why’s that? … because it’s a coach’s jacket!!! 😎 2 Quote
Richvee Posted January 6 Report Posted January 6 11 minutes ago, MadMax said: Ya know, what really is the problem with pockets on an “umpire” jacket? Any critic who professes that their presence alone is “a bad look” is just flinging flippant poo 💩. I’ve seen plenty of umpires, kitted out impeccably, stand out at B (or C), with arms crossed, completely disengaged with the game, or worse, just seething contempt for the rest of the participants. Really, is stuffing one’s hands into (any!) pockets so as to stave off frostbite on par with this attitude?? Not even close. So, back in 2019, we western collegiate umpires were directed to buy 2 jackets – one a black w/ grey shoulders “wind shirt”, and the second a grey-torso’d gold jacket with black shoulders & sleeves. Both jackets had pockets. That’s awfully overbearing to direct us to buy jackets – with pockets – and then demerit us for using them! For all my frigid non-NCAA or 2-man work, I myself use a Majestic -brand ThermaBase jacket. It’s awesome! It’s black, with grey shoulders. Complete complement to the panel-side umpire shirt. I got it for… $12!!! 🤑 And!… it’s got pockets!! Why’s that? … because it’s a coach’s jacket!!! 😎 It’s a great jacket. It’s our college group’s go to jacket👍 1 Quote
Rock Bottom Posted January 6 Report Posted January 6 I wear a thin down jacket under my pullover ump jacket on those cool nights - on the really cold night I put a thicker down jacket underneath - Stay-Puf like, but who cares, I'm warm. It was a game changer for me - before I started adding the down layer I was frozen no matter how many layers I seemed to add. 1 Quote
MadMax Posted January 6 Report Posted January 6 Please allow me to clarify, @Richvee… this isn’t the beloved grey-shouldered ThermaBase umpires jacket, which Majestic first produced, Smitty copied, and I was gifted by a MiLBU. I love that one – it still has its MLB patch on it. This is the one I got from EpicSports for $12… Just swap orange for charcoal. Poofy just like @Rock Bottom likes ‘em. Absolute steal. 1 1 Quote
834k3r Posted January 6 Report Posted January 6 21 hours ago, MadMax said: … annnnd this matters, how? 🥶 Wait, does that mean you’re measuring stuff in Celsius and Commi-metrics? Geographical context, @MadMax. It's not uncommon for the first week or two of the HS season to have lots of canceled games because snow is still on the field. Quote
DerekGDS Posted January 6 Report Posted January 6 6 hours ago, 834k3r said: It's not uncommon for the first week or two of the HS season to have lots of canceled games because snow is still on the field. Don't tempt me to make a real jacket for you Idaho folks. 3 1 Quote
834k3r Posted January 6 Report Posted January 6 15 minutes ago, DerekGDS said: Don't tempt me to make a real jacket for you Idaho folks. 😢 Quote
The Man in Blue Posted January 6 Report Posted January 6 Rated for 30 degrees in Illinois, -20 degrees in Idaho, and 50 degrees in Alabama. 5 Quote
wwsodeputy Posted January 7 Report Posted January 7 I ordered a heated vest off of Amazon in March of 2024. I used it on the bases for my high school and college games and I cannot say enough good things about it! I probably should have ordered a size smaller than I did. I wore it under my coat and my core never got cold. I added the link to Amazon if anyone wants to look at it, however, Amazon says it is currently unavailable. https://a.co/d/eNJxpqf 1 Quote
834k3r Posted January 7 Report Posted January 7 17 hours ago, The Man in Blue said: Rated for 30 degrees in Illinois, -20 degrees in Idaho, and 50 degrees in Alabama. Well played. 1 Quote
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