Gerry Davis D3O CP

[grayhawk]

I'm satisfied with the result of heating the pauldrons and shaping them to have more curve to them. Here's a few pics. First one is after my first attempt to shape the pauldron that was somewhat hastily done just using the hairdryer and my hands. This time, I found a strap to hold it much longer and heated and cooled twice. I also did the ailettes. You can see in the closeup with me wearing it that the curve is greater than the D3O has memory of. It's actually much more pronounced than this picture shows.

I'm tempted to use my strap mod like I did on my S7, but will see how it goes for a while as is before taking that step.

[umpstu]

40 minutes ago, grayhawk said:

I'm satisfied with the result of heating the pauldrons and shaping them to have more curve to them. Here's a few pics. First one is after my first attempt to shape the pauldron that was somewhat hastily done just using the hairdryer and my hands. This time, I found a strap to hold it much longer and heated and cooled twice. I also did the ailettes. You can see in the closeup with me wearing it that the curve is greater than the D3O has memory of. It's actually much more pronounced than this picture shows.

I'm tempted to use my strap mod like I did on my S7, but will see how it goes for a while as is before taking that step.

Looks good Steve

[MadMax]

3 hours ago, grayhawk said:

I'm tempted to use my strap mod like I did on my S7, but will see how it goes for a while as is before taking that step.

I don’t think you’ll need to. Because the DX CPs use a 2” static connecting spline from shoulder arch to pauldron, the pauldron doesn’t roll to the back when putting a shirt on. Unlike such CPs as the All-Star CPU4K (S7), or the Wilson WV Platinum, which use parallel elastic splines to connect arch → ailette → pauldron. 

What’s your working impression of the DX Enduro so far? 

[grayhawk]

50 minutes ago, MadMax said:

I don’t think you’ll need to. Because the DX CPs use a 2” static connecting spline from shoulder arch to pauldron, the pauldron doesn’t roll to the back when putting a shirt on. Unlike such CPs as the All-Star CPU4K (S7), or the Wilson WV Platinum, which use parallel elastic splines to connect arch → ailette → pauldron. 

What’s your working impression of the DX Enduro so far? 

It's very well made, and you can tell the D3O will disperse energy. It's unlike any other foam on the market. The hard shell is good, but it doesn't cover as well as the S7. The S7 overlaps the plates where it counts most, especially near the collar bone. It's very low profile, especially in the chest area. It light, but still substantial. It's a bit more difficult to put on compared to my S7 because the G-hooks stay tucked in the loops, so it's a bit like putting on a shirt. Maybe it would be good to pull one of the G-hooks out of the loop so it's easier. The bottom straps do get twisted, and the foam that wraps around the waist must be pulled back when you engage the G-hooks. The stock harness is good, so no reason to go aftermarket there, though I do love the UmpLife harness which is what I had on my S7.

Overall, this is a CP for high level baseball, and I have full confidence that it will protect me where I need it. I still believe the S7 is the most protective CP ever made, though it's very bulky in its original form. My mods made it much more low profile without sacrificing much protection. I plan to wear the Enduro all off season, including 2 plates at the Area Code Games coming up next week. That showcase features many pitchers throwing mid-90s, if not faster. The problem is that they're throwing to catchers that have never caught them so it can be a smoke fest.

[cgroom]

Looking back over the summer, I worked thirty plate games with the D3O across two professional leagues and one collegiate wooden bat league.

I took two shots directly to the chest and five to the right shoulder/clavicle area. I feel like the protection is solid and I never had any loss of confidence. 

In my opinion, the low profile appearance is its best feature. Every game from this summer was streamed with a solid center field camera view and the look is so solid. Gone are the days of looking like the lead blocker on a sweep play in Southwest Conference. 

For the last 20+ years umpires have been buying the West Vest if they could afford it. I honestly don't know how you'd pick a Wilson chest protector if you knew about the D30. Godspeed, @DerekGDS. I hope you're able to get the word out.

[GoAn42]

I'm currently at Wendelstedt Umpire School and @DerekGDS is here with demo equipment for us students to try out, naturally also including the DX Enduro D3O. I'm speaking mainly for me personally (currently an All Star Cobalt user), but I've heard pretty much the same from everyone else who tried out the D3O so far. I am super impressed by it. I almost forgot that I'm wearing it, because it's so light and it fits just perfect. I almost didn't want to give it back 😅

I am seriously considering buying it, despite still being quite happy with my Cobalt (well, except the fit around my shoulders) and it still being in great shape.

 

[The Man in Blue]

Selling your Cobalt could fund half of the upgrade.  Just saying.

I haven't tried the Davis line (yet), but the D3O rocks in the Schutt HDX.

Good to hear from somebody at Wendelstadt for their final season.  Hopefully all is going well for you @GoAn42!

I was disappointed my son decided to not go back, but with all the uncertainty of what comes next, he didn't want to sink in a second year of paying for it.

[834k3r]

16 hours ago, GoAn42 said:

I'm currently at Wendelstedt Umpire School and @DerekGDS is here with demo equipment for us students to try out, naturally also including the DX Enduro D3O. I'm speaking mainly for me personally (currently an All Star Cobalt user), but I've heard pretty much the same from everyone else who tried out the D3O so far. I am super impressed by it. I almost forgot that I'm wearing it, because it's so light and it fits just perfect. I almost didn't want to give it back 😅

I am seriously considering buying it, despite still being quite happy with my Cobalt (well, except the fit around my shoulders) and it still being in great shape.

 

I love(d) my Cobalt--but my Enduro is my gamer now. Cobalt's been relegated to my backup (only because I'm too lazy to take off the decals).

[MadMax]

2 hours ago, 834k3r said:

Cobalt's been relegated to my backup (only because I'm too lazy to take off the decals).

Now that it's your backup, does it make a chiming sound? Got mirrors on it?

[DerekGDS]

If anyone is interested in picking up this limited edition version of the Enduro please let me know. I have very limited availability already and it will go public on Wednesday so if I can help anyone who is really interested before then please shoot me a PM or email.

[concertman1971]

2 hours ago, DerekGDS said:

If anyone is interested in picking up this limited edition version of the Enduro please let me know. I have very limited availability already and it will go public on Wednesday so if I can help anyone who is really interested before then please shoot me a PM or email.

Can confirm these are beautiful...............................

 

[TheLovejoy]

👀
I gots new toys.

[834k3r]

Quote

2026 Equipment:
Everything that Davis makes 🤦‍♂️...I'm serious. It might be a problem.

[TheLovejoy]

1 hour ago, 834k3r said:

The first step....you know...

[Go Navy Beat Army]

@TheLovejoy I fully understand. Maybe we can start a support group. I'm just glad that @DerekGDS is slow walking the shin guards with D30 to market. I'm getting another season out of my Force 3's until he stops playing with our emotions....I think it only fair that they make/market a patch for the front of our masks. Why should the Big Yellow W have all the fun?

[The Man in Blue]

Honestly, the D-home plate logo is much sexier than the upside-down fast food restaurant, too.

[Marcus6]

2 hours ago, Go Navy Beat Army said:

@TheLovejoy I fully understand. Maybe we can start a support group. I'm just glad that @DerekGDS is slow walking the shin guards with D30 to market. I'm getting another season out of my Force 3's until he stops playing with our emotions....I think it only fair that they make/market a patch for the front of our masks. Why should the Big Yellow W have all the fun?

The business side of this fascinates me because it’s clear to me at least that Derek and the Davis crew are spending a lot of money on R&D to produce better products across the board.

[TheLovejoy]

2 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Honestly, the D-home plate logo is much sexier than the upside-down fast food restaurant, too.

So....I purchased the 'Universal Davis' pads, because they come with a patch. The other pads (the Cloud4's which I purchased for my two Davis Mirages), don't come with the patch. I took the patch off of the Universal, and put it on my current setup. It's that sexy. 

[834k3r]

On 3/4/2026 at 7:29 PM, The Man in Blue said:

Honestly, the D-home plate logo is much sexier than the upside-down fast food restaurant, too.

How is @MadMax not all over this post?

[wolfe_man]

...

[MadMax]

On 3/4/2026 at 11:58 PM, TheLovejoy said:

So....I purchased the 'Universal Davis' pads, because they come with a patch. The other pads (the Cloud4's which I purchased for my two Davis Mirages), don't come with the patch.

Because the intended market, by and large, is still ensconced with… arcane, pedantic, borderline desperate branding obligations, we felt it best to not include a hard-&-fast logo on the pad socks. We’re pretty certain that conference coordinators love seeing marques and logos of their influence on at least 1/3rd the most valuable real estate on an umpire’s attire and gear. 

Thanks for going to that effort. 

[The Man in Blue]

13 hours ago, MadMax said:

Because the intended market, by and large, is still ensconced with… arcane, pedantic, borderline desperate branding obligations,

 

Just got home from a local clinic who brought in a vendor to sell us the latest top of the line* gear from . . . 

Champro and Smitty.

 

(*Meaning the stuff that he bought at a clearance warehouse sale.)

 

 

[Marcus6]

19 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

 

Just got home from a local clinic who brought in a vendor to sell us the latest top of the line* gear from . . . 

Champro and Smitty.

 

(*Meaning the stuff that he bought at a clearance warehouse sale.)

 

 

Garbage!

[The Man in Blue]

9 hours ago, Marcus6 said:

Garbage!

Yep, and the gear that was being sold there wasn't much better.  😋

(I've said before, I try not to go to our local clinics.  Twice the price of anywhere else and our local clinicians are "Sit and shut up so I can read these slides for four hours" guys.)

That was my required softball clinic.  I'll be in Chicago this weekend for a conference, so I am going to a baseball clinic up there.

[GoAn42]

On 1/28/2026 at 12:24 AM, GoAn42 said:

I am seriously considering buying it, despite still being quite happy with my Cobalt (well, except the fit around my shoulders) and it still being in great shape.

 

Well, I couldn't resist. I ordered it yesterday 😅 can't wait for it to arrive and try it out in actual games. The Cobalt willstay as a backup though.