New Umpire - How does this prospective equipment list look?

[certified blind]

Greetings,

I'm starting at the Little League and Cal Ripken levels. I hope to add high school and AAU at some point in the distant future. With that in mind, I'm hoping to land on a set of equipment that I won't feel the need to upgrade in a year or two. Judging from how much equipment some of you folks have, this might be a fool's errand. I don't mind spending significantly more money if comfort or safety is an issue with my picks below.

With that in mind, here is the current list of equipment I am planning to purchase, all from the Gerry Davis site (any discount codes available?):

Chest Protector: Davis DX Mk2

Skull Cap: All-Star Cobalt

Mask: All-Star S7

Leg Guards: Force3 Ultimate

 

I'll do some more research on ball bags and indicators, but these seem like minor expenses in comparison so I'm not as concerned about making the wrong choice.

Thank you in advance.

[834k3r]

Personally, since you're starting with LL/CR games, I'd drop the skull cap and instead spend a bit more and get the Davis Mirage mask (don't forget the pads and pad socks!).

Don't forget plate shoes--and I think you'll find a near 50/50 split between Mizuno and NB shoes. Seems to me that most people find the 3N2 plate shoes either heavy or having unsatisfactory protection.

Regardless of what you end up getting, welcome to the club!

[wolfe_man]

That's a pretty solid list.   The only change I would consider is moving up from the AS mask to a more solid frame, but only from personal choice.  From a cost standpoint, I'd say that's a great starting point and offers great value for the money. 

Personally, I'd keep the skull cap.  I value it as much as my mask.  It's one more level of protection against concussions. You only have one brain, protect it.

[834k3r]

5 minutes ago, wolfe_man said:

Personally, I'd keep the skull cap.  I value it as much as my mask.  It's one more level of protection against concussions. You only have one brain, protect it.

My only thought was from my own experience with LL. Lighter mask makes all the difference (I started with a F3 Defender mask) and dropping the skully was to try to reduce overall cost.

[certified blind]

I really appreciate the replies.

Two folks suggesting a better mask is enough for me. Sadly, most of the Davis Mirage masks are out of stock on the GDS site, except for the silver frames. I was hoping to find one in all black since I assume that will maintain a clean, professional look for longer. Perhaps I'm wrong about that, however.

[834k3r]

Maybe @DerekGDS could give you an idea of how long the backorder wait will be.

There's also a guy--several of us have used him--that will powdercoat your mask whatever color you want (I had one in carolina blue for a couple of years).

[DerekGDS]

Black frames are expected back in stock around 6/6. Pretty sure the Silver frames are going on sale sometime soon.

[BLWizzRanger]

3 minutes ago, DerekGDS said:

Black frames are expected back in stock around 6/6. Pretty sure the Silver frames are going on sale sometime soon.

If there was ever a picture of throwing raw meat into a pond full of piranhas, stating that the frames are going on sale would be it around here.

[Marcus6]

I love the All Star double bar steel mask still as a cheaper option for new guys.

[MadMax]

34 minutes ago, Marcus6 said:

I love the All Star double bar steel mask still as a cheaper option for new guys.

A FM25 is a good, viable option, certainly! 

If you're simply after "effective value", then another to consider is the Davis Trace. It uses the same planform as the +POS ZRO-G and the "new" renditions of the Icon Titanium. Equip it with a set of Tango Universals, or better yet, Tango2 Cores and your choice of Socks, and you're set. Then, when you want to upgrade to the Mirage, or a bonafide Icon Ti (whether that be from @Whosyourcaddy or one of those +POS models), use the pads, and keep that Trace frame as a spare (or sell it to another new umpire). 

I have found the best "new" mask is the Honig's K4, which became the Gr8Call KX8...

It's excellent because it's a full-depth half-sphere, so it will fit pretty much every brand and model of pads; it has oversized ear guards that are forgiving if a new umpire flinches or turns their head in recoil on a ball in the dirt. It has a short, square Extended Chin Guard (XCG) that can fit just about every model of DTG, and a nice, discreet Extended Crown (B for Button) Guard (XBG).
In fact, it's on clearance sale - https://www.gr8-call.com/collections/masks/products/lightweight-steel-traditional-umpire-mask

[Rock Bottom]

Plenty of MLB umpires are now wearing the All Star S7 over the FM4000 magnesium so for starting out you're in great company. (MLB catchers are using it too.) I wore the S7 for 6 years and it was very good, only thing is I'd recommend upgrading the pads to the magnesium version. Stick with the skullcap too, I find it's much more comfortable than using a regular cap. I do like the Mirage 12 better but you're just starting and it's not like the S7 is some mediocre starter mask.

[orangebird]

Some sort of big duffel bag or other way to store the equipment in your vehicle is also worth exploring, you could just leave all of it laying around loose in the trunk but it feels a bit more organized to have...something 

[Marcus6]

On 5/18/2026 at 1:55 PM, DerekGDS said:

Black frames are expected back in stock around 6/6. Pretty sure the Silver frames are going on sale sometime soon.

Just got the Davis Memorial Day sale email…looks pretty good!

[MadMax]

On 5/18/2026 at 10:14 PM, orangebird said:

Some sort of big duffel bag or other way to store the equipment in your vehicle is also worth exploring,

SOAPBOX TIME! 

Here's the load of drivel from a <ahem> particular website:
Keep your gear organized and easily get to the next field with the Wilson Umpire V2 Wheeled Bag, a massive 36”x15.75”x15.75” bag with separate upper and lower compartments to stash everything exactly where you want it. Durable inline wheels feature rails attached to the wheelhouse for total support when rolling from the car to the field, and a comfort grip cargo handle allows for easy movement. Store game day shoes in the vented compartment and keep your accessories in the mesh compartment, then call a perfect game with the Official Umpire Gear of MLB.

WhyTF is this behemoth 3 feet long??!! That sets off every Oversize Alarm 🚨by baggage handlers worldwide*. You do. not. need. it. Keep in mind, airlines have a 62" linear limit. The Fūl Workhorse (which I use) and Force3 Ultimate both fall within that. By contrast, that Big YelloW slug up there brags about being 36"x15.75"x15.75"!!! That incurs an oversized charge, just on dimensions alone!!

From my road experience of having to wrangle these Walruses, the "rails" that they brag about always f^¢king break, and the thing sags like a cow's prolapsed uterus (yes, I'm a farm kid). The "inline wheels" get chips in them, or the axles break, and you can't f^¢king replace them! Then, the coup-de-grace, the zippers may be oversized and large-toothed, but the zipper pulls break, at the roots, within moments of buying the thing.
Here's the fun part – no one in MLBU uses this gear bag during the season. Know why? Because it doesn't fit in a DHL Travel Crate. DHL standardizes all their travel equipment and "luggage". Items have to fit into a particularly sized, modular wheeled crate, like a roadie case for a band. 
Know what is the preferred gear bag of these traveling Umpires, from MLB to MiLB to Independent Pro to Collegiate? The vaunted, legendary MotherLode at 27" x 14.5" x 5"+ (expansion). That's it. That's your holy grail. The MotherLode was formerly produced by eBags, now by Samsonite. The MotherLode and the Workhorse share two crucial things in common – they both have replaceable "rollerblade" wheels, and they both have molded "tubs" instead of paltry, pathetic spine-"rails". Much, much more durable. 

 

* - And it pi$$es off Road Umpires / Wheel-man / Crew Drivers for leagues-on-tour. 
I swear, I'm going to pitch the next one I have to load/unload into the nearest marsh, or into traffic. 

[The Man in Blue]

Since we are going down the gear bag rabbit hole, I’ll be the brave one to step and say YOU PROBABLY DON’T NEED ONE.

Unless you are working a location with a club house or designated umpire area that you will be using for the entire day or weekend, you don’t need one.

Look at storage components that fit in your vehicle and piece together what works for you.  It might be purchased storage components, stolen milk crates, or a custom built rack system … but make it make sense for you.  Something that keeps your stuff organized, but can be unpacked at home.

[dumbdumb]

On 5/22/2026 at 11:55 PM, MadMax said:

SOAPBOX TIME! 

Here's the load of drivel from a <ahem> particular website:
Keep your gear organized and easily get to the next field with the Wilson Umpire V2 Wheeled Bag, a massive 36”x15.75”x15.75” bag with separate upper and lower compartments to stash everything exactly where you want it. Durable inline wheels feature rails attached to the wheelhouse for total support when rolling from the car to the field, and a comfort grip cargo handle allows for easy movement. Store game day shoes in the vented compartment and keep your accessories in the mesh compartment, then call a perfect game with the Official Umpire Gear of MLB.

WhyTF is this behemoth 3 feet long??!! That sets off every Oversize Alarm 🚨by baggage handlers worldwide*. You do. not. need. it. Keep in mind, airlines have a 62" linear limit. The Fūl Workhorse (which I use) and Force3 Ultimate both fall within that. By contrast, that Big YelloW slug up there brags about being 36"x15.75"x15.75"!!! That incurs an oversized charge, just on dimensions alone!!

From my road experience of having to wrangle these Walruses, the "rails" that they brag about always f^¢king break, and the thing sags like a cow's prolapsed uterus (yes, I'm a farm kid). The "inline wheels" get chips in them, or the axles break, and you can't f^¢king replace them! Then, the coup-de-grace, the zippers may be oversized and large-toothed, but the zipper pulls break, at the roots, within moments of buying the thing.
Here's the fun part – no one in MLBU uses this gear bag during the season. Know why? Because it doesn't fit in a DHL Travel Crate. DHL standardizes all their travel equipment and "luggage". Items have to fit into a particularly sized, modular wheeled crate, like a roadie case for a band. 
Know what is the preferred gear bag of these traveling Umpires, from MLB to MiLB to Independent Pro to Collegiate? The vaunted, legendary MotherLode at 27" x 14.5" x 5"+ (expansion). That's it. That's your holy grail. The MotherLode was formerly produced by eBags, now by Samsonite. The MotherLode and the Workhorse share two crucial things in common – they both have replaceable "rollerblade" wheels, and they both have molded "tubs" instead of paltry, pathetic spine-"rails". Much, much more durable. 

 

* - And it pi$$es off Road Umpires / Wheel-man / Crew Drivers for leagues-on-tour. 
I swear, I'm going to pitch the next one I have to load/unload into the nearest marsh, or into traf

@MadMax

so you mean, the 2nd and 4th pictures below aren't "rocking" the official equipment bag experience?

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/two-freight-carriers-make-sure-mlb-umpires-gear-always-safe-and-arrives-time

[MadMax]

5 hours ago, dumbdumb said:

so you mean, the 2nd and 4th pictures below aren't "rocking" the official equipment bag experience?

Do you see a gear bag? I sure don't.

Those are crate trays, or the crate halves themselves. Those crates are completely modular, and loaded and unloaded by the two freight handling services, and then the cubbies (depending on the franchise) will often unpack and "dress up" the umpires' attire ahead of them getting there. 

[dumbdumb]

40 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Do you see a gear bag? I sure don't.

Those are crate trays, or the crate halves themselves. Those crates are completely modular, and loaded and unloaded by the two freight handling services, and then the cubbies (depending on the franchise) will often unpack and "dress up" the umpires' attire ahead of them getting there. 

don't those black trunks in the pictures (or the background) they put them in rock anymore.