Getting back into it, but the products have changed so much

[sjd215]

Hi, all, 

After a three-year hiatus, I've decided to again hit the field. I'm stoked! Unfortunately, I let go of most of my gear, and there's so much product out there nowadays, that I'm not sure where to start (besides the mask and plate shoes I'm after). The gear/attire has changed much in the last few years, so any recs would be appreciated. If this is duplicative of other threads, please flag for deletion. 

• Pants: It seems like there have been multiple evolutions on this alone. I even saw that Mizuno has both plate and base pants out. Ideally, the type I'd get would last long, even if the price tags of these are a little higher. Before hanging it all up, I was wearing Honig's polywools for the most part, and I'd occasionally wear GD's poly-spandex. Any recs ?
• CPs: Speaking of GD, I saw that they rolled out two new ones: the DX Mk2 and the D Enduro. They're both very Power-adjacent, and so, they're catching my eye. I used to have the Cobalt nd Douglas and thought these were okay. Should I go back to one of these or try one of the new rigs? 
• Shins: I was a Douglas-shins loyalist. Sure, they might have been a bit squeaky, but they got the job done. Has anything recent supplanted the Douglas? 

P.S. I used to fly under Sd181612, but I lost access to that account a few years back. So I profusely apologize if I never reached your message in my inbox. 

 

Thank you, all, 

SJD. 

[Jonump]

3rd year here and when starting tried a bunch of different stuff and stocked up on the various new gear you talked about. So my beginning covers your gap. Don't have the context of the older stuff for the most part but maybe the "starting from scratch" perspective is helpful. I hope so. I had the budget to choose among the gear, so leaving that out as a factor. Varsity/mens leagues on down in ages.

1)pants GD feel a little heavier than the Smitty Polypro V2 (?) but both wear pretty light. Slight edge on smitty for the heat, slight edge to GD for the non-wrinkle capacity. Like em both, good sales often.

2) Went from the Wilson WV which seemed to be the standard mass market high end one for 2 seasons to the GD enduro. Much better fit, comfort breathability and I don't feel like I've lost any protection. Love it.

3) Again went with Wilson after using diamond and found them the most protective. Then went to Force 3 for sooo much lighter, lower profile and more comfortable feel with the same level of bullet proof protection. I've forgotten they are on sometimes. They seem to be the most well liked among the various options among a broad spectrum of umpires

Feels like in general its a true statement that light tech (foam, magnesium, kevlar etc) has been able to supplant bulk in the last bunch of years.

[DerekGDS]

15 hours ago, Jonump said:

pants GD feel a little heavier than the Smitty Polypro V2 (?) but both wear pretty light. Slight edge on smitty for the heat, slight edge to GD for the non-wrinkle capacity. Like em both, good sales often.

We actually have three different pant series now. The 94X is what most people reference as it is our oldest line and does use a heavier fabric. Our two newer lines, are both lighter. 

The Core Lightweight will probably overtake the 94X in popularity next year and is about 30% lighter then the 94X and slightly lighter then the Smitty Poly/Spandex line. This line doesn't use Spandex in the primary fabric like the rest of our line, but does have a Lycra crotch gusset for good flex in the right spots.

The BFX Pro has been discussed here before and that is the most expensive pant in our line up, again newer models have the Lycra crotch gusset, its weight is between the 94X and Core Lightweight and has the best colorfastness to UV exposure.

The 94X and BFX Pro are both getting refreshes in terms of cuts, features, etc. for 2027 as well.

[Marcus6]

1 hour ago, DerekGDS said:

The 94X and BFX Pro are both getting refreshes in terms of cuts, features, etc. for 2027 as well.

Really really like the BFX Pro (have the base pants) in terms of material, stretch, and color but think they are cut too thin and skinny. Just my $.02.

[DerekGDS]

20 hours ago, Marcus6 said:

Really really like the BFX Pro (have the base pants) in terms of material, stretch, and color but think they are cut too thin and skinny.

It’s pretty love or hate fit. Not for everyone, but a regular fit is coming.

[Marcus6]

2 hours ago, DerekGDS said:

It’s pretty love or hate fit. Not for everyone, but a regular fit is coming.

[cgroom]

On 7/2/2026 at 12:59 PM, sjd215 said:

Shins: I was a Douglas-shins loyalist

The Force 3 shin guards seem to be the default that I see in my crews. I've had them for the last two seasons and they're pretty solid. It does feel like this is the next area to see some innovation if a new product can maintain the protection, reduce the profile and likelihood that your pants will catch above the knee. I'm betting on the market will figure that out before I need to purchase my next set.

On 7/2/2026 at 12:59 PM, sjd215 said:

Speaking of GD, I saw that they rolled out two new ones

Run, don't walk.  You won't regret it.

On 7/2/2026 at 12:59 PM, sjd215 said:

Pants: It seems like there have been multiple evolutions on this alone

This is the only area where I wish I had a brick and mortar store to shop in. I'm confused by all of the available options. The Smitty pants are being bought by most folks and its not because they're the best.

[grayhawk]

I have the Davis straight fit, flat front base pants and the tag inside says "Pro-7131" so not sure which version I have. I like them overall, but the fabric on the inside kind of sticks to my Stance MLB socks. I also don't like the expander waistband, but I don't like those on any pants.

[MadMax]

On 7/2/2026 at 11:59 AM, sjd215 said:

I used to fly under Sd181612

Well, welcome back Kotter!

On 7/2/2026 at 11:59 AM, sjd215 said:

I've decided to again hit the field. I'm stoked! Unfortunately, I let go of most of my gear, and there's so much product out there nowadays

Hey! Our buddy @wolfe_man can relate! 

On 7/2/2026 at 11:59 AM, sjd215 said:

besides the mask

Whichever mask you're after, might I recommend investing in a set of "our" Davis Cores-&-Socks pads? 

On 7/2/2026 at 11:59 AM, sjd215 said:

Shins: I was a Douglas-shins loyalist. Sure, they might have been a bit squeaky, but they got the job done. Has anything recent supplanted the Douglas?

 

On 7/3/2026 at 5:17 AM, Jonump said:

(I) Then went to Force3 for sooo much lighter, lower profile and more comfortable feel with the same level of bullet proof protection. I've forgotten they are on sometimes.

From a technical standpoint, the Force3 Ultimates are demonstrably better than the Douglas PDS's, simply because Force3 employs a Kevlar-skinned EVA (closed cell) foam, while Douglas (stubbornly) uses Qualux upholstery foam. The two are virtually equitable in their hard shell designs, but the Douglas has a better ankle buttress and an additional thigh (above the knee) plate. Metal clips & rings are barbaric and arcane (Douglas), but plastic side-release buckles (Force3) aren't perfect, despite being quieter and corrosion-free. 
Both the Douglas and Force3s keep their shape much, much better than any of the Wilson units, which suffer not only from the use of cheap open-cell upholstery foam, but also from weakly-molded ABS, which has this stupid habit of flattening out. 
With that said, Douglas shins are highly valued by the pro and amateur umpires that own them. 

Davis is working on several new models. 

On 7/2/2026 at 11:59 AM, sjd215 said:

Speaking of GD, I saw that they rolled out two new ones: the DX Mk2 and the D Enduro. They're both very Power-adjacent, and so, they're catching my eye. I used to have the Cobalt nd Douglas and thought these were okay.

Please understand... it's not just "two new ones" – it's an entire new family of chest protectors, all sharing the same DNA, just configured in different ways for different contexts. All DX units consist of shaped and contoured HDPE plates, which are thinner, lighter, just as durable as ABS, and hold their shape better. The DX units join the +POS Cobra and All-Star Cobalt in this. They all feature a very effective flex-style harness, and their fastening hardware is the enigmatic G-hook. 
The key component, though, that sets the DX family apart from the rest of the market is the pad vest. Instead of using open-cell upholstery foam (Wilson, Douglas, etc.), Davis combines EVA (closed-cell) foam and a now-named crosslink mesomorphic (meaning, it changes shape and thickness in accordance to pressure or impact energy) foam called Covalta. In the DX family, Covalta is employed on the Mk2 and the Kuta. The Enduro received D3O AeroMax, which is a unique, advanced foam that remains pliant and flexible, like silly putty, until struck with an impact energy, wherein it stiffens like plywood. This characteristic allows these foams to occupy a volume one-third that of open-cell foam (the upholstery foam Wilson uses). Then, the decisive characteristic is that both Covalta and D3O are hydrophobic, shedding water / moisture near-instantly. 

The vaunted Riddell Power never had it so good. Granted, it was the quintessential CP, and achieved legendary status, primarily because it: A) fit really well, B) was rare (a limited quantity were made before Wilson slapped the C&D Injunction on it), and C) was thinner than the Wilson units, despite using open-cell upholstery foam. Again, granted, it was all they had in the 80s and 90s... but that's even more indicting and damning for Wilson, because they haven't updated or modernized their CPs in 30 years, yet still charge us premium prices for them!!!

In defense of the All-Star Cobalt, it's a very good CP; in my professional-technical opinion, it's the best rival to the Davis DX family. However, there are features on the Cobalt that are, frankly, downright maddening (SRBs and their placement, extension, ailettes, etc.) that Davis learned to address and remedy. By contrast, the Force3 UnEqual designed and progressed itself into a "design cul-de-sac" (ie. dead end) that it can't extricate out of without starting all over. It's good, and does what it's supposed to and billed to be (ie. lower profile than the Wilson Gold), but its performance shortcomings don't warrant the premium cost. 

On 7/5/2026 at 8:58 AM, cgroom said:

The Smitty pants are being bought by most folks and its not because they're the best.

They're being bought because of supply saturation and pervasiveness. Smitty uniform pieces (shirts, jackets, pants) are everywhere. And, every association head / assigner / coordinator who directs or influences his charges to purchase these pieces gets two things very valuable to him: A) a cut of dividends (a kickback), and B) all* of his umpires compliant to his expectations of "uniform code". 

Smitty pants ain't perfect. Far from. How do I know this? Because many of the colleagues I encounter are pursuing SSKs. Yes, it's that similar "novelty" factor that fuels the Riddell Power's aura, but that's gotta be some aura – or some significant shortcomings on those Smittys – to drive these umpires to seek out and purchase pants that are easily $100+ per unit, and that's not even factoring in tariffs, shipping, and importation! 

22 hours ago, grayhawk said:

I have the Davis straight fit, flat front base pants and the tag inside says "Pro-7131" so not sure which version I have.

I have the same ones – Pro7131s. Expander waist band, belt tunnel in the back (instead of 2-3 loops), flat fronts... but skinny. Slim. Built for the twentysomething that I certainly am not any longer (but try desperately to cling to).

I also have the Davis DCP711s (Base) and DCP721s (Plate). Flat front, super thin, static waistband. The plate pants have not only a saddle-stitched reinforced seat, but reinforced knees that reduce the hang-ups on shinguards. The leg cut, though again, is Slim. Makes ya kinda conscious of being 50 and trying to look like you belong amongst college athletes. 
So! Like 'em, and they're better than my ol' Smittys, but I'm taking them down to Phoenix to work this Fall and leaving them in my gear cache there. 

Davis did recently equip me with the brand-new BFXPros, in both Plate and Base, and I can honestly say, these are the best pants I've owned and worn to date. These are in the "NCAA Charcoal" colorway, and I trust they'll be able to endure my use of them up here in the Midwest. They look the most like the ol' best polywools, but are easily the best domestic rival to the SSKs.