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Umpire Mask Buying Guide

With umpire masks, you normally pay more for lighter masks - especially those made with titanium frames, greater protection, better padding and increased vision.

Lightest Weight

You'll find that everyone claims to have a dyna-lite, super-light or featherweight mask, but what's true is that most mask frames now are made of lightweight material. Our traditional style masks are just under 1.0 to 1.6 lbs (without harness - harnesses typically weigh around 0.3 lbs). Our lightest mask is a close race between the Diamond iX3 Silver Feather Weight Umpire Mask and the ever-so slightly lighter Champro Pro-Plus Magnessium Umpire Mask. A few ounces may not sound like much but your neck might appreciate a lighter mask over several hours of plate work.

Champro Magnessium Umpire Mask
Champro

Champro Pro-Plus Magnessium Umpire Mask
Just under 1 Pound
Your Price: $124.99

Diamond iX3 Umpire Mask
diamond
Diamond iX3 Feather Weight Umpire Mask
Choose from Black Frame or Silver Frame
1 Pound
Customers Choice Seal
Your Price: $69.99
Wilson Titanium Mask
Wilson
Wilson Profile Titanium Umpire Mask with All Black Padding
1.1 Pounds
Your Price: $198.99

Most Protection

No doubt, hockey style masks or helmets offer the most protection through coverage for the entire head and more angles for greater deflection. Although it's made of lightweight materials, the helmet will weigh more than a traditional style umpire mask. However, umpires tell us weight is better distributed (rather than at the front) making the helmet feel less heavy.

Of the traditional styles, most umpire masks come with extended frames for good ear and throat protection.

All Wilson models come with padding that wraps slightly around the outer frame for additional cushion in that area not seen on other brand masks. And because standard profile masks have slightly more protection with its more curved profile than the flatter low profile with less angles, Wilson Dyna-lite models with their standard profiles and wrap-around padding offer the most protection at all levels. Other traditional style masks are generally recommended for any levels through high school competition.

The Diamond Featherweights, Champro Magnessium and Pro Nine Lightweight Mask also have a "U-bar" at the top to help provide more protection from foul balls heading across the top of your head.

Wilson Umpire Helmet
Wilson
Wilson Shock FX 2.0 Titanium Umpire Helmet
Complete head protection, greater angles and shock absorbers
Your Price: $229.99
More Helmets »
Wilson Dyna-lite Umpire Mask
Wilson

Wilson 10" Dyna Lite West Vest Umpire Mask
Standard profile shape for angle deflection and wrap-around padding for frame cushioning (also available in two-tone and doeskin)
Customers Choice Seal
Your Price: $47.99

Pro Nine Umpire Mask
Pro Nine
Pro Nine Lightweight Umpire Mask
Unique U-bar at the top that provides additional, minimal protection to the head
Your Price: $44.99

Most Comfortable Padding

Umpire masks with doeskin, leather (most Wilson masks), Dri-Gear (Champro Magnessium) or Quick-Dry (Diamond Featherweight) padding are more comfortable and better absorb perspiration. As a result, they won't slide around your face as you perspire. Doeskin has the added benefit of being cooler in hotter conditions.


Wilson Tan Umpire Mask
Wilson Dyna Lite West Vest Umpire Mask with Tan Leather Padding
Customers Choice Seal
Your Price: $78.99

Wilson Low Profile Umpire Mask
Wilson Chrome Moliben Umpire Mask with Leather Padding
Your Price: $74.99
Diamond Silver Umpire Mask
diamond
Diamond Feather Weight Umpire Mask - Silver Frame
Quik Dry Synthetic Padding
Customers Choice Seal
Your Price: $69.99

Best Vision

Some umpire masks are now made with lower profiles which mean the frame sits closer to your face. This results in around a 15% increase in your field of vision through the main bars. Several low profile masks are available including the Wilson Low Profile Titanium, Wilson Chrome Moliben and Pro Nine Lightweight Mask. A hockey style mask, especially the re-designed Shock FX 2.0, also sits closer and, therefore, offers even better vision than most traditional style masks.

Wilson Titanium Mask
Wilson
Wilson MLB Low Profile Titanium Umpire Mask
Your Price: $198.99
Wilson Low Profile Umpire Mask
Wilson
Wilson Chrome Moliben Umpire Mask with Leather Padding
Your Price: $74.99
Wilson Shock FX Umpire Helmet
Wilson
Wilson Shock FX 2.0 Titanium Umpire Helmet
Your Price: $229.99
More Helmets »

Best Value

An Diamond Double-bar Umpire Mask with synthetic padding is the least expensive option and best to consider if you are just starting. But expect the mask to slide around and rub at the chin the more you perspire.

For a little additional cost, you can get synthetic padding with more moisture wicking and absorbent properties with the Pro Nine Lightweight Mask or the Wilson Dyna-Lite (both of which are lighter overall than Diamond's double-bar. As the Wilson Dyna-lite's padding is more durable than the Pro Nine's and has a wrap-around design, it is solidly our best value mask option with the only downside being that it weighs 1/2 of a pound more than our lightest weight masks.

Wilson Dyna-lite Umpire Mask
Wilson
Wilson 10" Dyna Lite West Vest Umpire Mask
Overall Best Value
Customers Choice Seal
Your Price: $47.99
Pro Nine Umpire Mask
Pro Nine
Pro Nine Lightweight Umpire Mask
Your Price: $44.99
Diamond Double-Bar Umpire Mask
diamond
Diamond Double-Bar Umpire Mask
Your Price: $37.99

Harnesses and Replacement Padding for Masks

All masks come with adjustable harnesses. Replacement harnesses are available with the MLB logo or the Ump-Attire logo for less and can be used on any mask.

Masks also have Velcro straps that allow you to adjust or easily replace your padding. With any umpire mask or helmet, you have the ability to replace or upgrade your padding on most brands and styles after you use it for a while.


Hats and Other Accessories

All of our masks except the low profile masks will allow for caps of 2 inch (plate caps) to 6 inches bills (combo). For those, 2 inch or 4 inch Sun shield(combo) will do. You will not need a cap if you wear a helmet although some have mastered the art of doing so.

Some like adding a sun visor or shield at the top of frame. It will fit mthroat protectorost umpire mask styles, but will not fit lower profile masks or helmets due to a difference in frame shape.

If you want more protection for your neck, consider a 4 inch or 6 inch throat protector that will attach to the bottom of your umpire mask or helmet is an excellent idea.

 

Umpire Masks Weight
(without harness)
Size* Padding Type Frame/Low Profile Protection
Helmets          
Wilson Shock FX Titanium Helmet #A5590 2.1 lbs   Leather chin and coolmax liner Titanium/Yes Complete
Wilson Shock FX Steel Helmet #A5591 3.1 lbs   Leather chin and coolmax liner Steel/Yes Complete
Pro Nine Umpire Helmet #CHPRO 2.8 lbs   Synthetic chin and foam Steel/Yes Complete
 
Masks          
Champro Pro-Plus Magnessium Mask #CM58 Under 1lb 10" Dri-Gear
Synthetic
Magnessium/No Ears, Throat plus U-Bar
Diamond iX3 Featherweight Umpire Mask #DFM-UMP 1.0 lb 9 1/2" Quik-Dry Synthetic Tubular Steel Alloy/Yes Ears, Throat plus U-Bar
Diamond Sliver iX3 Featherweight Umpire Mask #DFM-UMP-SV 1.0 lb 9 1/2" Quik-Dry Synthetic Aluminum Alloy/Yes Ears, Throat plus U-Bar
Wilson MLB Titanium Mask with Black Pading #A3009T-BK 1.1 lbs 10" Poly Satin Inner/Vinyl Outer Titanium/Yes Ears and Throat
Wilson MLB Two-Tone Titanium Mask #A3007T 1.1 lbs 10" Deerskin Leather Inner/Leather Outer Titanium/No Ears and Throat
Wilson MLB Titanium Low Profile Mask #A3077Ti 1.1 lbs 10" Deerskin Leather Inner/Leather Outer Titanium/Yes Ears and Throat
Wilson Chrome Moliben Umpire Mask #A3077 1.4 lbs 10" Deerskin Leather Inner/Leather Outer Alloy/Yes Ears and Throat
Wilson Dynalite Umpire Mask #A3019 1.5 lbs 10" Poly Satin Inner/Vinyl Outer Steel/No Ears and Throat

Wilson Tan Leather Mask #A3019-TAN

1.5 lbs 10" Deerskin Leather
(Two-tone is vinyl outer)
Steel/No Ears and Throat
Pro Nine Umpire Mask #FMU 1.2 lbs 7" Poly Satin Tubular Steel/Yes Ears, Throat plus U-Bar
Diamond Umpire Mask #DFM-43 1.6 lbs 7" Vinyl Double-Bar-Tubular Steel/No Ears and Throat

*Size is from the top of the top padding to the bottom of the bottom padding as measured from the inside of the mask. It does not include frame.

Related Posts from "Officially Un-Official " Blog by Jim Kirk

Written by Jim Kirk, owner of Ump-Attire.com (Updated 1.14.10)


 
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