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.
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 and Champro Magnessium also have a "U-bar" at the top to help provide more protection from foul balls heading across the top of your head.
Most Comfortable Padding
Umpire masks with doeskin, leather (most Wilson masks on steel or titanium frames), 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 (actually calfskin leather) has the added benefit of being cooler in hotter conditions because of the lighter cooler.
Best Vision
Some umpire masks are 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 although it does have the downside of making it flatter and more susceptible to less deflection and more force. One low profile masks is the Wilson Chrome Moliben.
A hockey style mask, such as the Shock FX 2.0, also sits closer and, therefore, offers even better vision than most traditional style masks.
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 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 other paddingand 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.
Best value helmet is the new Silver Series Shock FX, a good entry level option.
Harnesses and Replacement Padding for Masks
All masks come with adjustable harnesses. Replacement harnesses are available with the MLB logo or the Diamond 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. For safety sake, it's best practice to replace your pads every 2 or 3 years as padding's protective properties diminish with time.
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  (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 m ost 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.
*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.
**PU Leather is a bicast leather (not full grain)
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Written by Jim Kirk, owner of Ump-Attire.com (Updated 9.8.11) |
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