Official Review: Wilson MLB Pro Gold 2 Umpire Chest Protectors (Memory Foam & Air Management)
Discover the upgrades & options of the new Wilson MLB Pro Gold 2 Umpire Chest Protectors. See the differences between the new Memory Foam & the Air Management padding. We're locked in with premium neoprene harness and FIDLOCK magnetic buckles.
Well fellow umpires this is a very nice vest. It got broken in this weekend and it was very nice and durable to wear for my six games. The only thing I wished that it was 1 inch longer down the front for better coverage.
Daniel D.
Southaven, MS
July 3, 2023
Obviously the best chest protector I've ever owned. The new magnetic buckles are a fantastic addition to this new low profile design. The only minor gripe I have with it is the velcro on the adjustable peck pads will ruin your Under Armour shirts. Other than that, perfect!
Josh F.
Fowler, CA
June 22, 2023
Great lightweight chest protector.
Ben O.
Long Beach, CA
June 12, 2023
Love the umpire chest protector. It's very lightweight and looks good when wearing it, especially when you have an umpire coat over it. Looks just like Joe West behind home plate. If I can give it 6 stars I would because you don’t feel a thing when a foul ball hits you.
Chad D.
O'Fallon, MO
June 8, 2023
This is a lightweight and durable chest protector. Much lighter than my previous one. 5 stars.
Jeffrey C.
Valley Stream, NY
June 5, 2023
The Memory Foam Chest Protector is great. I love the snug fit and excellent protection. It is already better than my last one, and I had that one for 18 years. Thanks.
Michael M.
Bellflower, CA
June 4, 2023
I purchased the memory foam chest protector and shin guards and have felt more protected when wearing these items. I feel so professional when I walk out on the ball field and take so much pride at 5'3" tall.
Joffrey W.
Tuscaloosa, AL
May 30, 2023
Very happy with this chest protector purchase! Low profile, plus it gets the job done! The magnetic straps are a bonus! Wilson outdid themselves with this chest protector! In my opinion, it’s going to be hard to do this in the future! Well worth the money!
Mike T.
Farmville, NC
May 30, 2023
Lightweight and protects well.
Michael M.
Hendersonville, TN
May 22, 2023
This was my first Wilson vest, and after a few games, it has been great. I am 5'7 165 pounds and the s/m fits well, it's a little tight around the neck area but overall it's very comfortable and offers great protection around the collarbone area. It does get a little warm but overall, I would recommend it.
Geoffrey P.
Shinnston, WV
May 20, 2023
The best Chest Protector on the market!
Gary C.
Glen Burnie, MD
April 12, 2023
I have used this chest protector in numerous games now, having received it in early March. I previously owned the Wilson West Vest Gold. Comparing the two: This version is thinner, giving you the "low profile" look. It's lighter and cooler. As Ty says, "you fit into" this chest protector and it's very comfortable to wear. The Fidlock buckling system is a great improvement. Lastly, it offers the protection level that the West Vest line is known for. I highly recommend this chest protector.
William (Bill) S.
Yuba City, CA
March 23, 2023
Over the years, I went from the Plus Pos to the All-Star System 7. I used it for many years; absolutely bulletproof but bulky for my husky build. Last year, I went to the All-Star Cobalt. Mixed reviews, but after a few games, it started to grow on me. I've never been a fan of the West Vest, but liked the looks of the new version. I picked one up last week. 1st game, 1st inning. Varsity HS with a brand new catcher. He whiffed a fastball and I took a center punch. I felt it but was impressed. I took a couple foul tips later in the game. Broke it in good that 1st game. More than pleased. Low profile, comfortable and good collar protection. I think it will be my go to.
Craig M.
Fort Branch, IN
March 23, 2023
This is a very light and comfortable chest protector. I have an original Wilson West Vest and this protector is much like it. I removed the pectoral pads and this is almost the original. It is much slimmer and still takes the impact as equally well as the thicker varieties. So far, I am very pleased, but I don't know how hot this will be once summer gets here.
Chris G.
Denham Springs, LA
March 8, 2023
Five games in with this new chest protector and I am impressed. I'm a long time user of the WV Platinum and this one feels like it offers even more protection without any noticeable increase in weight or bulk. The new style harness is a huge improvement over previous models (although I am still hanging on to my UmpLife harness also.) The only thing I question is the formed ridge/crease at the middle bottom. Not sure about the purpose of that. One thing that I noticed right off the bat is that the protection extends up a lot higher to the neck than the Platinum did.
Austin P.
NY
March 7, 2023
Fits beautifully. I was looking for something that truly has great shoulder protection following a bad labrum surgery. This does that. Snugs the body and is lightweight.
William G.
Bermuda Dunes, CA
February 28, 2023
Slapped an UmpLife harness on it and have used it in 5 games so far. Love it. Light and airy. No real break-in period per se. Great right out of the box. My new favorite.
James H.
San Clemente, CA
December 14, 2022
I replaced my tried-and-true Wilson West Vest Gold with the WilsonWest Vest Gold Pro V2, and it is better than advertised! It has the low-profile look I was after and all of the protection I have come to expect from the Wilson West Vest line.
Bill S.
New Orleans, LA
November 14, 2022
Love this Chest Protector so far. I have very broad shoulders, and as a result, I could not wear the original Wilson Gold without looking a bit ridiculous, given the way the shoulder caps stuck out from my shoulders.
This Chest Protector solves that problem. The slimmer profile, combined with thinner padding and the removable pec pads, resulted in a nice low-profile fit for me. I've only worn it for one game so far, but it's a winner already.
My Team Wendy's retrofit Wilson Platinum might be up for sale soon.
Neal B.
Roseville, CA
July 29, 2022
After wearing this for one game I immediately sold my older Wilson West Vest. They basically address the 2 main complaints everyone had from the old WV: Make the padding thinner and let us remove the “Pec Pads.” Mission Accomplished! Somehow this one breathes a little better too, so it is noticeably cooler in the summer heat. I like the new magnetic clips for the harness too, never knew I needed it, but it makes it easier to “strap on” the protector in my opinion. My primary rig is an All-Star Cobalt because near perfectly fits my body, but the new Wilson West Vest is a close second and I wear it when I feel I need a little more coverage based on the level of pitching and catching I expect to see.
Mark D.
Camden, DE
July 27, 2022
Have tried almost every chest protector on the market and primarily wore the older WV Gold and the All-Star Cobalt. I had been searching for the elusive Gold Team Wendy Retrofit and then Wilson came out with this one. The memory foam is awesome and I love the new buckles as the week before I had a Majestic shirt torn after getting hit in the T-Hook on my older WV Gold by a 59’ curve that the catcher failed to block. The new harness is nice but I still fitted it with the UmpLife harness. This is now my primary chest protector. Two thumbs up!
Dwayne O.
Grand Prairie, TX
July 26, 2022
Protects like a West Vest but is very light, comfortable and breaths. Great for the Texas summer!
Jim M.
Holt, MI
July 18, 2022
Finally!! After many years of a couple of different chest protectors I went the the Wilson West Vest Pro Gold 2 Memory Foam chest protector. I’m so glad I did. Very comfortable fit. Looks good under my umpire shirt. The magnetic buckles are a plus. This definitely passed any expectations that I had. I’m definitely going to recommend this to anyone that asks.
Bud T.
Manteca, CA
July 13, 2022
The West Vest Gold was the first and only chest protector I'd ever purchased. I've used it for well over a dozen years and loved the comfort and protection it afforded. When the West Vest was introduced and I saw that it was a lower profile with memory foam, magnetic clips and detachable under arm protection - I didn't hesitate - I ordered it as soon as it came into stock. It was everything I'd hoped it would be. Incredible comfort with the same great protection. It was a great upgrade to a great product.
Sean O.
Tulsa, OK
July 10, 2022
I bought this almost as soon as I saw it. The reputation of West Vest protection with the upgrade to the low profile memory foam sold me on it. The magnetic locks were the icing on the cake. Feels great and looks great as expected.
Erich K.
Gaston, OR
July 8, 2022
This is a fantastic umpire chest protector. It is VERY light and low profile (even coming from a soft-shell!), and takes a hit very well. It also has a really good amount of ventilation, which I didn't expect. Definitely worth purchasing.
Tom M.
Mount Sinai, NY
July 8, 2022
This is a great product. From the magnetic clasps now positioned on the side, to the low profile and better body contour, this performs better while making you look better.
Joseph A.
St. Louis, MO
July 6, 2022
Very slim and low profile. I’ve taken a couple foul balls off the shoulder and chest already and I can barely feel it. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to feel protected behind the plate. One of the best on the market.
Rick C.
Villa Park, IL
July 5, 2022
Been using it 2 weeks now and love it. The fit very comfortable. Great buy.
John S.
Owosso, MI
July 4, 2022
I really like the low profile. I have already taken one good shot off the chest and barely felt it. The curved lower middle plate took a little bit of getting used to. But overall, I am really satisfied with this new model Wilson has come out with and the upgrades Wilson has made. I do recommend this product for umpires at all levels.
Scott D.
Birmingham, AL
July 2, 2022
I've worn a West Vest for years and am very pleased with this new design. I like the lower profile and the new buckles. I had upgraded my old protector to the premium harness and am glad it is now included. This West Vest feels much lighter than my old one without giving up any of the protection.
Timothy N.
Richland, WA
June 24, 2022
Quality control is TERRIBLE! I received my CP and the plastic plates all had sharp edges. I spent an hour with sandpaper smoothing the edges so I wouldn’t cut my shirts. There were two plates installed BACKWARDS - the bottom two plates by the buckles were wrong side out and bent “outwards” instead of curved towards the padding. All of that not withstanding, I am excited to put it to good use. Buyer beware, you might have to do some work on this (besides fitting) before you can use it.
Ump-Attire.com Response
Timothy: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have checked our remaining inventory and have found no other instances of either sharp edges or incorrectly installed plates. We are sorry you experienced this issue.
Matthew M.
Indian Trail, NC
June 18, 2022
I really like the lower profile and adjustable wing flaps on this umpire chest protector. It's also nice to be rid of the t-hooks in the front. I never liked the stock harness so I'm glad they've included the premium harness. The Fidlock buckles are a nice new addition. I worked 4 straight plate games for a tournament this weekend and can attest that it was much lighter weight and not as hot as the original west vest gold (which I also own)...very noticeable difference.
I have the new WV umpire chest protector. The gold “W” is showing wear for some reason. I’ve only worn it about 20 times. Is the gold “W” replaceable? Does Wilson make the logo/decal to replace one that shows wear? – Kelly Mcnary
A:
We are sorry but we do not offer replacement decals for equipment. You may find touching up the W emblem with an acrylic or exterior gloss paint to be the best solution.
– Ty Unthank Marketing Specialist, HS & College Umpire
Q:
Is there an attachment point at the bottom of the shoulder pads to attach add-on bi-cep protector pads? – Gerry Robinson
A:
This Wilson chest protector is not equipped to accept any type of bicep extension padding. If you want additional bicep protection on a hard shell chest protector, we recommend the Diamond Pro or Champro Pro-Plus Plate Armor Umpire Chest Protectors.
– Holly Montgomery Customer Service Specialist
Q:
Hi. Is the width any different between the 3 sizes? If not, couldn’t I just order the largest to get the 13” length? Are there any good bicep armour that could accompany it?
Thanks – Jeff Caldwell
A:
There is a width difference between the 3 sizes. The S/M size is approximately 15 inches wide, the M/L size is approximately 17 inches wide, and the L/XL size is approximately 19 inches wide. There is no natural way to attach bicep extensions onto the West Vest.
– Brandon Lawson Support Specialist, Pro Umpire School Graduate and Umpire, Football Official & Basketball Referee
Q:
Wilson MLB West Vest Pro Gold 2 Air Management Umpire Chest. I am thinking about getting this item, but I would like more live videos on it. Could you do a demo on a ball hitting the chest and giving the outcome? Just looking for more details on the impact of a 90-mile fastball to the chest. – Dave Anderson
A:
Wilson has designed and constructed this chest protector to be recommended for the MLB umpire. The West Vest brand has been and continues to be the only chest protector endorsed by the MLB for their umpires who see pitches with speeds of over 90 MPH on a regular basis.
– Sherie Sandifer Office/Service Manager
Q:
Living on the east coast of Florida and working a lot in the heat and humidity of the Florida weather, which of the new West Vest chest protectors would you recommend for that type of heat and humidity? – Jerry Auriemma
– Hunter Fry Supplier Relationship Manager, Customer Service Specialist, Former Basketball Referee
Q:
I know that the first memory foam mattresses had an issue with being hot. Is there a temperature retention difference in the memory foam padding versus the open cell foam on my current WV Gold? (Ie: will the new low profile with memory foam be hotter to wear?) – Bill Ward
A:
This Wilson Memory Foam chest protector is lighter weight than your current WV Gold, lending itself to naturally hold less heat. However, Wilson did not add any ventilation aspects to the Pro Gold 2 line.
– Ty Unthank Marketing Specialist, HS & College Umpire
Q:
Is the memory foam version really about a full pound lighter than the air management foam version? – Bob Frank
– Brandon Lawson Support Specialist, Pro Umpire School Graduate and Umpire, Football Official & Basketball Referee
Q:
What is the best procedure for cleaning the inside protector? I have a West Vest Gold. – Ivan Jezic
A:
Remove the padding by unstrapping the Velcro tab from the hard shell plates. Use mild soap and water to scrub padding. Rinse and let hang dry in a well ventilated area.
– Ben Kirk Social Media Specialist
Q:
Can you do a 2-min review for the new Wilson chest protector and shin guards? – Matthew Mann
A:
Check out this Facebook Live Ump-Attire.com President Jim Kirk and I did on the whole Pro Gold 2 line!
– Ty Unthank Marketing Specialist, HS & College Umpire
WARNING: Participants in any sports activity assume risk of injury. This equipment may be used to help aid in preventing or reducing the extent of injury. No equipment can guarantee umpire or player safety from injury during participation, and use of this equipment carries no such guarantee. Do not use any umpire equipment that is damaged in any way.