What’s new in catchers gear?

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Mar 1, 2016
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DD is wearing iX5 head to toe. Used to wear Allstar system 7. She says the shins and chest feel the same between the two brands, but iX5 are easier to take off b/c of the clips. I had my concerns about the plastic clips at first, but she’s hard on her gear and they seem to be holding up well. The iX5 helmet is lighter and has a smaller profile, but restricts her ability to yell and “direct traffic” during a play. The Allstar helmet only sits on the chin, while the iX5 helmet wraps around the whole lower jaw.


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Oct 3, 2011
3,478
113
Right Here For Now
Nothing against Easton but IMHO opinion, they have an awful lot to prove to me as well as my DD. Their previous offerings, whether the M7 or the M10 set, my DD ran through their shin guards in 6 months or less. Maybe this is not the norm but DD is a great defensive catcher and we had several wonderful drop-ball pitchers in the past. By that I mean that the pitches would literally fall off the table from knee-height and end up in the dirt. DD spent more time on her knees than she did in her receiving stance with these girls. That said, DD is a 190 pounds of solid muscle and 5' 10" tall so maybe the new set will last longer for the lighter younger girls. The one thing I can tell you is that DD preferred the diamond iX3 series shin guards over anything as far as comfort goes. The iX 5 series are even better IMO. She now likes the Schutt S3 series shin-guards over them simply because of the weight difference and for her, the comfort level is the same. She has had the S3's for a year and a half in TB and is now using them in college ball for the past 4 months with no complaints about knee pain.
 
Last edited:
Jun 21, 2015
201
0
Yocoach my daughter is 5’7” and about 170 lbs. I’m
looking hard at the Schutt S3 Series.


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Oct 3, 2011
3,478
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Right Here For Now
DD wears ix5 shins and really loves them. When Wilson discontinued their softball gear, I bought a couple extra helmets at an incredible discount. However, I'm intrigued by the Force3 helmet that is really making inroads among MLB catchers and umpires. I'm eagerly awaiting someone on the forum to buy one and provide a review.

I'm always open to finding better gear. However, I'd be hard pressed to base it on what MLB catchers are using since they're paid for it through endorsement contracts.
 
Last edited:
May 20, 2015
1,095
113
DD is getting new gear for christmas, went full mix & match

was able to find promotion shins......went with the new easton chest, and schutt air max helmet


also picked up a new Vinci from drakemir.....she may or may not use her fortus still this year (moving up to 12u), but we'll get started on getting the Vinci ready
 
Feb 12, 2014
648
43
I'm always open to finding better gear. However, I'd be hard pressed to base it on what MLB catchers are using since they're paid for it through endorsement contracts.

Fair enough, but if you do a little research on the company I think you'll find that it's probably not endorsement money driving the uptick in use.
 

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
Fair enough, but if you do a little research on the company I think you'll find that it's probably not endorsement money driving the uptick in use.

I def agree with you on this for certain companies. Marucci doesn't pay one player with free bats or endorsement deals to use their bats, and they are getting very big there. They are
making their move because of product and they way they run the business and some other companies do the same.
Its kinda refreshing when you come across these places...haha

Other companies do go the route of giving players all kinds of stuff to get their name out there.
 

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