What is the Best Umpire Mask? The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an Umpire Mask

Manufacturers would like for you to choose an umpire mask based on advertising. “What advertising,” you ask? You see it all the time. It’s what the MLB umpires are wearing. It’s the product testing videos on YouTube. Its inventory in your local sporting goods store. Its even reviews on this site.

Fortunately, choosing an umpire mask in today’s world is not limited to the stock at your local big box store. The internet provides a wealth of options at reasonable prices – and usually cheaper than your local store.

But how do you choose an umpire mask that is right for you?

Choosing the right mask for you is a mix of physical dimensions and personal preferences. The six criteria for mask selection are: mask dimensions; design; material; weight; stock pads, and price.

Dimensions

The first selection criteria is the mask dimensions, which means the length, width and height. The typical mask width is between 8.5” and 9”, and a length of 10” to 11”. That little bit of difference can mean a lot in how the mask fits. For instance, the Pro Nine FMU is a very round 9.5” in width and 10” in length. What fits your buddy’s face perfectly may not be great fit for you. For more information about fitting and wearing a mask, see the Midwest Ump article A Beginner’s Guide to Properly Fitted Umpire Gear, which has fitting advice from several top manufacturers.

The final dimension factor is the mask’s height, or depth. That means the distance between your eyeballs to the mask frame. Some manufacturers advertise a “low profile” mask that put the mask closer to your face for better visibility. Some say that flatting out the mask to draw it closer to the face decreases the angles of the cage, making ball impacts more likely to absorb rather than deflect. Whether this is true or not, and whether the design improves visibility is a personal decision.

Mask height can vary quite a bit between manufacturers. What is described as "standard profile" by one mask maker may be "low profile" according to another. For instance, the “standard profile” Champro CM-58 is 4.5” in height while the “standard profile” Wilson WTA3009BLTI is 3.75”. In some cases a manufacturer may describe its mask as “lower profile,” which is somewhere in the middle. For more information see the Midwest Ump article How“Low Profile” is Your Mask?

Weight

Many masks are described as “light weight.” Most popular masks are under 1.5 pounds in their stock configuration, and are considered "light weight." Some masks weigh under one pound! The advertised weight of light weight masks can be deceiving because the weight of mask pads varies. For instance, the stock weight of the Wilson WTA3009BLTI titanium umpire mask is 23 ounces, but the Wilson comes with does skin wrap-around leather pads which weigh a hefty seven ounces. In comparison, the feather weight Diamond iX3 DFM-UMP weighs 17 ounces, and the synthetic stock pads weigh 2.5 ounces. For more information on mask pads weight and impressions, see the Midwest Ump article Review and Comparison of Umpire Mask Pads.

Design

Umpire masks come in single and double bar designs. Many umpires point out that a double bar design decreases visibility, but it also likely enhances structurally integrity, making the mask stronger and more able to absorb impacts. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a double bar mask is necessarily a heavier mask! The All Star SL Titanium Umpire Mask has a double bar design, deer skin pads, and weighs a mere 19 ounces!

Some manufacturers are flattening the corners of the mask bar around the eye opening to increase visibility. Flattening the bar will generally shave off a millimeter or two, which may not sound like much, but does make a difference the closer the bar is to your eyes.

As described above, umpire masks come in different lengths widths, and heights. Some manufacturers also are experimenting with new shapes that conform the mask to the umpire’s face. The All Star FM2000UMP is shaped to create more contact between the pads and the forehead.Whether this design has any practical effect remains to be seen.

Finally, an umpire mask may have a cap guard or throat guard. These items add extra weight to the umpire mask, so some manufacturers are eliminating them, especially the cap guard. Some masks made in Japan do not have throat guards, and the umpire is expected to wear a throat guard extension on the mask.

Material

Umpire masks are made with a variety of materials, including steel, aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. The rigidity and strength of the material can vary among manufacturers. Titanium has the best strength to weight ratio, but titanium alloys are more difficult to process and the end product is more expensive than the other alloys.

Many theories abound regarding the best material for a mask frame. Some believe that using hollow core steel is best, because the frame will absorb more impact and “give.” Basically, the energy of the ball is more likely to bend your mask frame and not transfer the energy to your head. Others believe that a more rigid frame coupled with a superior mask padding (Team Wendy pads, for instance) is the best combination.

Stock Pads

Stock pads can mean a great deal in the decision to purchase a particular mask. Do you prefer cow skin, pig skin, doe skin, dura leather, or a cloth pad? There are many choices and options available. Wilson markets its Dyna-Lite hollow core steel umpire mask in several different pad configurations. Other manufacturers (and some retailers) offer different padding options with the same mask. Replacing the masks padding can considerably increase the total cost of the mask. For instance, a Champro CM-58 Magnesium mask comes with "DRI-GEAR moisture wicking pads" (i.e. polyester cloth). These pads are good, but I prefer Wilson leather, which will add around $30-35 to the total cost.

Price

In a perfect world, the “best” mask would cost the most. That would make it easy for consumers to decide. Generally, the price of the mask is directly attributable to the cage material and the padding. The more expensive the materials, the more expensive the mask. That is not to say that the mask is “better” because it costs more.

The most expensive traditional mask on the market is the Nike Titanium mask, the “Holy Grail” of umpire masks. These masks are reported to weigh around 13.5 ounces and are only available to professional catchers, umpires, and some college catchers. Used Nike titanium masks are sometimes offered on eBay for $400+. Here is a video review of the Nike Titanium. Other titanium masks with leather padding run around $200. Magnesium masks cost around $100. Steel and aluminum masks can be had for $75 or less.

Bottom Line

Choosing an umpire mask is like buying a car. Do you want a BMW, or a nice pickup truck? They may cost the same, but are very different vehicles. Ultimately, your mask is your mask. Price may be a significant factor in your decision, but there are many other factors to consider. In the end, be sure the mask comfortably fits your face, that you can see through it without distraction, and that you are satisfied with its level of protection.

Review and Comparison of Umpire Mask Pads

In 1880 a rule change required the ball to be caught by the catcher before it hit the ground. Prior to this change, catchers stood far behind the batter and caught the ball after it hit the ground. The rule change forced both catcher and umpire up to the plate. Consequently, both umpires and catchers sought protection from fouled balls.

Umpires and catchers have shared similar equipment since the early days of baseball. The first catcher's mask was designed in 1876 by Fred Thayer for the Harvard Nine and offered by Spalding in its 1878 catalog. Writer, historian and statistician Bill James reports that the first umpire to wear a mask was Dick Higham in the early 1880’s. Higham was fired by the National League in 1882 for colluding with gamblers, the only known case of a dishonest umpire.

Review of Team Wendy Umps Mask Pads

Cleveland based research company Team Wendy has recently introduced replacement pads for traditional umpire masks. Called "Team Wendy Umps," these pads use Zorbium, a foam designed by Team Wendy and used in U.S. military helmets.

Team Wendy was founded by Dan Moore as a memorial to his daughter Wendy, who died from a traumatic brain injury while skiing. The company's sole mission is to provide protective head gear products. Team Wendy’s Zorbium helmet liner is the only system authorized for use by the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and National Guard. According to Don Tecco, National Director of Sales and Branding for Team Wendy, "Team Wendy was started as an R & D center to focus on mitigation of TBI and a huge part of what we still do is ongoing research and development not only for improved battlefield safety, but now safety in the sports and recreational (expanding into cycling and skiing) arenas."

Zorbium is a open-cell, viscoelastic polyurethane foam that Tecco says is highly tunable for different applications. Testing data from Team Wendy shows that Umps padding lowers peak acceleration forces by an average of 30 percent and lowers the severity index by an average of 40 percent. The testing involved firing a baseball from an air cannon at 100 mph. The masks with standard pad configuration used in the test were:


D - Davis Diamond mask
H1 - Honig's black frame mask
H2 - Honig's navy frame mask
R - Rawlings LWMX mask

Umps are made with an antimicrobial, moisture wicking fabric to promote comfort and hygiene. They are naturally resistant to mold. Tecco says that while Team Wendy encourages umpires to change out the mask pads at the start of the season for hygiene reasons, "Zorbium will not lose its protective properties" over time like other mask pads.

The first thing you notice is that the Team Wendy Umps are stiffer than other mask pads on the market. However, the Umps are covered with a soft porous cloth material that feels like cotton to the touch. The pads feel rigid against your face, but are not uncomfortable. The covering grabs face stubble less than most cloth coverings. Unlike many other mask pads, the Team Wendy Umps do not use vinyl or PE leather on the outer part of the pads. That raises some concerns that the pad's cover may show dirt over time.

I put the Team Wendy Umpys into a Diamond iX3 DFM-UMP. The total weight for frame, pads, and harness was 18.5 ounces. The indestructible frame meets the most protective pads! This mask rig could outlast my umpire career.

The construction of the Team Wendy Umps is sub-par. The pads I inspected had extra material around the seams and some of the stitching was unraveling. It is not a clean finish that other mask pads possess. Tecco tells me that there is no reason that the Team Wendy Umps could not be covered in leather. Personally I would like to see the Zorbium foam covered with leather, or a PE leather outer / doe skin interior covering.

The Team Wendy Umps are sold exclusively through Honig's for $39.95 and are available in black or tan cloth.

Fair or Foul?
My initial reaction to the Team Wendy Umps is favorable. The first and foremost attribute of a mask pad is its protective quality, and Team Wendy makes claims that the Umps will attenuate ball impacts greater than other padding systems. While ball impacts to the chest, shins and even groin are not a significant concern to umpires because of the use of advanced protective gear, head impacts routinely cause concussions and other serious injury to amateur and professional umpires alike. It is refreshing to see an R&D company like Team Wendy bring its advanced technology to the umpire community. I have nothing but high praise for such a company and its products. And kudos to Honig's for working with Team Wendy to provide this product. My call is FAIR!