Review of Reebok NFL Referee II Low Quag

Today's post reviews the Reebok NFL Referee II Low Quag. This base shoe is a popular choice among amateur umpires, especially those who also referee fall football. This year I decided to purchase the Quags as my primary umpire base shoe.

So, what the heck is a Quag?

Plate Shoe Shine Test

Today I am testing four products for cleaning plate shoes. While none of these methods can compare to the good-old-fashion polish and elbow grease method, each of these methods only takes a minute or two to produce a shine.

The methods tested are:

1. Scrubbing Bubbles and Armour All Leather Wipes

2. Murphy's Oil and Hairspray (White Rain firm hold)

3. Sprayway glass cleaner

4. Home-made glass cleaner mixture of white vinegar, water and dish soap.


Methodology
As you can see from the "Before" picture at left (click picture to enlarge), I am testing method one on a Reebok Field Magistrate Plate Shoe; method two on a Reebok Field Magistrate Plate Shoe; method three on a New Balance 450 Plate Shoe; and method four on a New Balance 450 Plate Shoe.

I first sprayed the shoes down with regular water and used a small brush to clean off dirt. Then I applied the cleaner and shining agent (if applicable), waited ten seconds, and wiped dry with a soft cloth.


The Test
Scrubbing Bubbles and Armour All Leather Wipes - I have been using this method for the past year and have good results. The Scrubbing Bubbles quickly clean the leather and the cloth areas. As you can see from the photo, the Armour All wipes produced a very good shine.

There are a couple down-sides to this method. First, the Scrubbing Bubbles are in an aerosol can which could be a problem if left in a hot trunk. The spray is also messy and I have to walk a safe distance away from vehicles and people to spray down my shoes. Buying Scrubbing Bubbles is also expensive over time.

Finally, the Armour All wipes attract dirt. My shoes look fantastic until I hit the field. Within an inning they have lost their luster.

Murphy's Oil and Hairspray - I have never used the Murphy's Oil or hairspray to clean my shoes. Murphy's Oil is a popular product for cleaning leather, and the hair spray brings out a very good shine. I mixed two capfuls of the Murphy's Oil in a small spray bottle filled with water. The Murphy's Oil sprayed quickly and was able to penetrate into creases.

The upside to using Murphy's Oil is the cost. The down side is the Murphy's Oil does not clean a shoe's cloth areas. Hairspray also acts like a dust magnet.

Ammonia-free Glass Cleaner - Ammonia-based glass cleaners like Windex will harm leather. I chose the ammonia-free Sprayway glass cleaner from Wal-Mart which I use to clean household glass. The Sprayway cleaner sprays on like a foam, similar to the Scrubbing Bubbles. The Sprayway produced a decent shine.

Like the Scrubbing Bubbles method, glass cleaner can get expensive. However, unlike Armour All, the glass cleaner does not attract dust because there is no residual film.

Home-Made Glass Cleaner - to try to combat the price issue of store-bought glass cleaners, I mixed white vinegar, water and dish soap. I have used this mixture on household glass and it cleans better than ammonia-based Windex without streaking. I have blacked-out the gaudy white "N" at the side of my New Balance shoes with a Sharpie, and the white vinegar mixture started removing the Sharpie ink. The Home-Made Glass Cleaner cleaned well, but did not leave much of a shine.


Bottom Line
While the Scrubbing Bubbles and Armour All method tends to clean and shine the best, I am intrigued by the ammonia-free glass cleaner. Hairspray and Armour All wipes produce a very good shine, but attract dirt. The ammonia-free glass cleaner cleans, shines, and does not attract dirt.

Long Term Test Results

The summer season is winding down and school is starting soon. . . so now is a good time to do a long-term evaluation of gear. Today’s post reviews gear from last year’s U.M.P.Y Award winners.

Champro PRO-PLUS Gold Super-Xtreme Lightweight Face Mask

I began using the Champro magnesium face mask in May, 2009 and fell in love immediately. It is incredibly light (less than a pound!!!) and very comfortable after switching out the standard pads.

The Champro is also surprisingly durable. I have taken several shots to this mask from different angles and it did not shown a scratch, until. . .one particularly vicious foul ball during a college game hit the Champro mask and caused the upper eye bar to bend. I contacted Champro regarding its warranty. Champro is a solid company that is committed to customer service. I learned that Champro has a one year warranty from the date of purchase that covers product defects. However, foul balls are part of the game and bending from a serious force is expected. Given enough force any mask will bend (but hopefully not break).


Wilson Shock FX 2.0 Titanium Umpire Helmet (Product of the Year)

The Shock FX 2.0 was introduced in late 2009. It contains many safety features and is comfortable. However, I do not wear a helmet while working the plate, so I can’t speak first-hand regarding safety or durability.

Ump-Attire Ultimate Umpire Shirt

Jim Kirk sent me a navy blue Ump-Attire Ultimate Umpire Shirt to test and I have used it for two high school seasons. After several hundred washes it looks good as new and I intend to use it again next spring. As I expected during my initial testing, the Ultimate breathes well and is well constructed. I highly recommend this shirt.

Honig’s Poly Wool Umpire Pants

I wore the same Honig’s Poly Wool umpire plate pants and base pants to every college and high school game I officiated this year. These pants have seen 30 degree ice and 100+ degree sun. The Poly Wool pants do not seem to suffer from the same fading problems of previous Honig’s models.

Despite the label directions, I wash my Poly Wools in cold water after every wear. They are also dried on a permanent press cycle. I have been careful not to over-dry these pants, and there has been no sign of shrinking or unraveling.


Nutty Buddy

The Nutty Buddy is an essential piece of equipment.

Umpires are fond of telling the “took one to the jewels” stories. Hey, I think these stories are funny like the next guy, but you know what? I don’t have a story because I wear the Nutty Buddy. When I do get hit (it happens to us all), it is not serious – heck, it isn’t even uncomfortable! I hope Mark Littell makes a billion dollars from the Nutty Buddy because it is truly incredible.

I have worn the Nutty Buddy for two seasons. It has retained its shape and has not cracked or dented. It is not hot to wear and is comfortable even under extreme conditions. I put it on and forget about it.


Ump-Attire Ultimate Ball Bag

The Ump-Attire Ultimate Pro Style Umpire Ball Bag was introduced in 2009 and has been a big hit with umpires. Jim Kirk at Ump-Attire sent me one to review in March, 2009, and I purchased a second bag a little later to replace the Dry-Lo Ball Bag sold by Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring.

I have been very impressed with the Ultimate Ball Bag which boasts double stitching and a nylon interior. I have washed these bags a number of times in cold water and low heat dry cycle. There is no fading, no unraveling or fraying, and the Ultimate Ball Bag looks as good as new a year and a half later.


Wilson DaviShins Leg Guards / Diamond DLG-LITE Featherweight Shin Guards

I stopped using the Wilson DaviShins after testing the Diamond Featherweight Shin Guards. The Diamonds guards weigh a mere 13.5 ounces! While these guards are light and comfortable, I have experienced two issues with these guards worth noting. First, during an 18U summer “prospects” tournament I took a foul ball directly on the knee cap. The impact hurt, but was not disabling. My opinion is that the result of this impact was a little more serious than I have experienced with other shin guards. This is likely a result of the loose-fit design around the knee.

The second issue also involves the loose-fit design at the knee. I typically wear long compression shorts that cover my knee cap. However, whenever I do not wear a covering on my knee, the shin guard rubs at my knee and is irritating in the 90+ degree heat.


Wilson West Vest Platinum Chest Protector

I have worn my Wilson Platinum chest protector for three years. This protector scored best in my “amateur scientist” drop test and I can attest to its protective qualities. It is built like a tank.

After three years and hundreds of games, the buckles are starting to rust. I spray my Platinum CP with Lysol after every use and it does not seem to retain odor.


Reebok Field Magistrate Plate Shoes

I get more questions about my Reebok plate shoes than any other equipment. I was a big fan of the New Balance MU450MK plate shoes until I tried the Reebok. This shoe is very comfortable and has proven very durable. It has not separated in any area from use. I have not experienced an impact that is noteworthy. Unlike the Reebok, a few years ago I took a foul ball off the toe of my New Balance MU450MK plate shoes and it hurt!

I use Scrubbing Bubbles and Armour All leather wipes before every game and my shoes look good. I have been wearing these shoes for over a year for every plate assignment and they are still going strong!


Bottom Line

All of the choices for last year’s U.M.P.Y Awards have proven very durable. There were a few noteworthy observations, but overall I have been very impressed with these products.

Comparison of “Performance” Undershirts

I have been a fan of Under Armor undershirts for years. Last fall I was at a discount clothing store waiting for my wife and teen-aged daughter to finish their shopping (we’ve all been there. If not, just give it time), and I discovered a Nike undershirt on sale. It was considerably cheaper than the Under Armor shirts I purchase, so it got me thinking: just what is the difference?

During the off-season I purchased eight different t-shirts at various locations. I was able to get most of the shirts at a sale price for hot weather clothing during the winter months, so you may be able to beat the on-line prices during the off-season.

I have been personally wearing these shirts during the spring college and HS season. I really didn't know what to expect when testing these shirts, but after three months of umpiring I have formed some opinions.

Shirts

I ended up with nine shirts from eight manufacturers for this comparison. Seven of these shirts are loose fit and two are compression shirts:

Reebok Play Dry Tech
Under Armour Heat Gear (loose fit)
Under Armour Heat Gear (compression)
Champion C9 Duo Dry
Fila Sport Sprinter
Diamond Hotsport
Nike FitDry Legend
Starter Dri-Star (compression)
Russell Dri-Power


Testing Methodology
Since all of these shirts are advertised as performance, moisture wicking shirts, one problem I faced was how to measure the wicking effect. So here’s what I did: first, I weighed each shirt while dry. Then I ran all the shirts through a wash cycle and measured each shirt again. My reasoning is simple: an effective moisture wicking shirt transfers the moisture, it should not absorb the moisture. That’s why a cotton t-shirt weighs a ton after a July doubleheader while a moisture wicking t-shirt stays light. The cotton shirt absorbs while the polyester shirt transfers. My test simply measures how much water the shirt absorbs and should tell us something about its transference properties.


#9: Starter Dri-Star Compression
Remember when the Starter brand was AWESOME? I do. Back in the day my favorite clothing item was a Starter MLB jacket, the same one my favorite player wore. I purchased this Starter Dri-Star t-shirt right off the rack at my local Wal-Mart for around $8.00. They are available through the Wal-Mart website for $7.50.

This shirt is a compression style and the quality control seems very, er, “relaxed.” The seams on this shirt are unraveling and the label is only partially attached. The label states that the fabric is 81% Cationic Polyester and 19% Elastane. Its weight dry is a mere 4 ounces, the lightest in this comparison. The Starter weighs 5 ounces wet.

I wore this shirt once and was miserable. It was too short and too tight. It seemed to moisture wick just fine, but the fit was aweful for my frame. These tight fitting shirts are just not suitable for the over-forty-carrying-extra-pounds umpire. At least that’s my opinion. I’m sure it would work great for a thin umpire. As a side note, regardless of the compression "style" of this shirt, the Starter is last on my list because of the poor quality of construction.


#8: Under Armour Heat Gear Compression
I purchased this Under Armour Heat Gear Compression t-shirt at a big box sporting goods store for $20.00. Also available on line at Amazon for $19.99.

The Under Armour Compression shirt appears better constructed than the Starter. Made of 80% Polyester and 20% Elastane, the feel of this shirt is identical to the Starter. It is a little heavier than the Starter. Its weight is 5 ounces dry and 5.5 ounces wet (indicating a better moisture transfer than the Starter).

As with the Starter shirt, I am not a fan of the compression shirt. The advantage to a compression undershirt is that it takes full effect of the material's moisture transfer qualities. The compression shirt acts as a second skin to wick perspiration away from your skin. Although I have been a fan of the Under Armour Heat Gear loose t-shirts, I can’t tell a significant difference in feel between the Starter and the Under Armour.


#7: Fila Sport Sprinter Performance Tee
I purchased two Fila Sport t-shirts from Kohl’s during a sale (which is like saying “during business hours” ‘cause there’s always a sale at Kohl’s). The Fila shirt is available on-line at Kohl's for $14.99.

The Fila is the heaviest undershirt in the comparison at 7 ounces dry and 9.5 ounces wet. Made of 100% polyester. This is a well constructed shirt, but it is more of an outer wear shirt than a performance undershirt. That said, I have worn this shirt regularly while on the bases during the spring and it has kept me warm, dry and comfortable.


#6: Russell Dri-Powder
The fact that I can't remember where or why I bought the Russell Dri-Powder shirt should tell you something. It is a very un-remarkable shirt. Available on-line from Sports Authority for $17.99.

The Russell is made of 100% Polyester and weighs 6 ounces dry, 8 ounces wet. It is made with a mesh weave. I personally don't like it as much as the Fila which performed worse in the moisture testing.



#5: Under Armour Heat Gear Loose
I have worn Under Armour Heat Gear undershirts exclusively for the past few years. I buy my Under Armour from my local sporting goods store, but it is generally available on-line and can be purchased through Under Armour for $19.99.

The Under Armour shirt weighs 6 ounces dry and 8 ounces wet. It was a surprise at how poorly the Under Armour shirt performed in the moisture wicking test. Under Armour shirt have kept me cool and dry during brutal summer baseball, and I considered it an essential piece of equipment.

The Under Armour Heat Gear can retain odor even after washing. I can attest to this trait, although I cannot state definitively that other shirts in this comparison do not retain odor. What I can say is that during the limited testing during this review, the Under Armour is the only shirt that held an odor after washing.


#4: Reebok Play Dry Tech
I purchased the Reebok Play Dry at another discount store. The shirt is available through Amazon for $22.50.

The Reebok is made from 100% polyester. It weight dry is 6 ounces and 7.5 ounces wet. The Reebok Play Dry Tech is the second best performing loose fitting shirt in the moisture wicking test which is why it is ranked so high in this comparison.

The bottom line is that the Reebok Play Dry Tech is a solid shirt that is comfortable and durable. The material is thin and suited for an undershirt.


#3: Nike FitDry Legend
The Nike FitDry Legend was the impetus for this undershirt comparison. I found this shirt at a discount store (Marshall's) for $7.00. It is red and I have only used it a couple times with my navy blue shirt during non-Fed games (my state requires a navy undershirt for NFHS games). It is available through many on-line retailers including REI for $20.

The Nike FiDry Legend weighs a very average 6 ounces dry and 8.5 ounces wet. It is made of 100% polyester, like many of the other shirts in this comparison. So why is it rated so high?

The Nike FitDry Legend screams quality. It is actually a disappointment that it performed so poorly in the moisture wicking test because it is a good looking and feeling undershirt. It has a much more substantial feel and look than the Under Armour shirt.


#2: Champion C9 Duo Dry
I purchased the Champion C9 Duo Dry Tech Tee at Target for $9.99. Also available on-line from Target for $9.99. The Champion C9 Duo Dry is available in several colors and my local Target has these consistently in-stock.

The Champion C9 is odorless and weighs 5.5 ounces dry, 7.5 ounces wet. That is remarkable performance considering its low price and availability at a big box store.

If you haven't tried the Champion C9 Duo Dry, you are missing out on a terrific value. This shirt is a outstanding combination of quality and price. I purchased the Champion C9 in black, and I found myself grabbing my black Champion undershirt without thinking during the spring college season as my plate undershirt. It has held up very well and shows very little sign of wear from my chest protector straps. It is a Midwest Ump "Best Buy."

#1: Diamond Hotsport
Just before the season I purchased a navy blue Diamond Hotsport from Ump-Attire for $18.99. This purchase was really an after-thought and was the last undershirt I bought for the comparison. My wife asked, "Do you really need another t-shirt?" I had never seen a Diamond undershirt, but I have learned to trust the retail judgment of Jim Kirk at Ump-Attire and I think very highly of the Diamond protective equipment I have tested.

The Diamond Hotsport is made of 100% polyester and weighs 6.5 ounces dry. Here's the crazy part: it weighs 6.5 ounces wet! That is the best result of any shirt in the moisture wicking test. This comparison has really opened my eyes to the transfer properties of different polyester materials. Apparently all polyester is not the same!

The Diamond has been my favorite undershirt since I purchased it. I knew the Diamond was keeping me dry and cool and it is light-weight. It also feels similar to the Under Armour loose fit shirts I have been wearing for years. You want the best? The Diamond Hotsport is the best undershirt in this comparison.

Reebok Field Magistrate Plate Shoes

Today I have the opportunity to review the Reebok Field Magistrate plate shoes. The Field Magistrate is brand new for the 2009 season, is endorsed by Major League Baseball, and has been spotted at Major League Baseball games (below are umpires Al Porter and Bob Davidson).

APPEARANCE
Right out of the box you notice the picture of Shamu the Whale painted on the side - I mean the Reebok logo. Traditionalists will state plainly that umpire shoes should be black, and some umpire associations insist on it. Therefore many umpires (myself included) will black out a manufacturer’s logo with a sharpie and shoe polish. The problem with the Field Magistrate is that the logo takes up half of the shoe!

Additionally distracting is the MLB logo stamped on the top of the toe. Why??? These endorsements remind me of a NASCAR jersey. Maybe I’ll start renting out the back of my umpire shirt. . . “After the game head to Hooters!” or “Try the new BK minis!” I suppose that as consumers we have grown accustomed to large print logos on our athletic shoes. However, many umpires would appreciate the option of a subdued, blacked-out logo in these shoes. Reebok are you listening?

The toe of the Field Magistrate seems awkwardly shaped to me and seems to balloon out from my pant leg. In measuring the toe it is no wider than the New Balance MU450.

FIT
I told Reebok that I wear a 10.5 D athletic shoe and they sent me size 11. The fit is fantastic, so keep that in mind when ordering. The standard D width fit fine, even though I sometimes require a wider shoe.

The shoe supported my ankles comfortably and my shin guards fit over the substantial tongue. That was an annoyance when I first dressed, but the fit actually proved to be more comfortable.

COMFORT
These shoes are more comfortable than the New Balance MU450s I usually wear. As stated above, my shin guards fit over the tongue and provided a more comfortable fit. The Play Dry lining is soft and “cushy.” The support is fantastic.

I weighed the Reebok Field Magistrate plate shoe on my handy-dandy postage scale and found that each shoe weighs 25.5 ounces. My New Balance MU450s weigh 27 ounces each.

OBSERVATIONS
The turf sole is both a blessing and a curse. First the positive: traction. The turf sole grabs dry surfaces and provides superior traction.

The negatives: mud. The turf sole that grabs the dry surface also holds onto the mud causing the shoe to gain weight and you to lose that superior traction. Personally, I would rather have the added traction on a dry field. A “street sole” (e.g. on the New Balance MU450) will cause you to slip anyway.

The turf sole also makes it difficult to swipe the plate with your shoe. Don’t get me wrong, I clean the plate regularly with my brush (bouncing out quickly with my back to the field, using a patented five movement technique and looking awesomely professional), but occasionally little Johnny will swing big and cover up a corner and I swipe it off with my shoe without stopping the game. For those times the Field Magistrate under-achieves.

Finally, how am I going to clean these shoes? I’m an old school military vet and I like my shoe polish and brush. I can make my blacked-out New Balance shoes shine so bright they can be seen from space. However, with the multiple logos on the Field Magistrate, using shoe polish and a brush is not practical. I suppose I will have to experiment with Pledge or Scrubbing Bubbles?

AVAILABILITY
Reebok Field Magistrate plate shoes are offered in full and half sizes and in standard and 4E widths. Below is a sampling of current prices:

Ump-Attire $117.95

S.O.S. Sports $103.95

Lester’s Upstate Sports $105.00

Purchase Officials $89.00

The bottom line is that this is a great fitting and performing shoe. Once Reebok reigns in their self-promotion and eliminates the white logos, they can claim to have the ultimate umpire plate shoe.