The new Reebok umpire plate shoes came in less than 2 weeks ago. They are available in 2 styles and 2 widths:OFFICIAL MLB SHOE
There have been much buzz surrounding these unique shoes. They were field tested at the MLB level last year and went through 4 design changes as a result of feedback. They are now the official umpire shoes of MLB.
THE WHITE LOGOAnother part of the buzz has been the amount of white on the shoe. Typically officials of any sport like to go as plain as possible. Shoes are typically all black, and if not there is usually only a smaller logo (e.g. the "N" on New Balance plate shoes). But in this case Reebok wanted to show off its logo resulting in a great deal of white.
Feedback on the white logo so far has been a mixed bag. Some hate all the white. Some either like the white or even prefer it due to providing some contrast vs. an all-black shoe... to each his own. My feeling is white in of itself is not bad... just look at white undershirts, white in numbers or white trim on shirts and jackets.
But I think Reebok could have certainly toned it down a little. They chose not to because it's just the way big shoe companies operate; to them it's all about the brand. If MLB umpires were wearing an all-black Reebok shoe then no one at the game or watching on TV would see their logo.
I suspect what will happen will be similar to what New Balance did with its new all-black umpire base shoe this year in that Reebok will follow up the plate shoes with the prominent logo in a year or 2 with at least an all-black option.YES, STEEL TOED
There was also some discussion about whether or not the shoes had a steel toe or not. It is definitely a steel toe.
PLATE SHOE SELECTION
The addition of the Reebok plate shoes now gives us more umpire plate shoe options (10) than ever with Reebok, New Balance and Pentagon (formerly Spot-bilt brand).
Plus with a 4E wide sizing, it presents a nice array of choices in widths. All brand shoes are available in D, the New Balance is also available in 2E and the Reebok in 4E.
There was a rumor that the 4E would not be available from Reebok. One of our competitors who chose not to purchase the 4E made this claim but this obviously not the case.
DETAILED IMAGES
We have some detailed images of the Reebok plate shoes at different angles and zoomed images that you won't find anywhere else. Just go to each product page to view.
What do you think about the new Reebok shoes?
11 comments:
I just got back from a weekend of college softball and having worn the new reebok shoe for the first time I loved it. The instep plate doesn't go up and pinch in with the shin guard and the insole and the sole of the shoe provided comfort. If your conference wants it all black get out your magic marker. I loved it just the way it comes.
It looks like a nice shoe. Is Ump Attire going to sell any Reebok base shoes?
Yes, we are going to sell Reebok base shoes. Reebok will have availability, so we are told, April 1st of this year in those.
The shoe is remarkably comfortable. I called a double header today and my dogs never barked. In fact, I feel less fatigued than normal and I attribute that to the comfort and support of the show. And, the bold Reebok logo helps differentiate me a little bit from the rest of my colleagues.
The Reebok is by far the most comfortable plate shoe I have ever worn. I have worn the Gerry Davis Patent leather and the +POS plate shoe and the Reeboks blow them away as far as look and comfort go. All the whining about the white is irrelavant. They look sharp. They shine up real well with shoe polish and/or a wet rag. I will be buying some of the Field Magistrate base shoes as well.
The only thing that took some gettin' used to was the long tongue. I found that if I took my shin guards and put them over the top it worked great and inadvertently added more padding for my ankles in the event of a wild pitch/foul ball hitting me.
I just used my new 2009 model over the weekend for two long, grueling adult league games. Wow, what a great shoe! It feels like an armor-plated tennis shoe! I just love them. They are lightweight and they seem to spring you forward when you run. I have no problem whatsoever with the white trim. First off, I don't mind white trim on umpire shoes. Second, if they are good enough for MLB and the NFL, they are good enough for me. Third, my plate pants cover most of it anyway, so not much white shows to begin with. All in all, a terrific plate shoe!!!
I purchased a pair of the new MLB style Reebok Umpire Plate Shoe last year in a size 9 1/2. I wore them a couple of times behind the plate and my feet really hurt, no kidding. I read a comment from another retailer that the new Reebok Umpire Plate shoe comes a 1/2 size small. Maybe I should have ordered a size 10, huh?
I'm thinking of ordering a pair of these for this up coming season. Can anyone tell me for sure if these run 1/2 size small like the other post claims. Just doing homework, returns are a pain. Thanks for any info.
Dave
I just tried on a pair at Honigs and they do run a 1/2 size smaller than the other plate shoes I tried on. They were by far the most comfortable also as other posters said.
Where can I buy the new Reebok base shoe that MLB are wearing with the white on the sole ??
I talked to an MLB umpire about their shoe deal last year, and he told me they got nothing out of it, aside from a few pair of shoes.
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