Name: Best Fastpitch Softball Catchers Gear: Full Sets for 2023
Brand: busyplayingsoftball.com
SKU: busyplayingsoftball-com-3
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

Best Fastpitch Softball Catchers Gear: Full Sets for 2023

preview

Skip to contentThe catcher…arguably the most intriguing positions in all of sports! And with all of this intrigue also comes quite a bit of difficulty when trying the find the best fastpitch softball catchers gear.Not only do you need equipment that fully protects you, but in order to be at your best, it should also allow for mobility, and a sense of security.And who wouldn’t want to play at their best?So whether you are competitive, just learning the position, we feel the recommendations below will make you better. Note: Equipment recommendations you will read below have now been updated for the 2023 season!Jump to: [Full Sets | Chest Protectors | Leg Guards | Helmets]Table of ContentsLooking for the best full sets of fastpitch catchers equipment at the moment? Here we present the top options: All Star Vela, Easton Prowess, Under Armour Victory, and Mizuno Samurai. The nice thing about full sets of gear is that in most cases you should receive a discount when making a purchase.I’m sure most of you reading this blog have heard of Jenn Schroeder (or Jenn Schro for short). She is one of the top instructors in the world of softball with a primary focus on catchers. You can read more about her on her website – but in short – she is one of the most accomplished softball trainers and works with some of the best softball players in the world.Just with Jen Schro’s backing, I feel confident that Easton The Fundamental would be the top choice in fastpitch catchers gear for 2023. This set comes in Small, Medium, and Large sizes and therefore is great for any age group.So what is included?The best feature in my opinion would be the Fundamental chest protector within this set. One of the main reasons for this is how it provides catchers with their own custom fit with its four strap system. Back in the days when I used to catch, I found the equipment to be rather bulky and the chest protector was often my biggest hindrance. In addition, the Fundamental chest protector is designed to better protect the neck and collarbone areas.The next feature to overview is the Fundamental leg guards which are tough and durable as you’d expect. Both better knee shape and shin coverage have been applied to the leg guards so they are able to wrap around to provide better coverage and more comfort. Speaking of coverage and protection, the leg guards also have a breathable liner included so that you can keep as cool as possible – especially crouched down in the hot sun!The final piece to the puzzle is the helmet which has been constructed using high protective ABS plastic for increased durability. It uses a steel cage system to ensure your face area is always protected from foul balls or any other dangers. Another nice feature is that the Fundamental helmet uses a sleek glossy paint that looks fantastic and extremely professional.Overall, the Fundamental Jen Schro is a great choice backed by one of the top names in the industry.One of the most popular sets for 2023 is the Mizuno Samurai fastpitch series which is available in Adult, and Intermediate sizes.When people talk of catcher’s gear, some brands are normally known a little more than other brands.All Star is one of those brands and is one of the more actively searched year after year. We believe that the All-Star Afx series is a perfect set for advanced &amp; competitive catchers. At a reasonable price point, this gear has quite a bit to like!The MVP hockey-styled helmet that comes with this set is top of the line and should keep your head protected in all the right spots. It is built using an forward-thinking design and uses high impact resistant ABS plastic to ensure your noggin is kept safe. In addition, for another layer of safety, the back panel has been better designed to ensure that straps are always fastened in place.Next comes the chest protector, which is built specifically for women’s curves. What is nice about this chest protector is that it has been designed to be a bit narrow in the shoulder area to fit the female player a bit better. In addition, the narrower shoulder area provides the catcher with increased mobility and therefore better coverage. Within the chest protector itself, specific high protective plates have been placed into the more prone areas (i.e. throat, collar bone and chest).The last piece of the AFX set is the leg guards. The best features of these leg guards are their versatility. Some catchers like to wear shorts, especially when the weather gets warmer. Using the LINQ hinge system, leg guards are kept in place and prevent the catcher from having to make adjustments all game long. This allows the catcher to concentrate on the game and not their equipment!Overall, this is a great set worthy of any fastpitch player.For youth level catchers aged 9 to 12, I think that the All Star Fastpitch series is one of the best choices out there. In fact (although still just my opinion) I believe this is the best youth fastpitch catchers gear set available right now.As mentioned in an earlier section the All Star company is often regarded as one of the top equipment producers as they put in a ton of effort into research, and design to hopefully create more innovative and better products. We think any catcher would enjoy wearing this series made specifically for fastpitch players.The chest protector included in this package is from the Players Series line which is one of the more popular lines for young catching prospects. One of the main things it should do well is the ability to deaden softballs on impact. So if you’ve got a little bit of a wilder pitcher on the mound, this should help keep passed balls from occurring as much. The model uses the same shape as the more pro level System 7 series but uses slightly less quality materials on the inside. This shouldn’t be too much of an issue especially within younger age groups.I don’t know about you, but when I look at the helmet included in the picture above, it just looks high quality and polished. In addition to looking nice, it should be sturdy as well as it too contains high impact ABS plastic allowing it to take more punishment (although we hope that does not happen). The only negative for the helmet is that the padding is not removable so more cleaning may be necessary so that it doesn’t give off the old sweaty smell.The last piece in this set is the double knee designed leg guards. According to the specification list, these professionally designed leg guards also contain high impact plastic including really thick pieces in the high usage areas. Within the knee area, and extra gel pad has also been provided to provide even better impact protection.Overall the All Star Fastpitch series is a great middle to high end set and should be on your radar as well – especially for youth players.Nothing completes a softball catcher’s arsenal better than a nice sturdy chest protector. The chest protector is one of the most recognized pieces of equipment across any sport and serves a very important purpose. I couldn’t imagine how bad it would hurt to be hit by a foul ball squarely in the chest. In fact for some, it could be fatal especially if it hits around the heart area. Some keys for finding the right chest protector include:The Easton Jen Schro chest protector is probably your best bet when it comes to chest protection. For one it is already very popular based on the reviews that have come in from others, and secondly it comes from a great brand known for the strong catchers gear they produce.We discussed this line of gear earlier on the page, but Jen Schro is considered one of the premier catching instructors in the softball world. The equipment with her name of it uses her input so you can feel confident in the product.So what makes the Jen Schro itself a better option that say some of the others? Here are a few reasons:All Star catchers gear has been around for a while and the newest addition is the Afx series. It offers a nice option for those looking to spend a little less money than the Jen Schro described earlier. Although it does not include as many advanced features there is still a lot to like about this model and I would venture to say it would be perfect for most levels of catchers. It’s main features include:You can’t underestimate the value of a proper fitting set of leg guards when playing the position of softball catcher. Although most people will think of soccer first when they think of leg guards, it should go without saying that a softball catcher can use them in the exact same way. The shin area is one of the most critical as the catcher sits in a prone and uncomfortable position which in turn leaves the shin area exposed. Leg guards protect the catcher from runners sliding into home, and from passed balls or foul tips.When purchasing a set of leg guards, one should look for the following features:Whether you play for fun, or play to win, the equipment you wear can certainly be a factor for whether your team wins or loses. If you have ever had to use hand me down or older equipment in the past, you probably know how uncomfortable it can be to try to move. Although you don’t always think of a catcher as being the most mobile of positions, it certainly can make the position difficult when you have little to no mobility and are unable to help your team.The Under Armour Pro fastpitch leg guards are designed specifically with women in mind and provide comfort, performance and durability in an easy to wear package. The main features include:Regardless of whether you are new to fastpitch, or you have been playing for quite some time now, odds are you need some form of leg guards that can provide the protection you require, without constricting your movement.Designed to provide the protection you need, without emptying your wallet, the Easton Jen Schro series provides all that and more for advanced catchers (i.e. competitive level). Easton calls this series “the VERY best“, and there are many catchers who believe that is the case!The main benefits listed with these leg guards include:Available in one of nine popular team colors, this model comes equipped with an armor riveted shin plate design that ensures this model will stand up to whatever you can throw at them.It features a lightweight shin, knee and toe plate that is designed specifically to protect you from ball impacts. This model also comes equipped with a soft cushion foam lining designed to keep you comfortable no matter how long the game may go on for. These guards are designed for movement, ensuring you are able to move quick enough to make nearly any play that comes your way.If you are thinking of stepping behind the plate to play the position of catcher then you must have a strong and durable helmet. You can go a little less expensive in some of the other areas, but I do not recommend leaving your head vulnerable.With fast ball speeds (especially in fastpitch softball) there is a great risk of substantial injury to the head area by both passed balls and with foul tips. With concussions so prevalent in today’s world, it is crucial to select a helmet (or mask) that will keep your head protected at all times.When thinking about picking up a brand new mask one should consider and look for the following:If you prefer a more traditional style of catcher’s helmet designed specifically to fit players of all ages then look no further than the Under Armour Converge. Available for purchase in single and two-tone color schemes, this model features a traditional hockey mask design with an outer shell that is made entirely from the same technology used by professional and college level players.You’ve more than likely heard about all of the concussion issues in football. Having confidence in your helmet makes the game feel easier without having to worry about unfortunate incidents.The main features of the Under Armour Converge are:We’ve already shown off the All Star series a few times on this page, and we believe for good reason. This MVP 2500 helmet contains many features to help make you a better catcher while all the while keeping you protected. This gear is one of the more popular options available to catchers.Some of the main features and benefits you can receive include:One of the more asked questions I hear is “isn’t all of the gear the same”? Although each set you’ll see will look shiny and new, i’ve learned there is quite a bit to research involved when looking into this particular equipment.If you think about it, there is no one else on the entire field that has to wear this much gear so it better be comfortable. Catching is probably the most dangerous position on the field as well as they’ll be involved in just about every play and receive the ball the most.Sitting right behind the batter I could not even begin to imagine how nervous I would be if I took a liner right off my mask, chest, or knee. So although it may be quite a pain, it certainly is worth the effort to find the right equipment to keep you fully protected, comfortable, while still allowing you as much mobility as possible so you can do your job.I hope that you have enjoyed my overviews of the different softball catchers equipment choices that are available. As alluded too earlier, this position can be tricky to find the right gear for but the main things to keep in mind are protection, comfort, and mobility. We believe that any of the choices on this page will provide all of that and more.Hi everyone! I'm Dominique, the main writer behind BusyPlayingSoftball.As you probably assumed, my passion is softball. In my younger years, I played at the high school level but injuries eventually caught up to me and I wasn't able to play at higher levels.Nowadays you'll still find me playing catch with my kids, and playing in a rec league. When i'm not busy, i'm contributing to this site which I hope will grow into a valuable resource for the softball community!Earnings Disclaimer: When you buy certain products from some of the sites which we link to, BusyPlayingSoftball.com receives a commission.BusyPlayingSoftball.com is a participant in the Softball.com Affiliate Program, a program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Softball.com and affiliated sites.

Skip to contentThe catcher…arguably the most intriguing positions in all of sports! And with all of this intrigue also comes quite a bit of difficulty when trying the find the best fastpitch softball catchers gear.Not only do you need equipment that fully protects you, but in order to be at your best, it should also allow for mobility, and a sense of security.And who wouldn’t want to play at their best?So whether you are competitive, just learning the position, we feel the recommendations below will make you better. Note: Equipment recommendations you will read below have now been updated...

Best Fastpitch Softball Catchers Gear: Full Sets for 2023

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS