Best Youth Catcher Gear 2019 | Help Your Child Pump Up His Game
Game Circumstances
The position of catcher in a game is one of the crucial and tough positions. It has the second number on the scoreboard and also goes through some physical abuses during the game.
Risks involved
Since the player is in the vicinity of rough slides, wrongs tips, baseball bats and what not. These risks make protective gear an vital part of the catcher’s uniform.
We bring the Solution
Parents and coaches both have always found it difficult to choose the correct protective gear for their children and players respectively. For this purpose, we have jotted down the 10 best youth catcher gear to make choosing easy for you.
Let’s begin!
10 Best Youth Catcher Gear Reviews
1. Easton Youth Magic Catcher
When playing baseball, protection is as important as keeping your eyes on the ball. This is why the Easton Youth gear provides only the best youth catcher gear for players and defenders.
The Easton Youth Black Magic Catcher Box Set consists of a 6 to 7 inches helmet along with a 14-inch chest protector. Protective gear of the legs is a unique 11.5 inches.
The design of the Easton Youth is gorgeously black or red, allowing for a pitch black look to minimize colors and maximize sensationalism.
2. Wilson EZ Gear Kit
If you thought that gaming gear couldn't get more protective, well they just did. The Wilson EZ Gear Kit is everything that a beginner kid can get.
The Wilson EZ is great for kids up to 12 years. Specifically, the smaller and medium version of this set is for 5-7-year-olds, whereas the larger version is good for 7-12-year-olds.
The fastening straps and hooks are easy to operate even by kids. The locks and pads are quite small yet sophisticated and can hold the entire structure close to the body before breaking.
3. Louiseville Slugger Youth PG Series Catcher Box Set
The Louiseville Slugger is the next good thing we could find on the internet. This catcher box set is the absolute perfect one for your 10-year-olds.
The helmet has a nice little polish that outshines the rest. The color is bright red and playful, with just a hint of ebony black. Overall, the dimensions are perfect for 8-12-year-olds. The child will undoubtedly become the star of the game instantly.
The chest protector has a high-quality foam padding that will ensure that your child or preteen stays safe while playing.
4. Mizuno Boy’s Youth Samurai Box Catcher Gear
Has your son ever wanted to look like a samurai? If so, maybe he can now fulfill his dreams. The Mizuno Boy's Youth Samurai Gear is not only exceptional in security, but also features a proper design.
As said before, the Mizuno Boy's Youth Catcher Gear has perhaps the unique design that matches that of traditional samurais. The colors are a mix of steel gray and onyx and will leave your child feeling special as ever.
The Mizuno Catcher Gear provides great dimensions. Specifically, it has a helmet of about 6 and a half or 7 and a quarter inches, shin guards of 14 and a half inches, and a chest protector of about 14 inches.
5. Under Armour PTH Victory Catcher’s Kit
Under Armour is a company which produces only the durable sports gear in the nation, and this is just one of them.
The UA Victory Gear isn't like any other gear that we have seen. Not only does it have variants in four different colors, but it also features a polished body and an incredibly lustrous surface.
There's a factor which qualifies this product for the best youth catcher gear, and we think that it's the protection system. Apart from the odor-reducing AEGIS Microbe Shield, the UA PTH also has a highly resistant ABS plastic shell that absorbs shock.
6. MacGregor Youth Catcher Gear Pack
If you’re looking for the finest youth catcher gear, you've already found it. The MacGregor Youth Catcher Gear Pack has a reputation for having the top products.
The MacGregor is made of a blend of different kinds of rubber, which allows the gear to absorb as much shock as possible. If you thought that that's the only good thing, wait till you hear about the jet black helmet.
This is the only catcher gear we've seen so far with a throat protector. The projector can safely be tied around the neck, and it will safeguard the throat from any sharp blows, reducing the chances of strangulation.
7. MacGregor Junior Catcher’s Gear Pack
MacGregor has never failed to impress us, and the Junior Catcher's Gear Pack may just be an evidence of that. MacGregor's designs are always minimalistic yet sophisticated. This product comes in a crimson red color and a jet black one. This allows your kids to look picturesque when out on the fields.
The 4-inch throat protector is the signature complement of the MacGregor. This will help secure your child's' throat, allowing for easier breathability and protection from impact.
8. Easton Youth M7 Catcher Box Set
This youth catcher gear is an update to Easton’s natural youth catcher gear. Where it has multiple similarities to its predecessor, it also has many improvements that make it much better than Natural.
The foam used on the chest plate is lightweight yet has very protective abilities. It protects the chest by dampening the rebounds on the chest. A large number of ventilation holes have been added at different places to keep the airflow continuous.
It has a double back adjustment. The leg gear can be customized according to your needs. Apart from adjusting the size to fit your legs, you can also remove the kneecaps. Full knee area is protected by the triple knee design. The guards fit properly which provide better mobility.
The helmet is made with ABS shell and is NOCSAE approved. The ABS shell dampens all the impact and protects your child’s head. A steel face mask is added to the helmet to keep your child’s face protected without hindering your vision.
9. Easton M10 Youth Custom Catchers Set
This is Easton’s premier catcher set. It is available in different sizes with a number of colors and shapes for different body types. You can easily find this youth catcher set for your child. It has a children’s version and an intermediate version.
The helmet has an ABS shell that is wrapped on Hyperlite foam. The helmet is feather light and has a smooth radius. This makes running in the game easier. The ABS shell present on the foam makes sure that the foam remains reinforced to ensure full protection.
The helmet has ventilation holes drilled into it to keep the air flowing. This not only keeps the head cool but also prevents any smell from accumulating. The chest gear is constructed specifically for players that are right handed. Zero shock technology is used in the chest gear. It absorbs all the shock at impact to keep rebound to a minimum.
The chest protection gear of children’s version is 12.5 inches wide while the chest protection gear of intermediate version is 14.5 inches wide. The leg guards are designed to be asymmetrical. This not only improves fitting but also makes mobility better. Trulockanti-roll design is incorporated in the leg guards.
10. All-Star Youth League Series Catchers Gear Set
This dandy looking youth catcher gear is ideal for pumping up your child’s game to the next level. It is specifically devised to make your child feel light yet protected while playing. This set includes a helmet, a feather-light chest guard, and leg guards as well.
The ABS plastic on the top is made of super tough plastic that is durable and also protects your child. The metallic cage for the protection of your child’s face is made using I-BAR VISION technology. It is made such that it fits heads of all sizes. The chest guard is made in a rib cage design for great comfort. Conforming foam is used in it for dampening impacts.
The harness around the neck is in “V” shape and can be completely customized according to your needs. For the protection of your child’s spine, it comes with a snap up tail design. The knee pads are of a basic design and made of durable plastic. The shin part of the leg guards is contoured and can resist high impact.
The leg guards come with complete wings that protect the leg all around. For better balance, mobility, and movement an instep is added to the leg guards. The leg guards have hooks and straps so that they can be adjusted. This gear comes in three versions, tee ball version, ages 7-9 and ages 9-12.
Youth Catcher Buyers Guide
Whenever your child expressed his desire to play a certain sport, the first thing that comes into your mind is their protection from all the physical abuses that they will have to go through during the process of learning. If you are new to the world of protective gear, there are a few things that you need to acquaint yourself with, or you might find it difficult to choose the correct gear. Some of the things you need to consider are:
Sizing
Protection gear comes in all sizes and shapes for children and adults with different body shapes. Children constantly change their body shape and size as they grow up. Due to these reasons, you need to check and buy the product for your child. Protection gear that is heavy can cause an adverse effect on your child’s delicate muscles.
Make sure you go for products that have adjustable straps so the gear can be adjusted according to your child’s growing body. Usually, for children between 7-10 years, the chest gear is 12.5 inches wide while for children with ages between 11 and 13 the chest guard is 14.5 inches wide.
Flexibility
Protection gear needs to be flexible. If you invest in a rigid chest or leg guard, you will see that it will not effectively protect your child from impact instead the shock waves will reach your child’s body.
Apart from dampening the shocks, flexible gear also aids mobility rather than hindering it as a stiff guard does. To see if the gear is flexible, examine the inner padding and upper plastic material. A thin padding of high-quality material enhances flexibility a lot.
Airflow
As mundane and insignificant this feature might look, airflow is extremely important. Being a catcher is already a tough task, and with the accumulated heat in gear, it becomes almost unbearable.
The small holes punched throughout the gear makes airflow better and help in keeping the player cool. The holes punched are not random instead they are strategically placed in places where sweating and heat accumulates.
FAQS
Some of the frequently asked questions that can help you with the understanding of protective gear for your child are:
1. Why is protection gear necessary?
Since children are still in the phase of developing their bones and muscles, even small injuries can have grave long terms effects. During sports, the risk of injuries increases by approximately 100 percent. To keep your child from enduring any permanent injury, it is vital to invest in good quality protective gear.
2. What budget should you keep in mind before going looking for protection gear?
Protection gear is not usually costly. It will not be hard on your pocket but yes the more premium features you want, the more money you will have to pitch in. Every protection gear manufacturing company has protection gears from basic level to premium level depending on what the customer wants.
An essential level protection gear that includes a helmet, chest guard, and leg guards will be available for around $100. It goes up with more features and high-quality materials added.
3. What should you look for in a helmet for my child?
The helmet is an essential part of protection gear since it protects the most vulnerable part of the body. Nowadays the top quality material used in helmets is ABS plastic that keeps the upper part of the helmet durable and protective.
Inside the ABS plastic, the lining of a thin foam layer is done that is designed to dampen all kinds of shocks on impact. Without these two items that helmet will either be less protective or very heavy. It is advised you invest in helmets with these two materials.
4. What should you look for in chest guard?
Usually, chest guards only have protective plastic on the chest area, it is effective, but there is still a risk of enduring injuries. Nowadays, basic chest guards have protective plastic all around and special protective part of the spine. If you go looking for youth catcher gear for your child, make sure you buy the one that has most protective abilities.
Also, don’t forget to buy the ones that have holes for airflow. Without these holes, the chest guard gets very suffocating.
5. What should you look for in leg guards?
Usually, legs are at the most risk of enduring an injury since almost all the work is being done by the legs. There are two types of leg guards on the market. The first type is only made for protection. Other features are not considered.
These can give you protection, but they hinder your child’s movement and balance. The other type has both the protection and the mobility features available. Make sure you buy the ones that don’t affect your child’s performance rather enhances it.
6. Why should the protective gear be lightweight?
Heavy protective gear hinders your child’s performance apart from protecting him/her. Children have delicate bones and muscles. If you get them heavy protective gear, it will put an extra burden on their bones and muscles. This will have adverse effects on their performance in the game as well as will leave their muscles sore.
7. What is ABS plastic?
ABS plastic is the newest technology that is used in protective gear especially helmets nowadays. It is a thermoplastic and has great protective quality. It has high strength and less weight which makes it ideal for use in protective gear. The increased popularity is because this plastic can be easily recycled as well,
8. Does matte finish or glossy finish affect the quality?
The choice of matte finish or glossy finish completely depends on your choice. It has nothing to do with the quality of material used and the protective ability of the gear. It is just for the sake of looks.
Conclusion
Protective gear is an essential part of any sports or any sports position, but for a youth catcher, it is extremely crucial to invest in high-quality protective equipment since the catcher is at the most risk of getting injured. In this write-up, we have compiled the best youth catching gear so that you can buy a perfect product for your child.
