Last Updated on July 25, 2022
Catcher’s gear is the most important gear for a catcher in baseball. It gives protection to a catcher behind the home plate.
Many kids opted to practice acting in my coaching facility. So, I am familiar with the many catcher’s gears, along with their many benefits.
A few days ago, one of my student’s parents purchased him Mizuno Softball Catchers Gear. By this time the boy practiced a lot with this gear.
As a coach, I always try to check and directly use any baseball gear that comes to my or my coaching facility. However, I have tested the complete set of Mizuno Samurai catcher’s gear.
Ok, now it’s time to share how the catcher’s gear performs. Today, I will be sharing my experience with you about the Mizuno’s Samurai catcher’s gear in this review guide.
So, let’s see what is waiting for us.
What Is Catcher’s Gear
Catcher’s gear is the protective equipment for the catchers behind the plate while playing. The catcher’s gear set includes a helmet, chest protector, and leg guards. These components make a complete set of a catcher’s gear.
The primary goal of a catcher’s gear is to give protection to the catcher from an injury that may come from the pitched balls by a pitcher.
If you are thinking about practicing in the catcher’s position, or already doing practice, you may already be familiar with a complete set of catcher’s gear.
By the way, the Mizuno softball Samurai gear consists of a Samurai chest protector, a Samurai adult helmet, and Samurai adult shin guards/leg guards.
Before going too deep with it, let’s first talk about every part that a catcher’s gear has for education purposes.
Components Of A Catcher’s Gear
Helmet: A helmet or face mask is a must-needed primary part of a catcher’s gear. It protects your entire face from the ball. A helmet consists of a skull protector, face protector, jaw protector, and the protector that protects the back of your head.
So, the helmet demands high performance.
Do you want to know about other baseball helmets? Our guide on Best baseball Helmets To Choose In 2022 can help you about this.
Chest Protector: A chest protector gives protection to your chest, along with your shoulder, stomach, collarbone, and ribs. A chest protector is made of generally foam-like elements that provide protection along with comfort. The shoulder pads are implemented to give comfort to the shoulders.
Leg Guards: The parts that protect your leg area include the ankle, knees, and the entire leg. It also gives you comfort when you need to kneel for a long time behind the plate. Basically, the inside of the leg guards is made of soft material to give comfort along with the knee cap.
On the other hand, the outside of the leg guard is made of hard material to prevent the power of the mad pitched balls.
Catcher’s Mitt
Actually, the catcher’s mitt is not the direct part of the catcher’s gear package. You need to purchase it separately. A catcher’s mitt is a special type of glove that is designed uniquely for the catchers only. It contains very thick padding, a specially designed grippy surface, superior comfort, and a lightweight feel.
By the way, you will not get the catcher’s mitt with either samurai gear, or other companies’ catcher’s gear.
Other Accessories
Throat Guard: A throat guard provides protection to your throat. It is made of high-performance plastic to protect the throat. The throat guard is attached to the bottom of the helmet and covers the throat. Some youth leagues require you to wear a throat guard along with the helmet.
Thumb Protector: The thumb protector basically gives you extra protection for your thumb ligament. It is worn under the catcher’s mitt on your thumb.
Knee Savers: Knee savers are comfortable foam. It is attached to the back of the leg guard to take some of your leg’s weight. You have to stand for a seven-inning time which creates soreness in your leg. The knee savers give you relief from pain and soreness.
Catcher’s Bag: It won’t be right that you are roaming with all your catchers’ gear by your hand(just kidding!). So, having a bag for the gear is almost a must-have factor. The catcher’s gear bags generally have special pockets and chambers for putting your Samurai gear.
Mizuno Softball Catchers Gear Set: A Descriptive Review
Now, let’s get back to the subject. Theoretically, Mizuno Samurai gear is the best catcher’s gear series of Mizuno considering performance, and price match. The Mizuno Samurai catcher’s gear set includes a Samurai helmet, Samurai chest protector, and Samurai Shin Guard.
By the way, I will be sharing my user experience and observation with the gear that I have gotten from it.
Samurai Catcher’s Helmet
The Samurai helmet is made of high-quality materials. Inside the helmet, there is a 3-layer EVA foam padding, which gives ultimate comfort to your head. Also, the 3-layer EVA foam padding ensures extensive protection to your head by absorbing the shock that happens when the ball collides with the helmet.
The Samurai helmet is gender engineered for female players. The strong steel mask is designed with high-grade steel bars. The steel bars are designed and implemented in such a way that ensures increased visibility of the catcher. On the other hand, the helmet meets NOCSAE standards that extensively ensure the safety of the helmet and catcher’s head.
The strategic ventilation system of the helmet is just standard that I found. The 16-vent bars ensure a lot of air ventilation when you wear the helmet. The entire construction of the helmet is highly durable without compromising comfort.
Also, the mechanism of the helmet is also reliable as well. You can use the chain strap of the helmet with one hand, which ensures easy wearing along with a secure fit. Another great feature of the strap is that it is an anti-pull feature enabled back of the helmet. So, there is no chance of pulling off the strap accidentally.
Samurai Chest Protector
The Samurai chest protector implemented a double-tap three-layer construction. The surface of the chest protector is tailored with low rebound foam. This gives you a grippy surface.
On the other hand, the strap of the chest protector is quickly releasable, which ensures quick On and Off. The innovative design details with added air mesh lining and anatomical cut give a lightweight to the protector.
The protector is gender engineered that allows female players and youth to use it in a fastpitch game.
The center of the gravity of the chest protector spreads the shock efficiently so that you will just feel that the ball hit your protector. But, you will not feel any physical pain or anything like that.
The entire construction of the catcher’s gear is highly durable, comfortable, and shock-proof.
Samurai Leg guards/ Samurai Shin Guards
The updated 2022 shin guards ensure the removal of the triple knee cup. Instead of a triple knee cup, Mizuno implemented an air mesh that allows access to proper air to your legs in the baseball game. Proper air ventilation is one of the exact elements that need to be circulated properly.
Also, the removal of triple knee caps reduces the weight of the leg guards without compromising the safety and hardness.
So, in this case, the Mizuno samurai shin guards manufacturer did such a great job for the great fit.
By the way, the leg guards are constructed with a multi-layer of materials that ensure protection against even the fastest throw of a pitcher. The leg guards measure from the center of the knee cap. This measurement ensures reliable bends at the ankle of the guards.
The shin guards are an ideal fit designed exclusively that ensures the total safety of the catcher’s leg no doubt. Durable and high-quality materials, exclusive design pattern, an exact and ideal fit for adult and youth, everything makes this one complete set of great catcher’s gear.
The Mizuno Women’s softball catcher’s gear is found in five different color combinations. They are Gray-Cardinal, Gray-Maroon, Gray-Purple, Gray-Royal, and Navy-Red. The sizing chart for the gear for women is as follows.
- 13 inches to 15 inches, and
- 14 inches to 16 inches.
How To Choose Catcher’s Gear?
Now, let’s have a discussion on how you can choose the right catcher’s gear for yourself. Because, if you select the wrong gear, this will not be any good for you in fitting, durability, and performance.
Now, I will be discussing the facts that you should check when you want to purchase your catcher’s gear.
Price
Price is one of the most important facts when you want to purchase a complete set of gear. You should determine your price range before you make a purchase. Then, search for the best products in your determined price range. You may also search for special offers in the marketplaces for a reduced price match.
Also, if you think of getting the products from online sites like Amazon or others, you may also check the vendor to provide your free shipping. Free shipping will save you a great amount of money. So, you know, price match is one of the crucial points actually.
Size
Like price, size is another crucial point in choosing the catcher’s gear. Because extra large, or extra small will not give you an ideal fit. Measure the size of your body and then know the details of the gear.
Don’t purchase the wrong-sized gear which may not be able to give you the perfect fit. An imperfect fit will hamper your performance, no doubt.
Strategic Ventilation System
Ventilation is technically the most crucial option. Think, you will be standing for a long time behind the plate. So, what will bother you most? Obviously, the answer will be “temperature” inside the gear.
So, you must ensure that the gear is perfectly designed with proper ventilation. See what the manufacturer of the gear says about its technical sides. Use your mobile browser to check the news, and specs about the gear.
Also, you can directly contact the manufacturer through their site to be assured about the ventilation system of the gear you want to purchase.
Maximum Protection
Ok, the last attribute you must check is the build quality of the catcher’s gear. Make sure that the gear has used high-quality materials that can withstand the most adverse pitched balls.
Because, the primary objective of the catcher’s gear is to protect you from any type of injury from the pitched balls, or other situations. You, the gear must meet the needs of the highest adverse situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
–> Where do you find the Mizuno Softball Catcher’s Gear?
Probably you will find your Mizuno Softball catcher’s gear around the baseball equipment shop near your locations. You will find their address online if you search. Aside from this, you also can check on Amazon for the complete set includes Samurai helmet, Samurai Chest Protector, and Samurai Leg guards.
Wrapping Up
I have found the Mizuno softball catcher’s gear just good in its price range. The performance I have found is up to the mark. The NOCSAE standards reassure me about its protection ability.
On the other hand, as this gear is gender engineered, it is one of the perfect choices for women and youth.
So, if you are searching for a perfect match for yourself along with high-grade materials, and highly-durable gear, you might have a check on it.
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Hello everyone. My name is Jason Butler, and I live in California, America. I was a professional AAA Minor League Baseball player. I lost my chance of playing MLB for injury issues, but I did not lose my love for baseball. I attended the coaching training program and am now working as a coach in a small school in San Diego.
I always love to share my experience and knowledge if that can help you. Play baseball, and stay fit.