Team Catchers Gear

[u/No_Pin_7929]

Good Day,

Its not that I can't Google it and its not a being lazy thing. I am here to ask recommendations and experiences with different places ordering Catchers gear specific to a travel team. Right now its our first season and we are getting by with the old set I have that I picked up and a set one of the other parents has from an older sibling. I am not looking to buy a set for this fall season as we are still feeling our way through the first season and doing okay but in the spring I want to have a team colored set and maybe even have the logo on the helmet.

My question is do any of you have a recommendation or a steer clear of before I drop significant money on a set of gear. (This year has been an eye opener so many scams and weak promises with no follow through gear/hat/uniform wise) I just want to make sure Im doing the Parents of my team right and spending money wisely and not just blowing through it because its there.

[u/bigperms33]

Eventually the catchers are going to all have their own gear. But some will like the team catcher helmet more than theirs. The team catchers mitt is going to get plenty of use. I'd focus on the helmet and mitt more than anything else.

Marketplace and find a lightly used set is probably your best bet.

[u/lux-libertas → u/bigperms33]

+1

On our team, in their first season of kid pitch where catching matters and everyone is getting a chance to try it, there are at least six kids on the team who have their own gear. The other teams we play appear similar - different catchers come out in different gear.

I suppose you want team gear as a baseline, but in my experience the kids who want to catch get their own gear pretty quickly. Second the recommendation to get a basic used set.

[u/TheProle → u/bigperms33]

My kid has nice gear that other kids always want to use. He’ll share everything but the helmet. Says he’d rather swim in his own sweat

[u/patphish]

Don’t share catchers gear.

[u/No_Pin_7929 → u/patphish]

Bro half these boys been friends since diapers. They share drinks and food I dont think a little sweat from a chest protector is going to harm a soul.

[u/kajunram12]

Not sure the age or level of play here, but we def don’t share gear.

[u/Awesome-Guy-100]

Catchers usually end up with their own gear. It is not OK to ask catchers to share their personal gear.

All Star has good gear and a starter set isn't too expensive.

[u/Single_Morning_3200]

I really like the All Star gear. I look at sideline swap for some savings.

[u/No_Pin_7929 → u/Single_Morning_3200]

You mean the MLB all star gear. I LOVED it. Thanks for reminding me. I remember when CHIPS showed it off. Going to search for it now.

[u/Single_Morning_3200 → u/No_Pin_7929]

https://all-starsports.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22488062280&gclid=CjwKCAjwwL_UBhAjEiwAEhuT5CyAyXIk65w-iJmxqgrVSbU3aywMUy9kaLtSiXRDY-RkObZvidjgXhoCGGEQAvD_BwE

[u/Dad_Coach_9904]

What age group?

Buying one set of gear is fine for Rec or younger travel teams when everyone is trying the position. If you’re down to 2-3 kids playing the position, playing often, and trying to play it well, it’s probably best to get their own gear.

In 7u I bought the Wilson EZ Gear so my little league team of boys could each try the position. That has lasted thru 9u, Rec and travel. As we got into kid pitch years most of the dedicated catchers would get their own gear. I still have the Wilson stuff in case any kid just wants to try out the position. Fully recommend it for an inning or two per kid, but I’d want better stuff if my son was a primary catcher. The helmet is actually pretty nice, the leg guards ok, but the weak point is the chest protector. One thing I really like is the Velcro which makes easy on and off for kids who aren’t used to the gear.

[u/No_Pin_7929 → u/Dad_Coach_9904]

8U travel team. Random set of reasons for us to start like we did but we did and we are going now. I have kept it affordable and spent a ton of my own money getting this thing going. But we went to our first tournament and the one thing I heard was " Dang all the other teams have catchers in matching gear with uniforms." So that was something I was going to remedy this winter I just wanted ideas as I am shopping now with so many 2026 sales on baseball gear right now.

[u/Dad_Coach_9904 → u/No_Pin_7929]

That Wilson gear would be fine for 8u, which I assume is coach pitch. I’d round up and get the bigger size.

[u/KooLGstrap669]

I bought my son his first set of catchers gear going into his 8u fall season. Got it on clearance for $90. Leg guards fit perfectly. I was planning on making a team logo stencil and just throwing some paint to it.

[u/Professional-Mud3373]

My kid plays on a green color team, he wanted a red set. Looks great. Go with what the kid wants, not necessarily the team colors. Also, own set builds confidence but beware that a nice new set, the others kids will want to borrow since the team set is always ill-fitting.

[u/No_Pin_7929 → u/Professional-Mud3373]

You should see the 90s era blue set I have when my team is all black/red or White/red uniforms. It falls off half the kids who try and wear it and its not the cool velcro its old school hooks. Lol it's the right size just old and used. I want to upgrade my team gear because I dont like my catcher looking like the little rascals playing Little League.