West Vest Gold A3210, West Vest Platinum, and the "Original" West Vest are protected by United States Patent # 5,530,966, Canadian Patent # 2,152,045 and is Patent Pending in Japan. All three designs are worn by over 90% of the Major League Umpiring staff and are the only chest protectors endorsed by Major League Baseball for use by their umpires.

By popular demand Joe West has designed a chest protector for the smaller umpire. The newly designed WESTVEST GOLD and WESTVEST PLATINUM now come in a "Smaller Version." Designed for the umpires who wear smaller than a 38 size jacket. This new smaller protector afford you the same protection as the larger version and gives the perfect fit.

The West Vest Gold was introduced in the 1992 World Series as the first hard shell protector ever used in a World Series event and to this day it's design is worn by more Major League Umpires than any other protector...It comes in three sizes, "Small- Medium", "Medium- Large" and "Large-Extra Large."..The S-M fits coat sized up to 38. The M-L fits coat sizes 38 to 46. 46 and above should order the Large-Extra Large.

The West Vest Platinum was a custom built protector for Joe West and was built for the larger umpire. It does have the most armor and is the hottest selling protector for both the Minor League umpires and the collegiate ranks. It now comes in a smaller size, only available here!

The "Original" West Vest has interconnecting plates that make the vest accommodate more than one umpire. By reconfiguring the plates a person who is 5'7" can wear the same vest as a larger frame 6'4" umpire. There are Major League Umpires who have worn this vest for their entire careers in the Major Leagues...Some for more than ten years. All three vests have open cell foam covered by high density plastic that has been tested on professional football players for strength and durability.

 

All three protectors have open cell foam covered by the hard outer plastic for absorbing the blow from a foul tip or even a bat that has been thrown in the umpires direction. The purpose of the protector is to cover the torso that is most vulnerable to an injury that could break a bone (ribs, collar bone) or stop the heart (sternum) or lungs. 

 

The masks that were designed for Wilson by Joe West evolved into two single (as opposed to hinged) cross bars for optimal vision. (Masks that have the bars hinged together create a blind spot on balls that are hit up or down). Because all "wire" masks are and have been made of tubular steel Wilson had to "beef" up these cross bars and in so doing started making them of solid steel for strength.