The respective designs of the various PRO VESTŪ vests are the result of the interaction of seven key considerations: comfort, fit, protection, unhindered movement, vest operation (i.e., donning, removal, adjustment, etc.), ease of manufacture and an affordable price.

PRO VESTŪ vests are comprised of PVC foam padding encased in a lightweight shell that has an air-permeable, moisture-wicking nylon fabric on the outside and a moisture-wicking nylon mesh for the inner lining. The foam padding is in two pieces - one piece spans the front and left side of the vest, providing uninterrupted protection to the heart and spleen, and the other piece spans the back and right side of the vest - which abut where the back and left side of the vest shell meet.

Since the shell is made from nylon, it's durable enough to stand up to the normal, expected use of a PRO VESTŪ vest for quite awhile, especially since headfirst slides are prohibited while wearing the vest. Similar to other garments comprised of lightweight fabric, however, the vest shell can tear in certain situations. How long is quite awhile? It's hard to speculate due to all of the variables, so suffice it to say that like other sports garments, baseball pants for example, the vest will wear out over time and with use. The harder the use - repeated sliding for example - the faster the vest will wear out.

The internal foam padding can be removed through the slots on the inside back surface of the vest shell. The internal foam padding should only be removed to wash the vest shell, check the condition of the internal foam padding or insert (remove) a center-chest pad into (from) the center-chest pad pocket. The foam from the back/right side of the vest - which is one piece - should be removed first. After cleaning, be sure to reinsert and properly align the internal foam padding in the vest prior to use. Reinserting the foam pieces is easier if the side wing is first folded in, and the foam is then folded in two prior to insertion. Once the foam piece is reinserted, unfold and properly align it in the vest shell.

Taking any of the internal foam padding out of the vest to "cool it down" is not recommended. Baseball batters are taught to turn their head and chest away from, and their back toward the ball if they can't get out of the way of an errant pitch, thus protecting their face and front. As such, many batters are hit in the back with the ball. Taking any of the internal foam padding out of the vest defeats its purpose - all-around protection. Also the foam padding is perforated with air holes to provide for better air circulation to help keep the underlying torso cool and dry.

Very early on in the vest design process we came to two key realizations: 1) incorporating hard, rigid protective material, like that used in football shoulder pads, or any other even relatively rigid or inflexible material, throughout the body of the vest simply wouldn't work since the vest had to be very flexible and 2) incorporating much more than three-eighths of an inch of foam padding throughout the body of the vest wasn't feasible due to the resulting bulky fit and feel. That's why we developed the center-chest pocket/pad - to provide extra protection to the center-chest area, without making the rest of the vest too bulky.

Use of the optional center-chest pad(s) is solely up to the discretion of the wearer. Although neither the vest nor the center-chest pads have been tested to determine their effectiveness in protecting the wearer from injury in any sport, we did contract a highly regarded, nationally known impact testing & research firm to test the effectiveness of vest in reducing the impact of a baseball. In the impact testing, what's called a head-form model that is also used to test baseball batting helmets was used to determine the effectiveness of the vest in reducing the impact of a baseball. In the impact testing, when the internal foam padding in the vest was tested at approximately three-eighths of an inch together with both an approximately 3/10" thick (+/- 10%) thick, flexible foam center-chest pad and a 1/8" thick (+/- 10%), high-impact-strength plastic center-chest pad - with the high-impact-strength plastic center-chest pad on the top, as it should be placed in the center-chest pad pocket if it's used in combination with a flexible foam center-chest pad - the impact of a 57 MPH baseball was, according to the Severity Index employed to measure the severity of an impact, reduced by slightly over 90% when compared to a comparable-velocity impact against the bare head-form model in the best performance achieved. The Severity Index measures the severity of the impact with respect to the instantaneous acceleration experienced by the head-form model as it is impacted. Please note we utilized a 6" square, 1/8" thick, high-impact-strength, hard plastic chest pad in the impact testing as a stand in for the five different sizes of 1/8" thick, high-impact-strength, hard plastic, tapered chest pads we utilize in the sixteen different vest sizes we currently offer. The 6"square pad, with an area of 36 square inches, is just slightly larger in area to the area of the tapered plastic pad used in the size 38R and 40R vests, which has an area of approximately 35 7/8 square inches. The tapered chest pads actually utilized in the vests are triangular shaped on top, with a flat vertex, and rectangular shaped on the bottom. Following are the chest pad dimensions by vest size:

Vest Sizes 26R, 28R: 5.5" Long, 5.5" Bottom Width, 2.5" Rise, 2.0" Top Width
Vest Sizes 30R, 32R: 6.0" Long, 5.5" Bottom Width, 3.0" Rise, 2.0" Top Width
Vest Sizes 34R, 36R: 6.5" Long, 6.0" Bottom Width, 3.0" Rise, 2.5" Top Width
Vest Sizes 38R, 40R: 7.0" Long, 6.0" Bottom Width, 3.5" Rise, 2.5" Top Width
Vest Sizes 42R, 44R: 7.5" Long, 6.5" Bottom Width, 4.0" Rise, 3.0" Top Width
Vest Sizes 47R, 50R: 9.0" Long, 7.0" Bottom Width, 4.5" Rise, 3.5" Top Width

For additional information on the impact testing, and to view the actual impact testing results, please click here.

A PRO VESTŪ vest comes with both an approximately 3/10" thick (+/- 10%), flexible foam center-chest pad and a 1/8" thick (+/- 10%), high-impact-strength plastic center-chest pad inserted into the center-chest pad pocket. Please be aware that the vest was most effective in reducing the impact of a baseball when it was used in combination with both the high-impact-strength plastic center-chest pad and the flexible foam center-chest pad in the center-chest pad pocket, with the high-impact-strength plastic center-chest pad on top. When the vest is used in combination with both the high-impact-strength plastic center-chest pad and the flexible foam center-chest pad in the center-chest pad pocket - with the high-impact-strength plastic center-chest pad on top - the high-impact-strength plastic center-chest pad serves to both partially deflect the impact shock of the baseball and spread the remaining impact shock over a larger area, while the underlying, flexible foam center-chest pad and the internal foam padding in the body of the vest serve to compress and attenuate much of the remaining impact shock.

When the internal foam padding in the vest was tested at approximately .425" without any center-chest pads in the center-chest pad pocket, the impact of an approximately 57 MPH baseball was, according to the Severity Index employed to measure the severity of an impact, reduced by over 50% when compared to a comparable-velocity impact against the bare head-form model in the best performance achieved. The Severity Index measures the severity of the impact with respect to the instantaneous acceleration experienced by the head-form model as it is impacted. Please note that the foam in the front and left side of the vest varies between three-tenths and three-eighths of an inch thick (i.e., 0.30"-0.375") and the foam in the back and right side of the vest varies between 0.375" and 0.45" thick. For additional information on the impact testing, and to view the actual impact testing results, please click here.

The pocket holding the center-chest pad or pads is accessible via the slot on the inside surface of the vest shell that is also used for the removal of the internal foam padding. It is easier to remove (insert) the center-chest pad from (into) the pocket when the internal foam padding is removed from the vest shell. With the internal foam padding removed from the vest shell, either 1) reach through the slot and locate the pocket in the front of the vest or 2) hold onto the pocket and gently turn the shell partially inside out, so that the bottom of the pocket is visible. The pocket has a slot toward the bottom through which the pad or pads are removed or inserted. Open the slot on the pocket - there is simply an overlap covering the slot, it isn't fastened shut - so that you can hold the bottom of the pads between your thumb and fingers and gently slide them 1) out of the pocket or 2) into the pocket. It is much easier to remove/insert the hard plastic center-chest pad from/into the pocket if, after the slot is opened up as far as possible, the pocket is then turned slightly inside out. Remember that the center-chest pad pocket should sit on top of the internal foam padding, and not underneath it, when reinserting the internal foam padding into the vest shell.

There is no guarantee or warranty that any PRO VESTŪ vest will protect the wearer from injury of any kind. PRO VESTŪ vests have not been tested to determine their effectiveness in protecting the wearer from injury in any sport. As with other sports protective equipment that does not guarantee or warranty protection from injury, we leave it to the consumer to decide if wearing some padding is better than wearing no padding at all.

Certain sports, due to the impact forces to the torso experienced, may need more protection than is provided by a PRO VESTŪ vest. As such, check with your coach, doctor, league officials, athletic trainer or other appropriate party for guidance before purchasing a PRO VESTŪ vest to determine if the impact forces experienced in a particular sport are greater than the protection provided by a PRO VESTŪ vest. That being said, PRO VESTŪ vests may be suitable for baseball, softball, soccer, skateboarding, inline skating, paintball, flag football, field hockey, martial arts and, if the optional shoulder pad is used, lacrosse and roller hockey. Also, a number of people have expressed interest in using a PRO VESTŪ vest in replacement of the heavier, unwieldy protective equipment currently worn for certain other sports, such as horseback riding vests and football rib protectors. Again here, however, check with an appropriate party for guidance before replacing your regular protective equipment with a PRO VESTŪ vest. Please be aware that PRO VESTŪ vests have not been tested to determine their effectiveness in protecting the wearer from injury in any sport.

Like any other garment, your PRO VESTŪ vest will wear out over time and with use. Both the internal padding and the center-chest pad(s) should be removed from the vest periodically and checked for signs of wear, tears, weakness, disintegration, compression, brittleness and stiffness. A faded vest may signal that the internal foam padding and/or center-chest pad is worn, torn, weak, compressed, brittle or stiff, or has disintegrated. The vest shell and center-chest pad pocket should also be checked for wear and tears. Dispose of the vest if the internal foam padding is worn, torn, weak, compressed, stiff, brittle or missing, or has disintegrated, or the vest shell or center-chest pad pocket is worn or torn. Replace any center-chest pad that is worn, torn, weak, compressed, brittle, or has disintegrated.

It's your decision whether to wear your PRO VESTŪ vest on the basepaths or remove it when possible. Most potential consumers/parents/coaches have indicated that the vest would be worn on the basepaths. Our product research uncovered many situations where baserunners had been hit by the baseball. The variety of ways the baserunner can be hit - overthrown relay throws, off target catchers' throws down to third base to catch a base stealer, line drives hitting a baserunner taking a lead off of third base, off target throws into a base to either force out or tag a runner - suggest that it might be wise to wear the vest on the basepaths. Remember, however, that headfirst slides are prohibited while wearing the vest and that repeated sliding into bases will shorten the useful life of your vest due to wear and tearing that result.

Anticipating that both pitchers and fielders might be interested in wearing a PRO VESTŪ vest in the field, an optional accessory for PRO VESTŪ vests are easily attachable/removable dual elastic straps that run along the inner thighs and connect the front of the vest to the back. Being elastic, the straps allow the vest to rise up with the shoulder as the shoulder rises during the throwing or pitching motion, yet return to position when the arm is lowered.

Other accessories available for PRO VESTŪ vests include FLAG FOOTBALL-TYPE FLAGS which attach to the surface of the vest with hook-and-loop material (Velcro being a particular brand of hook-and-loop material).

Later on, two different types of shoulder pads will be available for PRO VESTŪ vests. Each of these shoulder pad types utilizes our patented fastening feature that enables them to be quickly and easily attached to and removed from either a PRO VESTŪ vest or most other sleeveless or very short-sleeved upper-body garments, such as a T-shirt, without any alteration being needed to the vest or garment itself. One style of shoulder pads is specifically designed for skateboarders and inline skaters; the other style is specifically designed for street roller hockey and lacrosse.

Please read and follow the PRODUCT CARE instructions on vest shell or in the PRODUCT CARE section of the website to keep your vest looking good, maintain the integrity of the padding and avoid damaging the shell.

We believe that our PRO VESTŪ vests are well-engineered, high-quality products. Given our NO RETURN/NO REFUND/EXCHANGE ONLY policy, however, we strongly recommend that you take advantage of one of the options discussed below to personally examine and try on a vest or vests so as to make your own informed decision, determine your proper vest size, and assess the fit and feel of the vest.

SAMPLE VESTS are available in sets containing either the full complement of sizes or any combination thereof for groups interested in expediting/facilitating the vest sizing/purchase process. Interested parties should e-mail us at samples@pro-vest.com to inquire about the availability of SAMPLE VEST sets in the appropriate vest sizes for their age group or groups.

A second option available to facilitate the vest purchase process is to simply EXCHANGE one size vest for another size vest if you feel the vest you purchased is either too small or too large. Under this option simply 1) send us an e-mail at exchange@pro-vest.com telling us what size vest you are exchanging and giving us both your name (i.e., the name the vest was ordered under)and the last four digits of the credit card used in the purchase (so we can process a credit for the vest being returned, the credit not including the shipping & handling portion of the original transaction), 2)ship the vest you would like to exchange for a different size back to us (with the shipping cost prepaid) WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS of its receipt, together with a copy of your receipt and 3) go online to our website and order the size vest that you want. Once we see that your new order has been processed, upon our receipt of the vest being exchanged and our approval of the credit part of the exchange, we will credit your credit card back for the purchase price of the vest exchanged, the credit not including the shipping & handling portion of the original transaction. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE VEST BEING EXCHANGED MUST BE RETURNED TO US UNUSED EXCEPT FOR THE FITTING WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF ITS RECEIPT, WITH ANY TAGS STILL IN PLACE ON THE ZIPPER PULL TAB OR BELT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO RECEIVE PROPER CREDIT FOR THE EXCHANGE. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF IT IS APPARENT THAT THE VEST HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORN, CREDIT FOR THE VEST RETURNED IN THE EXCHANGE WILL BE DENIED AS THE VEST WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESOLD. IN THIS CASE, IF THE INDIVIDUAL WANTS THE VEST FOR WHICH CREDIT HAS BEEN DENIED RETURNED TO THEM, THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF SHIPPING THE VEST BACK TO THEM.

The vests are checked for substantial defects in craftsmanship and material at several points in the manufacturing and shipping process, including at the time of final shipment to the customer. As such, your vest should be free of any substantial defects in craftsmanship and material. Please examine your vest carefully immediately upon receipt, however, and if your vest has a substantial defect in craftsmanship or material send an e-mail within 3 days of receiving your vest to exchange@pro-vest.com describing the substantial defect in material or craftsmanship. Vests with a substantial defect in craftsmanship or material can only be exchanged - NO REFUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED - and will only be exchanged for the same exact vest size. Upon receipt of your e-mail to us, we will immediately send you an e-mail back with exchange mailing information. Vests with a substantial defect in craftsmanship or material must be returned unused within thirty days of receipt to be exchanged. Upon our receipt of the vest, it will be subjected to a careful examination for substantial defects in material or craftsmanship. VESTS DETERMINED TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL DEFECT IN CRAFTSMANSHIP OR MATERIAL ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR EXCHANGE - NOT A REFUND - AND WILL ONLY BE EXCHANGED FOR THE SAME EXACT VEST SIZE.