Pro Style Shock Absorbing Pad vs MCB67 Umpire's Leg Guards: which is safer?

Easton Pro Style Shock Absorbing Pad is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Easton Pro Style Shock Absorbing Pad

Easton

Pro Style Shock Absorbing Pad

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 49/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Foam padding, likely EVA or polyurethane

Confidence

72%

PossibleFormaldehyde in textile finishes

PossibleAzo dyes in shell fabric

PossibleAdhesive volatiles (VOC/off-gassing)

MacGregor MCB67 Umpire's Leg Guards

MacGregor

MCB67 Umpire's Leg Guards

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Padded nylon/polyester with moisture-resistant treatment

Confidence

55%

LikelyMoisture-resistant coating degradation and inhalation

PossibleIrritation from undisclosed additives in padding

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Formaldehyde in textile finishes, Azo dyes in shell fabric, Adhesive volatiles (VOC/off-gassing) and Microplastic shedding from foam breakdown on the Easton and not on the MacGregor.
  • We flag Moisture-resistant coating degradation and inhalation and Irritation from undisclosed additives in padding on the MacGregor and not on the Easton.
  • The Easton is Foam padding, likely EVA or polyurethane where the MacGregor is Padded nylon/polyester with moisture-resistant treatment, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Easton is the one to buy.

Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More sports equipment padding, see the full ranking