Men's Journal

Advances in softball gear are small but key — like the difference between a deep fly and an off-the-wall double.

By Seth Kelly

1. Miken Elite Player Bag
It holds up to four boomsticks and becomes a bat box when you hang it off the dugout fence on its built-in hooks. Aventilated compartment keeps your cleats from stewing in their own funk, and a backpack-style harness lets you shoulder the load so your hands are free to carry more important things, like the cooler. [$90; mikensports.com]

2. Rawlings GG 135TFS Outfielders Glove
This glove is all about the little details that make an outfielder’s life easier. More space inside lets your fingers shift closer to the edge, away from the impact zone and in position to shut the pocket faster. Less oil in the tanning process saves weight. The only thing it won’t facilitate is gunning down a base runner. [$100; rawlings.com]

3. Combat Gear Supremacy Bat
When we tested Combat’s Gear Virus bat last year, we thought it lacked power. Look past the Supremacy’s faintly “white power” name and you’ll find its predecessor’s triple-walled construction upgraded with a stiffer composite handle for transferring more force into a slightly larger sweet spot. [$300; combatsportsgroup.com]

4. Under Armour Ignite Mid TPU Cleat
The Ignite will do more than protect against ankle sprains and a season-long job as first- base coach. The TPU midsole is designed to evenly disperse pressure from the cleats so they don’t dig into your dogs when you’re running the bases, and the circular cleat pattern lets your feet twist more easily as you power through your swing. [$65; underarmour.com]

5. Mizuno GWW 1251 Infielders Glove
While outfielders lazily shag pop-ups, infielders face freight-train line drives. That’s why the 12.5-inch-long GWW 1251 is a bit shorter than most gloves (easier to maneuver) and has two grooves in back (faster closure). Plus, supple leather means the glove will be closer to broken in from day one. [$85; mizunousa.com]

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This article originally appeared in the June 2009 issue of Men’s Journal.