Retired about 5 years ago, but when we went to pleated pants behind the plate, on a whim I went to our local football coach and got a pair of football practice pants and some extremely thin thigh pads. Cut the pants off just below the thigh pad pocket and wore them under my plate pants. Worked great on those foul tips the catchers couldn't handle. I suppose with the girdle pads now you could do the same thing.
Switched to a hockey style mask too and loved it, both in cold and hot weather. In fact, a gentlemen you might know, Atlanta Blue, bought it from me when I retired.