Don Simmons Hockey Gear: The Right Gear for the Right Price

From the Pharaoh’s Crease

Whether you’re the parent of a want-to-be goalie or a seasoned vet looking for that slight advantage over your competitor, most goalies will tell you that the right gear makes all the difference.  The way the catch glove opens and closes, the way to leg pads rotate through the knee area as you start your butterfly movements, the way the chin guard feels in your mask….It all adds up to a goalie that’s more focused on the game and less on the comfort, or lack thereof, of his gear.

I’ve been playing hockey for longer than my knees care to remember.  I’ve been through the big name manufacturers, the mom and pop shops, and even some of my own homemade inventions always trying to find to best fit for me.  Through the years I’ve more often than not come back to one manufacturer that has always seemed to offer me the protection and the comfort that I needed…Don Simmons Sports.

If you’re in the market for CUSTOM equipment at an affordable price (pay attention, parents) then DSS is the place for you.  Having been in business for over 20 years, they have built their reputation on hard work, outstanding quality, and above all else, a level of customer service that one could only find at a local café that you’ve been going to for years.  Their product lines range from the aggressive butterfly style goaltender to the ancient stand-up/half butterfly style that I play.  If you need it, they make it, and if they don’t, they’ll make it just for you.

Just to give you a quick example, I’ve had equipment from a number of the big name companies (Bauer, Vaughn, and Reebok, to name a few) and as of this article, I’m still convinced that my DSS equipment matches and/or beats them in price, quality, and comfort.  I called up Mark Simmons just this past summer to order an entire new set of gear (Leg pads, Blocker and Catcher, and Helmet).  The entire process couldn’t have been any easier.  He remembered me from my past purchases, and we went over some modifications I wanted done to the leg pads.  While I didn’t go with a helmet they make, I went with one from a manufacturer he carries, and he still beat every price I could find for it.  I bought the entire Simmons 585 Hybrid Pro line with the new mask for just under $2000USD.  The big name companies will get close to $1300USD just for the leg pads alone, and these were custom, as I wanted.

Now everyone has their favorites, and I’m not saying that DSS will be the place for you.  I will say that they will offer your affordable pricing and great customer service, and remember who you are long after you’ve shelled out what is basically the equivalent of the price of my very first car.  Look them up and give them a try–and give your wallet a much needed break.

http://www.donsimmons.com/index.php