Simmons Reviews

netmind · Hall of Fame Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1501

Reviews about Simmons goaltending equipment. Be it possitive, or negitive, post if its about the equipment.

BISH00 · Hall of Fame Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 1543

I already posted this review but i just copied/pasted it on to here.

I wasn't expecting there to be this much protection on them. these are also amazingly light.

Face View: I've heard a lot about how these new 11" pads give you better mobility but this will be the first time I try them.

Side Views: From what I can tell the face and part of the inside of the pad is made up of jenpro weave stuff, while the rest of the insid is a leathery stuff called techno leather I think. the calf wedge really supports you in the butterfly because it's angled. this is out of the box flex too Shocked

Down Coverage: this is without weight and it's perfectly flush. I remember laughing at the 'Idiot Proof 5 hole' thing but the flex and down coverage really allow no 5 hole at all.

Strap Setup: there's zero pinching, even if their tight. And the top strap controls the flex. and the thigh board didn't get in my way or get under my goal pants in the butterfly.

Sliding Toe Bridge: I've never tried this before, but I put my skates on and tried them on and i actually felt a difference.

Leg Channel: there's a lotta protection on the calf, but your leg rotates real easily. I like this knee lock and it's also got a really thick stack and a wide landing surface.

there were 3 features that really stood out to me on these pads.

The Angled Calf Wedge:
I was surprised of the support that i got from this, it allowed me to feel confident i would stay balanced and the slide was great.

The Sliding Toe Bridge:
I normally feel a slight twist in my knees and my ankles in the butterfly but I felt really comfortable and the pad still stayed snug on my skate.

The Extra 2" thigh rise (the size was 34"+2"):
I normally have some problems w/ my fivehole but I had virtually no 5 hole goals while in the butterfly, even while I was moving. I got alot of comments on how I was able to cover down low almost post to post in the butterfly. even though I'm only 5' 8" Smile

If you have any questions or want more pictures just ask Very Happy

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Pads-Simmons 993. (995's are on the way)
C/A-Eagle
Glove-Vaughn Epic 8000
Blocker-Bauer One85
Skates-RBK
Pants-Itech
Helmet-Itech Envy 7
Stick-Vapor One75

BISH00 · Hall of Fame Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 1543

ok so i was asked to update this review after one season. I tried to take the same pics as i did in the original review. this one proly won't be as detailed but here it goes...

Face view: Just a few more puck marks this time around.

Side Views: First pic is the left pad, second is the right, and third is the left again. and no i really don't have them flex that much in the b-fly Laughing

Down Coverage: These pics are also without weight, still very flush.

Strap Setup: Oops, forgot to take pics of this Embarassed

but to be honest it hasn't changed.

Sliding Toe Bridge: This is the first time i've used these, and i'm lovin it. The pain in my knees when in the b-fly has almost completely gone away Smile

These things have alot of cuts on the inside part now as my skate is constantly cutting the leather, but it hasn't hurt their perfomance.

Leg Channel: Oops, forgot pics of this too, but same as the strap setup, nothing has changed here, excpept the knee stacks are now broken in.

Pics of Wear: I admit i don not take great care of my pads and can be blamed for alot of these...

This is the left pad and on the corner there is 3 small spots where the weave has lost it's glossy look.

Right pad this time with the same wear as the left.

This is the right pad's landing gear, and u can see the nylon around the clarino leather has a small spot where it's worn through.

This is the left pad and there is a cut that didn't quite break through the leather, but you can tell that it's a player's skate, this happened during a scramble in front of the net.

just a few other pics of the face of the pad:

Overall these pads have held up great and i'm surprised how durable they are. I think that they will last me for quite a few more seasons Very Happy

If anyone has any questions or would like more pics just ask.
_________________
Pads-Simmons 993. (995's are on the way)
C/A-Eagle
Glove-Vaughn Epic 8000
Blocker-Bauer One85
Skates-RBK
Pants-Itech
Helmet-Itech Envy 7
Stick-Vapor One75

BISH00 · Hall of Fame Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 1543

lol, when i first posted this review fs u said they were pretty good. Laughing

_________________
Pads-Simmons 993. (995's are on the way)
C/A-Eagle
Glove-Vaughn Epic 8000
Blocker-Bauer One85
Skates-RBK
Pants-Itech
Helmet-Itech Envy 7
Stick-Vapor One75

netmind · Hall of Fame Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1501

I stoked about getting mine on monday and the gloves later in the week! Wow a quality pad and great durability. Im very happy I did go for the sale RBK P series at GM or the TPS r8's...i do wish I had had time to do a custom order then I wold have been torn, hard torn between Simmons and Smith i dont know where that would have landed...it would have been long night before ordering that is for sure.

rfalls86 · College Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 66

Bishop how long was it in the first pics of new then to the used? Are the padding inside keeping together well?? Also have you tried to clean em with magic eraser? thx!
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[img]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y97/rfalls86/goalie1030.jpg[/img]

netmind · Hall of Fame Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1501

99% postitive that is all from this season, he got them for this season.

BISH00 · Hall of Fame Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 1543

netmind · Hall of Fame Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1501

Ok here we go.
Im real impressed with these pads out of the box. These pads are seriously equaly in quality to the Xhales I had, and Browns before that. They are Pro quality and easily compare to any other MFG pad In North America. From what Im seeing from my limited exposure to the BK turko pads, these are the same, but slightly lighter and have more flex. Im going to love these pads! Why, cause they are straight up 38" pads and when I was on the carpet doing some bfly, they sut tight...no need to drive my feet forward like with the straight eagles to shut the hole.
The eagles were a 36" pad...they were short for me, why so many companies fail to make a SR38 pad is not beyond me, as I know thye need to hit the base market, but to not offer them at all is sad....moving on...
I was not so excited about ordering a none weave pad, but these are sweet and Im real happy, the embroidery on the pads (the 994 logo, and the Simmons are flawless)
the leather straps and buckles are well, leather straps and buckles., the calf wrap is nice, and the calf wedge is awesome...messed with pads in stores that had them and Im so looking forward to it. The knee stacks are sweet, Im as near dead center as can be, and with the strap set up thee is no way I falling off. Like I said early in a different post i was able to do a bfly slide on my carpet! that never even came close in the eagles...
well here are some pics
Eagle Sentry Sr XL 36" and Simmons 994 38" side by side

comparing the landing gear areas...i would say that both are equally cusshy i know the 993 was siad to hard, these are both soft, however the 994 is much thicker...like old fusion or rbk/vaughn

Here you can see the whole of the two leg channels the differences in size and ankle to knee as well the thigh board on the eagle vs the thigh wrap on the 994

This photo is again of the landing gear area, you can see the outer most part is about 1/4" the mid layer is about 3/4" then you have the inside which is not as visible at about 1/4 to 1/2"

thigh board vs thigh wrap

So how do they look on? Well here is of me trying to beat the timer into my ready stance...about as close as I came....sorry

and the butter fly? well again I have to mess with the top strap and my fly is narrow here as i actually kind of jumped over and and dropped down...think of this as a HAsek Bfly after some of typical crease movements...lol and not near as cool.

Gloves should arrive around Thursday if all things pan outright...

rfalls86 · College Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 66

omg!?!?! I am getting 994's Very Happy

What pants are those?? They look sweet!! and is that thomas the choo choo in the background!! FRIKKEN SWEEEET!! haha I love RRSP money! Razz

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[img]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y97/rfalls86/goalie1030.jpg[/img]

netmind · Hall of Fame Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1501

the Eagles I only played what....about 4 months i think and i cleaned them after every use.
The pants are the Itech HP Pro in Red, they have the same look in blue and are avail in reg ol black.

rfalls86 · College Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 66

how do the thigh wraps work on these pads? do they go outside the knee cradle or they go outside? are they stroge enough to take a wrister? ive took a few off bare knee and those are never fun... Sad

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[img]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y97/rfalls86/goalie1030.jpg[/img]

netmind · Hall of Fame Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1501

they are a thigh wrap. you wear them inside your pant. You put your pads on as normal, then when your done you stand up, lift your pant and strap them to your thigh.
they are comfortable, and are more than capable at protecting the knee, but, i have removed mine as the way the pads seal up and play, a puck would need sometihing odd on it to get that far. If one did i would either put them back on, or wear my vaughn knee pads.

HawksGoalie33 · Pro Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 566

I have owned and used Simmons gear for the past 7 going on 8 years.

In that time I have used 2 different gloves, 2 different blockers, 1 helmet, 1 set of leg pads 1 C/A and 1 jock from them... I am yet to be disappointed.

Leg Pads
The Pro System 1 leg pads I have from them have held up amazingly well. I have had to replace 4 straps over the years and have put on 3 patches (all less than an inch in size). Beyond that they have held up. I clean them after every season and outside of the normal wear at contact points they look great. It wasn't until recently when a friend of mine got new pads and I felt how light they have gotten that I thought about upgrading... though my PS1's are the old 12" wide. I haven't felt any shot more than knowing it hit me and have been very please with the coverage and protection they have offered me. I do wish they have calf wedges, but those are now found on more recent models, that complaint is simply based on my having old pads.

Glove
I have used two different model gloves from Simmons. The PK2 and my current Platinum Ltd. Both of them held up fairly well. The PK2 lasted about 3-4 seasons and while I am still using the Platinum Ltd. it is probably going to be replaced before to long. I have only once felt a shot that left my hand hurting over the years. The lacing in the pocket has never so much as ripped, which can in large part be attributed to the fact it is laced with skate lacing. The area around the thumb/palm and finger tip is what is torn up the most, which can be expected when considering it is constantly rub against.

Blocker
Like the trapper I have used 2 models from Simmons. Again, the PK2 and the Platinum Ltd. Again, both of them held up very well, the Platinum better than the PK2. I really cannot complain about the blocker outside of the finger protection, which they have since corrected. Back when I purchased this gear the fingers had a pad over them, but they are nothing compared to the protection others were offering at the time, though I was on a tight budget then. Of the equipment I have seen come from their warehouse lately they look to have corrected this problem and as far as I cant tell.

Helmet
I had one helmet from Simmons and for right now it is my last. I took the helmet out and dried it off every time I played but the cage still rusted through very fast and only lasted 2 season. I had a lot of ringing and really felt it when I caught a puck to the head... something I thought was natural until I got my current KOHO Lefevre helmet that in 4 seasons has not rusted, and I am yet to feel more than a little tap when I take a shot to the head.

Chest & Arms
I have used 2 chest protectors in my time between the pipes. A Bauer (forget the model) and the Simmons 9500. While by todays standards the 9500 is rather bland it offers plenty of protection. I have never had a problem with my lower biceps, forearms, chest or collar area feeling a shot. I did have some issues with the upper bicep just below the shoulder and on my sides near my arm pits... this problem has gotten worse as the padding in the arms has settled, which is why I am researching a new C/A. All said and done the 9500 has lasted me a long time and has offered the protection I have needed.

Jock
Comfortable and I still have a deep voice... not much more to say here.

In the end... pound for pound I have found everything from Simmons (helmets aside) to be worth more than they are priced at and I plan to replace my gear from them when the need arises. I planned to post some pictures of my gear in the "show off your gear" thread if anyone is interested in seeing how well my stuff has held up over the course of time.[/b]

BISH00 · Hall of Fame Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 1543