History
There were several brothers in the Simond family in the early 1820s, all blacksmiths and crystal hunters. They worked with wood and iron, in a forge on the banks of the Arve making agricultural implements and bells as well as tools for their crystal hunting. The first adventurers looking to explore the Mont Blanc massif found in the Simond brothers just the men they needed to make their tools for the mountains.
There were several brothers in the Simond family in the early 1820s, all blacksmiths and crystal hunters. They worked with wood and iron, in a forge on the banks of the Arve making agricultural implements and bells as well as tools for their crystal hunting. The first adventurers looking to explore the Mont Blanc massif found in the Simond brothers just the men they needed to make their tools for the mountains.
Son fils Claudius y travaillera dès 1925, faisant de ces ingrédients un mélange qu'il continua d’améliorer : Simond devint la référence mondiale de matériel de haute montagne en accompagnant les grimpeurs sur les premières des plus hauts sommets du monde et dans les grandes premières Alpines. En alliant toujours le meilleur de la technologie aux exigences des grimpeurs, Simond su s'adapter aux nouvelles exigences du moment : Avoir le meilleur matériel possible pour faire les voies les plus difficiles. Claudius mis sur le marché dès 1948 le premier mousqueton léger de l'histoire, qui allait donner aux grimpeurs de nouvelles perspectives...
In 1960 François’s grandson Lüdger improved the family recipe just at a time when mountaineering and rock climbing were taking off in a big way. Climbers’ attitudes were changing in tandem with technological developments and once again Simond would play a hugely important role. This was the era of front points, free climbing and ascents made in ever more lightweight style. Lüdger was able to respond to climbers’ needs, providing them with the gear they needed, and this is no doubt why it has a remained a world leader in its field, especially in terms of innovation. Simond now brought out: the first ergonomic carabiner (the Cliff), the first curved pick (the Chacal), the first rigid crampons (Makalu) and the first drop handle axe (the Scud)… (See Products of legend). In 1988 Lüdger built bigger and more modern premises right at the foot of Mont Blanc in order to meet the growing demand for the brand. Simond works with some of the greatest climbers in the world who make their own contributions to what François Simond first started back in 1860.
Lüdger Simond sold the business to the French firm Wichard, a world leader in marine hardware. At a time when the mountains, rock climbing and extreme routes were becoming increasing accessible to a wider public, Simond found a perfect partner to reach out to a market that is perpetually evolving, enjoying the benefits of this new synergy of sea and mountain oriented technologies.
The Simond factory still sits at the foot of Mont Blanc with views of the Aiguille Verte, the Drus and the Chamonix Aiguilles. Having these fabulous and unique playgrounds on our doorstep combined with our expertise and experience means we have been able to design and create highly technical products in perfect harmony with the activity and their users. The close relationship Simond enjoys with climbers has enabled it to create innovative products with ever-greater ease of use, comfort and high-performance results. (See Products of legend).
The Simond factory still sits at the foot of Mont Blanc with views of the Aiguille Verte, the Drus and the Chamonix Aiguilles. Having these fabulous and unique playgrounds on our doorstep combined with our expertise and experience means we have been able to design and create highly technical products in perfect harmony with the activity and their users. The close relationship Simond enjoys with climbers has enabled it to create innovative products with ever-greater ease of use, comfort and high-performance results. (See Products of legend).
Since 1860, when François Simond inspired the first explorers in the Mont Blanc range and made the first mountaineering tools, Simond has never stopped innovating, inventing and surprising.
There were several brothers in the Simond family in the early 1820s, all blacksmiths and crystal hunters. They worked with wood and iron, in a forge on the banks of the Arve making agricultural implements and bells as well as tools for their crystal hunting. The first adventurers looking to explore the Mont Blanc massif found in the Simond brothers just the men they needed to make their tools for the mountains.
Son fils Claudius y travaillera dès 1925, faisant de ces ingrédients un mélange qu'il continua d’améliorer : Simond devint la référence mondiale de matériel de haute montagne en accompagnant les grimpeurs sur les premières des plus hauts sommets du monde et dans les grandes premières Alpines. En alliant toujours le meilleur de la technologie aux exigences des grimpeurs, Simond su s'adapter aux nouvelles exigences du moment : Avoir le meilleur matériel possible pour faire les voies les plus difficiles. Claudius mis sur le marché dès 1948 le premier mousqueton léger de l'histoire, qui allait donner aux grimpeurs de nouvelles perspectives...
In 1960 François’s grandson Lüdger improved the family recipe just at a time when mountaineering and rock climbing were taking off in a big way. Climbers’ attitudes were changing in tandem with technological developments and once again Simond would play a hugely important role. This was the era of front points, free climbing and ascents made in ever more lightweight style. Lüdger was able to respond to climbers’ needs, providing them with the gear they needed, and this is no doubt why it has a remained a world leader in its field, especially in terms of innovation. Simond now brought out: the first ergonomic carabiner (the Cliff), the first curved pick (the Chacal), the first rigid crampons (Makalu) and the first drop handle axe (the Scud)… (See Products of legend). In 1988 Lüdger built bigger and more modern premises right at the foot of Mont Blanc in order to meet the growing demand for the brand. Simond works with some of the greatest climbers in the world who make their own contributions to what François Simond first started back in 1860.
Lüdger Simond sold the business to the French firm Wichard, a world leader in marine hardware. At a time when the mountains, rock climbing and extreme routes were becoming increasing accessible to a wider public, Simond found a perfect partner to reach out to a market that is perpetually evolving, enjoying the benefits of this new synergy of sea and mountain oriented technologies.
The Simond factory still sits at the foot of Mont Blanc with views of the Aiguille Verte, the Drus and the Chamonix Aiguilles. Having these fabulous and unique playgrounds on our doorstep combined with our expertise and experience means we have been able to design and create highly technical products in perfect harmony with the activity and their users. The close relationship Simond enjoys with climbers has enabled it to create innovative products with ever-greater ease of use, comfort and high-performance results. (See Products of legend).
The Simond factory still sits at the foot of Mont Blanc with views of the Aiguille Verte, the Drus and the Chamonix Aiguilles. Having these fabulous and unique playgrounds on our doorstep combined with our expertise and experience means we have been able to design and create highly technical products in perfect harmony with the activity and their users. The close relationship Simond enjoys with climbers has enabled it to create innovative products with ever-greater ease of use, comfort and high-performance results. (See Products of legend).
Since 1860, when François Simond inspired the first explorers in the Mont Blanc range and made the first mountaineering tools, Simond has never stopped innovating, inventing and surprising.
interview
Interview with Lüdger Simond