Hi All, I'll chime in on a couple of topics....
Gloves: When DD first started in goal part-time we went with Reusch - Finger Saves. I went with them because back in the day all we had were Reusch, Uhlsport,and Adidas as the options. Then started researching other brands to find a less expensive option and she tried a bunch J4K, HO, Aviata, and finally West Coast. She ended up landing on West Coast as her favorite, although her GK coach recommends Aviata. As others have mentioned, within WCG there a few different styles and cuts. It took us trial and error to find what DD liked. I agree with the OP...great service by WCG. Only thing now is that they are slowly raising their price point. Still can get a deal, as they occasionally have sales/discounts.
Finger Saves: She has to have finger protectors. She has recently got a pair of expensive Reusch Gloves (we got them free), and she refuses to try them, no finger protectors. The new Nike Gloves (
https://news.nike.com/news/nike-mercurial-touch-elite-goalkeeper-glove) don't appear have them, and showed them to my daughter and she is not a fan of the design. They look like dish gloves. Plus these are super expensive $140+. I am going to ask her Keeper Coach what he thinks about the protectors. That was a good idea.
Glove Washing: I have been doing that job (glad I was not alone, I thought I was...), but she just started taking it over(Yes!). I felt like an equipment manager for way too long. We use the glove wash from WCG, or Reusch, garage rags from Home Depot/Lowes, warm water and a 5-Gallon bucket, and then air dry outside out of direct sunlight. This is done weekly. We have been lucky, no odors. Shoes however, that is another story. Will try some of the suggestions for different soaps.
College Gloves: Good to know about the colleges and mandating the gloves the keepers wear. I did not know that. I get the Uniforms, but shoes and gloves??? Free is good, but preference and what feels/fits best on your hands and feet are better IMO. I know back in the day players would remove the competing logo from the shoe, or black it out to mask the brand (when everyone wore black shoes). Keepers wore the gloves they wanted, either what the school gave them or their own gloves. The gear contracts I am sure are very prescriptive these days on what the kids can and can not wear in practice and games.
We have spent a pretty penny on gloves and gear to find the "right" ones. It was expensive getting there. Now we know what she likes so it is much easier these days. I guess at the end of the day whatever gear (Gloves, Pads, Shoes, shorts, pants, sliders, etc.) they find comfortable and feel good in will be what works for them. That said I am still surprised and can't believe it when I see these keepers on turf wearing short-shorts, and short sleeve keeper jerseys...I know the turf is hot, but the raspberry/turf burn is far worse IMO.