Beckett Simonon Review: Where Price and Quality Converge for Men’s Shoes

One of the scene stealers in the direct-to-consumer men’s shoe market, Beckett Simonon has steadily been carving out space in guys’ shoe lineups everywhere. As one of those guys, I wanted to bring you my Beckett Simonon review to tell you who they are, what they do, and help figure out if they’re right for you. 

In decades past, if you wanted nicely crafted shoes, you could expect to shell out several hundred dollars to bring them home. That’s why in 2011, the founders of Beckett Simonon decided to put an end to that. Their philosophy was simple –allow the customer to choose their favorite shoes online, make the shoes, and ship them directly to the customer’s home. 

Think of this as a simple, painless, made-to-order shoe operation through which the savings of eliminating the traditional supply chain are factored into the price. The bottom line here is that the customer reaps the benefits. 

Where are Beckett Simonon Shoes Made?

Beckett Simonon shoes are hand-crafted in a studio in Bogota, Colombia, and source materials from both Argentina and Italy. We all know about the quality of Italian leather shoes, but also consider the reputation of Argentinian beef, you know what I mean? Win-win. 

People, this is the real deal. These shoes are made the old-school way. They’re built to last, not just for “right now.” The quality of feel (and smell) of each pair of Beckett Simonon shoes I have falls somewhere between Allen Edmonds and Prada construction. You can immediately sense the attention to detail put into each pair of shoes, and that’s reassured once they’re on your feet.

With that said, let’s step into the product level review of my Beckett Simonon shoes. 

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1. Beckett Simonon Dowler Boot Review

FAVORITE PAIR

I’ve been wearing my Beckett Simonon Dowler Boot now for around three years and it’s earned itself a spot in my top five most comfortable boots. The Dowler is a round, cap-toe boot, complete with a leather sole and rubberized heel block for traction. This boot is made from a full-grain Italian calf leather at a factory recognized for its strict policy on mitigating environmental impact. 

Sexy, stunning, and supple, but built to last for years, this boot has traveled with me over the cobblestone streets of Boston and through the warmer months in Los Angeles. It’s, dare I say, temperature regulating, and won’t leave your feet sweating after a long day. The interior leather is very soft to the touch, but I recommend sticking with at least a thin sock because they run very true to size. 

Style is the winning factor here. I chose the Bordeaux color because I think it’s a nice change of pace from black and brown while offering the same outfitting versatility as those colors. I regularly find myself wearing these boots with black jeans – that’s my starting point. From there, I’ve been known to rock them with a plain t-shirt, a blazer or bomber jacket, or some combination of those. One time I even used them as part of a 1920’s period look with trousers and suspenders and the outfit looked fantastic. 

If I had to find one flaw with this boot, it’s that the full leather sole can sometimes be slippery if you misstep. I’ve caught myself in this situation several times. While the simple solution is to have the local cobbler rubberize the soles, which will only run you somewhere in the $35-$60 range, I would rather beat up the leather soles myself and then have them rubberized. But after three years, there’s still very little sign of wear! 

Overall Rating: 8 Gentlemen out of a possible 10 Gentlemen

2. Beckett Simonon Prieto Sneakers Review 

MOST RECENT PAIR

The Prieto Sneaker from Beckett Simonon is one of their core, basic sneakers. The Prieto is a cap-toe sneaker with a low profile thanks to the absence of an ankle cushion. We often see ankle cushions on styles like Adidas’ Stan Smith or even Vans’ Classic Slip On. But when you give the ankles some space, I think there’s a little extra sex appeal. 

The particular Prieto Sneaker I chose is an attractive suede and leather combination, and get this – they’re water repellent! Made with a calfskin suede, the material comes pre-treated with repello coating, so you don’t have to apply extra. In the box you’ll find a second pair of laces to accompany the waxed version of those laces, presumably also water-repellant, in the shoe.

I picked this sneaker up because I travel back home to Boston every winter for the holidays and needed something stylish that could hold up in case it was a little wet on the streets. 

Now, I don’t have as many miles in these as the Dowler Boot, but here’s what I can tell you; they fit perfectly right out of the box. The two things I consider when trying a new pair of shoes are the width and how my foot lies in the heel. I need to give praise to the design team for constructing a superior last with just slightly more room in the toe box. As for sizing, I’m rocking these right now, barefoot, in my regular size and they’re immaculate from front to back. 

Styling the Prieto Sneaker is a breeze. Pick some clothes out and just run with it. I’ve worn these so far with a pair of army green cargo joggers, black hoodie, and a beanie as well as my favorite black jeans, tan turtleneck sweater, and a dark grey plaid blazer. Also, wear fun socks if it gets chilly out! The graphics or pattern will show more because there’s no ankle pad and it’s a nice way to incorporate color into your outfit. 

Overall Rating: 8.7 Gentlemen out of a possible 10 Gentlemen

3. Beckett Simonon Valencia Wholecuts Review

YES BUT NO

Wholecut shoes are “the road less traveled” when it comes to mens shoes, but Beckett Simonon’s Valencia is one to stop to look at. Wholecut shoes, as a whole, I guess you could say, are more simply difficult to produce because they require one large, flawless piece of leather instead of multiple, smaller pieces that are stitched together. The end result is striking, and is often accompanied by a power suit and a powerful person. 

I had been on the hunt for such a shoe a few years back when I decided to try the Valencia shoe. I ordered my typical size, a 10.5, and chose the classic tan color because it’ll work with just about every other color. 

On first examination, this shoe is another masterpiece from Beckett Simonon. You can feel and smell the quality and craftsmanship of this shoe which only adds to the prestige of the wholecut style. The size was spot on from front to back, but the width wasn’t so perfect. This shoe is an almond toe, which falls somewhere between round and pointy. The problem here is that the almond shape begins to cut into the breathing room for the outer toes.

I do want to point out that the insole support is great, the materials are top-notch, and the style itself is beautiful, which are all expected from Beckett Simonon. And if worn with socks, I’m sure they would be tolerable for a day of work or a dressed-up event. But if we’re talking max comfort, I think there are better shapes out there in the wholecut arena. Little toes matter! 

Overall Rating: 6 Gentlemen out of a possible 10 Gentlemen

4. Beckett Simonon Beaumont Loafer Review

THE GUCCI RIVAL

You know the feeling you get when you hit five or more green lights in a row on a main street? That’s what it’s like to wear this shoe. I had spent months looking for that do-it-all, Gucci-esque bit loafer to satisfy my formal and casual needs for summer and beyond. It wasn’t until recently that I found myself trying out the Beckett Simonon Beaumont Loafer and formally ending my search. This snazzy, supple slip-on was a home run right out of the box.

The Beaumont Loafer takes on the familiar silhouette of a traditional loafer but with Beckett Simonon quality materials. A Vachetta leather lining brings breathability and wicks moisture for those barefoot summer days. A full leather sole promotes longevity through resoling after wearing them so much. The rubber heel cap helps with grip and stability through your stride.

At first slip, these loafers feel wonderfully malleable, making it clear that they work for the wearer. I imagine after a few wears, and after bringing the shoe to body temperature, the leather will nicely conform to the intricacies and shape of any foot. That’s awesome, because that just means extra comfort throughout the day.

Beckett Simonon features the Beaumont Loafer in five different leather options. The Oak color, seen here, is a perfect medium brown, the color of a tall bottle of whiskey aged by none other than oak barrels. The horse bit used for this color is a brushed metal color. It doesn’t have the loud pop of silver, but find class in its muted nature. Personally, I think this is the best color option of the browns. The black is a knockout as well, though!

Overall Rating: 7.9 Gentlemen out of a possible 10 Gentlemen

Final Thoughts on Beckett Simonon Shoes

WORTH THE MONEY, WORTH YOUR TIME

This Beckett Simonon review looks at one of their best selling boots, a do-it-all sneaker, and the rare beauty of a wholecut shoe. Across the board, their sizing is absolutely spot-on, which is tough to do for any shoe company. I also have to commend them for their superior construction methods and materials, which are felt in the comfort of their insoles and through their longevity while in use. 

While amazing shoes can be found out there, these prices don’t always happen. The value of these shoes is my top ranked factor in why Beckett Simonon should be in the running for your next pair of shoes or boots. The Dowler Boot, in my opinion, their best product, sells for an unfathomable $239. It feels like you’re getting them at cost, but that’s what happens when you don’t have to spread the buck throughout the hands of the middlemen. 

If there’s a single downside to ordering from Beckett Simonon, it’s that in most cases, you’ll be waiting on your shipment of shoes. This is the tradeoff in the battle between time and money. It’s often that the shipment of shoes will take at least a couple of months to actually get to you. But for a handmade pair of shoes for this quality, I say it’s well worth your time. 

Beckett Simonon Overall Rating: 8 Gentlemen out of a possible 10 Gentlemen

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