Design 
Quality of Materials 
Craftsmanship 
Fit & Sizing 
Value for Money How do you get that sleek look of Chelsea boots, but step it up with a little hardware?
Jodhpur boots.
This style has been growing on me, and with fall on the way, I ended up picking up a pair for myself.
After a good deal of research, I went with Beckett Simonon.
They make their boots and shoes to order, and I endured the wait to get my hands on them. Now that I’ve been wearing them for a few weeks, my verdict is in.
Keep reading for my detailed breakdown of the Beckett Simonon Douglas Jodhpur.
Beckett Simonon Douglas Boot Overview
The Beckett Simonon Douglas is a Jodhpur style boot. If you’re not familiar with the category, the Jodhpur is very similar in shape to a Chelsea boot.
But instead of the elastic panels at the side, Jodhpur boots have a wrap around strip of leather secured with a buckle.
Most classic Jodhpurs have the leather strip wrap around once, but there are some more fashion-forward choices that have an extra long strap that wraps around two or more times.
For my taste, one wrap-around is plenty—and even that’s a bit outside of my comfort zone.
Otherwise, expect a similar sleek instep and narrow toe box from Jodhpur boots as you would with Chelsea boots.
Things to Consider Before Buying the Beckett Simonon Douglas Jodhpur
The most important consideration you can make before buying the Douglas, or any Beckett Simonon boot for that matter, is whether you’re willing to endure the wait.
I’m writing this in early September 2020. Looking at the Beckett Simonon website, it says that if I were to reorder these, my boots would ship out in December.
That’s a long wait compared to what I’m used to.
Does that 2-3 month wait seem insurmountable? Well, I don’t want to spoil the rest of my review, but I’ll just say that these boots are the highest quality I’ve experienced for the price.
Beckett Simonon Douglas Jodhpur Boot Review
First Impression
Beckett Simonon does an excellent job with their packaging. My boots arrived with two thin foam insoles and individual dust bags.
I knew I was getting into something good when I opened the box to waft of full grain leather scent.
And I was right.
These boots are much more hefty compared to my other Blake stitched Italian boots. A big part of that is due to the stacked heel. I like the extra weight in the heel because it helps you with your authoritative walk.
Wearing these, I have the urge to walk down long marble hallways just to show people who’s their daddy. Not that I have any business walking down marble hallways. But it sounds nice.
I’m a fan of the sleek style and I love the narrow toe box. As I said earlier, the strap and buckle were a bit out of my comfort zone, and at first I wore my jeans over the buckle to hide it. But I’ve warmed up to the style a bit more and covering the buckle takes away the fun.
I really started appreciating these boots after pairing them with a rolled black pair of pants. Because it’s black on black the look is more subdued, but definitely not boring.
Leather Quality and Care
Beckett Simonon crafted these boots with some of the best leather I’ve ever had in my hands. The only brand I have experience with that uses better leather is Parker Clay, and they only make bags.
Now, I don’t have any experience with boots that run into the $500-$1000 range, so take my thoughts with a grain of comparatively affordable salt.
But the Italian full grain cowhide leather is creamy and smooth. It’s not as polished as my other full grain Chelsea boots, and that lends itself to a richer texture.
The Douglas is fully lined with Vachetta leather, which is primarily used for luxury handbags. It’s super soft and feels comfortable and breathable.
Because these boots aren’t fully polished, they do scuff easier than some of my other full grain leather boots. It requires a little extra work to keep these in top-form, but if you have a scuff, a little leather balm will buff it out no problem.
For leather care, I use Venetian leather balm. It doesn’t add a lot of shine and doesn’t darken my brown leather boots too much. With these black Jodhpurs, it’s perfect.
After testing 10 of the most popular leather conditioners, Venetian came out as my top pick because it nourishes leather, doesn't change the color, and actually adds a decent amount of weather resistance as well.
Sole
The Douglas is outfitted with a leather sole. With most leather soles, I have a tough time walking the first few days because they’re so slippery. While I definitely had a little of that going on here, it was noticeably less that usual.
The heel has an SBR cap, rather than the standard rubber insert. SBR rubber is designed to have enhanced abrasion resistance, which is good news considering that a worn-out heel kills the style.
Since I’ve only had these for a few weeks, I can’t say how these soles will hold up over time, but they’re thicker and more sturdy feeling than the soles of many of my shoes, so I’m confident they’ll do well in the long run.
Fit and Sizing
The Beckett Simonon Douglas fits true to size. I didn’t experience any tightness when wearing thicker cotton socks, and there wasn’t any rubbing with thin dress socks.
The vachetta leather lining makes for a very comfortable wearing experience, even on the first march around town.
Boots are a little difficult to gauge: should you size a half-step down? Or should you get your sneaker size?
I’m a 10.5 in sneakers, and I got the same size for my Beckett Simonons. I’m happy with the fit.
Break-in Period
Breaking in the Douglas was a breeze. Other than a minor amount of heel slip and a bit of leather stiffness, these boots didn’t rub or make my feet ache at all.
My break-in ritual is pretty fool-proof. When I put on a fresh pair, I take a walk to my favorite local brewery, which is about a mile away. With some shoes, this has left me crippled and hobbling with holes in my heels.
Luckily, I haven’t had that experience on my most recent pickups.
I noticed a bit of squeaking at first, but by the time I was walking home, the heel slip was mostly gone and the squeak went away.
What do Other Reviewers Say?
The Douglas earns a 4.9-star average with over 20 reviews on the Beckett Simonon site. None of the reviewers mention any regret over the long wait time, and only have positive things to say about the customer service and updates on the ordering process.
Made with buttery-smooth full grain Italian leather, the Douglas Jodhpur from Beckett Simonon is a substantial and stylish boot.
Beckett Simonon Douglas Jodhpur Alternatives
For Jodhpur boots, I haven’t found a better value than Beckett Simonon. But there are a few other excellent boots that have a lot of the same sleek flair as a Jodhpur to consider as well.
Ace Marks James
This double monk strap boot is another blake-stitched Italian full grain leather beauty. If you enjoy the added hardware on a Jodhpur, you may fall for the elegant look of the Ace Marks James.
As far as build quality, both Ace Marks and Beckett Simonon are on the same playing field, though Beckett Simonon’s leather is less burnished and feels more smooth and rich.
For the Ace Marks James, you can expect your boots to arrive within a week, but you’re also paying 30% above Beckett Simonon prices for that.
M.Gemi Dritto
If you love the sleek look that the Jodhpur offers, but you’re not sure you’re ready to add that shiny buckle flair, check out the M.Gemi Dritto.
This is a casual Chelsea boot with a ton of character. The hand-painted full grain Italian leather has a unique texture that I haven’t seen in another boot. The mirror polished toe cap keeps this boot from looking too rustic.
M.Gemi's Italian-inspired Chelsea boot has a slim Blake-stitched profile for that full European flair. This richly textured boot is luxury quality but costs around half the price.
Thursday Rogue
There are a few critical tweaks with this Jodhpur which make the Thursday Rogue an interesting alternative to the Beckett Simonon Douglas.
First, the style is far different. The shaft is much taller and there’s a leather loop at the front to keep the strap and buckle in place. I’m not a huge fan of that loop.
But Thursday uses a Goodyear welt construction (which isn’t necessarily better than blake-stitch), has a Cuban heel, and offers several suede options that are frankly bad-ass. The Rogue has much more of a rock-and-roll vibe, so if that’s what you’re after, these are an excellent find.
If you want class and elegance, go with Beckett Simonon. If you want a more rugged look (but still sleek), the Rogue is worth a peek.
The Rogue boot seamlessly blends form and function with accented leather paneling, ultra-comfy insoles, and Goodyear welted outsoles.
My Thoughts Overall On the Beckett Simonon Douglas Jodhpur Boot
What I Like
The leather quality is some of the best I’ve experienced.
Blake stitched construction gives these boots that classic Italian style and they’re resolable so a little care will help them last for decades.
Beckett Simonon offers tremendous value considering the price.
The heel has a full rubber overlay rather than a cut out. This adds to the durability and the grip of the sole.
What I Don’t Like
Your order will likely take three months to arrive. It’s how the brand keeps their prices so low, but it’s also a long time.
Who is the Beckett Simonon Douglas Jodhpur Boot for?
If the sleek look of a Chelsea boot doesn’t quite cut it for you and you want the extra flair you get with the flashy buckle of a Jodhpur, the Douglas is, in my opinion, the best value you’ll find in the \$200 to \$300 range.
The Verdict
I’m blown away by the leather quality in the Beckett Simonon Douglas. I have several pairs of boots now that are made with full-grain Italian leather, but the leather on my Beckett Simonon’s edges out the others.
The three-month wait time was tough to swallow, and I almost passed on these boots because of it.
I’m glad I didn’t.
If I’d gotten something similar in quality to my other ~$200 boots, these would be a no-go, but I think the brand’s assessment that these are really similar to a $400-$600 pair of boots is fair.
My verdict on Beckett Simonon is this: if you’re wondering whether they’re worth waiting for, pick them up today. I know you’re excited for a new pair of boots now, but patience is a virtue and you’ll be rewarded with a boost in leather quality compared to the similarly priced competition.
Made with buttery-smooth full grain Italian leather, the Douglas Jodhpur from Beckett Simonon is a substantial and stylish boot.
FAQs
Where are Beckett Simonon shoes made?
Beckett Simonon shoes are crafted to order in Bogota, Colombia in their own workshop.
Are Beckett Simonon true to size?
Beckett Simonon boots and shoes fit true to size.
What makes Beckett Simonon unique?
Beckett Simonon is unique in the world of direct-to-consumer shoes because they make all their products on a pre-order basis. Yes, your order will take three months to arrive, but the jump in quality compared to the price is exceptional. Also, Beckett Simonon makes their shoes in their own workshop—not a for-hire factory.
