Beckett Simonon vs Allen Edmonds: I Tested Both Brands

Whether you’re headed back to the office and want a slick new pair of boots, or you’re planning for a special event and want to stun the crowds with your excellent taste in footwear, a few brand names come up over and over again:

Two of my favorites are Beckett Simonon and Allen Edmonds. 

Each brand has their strengths and weaknesses, and after shopping with both (not to mention the dozens of other brands I’ve tried), I’m confident I can help you choose which brand to go with for your new pair of boots. 

I’m going to break down the major differences between Beckett Simonon and Allen Edmonds so you can shop with confidence. 

Specifications Comparison Table

Beckett Simonon vs Allen Edmonds Overview

I put together a brief overview of each brand so you can quickly know the pros and cons of shopping with either brand. I’ll go in depth on how each of the components (leather quality, construction, etc.) compare further down in the article.

Beckett Simonon

Beckett Simonon was founded by two experts in the leather industry and saw an opportunity to craft beautiful leather shoes and boots and sell them directly to consumers.

They’re based in New York, but they run their factories in Bogota, Colombia. One of the main reasons they’re able to keep their costs so low is that they only make as many shoes as they need. When you order from Beckett Simonon, you’re essentially pre-ordering. 

For that reason, it might take up to 12 weeks for your new boots to actually arrive at your doorstep. 

Beckett Simonon is my favorite brand for dress boots (and shoes, but we’ll focus on boots here because this is BootSpy). 

The leather quality is incredible, especially for the price. I have a wide range of boots, from $100 to $600. Beckett Simonon’s leather is up near the top of the list, while its price is closer to the bottom. 

But that wait time can be a deal-breaker if you want your new boots in a hurry. If you can afford the wait, though, you’ll be rewarded with a boot that feels like it should be double the cost. 

Allen Edmonds

Allen Edmonds is a classic brand that dates back to 1922. At the time, they disrupted the footwear industry by incorporating cork into the midsoles (now fairly standard among high-quality Goodyear welted boots), and rose to mass popularity after World War II as returning GI’s loved them for their professional look, comfortable feel, and high-quality construction. 

And they’ve continued to keep their standards high through the past 100 years. So it makes sense that you’ve heard of Allen Edmonds and associate the brand with high quality: they’ve been at it for a century. 

When I shopped with Allen Edmonds, I was shocked at how extensive the variety of their sizing is. They have B, D, E, EE, and EEE widths available in sizes 6-15 for many of their most popular models. I’ve never seen a brand with that much sizing variety.

I picked up the Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boot (the standard), but there were several other options available in weatherproof and with various soles. 

That’s something Allen Edmonds does better than any other brand: they have variety and lots of stock available. However, I feel that newer brands like Beckett Simonon and Grant Stone are able to offer similar quality (or better) at far lower prices because they don’t have as much inventory or variety.

Face to Face Comparison

I own two pairs of boots from Beckett Simonon (the Douglas and the Elliot), and I own one pair of boots from Allen Edmonds (the Higgins Mill). While I’ve researched both brands for hours and have heard a ton about other models, my opinion on each is really shaped by the boots that I own. 

While there are some aspects I don’t have experience with (like Allen Edmonds leather outsoles for example), I still think you’ll find this comparison helpful. 

Style

The styles of Beckett Simonon and Allen Edmonds’ boots and shoes are quite comparable. 

Overall, I think Allen Edmonds has a slightly bulkier look (I’d call it “classic American”). Their boots have a bit wider toe box and less contour at the waist of the shoe. Allen Edmonds footwear has a professional and classic look to it.

Beckett Simonon has a little more European influence on their designs: the toe box is slightly squared off and they’re slimmer through the instep and middle of the boot. 

That said, while Beckett Simonon boots have a more contemporary style, they’re still classy and timeless.

For the office, I’d lean toward Allen Edmonds, but if you’re looking for a stylish pair of boots you can wear casually and professionally, my preference is with Beckett Simonon.

Leather Quality

Beckett Simonon uses the same leather for all their dress shoes and boots (there are four different color options, but the leather is the same). 

It’s a beautiful Italian full grain calfskin leather that creases gently and has a rich supple texture. The leather is some of the best I have on any boot I own, including the $600 pairs. 

My Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill features Horween Chromexcel, which is a widely beloved leather because it’s sturdy, easy to maintain, and has a subtle shine to it that can look classy or rugged depending on how you care for it. 

I have many Horween Chromexcel boots besides my Allen Edmonds, and I’m a huge fan of the leather. 

I can’t say one is better than the other. 

What’s clear is that each brand is uncompromising with the quality of their leather. Allen Edmonds leather prioritizes easy care and longevity, whereas Beckett Simonon’s leather is a bit softer, creases more elegantly, and looks richer. 

Sole Quality

The construction is one of the biggest differences between these two brands. 

Allen Edmonds builds their boots and shoes using a Goodyear welted construction method. Goodyear welted footwear is known to be sturdy, is fairly weather resistant, and is easily recraftable so you can re-sole if you need to.

Beckett Simonon relies on Blake stitch construction. This makes their boots more lightweight and flexible, but sacrifices some weather resistance and overall durability. 

A common misconception is that Blake stitch boots can’t be recrafted, but that’s not true. They can be re-soled if you need to. 

I personally prefer Blake stitch construction for dress boots and shoes because I like the slightly slimmer style and lighter feel. I’m never romping through rivers with my dress boots, so the lack of weather resistance isn’t much of an issue for me. 

Both construction methods represent the best quality, however, so you can’t really go wrong—it just depends on what you’re using your boots for. 

Otherwise, both brands use a leather footbed with a cork filler and a shank (Allen Edmonds uses wood shanks and Beckett Simonon uses steel). 

It’s also difficult to compare the outsoles because each brand has a variety of sole options. Beckett Simonon doesn’t use any brand name soles: they stick with leather and rubber soles. 

Allen Edmonds uses Dainite studded soles for some of their boots, but also relies on leather soles for their dress shoes and boots, too. They also have some other interesting lug soles, too. 

There’s certainly a far greater variety of outsoles available with Allen Edmonds.

Price

The price is a major factor in the debate between Allen Edmonds and Beckett Simonon. 

The average price of an Allen Edmonds boot or shoe is right around $400. You can find factory seconds or snag a discount on their footwear every once in a while, but their retail price is roughly $400. Some models are more expensive, others less, but the price is in the $400 ballpark.

Beckett Simonon is $209 for their shoes at the time of writing, and $239 for their boots. 

I picked up my Beckett Simonon boots for $239, and my Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill for $440. Beckett Simonon is nearly half the price.

And I can’t tell a quality difference when either brand is on my feet. So for that reason, Beckett Simonon is a big winner in the price department. 

Stand Out Features

Beckett Simonon

Beckett Simonon is my go-to brand for dress boots. The leather is the best I’ve seen in the $200-$300 range and I like the blend of contemporary and classic styling they offer. 

The biggest hurdle you’ll face with Beckett Simonon is their wait times. I’ve found that their customer service is fantastic—they consistently send you email updates on your order so you never feel like you’re forgotten. But if you’re waiting 12 weeks, that’s a long time.

Still, if you have the patience and don’t need your new boots for an upcoming event, then Beckett Simonon is one of the best value-for-money boots you can buy.

Allen Edmonds

I’ve never seen another brand with as much sizing variety as Allen Edmonds. I’ve heard from plenty of guys who couldn’t ever find the right fit, but once they tried Allen Edmonds, they became loyal to the brand and don’t shop anywhere else. 

I also like that Allen Edmonds makes all their boots and shoes in the USA. Quite honestly, that doesn’t mean the construction quality is better (unfortunately if anything, it’s worse). But supporting American jobs might be worth the extra cost for you. 

Allen Edmonds also makes some of their most popular models in waterproof versions, so if you’re caught in the rain somewhat often in your dress shoes, getting storm resistant footwear is an easy choice. That’s something Beckett Simonon doesn’t handle as well. 

Which Is the Best Brand for You?

If your priorities are value-for-money and style, I recommend Beckett Simonon. 

If you have an irregular foot size or want substantial weather resistance from your new boots or shoes, then I recommend Allen Edmonds. 

Beckett Simonon is one of my favorite brands because the quality is excellent for the price. I think they’re on par with Allen Edmonds, but they’re nearly half the cost. I also like the slimmer, more contemporary style Beckett Simonon offers. They do have a long wait time, though (sometimes up to 12 weeks).

Allen Edmonds has the most impressive stock of sizes and widths I’ve seen from any shoe brand. So if you have an uncommon shoe size, you’ll love Allen Edmonds. And because AE uses Goodyear welted construction, pretty much all of their models will give you better weather resistance than Beckett Simonon.

Both brands are excellent, so you really can’t go wrong. But to me, Beckett Simonon is the big winner.

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