We take a look at the differences and similarities between Beckett Simonon and Allen Edmonds in the dress boot department to help you decide which is right for you.
If you are looking for a pair of dress boots to impress your work colleagues or to wow your friends at a social event then you will know all about Beckett Simonon and Allen Edmonds.
These well known brands each have their own strong qualities as well as a few drawbacks.
We’re here to help you look at both and guide you through making a decision on which dress boots will suit you best.
Looking at all the qualities of each of these dress boots will make it easier for you to determine which one is the best to add to your wardrobe.
We’ll start by comparing the two in relation to specifications and then look in detail at the different aspects of each boot.
Finally we’ll take a look at the features of each that stand out and make them unique, giving you all the information you need to make a choice between them.
With all this knowledge you will be able to shop with confidence and make an informed decision.
Comparing Specifications
In order to make a proper comparison between the two we need to break the boots down into their component parts.
The upper, sole, outsole and so you know what your options are we also include the warranties from both companies.
So let’s get started. First we’ll look at the upper of both dress boots.
Beckett Simonon uses a full grain calfskin which is sourced from a Gold-Rated tannery based in Arzignano, Italy.
Allen Edmonds uses a variety of leathers including Horween Chromexcel or similar quality leather including European calfskin.
For the sole of the dress boots:
Both Beckett Simonon and Allen Edmonds use leather for the sole of their dress boots.
Beckett Simonon uses a Vachetta leather lining to allow your feet to breathe. It also absorbs moisture and regulates temperature.
Allen Edmonds uses their own CustomCork in the insoles that mold to the unique shape of your feet.
The all important outsole:
Beckett Simonon dress boots use both leather and rubber. A full SBR rubber cap on the heel is for added traction.
Allen Edmonds dress boot soles are made from leather, Dainite rubber. They are treated with butyl both for flexibility and for protection against the elements.
Finally, the warranty:
Beckett Simonon offers a 60 day money back guarantee on any unworn boots.
Allen Edmonds gives their customers the opportunity to return unworn boots after 90 days.
Overview Beckett Simonon Vs Allen Edmonds: Dress Boot
A quick overview of both of these dress boot makers will give you some insight into what you can expect from each when you buy a pair of dress boots from either manufacturer.
When comparing two different makers of dress boots it is important to know if you are comparing like for like. If not, then the comparison will be skewed and unfair.
For each of the qualities that will be looked at in the overview, we will go into greater detail further in the article, so you know exactly what you are comparing.
Beckett Simonon was founded in 2011 by two guys who were already working in the leather industry.
They became disillusioned with the way that the retail industry worked and decided to go down a different path to produce high quality goods at lower prices.
Instead of outsourcing, they decided to control manufacturing themselves and rather than selling through retail stores they sell online.
As a result there is no inventory of stock sitting around with products remaining unsold as everything is made specifically to order.
The company is based in New York, but their production facility is in Bogotá, Colombia where artisans produce handcrafted dress boots to order using high quality materials.
These come from Italy and Argentina, where they have decades of experience of tanning leather.
Pros
There are no middlemen, so unlike with the retail sector, there are no high markups on the price of the boots and prices can be kept down
Handcrafted boots by skilled artisans rather than mass produced footwear from a factory
Each pair of dress boots is specially made to order, making them unique to you
The boots can be resoled meaning they will last a lot longer
Cons
There is a long wait time for your boots, sometimes up to three months. The company holds no inventory and every order has to be made from scratch
While Beckett Simonon has only been around since 2011, Allen Edmonds was founded a hundred years ago.
They are a manufacturer of premium footwear based in the US and have been making custom dress footwear since 1922.
They were among the first to introduce cork into the midsoles of their shoes, something that had never been done before.
However, this proved to be very popular with returning GIs who loved the comfort as well as the professional look of their shoes.
Allen Edmonds is a name that has been associated with high quality ever since, and they are very well known in the premium shoe industry.
They offer a huge range of sizes in their footwear from B up to triple E in many of their most popular models.
In this regard, Allen Edmonds offers a large variety of options and holds a diverse range of stock including many of their boots in weatherproof models and different soles.
Pros
They offer an extensive range of widths including B, D, E, EE, and EEE widths which are available in sizes 6-15 in many of their models.
High quality materials and craftsmanship from a company that is a hundred years old with a huge amount of experience and expertise.
Handcrafted footwear made in the United States
Cons
Prices can be very high and more than double some of the prices offered by Beckett Simonon
Beckett Simonon And Allen Edmonds: Head To Head
To be fair in the comparison, we have taken a pair of boots from each manufacturer that are relatively similar.
From Beckett Simonon we look at the Elliot Balmoral boots and from Allen Edmonds the Higgins Mill boots.
Both are lace up boots with eyelets and speed hooks, they come in a similar range of sizes and colors.
Apart from these basic similarities, the boots have a lot of features that are unique to them. This is how we will compare and contrast these dress boots.
We will go through factors such as the quality of the leather on the upper part of the boot, the sole quality, both outsole, midsole and inner sole.
The style of each boot will be held up for comparison, and finally we will consider the price.
Leather Quality
Beckett Simonon’s Elliot Balmoral boots are made from a full grain calfskin. Full grain refers to the top part of the animal hide and is considered to be the best quality.
It retains the grain of the skin, hence its name. Only the hair is removed from this part of the animal hide.
The leather is sourced from an Italian tannery based in Arzignano, Italy, which is gold-rated.
This means that it meets the most stringent criteria while demonstrating a strong commitment to mitigating its environmental impact.
As it is calfskin, it is much lighter than cowhide and the grain is finer because it is from a younger animal.
It is a very durable, but breathable leather and considered one of the highest quality leathers for shoes and boots.
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boots are made from shell Cordovan leather.
This has been one of the most sought after leathers for centuries due to its durability and strength. But most of all Cordovan leather is known for its high gloss that doesn’t bend or crack, rather it ripples.
This is not made from cow hide but is an equine leather which is made at the Horween tannery in Chicago. Horween Tannery is one of the oldest in the United States and highly respected in the industry.
Shell Cordovan leather is specialized in its origin, tanning process and application, so for this reason, it is much more expensive than leather made from cow hide.
Sole Quality
The sole on Beckett Simonon’s Elliot Balmoral boots is made from rubber for durability, grip and traction.
They are sturdy and offer good resistance to abrasion. Rubber provides a greater degree of shock absorption from impact than other outsole materials such as leather.
The insole of these boots is leather and will mold and conform to the shape of your foot, creating a unique footbed that will last for years to come. Solid construction means that your feet will be supported and have proper balance.
Blake stitching holds the outsole, midsole, insole and upper together. Nevertheless the Elliot Balmoral boots can be resoled thereby ensuring that they last for many years.
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boots have a sole that is also made from rubber, but this is Dainite rubber. Dainite is a British company that specializes in rubber soles and heels for shoes and boots.
The rubber ensures that the boots have exceptional traction but also that they pick up less dirt. Insoles are made from CustomCork that provides soft support and molds to the unique shape of your foot.
The interior of the Higgins Mill boots are leather lined and the upper is attached to the sole through a 360º Goodyear welt construction, ensuring stability and durability.
This also makes resoling the boots much easier and extends the life of the boots.
Style
Balmoral boots were originally designed in the 1800s for Prince Albert, the much loved husband of Queen Victoria.
They were primarily designed for outdoor walking but with the ability to be worn indoors too thus pushing the boundaries of the fashion of the day.
Beckett Simonon’s version, the Elliot Balmoral boot is as stylish as a dress boot can be.
It has an upper that extends above the golosh and a thin decorative line of stitching along the shaft. A row of hand-punched broguing shows off the top cap.
Closed lacing mimics an Oxford shoe and the slim, svelte appearance of the Elliot Balmoral boot is very pleasing to the eye.
The styling is timeless, and the versatility means that they can be worn with suits, chinos or jeans.
Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boots are a lace up derby boot with speed hooks. They are very smart and can be worn with jeans or with formal attire quite comfortably.
The shell Cordovan leather with its high gloss sheen makes an impact and exudes quality and style.
It does have a hint of logger boot about it which Allen Edmonds actively promotes.
This hints at the toughness and durability of the boots but allows for them to be worn socially, hiding the boot portion underneath pant legs. Extremely practical, versatile and stylish dress boots.
Price
This could be where the similarities end. A pair of Beckett Simonon’s Elliot Balmoral boots will cost around $239 directly from their website.
Meanwhile, a pair of Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boots will cost approximately $725.
However, this pricing comparison is perhaps a little unfair for a number of reasons. First of all, Beckett Simonon’s whole reason for being is to cut out the middle men in the transaction between factory and consumer.
In a typical scenario a pair of boots would go from the factory through a sourcing agent, branding, a distributor to a retailer and finally to you.
All of these stages add costs to the final price that you pay in the store or online.
Beckett Simonon don’t have these costs and therefore don’t add them to the price of the boots. Instead your boots go straight to you from their factory meaning you pay less.
While Beckett Simonon have an advantage with price through a seriously stripped down delivery system for their Elliot Balmoral boots, Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boots take quality to its highest level.
The shell Cordovan leather that goes into them is a highly prized and sought after leather.
It is made from a very specific part of horse hide with supplies being very limited. The tanning process for this leather is highly specialized and takes around six months to complete.
All of these factors add to the cost of producing a pair of Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boots which is then reflected in the price.
So while the boots may look very similar there are large differences in how they are made and the processes that each of them go through, all of which affects the eventual price tag.
Beckett Simonon and Allen Edmonds have plenty of other dress boots which may be more comparable in price. So if budget is your first consideration there are lots of other options from both manufacturers.
Features That Stand Out
So we have compared the features of Beckett Simonon and Allen Edmonds boots but are there any particular aspects that stand out?
Rather than focus on a specific dress boot we will consider what it is in general about each manufacturer that makes it stand out.
Beckett Simonon
The dress boots that Beckett Simonon produces are high quality, durable and very stylish.
There are lots of models to choose from and plenty of style options from lace up boots to Chelsea boots, side zips to chukka boots.
But the stand out feature of Beckett Simonon has to be the price. They can offer high quality hand crafted dress boots for less than half the price of competitors.
This mind set came from previous experience of selling goods the traditional way through distributors and retailers.
The founders of the company saw how much was added to the price of a pair of boots through this system and decided to do something about it.
They still wanted to produce high quality goods but without charging above what the average person could afford.
Not only have they taken a radial approach to luxury shoes but also to the sourcing of materials and labor practices.
They engage in responsible sourcing and their suppliers share their beliefs and practices in creating long lasting products.
Beckett Simonon also ensures that their workers are employed under fair and ethical conditions while valuing their craft, passion and dignity.
In essence Beckett Simonon achieved their pricing strategy through three approaches, direct manufacturing, products made to order only and online purchasing.
hese combined methods cut out a lot of unnecessary costs so that the customer pays less for their boots.
Allen Edmonds
Allen Edmonds has been in business for a hundred years, so it should come as no surprise that their range of products is vast.
Not only do they offer a huge variety of footwear but also provide a range of sizes that is almost unrivaled in the industry.
This is one of the stand out features of Allen Edmonds, the sheer scope of sizes available in their boots and shoes.
Sizes start at 5 and go all the way up to 16, but it is in the range of widths available that Allen Edmonds excels. Widths vary from 4A all the way to EEE.
Having this large a selection of sizes and widths means that there is a size and fit for anyone even those with extra narrow or extra wide feet.
For those who struggle to find their correct size and have to settle for standard or regular widths this is a real bonus.
Not content with offering such a vast array of sizes and fits, Allen Edmonds also has a custom fit service that allows you to choose a style in your size, width, and preferred color of upper and sole.
Custom footwear takes eight weeks to make.
Despite the huge amount of choice available to Allen Edmonds customers there is no compromise on quality in the footwear that they produce.
Beckett Simonon Vs Allen Edmonds: Which Is Right For You?
The question of which is right for you, Beckett Simonon or Allen Edmonds, will really depend on what it is you are looking for in a dress boot and what your priorities are.
If you are on a budget then it will probably steer you toward Beckett Simonon, although there are some good prices on Allen Edmonds website too if you catch a sale.
For those in a hurry for their dress boots, then perhaps Allen Edmonds is a safer bet.
You can either order online or better still go to one of their stores for a fitting and to purchase your boots. Beckett Simonon orders can take up to twelve weeks to deliver.
The philosophy behind Beckett Simonon may appeal to your social conscience. They aim to produce high quality products with minimal impact on the environment.
As they operate a made to order system, there is less waste produced and no large inventory of unsold goods. It also reduces impulse buying and encourages thoughtful consumption. Their ethical labor practices show consideration for their workers too.
Allen Edmonds have a solid and long held reputation for making high quality shoes and boots.
They offer the opportunity to buy their products either online or in person at one of their stores. This gives you the chance to try the boots on and make sure they fit well.
While this more traditional way of supplying footwear to customers is more costly overall, it appeals to those who would rather see and handle the product before buying.
Although there is obviously the option to return online goods the process can be lengthy and frustrating.
Only you will be able to decide what is more important to you and which dress boot manufacturer can best offer you what you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Beckett Simonon An American Company?
Beckett Simonon are based in New York, but their factory is in Bogotá, Colombia. The company was actually founded in Bogotá, where there is a long tradition and heritage of leather work.
The company invested in an existing leather making workshop which had been in existence for three generations.
It was the only one in the country that produced fine leather products to the standard that Beckett Simonon wanted for their customers.
Having their own workshop allows the company to safeguard the responsible and ethical standards and working practices that they are so passionate about.
Do Allen Edmonds Boots Live Up To The Cost?
There is no denying that there is a cost for quality, and it is this that you need to consider when deciding how much you are willing to pay.
For a pair of dress boots that are going to last a long time then the cost is really more of an investment than an outlay.
Allen Edmonds is a well established company with an excellent reputation and that only happens when an enterprise delivers consistently with high quality and standards.
They have done that for a hundred years, so we would say absolutely, they are worth the cost.
Are Allen Edmonds Boots Made In The US?
Allen Edmonds has been handcrafting boots in the US since 1922.
They are based in Port Washington, Wisconsin and use materials from around the world to produce the highest quality footwear.
They use full grain calfskin and supple suede from England and shell Cordovan from the famous Horween tannery in Chicago.
Kudu reverse suede is sourced from antelopes in South Africa which are culled by the government to prevent overpopulation.
So although materials may come from around the globe they are put together in the United States to produce premium quality boots and shoes.
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