I'm not joking, I have 6 different pairs of Beckett Simonon shoes. I have Reid sneakers in white, Dowlers in a darker brown, Hoyt monkstraps in bordeaux, Oxfords in black, Adelaide Oxfords in tan, and Bolton Chelsea in tan. I get emails for promo codes all the time that bring the total to under $200, and the sneakers were closer to $100. All were pullup leather where that was available. I think for under $200, it's still a steal even if the quality has dropped a little over time (I got my first three pairs 2-3 years ago, before they changed tanneries). I'm a lawyer and wear some of these to court, and I've gotten compliments from other lawyers that are wearing $1000 handmade Italian shoes. I get compliments from random people on the street in NYC.
This guy is a Thursday shill. If you head to his site it is plug after plug for the Captain boot. Objectively though, the suggestion makes no sense. The tannery BS uses is Mastrotto Group, and they are totally transparent about their tannery. It is gold rated and legitimate. Thursday uses Le Farc in Mexico and they are silver rated. When you look at both tanneries, it is six hens in one hand and half a dozen in the other. To subjectively state the leather BS uses is cheaper looking is comical at best. Pricing is all you need to know about comparing the 2. If their price point is the same, they are most likely using the same grade of leather.
This is a spot on review. I have 3 pair of bs boots and grip is the creasing in the uppers. That being said, bs last fits my foot better than any other alden, ae, etc boots i have.
I.Love.My.Beckett.Simonon.Boots..... I walked from Brooklyn to TImes Square and STILL recieved compliments, even to this day. You could prob play ball in these and they'd still look great! I should get boot trees but I haven't needed them.
I've own both a pair of boots and Oxford dress shoes and my biggest gripe is the loose grain on their leather. It is a full grain leather, but it has loose grain which just doesn't feel like a quality full grain leather.
I like my Dowler boots. They add a different style to my rotation. However, I bought three pairs of Thursdays before getting Dowler boots and I don't have any regrets. I would not pay more than $280 for Beckett Simonon boots. They're good for the less than $300 price point. My Thursdays feel a little more comfortable, more versatile, and more durable.
Great re-review. I wasn’t aware of the most recent changes going on, which makes me a bit nervous for my Lopez boots that are coming next month. At least I’ve got a good pair of chukkas from them I can rely on.
I've had several pairs before and after the change. I think the leather on the new ones are softer and more comfortable. Especially the interior leather. They have made some serious comfort improvements on the inside of the boots and shoes (which were already pretty comfortable). And no other shoe brand I have tried fit my feet better. Every pro you mentioned for Thursday over Beckett Simonon is legitimate, however in the end it comes down to fit and comfort, and BS are just more comfortable for my feet.
yeah the lining has improved for sure! and if you like the last for beckett simonon then definitely keep going with them, that's key. did you try any of the pull up leathers at all? i'm real curious about them but don't really want to do another beckett simonon video haha
I scored a pair of brand new BS Nolan Brogue boots in black, all for $100 on eBay. Score! I love these boots so much, and they look so damn good. I'm being diligent with shoe trees this time :) Since getting them, I've learned more and more about good leather footwear, and hope to get a pair of Crown Northampton sneakers soon.
I have the pebbled leather dowler boots (bought in Oct 23) and I'm obsessed with them! They also have a full rubber sole, not exposed leather in the forefoot. They feel significantly higher quality to the Thursday boots I just purchased and returned.
There is a channel that specializes in leather works and he said the leather tanner in Italy is a one of the higher quality ones. You should fight him so we know whos opinion is correct
I see complains in the comment section about creasing.Can one really stop leather from creasing due to the enormous pressure we put on these shoes. The only leather i have notice is stubborn to creasing is suede or nubuck.
it's not so much that it creases but that it. creases weirdly. like it's pretty normal for leather to crease on the foot break but their boots, the leather is thin and chromey and so you see a lot of wrinkling in weird areas that barely flex
I have about 4 months into my Nolan boots and 1 in my new Oscar boots and I love them especially for the price. I get tons of complements on my tan Nolans. I think for what they are and especially at their regular sale price they're a great option.
I noticed on your IG account that you have also worked with leather jackets. Do you recommend any one who does alterations on leather jackets and repairs, like a bad zipper. Talked to all the Cobblers & seamsters in my area with no luck finding someone who works in leather jackets. Have a larger jacket I freaking love, but has a zipper that has failed and would like to have the arm lengths shortened by 3-4 inches. Whoever made this jacket must have used a mannequin that had arms longer than your average great ape. A real knuckle dragging mannequin!!! The rest of the leather jacket is PERFECT, but not being worn because of the zipper and sleeve lengths. I live in SC and someone in this area would be a bonus.... Also, you lead me to Txture boots made in Indonesia. Do you know of any leather jacket manufacturers in Indo making high quality leather jackets at Indo pricing?? Would love to have a larger jacket made off the same larger by boots are being made with.... That would be freaking awesome to have a matching pair!! Appreciate your help
Can you please review their Silvia Chelsea boot? It uses an EVA sole as they claim. Seems unique. I mean, I'm not telling you to buy it. But if you do buy it, can you please do a review? Thanks!
I just bought a pair of boots and dress shoes so I’m not looking to get anything right now, but I do want a pair of more dress style boots in the future. Beckett Simonon is a company I’ve been considering and I might end up getting some of the elliot’s down the line. Not sure how much those of changed so I’ll have to look into it more.
yeah I just got a pair. the leather's not jaw dropping but it's good for the price and, importantly, it's harder to tell a leather is bad when it's black haha so i'd recommend them
Thanks for the review! They look far too dressy for my taste in boots. I think Thursday got the perfect balance of dressy and outdoorsy in their Captain silhouette.
Funny, I also find the Dowlers to be pretty dressy looking, but every review calls them casual. Not sure why. I wear a pair of black, leather-soled Dowlers with my suit and it looks fantastic, better than 95% of what I see people wearing. For casual boots, yeah, I think I’d go with something else - something with a properly gusseted tongue and thicker leather - over the Dowler.
I'm still skeptical about their pull up leather. The pictures on the website for the brown and merlot pull leathers looked nice. I just received my Nolan Brogue Boots in merlot pull up last week after two months of waiting and was instantly disappointed upon opening them. The leather looks and feels like plastic. In fact, it seems to have some kind of painted on/patent finish applied to it based on a few nasty scuffs around the welt where it almost looks like its peeling away. Still trying to decide whether to try to return or exchange them (at least I ordered them during a promotion so they were well under $200). I agree with you on the lining leather. It's actually nicer than the upper leather. I'm 0/2 on satisfaction with the brand. The finishing on my first pair of oxfords from them was not great either. The finisher got a little rough with the burnishing and damaged some of the stitching on the welt (and didn't fix the burnishing they seemed to be trying to correct). Again, the leather quality doesn't seem great on those either though I haven't had an opportunity to wear them often. They are comfortable and they have some nice designs in their product line. Just disappointed so far.
The Meermin break-in is fairly tough. They are super comfortable once you get through that. Ultimately they are good value and they do some interesting Group MTO's. I have a few pairs but I feel that they have scaled back their product offerings a lot. For boots, they used to offer Brogue boots, and Balmorals etc...Now I think it is a choice between Wholecut Chelseas, Jumper boots and Chukkas. I have a few pairs of the Chelseas. The Waxy Commander Wholecut is my wet winter day go-to, but I have another pair on the same last in Museum Calf which feel way narrower.
I’m all for trying out low(er) priced shoes, and I think it’s great that you review them. Great way to see if the style is something you like. For years, I have suggested a lower price point to friends and acquaintances who ask. For some reason, I have never been a fan of this brand, though. The QC just isn’t up to snuff.
i feel like the pull up leathers might be worth it with this one and i do like that there's a blake stitch option out there for guys who want to try it
@@Stridewise that’s great! For me, the issue hasn’t been the leather-buy $250 shoes, you’re not going to get $1,000 leather-it’s been plain QC issues (shoes with pretty substantially different coloring, bad patina work, lasting errors that cause one shoe to wrinkle, et cetera. But if there’s a subset of footwear they sell that isn’t an issue, I’m all for it. No need to spend on a Higgins Mill (or even costlier PNW boot) if you’re just trying to see if you like wearing boots.
The Beckett Simonon Dowler boot is a boot that I have been considering for my first _laced up_ boot, but I think I'm going to pass. The Clark's Dessert Boots were my first boots and I liked them, but now I'm looking for my first laced up dress boot. What's a good a laced up dress boot if it's your first time?
I bought 3 pairs of BS maybe 4 years ago, at about $180. I’ve moved them all on. Just save and spend more on better boots - Carlos Santos, TLB Mallorca, Carmina in increasing price range, you will be so much happier. Grant Stone. Rancourt. So many better options.
Question about the pull up leather ...do they treat the leather soles of the shoe as well as the upper making the sole a little more durable and wearable on wet/damp streets ?
I'll never even look at Beckett Simonon for the simple fact they don't offer wide widths. I have enough issues with EE. I'd never get close to fitting in a standard D
How do their leather sole sound when walking? I mean, does it have the clock clock clock sound when walking? Hard to explain :/ My nisolo andres has a nice walking sound, just wondering how these compare.
I really don't like how they put the leather outsole under a rubber midsole. I much prefer the other version with the leather on top of the rubber. It kind of looks like they're using the exact same materials but just stacking them in a different order, which is interesting.
Yeah. I mean it makes sense that some guys want the grip of a rubber sole. But doing rubber midsole and leather outsole messes with the breathability of a leather outsole, something i should have mentioned
Yeah something about the look of their new tan/light brown leather just screams cheap. Idk if it's the chromeyness or the texture or the abruptness of the patina on the toe but I'm really not a fan. I have the Elliot in the same leather you have on the Dowlers in this video and I really wish I had gotten the pull up or a different color. And like I mentioned in the comments of your instagram post, the lining on my boots is separating.
Yeah I think black on the balmoral is fine, you get a very acceptable dress boot that way even though the wrinkling is not quite right. sucks to hear about the lining, i think the vachetta is one of the strong suits
Yeah I notice the Gallagher boots I just recently received aren’t as substantial as their chelsea boots I got a couple years ago. The heel stack in particular seems too light. I wonder if it's real leather.
The only drawback is that leather is just too thin, and wrinkles even as you lace them up. If you can get past that, maybe. Better you than me. I have the Elliot boot and it feels like kidskin. Hmm....
Yeah I have the Elliot boot and it's fine, but mostly it's fine because it's black so you can't tell the leather is meh. It's still my go to suit boot (mostly because I have the wrong size in Park Ave boot)
I have two pairs of Oxfords from 4 years ago, and their still amazing with calf skin. Very supple not shiny cheapshit leather at all. I just recently ordered boots, and now Im worried. I didnt realized they were doing this. That sucks. I used to love Frye and my RedWings Iron Rangers are still hands down my favorite boot, but to be honest I dont need the ruggedness of them. Their heavy, after a few hours all I want to do is take them off. To me a dressier less heavy boot would be great. I have an old original Ted Baker boots from early 2000s which are fucking fantastic calf skin, the leather is like butter. I will comment back once I receive my new boots from BS.
Not true. If you keep in mind what they are and what you're paying they're a pretty good deal or used to be. Idk how this new leather is going to hold up but the shoes and boots I have from them have held up fairly well over the last 3 years.
@@donguapisimo4222 The other brands in the price range--They're not *terrible* and will *hold up* to regular wear. In the same price range, Blkbrd is way better. Meermin has terrible lasts and CS, but way better construction and materials. AE and Grant Stone seconds are both about the same price and miles better. Jim Green is built like a tank and cheaper, but, the last is an acquired taste and not many style options....All to say, you can do better without spending (much) more money
I really liked my 2018 Dowlers, they were totally worth it. Today the boots are good enough quality given how incredibly inexpensive they are. There are just better options at this pricepoint.
I'm not joking, I have 6 different pairs of Beckett Simonon shoes. I have Reid sneakers in white, Dowlers in a darker brown, Hoyt monkstraps in bordeaux, Oxfords in black, Adelaide Oxfords in tan, and Bolton Chelsea in tan. I get emails for promo codes all the time that bring the total to under $200, and the sneakers were closer to $100. All were pullup leather where that was available. I think for under $200, it's still a steal even if the quality has dropped a little over time (I got my first three pairs 2-3 years ago, before they changed tanneries). I'm a lawyer and wear some of these to court, and I've gotten compliments from other lawyers that are wearing $1000 handmade Italian shoes. I get compliments from random people on the street in NYC.
What's the promo code lol
Are they comfortable
This guy is a Thursday shill. If you head to his site it is plug after plug for the Captain boot. Objectively though, the suggestion makes no sense. The tannery BS uses is Mastrotto Group, and they are totally transparent about their tannery. It is gold rated and legitimate. Thursday uses Le Farc in Mexico and they are silver rated. When you look at both tanneries, it is six hens in one hand and half a dozen in the other. To subjectively state the leather BS uses is cheaper looking is comical at best.
Pricing is all you need to know about comparing the 2. If their price point is the same, they are most likely using the same grade of leather.
@acrobat471 LOL it's like the battle of the boot brands between Marks & shills
is the black a tea core leather or is it dyed all the way through?
This is a spot on review. I have 3 pair of bs boots and grip is the creasing in the uppers. That being said, bs last fits my foot better than any other alden, ae, etc boots i have.
I.Love.My.Beckett.Simonon.Boots..... I walked from Brooklyn to TImes Square and STILL recieved compliments, even to this day. You could prob play ball in these and they'd still look great! I should get boot trees but I haven't needed them.
I've own both a pair of boots and Oxford dress shoes and my biggest gripe is the loose grain on their leather. It is a full grain leather, but it has loose grain which just doesn't feel like a quality full grain leather.
I like my Dowler boots. They add a different style to my rotation. However, I bought three pairs of Thursdays before getting Dowler boots and I don't have any regrets. I would not pay more than $280 for Beckett Simonon boots. They're good for the less than $300 price point. My Thursdays feel a little more comfortable, more versatile, and more durable.
Great re-review. I wasn’t aware of the most recent changes going on, which makes me a bit nervous for my Lopez boots that are coming next month. At least I’ve got a good pair of chukkas from them I can rely on.
I just got the lopez as well. I’m not too worried
I've had several pairs before and after the change. I think the leather on the new ones are softer and more comfortable. Especially the interior leather. They have made some serious comfort improvements on the inside of the boots and shoes (which were already pretty comfortable). And no other shoe brand I have tried fit my feet better. Every pro you mentioned for Thursday over Beckett Simonon is legitimate, however in the end it comes down to fit and comfort, and BS are just more comfortable for my feet.
yeah the lining has improved for sure! and if you like the last for beckett simonon then definitely keep going with them, that's key. did you try any of the pull up leathers at all? i'm real curious about them but don't really want to do another beckett simonon video haha
do another becket simonon video! I'll LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE @@Stridewise
I scored a pair of brand new BS Nolan Brogue boots in black, all for $100 on eBay. Score! I love these boots so much, and they look so damn good. I'm being diligent with shoe trees this time :) Since getting them, I've learned more and more about good leather footwear, and hope to get a pair of Crown Northampton sneakers soon.
I have the pebbled leather dowler boots (bought in Oct 23) and I'm obsessed with them! They also have a full rubber sole, not exposed leather in the forefoot. They feel significantly higher quality to the Thursday boots I just purchased and returned.
There is a channel that specializes in leather works and he said the leather tanner in Italy is a one of the higher quality ones. You should fight him so we know whos opinion is correct
Much of the world's best leather comes from Italy! There are also so-so tanneries from there :)
I see complains in the comment section about creasing.Can one really stop leather from creasing due to the enormous pressure we put on these shoes. The only leather i have notice is stubborn to creasing is suede or nubuck.
it's not so much that it creases but that it. creases weirdly. like it's pretty normal for leather to crease on the foot break but their boots, the leather is thin and chromey and so you see a lot of wrinkling in weird areas that barely flex
I have about 4 months into my Nolan boots and 1 in my new Oscar boots and I love them especially for the price. I get tons of complements on my tan Nolans. I think for what they are and especially at their regular sale price they're a great option.
I ordered tan Nolan’s nov 30th it’s now feb 21st still no boots 3 months for a boot in todays world is just ridiculous 🤣
I noticed on your IG account that you have also worked with leather jackets. Do you recommend any one who does alterations on leather jackets and repairs, like a bad zipper. Talked to all the Cobblers & seamsters in my area with no luck finding someone who works in leather jackets. Have a larger jacket I freaking love, but has a zipper that has failed and would like to have the arm lengths shortened by 3-4 inches. Whoever made this jacket must have used a mannequin that had arms longer than your average great ape. A real knuckle dragging mannequin!!!
The rest of the leather jacket is PERFECT, but not being worn because of the zipper and sleeve lengths.
I live in SC and someone in this area would be a bonus....
Also, you lead me to Txture boots made in Indonesia. Do you know of any leather jacket manufacturers in Indo making high quality leather jackets at Indo pricing?? Would love to have a larger jacket made off the same larger by boots are being made with.... That would be freaking awesome to have a matching pair!!
Appreciate your help
Can you please review their Silvia Chelsea boot? It uses an EVA sole as they claim. Seems unique. I mean, I'm not telling you to buy it. But if you do buy it, can you please do a review? Thanks!
I just bought a pair of boots and dress shoes so I’m not looking to get anything right now, but I do want a pair of more dress style boots in the future. Beckett Simonon is a company I’ve been considering and I might end up getting some of the elliot’s down the line. Not sure how much those of changed so I’ll have to look into it more.
yeah I just got a pair. the leather's not jaw dropping but it's good for the price and, importantly, it's harder to tell a leather is bad when it's black haha so i'd recommend them
Thanks for the review! They look far too dressy for my taste in boots. I think Thursday got the perfect balance of dressy and outdoorsy in their Captain silhouette.
Funny, I also find the Dowlers to be pretty dressy looking, but every review calls them casual. Not sure why. I wear a pair of black, leather-soled Dowlers with my suit and it looks fantastic, better than 95% of what I see people wearing.
For casual boots, yeah, I think I’d go with something else - something with a properly gusseted tongue and thicker leather - over the Dowler.
I'm still skeptical about their pull up leather. The pictures on the website for the brown and merlot pull leathers looked nice. I just received my Nolan Brogue Boots in merlot pull up last week after two months of waiting and was instantly disappointed upon opening them. The leather looks and feels like plastic. In fact, it seems to have some kind of painted on/patent finish applied to it based on a few nasty scuffs around the welt where it almost looks like its peeling away. Still trying to decide whether to try to return or exchange them (at least I ordered them during a promotion so they were well under $200). I agree with you on the lining leather. It's actually nicer than the upper leather. I'm 0/2 on satisfaction with the brand. The finishing on my first pair of oxfords from them was not great either. The finisher got a little rough with the burnishing and damaged some of the stitching on the welt (and didn't fix the burnishing they seemed to be trying to correct). Again, the leather quality doesn't seem great on those either though I haven't had an opportunity to wear them often. They are comfortable and they have some nice designs in their product line. Just disappointed so far.
The leather quality is below that of Allen Edmonds. Might as well upgrade to Allen Edmonds
Maybe you could compare these to meermin boots, because they are in a similar price range but dont have these long wait times
I haven’t handled any Meermin shoes but if they’re as good as everybody says they are then they’ll blow the Becket Simmonons out.
the break ins are murder with meermin but i definitely need to do more of them. they just have so many gd boots i never know what to review
The Meermin break-in is fairly tough. They are super comfortable once you get through that. Ultimately they are good value and they do some interesting Group MTO's. I have a few pairs but I feel that they have scaled back their product offerings a lot. For boots, they used to offer Brogue boots, and Balmorals etc...Now I think it is a choice between Wholecut Chelseas, Jumper boots and Chukkas.
I have a few pairs of the Chelseas. The Waxy Commander Wholecut is my wet winter day go-to, but I have another pair on the same last in Museum Calf which feel way narrower.
I’m all for trying out low(er) priced shoes, and I think it’s great that you review them. Great way to see if the style is something you like. For years, I have suggested a lower price point to friends and acquaintances who ask. For some reason, I have never been a fan of this brand, though. The QC just isn’t up to snuff.
i feel like the pull up leathers might be worth it with this one and i do like that there's a blake stitch option out there for guys who want to try it
@@Stridewise that’s great! For me, the issue hasn’t been the leather-buy $250 shoes, you’re not going to get $1,000 leather-it’s been plain QC issues (shoes with pretty substantially different coloring, bad patina work, lasting errors that cause one shoe to wrinkle, et cetera. But if there’s a subset of footwear they sell that isn’t an issue, I’m all for it. No need to spend on a Higgins Mill (or even costlier PNW boot) if you’re just trying to see if you like wearing boots.
The Beckett Simonon Dowler boot is a boot that I have been considering for my first _laced up_ boot, but I think I'm going to pass. The Clark's Dessert Boots were my first boots and I liked them, but now I'm looking for my first laced up dress boot. What's a good a laced up dress boot if it's your first time?
I bought 3 pairs of BS maybe 4 years ago, at about $180. I’ve moved them all on. Just save and spend more on better boots - Carlos Santos, TLB Mallorca, Carmina in increasing price range, you will be so much happier. Grant Stone. Rancourt. So many better options.
What color leather are the boots in your review? Appreciate the vid!
Question about the pull up leather ...do they treat the leather soles of the shoe as well as the upper making the sole a little more durable and wearable on wet/damp streets ?
Thanks for the review, but BS is my go-to for boots, until I spend the coin for a grant stone diesel.
I'll never even look at Beckett Simonon for the simple fact they don't offer wide widths. I have enough issues with EE. I'd never get close to fitting in a standard D
How do their leather sole sound when walking? I mean, does it have the clock clock clock sound when walking? Hard to explain :/ My nisolo andres has a nice walking sound, just wondering how these compare.
I really don't like how they put the leather outsole under a rubber midsole. I much prefer the other version with the leather on top of the rubber. It kind of looks like they're using the exact same materials but just stacking them in a different order, which is interesting.
Yeah. I mean it makes sense that some guys want the grip of a rubber sole. But doing rubber midsole and leather outsole messes with the breathability of a leather outsole, something i should have mentioned
Yeah something about the look of their new tan/light brown leather just screams cheap. Idk if it's the chromeyness or the texture or the abruptness of the patina on the toe but I'm really not a fan. I have the Elliot in the same leather you have on the Dowlers in this video and I really wish I had gotten the pull up or a different color. And like I mentioned in the comments of your instagram post, the lining on my boots is separating.
Yeah I think black on the balmoral is fine, you get a very acceptable dress boot that way even though the wrinkling is not quite right. sucks to hear about the lining, i think the vachetta is one of the strong suits
What size should I get if I wear a 10 US in Nike Air maxes?
Yeah I notice the Gallagher boots I just recently received aren’t as substantial as their chelsea boots I got a couple years ago. The heel stack in particular seems too light. I wonder if it's real leather.
Glad I’m not crazy for questioning the heel stack!
Does anyone know if these are true to size in sneakers i wear 8.5 boots I mostly wear 8 wide please someone help
yup they're true to size. just make sure your sneaker size is your brannock size
My boots cost $50 bucks.
Mine too 😅
What if I'm wide width????
you could try sizing up half a size, but maybe not worth the risk given the wait time
The only drawback is that leather is just too thin, and wrinkles even as you lace them up. If you can get past that, maybe. Better you than me. I have the Elliot boot and it feels like kidskin. Hmm....
Yeah I have the Elliot boot and it's fine, but mostly it's fine because it's black so you can't tell the leather is meh. It's still my go to suit boot (mostly because I have the wrong size in Park Ave boot)
No wide sizes? No my money to the company
fair enough!
I have two pairs of Oxfords from 4 years ago, and their still amazing with calf skin. Very supple not shiny cheapshit leather at all. I just recently ordered boots, and now Im worried. I didnt realized they were doing this. That sucks. I used to love Frye and my RedWings Iron Rangers are still hands down my favorite boot, but to be honest I dont need the ruggedness of them. Their heavy, after a few hours all I want to do is take them off. To me a dressier less heavy boot would be great. I have an old original Ted Baker boots from early 2000s which are fucking fantastic calf skin, the leather is like butter. I will comment back once I receive my new boots from BS.
Let’s talk about that pull tab though.. 😬😅
no, no they are not worth it.
Thursdays is a good entry, Meermin is a better entry.
I like your content, but you talk too fast for me. Hard to follow sometimes.
bro they were never worth it unless they're paying you to say they're worth it
i like mine in pull up leather. and i got them on sale like 1 or 2 years ago. i'd say theyre worth it, they go on sale multiple times a year
Not true. If you keep in mind what they are and what you're paying they're a pretty good deal or used to be. Idk how this new leather is going to hold up but the shoes and boots I have from them have held up fairly well over the last 3 years.
Why not? What makes them not worth it?
@@donguapisimo4222 The other brands in the price range--They're not *terrible* and will *hold up* to regular wear. In the same price range, Blkbrd is way better. Meermin has terrible lasts and CS, but way better construction and materials. AE and Grant Stone seconds are both about the same price and miles better. Jim Green is built like a tank and cheaper, but, the last is an acquired taste and not many style options....All to say, you can do better without spending (much) more money
I really liked my 2018 Dowlers, they were totally worth it. Today the boots are good enough quality given how incredibly inexpensive they are. There are just better options at this pricepoint.