Beckett Simonon Reid Review: The Minimalist Winner

There’s nothing like a fresh pair of white sneaks. Even though I already own four different pairs of white minimalist sneakers, when I’m shopping with a new brand, I gravitate toward the same style.

It’s too good to pass up. 

I’ve tried the minimalist sneakers from KOIO, Oliver Cabell, GREATS, Thursday, and now Beckett Simonon. 

And in this review, I’m diving into my experience with the Beckett Simonon Reid, plus how it compares to the other major minimalist sneakers on the market so you can decide if it’s the best new shoe for you.

Beckett Simonon Reid Overview

The Reid is Beckett Simonon’s play on the simple minimalist sneaker. Back in 2017, the world became fed up with the dominance that Common Projects had on the fashion world, and it seemed like every brand launched their own clean, design-free sneaker. 

And now, there have been a few brands that have risen to the top. 

In my eyes, those sneakers are:

• Thursday Premiere
• KOIO Capri
• Oliver Cabell Low 1
• GREATS Royale

I’ve bought and reviewed all of these brands. And I have to say: they’re all great (with the ironic exception of GREATS—they’re pretty bad). 

Further Reading

Thursday Sneakers Review: I Try Thursday’s Premiere Sneaker

In this Thursday sneakers review, I’m going to dive deep into the Premier low top sneaker and compare it to the top brands so you can decide which minimalist sneaker is best for you.

For a quick break down, here’s how they stack up:

• The Thursday Premier is the best budget friendly option. They cut a few corners here and there, but you’re getting an awesome sneaker (with some cool leather options too) for a really good price.
• The KOIO Capri is an absolute Common Projects killer. They’re top quality, and they’re also pretty expensive, but not as expensive as Common Projects. There’s no reason to get Common Projects when KOIO exists.
• The Oliver Cabell Low 1 has some sizing issues, but it’s also a fantastic sneaker—they have some really interesting distressed designs and are worth checking out for their more fashion-forward sneakers. 
• The GREATS Royale used to be pretty solid, but they sold to Steve Madden and their leather quality tanked. 
• The Beckett Simonon Reid is pretty near KOIO in terms of quality, and closer to Thursday on price. It’s almost the perfect sneaker. Problem is, it can take 3 months to arrive at your door. I’ll explain why a little later.

Beckett Simonon Reid vs Common Projects

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The Beckett Simonon Reid is quite similar to the Common Projects Original Achilles on quality. They both use superb Italian full grain leather and have a supple leather lining. 

And they both use an Italian Margom sole as well. 

I wouldn’t say that Beckett Simonon is on the same exact level as Common Projects, but the quality difference really isn’t that noticeable. 

I’d much rather buy two pairs of Beckett Simonon Reid’s and have about $100 left over than get a pair of Common Projects. 

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But if you’re really keen to get the absolute best quality, then pick the KOIO Capri.

Personally, I see no reason to get a pair of Common Projects, unless you want to show that gold foil number. There’s some value in the status flex for sure, but just know that’s what you’re paying for.

Things to Consider Before Buying Minimalist Sneakers from Beckett Simonon

Beckett Simonon makes all their shoes to order, so they don’t start making your sneakers until you order them.

That means when you order your Reid’s, they can take three or four months to actually show up at your door. 

That’s the achilles heel of Beckett Simonon. But it’s also oddly their strength. 

Because they don’t need to order huge stocks and account for over-orders, their sneakers are much less expensive than other sneakers on their quality level. 

Further Reading

17 Types of Sneakers Every Man Must Know

Got the sneaker bug? Check out the 17 types of sneakers we think all men should know about. Which ones do you need to add to your collection?

Beckett Simonon is near the quality level of KOIO and Common Projects. And the price is between 50-60% less. That’s insane. 

But that incredible value for money comes with a cost: time. 

If you’re patient and willing to wait several months to get your sneakers, the Beckett Simonon Reid is the best choice. 

Beckett Simonon Reid Review

First Impression

The Beckett Simonon Reid has a very minimalist look, even when compared to other minimalist sneakers. 

They’ve kept the design bare—no eyelets, no extra stitching along the vamp: this is as simple as a sneaker gets. 

I know waiting three or four months for a pair of sneakers can sound pretty daunting, but Beckett Simonon is communicative throughout the entire making and shipping process. It’s actually pretty cool—they walk you through their handmade process while you wait.

I’ve ordered several boots and shoes from Beckett Simonon—they’re always one of my go-to’s when I’m looking for some new footwear. And I’ve had nothing but good experiences with them, even though they take a long time. 

The sneakers ship with dust jackets, a second pair of thicker cotton laces, and two foam inserts you can add to your sneakers if they’re fitting a little loose or you want more cushion. 

Leather Quality and Care

Beckett Simonon wins because of their leather quality. I haven’t found a brand with this level of leather under $200 ever. 

Basically, the leather is as good as it gets. You can find more rare and exotic leathers, but in terms of standard full grain leather (which KOIO and Common Projects also use), Beckett Simonon is in the top tier. 

Plus, the Reid also has a Vachetta leather lining, which is tanned in such a way that makes it feel soft, supple, and almost a little like velvet (though it’s also a full grain leather). 

The lining is really comfortable and helps with breathability in the summer. It goes all the way through the toe, so you’re getting the durability benefits of two layers of leather.

Caring for the leather is pretty simple—it’s not hard to clean, but avoid getting the laces dirty at all costs. Once they have mud spots, they’re tough to turn sparkling new again. 

I like Venetian Leather Balm on this leather if you’re looking to keep them supple and fresh looking.

It brings back the subtle shine and will help your sneakers last a lot longer. I also pop in cedar shoe trees when I’m not wearing my sneakers to help keep them fresh smelling and help retain their shape. 

Further Reading

How to Stretch Shoes for Wide Feet: 4 Easy Methods

Got wide feet? Here are the three perfect hacks for you to stretch your shoes—one’s expensive, one’s cheap, and one’s free. Let’s get stretchin’.

Sole

Beckett Simonon uses a Margom-like outsole for the Reid—I can’t tell if it’s actually Margom or not, but honestly, it doesn’t make a difference anyway. The rubber has the same balance of firmness (for durability) and cushion for grip and comfort that Margom soles do. 

The best part about these soles is something you might not even notice: it’s the taper they have at the heel and toe. This taper is what helps the Reid look so sleek and modern. You’d be surprised at how much this tiny design feature affects the overall look of the shoe. 

The insole is a leather lined high density foam. The Reid is really comfortable right out of the box and when you combine a foam insole with the rubber cupsole, there isn’t much to complain about. 

Fit and Sizing

The Beckett Simonon Reid is fairly narrow, so if you have wide feet, you may want to size up a half-step. 

But the Reid fits like any other sneaker would feel. A lot of people are curious about Beckett Simonon Reid’s so I decided to make a full breakdown of how Beckett Simonon sneakers fit. 

The short version: order your normal sneaker size. If you have wide feet and you’re concerned they might be too narrow, then order a half step larger. 

Break-in Period

The Italian full grain leather is so soft and supple that there’s basically no break in period for the Reid at all. They were comfortable right out of the box and have only gotten more comfortable as I’ve worn them.

The Vachetta leather lining feels great on my heel and hasn’t caused any extra rubbing, which I can’t say for other minimalist sneakers like the GREATS. 

What do Other Reviewers Say?

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On Beckett Simonon’s site, the Reid has over 900 reviews as of writing and a 4.9-star average. 

Reading through a bunch of them, I noticed that a lot of reviewers were coming back to Beckett Simonon for their third or fourth pair of shoes from the brand, which says a lot. 

Of course, there’s some skepticism around that long wait period, but many of those reviewers who were patient seemed to immediately go back and buy another pair. 

Beckett Simonon Reid Alternatives

Thursday Premier Low Top

If your budget is in the $100-$150 range and you want your sneakers soon, the Thursday Premier sneaker is a fantastic option. 

I picked up two of these sneakers—one in the white and another in camel suede, and I love them. 

The Beckett Simonon Reid is a better sneaker in terms of material and construction, but that four month wait can be tough. 

KOIO Capri

The KOIO Capri is another one of my top minimalist sneakers—the quality is fairly similar to Beckett Simonon, though there are a few features on the Capri that I appreciate. 

There’s a suede pad on the heel, which reduces the amount of rub you get on your heel, and the sole is a bit firmer, so it’ll have greater durability. 

KOIO also offers wide sizes and many more half sizes. And they have some strange, unique colors you can’t find anywhere else. 

I’d get a pair of KOIO’s all day over Common Projects. 

If you’re looking for a simple white minimalist sneaker though, it’s a toss-up for me between Beckett Simonon and KOIO. 

The quality is similar, but Beckett Simonon’s price is about 50% of KOIOs. You just have to wait four months. Tough call. 

My Thoughts Overall On the Beckett Simonon Reid

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