Review: Beckett Simonon – Morgen Trainers in White/Gum
The Germany Army Trainer (GAT) is a sneaker design that has it’s 1930s roots tied with two sneaker giants today, Adidas and Puma. And if you’re looking to get your GAT fix there are loads of places to look, from budget friendly military surplus stores & second hand to not so budget friendly high end fashion brands like Maison Margiela.
Personally I wanted a pair without the branding of the Adidas Samba and without the price tag of the Maison Margiela Replicas, so the Morgen Trainers by Beckett Simonon seemed like a good place to start. I thought I’d share my thoughts on the Morgens for people that might be looking to grab a pair.
The Specs
| Brand | Beckett Simonon |
| Model | Morgen Trainers |
| Colour | White/Gum Sole |
| Retail Price | $149 USD |
| Size Reviewed | 9.5US |
| Fit | Half size down from sneaker size Half size up from dress shoe size |
| Upper Material | Full grain Argentinian leather / suede |
| Sole Material | Rubber Sole |
| Lining | Vachetta Leather lining |
| Laces | Cotton laces |
| Made | Handmade in Bogota, Colombia |
| Extras | Dustbag, laces |
The Look
A German Army Trainer, that’s exactly what they look like. There are different variations in what panelling is leather and what is suede, but this version from Beckett Simonon is pretty stock standard when it comes to GAT design.
I don’t think the silhouette looks too skinny or too bulbous from either the side or top profile.
The grey suede panels have a more coarse nap than some other suedes I’ve come across, but I’ve got nothing negative to say about it.
While the white leather upper feels nice and soft, it has more of a natural finish where you can see more of a natural skin finish. It’s actually different to my other pair of Beckett Simonon leather sneakers, where the leather isn’t as soft and the finish is smoother.
I like that the lining leather is in tan and matches well with the gum sole.
The laces are strikingly white compared to the white leather upper, this isn’t a deal breaker. But I’d like to swap them out for an off-white or cream pair of laces when the original ones eventually wear out or get too dirty.
There were a few glue marks near the sole and upper, but nothing major. And the stitching was bang on, I didn’t notice any misplaced stitches or loose threads.
The tongue is attached with elastic material, which is a nice touch to prevent it from moving around. Is this standard in the original GAT design? If you know, let me know.
Overall, the combination of white leather, grey suede and a gum sole in a classic silhouette makes it an easy shoe to style with casual outfits.
Leather detail Morgen (left), Reid (right)
The Feel
Let’s get sizing out of the way, I’ve always followed Beckett Simonon’s size guide, this time it wasn’t right on the money. My sneaker size is a US10 and they recommended a US9.5. My pair of Beckett Simonon Reid sneakers were also a US9.5 and fit fine.
The Morgen Trainers in a US9.5 were oddly narrow and somewhat long. Despite looking wider than the Reid. I don’t mind the extra length in the shoe but I found the mid and forefoot to be very snug. This could be because of my high instep, or slightly wider feet. But I was surprised at the difference in fit compared to the Reid.
They might stretch in time, but so far after several months of light wear, it’s still on the snug side.
The cotton laces aren’t waxed from what I can tell and the rubber soles were fairly grippy.
Is it Affordable?
If you’re looking at Maison Margiela Replicas and can’t stomach the price tag, these are a great alternative.
If you’re looking for a pair of well made GATs, the Morgen Trainers are great also, but don’t forget about looking at military surplus or second hand.
As always with shoes, getting the right size is key. I feel like I would probably go up half a size in the future, but everyone’s feet are different. So do your research if you’re thinking of picking up a pair.
$149 USD is more than a fair price for this pair of sneakers, they also regularly go on sale, so it’s even better value. Just remember Beckett Simonon use a made to order sales model, so it does take about 3 months for the shoes to be manufactured plus delivery time.
If you want 20% off the Beckett Simonon range, use our code EARL20.
Disclaimer: Shoes provided by Beckett Simonon for review, we paid to get them shipped to Australia. Some links in this review are affiliate links that help to keep this site running at no cost to you.
