If you haven’t heard of Gaius Walks, they are a Singapore start-up selling premium luxury leather shoes at affordable pricing. They are a relatively new entrant to the affordable dress shoes market competing with Earnest & Collective and Arden Teal.
Gaius Walks takes pride in the quality of production of their shoes. The leather used are full grain calf leather which are carefully handpicked, and the shoes are hand burnished to achieve patina.
So let’s get into the review. I have Diego Double Monkstrap shoe, which retails for S$148.
Monkstrap shoes have gained popularity in recent times due to its versatility of wear. You can wear them in multiple environments and in various settings. The color I have is “Rust”, which is burgundy brown look that goes well with grey and navy pants.
Unboxing
Other than the pair of monkstrap shoes, Gaius Walks also throws in a free shoe horn for ease of putting on the shoes.
Quality
The Diego Double Monkstrap shoes feels really made. It is made from full calf grain leather which makes the shoe durable yet feeling supple. Also, as Gaius Walks burnished the shoes for patina, the look of the leather will age nicely with time.
The main design point of the Diego Monkstrap shoes is the double buckle. You can adjust the belt loop on the straps to get a customised fitting on your feet. The buckles are made from brass, which is a great material choice to give off the vintage rustic look over time.
As for stitching, the stitching is very well done. No fray or loose threads were found on my shoes. Even though you see stitching on the base of the shoes, do note that the stitch are for aesthetic purposes. As with all shoes in the $100 range, the shoes uses a cemented construction. This means that the sole of the shoe is glued to the upper part. However, if you want your pair of shoes to be blake-stitched, there is an option to do that! Blake-stitching will cost an additional S$40. It’s nice to see Gaius Walks offering choices in the handcraft of your shoes.
As for the sole, it is rubberized. Gaius Walks has made efforts to design it in a way so that it resembles leather for a classier look. The top sole and heel area I believe has some rubber coating on it to provide some traction to prevent slipping. Wearing this pair of shoes for 2 weeks, I have not once found myself slipping at all.
Comfort
The insoles and linings are made from full calfskin, which makes it more breathable than synthetic linings found in cheaper shoes. From my walking, I found the shoe quite comfortable as the insole provide good support and breathing room. The front of the shoes provided good room for my toes as well.
One thing to note about the Diego Double Monkstrap shoes is that the cut is a little higher than regular dress shoes like Oxfords. As such, when I wear the shoes with low socks, I can feel the leather pressing slightly into my skin, which can be a little uncomfortable. I found that you have to give the shoes weeks to soften the leather. After 2 weeks of wearing the shoe, the discomfort is much lesser.
If you are planning to wear high socks with the Diego Double Monkstrap shoes then this should not be a problem as I could not feel the leather pressing against my skin at all.
Ease of wear
Something I really like about wearing monkstrap shoes is the convenience of putting them on. There is no need to deal with laces. Even though the Diego Double Monkstrap shoes are not shaped like loafers, you can actually slip your feet in relatively easily due to the elastic straps under the buckle.
Flexibility of wear
I personally really enjoy how you can wear the Diego Double Monkstrap shoes with low socks for the semi-formal look. To really sell the sock-less look, it’s best to pair it with pants that cut above the ankles, or fold up the hem of your pants.
Alternatively, the shoes also goes really well with socks for a formal look. It’s a great pair to wear to work too. The ‘Rust’ color matches well with the usual color of work pants – black, grey, navy.
Conclusion
The Diego Double Monkstraps are recommended if you want a shoe that is versatile in dressing. I personally really like the color of the ‘Rust’, appreciate the quality of the leather on the shoes – it’s soft, comfortable, yet durable at the same time. For S$148, the shoe is worth it because of its quality construction and the type of materials that Gaius Walks use.
Besides, Gaius Walks also has a 20-day return policy, there is really no risk in trying out.
You can check out the full catalogue of Gaius Walks’ shoes here. Or better, head down to their showroom (appointment required) to test out the shoes!
Gaius Walks Showroom:
1093 Lower Delta Rd, #03-07, Singapore 169204
Contact 8792 1068 to book an appointment