Brooks Brothers Cedar Shoe Valet Kit – $96.00 ($128)
Currently 25% off as part of the Brooks Brothers Semi Annual sale. Includes the cedar valet, two horsehair brushes, two horsehair daubers, two polishing cloths, plus black and brown shoe cream.
The Brooks Brothers Cedar Shoe Valet is a pricey purchase at $128, but does the current sale price of $96 bring this kit into the realm of possibility? Let’s break it down.
The most notable feature of the kit is the valet, itself. It’s larger than most on the market, and is able to store not only the kit that it came with, but also all of my other shoe care products. The importance of a large valet can’t be overstated here. If you care enough to spend $96+ on a shoe valet, you will probably also be adding more polishes, waxes, and conditioners to your collection. Thankfully, the valet has little trouble fitting it all…
The Extras, not included with the Valet: Justin mink oil, Fiebing’s edge dressing in black & brown
I do have one gripe, but it’s a small one. The valet is sturdy, but it wobbles. I eyeballed it at one or possibly two millimeters. The construction is solid, but for someone trying to use it over a hard surface, this could get irritating in a hurry. However, I expect I will be using it over a towel (for traction and cleanliness) so it won’t be a problem for me. I don’t know if this is a common problem, but none of the eight reviewers on the Brooks Brothers website seemed to have the same issue.
The best part of the kit is the brushes. They’re the largest I’ve come across. While most brushes on the market are in the 6 inch to 7 inch range, the Brooks Brothers brushes weigh in at a whopping 8 inches. The black brush is 2.5 inches wide while the brown brush is 3 inches wide – just the right size for my medium sized-hands. They have arched backs to help them fit the contour of your hand, and they have a channel along either side that makes gripping them a simple matter. If you have small hands, though, they may be uncomfortable.
The daubers are daubers. There’s really not much to be said about them other than they appear to be made to the same high standards as the brushes. Not everyone uses daubers so they’re a bit of a luxury item, but this is a luxury kit. What’s so wrong with treating yourself, right?
The kit also comes with black and dark brown shoe cream. Truth be told, I haven’t had a chance to test them yet. However, they are the two most basic colors so they’re the perfect jumping-off point for someone who’s starting their shoe care kit from scratch. Each jar is about the size of a Meltonian jar and has the same consistency.
At the full price of $128, the Brooks Brothers Cedar Shoe Valet is probably priced higher than most of us here would pay. It’s still a splurge at $96, but it’s a viable splurge. When you look at the cost of high-end horsehair brushes and valets sold separately, they come in pretty close to or above the $100 mark. Plus the Brooks Brothers valet is still the largest on the market (that I’m aware of) with plenty of room to grow. I feel comfortable recommending this shoe valet to anyone starting from scratch. It sure beats the shoebox I kept everything in before.
Roving style reporter Alan S. is an active member on Threads, and you might remember him from such posts as The Great Double Monk Resurrection Experiment.