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The sneaker world is obsessed with snoafers (sneaker and loafer hybrids) and they’ve quickly become one of the most popular choices in footwear. When every sneakerhead switched to wearing penny loafers in the early 2020s, the pendulum was always going to swing back the other way, and the sneaker loafer caught fire in the “post sneaker worlds” post sneaker world. Brands like New Balance and Hoka bet on these hybrid shoes that combine a chunky dad shoe silhouette with saddle uppers and they reaped the rewards with sold-out release after sold-out release. They’re controversial in style, but you can’t deny their popularity. We’ve tested the best snoafers on the market and this is a list of our favourites!
Best Sneaker Loafers at a Glance
Highlights from our list include the following options:
- Best overall: New Balance 1906L
- For a smart casual outfit: Clarks Wallabee Loafer
- For a semi-formal outfit: Fear of God Suede Loafer
- For comfort: Hoka Speed Loafer
Now you’ve read our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
1. New Balance 1906L
Price: from AUD$230
The sneaker loafer that started it all, the New Balance 1906L is still the best snoafer on the market. It’s tough to get your hands on at retail prices because it’s so popular, however, if you keep your eyes peeled you’ll find they release periodically in new colourways, such as the recently released black pair that’s more fitting for a semi-formal dress code. Still, our overall favourite colourway is the OG metallic silver that blends the 1906Rs mesh and leather on the upper with an N-ergy outsole and ABZORB SBS heel pods for all-day comfort. Wear these with baggy pants, not jeans, and even shorts in warmer weather. They’re best suited for casual dress codes, but you could even pull them off in semi-formal settings depending on the audience.
- Materials: Mesh combined with durable leather material and rubber
- Fit and comfort features: N-ergy outsole, ABZORB SBS heel pods
- Sizing notes: Order a half-size up
- Style notes: The OG snoafer, perfect for a smart casual outfit
2. Hoka Speed Loafer
Price: from AUD$400 (secondary market price)
The Hoka Speed Loafer is the most comfortable snoafer on our list but also the most aggressively styled. There’s something cool and unique about the way the brand has added the Speedgoat 5 midsole and Vibram Megagrip outsole to a shoe with a custom speed tassel, but it’s also a tough sneaker loafer to pull off for all but the most stylish men because of this. Wear these in smart casual settings with chino pants, baggy jeans, and cargo pants and pair them with a clean white t-shirt and chore coat for a casual weekend outfit.
- Materials: Leather upper, leather sock liner, reflective piping, suede mudguard
- Fit and comfort features: Speedgoat 5 midsole, Vibram Megagrip outsole
- Sizing notes: True-to-size
- Style notes: Casual and athletic outfits
3. Fear of God Suede Loafer
Price: from AUD$1,300
The Fear of God Suede Loafer takes the snoafer concept and flips it on its head. These are primarily loafers, but they use a rubber moc-style outsole for all-day comfort that is very sneaker-like. The best choice for men who want a snoafer that they can wear to the office and on other semi-formal occasions, we’ve even seen people wear these with linen suits in the summer. Made in Italy with Italian suede, the craftsmanship on display here is second to none, while the FOG label in black on the heel tab is a subtle flex for a distinguished gentleman.
- Materials: Italian suede, rubber moc sole, made in Italy
- Fit and comfort features: Slip-on, buttery soft materials
- Sizing notes: True-to-size
- Style notes: Most formal of all sneaker loafers on our list, can be worn with a casual suit
4. Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Loafer
Price: from AUD$160
Converse has taken one of the best sneakers for men and turned it into a loafer, it’s the trendy thing to do after all. The Chuck Taylor All-Star Loafer builds on the history of the non-skid basketball shoe created in 1917 with a stretchy tongue and slip-on design built for pure casual comfort. We find the OrthoLite cushioning on the outsole of the modern-day Chuck to be more than comfortable enough for wearing all day, and the versatile colours on offer here are amongst the best on the market. Wear these with painter jeans, chino pants, and a vintage band t-shirt for your weekend coffee expedition.
- Materials: Suede upper with a canvas lining
- Fit and comfort features: OrthoLite cushioning, 38mm height in the outsole
- Sizing notes: Wider fit than classic Chucks for comfort
- Style notes: Versatile range of colours compared to others but more casual in style
5. Clarks Wallabee Loafer
Price: from AUD$260
It doesn’t get more classic than the Clarks Wallabee, which has now been turned into a snoafer thanks to the addition of a saddle on the upper of the shoe. The Wallabee was already famous for its hybrid smart casual appeal, but this loafer variant takes that to new heights with a premium maple suede upper, smooth crepe midsole, and natural rubber pebble crepe sole that’s as comfortable as the classics. Wear these with a smart-casual outfit, shirt jacket, chino pants or suit-like trousers, and be prepared to turn some heads.
- Materials: Premium maple suede upper
- Fit and comfort features: Crepe midsole, rubber pebble crepe sole
- Sizing notes: True to size
- Style notes: Classic Wallabee design with a penny loafer finish, smart casual
Why are Snoafers So Trendy Right Now?
Sneaker loafers are the shoe to have right now, but why would someone want a shoe that looks like a loafer but has the function of a sneaker? Well, that’s kind of the whole point.
Penny loafers became fashion’s best friend in the early 2020s, but the pendulum was always going to swing back the other way. Brands and people didn’t exactly know where the “post sneaker world” was heading but New Balance and designer Charlotte Lee were willing to bet big on a sneaker loafer based on the fan-favourite 1906R.
“When Lani Perry (Senior Product Manager at New Balance) and I were observing the loafer trend, we felt like it was a natural evolution for us as a brand,” said Lee when asked about the 1906L.
“Our 2002R had evolved into a mule for a few projects, and the loafer felt like a more progressive version of that. We talked a lot about the luxury fashion space and how there is no longer a hard line between sports and luxury. With our previous heritage marketing campaign, ‘What the Well-Dressed Runner Wears’ it felt like a relevant space for us to play in. These conversations resulted in me taking the 1906R artwork and merging it into a loafer form and ideating colour application.”
The rest is history, and the New Balance 1906L quickly became one of the most successful releases for the brand in marketing terms. Released in limited numbers at first in a metallic silver colourway, the shoe sold out within minutes online. Subsequent releases followed in additional colourways, including a limited edition Junya Watanabe collaboration, and they have sold out quickly.
Now, brands such as Hoka are looking to capitalise on the trend with the release of their pair of snoafers, the Hoka Speed Loafer, which combines a bespoke upper with a Speedgoat 5 midsole and Vibram Megagrip outsole. It’s an aggressively styled take on the sneaker loafer trend, but it’s also proved successful, selling out within minutes online.
Where the trend takes us next we’ll never really know, but it isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
