The Case For/Against: Sneaker Loafers - Topic of the day 6/14/25
New Balance, Hoka, Converse, and other brands have dipped their feet into the sneaker hybrid ring. How do you feel about them? Are they the best of both worlds or do they lose out on the positives of either shoe? Are they better when resembling a loafer or resembling a sneaker? How (if at all) does this differ from the dress sneaker hybrids currently in the market?
This topic will run for 2 days.
17 Replies
Against: usually ugly
These work for me when there is some humor or self awareness about them, and don't work when they are too self serious
That to me is a marked difference from the sneaker dress shoe hybrid
Can also say that they are probably not for me but I enjoy seeing some other folks wear them
Any trimming of luxury on these are a no go for me so I probably prefer them leaning slightly into the sneaker side of things
The one in the picture looks fine, it's cohesive and very casual-looking. I think it would look better with a camp/boat sole or something, but it's pretty far on the opposite end of the Cole Haan spectrum.
In general I feel like the general vibe with hybrid sneaker soles is still "well actually this is still technically a dress shoe" for people who think they found the loophole in a dress code. And there's usually better sole styles to subvert a shoe design with.
Pricing is a lot higher than I honestly expected, loafer sneakers look comfortable and id love to try them.
i like sneaker loafers infinitely more than dress sneakers
the nb and margiela are good and the ones in the pic are even pretty good tho i don’t fw the gold horsebit
loafer sneakers or sneaker loafers though
The new balance are pretty cool
Zeo's post about his kind of makes me want to get a pair
the converse and vans though, not my thing
New Balance ones are the best because it looks like a loafer constructed from New Balance pieces as opposed to some chimera of sneaker and loafer
what is the difference between asneakerloafer and a slip on like vans
slip ons like vans are ostensibly a plain loafer with a sneaker sole
Slip on Vans are a Belgian sneaker loafer
does that make this a loafer sneaker loafer
i’m sure someone on tiktok or ig has a taxonomy of these but for this pair at least we can all agree theyre ugly and the conversation can move on
average ska hater
true!
go see five iron frenzy and prepare for ur life to change
no Specials enjoyers?
Sad
Nike just revealed new Airmax loafers
See these are good