So You Want to Buy a Snoafer …
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There’s nothing that gets us going quite like avaguely orthopedicshoe — be it amary jane that seems to be from “an old-lady shoe store in Rome”or comfortableclogs strangers on the street ask to try on. Recently, a new vaguely orthopedic shoe has caught our eye: the “snoafer,” or sneaker loafer. It’s exactly what you think it is. It began withNew Balance’s 1906L, which might’ve done more for the discourse than Maison Margiela’s Tabi did forflats. Since then, we’ve seen Hoka’s Speed Loafer and Puma’s Sophyr Loafyr. PlusConverseis set to sell one too. As the Strategist’sloaferand occasionalsneakerwriter, I’m trying to keep up with every single one. Here, I rounded up all sorts of snoafers, many of which would make your podiatrist proud.
Update on July 21, 2025
We updated prices and checked stock for all snoafers. A few price increases of note: Vivaia’s went from $129 to $169, and Rombaut’s went from $457 to $468. And the New Balance 1906Ls are available only on resale sites now.
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First shown at Paris Fashion Week last year, New Balance’s 1906L quickly turned into, let’s say, a conversation starter (The Wall Street Journalreferred to it as a “frankenshoe”). It’s become a hot-ticket item for hypebeasts and resellers alike and has been auctioned off for twice the original price tag at places likeGoat.
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Aquatalia Katya
A snoafer that’s neither too sneaker nor too loafer, for the snoafer-skeptical.
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If Dr. Scholl’sslides“may not be a paragon of orthopedic support,” its slip-ons surely are.
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A study in unconventional materials, these snoafers are made with Cole Haan’s trademarked FlowerFoam, a rubber from dandelions, and aStitchlite knit(which, unlikeRothy’s, is not machine-washable).
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Since the beginning of the Strategist site, we’ve believedDanskosare endearingly fugly. (Someone once broke intoStephanie Danler’s car and stole everything except her Danskos.) Now, the brand is making a not-too-fugly snoafer.
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I don’t doubt these Keds-coded Naturalizers will be comfortable, asNew Yorkdeputy editorAlexis Swerdloffpacked a similar pair for a trip to Portugal years ago. They were “totally innocuous (in that you wouldn’t be able to tell what brand they were)” and got her through the cobblestone streets.
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News to me: There’s a Sketchers and Martha Stewartcollection. Of course, arch support abounds. I’d like to think Stewart might have these on while selling wicker chairs at atag saleor touring Logee’s for aPhilodendron Birkin.
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Our residentrunner, associate editorJeremy Rellosa, alerted the Strategist staff about the Speed Loafer. (Runner’s Worldcalled it Hoka’s “most unhinged shoe yet.” ) And while the original run (pun intended) sold out quickly, a restock is in the works.
[Editor’s note: These loafers are currently sold out, but you can sign up for restock notifications on theproduct page.]
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To speed up your speed-walking, there’s “shock-absorbing cushioning, a deep heel cup for stability, and forefoot flexibility.” It seems to be a realwalking shoe!
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And this may be the one that gives you the springiest step here.
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It’s cousin to thewaterproof Weejun.
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Some sartorial history:Henri Bendel’s nephewis credited with bringing Belgium loafers to the States. They became afixture of the downtown set(includingIsaac Mizrahiand even Bernie Madoff).
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Filmmaker Grear Patterson, artistChase Hall, and Steven Spielberg all wear Mephistos. TheTitouanis something you’d see on aWhite Lotusyacht-deck extra or a Nantucket dad in lieu of a Sperryboat shoe.
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For the Ssense shopper: some Rombauts to be styled withFear of GodorVetements.
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Kendall Roy would’ve had these custom-sized for the performance of his “rap opus ‘L to the OG’” (and Jeremy Strong would’ve had them on to get “into character” in a dressing-room rehearsal).
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
