My Hunt for the Perfect Lug-Sole Loafers

I started my journey at Madewell afterhearing good thingsabout its surprisingly robust shoe collection. Visually, theBradley Lug-Sole Loafersare perfect: substantial treads, a classic shape, and a sleek penny-strap detail. However, I could feel the blisters forming on my heels almost instantly upon trying them on, so I abandoned them pre-break-in period and was on to the next.

Thursday Boot Companyhas been inundating me with Instagram advertisements, so I finally succumbed and gave its loafer a try. Even though they’re called “the Penny,” these loafers feature “long-lasting rubber lug outsoles,” which brings them to challenger status. As I was ordering these, something came over me and — in a surprising twist for a classic-black-loafer loyalist — I selected the patent-leather all-white pair. The untraditional color looked just as good in person, but the material itself was another story. The patent leather was way too stiff (and squeaky) for even a couple blocks of walking, and my poor feet had to call it quits.

Next up was Quince, which offers a few pairs of loafers on its site. TheItalian Leather Lug Solefit the bill and, as the reviews say, was insanely comfortable. Almost suspiciously so. The Ortholite insole gives the shoe a cloudlike cushion, which for any other shoe would have been great but, in this instance, made me feel like a child. These are the training wheels of loafers and would therefore make a great first pair for those experimenting with the style. But this isn’t my first rodeo, so I’m looking for something that makes me feel a little more, shall we say, grounded.

At this point, I decided to take my hunt to the streets of Soho, where I headed toSezane. It makes shoes only in full sizes, which I typically resent as a perfect 8.5, but I was pleased to find that sizing down to an 8 in theAlbane loaferswas successful. I appreciate how Sezane keeps all the sourcing and production for its shoes in the E.U., which means the leather is high quality and the labor practices are up to snuff. I was really rooting for these loafers, and for the most part they’re great but two things stood in the way. First, they took quite a few wears (as in, more than ten) to break in, which on its own would be forgivable, but aside from that, they’re abnormally heavy. I could feel the shoes weighing down my feet, and while I don’t want to complain about the extra workout, they’re not realistic for an extended period of errand running.

Next, I moseyed down the street toReformationto see what it could offer me. Its lug-sole option is theAgathea Chunky Loafer, and the fact thatchunkyis in the name made me optimistic. Three of its five colorways are patent leather, so I decided to try my hand at thenotoriously uncomfortablematerial again, this time keeping it simple with plain black. (Although in hindsight, perhaps I should have paid more attention to theEspresso…). Regardless, these are a great pair of patent-leather loafers. I tend to prefer brushed leather, both stylistically and from a comfort perspective, but these were a lot more comfortable than I had anticipated. Once you get past the obligatory first-wear blisters, these become manageable, even enjoyable, for a day’s worth of wearing.

I didn’t know much aboutVagabond Shoemakers, a Swedish footwear brand, but when a friend of mine heard about this hunt, she told me it was just about mandatory to include it in my search. I’m happy to say she did not steer me wrong.The Kenovasare the best pair of brushed-leather lug-sole loafers I’ve found, without a doubt. These were just as comfortable as a pair of sneakers, and they sit perfectly in the chunky-but-not-too-chunky gray space. It’s true that they come only in full sizes, but rounding up worked well this time as it gave me a little wiggle room, which will come in handy when it’s thick-sock season.

Yes,Tory Burchis having a moment, but nobody is talking about how incredible her loafers are. I’m here to scream it from the rooftops.These Classic Lug Sole Loaferswere truly love at first step. I’m genuinely confused by how comfortable these shoes are, especially for a patent-leather pair. They were a little tight when I initially put them on, but once I slipped my foot all the way in, I started to feel like Cinderella. The shoes are firm but flexible, offering a bit of give on the sides so my foot never feels suffocated. Similarly, the sole is resilient, holding up well despite how often I wear them. I typically find logos tacky, but the little icon on these is subtle enough that it only adds class. It’s worth noting that these are the most expensive pair on this list, but I promise they are so worth it. I forget I’m wearing shoes as I’m walking in these, which to me signals peak comfort. These are now my favorite shoes, full stop.