Meet the latest hot-or-not shoe style dividing opinions
Would you, should you, wear a Snoafer? When New Balance launched its shiny trainer/loafer hybrid, the 1906L, last month, they divided the internet on one basic question: are these slip-on shoes an antidote to fiddly lace-ups, or an ugly abomination best filed as a style experiment gone wrong?
1906L Shoes
I get it. At first glance, absolutely everything about this shoe reads wrong. The abundance of mesh, glossy panels and ergonomic moulded foam says “let’s go running”, while the slip-on penny loafer styling suggests a gentler pace.
But this sums trainers up, though, doesn’t it? We mostly wear them for leisure, but we could go running in them, and these shoes are exactly that principle but in reverse – and they’re already popular. The first drop of the 1906L, with versions in silver, navy and black, sold out quick, and new stock is due to drop any day now.
Here’s why I think they’re good. Their sole unit, the 860V2, is designed for entry-level running and features New Balance’s patented heel cushioning for stability and comfort. So they’re loafers designed to support a short run, and certainly a vigorous 10k brisk walk, making them less of a Frankenstein shoe as they first appear. They’re actual Traifers! Which is good, right? Maybe even great? Maybe even something we can get into?
The mashup of loafer styling with an athletic sole has plenty of precedence. What is a slip-on Vans skateboarding shoe but a Snoafer in disguise? And they were first designed in 1977! Russell & Bromley creates loafers with athletic soles every summer; the brands Ecco and Clarks exist to create smart shoes with hidden comfort; and the British brand Hugs & Co offers a loafer/trainer hybrid in multiple colours. Admittedly, these shoes are more streamlined in their styling, but the principal stands.
The key difference is New Balance has flipped the hidden comfort factor, placing its athletic creds outside for all to see. We at Good Housekeeping are IN, and expect to see more Snoafer in the months to come. Would you, could you? Let us know in the comments.
Shop the Snoafer below, dropping at 8am on 15 January.
1906L Shoes
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