From puffy insulated slip-on hiking shoes to repurposing revived back-catalog models, I think it’s safe to say HOKA has been showcasing a new level of confidence in the past year or so. Well, get ready, because the French-turned-Californian shoe company has now come out with its wackiest model yet, but it may actually be more on-trend than you realize.
Just take a look at the images and let me explain…
The Sneaker Loafer Is Here
You can’t go anywhere, town or trail, without spotting at least a few pairs of HOKAs, but soon you might not be able to escape their sneaker loafer either.
Taking a beat from the likes of New Balance and Puma, HOKA is readying the release of its Speed Loafer. However, unlike other sneaker loafers pervading the market over the past year or so, the Speed Loafer aims to dichotomize the rugged with the dressy. If you were to block out the sole with your hand, you would assume this to be an actual dress shoe. Meanwhile, the signature chunky HOKA sole tells a different story.
Built for Durability and Comfort
Like most other HOKA shoes, the Speed Loafer will feature a Vibram Megagrip outsole for the kind of traction you’d expect if you’ve ever laced up a Speedgoat or Anacapa sneaker. There’s no specific word on lug height here, but if it’s anything like the Speedgoat 5 (which it says it is), then you should expect this to be 3mm.
Speaking of laces, the Speed Loafers do something pretty cool with the hallmark loafer tassel. Instead of serving as mere garnish to the shoe, the tassel doubles as a custom speed lacing system that can lock in the fit. Speed laces are certainly the way of the future and I’m honestly not sure why more brands aren’t adopting them.
Built for durability, the upper is made of sleek leather to fit the dressy contrast. However, fusing the top with the bottom is a suede mudguard strip for added protection on the skin. Inside, a leather sockliner aids with fit and comfort, while the compression-molded EVA midsole was adopted from the Speedgoat 5, giving the wearer the same lightweight responsiveness they expect.
While the Speed Loafer will surely be popular among streetwear enthusiasts and “disruptors,” but we can also see a sort of utility and comfort brought to the trail with these, be it for hiking or trail running. Only time will tell when and where these pop up but for now, we can’t be made at their funkiness.
Spec Sheet
Uppers: Leather with suede mudguard
Midsole: Compression molded EVA
Outsole: Vibram Megagrip
Release Date: January 31
Pricing & Availability
Available starting January 31 for $185, the Speed Loafers can be viewed on the “Coming Soon” section of HOKA’s website. You can sign up there for updates on this release.
Recap
HOKA Speed Loafer
HOKA combines a rugged hiking shoe with a dressy loafer for its upcoming sneaker. It doesn’t try to make sense on a visual level but still adds practical features like a quick lacing tassel and a mud guard.
