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At the beginning of 2025, Hoka got in relatively early on the sneaker-loafer movement with its trail-soled Speed loafer. The oddball shoe promptly sold out in its all-black colorway and did so again in May when it got a fiery orange gradient. If the trend holds, expect another speedy sell-through when the Speed loafer returns with two more colorways.
The Hoka Speed loafer is coming back this week with new iterations in Walnut and Birch. Much like the first edition of the hybrid sneaker, the Walnut colorway channels a classic loafer look with a mix of browns through its leather and suede upper, as well as its Vibram-bottomed sole unit. Purple also makes a subtle appearance through the collar.
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A bit more adventurous is the Birch variant, which applies the color of its namesake tree to its leather elements while rendering everything beneath in black.
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Hoka’s entry into the sneaker-loafer trend has been every bit as polarizing as New Balance’s kick-starting 1906L, if not more. It takes the sole unit from the Speedgoat 5 trail runner and pairs it with a fairly prototypical leather loafer upper with suede mudguard, as well as a toggled tassel made up of lace tips. Releases have been few and far between though, as the two forthcoming variants will be just the third and fourth — far fewer than New Balance has released for its 1906L.
“The loafer trend should continue as long as brands can stay creative with model and material variations,” Tarek Hassan, founder and chief executive officer of Concepts, told Footwear News in a March story on the burgeoning category. “I think we are approaching its peak in trend and growth but will continue to live on as a unique offering for consumers.”
Since then, Nike and Jordan Brand have introduced new sneaker loafers, and New Balance is soon set to introduce another hybrid incorporating elements of moccasins.
The Hoka Speed loafer in Walnut and Birch will release on Thursday through Hoka’s website and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $185.