The New Balance 1906L ‘Silver Metallic’ has landed, and if you still don’t have a pair of snoafers in your collection (a portmanteau of “sneaker” and “loafer“, by the way), this is probably the one to get.
Ever since the first 1906L dropped last September, a slew of trainer brands have gone hard on the mash-up silhouette. Converse has one. Vans, too. And Hoka, of hiking boot fame, recently released its own version with the Speed Loafer. Despite the mad rush though, the 1906L is still widely considered to be the OG snoafer, and every new remix is a big hit.
Designed by Manchester-based designer Charlotte Lee, the 1906L is based on the classic 1906R running shoe. Kitted out with the same mesh base, it’s overlaid by shiny ‘Silver Metallic’ leather panels and equipped with a black heel counter around the back. However, unlike its source material, the upper has been completely loafer-ised.
While the top half has been reimagined, the bottom half remains the same though. The midsole is infused with N-Ergy tech to keep things lovely and comfy, and it’s been pre-yellowed for some vintage vibes.
Compared to some of the other, madder 1906Ls that we’ve been blessed with this year (like the ‘Dark Juniper’ and the ‘Rich Oak’), the ‘Silver Metallic’ is actually extremely wearable. So if your biggest beef with the snoafer has always been its straight-up weirdness, here’s hoping this colourway has ironed out that issue.
