I usually spend my time here at Man of Many reviewing cars, tech, watches, and whisky. However, I’ve also been collecting (hoarding) sneakers for more than ten years, and once a year, a shoe catches my eye in such a way that I have to get out of my sneaker slumber and talk about it. Last year, it was MSCHF’s Big Red Boots, and this year, it’s the viral New Balance 1906L sneaker loafers (AUD$230).
Based on the fan-favourite 1906R sneaker, the 1906L takes the comfort of the original sneaker, including the open-holed mesh upper, the curvilinear synthetic overlays, and the 860v2 sole unit, featuring segmented ABZORB SBS pods at the heel, and turns it into a classic penny loafer. Sounds exciting, right?
Well, I just spent an entire weekend wearing the New Balance 1906L sneaker-loafer hybrids, and I have thoughts.
RELATED: How to Cop New Balance’s ‘Grey Days’ Exclusives.
New Balance 1906L Release Details
- Release date: 19th Sep 2024
- Price: AUD$230
- SKU #: U1906LAE
- Online availability: newbalance.com.au, Up There Store, StockX
- In-store availability: New Balance Grey Store at Galeries, Sydney
With loafers being some of the most sought-after footwear in the business right now, there’s no doubt this is a business move from New Balance. However, designer Charlotte Lee also notes the removal of the hard-line between luxury and sport as a driving factor for this loafer, and I couldn’t agree more with her decision. I’ve loved everything ASICS has been doing with Kiko Kostadinov, but this takes the designer sneaker hybrid to another level by turning a sneaker into a loafer, and I love it.
“When Lani Perry (Senior Product Manager at New Balance) and I were observing the loafer trend, we felt like it was a natural evolution for us as a brand,” said Charlotte Lee, Senior Footwear Designer at New Balance.
“Our 2002R had evolved into a mule for a few projects, and the loafer felt like a more progressive version of that. We talked a lot about the luxury fashion space and how there is no longer a hard line between sports and luxury. With our previous heritage marketing campaign, ‘What the Well-Dressed Runner Wears’ it felt like a relevant space for us to play in. These conversations resulted in me taking the 1906R artwork and merging it into a loafer form and ideating colour application.”
Thanks to the heavily-cushioned design, these “snoafers” are unquestionably the most comfortable loafers I’ve put on my feet. You’ll find ABZORB SBS pods at the heel, providing all-day comfort that goes above and beyond the typical wooden heel found in most penny loafers. Of course, having a breathable and flexible mesh upper is also an advantage over the traditional leather options.
It did take me a full day of wear to break them in, especially around the strap area, but now, these are officially locked in to become a permanent shoe in my rotation.
Surprisingly, only a few people commented on the shoes while I wore them on the streets of Sydney. Somehow, they seem to fly under the radar, and while he’s usually one to pick up on a pair of odd-ball shoes, not even my barber cared to pass a comment. I’m not sure the same would be the case if I were to rock a pair with some shorts, but I wouldn’t recommend doing the loafer and short combination unless you have a pair of JW Anderson Twisted Chino shorts ready to go with some extreme confidence. I’m missing both.
Sadly, at the time of writing, if you want to buy a pair of New Balance 1906L sneaker-loafers, they’re sold out nationwide at retailers. The New Balance Grey Store at The Galeries, Sydney, was the only New Balance Store to receive pairs for the in-person launch, and others reported having as few as eight pairs. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if New Balance re-stocked the 1906L soon, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.
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