I’d describe men’s horsebit loafers as a somewhat strange type of shoe in the sense that they’re at once incredibly formal but can also be worn with everything. Whether you’re wearing a suit or a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, adding a pair of the best horsebit loafers for men to the ensemble is a quick and easy way to class things (waaaay) up.
Originally designed by
Not all horsebit loafers are created equal, however, which is why I’m excited to bring you this list of the six best horsebit loafers for men. Each of the carefully selected pairs of men’s horsebit loafers we’re going to take a look at is a winner.
So, let’s jump right into the recommendations then.
Key Takeaways
I have a couple of pairs of horsebit loafers, and they’re always close to the front of my closet. I don’t always wear them, but I do almost always think about wearing them. And, in addition to the pairs that I own, I couldn’t tell you how many other pairs of horsebit loafers I’ve tried on and thought about buying.
That experience gave me a lot to work with while I was selecting products for this rundown of the best men’s horsebit loafers.
Overall, I’ve decided to recommend the Carmina Horsebit Loafers 80746 Xim as the overall best horsebit loafers for men. The high-quality leather and rounded tip give them a refined yet modern look, making them incredibly versatile in terms of what you can wear them with.
I also recommended the classic shoe in this category, the Gucci Men’s Horsebit 1953 Loafer, as well as Morjas’ The Horsebit Loafer, a more casual suede option that you can wear every day.
Horsebit Loafers 80746 Xim at Carmina
Verserat Lined College Loafers at Velasca
Allen Edmonds Men's Verona ii Loafers at Amazon
G. H. Bass Lincoln Loafer at Nordstrom
Men's Horsebit 1953 Loafer at Gucci
The Horsebit Loafer at Morjas
Best Overall: Carmina Horsebit Loafers 80746 Xim
Why they’re great: This amazing pair of shoes from Carmina are the best horsebit loafers for men, in my eyes, for a few reasons. The foremost among them is the high-quality funchal leather, which comes from France, and the calfskin interior.
These materials give the shoes an incredible softness and flexibility, and their solid construction will let you feel comfortable in them for years to come.
Who are they for? These are a great first pair of Horsebit loafers for just about anyone, ticking the boxes of great style and high-quality materials.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: These shoes have a rounded tip, not the sharper end that’s associated with Italian-style horsebit loafers.
Material: 100% Funchal leather | Sole Material: 100% Calfskin | Sizes Available: 5 U.K to 14 U.K. | Colors Available: 8
Best Formal: Velasca Verserat Lined College Loafers
Why they’re great: The Velasca Verserat Lined College Loafers are capable of sharing the circle of being high-class shoes that also feel unbelievably comfortable while you’re wearing them. A lot of that has to do with the fact that everything in these shoes is made from top-quality leather, including the soles.
After you spend just a little bit of time breaking them in, you’ll feel at ease whether you’re standing or walking around in them all day. You will find, I’m sure, that these are among the best horsebit loafers for men.
Who are they for? The gold metal clasp is really eye-catching, which makes them an excellent option if you want to stand out from the crowd
Flaws but not deal-breakers: These loafers are made from tumbled leather, which means that the material has a rough texture instead of a smooth one. Some people really love tumbled leather, but it bears mentioning here since it’s a very distinctive feature.
Material: 100% Tumbled calf leather | Sole Material: 100% Leather | Sizes Available: U.S. 5 to U.S. 13 | Colors Available: 3
Best on Amazon: Allen Edmonds Men’s Verona ii Loafers
Why they’re great: Allen Edmonds Men’s Verona ii Loafers are a beautiful pair of Italian-made loafers that can transform your choices when getting dressed each and every morning. All four of the colors it comes in are equally well suited to both formal and casual outfits.
And, since Allen Edmonds offers a generous return policy on Amazon, it’s easy to test out the fit and how well they match the rest of your wardrobe without taking any risk whatever.
Who are they for? If you’re in need of a pair of loafers for an event or occasion on short notice, then Amazon is a great way to fill such a gap in your wardrobe quickly and easily.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Although these shoes do have a substantial price tag, you can rest assured that you’re paying for top-quality leather and craftsmanship.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: 100% Leather | Sizes Available: U.S. 8 to U.S. 12 | Colors Available: 4
Best Budget: G. H. Bass Lincoln Loafer
Why they’re great: The G. H. Bass Lincoln Loafer has been recognized as a great pair of horsebit loafers for those shopping on a budget all over the internet. The silver horsebit buckle looks amazing, and the subtle heel gives the shoes a great profile.
Who are they for? These are some of the best horsebit loafers for men. I’d recommend this pair of loafers for anyone who’s looking for a great deal but doesn’t want to compromise on quality.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: They come in only two colors, a classic black, and a deep red wine color. But, both of them are solid options, and the wine color is a great option for those looking for a more casual pair of loafers.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: 100% Leather | Sizes Available: | Colors Available: 3
Best Luxury: Gucci Men’s Horsebit 1953 Loafer
Why they’re great: These are the shoes that launched the entire category back when they were created in the early ’50s. Everybody looks amazing in a pair of
Who are they for? If you aren’t satisfied by anything but the absolute best, the most original, then I think you’ll be drawn to these shoes.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: These are by far the most expensive loafers on our list, but you will be getting a classic pair of shoes if you decide to purchase these.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: 100% Polyester | Sizes Available: | Colors Available: 3
Best Everyday: Morjas The Horsebit Loafer
Why they’re great: The Morjas Horsebit Loafer is a sleek and stylish pair of suede loafers that are ideal for doing some hardcore chilling in. You can look easy-going and refined wearing these as a replacement for either sneakers or dress shoes.
Who are they for? These men’s horsebit loafers are for those leisurely moments throughout the year, so I’d recommend them to anyone who often finds themselves in those situations.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: I do wish these loafers were available in a few more colors than the black, brown, and medium brown that’s listed on their website. If you want a more exotic color for your casual loafers, then you’ll need to find an alternative.
Material: 100% Suede | Sole Material: 100% Leather | Sizes Available: U.S. 4.5 to U.S. 12 | Colors Available: 3
Buying Considerations for the Best Horsebit Loafers For Men
Material
Like other types of loafers (and dress shoes, more generally) your main choice is between leather and suede when it comes to the material that makes up your loafers.
Leather shoes are a bit tougher and tend to stand up to sustained wearing (and walking) a little bit better than suede loafers. Suede loafers, on the other hand, feel almost unbelievably soft and comfortable.
How and where you’re planning to wear your loafers should guide your decision about what material to go for. If you’re looking for a shoe to wear to the office every day and do lots of walking in, then I’d recommend a leather loafer.
But if you’re planning on wearing them only on occasion and won’t be doing tons of walking in them, then a suede shoe might be the one for you.
Color
Men’s horsebit loafers come in a ton of colors these days—it’s not just black or brown. That gives you a ton of latitude when you’re choosing what shoes to buy. I’d recommend choosing a pair of loafers that tell the story you want to tell when you’re wearing them.
Do you want to seem authoritative and in control? You might want to pick a classic color. If you’re more interested in looking like you’re laid-back or fun or spontaneous, then there are options for all of those. The options are, in fact, basically endless.
Size
Finally, you always want to be sure that you’re ordering a pair of shoes that are right for your feet. I know as well as anyone that this can be difficult, having been between two sizes and chosen the wrong one a couple of times.
Make sure to check out the brand’s sizing recommendations carefully, as this will give you the best information about finding the ideal size for your foot. This step is especially important if you have wide or flat feet.
It’s also a good idea to order from brands that have a good return policy, since you can usually exchange your pair for another one if you’re not liking how the ones you ordered fit.
How We Chose
Many of the products on this list of the best horsebit loafers are quite expensive, representing a significant investment for many people. But that is how it is when you’re looking to buy quality shoes.
On the bright side, if you make the right choice, then you can be blessed with a pair of loafers that you truly love and will last you for years. But all that also makes it very important to make the right decision, which is why we put together this article.
All of the products on this list were selected based on the quality of the materials used to make them and their construction, as well as whether or not their design lives up to the heritage of the horsebit loafer. In addition, we carefully considered the following four factors, just as we do in the rest of our articles.
Brand Reputation: All of the brands on this list have a long track record of producing excellent loafers (indeed, a really, really long track record in some cases).
Customer Reviews: We always read all the online reviews that we can find about a specific product before choosing to add it to a list like this.
Price: We’re also always sensitive to the price of the products that we recommend. Whether they’re budget or luxury options, we always make sure they offer enough value to match their price tag.
Transparency: The brands we’ve featured here are all up-front and transparent about the most important questions, from the origin of their materials to their shipping and return policies.
Why Trust Us?
As an editorial team, we’re completely united in our love for horsebit loafers. Each and every one of us has at least one pair, and we’re always on the lookout for our next pair. That means that we have a lot of familiarity with horsebit loafers and the brands that make them, all of which we poured into this article for your benefit.
We combed through hundreds of online product listings to find the products that make up this list of the best horsebit loafers for men. That means that the six loafers we’ve recommended had to beat out a lot of competition to make it here.
You can be sure that you’re seeing only the absolute cream of the crop when it comes to men’s horsebit loafers you can buy.
Final Verdict
Overall, we recommended the Carmina Horsebit Loafers 80746 Xim as the overall best horsebit loafers for men. They’re very much in the tradition of
I don’t think you can really go wrong in any situation by slipping on a pair of Carmina loafers.
-
- Are horsebit loafers in style?
I think that, like many other classic items of clothing, the better way to ask this question is: have horsebit loafers ever gone out of style? Quite simply, the answer is no; they’ve been popular for over 50 years, and that doesn’t look set to change at any point in the near or far future.
- Who wears horsebit loafers?
All kinds of people wear horsebit loafers! They originally became popular in America in New York City boardrooms, but in the 50 years since, the style of loafer has spread far and wide. If you get a pair of one of the best horsebit loafers for men from this list, you don’t need to worry about feeling out of place anywhere or with anyone.
-
