These adidas Loafer hybrids are splitting opinions. Just ask The Sole Women’s team and you’ll find some think the Handball Spezial Loafer are the next best thing, while others would rather not see them at all. Basically, there’s a real mixed bag of opinions when it comes to the new adidas Loafers.

When we posted about the “Leopard” colourway on TSW, the audience were caught between,  “Tell me these are real… as they are a NEED!!!” and, “It’s not April 1st yet is it? Massive no from me. Dreadful.” So once again, a real spectrum of emotions. That said, strong opinions are better than no opinions, and we reckon these will be everywhere come summer.

Here we have the “Maroon”, “Aurora Cocoa” and “Leopard” colourways, three of adidas’ most trendy shades this year. All are based on the Handball Spezial, the hottest shoe from 2024 that still sells well today, so making a hybrid Loafer version made total sense.

Other Sneaker Loafers or ‘Snoafers’, as the industry likes to call them, are usually quite chunky and technical. Unlike those, this Handball Spezial Loafer has its roots in ‘80s court sports and not the 2000’s era of running. This means we still get that minimal gum sole and simple suede upper that everyone previously loved, giving us a Loafer that is still low-key.

Balancing beautifully between the shoe and Loafer category, these are a great middle ground for anyone who doesn’t want to commit to the full leather look of a traditional loafer, but also wants something a little smarter than the bulky sole and open mesh options we’re currently getting.

The branding is also subtle, with a small gold Trefoil badge the only obvious sign of these being an adidas Loafer, so these can easily work if you prefer the more minimal approach. Although, for those that need something more punchy, the leopard print edition is screaming your name.

If you’ve owned a Handball Spezial or Gazelle before, these will be just as, if not more comfortable. We recommend going with your standard UK sizing on these too, although if you have struggled with other slip-on shoes before, we recommend trying these on in store at your local adidas or Office retailer.

If neither of these colourways have tickled your fancy, you can find all the other adidas Handball Spezial options down below.