2. Cost – What’s your budget?

The horsebit loafer is awesome, no doubt, but it’s not an essential shoe. You’ll likely have fewer chances to wear this, so factor that into your budget.

With horsebit loafers, don’t go cheap. The purpose is to show off a bit, and going with something poorly made is going to show.

You don’t have to go crazy and spend your whole paycheck, but make sure you’re getting high-quality shoes that will look great for years to come.

3. Practicality – How often will you wear them?

This goes hand-in-hand with items one and two, but if you’re going to wear them often, invest more into a great pair. If you only plan on wearing them with a specific outfit meant for a special occasion, then you can get away with something less durable.

Then again, we only recommend dropping money on shoes that will last several years. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your time and hard-earned cash.

Tips for Wearing Horsebit Loafers

Horsebit loafers look best with slacks and wool trousers. Since horsebit loafers have worked their way up into more conservative attire, they don’t quite work with jeans.

In the spring and summer, do as the Italians do and go sockless. If you’re worried your shoes will start getting too funky, wear no-show socks.

In the fall and winter, horsebit loafers look great with thick socks.

We recommend staying away from excessive patterns like polka-dots when it comes to pairing socks and horsebit loafers. The contrasting styles don’t work in this case.

The 5 Best Horsebit Loafers for Men

Here are some of our go-to’s…

1. Jay Butler Millbank Bit Loafer

Jay Butler makes the top of our list because of the value they bring with every shoe. The Millbank loafer is fully lined with leather and extremely comfortable.