We Tried Sperry's New Slim Boat Shoe and the Top-Sider Is So Back

The Sperry Top-Sider has largely been an unchanged, timeless essential in a modern man's wardrobe. But with the fashion world flipped on its head footwear-wise, namely a shift away from sneakers and a dressier dynamic taking form, the iconic shoe brand's latest refresh of the Top-Sider may just turn heads.

Esquire Philippines was sent a pair of the Slim Boat Shoe in dark brown and it may have just nabbed a spot in our personal kick rotation.

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The year was kicked off by a pivot towards the beloved boat shoe silhouette as seasoned designer Jonathan (JW Anderson's) latest Dior Men's Fashion campaign also highlighted a calfskin boat shoe that caught the eyes of observant fashion aficionados. Style-conscious men are adding more loafer and top-sider alternatives over the comforts of sneakers. The Slim Boat Shoe melds both the comforts of sneakers and the elevated class of a leather boat shoe.

The Sperry Slim Boat Shoe in Tan

The dark brown colorway of the Sperry Slim Boat

When we first unwrapped the dark brown variant of the reimagined boat shoe, the pair definitely struck us as what you would get if a penny loafer and the classic top-sider had a baby.

Trying them on for size, you definitely need to follow the loafer buying convention of going probably a size down to allow the shoe to expand over time and to adjust to the unique shape of your foot.

What stood out was definitely the comfort. Oh boy, these are special when it comes to that category. The slimmer silhouette also means a much lighter weight to them, which makes you forget you have shoes on. The trimmer boat shoe definitely grows on you aesthetically once you get into the groove of knowing what to pair with them. In the big 2026, we are still in the looser and more relaxed trouser meta. We can confidently tell you that the Slim Boat Shoe's sleeker form factor definitely fits into the casual menswear world dominated by penny loafers, low-cut boots, and the countless other loafer variants that seem to get flatter in height and width by the minute.

The nitty gritty of the new design involves a trademarked 360° Lacing system for an adjustable fit, a flat heel and a round toe, and Wave-Siping outsoles for better traction. We tried out the deadly pleated trouser and white sock combo with these bad boys and they do look the part as a worthy contender for footwear comeback of the year.

It won't be farfetched to envision streets with younger professionals rocking these versatile and chic shoes that add diversity to the largely uniform loafer world.

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