Summer Loafer Showdown: Astorflex’s Patnoflex vs Fastflex

I’ve enjoyed my Patnoflex travel loafers for years now, so I decided to pick up Astorflex’s newer-yet-more-traditional penny loafer, the Fastflex, to see if it was worth the slightly higher price.

I’m the right guy to ask: I own dozens and dozens of loafers that range from borderline cyberpunk chunky loafers to genuine handsewn moccasins to hardwearing Goodyear welted and everything in between. And Astorflex is none of those.

Because this brand is best known for casual suede slip-ons, the point of this article is to review their two most interesting loafers, walk through the similarities and differences, and let you know everything you need to know about the fit, features, and price.

And to save you from having to read two separate reviews. (And me from writing them). Let’s get started! 

Astorflex, the Brand 

They’re both made in the same family owned workshop outside of Milan, and Astorflex is a curious brand. While they make all manner of footwear, most of their models have very similar DNA: suede uppers, crepe soles, voluminous and casual lasts, and the mysterious “ideal stitch” construction that keeps everything flexible yet resoleable. (OK, you might need to mail them to a cobbler who can handle stitchdown construction, but they can be resoled.)

The Fastflex hits all these marks, but their bestselling Patnoflex Travel Loafer — a different model to the regular Patnoflex Loafer, which has an extra midsole — is even more stripped back.

Why the Patnoflex Travel Loafer Is So Popular

• Light, flexible, breathable, versatile, and mature — even for a loafer

I think a lot of this model’s popularity has to do with the fact that it’s a Venetian style loafer: no moc stitch, no tassels, no horsebit, it’s a largely featureless suede slipper that avoids the cultural baggage that comes with the classic penny loafer.

Around these parts, we’re huge proponents of the classic penny loafer, but that’s why we know all too well (from snide comments on YouTube) that the penny loafer has a lot of trappings among the younger generations who often consider it a stuffy relic of preppy Ivy League menswear.

And yet, they crave the loafer. They see the endless range of slip-on shoes that women cycle through and men quietly curse the absence of lacelessness in their own wardrobes.

When men want slip-on shoes, they’re relegated to flip flops. The more intrepid among us might explore huaraches or espadrilles, but let’s be real: if they don’t like loafers, most guys will spend summer in flip flops or sneakers. 

The Patnoflex is their oasis: a breezy slip on with a completely plain vamp that defies labels and looks far more laid back than a penny loafer, and yet it’s not unimaginable to see them being worn with a summer suit.

Anyway, that’s my take on its popularity, but we mustn’t forget that it weighs next to nothing, has only a whisper of leather lining under the suede, and it’s bottomed with a leather sole and no midsole. All of these make for an extremely breathable loafer, and while leather soles have never been less popular, they let the Patnoflex feel much more adult than it would with any other sole — making the slipperiness and slipper-y-ness much more forgivable.

Combine that with the Italian provenance and you’ve got a slam dunk rebuttal to anyone who asks if you’re in slippers: “no, dummy, they’re Italian.”

Understanding Astorflex’s Fastflex 

• Roomy, casual, classic, and soft underfoot

The Fastflex gives you what you want from a casual summer loafer: it’s round, wide, topped with breathable suede, and bottomed with a spongy and informal crepe rubber sole.

With a whole extra sole and considerably more structure, it’s more than 60 percent heavier (585 grams to the Venetian’s 360 grams) — but then again anything is heavier than that wisp of a summer slide.

The Fastflex will appeal to the novice loafer explorer and the tenured enthusiast alike, because said novice would be correct to feel concern about buying a loafer that is just a bit too nice to wear with shorts and a t-shirt. In America, there’s no shortage of loafers that can be worn with suits, and the newcomer is unlikely to have all the information about lasts and leathers to ensure he doesn’t accidentally buy something he can’t wear with shorts to the boardwalk.

But the Fastflex’s casualness is cemented by three unambiguous features: a very round toe, very pronounced moc stitching, and above all, a spongy crepe sole.

Sizing: Patnoflex Wins

As is usually the case, there are more sizes available for the more popular model: the Patnoflex has half sizes and the Fastflex doesn’t. The former also runs to size 15. 

The Problem With the Fastflex

This is where I’ll mention the biggest downside of the Fastflex: the opening for the foot is very wide. The width is precisely why I love it for a casual loafer, but there’s too much space between the sides of your ankles and the sides of the loafer’s opening. This is not a me problem: I’ve recommended these to viewers of my YouTube channel and they noticed the same phenomenon. 

Does this mean they fit badly? No. The heel is still secured just fine in the Fastflex, it just looks a bit awkward. The wide mouth isn’t what makes them fit badly: the lack of half sizes is what would do that.

Sizing the Fastflex

If you’re a half size like I am, size down. I’m an 11.5 on a Brannock device and ordered the 11. If you don’t know your Brannock, make absolutely certain you do before ordering laceless footwear — you are not your sneaker size! 

If you’re a whole size on the Brannock, I suppose it’s best to order that size: an 11 should get an 11. I feel like if I were such a person, I’d feel the 11 to be quite roomy, but before you despair I’ll give you the same advice I do for Chelseas: order the tongue pads from the German brand Pedag. They’ve made many a loose loafer fit me just fine. 

Sizing the Patnoflex 

Size down half a size. 

When I got mine, they were still writing European sizes on their shoes and mine says “44.” 

Whether you get the Patnoflex or Fastflex, remember these are suede shoes with little structure: they’ll conform to your foot’s shape, so it’s no big deal if they’re a bit tight at first. You don’t want toes touching the ends of the shoes since footwear seldom stretches lengthwise, but if they’re snug widthwise, you’re fine.

Comfort: Fastflex Wins

I’m being a bit trite: everyone has different definitions of “comfort.” So I’ll say this: the Fastflex has a midsole and a soft rubber outsole, two things that give it vastly superior shock absorption to the Patnoflex.

However, the Patnoflex weighs far less and breathes far more by virtue of thinner layers above and below the foot, and because of the leather sole. In other words, you could say this one feels closer to being barefoot, so decide what kind of “comfort” matters to you most. 

Price: Patnoflex Wins

• Patnoflex: $198
• Fastflex: $225

This should make perfect sense if you’ve been paying attention: the Fastflex has more layers underfoot and a more detailed design. 

Styling the Astorflex Loafers

Both of these loafers are just the right balance of inexpensive and high quality that they attract a lot of first time loafer wearers, who likely are asking which of the two will work with their wardrobe.

The Patnoflex

I’m as big a fan of preppy professor looks as anyone, but I’ll just say it: the Patnoflex is cooler.

It’s more likely to be mistaken for a slipper, it’s true, but they match with just about any trousers, and so long as it’s a no-tie occasion, you can totally get away with them in a light suit at a summer wedding. Don’t forget that leather sole adds a lot of smartness that the slipper look might have lost. 

The Fastflex

As I said at the outset, fact is that Venetian loafers don’t have the same cultural baggage as a penny loafer. “Baggage” is a harsh word: I just mean that the penny loafer has more meaning in the United States and you’re expected to wear them with a congruous outfit. 

That outfit doesn’t have to mean a bow tie and slacks, mind you: thanks to its super casual design, a plain t-shirt and shorts works just fine with the Fastflex.

I’m more saying that people will slot the Fastflex into their mental space labeled “penny loafer,” while they probably won’t have anywhere to slot the Patnoflex. You have more freedom with the Venetian.