Slab Contrasted Hofu 5 is a very bold, wide, medium contrast, italic, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Gimbal Egyptian' by AVP, 'Vigor DT' by DTP Types, 'Shandon Slab' by Hoftype, 'Arch Creek JNL' by Jeff Levine, 'Polyphonic' by Monotype, and 'Bolgica' by Soerat Company (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: sports branding, headlines, posters, packaging, logos, athletic, retro, assertive, playful, loud, impact, motion, vintage appeal, branding strength, display emphasis, bracketed, ball terminals, ink-trap feel, compact counters, bouncy.
A heavy italic slab with broad, wedge-like serifs and pronounced bracketing that gives the joins a carved, inked look. Strokes are thick with noticeable (but not delicate) contrast, and the italic angle is consistent across capitals, lowercase, and figures. Letterforms are wide and sturdy, with compact interior counters and rounded curves that keep the weight from feeling brittle. Terminals often end in soft, slightly bulbous shapes, and the overall rhythm alternates between firm straight stems and springy curves for a dynamic, forward-leaning texture.
This font is well-suited to display settings where strong color and momentum matter—sports branding, event posters, bold editorial headlines, and packaging that needs a retro punch. It can also work for logo wordmarks and short promotional lines where the italic slant and slabbed details can carry the personality. In longer passages it remains readable but will feel dense and emphatic, best used when you want the text itself to act as a graphic element.
The tone is bold and energetic, with a vintage sporting-goods attitude and a confident, headline-forward presence. Its slanted stance and chunky slabs add a sense of motion, while the rounded details keep it friendly rather than severe. Overall it reads as attention-grabbing and upbeat, suited to designs that want impact without looking clinical.
The design appears intended to blend classic slab-serif sturdiness with an italic, action-oriented stance. The bracketing and softened terminals suggest a deliberate effort to keep the weight approachable and lively, while the wide proportions and heavy slabs aim for maximum impact at display sizes.
The uppercase set feels particularly blocky and emblematic, while the lowercase introduces more bounce through rounded bowls and looping forms. Numerals are heavy and compact, matching the letterweight closely for cohesive signage and display use. The texture in the sample paragraph shows strong word shapes and tight internal whitespace, emphasizing dark, punchy color on the page.