I’m no fashion guru, but I’ll admit that I try hard to keep my daughter looking her best. Probably one of the more frustrating parts of this job is knowing that the cute outfits I find for her will only fit her for about a minute (or so it seems to our budget). So I was intrigued when I heard about a shoe that can “grow with” your child.
INCHworm, a Boston-based company, makes children’s sneakers ranging in sizes from a toddler size 10 to a child size 5. Each sneaker is made to accommodate three shoe sizes, for example 10, 10.5, and 11. It works through what they call “iFit Technology.” This accordion-like mechanism in the middle of the shoe allows you to change the size of the shoe through the push of a button.
We were able to review two pairs of shoes, one girls and one boys. Overall, the design of the shoes is quite nice. I would qualify it as a sort of modern look that is fitting of your typical sneaker that all the kids are wearing. The iFit mechanism is actually part of the design. Check it out for yourself on their page: www.inchwormshoes.com
You change the shoe size by pressing a button located on the heel of the shoe and then pushing in or pulling out to the correct size. You can view the selected size through a window located on the bottom of the shoe. Check out their demo page to see how it works INCHworm’s web site calls the mechanism “Parent Adjustable.” Their site explains:
They do require some hand strength to adjust- however, we would not want children to adjust the shoes, and we would not want them to inadvertently change sizes while in use. Therefore we have made them firm in the adjustment area. Consider also that the shoes will be adjusted only a couple or a few times during the time that they are owned.
From a parent’s view, the shoe passed my test. But what would a child think? Our tester’s Mom had this to say:
Adam, age 9, loved the shoes. He thought they were comfortable and liked the Velcro instead of laces so that he could get into them quickly. The fit was great. He used them to run around the back yard and ride his ATV. The next day he wore them to school and he had no blisters and his feet didn’t hurt which can sometimes happen with new shoes.
As his parents we love that the shoe can expand from 3 to 3 1/2 to a 4 shoe size. That is a great feature because at his age his feet grow so fast he needs shoes every couple months. And the brown color goes with so many of his clothes and shorts if he wants to go hiking.
As a family we highly recommend INCHworm shoes!!
While they seem to pass the test, they are a bit pricey, ranging from $49.95 to $59.95. But of course they last longer than the average sneaker so you may be able to justify that cost. Additionally, the INCHworm website says they give 5% of their sales to finding a cure for juvenile diabetes.
I would love to see these for smaller toddlers. Maybe the market isn’t there, but as a mom of a small child, I would probably spend the cash if I knew she could wear them for a while. Overall, I hope to see more of this kind of innovation from other child-gear vendors.