Comments on: INCHworm shoes grow with your child’s foot

By: Mimi R

Mimi R — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:36:22 +0000

BTW–children should wear shoes as little as possible, and when they do wear shoes, they should NOT be supportive at all, barring a real foot problem. Bracing the foot causes it to grow weakly, leading to problems later in life. Supportive shoes are the last thing most kids need. Ask a podiatrist.

By: Mimi R

Mimi R — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:20:50 +0000

What a stupid idea by someone without children.

Children wear out shoes quickly. This would no last longer than a year, max. This is also phenomenally expensive for a child’s shoe. I could get 4 pairs for this price–1 dress ($13), 1 tennis shoe ($15), 1 pair flipflops ($6), 1 pair Croc knock-offs ($8). That’s an entire year’s worth of every kind of shoes (except winter boots–$15) for the same price as this over-hyped ridiculousness.

By: Shape-Changing Shoe Design Grows as Your Feet Grow | dornob

Shape-Changing Shoe Design Grows as Your Feet Grow | dornob — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:02:20 +0000

[...] (unsurprisingly) targeted primarily to children there seems no reason why this brilliant Inchworm expanding shoe concept could not be applied to young-adult and even fully adult shoe sizes – after [...]

By: frank

frank — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:37:07 +0000

Did anyone of you ever go out and buy a pair?

If so, please could you help me get a full picture of whether this is a good buy for my kid.

Do the shoes get outworn before they get outgrown? I notice that the material is cheap, and that the glue doesn’t hold the iFit section (the middle of the shoe) together so well.

What is the support like for the arch of the foot?

Is it breathable for summer?

When extended fully, I notice there’s a gap between the inside end of the shoe and the shoe insert. Is this uncomfortable for kids?

Are they water proof/resistant?

Does the material on the inside of the shoe fray easily?

How sturdy is the middle of the shoe? If there is a tear, will it weaken the shoe?

Is the middle section strong enough to prevent stepping on nails, etc? Are they appropriate to play sports?

I really appreciate your help!

By: Rosanna

Rosanna — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:13:04 +0000

These shoes look great and meet the needs of a growing child-not to mention the savings for the parents. Very inovative and practical.

By: Shoes That Grow | eTrecos

Shoes That Grow | eTrecos — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:08:01 +0000

[...] A very interesting project: shoes that grow with your child’s foot. Welcome INCHworm! [...]

By: Interesting idea: kids’ shoes that grow « Later On

Interesting idea: kids’ shoes that grow « Later On — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:05:41 +0000

[...] in Daily life, Technology at 11:05 am by LeisureGuy The shoes can be increased by one full size (6 to 7 for example) in half-size increments: 6, 6 1/2, 7. Good [...]

By: Tabatha

Tabatha — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:31:43 +0000

i worked for Goodwill for 5 years and even if shoes are not wearable you can still donate them and they can be salvaged and don’t end up in a landfill. all the clothes, shoes, books, and a few other things that are not sellable go into a salvage bin/box and they sell those by the pound or recycle them. i would call to make sure b/c i don’t know if all goodwill’s do it that way. the only shoes they could not salvage were high heels, boots and anything with metal cleats in them. they don’t salvage anything that smells like mold or has like blood stains or smells like pee(yes people donate stuff like that). so they don’t always have to be thrown away.

By: Thom

Thom — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:51:57 +0000

I’d be very, very dubious about these. There are some things in life on which you simply can’t compromise and one of these is shoes for growing children. Economise and be creative with their clothes, but not their shoes.

Most of my concerns have been voiced already (shoe fit being about width as much as length, never giving a child second-hand shoes, the likelihood of the inchworm shoe “surviving” the life of its extended fit, and so on). And most of the sensible solutions have already been mentioned too (buying a well-designed brand of leather shoe and to hell with the fads, ensuring that shoes are properly fitted at the time of purchase, etc.).

By: Shalin

Shalin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:24:20 +0000

Clever, clever idea.

By: timgray

timgray — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:19:46 +0000

I just can’t see those as useful. When my daughter was little she wore out shoes before she outgrew them. I also don’t remember any kids outgrowing shoes so fast that their parents had piles of like new shoes lying around.

Plus the price shows that you save nothing, so it’s a wash.
My daughter grew up wearing cheapies. It’s silly to buy $120.00 nike shoes for a kid when the $29.00 Keds are better built and last much longer. I have a nephew that will not wear anything but over $100.00 a pair nike shoes. He has to buy 4 pear a year because they wear out or the glue fails so fast.

By: Another Deb

Another Deb — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:50:38 +0000

I would think that shoes for dressy occasions would not be worn often enough to mold to the shape of a child’s foot and would be fine handed down. Shoes that get worn so much that they mold to the foot would also be worn out faster, hopefully about the time the feet grow. The trick there is to buy them with enough wear to last the growth spurt.

By: Sandra T

Sandra T — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:15:15 +0000

Eric, I’m wondering how picks out your clothes and shoes. Obviously you think there’s no need to allow a child to choose which shoes he/she wears. There are lots of allowable choices without allowing the child to run your life. There’s something to be said for allowing children to make choices early on in life rather than have everything dictated to them. Giving them choices doesn’t mean they are spoiled but it does mean they get to learn from their mistakes.

By: Jasi

Jasi — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:01:55 +0000

@Shana: I agree. He’s totally got an issue with this. Not cool.

On Kid’s Shoes: We buy one good pair of sneaks at Stride Rite for our pre-schooler. We figure her feet need good support and sneakers are her primary footwear. If you go with sales, they’re not ridiculous and they last well. For sandals, snow boots and dress shoes (only bought for specific occasions) we go for Target or Payless. Right now she has her Stride Rite washable sneaks, Clogs from Payless and a cute pair of pink canvas girlie shoes from Target. That’s it.

By: Leonie

Leonie — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:18:24 +0000

It’s a good idea, just not applicable for my boys. I get their shoes – asics running shoes on sale, deeply discounted from various websites. These shoes probably work best at the stage when kids feet seem to grow rapidly, but now, at ages 9 and 12, my kids might need a new pair once or twice a year at most.

As for the shoes being molded to the fit or shape of the feet, what happens after the shoe size is adjusted? Does the inside of the shoe re-adjusts? to the shape of the foot?

By: Celeste

Celeste — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:20:24 +0000

I would never buy these. I like to go in for the measurement and to try the new size on and see how it works.

I also think being able to wear the same pair over multiple seasons is asking for really stinky, dirty shoes. With the exception of special occasion dress shoes that get light duty 2-3 times, I’m not willing to donate my daughter’s cast-off shoes–they have no life left!

We have to use Stride-Rite due to borderline narrow feet. Yes the higher price is hard, but some things you just have to pay for. I go to their outlet store for older styles at a savings.

I think this adjustable principle was borrowed from old metal roller skates, and that’s where it should stay.

By: christa

christa — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:16:30 +0000

Guess I’m the odd one here. I remember being able to wear shoes and clothes for 2 years. Have photos to prove it. Then again, I stopped growing at about 12-13. 5′2″ now. Size 6 shoe. 105 lbs. I also was not very hard on shoes or clothes – I always took very good care of my things.

By: JC

JC — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:02:24 +0000

My daughter started the fifth grade wearing a youth size 2.5. A year later she was wearing a women’s size 5.5. And a year after that, a women’s size 8.5-9. Every four months we purchased a pair of sneakers, and a pair of dress shoes at discount stores and, once a year, two pairs of boots (snow and mud). We picked out the shoes, and she wore them. From the above comments, I’m certainly glad I don’t live in a place where children are beaten because they aren’t wearing the “right” shoes.

By: Shana

Shana — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:59:11 +0000

Eric, your comment was overly harsh and unwarranted. Tone it down a little, eh? Even if you hate wimpy parents, it’s no reason for the vitriol.

By: L.

L. — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:42:02 +0000

I suspect these shoes are examples of penny-wise, pound-foolish thinking. If a kid’s shoes are getting too trashed to donate, they’ll also be too trashed to keep and “grow.” Even if they last, I am suspicious that they won’t fit right. Nor do they take the seasons into account; right now I’ll buy sandals for the summer, heavier shoes for the fall and winter. And I think a kid is allowed a little fun with new shoes in a different style. It doesn’t mean you’re owned by your children, you can get them one good pair, but that kind of thing is important to kids and their peers.

Finally, the FAQ says the shoes are expected to last 3-6 months longer than regular shoes. Given their current price, the actual savings seems minimal. (At least for the smaller sizes; my child’s a bit too young for these but his shoes are around $20-ish a pair, and that’s for nice name brand.)

Out of all the ways to de- and unclutter, this is not one that excites me.