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New shoes grow with kids' feet
Categories: Kid Decor & Style
I'm raising a couple of shoe shoppers. Whether it's glittery ballet flats or flashing tennis shoes, my girls just can't get enough of footwear. I let them try on shoes to their heart's content, but limit purchasing to only the necessary one or two pairs per season.
In general, my kids wear out their shoes before they grow out of them. But parents of kids with fast growing feet know what a pain in the pocketbook new shoes can be. American inventor Hank Miller has tried to solve that problem with the INCHworm trainers. These shoes have special technology that let them expand up to two half sizes, meaning that kids can wear them longer before they need a new pair.
The shoes weren't popular with American shoe manufacturers, so INCHworms are currently only available in Britain. They also aren't cheap -- nearly $100 American. At that price, the INCHworms might not save you any money in the long run, depending on how much you normally spend on shoes. I'm also pretty sure they don't come in pink glitter or flashing Princess, which would place them at the bottom of the shoe heap at my house. Still, inventive, don't you think?
In general, my kids wear out their shoes before they grow out of them. But parents of kids with fast growing feet know what a pain in the pocketbook new shoes can be. American inventor Hank Miller has tried to solve that problem with the INCHworm trainers. These shoes have special technology that let them expand up to two half sizes, meaning that kids can wear them longer before they need a new pair.
The shoes weren't popular with American shoe manufacturers, so INCHworms are currently only available in Britain. They also aren't cheap -- nearly $100 American. At that price, the INCHworms might not save you any money in the long run, depending on how much you normally spend on shoes. I'm also pretty sure they don't come in pink glitter or flashing Princess, which would place them at the bottom of the shoe heap at my house. Still, inventive, don't you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jenn 4-27-2008 @ 2:37PM
Your kids wear out their shoes before they grow out of them? Oh, I can't wait until my daughter reaches the point where that happens! We have at least two pairs of shoes that she wore exactly twice before they got too small. Mostly because they were for certain occasions that just didn't come up often (rain boots and a pair of sandals, for instance).
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Erin 4-27-2008 @ 2:48PM
I ordered a pair of these shoes for my nephew two years ago and they have been GREAT... they ship to Canada, and the price was NOT ridiculous.
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Jan Bay 4-27-2008 @ 2:51PM
The concept seems good, but at those prices? I can't see where they would be a money saver for me.
A lot of my friends buy their kids' shoes a size and a half too big so that they can wear them longer. I've tried it and found a half size is the most I can stretch it.
I actually look forward to the time when the girls outgrow their shoes because by the time they are too small they are so scuffed and dirty they are a disgrace and an embarrassment.
Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/
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Tamyu 4-27-2008 @ 8:26PM
Even ignoring the price, this seems like a trade-off. They had some on display here, and I took a look at them. While they seem sturdy, they simply do not bend well in the middle where the mechanism is... Which just happens to coincide with where my son bends his shoe while walking. When he tried them on, he did a sort of flat footed walk - NOT something good.
It seems like you`re trading healthy footwear for a few extra sizes. I`ll pass and go for styles that are good for walking, not just that last.
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Robert Thomas 5-03-2008 @ 12:40AM
I got a pair of these shoes for my nephew one and half years back. Size is really expand these shoes for work long.
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Laura - DashinFashion.com 5-21-2008 @ 8:48AM
Very cool idea but I'm wondering if they will wear well. Price is an issue but perhaps if the product was sold in the US the price point would be less considering the low US dollar.
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