Millions of parents around the world have a dilemma. They are tired of buying new shoes for their kids. As any caregiver knows, a child’s feet can grow at an astonishingly fast rate. With Inchworm shoes, parents can rest easy. By pressing a button on the side of the shoe, the Inchworm expands to grow with your child’s foot. They grow one full size, in half size increments and are targeted for kids 3-9 years old. The innovative iFit technology allows children to keep their shoes longer than they would regularly.
Although not very attractive, the Inchworm is innovative. The “grow” button is child-proof but adult-friendly. It’s easy enough to adjust, yet durable enough for extended wear. Faced with initial skepticism in the US, American inventor Hank Miller took his idea overseas to Europe.
Currently, the Inchworm comes in eighteen different colors and styles. The most interesting is the “Chomper” which is a high topped boot, and the “Cruncher” which frighteningly resembles the popular 80’s moon boot. I wondered why the Inchworm was met with so much skepticism in the US. “That’s strange,” was the general comment I received while pitching the idea of the Inchworm. “My kid is three and wears Nikes,” another person chimed in. Maybe some people aren’t ready for tennis shoes that expand, but Inchworm is an excellent idea for parents who are tired of running to the store.