Skechers offers shoes with Apple AirTag compartment
Skechers recently launched a line of children’s shoes with a hidden compartment under the insole for Apple’s AirTag tracker. The idea is that parents can insert the GPS tracker into the shoes and then track the location of those shoes, and therefore of the child wearing them, in the Find My app. This is available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and online at iCloud.com.
The shoes give parents the security of tracking their child’s location in public. For example, if a child gets lost in a busy shopping center, parents can see their location in the Find My app. Or parents can check whether their child is where they’re supposed to be at a specific time, e.g., at a meeting or at school.
AirTag not felt in shoes
In the YouTube commercial below, released this week, Skechers explained that children cannot feel the AirTag under their feet in their shoes.
These shoes could also prove extremely valuable in the event of a child abduction. However, the kidnapper receives a warning on their iPhone or Android smartphone if an unknown AirTag follows them for an extended period. If the kidnapper doesn’t find the tag, a sound will eventually play. This security feature is intended to prevent the AirTag from being used for stalking.
Internet connection required
It should also be noted that the AirTag only sends its current location to iCloud via the Find My network if the child doesn’t have their own smartphone with them. Therefore, the child must be near other people with Apple, Android, or other Find My devices, and a cellular or Wi-Fi connection must be available. If, for any reason, the child is left alone in an area without an internet connection, the tag’s location will not be updated.
On its website, Apple states that the AirTag should not be used to track people. However, parents’ use of the accessory to track a young child is justified. Alternatively, parents can give their child an Apple Watch with cellular data to track their location. In this case, a connected iPhone is also not necessary.
The shoes are available for boys and girls in the US, Canada, and select other countries. In the US, prices start at $52, but do not include a matching tracker. The shoes are available in various designs and, according to Skechers, are machine washable.
