Slipstream Inline Speed Skates

Our proprietary Anti-Stretch material shares similar strength characteristics with Kevlar. We add this material between the outer layer and the skin, which assists prevent the boot from stretching.

To ensure the material does not move, we stitch it to the outer layer and bond it to the liner. In short, this Anti-Stretch material becomes a part of the boots’ structure. As a result, Bont boots do not stretch out as much as competitors’ boots.

You can always buy Bont Skates with confidence. Skaters have been buying Bont Skates since 1975 and we are the world’s largest manufacturer of inline speed skates and short track speed skates and custom skates as well as one of the largest manufacturers of roller derby skates.

We have a reputation for looking after our customers. We do everything possible to ensure that our products are made to the highest standards. As an example, all of our boots go through 16 individual stages of quality control before they are shipped out.

Our inline wheels, roller skate wheels and frames are all tested for strength and fatigue on the computer using the most advances computer-aided stress testing available. Bont bearings are produced in partnership with some of the best speciality bearing manufacturers in the world.

All Bont products go through a rigorous team testing phase before being brought to market. Team Bont skaters are the very best in the world.

When you buy Bont Skates, you get the best skates on the market. 

Ever wondered what Carbon Fiber is? For instance, is it Carbon Fiber or Carbon Fibre? To clarify, Fibre and Fiber have the same meaning. Fibre is the British English spelling, while Fiber is the US English spelling.

Carbon Fiber is a revolutionary material. It is as strong as steel with a fraction of the weight.

Carbon Fiber consists of mainly bonded carbon atoms. For example, the fibers’ long axis consists of particles that have been bonded together and aligned. Following this, a yarn is created by twisting several thousand of the threads together. Finally, a piece of fabric is woven from the yarn.

Here at Bont, we have been producing carbon-based boots since 1989. Above all and most importantly, we source our carbon exclusively from the world’s number one carbon manufacturer, Toray of Japan.

3K PLAIN

3k plain is a tightly woven carbon, which is commonly used in the Aircraft industry and Bont shoes.

UNIDIRECTIONAL

An extremely stiff, lightweight, and adaptive carbon fiber. We use Unidirectional Carbon in our boots, which allows us to lay the carbon in a direction we choose. Therefore provide extremely stiff and lightweight boots. For example the Vaypor.

12K PLAIN

A cheaper form of carbon. 12K Plain carbon is not as strong as 3k Plain carbon, which results in the price being around 20% cheaper.

INDUSTRY MISREPRESENTATION

In the old days, if you purchased a plastic or nylon based shoe, you knew what you were getting. However, nowadays, with all of the expensive modern materials, it is getting harder to identify what is in your product. As a result, you may not be getting what you thought you purchased.

Here are some handy tips on different ways manufacturers use materials. That is to say, use these points for consideration in your next purchase.

Durolite is an extremely durable and lightweight material that can withstand minor crashes without scratching. Additionally, Durolite comes in a wide variety of colors and three types of finishes; matte, shiny, and metallic. Finally, Durolite is one of the Bont Vegan products.

Most of our Bont boot models have a lace cover as the lace cover gives you extra support, whilst neatly tucking your laces away.

We reviewed hundreds of different types of Liners before choosing a suitable product to use in our Bont boots. Bont uses Microfiber, Suede-Like, and Durolite as our liners. Ensuring we are working towards sustainability and animal welfare, Bont is using Vegan-friendly products. In short, our liners are light-weight, durable, fight odor, and do not easily break down with sweat.

Manufacturing skates by hand, inside out, is a method Bont retains and is exceptionally proud of. The manufacturing process is far more skill-intensive and time-consuming than other manufacturing processes. Perhaps, most importantly, this enables Bont skates to lead the industry in performance. It does, however, result in a higher production cost than mainstream skate construction methods.

We continue to develop and refine our manufacturing process to maintain the best delivery of our high-quality products. For example, processes such as the use of generic vacuum boxes for the curing of carbon have been replaced. Today, for carbon curing, we use methods such as pressure wrapping. Pressure wrapping provides four atmospheres of pressure rather than one atmosphere you find in traditional vacuum forming.

Inze Bont’s, the renowned skate designer, engineering, has allowed our production line to optimize the manufacturing of our handmade monocoque skates in the most time-efficient manner possible.

Our innovative manufacturing processes match our drive for design innovation. Lighter, Stronger, Faster.

Read our process for Last Design, Footbed, Liner, Anti-Stretch, Carbon Fiber, Upper, and more in the self-titled sections below.

The base of the boot has an attractive matte dry carbon look now with anti-slip sanding effect at the mounting slots.

At Bont, we produce high-end skates using a method we call One-Piece Construction. This process is far more skill-intensive and time-consuming, resulting in far higher costs than mainstream skate construction methods. However, this method allows our range of skates to lead the market in performance. 

When the liner and skin of a boot have been glued to a pre-made base it is called a two-piece boot. Much of the stitching on a two-piece boot is purely cosmetic. Therefore, the stitching serves no structural purpose. It is positioned before the boot is made. As such, a two-piece boot can focus on cosmetics for stitching.

The stitching on Bont's one-piece boots is stitching is not cosmetic. It stitches the outer skin to the anti-stretch material that is bonded to the carbon. 

This boot is designed for high class athletes, so the padding used is thin, dense and a little unforgiving. However, this makes for a super light and responsive skate. The closed cell memory foam used also does not retain water. If you are after a more comfortable ride, please select one of our softer padding options.

The Vaypor is stitched by an expert sewer who has no other role apart from stitching. Unlike most boots on the market that use cosmetic stitching, the stitching on Bont inline boots actually serves a specific purpose and stitches the outer skin to the boot itself. This results in less stretch and a longer lasting boot.

The Bont TPU Toe Protector protects the front of the inline speed skating boot from bumps and minor scratches.

The Bont Upper, the upper section of the boot, is lightweight, glued and sewn onto the boot. We punch holes by hand through the Upper and the Liner for ventilation. Buckles and straps are attached to ensure your foot is pulled down and pushed to the back. Finally, we clean the excess glue off, and the boot is ready for skating. To be deemed ready for action, the boot is required to pass sixteen stages of independent quality control. As a result, we provide you with the best strength to weight ratio on the market.

This boot has a vegan option.

That is to say, this boot does not contain any animal ingredients or animal-derived byproducts. Our vegan materials include Durolite, microfiber, and suede-L (fake suede).

Scientists have proven that cooler feet can boost performance. In this boot, we have incorporated a ventilation tongue and the TPU toe protector. This helps circulate air and cool your feet.