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Introducing the new Bont BNT Short Track boot
The BNT short track boot is a step up from the Z. Unlike the Z which is constructed with carbon and fiberglass, the BNT is made with 100% carbon which makes it stiffer than the Z.
The outer skin is also made of a higher-grade material than the Z. The foam padding is thinner and harder than the Z and there is no thermoplastic in the boot which makes it a little less heat moldable but lighter in weight. The boot is still heat-moldable from the resin.
The BNT has set a new benchmark in the inline skating world and we hope it will do the same in short track. Top inline skaters have said that it is the best-fitting stock boot they have ever worn. We also have a BOA edition which adds a BOA dial for getting your skates in quick. The BNT is one of the lightest boots that we have ever made, so light you will hardly know you have it on.
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Features
- Base: 100% carbon with matte finish
- Outer skin: Durolite
- Liner: Suede-L
- Innersole: EVA thermo-moldable
- Heat moldable: Fully heat moldable base utilizing epoxy thermoset resin
- Padding: Neoprene 2mm
- Protection: none
- Vegan: Yes
The legendary Bont short track Platinum K390 ice speed skating blade is back. Made with Böhler K390 powder metal tool steel which is slow ground to produce a perfectly straight piece of steel. The powder metal structure is very fine which gives exceptional gliding properties. Able to hold its edge up to 8 times longer than normal steel blades the tube has the highest bend retention of any blade on the market.
Specifications- Cup material: Aluminum 7075 T6
- Radius: 9m
- Length: 15", 15.5", 16", 16.5", 17", 17.5", 18"
- Blade thickness: 1.1mm
- Hardness: 64 Rockwell
- Bend: Machine bent
- Cup height: 25mm(Standard)
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Not pre-sharpened
The Bont Platinum K390 is regarded by many short track skaters as the best short track blade ever made. In the old days, national team skaters would contact short track blade manufactures and go through a lot of blades checking to find which ones were straight and the leftovers were sold to shops to onsell to the skaters. We didn't think that is a fair system and we wanted everyone to have access to the best blades all the time. With the Bont Platinum short track blade, every blade is good so no one needs to check to find the best blade in a batch.
Here are the steps we took to create the fastest short track blade:
- Normally, when you buy blade steel, it comes on a roll. When the blade is made, we take the steel and insert it into the slot in the same direction the steel is curved on the roll. But, it is not ideal because it has way too much curve and it is wavy. For the Platinum short track blade, we paid an additional cost to receive flat sheets of steel rather than buy it on the roll. The steel is flat to start with even before we grind it. Even after grinding, rolled still will still have a memory of being bent.
- We buy the steel that is 1.3mm thick and then cut it to shape and then it gets attached to a plate where the grinding stone grinds 0.1mm off it, it is flipped and 0.1mm is ground off the other side. It does not sound like much, but with such hard steel, it takes quite some time to grind it perfectly flat. It is common in short track blade manufacturing to put 10 blades on the plate and grind them down quickly using cheap stones to save costs. When you grind the steel quickly it heats the metal and causes it to warp. Machining time is expensive so this cuts costs. For the Bont Platinum short track blade, we imported special high-end grinding stones from Germany, and we slow grind just two blades at a time. We pay a number of additional costs for this project to create the same high-end blade for all skaters. If it is not already clear, our mandate for this blade is to create the best blade at any cost. There should not be good and bad blades, only the best short track blades.
- The slot that holds the blade has a gap on each side to give room for the glue. This gap leaves room for the blade to warp. We tested many types of glue to find one that bonds better than on previous blades and when we found a new improved glue we were able to reduce the size of the slot by 0.1mm. This doesn't sound like much but it means less warping as there is less gap for the steel to warp.
- While the glue sets, there is a chance that the blade can warp. The glue we use takes many hours to dry. Depending on the length of the blade, we hold the whole blade at a minimum of nine different points to perfectly maintain the blades bend while it sets for 14 hours. These jigs are incredibly expensive and we have a number of them to complete a production run.
- We did a 'brilliance polish' on the side of the blade so when you lean over and the side of the blade is touching the ice, there is as little friction as possible.
- For the tube stiffness, we worked with a number of the world's best national teams. If the tube is too stiff it can cause skaters to crash. If it is too flexible, it will absorb the skater's power. We used CAD-CAM software mixed with real-life testing to find the optimal tube stiffness.
- The tube is made of 7075 T6 aluminum which is why the Bont Platinum is a silver color as it is very difficult to anodize 7075 aluminum.
The result of all this work is the best and fastest short track blade ever produced. We are sure you will appreciate the effort that we put into this blade to allow you to perform at your best.
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.
One layer of carbon
Often, manufacturers misrepresent carbon shoes. For example, the shoe base can be an injection-molded plastic, or nylon, or fiberglass base and usually covered with a single layer of carbon fiber. Unfortunately, when you buy a shoe, and you see that it has a carbon base, the chances are that only the outer layer is carbon.
Unidirectional carbon
A variety of shoes are marketed as Unidirectional carbon. However, many of these shoes use injection molded carbon in the plastic and call this Unidirectional Carbon. Consequently, we feel this is a misuse of the terminology. For example, here at Bont, Unidirectional Carbon means carbon fiber, where all of the strands travel in the same direction.
Silver fiberglass
Many shoes use a plastic injection molded base with some carbon particles in it. Also, these shoes typically have a single layer of silver fiberglass for the outer layer. As such, manufacturers advertise ‘carbon fiber’ for these shoes. They are allowed to use this term as there is carbon dust in the plastic mold under the outer fiberglass layer. However, the fiberglass woven material on the outside is not carbon. Above all, remember Carbon Fiber is always black.
100% composite
What is 100% composite? This term almost covers anything. Therefore, the question you need to ask when considering a composite boot is, A composite of what? In short, a composite boot is usually a nylon fiberglass composite.
Monocoque
A Monocoque shoe is where the carbon is directly laminated onto the liner. Unfortunately, some companies are calling a carbon shell with an integrated heel cup a Monocoque shoe; however, it isn’t.
In summary, be aware of companies jumping on the bandwagon of carbon technology and using keywords to promote their product. Above all, do your research and be mindful of what you are purchasing. We hope this helps your decision in your carbon boot 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.
Bont eyelets have a large head, which spreads the pressure over a larger area to help overcome any discomfort. On the other hand, small eyelets can put pressure on a small area and can cause pain.
Made in house, from heat-moldable EVA, the Bont Footbed is the first piece of a boot added to the Last. To ensure it retains its extreme light-weight and heat-moldable characteristics, the Footbed is 65A hardness and only 3mm thick.
Bont manufactures the most heat moldable boots available in the market. Improved continuously for over 45 years, Bont proprietary resin is extremely stiff that becomes pliable at relatively low temperatures.
Bont boots are moldable over the entire base, unlike other skates that are moldable only in select locations. Importantly, this provides skaters with the most anatomically designed boot on the market today. Additionally, skaters with Bont boots can fine-tune the fit of the whole boot to get that customized fit.
What is a Last? The Last is a plastic replica of a foot which the boot is built around.
Here at Bont, we have been perfecting our Lasts since 1975! and the process is ongoing. Unlike the standard Last many companies use, Bont continually focuses on developing and improving our Lasts so that your boots fit right out of the box.
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.
This boot utilizes closed cell memory foam. Ensuring your shoe remains lightweight in wet conditions, Bont padding does not retain water. Additionally, this ensures sweat which can begin to break down the durability of the shoe is not absorbed.
Here at Bont, we have been conducting resin development for over 45 years. We formulated a resin that is super stiff, yet moldable at low temperatures. Furthermore, fast cure time is critical for our requirements. Additionally, we are one of the only boot manufacturers who develop their resins in-house.
Our resin softens at just 60°C (140°F), which is the lowest in the industry. As such, you can reheat our resin as many times as required. That is to say; you can heat your boot and easily mold it to your foot. Following the heating, allow your boot to set and cool for your custom mold.
Epoxy or polyepoxide is a thermosetting epoxide polymer that cures when mixed with a catalyzing agent or hardener. We control Polymerization, called curing, through temperature and the choice of resin and hardener compounds. The process can take minutes to hours.
The amount of hardener added to the resin is critically dependent on the temperature of the air and the amount of humidity. For this reason, we have a computer that mixes the resin and hardener. This computer dispenses the resin after measuring the air temperature and humidity.
Most manufacturers use a process known in the industry as pre-preg. A process that involves “pre-impregnating” resin into the carbon fiber.
Pre-preg, in virtually all applications, the carbon fiber manufacturer chooses the resin. Its a one shoe fits all kind of deal. The boot manufacturer has no way of altering the resin customize heat moldability requirements of modern boots. For this reason, many competitors require high temperatures to make their boots heat moldable. Often the boot moldability is limited, even at these high temperatures.
Our professional speed skating team are some of the best skaters in the World. They love to give us feedback! From the little things like the placement of the buckle to trialing the latest materials, they help Bont create products that not only look good but perform at the elite international level.
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.
LIGHTER. STRONGER. FASTER.
We push the limits of technology to help you perform at your best.