Getting a Good Bont Boot Fit: Models, Widths, Blisters and Care

Written for OurSkates. Reviewed and verified by Vincent Henry, 50x British National Champion and FISS Level 3 coach. Last updated July 2026.

A race boot does its job by holding your foot completely still. Every question in this guide, from model choice to blisters, comes back to that one idea: movement inside the boot is lost power at best and torn skin at worst.

Vaypor, Eclipse or Jet?

The three inline models solve the same problem at three price points. The Vaypor is the flagship: all carbon including uni-directional carbon for the lowest weight, plus the premium touches like the TPU bumper, zips and longer lace covers. The Eclipse keeps carbon stiffness very close to the Vaypor without those extras, which makes it the value pick for serious racers. The Jet blends fibreglass and carbon in the base, so it is heavier than the two above it, but it remains fully heat mouldable and lighter than many rival top-end boots. If you are new to the sport, you will not feel the difference, and the Jet is where most skaters should start. One warning that saves expensive mistakes: long track, short track and inline boots are built differently in height, stiffness and mounting, so never buy a long track boot for inline use.

Size first, width second

Bont sizing bears no relation to your trainer size, for reasons explained in our sizing guide: measure your feet in millimetres and work from there. If your width falls outside the standard fit, narrow, wide and double wide fittings exist across the Vaypor, Slipstream, Super Jet and Jet, but not the Semi-Race III. These are built to order as semi custom boots on a 6 to 8 week lead time.

Buying for children

Never simply size up, because an oversized boot lets the ankle move, and a moving ankle means blisters now and injuries later. Our room for growth option takes the correct size for the foot today and adds a few millimetres for the months ahead, keeping the heel locked while leaving space to grow into.

Orthotics

Three routes. We can build your orthotic into the boot permanently, or build it in removable, either for £30 on top of any boot; you post the orthotic to us. Or, on a full custom order, stand on the orthotic under a layer of plastic while moulding your feet with Bont Sox, and it becomes part of the foot mould at no extra cost.

Pain and blisters

New boot pinching? Heat mould it first, always, and consider EZeefit booties while it beds in. Persistent ankle blisters have two usual causes. The first is fit: too big is as bad as too tight. The second is technique: pushing through the toes rather than the heel makes the ankle shift inside the boot on every stride, and the friction does the rest. Let the skin heal, then retrain the push: toes light, drive sideways through the heel, and get someone to film you, because you cannot feel what you can see. If heel blisters persist after the technique work, the Rip Jaws boot stretcher can relieve the specific spot.

Making boots last

Dry them in the shade, never in the sun, because sweat and heat both attack the liner. Never leave skates in a hot car: the same thermoplastics that let us mould the boot to your foot will happily mould it to the parcel shelf. And go gently on the mounting bolts, since stripped nuts end training days.

Ready to be fitted properly? Browse our inline speed skating boots, read the sizing guide, or contact us before you order.