Quick note on approach: this review is based on hands-on research of Bont’s official product page, technical specifications, and published customer ratings for the Eclipse Inline Speed Skates, plus a comparison against publicly listed prices from a competing brand. We have not skated in the Eclipse ourselves for weeks, and we say that plainly rather than pretend otherwise.

Quick Verdict: Bont Eclipse

The Bont Eclipse is Bont’s newest inline speed skate boot, built to replace the long-running Jet model. If you want a boot that fits close to “custom” straight out of the box, without paying for a fully bespoke build, the Eclipse is one of the strongest options in its class right now. It suits skaters moving up from their first pair as well as competitive racers who want elite performance without a full custom order.

Ready to see current pricing and configuration options? Check the Bont Eclipse on the official Bont store before you build your setup.

Bont Eclipse: What Is It and Who Should Use It?

The Eclipse is a carbon composite inline speed skate boot designed around a completely re-engineered “last” (the internal shape a boot is built on) that Bont says better matches the real shape of a human foot. In practice, that means less pressure on the sides of the foot, more support under the arch, and a tighter, more secure hold around the heel and ankle compared with older Bont boots.

Bont positions the Eclipse for two groups: skaters entering the sport with serious intent who don’t want to outgrow their first “real” boot in a season, and competitive-level skaters who want race-ready performance without committing to a fully custom mold. Because it ships as a boot plus a configurable frame, wheel, and bearing setup, it also works well for anyone who already owns spare parts and wants to build a specific combination.

Real Experience: Fit, Build, and Everyday Feel

First Impressions

On the official product photos and spec sheet, the Eclipse reads as a deliberately narrower, more sculpted boot than the outgoing Jet. The cuff is redesigned to wrap closer to the ankle bone, which Bont says fixes a common complaint on the Jet: a cuff that ran slightly too wide and left a gap around the ankle during hard cornering and sprinting.

Key Features

Bont highlights an anatomical fit with an all-new last, lightweight construction with a carbon composite base and a stiffer resin system, and a modernized sizing system that moves in consistent 5mm increments, closer to how athletic shoe sizing works. That sizing change alone is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement over Bont’s older sizing scale, which had been in use for decades and wasn’t designed with online shopping in mind.

Marketing Claims vs Reality

Bont’s page states the Eclipse “weighs less than the Jet” thanks to reduced thermoplastic and a more rigid resin system, and that it’s “less heat moldable than the Jet” as a direct trade-off for that weight saving. That is a refreshingly specific, checkable claim rather than vague marketing language, and it lines up with how most lightweight composite boots behave: less moldable material generally means a lighter, stiffer shell that holds its shape longer but is less forgiving to heat-mold into an unusual foot shape. Worth knowing before you buy if you have a foot that typically needs aggressive heat molding.

Pros and Cons

Pros: anatomical last designed to fit well out of the box, modernized 5mm sizing system, lighter than the outgoing Jet, narrower cuff for better ankle lock, backed by a brand with 50 years of skate-building history.
Cons: less heat moldable than the Jet so less forgiving for unusual foot shapes, only three colorways available, base price climbs quickly once you add a performance frame, wheels, and bearings.

Bont Eclipse vs the Competition

The closest comparison for the Eclipse is Powerslide’s ACCEL race boot line, another carbon-based 195mm-mount speed skate boot aimed at the same competitive and semi-competitive skaters.

Pricing and Value

The Eclipse lists from $569 USD once you pick a frame, wheel, and bearing combination, though the boot itself can price lower depending on the exact configuration you select. That puts it in a similar bracket to Powerslide’s ACCEL boots once you account for currency conversion, so the real differentiator is fit philosophy rather than price. If your priority is a boot that feels close to custom without a full bespoke order, the Eclipse’s re-engineered last is where the value shows up, not necessarily in being the cheapest option on the market.

You can see live pricing and every available frame, wheel, and bearing combination by visiting the official Bont Eclipse product page here.

Final Verdict

The Bont Eclipse is a well-targeted update rather than a flashy reinvention: a lighter boot, a friendlier sizing system, and a cuff redesign aimed squarely at complaints skaters had about the Jet. It’s not the most heat-moldable option on the market, and the three-color lineup keeps things simple rather than expressive, but for skaters who want a serious race boot that fits close to right on day one, it’s a genuinely strong pick.

Explore the Bont Eclipse and build your setup on Bont’s official store.

FAQs

Is the Bont Eclipse heat moldable?
Yes, but less so than the older Jet model. It uses a stiffer resin system without thermoplastic in the heel, trading some moldability for lighter weight and a shape that holds longer.

What frame mount does the Eclipse use?
It uses the standard 195mm inline speed skate mount, so it’s compatible with most modern racing frames on the market.

How does Eclipse sizing work?
Bont moved to a modernized system with consistent 5mm increments, closer to athletic shoe sizing, which makes it easier to dial in a precise fit when shopping online.

Is the Bont Eclipse good for beginners?
Bont markets it toward skaters entering the sport with serious intent as well as competitive skaters, so it suits committed beginners who don’t want to outgrow their boot quickly, not casual first-time skaters.