If
you were serious about making the most convenient and comfortable skate
on the planet, how would you go about it? Maybe you'd study forces exerted
on the foot and design a support system more comprehensive than any on
the market? Perhaps you'd deconstruct the lacing system entirely and rebuild
it from the ground up? Or throw away conventional designs and reinvent
the boot to fit like a second layer of skin, even after hours of use?
If you were an engineer for Rollerblade, the original pioneer in inline
skating technology, that's exactly what you'd do, and the result would
be their new Aero 9 inline skate.
What's the Aero 9 got that no one else has got? It's got the groundbreaking
TFS one-pull, exact fit closure system for starters. The Total Fit System
is a philosophy that involves replacing traditional lace, buckle and strap
closure systems with a super strong Kevlar ripcord run through a series
of eyes, thereby making putting on and removing the Aero 9 easier than
any other skate. Simply slip your foot in the boot, pull the chord until
it's good and snug, ratchet the ankle strap and you're ready to go. The
push button releases make taking them off just as easy.
The Aero 9 not only redefines skate convenience, but also increases power
and stride with yet another revolutionary concept, the Bio Dynamic Triforce
shell. This ingenious shell system locks the foot and ankle into the perfect
position for optimal energy transfer between skater and skate. Another
bonus of the Triforce shell is the CoolMax liner, DuPont's miracle fabric
that allows moisture and heat to escape the boot, keeping the feet cool
and dry. This also keeps the skates light, tight and ready for flight.
All
this is great, but how do they skate? Fast! There really is no motion
in the boot, ergo no wasted energy. All your push-off goes where it should,
to the street. The real surprise comes the first time you turn, super
response with no power loss. A lot of that has to do with Rollerblade's
Shock Eraser dampening system, which virtually eliminates road chatter.
The Aero 9s also come standard with 80mm/82a XTRALITE wheels, ABEC 7 bearings
and a super light aluminum frame. Weighing in at about 3 ½ pounds
apiece, after a few hours of skating the Aero 9s were still as comfortable
as high-top sneakers, only dryer.
The bottom line is that these are the skates to get if you're interested
in comfort and performance. Rollerblade's Aero 9s come in men's sizes
6 through 13 ½ (full and half sizes) and women's sizes 6 through
10 ½. For about two hundred and change you can pick up a pair at
your local sporting goods store, skate shop or one of the retailers listed
at www.Rollerblade.com.
