The THEM 909 skates are a step ahead of the rest. The skates are refined to the very last detail resulting in exceptional performance in all circumstances and include six unique shell sizes for better fitment.
The story of THEM is significant in two standout ways.
1. The boot is fully independent and designed in house by a team of skaters who love what they do. Without corporate backing, this has not been achieved to the same level as THEM.
2. THEM are responsible for large parts of contemporary aggressive skating culture. Collaborating with Clarks Originals, ski liner manufacturer - Intuition, skateboard brands (like WKND), fashion brands (like Braindead) and progressive inline skate brands (like Wizard Skating) THEM have pushed the boundaries of what's achievable and exciting with WAY less budget. They are one of the leaders in generating interest in inline skating outside of itself, how inline skating is presented and how they pay their riders. Almost everyone else are just following their lead.
Skate Details
As mentioned, the boot mould and all the parts were created from scratch: the lace holes are formatted with a traditional shape but with two extra cut-outs, carefully engineered to provide the ideal 'flex points' for grinds. The boot construction has been carefully considered with thicker plastic in the most relevant places, for better wear and performance.
The cuff is adjustable (vertically) to allow you to use it in a high or ride position, depending on your preference for flex and support and allowing you to ease pressure points so commonly experienced when flexing at the ankle on grinds.
The boot uses a slightly raised heel (slightly lower than a Roces M12 but more pronounced than a flat boot). This feature provides good shock absorption and energy transfer and places your foot in the best position for extreme foot manoeuvres!
The 909 skate features the all-new V3 Soleplate. Updating the width in critical areas and deepening the groove allows for better grinding performance and longevity.
The bolts and hardware are a breath of fresh air. The 'bridge-style soulkit bolts stop the receivers from spinning on the inside of the boot when you unscrew the soulkit... a welcome feature for anyone who has ever tried to change their soulkits, ever!
The V4 liner is improved for comfort and support. The re-positioned heel allows the foot to sit deeper into the liner and the wider tongue with extra padding improves cushioning around the buckle area. The re-shaped cuff area provides better structure and articulation.
The frame uses a low h-block perfectly balanced for both flat and anti-rocker setups. The durable, low friction material is excellent and fast sliding. Custom-made steel axles allow only one Allen key to unscrew them (similar to the GC FL3 Sickle axles), which means there is less opportunity to round your bolts and reduce time spent setting up new parts. The 30mm ride height keeps the centre of gravity low for control. The frame come in two lengths 250mm or 270mm, depending on shell size and fits a maximum of 58mm wheels for flat setups.
The Final Scoop
They are just really great skates designed and made by a brand that really cares about it.
