Enso

 

Fractal Enso a new UFS flat sole aggressive skate that features an ultra light semi soft boot, a cnc machined souplate and a one piece cuff which makes it a one of a kind inline skate that differs from all other aggressive inline skate boot offerings on the market.
The skate is sold as boot only minus liners and hand built by one person in Europe.

Naming
In Zen art, an ensō (円相, "circular form") is a circle hand-drawn in one or two uninhibited brushstrokes to express the Zen mind, which is associated with enlightenment, emptiness, freedom, and the state of no-mind.

Rundown of most important  features:
-ultra light weight ,  1165 grams boot only in size 300mm (with intuition liner and footbed)
-very pronounced heel shape to provide a strong lock, minimal to no heel slip depending on lace tightness
-one piece cuff with deep v-cut and heel cut that offers a wide range of backward flex
-built around intuition liners, but could be used with any other liners
-machined pe1000 (UHMW) soulplate, with recessed bottom for lower weight, lower contact surface area, over a dozen custom groove options included in the price
-3d printed boot with leather details , 3d printed TPU is semi flexible , heat moldabe , abrasion resistant , not breakable and provides a very fluid contact to the more rigid parts of the skate
-all major boot components built in house
-all machining waste is going to be fully recycled (into car chain guide parts)

Features and options :
-5mm size increments ( you need to match your liner max length to the boots internal max length )
-the lightest softboot aggressive skate
-custom groove options, regular centered in several widths or even exotics like doubles or triple grooves or I could just send you a blank one so you can make or wear in your own
-a lot of color options for the leather details and strap covers
-further customization requests like painted hardware and custom leather types and colors upon request

Details in depth

X-cuff
The X-cuff has a deep V-cut to allow full or nearly full range of backward flex.
A full or large range of backward flex allows more natural foot articulation, the top of the cuff and liner on other skates can push the toes toward the front when flexing backward, with a deeper V-cut on the cuff this forward slip of the foot, when flexing backward the lower leg is eliminated or greatly reduced.

A large amount of backward flex could help you jump higher less effortlessly and more accurately, when jumping you can utilize not only your leg muscles but the articulation by the V-cut allows utilization of your ankles to add to your jump and make it more precise.

Sideways flex is very responsive and has a large adjustment range , the shape and material of the cuff allows you to make adjustments on the fly while doing grinds..
The cuff was developed to provide a very fluid and natural flex, the most optimal blend between flexibility. Most other manufacturers use stiffer material for cuffs that spread the pressure above the ankles on a smaller surface that often results in ankle and knee problems. 
The goal was to create a relatively tall cuff that has a good amount of surface area while having a decent amount of flexibility.

The shell

It is 3d printed TPU,  thermoplastic polyurethane, extremely resistant to abrasion.

It is not breakable in ambient temperatures and could stretch 500% before tearing.
Also semi soft, semi hard, the common wear areas like the toe box and the heel are 4mm thick, other areas like the lacing and under the leather it is mostly 2mm thick.

The front of the toe box is the most rigid part of the shell to protect the toes from impacts. 

TPU can be heat molded by using a heat gun if you encounter pressure areas.
You need to apply the heat evenly and gradually in the area where you feel the pressure.
The only are the most likely require heat molding is the toe box, either shaping it to accommodate your big toe or the small toe. 
Apply the heat from a distance, turn the heat off, let the heat dissipate a bit into the material, wait about 30seconds before you repeat. Then apply heat again in the same area, repeat this many times until you feel some warmth or heat in the liner. The white material could turn yellow from applying too much heat from up close, heat shaping the white TPU is much more difficult than other darker colors.
If you feel heat through the liner you can stretch your feet or put some pressure on it, whether that's your big toe, small toe or side of your foot, the TPU should stretch where the pressure is to accommodate the shape of your foot.
Heat molding also mold the foam of the liner a bit to accommodate your foot shape more to the liner in relation to the shell.

Soulplate
CNC Machined PE1000, lightened by recessed areas and shaped to accommodate most regular or exotic grooves.
It comes with wheel sinks to accommodate larger wheel sizes that protrude over the top of the frame.
It has wider than normal positive and negative, it also features grind areas for easy toe/heel, tough/rough grinds.

Leathers
I only use the highest quality genuine cow hide nubuk leather which is more resistant to abrasion and tears.

Nylon traps and velcro
I only use name brand Velcro (hook and loop) to ensure that it's the most durable and won't wear out or come undone by accident for many years .
I use automotive seatbelt material to make the straps, which is currently the most abrasion resistant strap material that I have access to.


Shock absorbers
Replaceable, black 10mm thick EVA foam.

Laces
This type of fully soft boot works much better with non waxed laces that have some give.

Hardware:
All hardware is rust proof or highly resistant against water or water vapor caused corrosion. All T-nuts and bolts are stainless steel or zinc plated . The eyelets are copper based, corrosion resistant.

Acoustics
All Enso skates come with a thin dense foam sheet that is attached to the UFS channel .

Construction
The cuff is bolted onto the plate and the shell is bolted on separately by 6 metric screws.
The leather details are stitched on, the heel details are glued on.

Recommended liners
The shell was designed around the industry leading Intuition skate liners. More specifically SkateV2, Premium and FR  variants of Intuition liners.
It could work with other premium, dense foam liners as well, but for the most optimal comfort and performance I recommend the FR Intuitions the most.

If you have any custom requests, questions about sizing or the features, feel free to reach out via the website's email contact from.