These are the USD Aeon Team skates with 72mm frames. They cost around $250 US. They come with USD Aeon wheels and ABEC 7 bearings along with a MyFit SkinnyBoy liner. The soul area is wide and the frames have a big groove with wheel bite protection.

What makes the USD Aeon unique is that the frame and boot are a single piece design. Unlike most other aggressive skates the Aeons don’t support UFS, the frame mounting system standard.

This means they can offer a much wider split between the middle wheels without having to worry about the ufs bolts. It also means they can make the ride height much lower, bringing the wheels all the way into the boot.

After struggling with Royales for a few weeks, I decided to grind down the h-block with a sander. This helped smooth out the frame and reduce the backslide angle I needed to get boot down.

After skating the USD Aeon for a month, I started to really love the responsiveness I was getting from the one piece design. But my royales were still very inconsistent.

The USD Aeon are the most enjoyable skates I’ve ever had. The single piece design gives them a super solid ride. They feel like an extension of your foot rather than your foot in a boot with wheels on it. I never thought I’d be able to skate a flat 72mm frame and still grind. It really is an amazing feeling.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Since the frames can’t be replaced, once you wear through them you have to replace your skates. Thankfully they wear very slowly, so long as you keep your wheels fresh. Here’s a picture of Robert Guerrero’s 72mm Aeons after 2 years of use. He still skates them daily with no noticeable issues.

I’d also add that you can buy replacement boots for around $100 US if you do somehow wear through the frames or the backslide area. I don’t see this happening anytime soon, but it’s worth mentioning. 

Are these the perfect skates? Almost.

The backslide angle is so low that you have to really commit to land royale tricks. I’ve been told that grinding down the frame even more should fix this problem, but out of the box they’re far too difficult for most skaters.

I’ve also had to swap out the footbeds with some that have a gel shock absorber built in. My heels just hurt too much on airs. I’ve found this is a pretty common upgrade for most Aeon skaters.

I think the 60mm version of the USD Aeon is the right skate for most people. It’s the exact same boot and liner combination that I love but with a lower frame and more forgiving backslide angle. I’m curious to see how the speed compares, and plan to get a pair in a few months to try them out.