Salomon state: “The Salomon Quest 4D GTX walking boots are ergonomically built with a design based around trail running shoes for a more active feel on intense hikes.”
Features include:
- Waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex liner
- High ankles for support and protection
- Full grain leather on the upper for durability
- Non-marking contagrip outsole for maximum traction
- Moulded EVA midsole
- Protective rubber toe cap and heel cap
- Mudguard at base
- Gusseted tongue
- Ortholite sockliner
On test: Salomon Quest 4D GTX walking boots
I handed the walking boots over to the G-Force for his review. He had been looking for a pair of lightweight boots for summer hiking in the mountains.
He writes: The boots feel really light and they a comfortable right from the moment I put them on. They feel like a pair of trainers, except with a higher ankle.
For me the fit is true to size. I’m a 42.5 in most footwear and these fit fine. The footbed supports the arch well with a snug fit.
While the boots offer great support at the ankle the sole of the boot actually feels quite flexible, again like trainers, and while this is a bit strange it works well.
Salomon state that the contragrip soles are flexible like trainers and roll through the walking movement but still offer a stiffer lateral support for rocky surfaces.
This explains why I have found them very easy to wear on the hills, like walking in my running trainers, yet still with good stability on uneven terrain.
Lacing system.
They are better than wearing trainers though because the soles do not allow jaggy rocks etc to push through the base of the boot. Many trainers have thinner soles, but the Salomon Quest boots have soles that are far more robust and durable on rocky surfaces.
I like that the boots also have reinforced toecaps. Many lighter boots I have seen scrimp on this detail, presumably to keep the weight of the boot down, but Salomon have maintained high standards while aiming to keep their Quest boots as light as possible.
The boots also have a Gore-Tex liner, which is very helpful in Scotland where you often need a waterproof boot.
Contragrip sole.
The lacing system offers locking eyelets at the mid point, like many boots do these days, and this allows the wearer to have the boot tight on the foot but loose on the ankle or vice versa. This is a useful feature.
I’d recommend these for Munro walking, trail walks, easy scrambling. For steeper scrambling and winter hiking, you would benefit from a stiffer sole.
Over all, these will be my preferred three season boots. Also see RunRepeat.
To buy the boots (£130 for men’s and £112 for women’s) see Millet Sports.