The new Salomon QUEST 4D 3GTX boots are available exclusively until February 1, 2018, at Cotswold Outdoor.
I have worn Salomon hiking boots for years and I like the fit and style. The latest boots have been updated and improved and I will be happily wearing them throughout 2018.
Features include:
- New 4D Advanced Chassis
- Upper made of nubuck leather and textile
- Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Footwear lining
- Dual density EVA midsole
- High Traction Contagrip Outsole
- Protective rubber heel and toe cap
- Redesigned lugs
- Gusseted tongue
- Heel foam
- EVA shaped OrthoLite footbed
- Heel strap
- Lace locker
- Male and female fit (although you should note the women’s sizes stop at UK8 so I have a men’s UK8.5)
- Weight: Men’s: 640g; women’s: 575g
- Price: £180 at Cotswold Outdoor.
A word about the new 4D Chassis design: It is claimed this “guides the foot on even the roughest terrain to ensure stability and to help reduce fatigue during long days and while carrying heavy rucksacks”. The Chassis also “enables more forefoot flexion for a smoother ride that flows from step to step”. It is hard to know if all that is claimed actually makes a difference but I do find the boots easy to wear and very comfortable for long periods.
The new lug design on the outsole has been refined to offer sturdier grip on a range of terrains.
On test: Salomon QUEST 4D 3GTX boots
As I have written, I like Salomon boots because of the fit and comfort. I like that they are lightweight yet still feel very sturdy. The boots actually feel similar in fit to off-road Salomon trainers but with a lot more support.
These are walking boots that I would wear for summer mountain walking and also some winter outings. They are not very stiff soled boots so for icy and snowy conditions you will find they do not offer enough traction but they are a great all-round boot in general.
The fit is narrow to medium width and true to length. I find the UK8 women’s too small and since Cotswold Outdoor do not sell UK8.5s I had to have a men’s boot. This is slightly heavier and wider in comparison but not so much that it would put me off buying them.
A few things that I liked in the design are the easy to tighten and lockable laces. The thick tongue is really comfortable and the ankle comfort is also good.
The ankle height is taller than my other Salomon boots which offers greater support when walking on rocky and bumpy terrain. If you have only ever worn mid-height boots before this will feel odd but you do get used to it.
Walking in the boots feels great. The soles are cushioned (like trainers) and there is a bit of flex in the sole, which I like. The traction is excellent in mud, snow and on grass and rocks. If it’s ice, deep scree and smooth rocks the traction is not so great.
One thing I do not like about the boots is the slippery laces. What I mean by this is that the laces do not easily tie up tightly. I wish more boots had laces that can be tied to stay tied. They just need a few nobbles along them!
I don’t think the boots will be as long lasting as some other boots because they look and feel a bit like trainers but if you like comfort then they are a great choice. Salomon have added extra toe and heel caps to add durability to the uppers but synthetic uppers are very rarely as long lasting as leather.
In conclusion, the boots are comfortable, easy to wear, lightweight and good for almost all walking in Scotland except in the depths of winter when conditions, such as ice, demand a sturdier and stiffer winter walking boot.
By the way, I do wear walking crampons with these style of boots although I have been told I need a stiffer sole for crampons. I find they work perfectly well, as do the boots in snow shoes. However, I take the point that in ice and deep snow a stiffer and more insulated winter walking boot will be a better choice.
See Cotswold Outdoor.