If the Salomon Quest isn't the GOAT, I don't know which backpacking boot would replace it as the Greatest Of All Time?! The Quest has been dominating awards lists for years. And I agree. These legends have carried me on most of my best backpacking trips, including the Grand Canyon, the southernmost tip of Australia (Wilson's Prom), and Tasmania's Overland Track. Why do so many men and women love Salomon's best selling backpacking boot? My Salomon Quest review gives you the scoop on its support, weight, comfort, fit, traction, weather protection, and overall value.
Men's Quest 4 GTX
Women's Quest 4 GTX
Salomon Quest 4 backpacking boot
backpacking Tasmania's Overland Track in Salomon Quests
The Salomon Quest 4 GTX is the latest update to Salomon's best-selling backpacking boot. For years, this athletic freak has topped award lists because it's a beefy backpacking boot that's built on a chassis that feels more like a trail running shoe. That unique blend of stability and agility has blessed the Quest with lightweight performance that other backpacking boots can't match. It's weight to performance ratio is off the charts. In football terms, this is your All Pro pass rusher—a stud that's strong enough to bowl over offensive lineman yet fast enough to run by them, too.
In spring 2023, Salomon has priced the Quest with a MSRP of $230:
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Salomon Quest Review
My Salomon Quest Review is based on several years of hiking and backpacking in Quests. This includes backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Australia. I've also worn Quests as my winter hiking boots in Wisconsin and Iowa, where the trails get dodgy and the weather gets downright frigid. On top of that hiking experience, I sold more pairs of the Quest than any other backpacking boot in my time selling outdoor gear at Backcountry and Appalachian Outdoors.
Support
EXCELLENT
Most hikers buy hiking and backpacking boots for stability and support. The Quest 4D boasts excellent foot and ankle protection with a (1) tall and moderately stiff ankle collar and (2) sturdy chassis with strong torsional rigidity to resist side-to-side twisting on ankle-busting rocks and roots.
That 4D chassis is what makes this Salomon stand out from other hiking boots. On one hand, it provides a stiff, stable base that keeps you feet and ankles from over-flexing, reducing fatigue on long hikes. On the other hand, it feels more like a sturdy trail running shoe than a burly hiking boot. That makes it more supportive— and more athletic —than backpacking boots.
The bottom line is this boot is a great choice if you need foot and ankle support for heavy packs and harsh terrain.Weight
LIGHTER THAN OLD-SCHOOL BACKPACKING BOOTS
The Quest weighs around three pounds, give or take a few ounces (depending on your size and gender).
At this weight, the Quest is relatively light and nimble for a serious backpacking boot. But it's heavier than most people want or need for day hiking. If you're mostly a day hiker, check out my recommendations for the best hiking boots.
Comfort
AVERAGE
Comfort is subjective and depends a lot on fit. The Quest is stiff underfoot (as a good backpacking boot should be) with modest cushion and just a little room in the toe box (not as narrow as most Salomons). If you're after a relatively nimble, athletic boot, you'll probably find Salomon Quest more comfortable than bulkier backpacking boots.
For me, it's average in comfort. I prefer a little more cushion and a wider toe box. But I've knocked out several 15-20 mile days in this boot with plenty of weight on my back with no complaints.
Fit
STANDARD FIT
The Salomon Quest hiking boot runs true to size. It features a standard fit in the forefoot and isn't quite as narrow in the toe box as most Salomons. It also excels at locking your heels and feet into place with a narrow heel cup, reinforced heel counter, and a design that wraps the boot's uppers snugly around your feet. I also like the locking lace system, which allows different tension in the foot and ankle areas.
Most hikers will want to size up a half-size from their everyday shoe size. Hikers with wide feet (like me) may get enough width in the Quest by sizing up a full size. However, that's still not the widest fit.
Traction
BEST ON SOFT OR LOOSE SURFACES
Quests have always had good traction. However, the new Contragrip traction on the Quest 4D is a nice upgrade.
Its mix of deep, widely spaced, multi-directional lugs should provide good uphill and downhill traction on soft and loose surfaces, such as mud, scree, and snow. (If you're mostly hiking flat rock or slick rock, you'll probably want a different boot with softer rubber and wider lugs that maximize the surface area of the boot that's touching the ground.) This tread also should do a better job of shedding caked mud and ice than previous versions of the Quest, due to wider gaps between its lugs.Weather Protection
EXCELLENT
The GTX in Salomon shoes stands for GORE-TEX. GORE-TEX remains the industry standard for durable and breathable waterproofing in hiking footwear. GTX membranes seal out liquid moisture under normal conditions while letting evaporated moisture escape when hiking feet get steamy.
The Quest is about as good as it gets in terms of water and weather resistance. Taller than most hiking boots, the Quest 4D offers good overall weather protection on rainy, snowy, and muddy treks. However, my feet eventually got wet in Salomon Quests on a soggy backpacking trip on the Superior Hiking Trail —where we hiked in sustained rain and thunderstorms over two days. Even then, they kept me completely dry for hours—and never got swamped with moisture—after several inches of rain. In more typical conditions, their GORE-TEX membranes performed well. They've also been clutch when I've worn them for winter hikes, keeping my feet dry and warm enough in snow.
Value
GOOD VALUE
Backing boots aren't cheap. Considering the market, though, the Quest 4D is a good buy with a MSRP of $230. That's a little bit less than the going rate for most dedicated backpacking boots, even though it's arguably the best backpacking boot of all time.
buying the Salomon Quest 4 GTX
The Salomon Quest 4 GTX deserves its unofficial title as the greatest backpacking boot of all time. It's no longer the best fit for my (wide) feet. But I can't think of another backpacking boot that matches this boot's unique blend of support and agility. It offers great foot and ankle protection without weighing you down. If you're truly looking to buy the best backpacking boot, the Quest should be the first one that you try on. And if it fits you well, you should probably buy it.
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