These boots can take a lot of mortal wounds before they die. Despite the durability issues mentioned above, I took the boots on a winter hunting trip on Adak Island, in the storm-wracked, snowy Aleutians, and they performed admirably even when under extremely heavy loads while postholing through drifts in a mountain pass. Even with multiple lacing eyelets missing, they feel snug and secure, and the soles, though ragged and heavily worn, haven’t pulled apart. To their credit, the boots have degraded about as gracefully as a hiking boot could. The Salomon Quest 4D GTX is a high-performance boot, but degrades relatively quickly under hard use due to its lightweight construction. ![]() Note the multiple missing eyelets on the left boot (on the right), torn fabric on both boots, and worn-out suede leather. Salomon Quest 4D’s at the end of their lives. The suede leather used in the boots dries out quickly and needs frequent maintenance, especially in wet or dusty conditions, and the soles began to show signs of strain after only a few dozen miles. The fabric that flexes at the ball of my foot tore apart on both boots, on both sides, exposing and ultimately causing the failure of the waterproof membrane. Within another hundred-odd miles, another followed. After fewer than 70 wilderness miles, one of the lacing eyelets pulled out of the wetted-out suede leather. The Salomon Quest 4D GTX pays for its comfort and light weight with durability. The boot laces quickly and the laces have never broken, though they do have a tendency to untie themselves. The soles are grippy on a variety of surfaces, including snow and mixed snow/ice. They’re light enough to justify for day hiking, but also stout enough to support week-long wilderness backpacking under reasonably heavy loads. ![]() They breathe well enough to use in hot weather, yet are warm enough, with nice wool socks, that I can pull them on for midwinter peak-bagging in Alaska. Overall, I’m amazed at the variety of conditions under which they excel. I’ve used the Salomon Quest 4D GTX in a range of environments, from the heat-shimmering domes of Kings Canyon, California, to the wet tundra valleys of the Alaska’s Brooks Range. In my experience, the boots run true to Brannock size. Because of the softer materials and savvy design, the Salomon Quest 4D GTX boots require minimal to no break-in period. Salomon’s clever lacing system, in which the laces pull against inverted leather V’s that run vertically around your foot to the base of the boot, produces a surprisingly comfortable, supportive fit right out of the box. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Salomon Quest 4D’s on an unnamed glacier.
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