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"Less than an actual mountain boot, this mid-weight hiking boot will handle trail miles with ease, whether on day hikes or extended distance backpacking trips. Others found the Scarpa much more comfortable than a traditional mountain boot. While Scarpa makes comfortable shoes and boots, some reviewers found the stiffness can result in some foot soreness after a long day of trekking. This makes it more versatile for all-mountain use while still having a technical and precise feel.
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#Salomon quest 4d 3 gtx rating plus
The Scarpa Zodiac Plus is a more flexible take on their Zodiac Tech, which is more of a mountaineering boot. Related: The Best Winter Traction Devices (Microspikes + Crampons)Īs a boot that verges on being a mountaineering boot, the Zodiac is stiffer than others we considered. If you know you want a traditional hiking boot with all the support, stability, and cushioning that comes with it, we found the Salomon Quest 4 to be the expert and everyday user favorite boot in the category. If you like the fit of Salomon shoes, but want a lighter boot closer to a trail runner, consider the low top Salomon X Ultra 4 GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes ( men's and women's), the top pick in our Best Hiking Shoes story, or the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX ( men’s and women’s) in our Best Lightweight Hiking Bootsstory. It's worth noting that the Salomon Quest 4 is a middle-weight boot and might be too much boot for some users. These reviews get an A-rating from Fakespot, a website that analyzes customer reviews to flag fake comments. The Quest 4 is a favorite with Amazon's customers, garnering nearly 200 reviews, 79% of which are 5-star reviews. Outdoor media has similar things to say about the Quest: "Salomon footwear has a well-earned reputation for offering excellent water-resistance while remaining breathable, and this model lives up to the expectations set by its trail runner cousins," observes Outdoor Gear Lab (see Sources), which also named it their top pick.Ĭustomer reviewers from REI, Amazon, and Backcountry also raved about this backpacking boot. The two adjustment zone lacing system makes the Salomons among the most comfortable boots right out of the box.
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Our testers liked the Salomon Quest's model's lacing system, which essentially gives it two independent adjustment zones: one for the foot, the other for the ankle. (To be fair, most hiking-specific boots aren't designed for this.) The EVA midsole provides excellent shock absorption. This made it great for getting over obstacles, but not ideal for climbing on difficult, slabby rock. The sole is grippy, if not a little squishier than expected. The boot is easily adjustable right out of the box. We recorded an astounding 126% increase in stiffness compared to room temperature! Therefore we don’t recommend them to those who want a flexible boot for cold-weather hiking.In our testing, we found, like other Salomon trail shoes, that the Quest 4 fit is excellent. We double-checked in the lab by placing them in the freezer for 20 minutes and then testing the flexibility with a force gauge. On our winter hikes, we noticed these boots stiffened up a lot until they warmed up. At 13.8 oz (390g), these boots are an unbelievable 29% lighter than the average for the waterproof hiking boots we have tested! We could really tell the difference after long days on the hill, and our feet still had energy to spare! When we put these on the scales, we could hardly believe our eyes.
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This was good news for our hikes, as it supported our feet over long distances. We measured the stiffness of the midsole with a durometer and found it’s on the stiff side: 54 HA compared to the average 32.9 HA. Our ankle was well-supported by the collar, and the shank in the midsole kept our foot from rolling on uneven terrain. We experienced excellent lockdown from the traditional lacing - rather unusual to find in a Salomon shoe these days, and it does the job perfectly in the X Ultra 4 Mid GTX. These boots exhibit stellar stability, and on closer inspection, we found this was due to several factors. The fully gusseted tongue and mid-height collar are a bonus in deeper puddles. Not a drop of water made it through the faultless Gore-Tex membrane. In the name of science, we gave them a good dunking, submerging them in water for over a minute. It’s impeccably waterproof, supportive, and insanely lightweight, making it the perfect companion for our long-distance hikes. Both in our lab tests and on hikes, the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX came out on top as the best overall hiking boot from Salomon.
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