Sumo
- Nov 10, 2017

Review: Salomon Quest 4D GTX Forces

For 5+ years SWAT & SRT Teams have done what the elite Military Special Operations unites have done; turned to Salomon, a brand synonymous with train running, trekking, and winter sports, for their operations footwear needs. These discerning end users expect the best from their gear, and their shoes are no exception. Salomon Forces models require no break-in time and incredibly lightweight, offer superior support, and athletic performance. The problem was these Operators went to outdoor stores to buy their footwear…. Not my store – but not anymore!!! The Tactical Sumo has entered into a relationship with Salomon to bring their Forces line to my customers, and expand the reach of the brand to the LE & First Responder market.

So I tested these out for the last month and wanted to give you my take on the Quest 4D's

Now you have to understand, I have been in boots for the last 23 years and have experienced a lot of different brands and this is problem at the top 3 of my pics!

Performance

Pretty comfortable boot with little to no break in. I wear these boots in the upwards to 17 hours a day and I depend on a comfortable and reliable boot and this is it!!

They have a light and comfortable feel to them with a great fit around the foot and ankle. The ankle height measures 6 inches from the insole to the top collar, quite tall for a boot in this lighter category.

Underfoot, the 4D Chassis delivers excellent lateral stability without resorting to an excessively stiff midsole shank.

Traction

Bucking industry trends of employing Vibram for underfoot traction, Salomon makes use of their in-house Contragrip outsoles for the Quest 4D. By no means should this be seen as a cost-cutting endeavor, as the Contragrip rubber is well known for its reliable traction in its trail running line.

The Quest 4D’s have solid lugs that performed well over the slickrock in Utah as well as wet and muddy trails of the Pacific Northwest. Stacked up to the competition, the Contragrip rubber holds its own. The nicely spaced lugs aren’t the tallest or most aggressive looking on the market, but they are impressively grippy on the dry stuff and shed mud and clay quite well in the wet.

Waterproofness

The tough nylon and leather construction, gusseted tongue, and Gore-Tex liner all mean that the Quest 4D 2 is a fine performer in the wet. The outer fabrics shed water well, and even after sustained rainfall our feet remained completely dry on a number of early-season hikes. Additionally, the solid construction (discussed below), as well as the long-lasting nature of the original Quest boots, leads us to believe they should remain waterproof should you take the time to clean the boots periodically.

Weight

Billed as a lightweight but supportive backpacking ready boot, the Salomon’s weigh in at 2 pounds 14 ounces in a size 9. While that definitely puts them on the lighter weight end, we were actually expecting them to weigh even less. Under your feet, the boots have a ready-to-go kind of feel that gives them the impression of being even lighter. No matter the actual measured weight, we are impressed with the amount of support and protection Salomon managed to extract from a sub 3-pound backpacking boot.

What I Like

Performance fit with a solid lacing system, and fantastic support for the weight.
Feels even lighter than it weighs on the job—great for moving fast without compromising on stability.
Durable outer fabric holds up well to abuse.
Good all-around traction.

What We Don’t

Relatively thin underfoot, so you feel a lot more than a typical midweight backpacking boot.
Snug fit doesn’t work for everyone (particularly those with wide feet).

Seems like they come untied every half hour lol.

Competition

TacticalGear.com - 249.99 plus shipping

LA PoliceGear.com - 230.00 plus shipping

REI.com - 230.00 plus shipping