Walking Boots

Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX | Review

If you're looking for a walking book that's strong and sturdy, but also light enough to deliver pace, then the Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX is ideal

Being fast on your feet can be vital when you’re out among everything that nature can throw at you. Often, a traditional hiking boot is tough enough for the outdoors, but heavy and slow. A trainer, on the other hand, can give you the speed, but often lacks the support needed when you’re on a trail.

The Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX splits the difference. This smart hiking boot borrows from the design of running shoes, to give a hybrid boot that’s tough enough for challenging terrain, but with a lightweight flex that means you can deliver consistent bursts of speed whenever, and wherever you need them.

This high-cut boot borrows from trail running design, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s just for the fleet-of-foot. The Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX will suit most hikers and hill-walkers, and it’s chock full of the tech to keep your feet happy all day long.

“This smart hiking boot borrows from the design of running shoes, to give a hybrid boot that’s tough enough for challenging terrain.”

Externally, the Salomon 4D chassis, which gives the boot its name, ensures your footing is stable on even the most uncertain terrain. This, in turn, reduces fatigue, meaning you can keep on hiking for longer. Team this up with the non-marking Contra-grip soles, and you have a boot that’s going to keep slips and trips to a minimum.

The boots are finished with full-grain leather, which ensures longer wear and increased durability, while strong rubber toe caps and heel caps at the front and back mean that your feet are going to stay well protected.

The outer also features Gore-Tex which, as you’ll know, means your feet stay dry, both from water on the outside, and sweat from the inside. If you’ve ever tried hiking with a moist foot, you’ll know how important this is.

If nature throws you a curve-ball and you end up submerging the boot? Salomon have got you covered. The inside is made from a quick drying material, meaning you’ll be back on dry feet in no time. It’s also breathable and abrasion-resistant.

The lightweight flex of the Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX boots delivers consistent bursts of speed whenever, and wherever you need them. Photo: Chris Johnson.

Gore-Tex features on the outer, so you’ll know your feet will stay dry. Photo: Chris Johnson.

The Salomon Quest 4D 2 GTX is a comfortable, light, all-rounder of a boot. Photo: Chris Johnson.

The clever 4D chassis ensures your footing is stable on even the most uncertain terrain. Photo: Chris Johnson.

The boots also feature a specially designed tongue that, thanks to gusseting, fits snuggly to your lower leg, which is not only comfortable, but also prevent bits of grit, dirt, and stones from finding their way down into to your foot causing discomfort.

Further down the boot, a moulded EVA midsole gives the wearer both super-light cushioning and support, while a the Sensifit technology – again a nod to trainer design – wraps around the foot when laced to give a snug fit whatever your foot shape.

The Quest 4D 2 GTX isn’t crampon compatible, but then it’s not designed for the sort of serious glacial hikes where you’d need that. If you’re after a comfortable, light, all-rounder of a boot this is well worth a look.