Salomon Quest boots – taking care of your feet straight from the box
They’ve seen us through local rambles and challenging multi peak hikes without a blister in sight... here’s everything you need to know about your new favourite walking boot.
Quick verdict
Best for: Active adults who are looking for a lightweight but sturdy boot for all levels of hiking
Price: £180 for the women’s Quest Echo, £200 for the men’s Quest 5 gtx
Rating: 5/5
In a nutshell:
A boot that feels light on your feet but that you know is a sturdy boot. You can confidently head out for the day without worrying about your feet…focus on what snacks to take instead.
Product details
- Brand: Salomon
- Product name: Quest Echo and Quest 5 gtx
- Price: £180/ £200
- Available from: Salomon and approved retailers
- Colours / sizes / options: Sizes 6.5-13.5 men’s, 3.5-9.5 women’s. I’ve got the light purple/ grey (Gull), there’s also a brown/ pink, green/ cream, and a stunning dark grey/ blue with bright purple trim. They are a lovely looking boot! The men’s boot are more classic colour ways – a brown, black and Chris’s, black with a green trim.
- Key features: Goretex waterproofing, breathable lining, all terrain sole, 4D advanced chassis. Too many technical features to list (and understand) but in essence, they’re going to keep you dry, secure and comfortable.
First impressions
I’ve been wearing Salomon for nearly 10 years – both the hiking boot and a trainer – so I was fully expecting to love the boots. Chris has been wearing the same pair of boots since we met (many moons ago!) so thought he’d be a tougher crowd.
We tried them out on a short but steep local hike first and both of us were impressed with how light they felt on your feet and ankles. It was a little unsettling at first, I did keep thinking the laces were coming undone because I didn’t have that tightness round the top of the boot, but I quickly adapted to this and stopped looking down!
It’s been an unseasonably dry April and May, so I haven’t put them to the test in overly wet conditions yet, but I did test out their bog-ability on a full day hike at the weekend. They passed.
The Goretex waterproofing has been done in such a way that you can see the water beading on the surface, not something I’ve noticed in other boots and it really does give you that confidence boost that no matter what happens on the hike – you’re going home with dry feet.
No-one buys a hiking boot (I don’t think) for aesthetics alone, but the colourways do look great with walking gear. The women’s colours in particular have a pop of colour without being OTT, the bright purple trimmed pair is exactly what you’d want on your feet if you were heading out after your walk (and is exactly what we did!). From the peaks to the pub… if that’s your thing!
Performance / How they worked
We’ve worn the boots once or twice a week since we got them, and we’ve since relegated our old boots to be our ‘caravan boots’, taking pride of place with our caravan slippers and sliders.
I’ve had no grumbles at all with mine, apart from the feeling of them not being tight enough on my ankle and the laces feeling that they need a good yank to feel properly secure. I’m possibly a bit sensitive to it as I’m notorious for rolling my ankle on walks, but the more I’ve worn them, the more I’ve got used to that (and haven’t rolled as of yet).
We teamed the boots with the 1000 miles anti-blister socks, we weren’t taking any prisoners! They took a bit of getting used to due to the thickness and layering, but certainly added to the comfort once we’d got the fit right. 31 miles walked… 969 miles still to go!
Practicality
Most hiking boots need a degree of wearing in, which means that your first couple of walks aren’t the comfiest – hard to plan for depending on what you have on. These didn’t need any wearing in, and were comfy straight from the box, so practical from the offset.
Is it worth the money?
Yes, you can get a cheaper boot. But the detail that has gone into making this a durable and versatile boot puts it into the higher bracket for good reason.
For me, if I can do an 8-hour hike that included a lot of scrambling and steps, without ANY aching feet, toes or ankles – I’ll pay the RRP.
However, we are frequent hikers, and will wear these at least once for a week for a number of years to come (‘caravan’ boots are 9 years in and still going strong). If you’re not going to be getting out much, and do less technical walks – it might not be a spend you can justify.
Who it’s best for
These boots are ideal for frequent hikers who are looking for a quality boot, and looking to spend a little more on something that will last.
It may not suit those on a tighter budget, or those who only use a few times a year.
Final verdict
I remain a Salomon girl! This is a quality hiking boot that feels like you’re wearing a shoe – it’ll take you through the park and up into the peaks without grumbles.
If you’re buying his and hers it’s going to cost you, but it’s got the features, the reputation and the comfort to make it a worthwhile investment.
Plus, I heard a rumour that all the cool kids are wearing Salomon these days – music to my millennial ears.
Ratings breakdown
- Design: 5/5
- Ease of use: 4.5/5 – only minor niggle being the ankle situation
- Quality: 5/5
- Value for money: 5/5
- Overall: 5/5
By Amy Blackburn
Image credits – Amy Blackburn
As usual all opinions are Amy's own.
