RyanG505
FNG
So I figured I’d throw some information up on the boot/shoe combo I’ve been wearing. I’ve tried a lot of boots, and most all of them have been great. However, it’s that constant struggle of what works best for my feet that keeps me coming back to the Salomon line up. I know lots of guys always have questions on boots as do I, and what everyone is using so I figured this might help someone along their way of what boot works for them. I still don’t believe there’s one perfect boot out there.
I’ve come to really enjoy using the Salomon line of boots and shoes in my adventures. To be honest the military discount I get combined with how much I’ve liked them really makes them a good option for me. I’ve primarily used the Quest 4D GTX and the Speedcross 3. Both work great for what I use them for but I’d really like a more durable, stiffer boot than what the 4D can provide.
I notice Salomon had a “mountaineering” boot called the X-ALP MTN GTX. A friend of mine had worn these and said he really enjoyed them so I thought I’d give them a try in addition to my 4Ds and Speedcross.
In this thread I’m going to lay it all out there on how I feel about the Salomons in hopes it might help someone along their way.
I’ll start with the Speedcross 3 trail shoes that I use at times. I mainly wear theses in the early season or light scouting. These have great grip and are very comfortable even with lots of walking. I’ve used them primarily on September elk hunts and they’re a great option for stealthy stalks. These shoes do better for me in flat to rolling terrain, the desert flats, and if I’m spending a lot of time in grassy meadows. I know lots of guys use them for high country back pack hunts, but for me personally I want more ankle support. I have packed out an elk in them and they weren’t bad, but really lacked the stiffness I would have preferred for a heavy pack out. They are “water resistant” but I’ve had great luck with them staying very dry while wearing a pair of gaiters. Overall they’re a great trail shoe that will not disappoint for early season hunts or even just a good hiking/trail shoe.
The boot that I primarily use on most all of my hunts is the Salomon Quest 4D GTX. This is a very light weight boot with good ankle support. It’s biggest downside is that it’s very flexible. The flexibility doesn’t bother me at all in most scenarios but some folks love super stiff boots and these just lack that stiff platform. They’re a great boot for guys that enjoy a flexible boot and I feel they have been solid for me in everything other than rocky, steep terrain with lots of hiking. They’re just a little bit flexy for big rocky, steep stuff while packing a load. When I need a really stiff boot I will wear my La Sportiva Trango Cubes.
They’re very waterproof and when coupled with gaiters I’ve walked through shin deep water and stayed dry as well as lots of rain they stayed pretty dry. As far as comfort, I personally have yet to wear a more comfortable light boot. I really enjoy these on elk hunts, desert mule deer hunts, and early to mid season hunts. Although, I have worn them on a late season elk hunt and even at single digits my feet were very comfortable. They are very roomy and fit pretty true to size.
My biggest complaint is that I have yet to be able to make a pair last more than 6-8 months. I’m on my 4th pair of them but like I said with the military discount I receive and the comfort for me these are my go to light boot. I cover a lot of miles in that 6-8 months and mostly nasty desert terrain so I feel that’s pretty fair for as light as the boot is. The bluffs and cliffs that I spend most my time in really eat these boots up bad.
Like I said they get chewed up in the country I spend most my time in but this country has wrecked every boot I have worn in here no matter who made them. So again like I said I think the durability is pretty fair for the amount of hiking I do and the terrain I do it in.
I spend most of my time in the terrain pictured above here in New Mexico watching these Barbary. I’d say 90% of my hiking is done in these cliffs so I really can’t knock the durability of these boots because anything gets chewed here.
The next boot I’m trying this year is the Salomon X-ALPS MTN GTX. They were recommended to me by a friend and seem to be really nice so far. As of today I’ve only put 12 miles on them but I’ve only had them since the beginning of last week. They seem like they will be a lot more durable than the 4Ds. As far as the fit and feel, they do feel a lot stiffer and fit more like a mountaineering boot to me. The toe box is pretty narrow and the lacing goes a little further down which I like.
They do have the same comfort that I’ve come to love in the Salomon boots and the more miles I get on them I think I will really enjoy these. They did really well on the one hike I did with lots of side hilling and felt significantly stiffer and more stable in the rocks than my 4Ds do. I did notice that they were very warm and my feet sweat a little more in them than I would have liked. However, it was 105 degrees out when I put most the miles on them.
So far I really enjoy the X-ALPs like I said I’m only 12 miles in on them so I don’t have my true feelings yet but overall they’ve been good and impressive. I will get more up on them as the hikes progress.
I already take good tips and learning from lots of you here on the forum so I figured I’d pass along what I’ve experienced with the Salomon line of footwear.
Hopefully it helps someone in their research or if they’ve wondered about these different set ups.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’ve come to really enjoy using the Salomon line of boots and shoes in my adventures. To be honest the military discount I get combined with how much I’ve liked them really makes them a good option for me. I’ve primarily used the Quest 4D GTX and the Speedcross 3. Both work great for what I use them for but I’d really like a more durable, stiffer boot than what the 4D can provide.
I notice Salomon had a “mountaineering” boot called the X-ALP MTN GTX. A friend of mine had worn these and said he really enjoyed them so I thought I’d give them a try in addition to my 4Ds and Speedcross.
In this thread I’m going to lay it all out there on how I feel about the Salomons in hopes it might help someone along their way.
I’ll start with the Speedcross 3 trail shoes that I use at times. I mainly wear theses in the early season or light scouting. These have great grip and are very comfortable even with lots of walking. I’ve used them primarily on September elk hunts and they’re a great option for stealthy stalks. These shoes do better for me in flat to rolling terrain, the desert flats, and if I’m spending a lot of time in grassy meadows. I know lots of guys use them for high country back pack hunts, but for me personally I want more ankle support. I have packed out an elk in them and they weren’t bad, but really lacked the stiffness I would have preferred for a heavy pack out. They are “water resistant” but I’ve had great luck with them staying very dry while wearing a pair of gaiters. Overall they’re a great trail shoe that will not disappoint for early season hunts or even just a good hiking/trail shoe.
The boot that I primarily use on most all of my hunts is the Salomon Quest 4D GTX. This is a very light weight boot with good ankle support. It’s biggest downside is that it’s very flexible. The flexibility doesn’t bother me at all in most scenarios but some folks love super stiff boots and these just lack that stiff platform. They’re a great boot for guys that enjoy a flexible boot and I feel they have been solid for me in everything other than rocky, steep terrain with lots of hiking. They’re just a little bit flexy for big rocky, steep stuff while packing a load. When I need a really stiff boot I will wear my La Sportiva Trango Cubes.
They’re very waterproof and when coupled with gaiters I’ve walked through shin deep water and stayed dry as well as lots of rain they stayed pretty dry. As far as comfort, I personally have yet to wear a more comfortable light boot. I really enjoy these on elk hunts, desert mule deer hunts, and early to mid season hunts. Although, I have worn them on a late season elk hunt and even at single digits my feet were very comfortable. They are very roomy and fit pretty true to size.
My biggest complaint is that I have yet to be able to make a pair last more than 6-8 months. I’m on my 4th pair of them but like I said with the military discount I receive and the comfort for me these are my go to light boot. I cover a lot of miles in that 6-8 months and mostly nasty desert terrain so I feel that’s pretty fair for as light as the boot is. The bluffs and cliffs that I spend most my time in really eat these boots up bad.
Like I said they get chewed up in the country I spend most my time in but this country has wrecked every boot I have worn in here no matter who made them. So again like I said I think the durability is pretty fair for the amount of hiking I do and the terrain I do it in.
I spend most of my time in the terrain pictured above here in New Mexico watching these Barbary. I’d say 90% of my hiking is done in these cliffs so I really can’t knock the durability of these boots because anything gets chewed here.
The next boot I’m trying this year is the Salomon X-ALPS MTN GTX. They were recommended to me by a friend and seem to be really nice so far. As of today I’ve only put 12 miles on them but I’ve only had them since the beginning of last week. They seem like they will be a lot more durable than the 4Ds. As far as the fit and feel, they do feel a lot stiffer and fit more like a mountaineering boot to me. The toe box is pretty narrow and the lacing goes a little further down which I like.
They do have the same comfort that I’ve come to love in the Salomon boots and the more miles I get on them I think I will really enjoy these. They did really well on the one hike I did with lots of side hilling and felt significantly stiffer and more stable in the rocks than my 4Ds do. I did notice that they were very warm and my feet sweat a little more in them than I would have liked. However, it was 105 degrees out when I put most the miles on them.
So far I really enjoy the X-ALPs like I said I’m only 12 miles in on them so I don’t have my true feelings yet but overall they’ve been good and impressive. I will get more up on them as the hikes progress.
I already take good tips and learning from lots of you here on the forum so I figured I’d pass along what I’ve experienced with the Salomon line of footwear.
Hopefully it helps someone in their research or if they’ve wondered about these different set ups.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
