Salomon Cosmic 4D GTX vs Salomon Quest 4D GTX ??

[Spikepretorius]

Does anybody have any experience with these two pairs of boots?
How waterproof?
How rugged?

I'm getting boots this week and can't decide what the differences are between the two.

They will be used for SAR

 

[Christophe Noel]

Both are great boots, but you have to keep in mind the design purpose behind these boots. These are cutting edge "Fast Packing" boots or "Trekking" boots in the more traditional sense. They are designed to be very light, very efficient walkers. To achieve this, Salomon is folding in ever more construction methods used for years in their very excellent trail runners. So, these boots are almost like running shoes on steroids. Durability will be a slight compromise, but anyone who understands what these boots are for, won't ever have a problem with durability. It's just going to be those who expect these boots to hold up like 5mm full grain leather mountain boots that will be disappointed, and unfairly so. For anyone doing a lot of off trail hiking, I wouldn't think either, or maybe any, of the Salomon boots would be the real go-to.

If uber fast, uber light, and uber efficient are the qualities you seek, either boot (maybe the Quest) would do the trick. If durability for rugged off-piste hiking is your concern, look elsewhere.

 

[Spikepretorius]

How waterproof do you reckon they are?
Do you reckon they will handle 48 hours in the rain? The blurb says 100% waterproof.


I'm getting free SAR kit from a benefactor but I'm restricted to three specific outlets for my choices. The Salomon boots seem the best of the bunch at those outlets

 

[Christophe Noel]

How waterproof do you reckon they are?
Do you reckon they will handle 48 hours in the rain? The blurb says 100% waterproof.


I'm getting free SAR kit from a benefactor but I'm restricted to three specific outlets for my choices. The Salomon boots seem the best of the bunch at those outlets

These boots are LINED with Gore-Tex, so they will be 100% waterproof out of the box, but you'll have to continue to treat the exterior of the boot with a proper water repellency coating to allow that Gore-Tex membrane to work properly. You'll want to also keep that water repellant coating in good shape to keep fine particulates of dirt from penetrating the boot and eating away at that very delicate Gore-Tex membrane.

Gore-Tex is great. Light boots are great. Heck, heavy boots are great, but as boots get more high tech, people expect too much and offer too little with regard to proper cleaning and maintenance of modern boots. Keep them clean, keep them treated with a high quality water repellant coating like those from Nikwax, Grangers, ReVivex, etc and you'll be fine.

 

[borrows123]

Yup man..
They are best form the best...
If you ask for a good suggestion then go for it..
Waterproof and safe as well..

 

[Spikepretorius]

I got the Cosmic 4D
They seem like a quality boot.
I have only worn them once though!
I wore them up Table Mountain in a heat wave and it felt like I had two little saunas, one on each foot.
Winter is setting in nicely here now and I have a big SAR exercise in two weeks time in the mountains so I'll be able to test drive them in cold/wet/snowy conditions and see how they fare.

 

[Spikepretorius]

I've been using my Salomon Comsmic's lately. Really happy with them. I just got back from a rescue in the snow, an all-nighter and into the morning.
Feet bone dry. A teensy bit of cold across the top of my feet near my toes, but considering what I was doing that was remarkably good.
Love em to bits

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I am a fan of Solomon for all my boots, hiking and skiing. I've got a pair of hikers that I bought a few years back, probably equivalent to the Premium 4D GTX. Really nice boots. My wife has what I think are equivalent to the Quest. No issues to report really. I tried to get her into a full leather boot, but she just thought the quest was more comfortable.

I can only caution, the first pair I bought about 10-15 years ago had a problem, if you left them in your car in the sun, the heat would make the glue for the sole release and the boots came apart. That happened to me eventually. Right in the middle of a hike, the sole came off. Luckily I wasn't too far in yet.

 

[aalix]

An Expedition Journal will be supplied to each competitor upon check in. This book will reveal the exact course and will include maps, course description, crew information and various points of interest along the course. This book must be carried with you at all times and must be presented upon demand.

· Each evening a briefing will be given relating to the next days’ stage by the organizers.

· Each entrant will receive “aid station” food at aid stations throughout the race. Any additional food may be supplied by racers or crew.

· Each competitor must carry required gear (see rules and regulations) and in all circumstances carry of a minimum of 1000 calories and 80 oz. of liquid per day i.e. enter each aid station with 1000 calories and leave each aid station with 80 oz. of water, we strongly urge that each racer have the capability to carry 140 oz. of liquid.

 

[Ozarker]

I have no idea about these boots, but...I bought a pair of solomon tennis shoes, actually I think they are for skiing as they have hard rubber ridges at the toe and heel (my skiing was in the Army with boots, so I wouldn't really know). They are very well made, I bought them at Bass Pro Catalog Outlet store (returns and overstocks) and paid about $40.00 (and I think they were mismarked) but that was in 1996.

They need a little cleaning (never been really cleaned) and in one spot some stiching appears to be lose but that can be fixed too. The bottoms still have tread with some slick spots but there is plenty of sole left.

I don't want to sound like I have only one pair of shoes, but these were my favorites for about ten years and still wear them. They were worn daily. If I were to go hiking today I would wear those shoes (and I have several hiking boots and combat boots for the rough stuff). I use to jog in these shoes while they are heavily built, they are not real heavy like a boot. Very good materials and solid construction.

I bet they will last another 5 years easy! Best wearing shoes I have ever owned.

So, if it says Solomon on them, I'm sure you will get your money's worth and then some! And no, I am not affiliated with the Solomon company! LOL