gostovp
WKR
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2022
- Messages
- 825
This past year I use the Salomon Quest Elements on my public land MT archery elk hunt. I picked these up after watching the EXO podcast on boots, and I wanted to try something lighter and more nimble than previous boots (I will list my previous boots below and my impressions of each).
I enjoyed the Elements, and for the most part they performed very well. The fit was great ( I have a flat and somewhat wide foot), they were light, they dried really fast, they seemed to breath pretty well, and my feet gave me no issues. But I realized that I wanted something just a little stiffer and more robust for the steep and nasty stuff that we were in. After the season I went to REI and tried on the Quest 4d GTX's, and unfortunately they just didn't fit quite the same. After doing some research, it seems the 4D GTX fit/last is just a bit different than previous generations of the Quests, and that the Elements had the same fit as the previous models. I had previously looked at the Quest Trackers, which seemed to be kind of a rebrand of the Quest Forces, but the Trackers had the same midsole construction as the Elements (and the same perceived stiffness) and lacked the 4d chassis. I researched a little more, and there were some posts here on RS that suggested the Quest Forces as having the same fit as previous gen's, and being built a little more robust as they are targeted to military and LEO's. I signed up for the LA Police Gear mailing list, and soon started receiving coupon offers in my email. I got a 25% off coupon so I decided to pull the trigger on a pair of Forces (got them delivered for under $220...)
- the Forces are definitely a more robust boot. They are indeed quite a bit stiffer than the Elements, likely because of the 4D chassis, the thicker leather pieces, and according to Salomon they are built with a layer of puncture resistance material in the outsole to meet some ISO military/LEO specs...
- This also means they are heavier...the Elements weight in at 21.5 oz per boot (size 11 US), while the Forces come in at 27.5 oz per boot (size 11 US)...(the Quest 4d GTX's split this difference and came in at 25 oz in size 11..I weighed them at REI lol) . All these weights were with the stock Salomon Ortholite insole in the boot
- The Forces seem to have a different GoreTex bootie in them (see pics below). Other reviews have said the GoreTex in the Forces seems to hold up better than what is put in the 4D GTXs and the Elements...time will tell if this is true, but it is indeed different.
- Like the Quest Trackers, the Forces have captive lace loops at the top of the boots...this I learned is another military/LEO requirement so that the lace loops/hooks don't get caught on a rope when ascending/descending. It takes a minute to get used to this, but after a few tries its no big deal to tie the boots.
- While the fit to me is great, and I've been wearing them around the house inside, they definitely will require some miles to break in, compared to the Elements which literally had no break in period.
All in all, I'm excited to wear these boots and see how they perform while hiking and training this spring and summer and hunting next fall.
Other boots I have used/tried:
2024 Wyoming elk hunt - Schnee's Kestrel in 11.5 Wide. Weighed the same as the Forces. Took me about 20 miles to break these boots in and not get heel blisters, but after that I found them comfortable. Both boots developed a leak in the toe box area after one season unfortunately.
2023 MT Elk hunt - Hanwag Alaskans in 11.5 Wide. Was just too heavy at 34 oz per boot in my size. Took about 50 miles to really break them in. Being all leather they ran really hot for me in early season archery elk. I still have these boots and will use them for later season hunts for sure.
2022 CO OTC archery elk - Crispi Summit II's in size 11.5. Too narrow in the toe box for me, didn't like the EVA midsole that I thought didn't give enough cushion.
I enjoyed the Elements, and for the most part they performed very well. The fit was great ( I have a flat and somewhat wide foot), they were light, they dried really fast, they seemed to breath pretty well, and my feet gave me no issues. But I realized that I wanted something just a little stiffer and more robust for the steep and nasty stuff that we were in. After the season I went to REI and tried on the Quest 4d GTX's, and unfortunately they just didn't fit quite the same. After doing some research, it seems the 4D GTX fit/last is just a bit different than previous generations of the Quests, and that the Elements had the same fit as the previous models. I had previously looked at the Quest Trackers, which seemed to be kind of a rebrand of the Quest Forces, but the Trackers had the same midsole construction as the Elements (and the same perceived stiffness) and lacked the 4d chassis. I researched a little more, and there were some posts here on RS that suggested the Quest Forces as having the same fit as previous gen's, and being built a little more robust as they are targeted to military and LEO's. I signed up for the LA Police Gear mailing list, and soon started receiving coupon offers in my email. I got a 25% off coupon so I decided to pull the trigger on a pair of Forces (got them delivered for under $220...)
- the Forces are definitely a more robust boot. They are indeed quite a bit stiffer than the Elements, likely because of the 4D chassis, the thicker leather pieces, and according to Salomon they are built with a layer of puncture resistance material in the outsole to meet some ISO military/LEO specs...
- This also means they are heavier...the Elements weight in at 21.5 oz per boot (size 11 US), while the Forces come in at 27.5 oz per boot (size 11 US)...(the Quest 4d GTX's split this difference and came in at 25 oz in size 11..I weighed them at REI lol) . All these weights were with the stock Salomon Ortholite insole in the boot
- The Forces seem to have a different GoreTex bootie in them (see pics below). Other reviews have said the GoreTex in the Forces seems to hold up better than what is put in the 4D GTXs and the Elements...time will tell if this is true, but it is indeed different.
- Like the Quest Trackers, the Forces have captive lace loops at the top of the boots...this I learned is another military/LEO requirement so that the lace loops/hooks don't get caught on a rope when ascending/descending. It takes a minute to get used to this, but after a few tries its no big deal to tie the boots.
- While the fit to me is great, and I've been wearing them around the house inside, they definitely will require some miles to break in, compared to the Elements which literally had no break in period.
All in all, I'm excited to wear these boots and see how they perform while hiking and training this spring and summer and hunting next fall.
Other boots I have used/tried:
2024 Wyoming elk hunt - Schnee's Kestrel in 11.5 Wide. Weighed the same as the Forces. Took me about 20 miles to break these boots in and not get heel blisters, but after that I found them comfortable. Both boots developed a leak in the toe box area after one season unfortunately.
2023 MT Elk hunt - Hanwag Alaskans in 11.5 Wide. Was just too heavy at 34 oz per boot in my size. Took about 50 miles to really break them in. Being all leather they ran really hot for me in early season archery elk. I still have these boots and will use them for later season hunts for sure.
2022 CO OTC archery elk - Crispi Summit II's in size 11.5. Too narrow in the toe box for me, didn't like the EVA midsole that I thought didn't give enough cushion.
