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Salomon Quest boots, an insight please...

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Found some Salomon Quest ski boots. Wondering what you all think of them, are they worth it or shall I keep looking? Had a quick cruise around the internet and they seem right for me. The flex is just right (in my inadvanced opinion) plus they would probably match my gear.


A link here:
http://www.ellis-brigham.com/products/salomon/quest-max-100-1314-ski-boots/70130


Edit: not buying from the internet, I WILL be getting the boots fitted and perhaps trialled before any form of money transaction is made. Just ideas and thoughts as current.


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 17-12-13 22:32; edited 1 time in total
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Did they feel like a god fit your feet during this internet cruise?

When buying ski boots...

DO... Go to a boot fitter. Tell them how experienced you are. What skiing you intend to do. How much you want to spend. Let them measure your feet. Try you in a succession of boot's to find the best fit... TAKE their advice.

DON'T... Read the manufacturers sales bumph. Buy what a mate/forum member/bloke in the street/etc recommends. Take any notice of what colour they are.

wink
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
adithorp, Amen. The net is good for ideas. Boot fitters are good for fitting those ideas to your feet.
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adithorp, I live around 25 minutes from EB. Was simply cruising the net so I have some idea what to look for when going into the store. As Avalanche Poodle says, I was just looking on the internet for ideas. I admit I should have made it more clear in OP. Will edit now, apologies.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Pi, I did the same looking at Scarpa Freedom SL's vs other firms offerings. Comparing 1600g - 1800g freeride touring boots.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
But seriously... spend a lot of time on the fitting. If you are looking at a boot to last a few weeks from being a beginner (and being better than a hire boot) then go to any store. If looking for something a little more suited to your feet that may last you a long time then go to a specific boot fitter, preferably one personally recommended to you. Remember, a boot suited to learning how to ski may not be perfectly suited to you once you have a few years behind you and are getting more accomplished and vice versa.


Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Tue 17-12-13 22:53; edited 1 time in total
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Different boots are different shapes. Different people have different shape feet. The skill of a good boot fitter is matching the two. No amount of reading sales brochures, magazine reviews or surfing the net will help.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Pi, I bought a pair of Sal Quest 2 years ago and they are the only boots I've ever had that I could wear tight without them being uncomfortable. HOWEVER, in many previous years Salomons have been too narrow for my feet so you just can't tell. I'd like to echo what the others have said: take your time, listen to the fitter, ignore what they look like, and if possible try them out. Happy buying Very Happy
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Pi, That seems a huge amount to pay for your first set of beginner boots. I would throw myself on a reputable bootfitter, don't mention the size of your wallet - Edit: actually this isn't fair - a reputable boot-fitter wouldn't sell you what you didn't need, it wouldn't be worth their reputation - sorry bootfitters, be honest about you ski experience and take what you are told are best for you regardless of colour! (I assume/hope you were on a wind up when you mentioned colour wink ) You may find you don't need to pay anywhere close to £300!! Shocked . My first boots cost me £120, I replaced them for a fairly advanced set after about 10-12 weeks skiing and the replacements only cost me £225 from a proper boot-fitter earlier this year.


Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Wed 18-12-13 11:13; edited 1 time in total
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Yes, different boots match different shape feet better, BUT you can make most boots fit most feet if necessary. Little need for that in normal alpine boots, but in the alpine touring category you should also other things like effectiveness or walk mode, reliability/durability, weight, quality of tech fittings, flex, etc - so research is no bad thing in my view. Get the boots that will work best for your objectives and make them fit, as the ones that fit best out the box may not be the ones that work best.
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Pi, what sort of skiing are you planning to do in them?

Not all the time, but maybe 22/7 ?
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Been skiing for around 8 years +. I am 16 now and have been a mondo 29.5/29.0 for around 2 seasons now. Buying my first pair of boots only now as I believe my feet have stopped growing or slowed down dramatically. Therefore would not class myself as a beginner, hence hefty price.

As advised I will aim to (at the dis fortune of the boot fitter Evil or Very Mad ) spend a decent amount of time whilst choosing boots trying them on, walking, checking fit, trying etc.

I will mainly be skiing blacks and exploring off piste. Dividing my ski time around 65% and 30% respectively. Spending some time on reds also, ~5%. These are just representative averages of my time. I won't be precisely diving my time. What I'm saying is I will be doing more interesting/exciting skiing than not. Thanks for all suggestions, helpful as ever snowHead
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So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
In that case, I wouldn't bother too much in getting ones with a walk mode like the Quests.

Just let the fitter know what you're planning and he/she should sort you out.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Pi, that explains the flex rating and expected price - clearly you are not a beginner!! Have fun boot hunting.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Quote:

but maybe 22/7


Very good.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Megamum, It does, phew! Was beginning to question my price limiting!!! Thanks mega.



Mosha Marc, good point. But if the inevitable happens and I wander too far off piste and end up either too far away or out of my depth a walk function would be nice. Definitely not a necessity, just an added bonus really I guess
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I still bet you bring a suitable pair in under £250 though wink
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
My only real option for a fitter is Ellis-Brigham or Glide n Slide. I can't really find another fitter in West Yorks and the quest looks to be the best pair really. Unless you know any others, Megamum!
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Pi, I can't recall who is recommended where folks ask about fitters in your neck of the woods. It just seems a lot to pay - perhaps they are specialised boots. My pair of professionally fitted ladies Head Vectors were only £225 and that was about £75 dearer than you can get them online so that must have been the fitting premium, but they are a fairly advanced boot. Mind you looking online that does seem the going rate for a pair of the ones you are looking at Cheapest is fleabay at £290 delivered - lets hope you get good skiing from them, even though I think the price is a bit wince worthy Laughing Have fun!
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Also hoping that with there being only 2 weeks of skiing between now and my gap year where I will do a full season that I could use the pair I purchase now for some of my gap year if not all?
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Megamum, yeh the mens head vectors look excellent. If they did them near me so I could get them fitted I would have got them, what do you think to them? Yeh I've seen them going for that, would rather fork out an extra 40£ to get them fitted properly. Seems like the more sensible option
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Pi, If they mimic the ladies range there will also be at least one grade (design name) higher in the mens Head range too that you might also look at. I've been very pleased with the lady's vectors. A nice close fitting fairly stiff liner and they have been very comfy and more than responsive enough for me - I ski on-piste and tend to run the reds - I need a wide boot and they have been wide enough. However, you won't really know what will suit your foot unless you go and try on several models across different manufacturers. I wanted to see if a narrower boot would fit and did try some Salomons against my bootfitters thoughts, but he was right - initally the snugness felt fine, but after 10 minutes my foot started to hurt because it was being squashed from the sides. So I'd go shopping with an open mind and keep each one you try on for a decent amount of time - I found the narrow ones first fitted OK, but ultimately weren't right and could easily have ended up with ones that were too narrow.


Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Wed 18-12-13 22:43; edited 1 time in total
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Saloman boots are generally narrow, apart from the Quests which are wider underfoot and don't follow the general trend of Salomon's widths.

Personally I found them very comfy, but we all have different feet!

If you go to Ellis Brigham ask for Andy or Eddy - they are the two most experienced guys. But Glide n Slide are supposed to be good, even better than EB.

Source: I worked at Cas Vegas Ellis Brigham. Hated it, but for various reasons - there are a couple of guys who know their stuff there though.
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 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Megamum, ouch. I've had hire boots that do that. Ah right, they're still on my list. Either the vectors or the quests not sure. Yeah they do look to be good groomer boots.

crazy_skier_jules, never been to EB to buy, looked in a few times though. I would like to work in a ski shop, just don't know of any.

Not sure if it's worth the extra 30£ for the boots though is it?
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Pi wrote:


Mosha Marc, good point. But if the inevitable happens and I wander too far off piste and end up either too far away or out of my depth a walk function would be nice. Definitely not a necessity, just an added bonus really I guess


1. That really should not be inevitable.
2. If you're not touring, no need to bother with a walk-mode
3. Even if you do end up touring, no need to bother with a walk mode unless you're regularly doing more than 30 mins/an hour uphill.
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Couldn't disagree more, Embarassed
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
clarky999, Yup, hiking in snow for short distances you don't really need a walk mode but it can make life more comfortable, or just loosen the buckles. I'm going to be doing some touring in 130 flex alpine boots just to get to descent lines, but if I'm going above 20 mins I'll use my proper touring boots. Rather than having a 'one pair does everything' boot I think I will get more out of having the two pairs, but then again, I don't have to fly with them, that is often the constraining factor these days. I would still like a pair of cross function boots though, but the funding starts getting expensive when you go for a boot quiver lol.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
CH2O wrote:
Couldn't disagree more, Embarassed


Feel free, you're the expert! wink

It's my understanding though that for pure downhill performance normal alpine boots still have the edge on flex pattern and fit (though the gap is getting closer to being bridged by the Pinnacle, Cochise, Vulcan, etc - or does the Pinnacle bridge it?) - which I guess is why so many pros are using race type boots and why the CAST system is popular (at least on TGR Laughing ).

So if you're only doing v short hikes once in a while, why not go full alpine?
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