Salomon Quest 12 Boot info From Rick Armstrong

[skierrick]

Quest Info for those who want to know.
FUll disclosure - This is Rick Armstrong and I ride for Salomon. I am biased for good reason. Salomon is the real deal with one intention of making the best gear possible based on what real skiers want. My job with them is to test gear and innovate new ideas and connect with the ski community to find out what we need to provide to the hardcore skiers out there - I love my job!!!!

I have been testing and working on the Quest boot for the last year. I think I have more days on these than anybody. I was forwarded to this thread by my bro Cody Townsend (serious ripper and passionate skier) .

Here is the skinny on the Quest Boots.
1) Why so many boots and what are the differences.
The reason there are 6 versions of the boot is simple. Salomon has listened to us and has committed to making this boot series as complete as possible to
fit as many peoples needs as possible. This is not just a marketing product this is a "Quest" for the best AT capable alpine boots - period.
The 6 boots are below: (weight is based on a 26.5)
Here are the real specs:
Name - Color - Sizes Avail. - Flex - Last - Strap - Weight
Quest Pro Pebax - Grey/Black - 24.5-29.5 -110 - 101 - 45 - 1.75kg/3.86lbs
Quest Pro Brown/Black - 24.5-29.5 -110 - 101 - 45 - 1.9kg/4.19lbs
Quest 12 Orange/Black - 24 -29.5 -120 - 101 - 55 - 2.1kg/4.62lbs
Quest 10 Transluc. Grey/Black - 24 -29.5 -110 - 101 - 55 - 1.95kg/4.30lbs
Quest 8 Transluc. Silver /Black - 24 -29.5 - 90 - 101 - 45 - 1.75kg/3.86lbs
Quest Women Grey/Black - 24 -27.5 -110 - 101 - 45 - 1.75kg/3.86 lbs

All of the boots have a revolutionary v shaped lower cuff design that allows the walk mode while still keeping the rigidity and integrity of the boot intact while in ski mode. All boots also have specialized buckles that have been made as lightweight as possible while retaining strength.

Quest Pro Pebax : Intent - AT (Earn your turns) - Light Weight (and still ski like a real boot)
Comes with the Dynafit compatable touring pads (not the din pads), Comes with the Ultralight thermoformable liners (ALL of the others come with My Custom Fit Performance/BioVent Liners) Uses the Pebax (lightweight plastic) on the lower shell and Polylight cuff (Biggest difference between this and the Quest Pro)

Quest Pro - Intent - AT - Medium Weight - Comes with Touring Pads

Quest 12 - Intent - High Performance Alpine Boot with full AT capabilities.
This is the boot I have been wanting for 20 years. This is also the boot I am skiing everyday ( I have put more than 70 days on a pair of these) I can hit airs with these, ski big lines, race gates if I want. Tour the back-country and use Dynafits if you want. I spent three weeks in South America this last August and September skiing with Callum Pettit, Zach Giffen, and Kye Petersen (Sick rippers) and was able to ski these everywhere we went, also hit all the same lines and airs. Hit a couple of 30 to 40 Footers with no problems.
This boot comes with the Alpine (DIN) Toe and heel. You will have to buy the touring pads (which is what I am using every day) The cost is supposed to be $50 bucks! at retail. - Cheap for a refresher set when needed.
My take on AT boots is I prefer a boot that skis at a high performance level and tours well. I would rather sacrifice a little weight for better performance on the down than have a lightweight flimsy skiing boot.

Quest 10 Almost identicle to the Quest 12 with a softer flex of 110 vs 120. And a little lighter weight.

Quest 8 Softer and light5er yet with a 90 Flex.

Quest Women - Softer (80) and Sexy (Has faux fur on the liner)


Bottom line - Super Sick High Performance Alpine Boots with full AT capabilities. Very torsionally stiff and a variety of flex's .
Made by Salomon who knows how to make high quality (read durable) ,comfortable boots, that perform like they should.
In my opinion these are the best boots for what I do that have ever been made.
By the way - stay tuned we have more surprises to come.
Peace - Rick

[CarlE]

So good news!!!

The Quest 12 sound awesome, I'm seriously thinking about not buying another pair of Ghosts and going for the Quest instead. And the Ghost kicks ass!

I'm def. gonna make sure that we get lots of Quest boots in the shop the coming season, they're gonna sell like shots on Ibiza!

And I'm so hoping that the coming suprises is some sort of STH 14 Driver transformed into an AT-bindning! It would dominate the market considering to how much problems there are with the Dukes... Keep up the kick-ass R&D and keep pushing the limits!

/a fellow Salomon employee from the Concept Store in Stockholm

[ill-advised strategy]

It makes me happy when big ski companies really listen to their athletes instead of just sending them gear.

[dynodonkeyaltabird]

My job with them is to test gear and innovate new ideas and connect with the ski community to find out what we need to provide to the hardcore skiers out there - I love my job!!!!

A DUKE COMPETITOR.

[iscariot]

skierrick,

Can you show a side by side comparison of he cuf height of the Quest boots (in particular the Quest 12) compared to a traditional alpine boot?

One of my major probelms with AT boots has been that the cuff is so much shorter that traditional alpine boots. The shorter AT cuff makes it feel like your shin will snap in half when landing bigger airs.

[Caucasian Asian]

What's the instep height like?

[mntlion]

ca: same as the impact I think. stop by to try some on...

[Garrett]

mntlion: you actually have your hands on some? I fondled some at our on-snow but even offers of hookers'n'blow couldn't loose a pair for myself...

rick, thanks for the post. i haven't skied in the boot yet but I anxiously await it...very, very strong work.

[mntlion]

nope: just a guess from reps, threads, etc.

[Garrett]

nevermind, im a moron, you were talking about trying on impacts. i can confirm the fit is impact like indeed.

[El Chupacabra]

Anyone "inside" at Salomon (Rick?) who can verify that the Quest shape is the same as, or at least really really similar to, any current Salomon alpine boot?

This would help a lot in terms of being able to try on the alpine version of the boot and see if it fits OK. My local shops don't stock much selection for AT boots, so it may be difficult to get to test-fit the Quest.

[Huck_Schmuck]

Just got a pair of Quest Pro for my gf. She was in X-Wave 9 which fit her out of the box. On the quest she needed a couple of little punches. Skiing them for the first time today but I think she's already in love.

Thanks for stopping by skierrick.

Love,

Huck_Schmuck (a ripper - who's jealous of his gfs boots)

[Alkasquawlik]

Anyone "inside" at Salomon (Rick?) who can verify that the Quest shape is the same as, or at least really really similar to, any current Salomon alpine boot?

This would help a lot in terms of being able to try on the alpine version of the boot and see if it fits OK. My local shops don't stock much selection for AT boots, so it may be difficult to get to test-fit the Quest.

Its' foot fit characteristics are quite similar to the Impacts. Similar heel-cupping, last and forefoot fit. Not identical, but very very similar.

[ey_allen]

Its' foot fit characteristics are quite similar to the Impacts. Similar heel-cupping, last and forefoot fit. Not identical, but very very similar.

Thats awesome to hear, as I love the fit on my Impacts. I have been waiting for a boot like this to come out, and it looks to be exactly what I need: an alpine boot at can tour.

I am so stoked for these boots.

[El Chupacabra]

Its' foot fit characteristics are quite similar to the Impacts. Similar heel-cupping, last and forefoot fit. Not identical, but very very similar.

Thanks Alka - I bought some Impacts last year, but returned them because the cuff was too high on my calf, and pinched. The foot shape fit seemed good for me though.

How does the Quest cuff height compare to the Impact? If it's lower, this could be a great boot for me.

[khyber.pass]

The review/info thread on the Quest is here.

[mntlion]

Thanks Alka - I bought some Impacts last year, but returned them because the cuff was too high on my calf, and pinched. The foot shape fit seemed good for me though.

How does the Quest cuff height compare to the Impact? If it's lower, this could be a great boot for me.

you could always cut the cuff lower.

was it the front, or back or the cuff that was too high?

[Alkasquawlik]

Thanks Alka - I bought some Impacts last year, but returned them because the cuff was too high on my calf, and pinched. The foot shape fit seemed good for me though.

How does the Quest cuff height compare to the Impact? If it's lower, this could be a great boot for me.

Cuff height is lower. I don't know by how much, but I put an Impact on my right foot and a Quest on my left foot and immediately noticed the lower height of the Quest cuff.

[El Chupacabra]

you could always cut the cuff lower.

was it the front, or back or the cuff that was too high?

I remember the liner was really pinching my calf on the sides; IIRC it was just too high all around. I remember considering cutting down the cuff and thinking I'd have to cut so much that the power strap would be unusable.

I wound up in Atomic Hawx boots this year, which are working pretty well for me, and have a much lower cuff than the Salomon.

Cuff height is lower. I don't know by how much, but I put an Impact on my right foot and a Quest on my left foot and immediately noticed the lower height of the Quest cuff.

Thanks Alka -- I'll definitely have to check these out. Sounds like it could be the touring boot I've been waiting for.

[altasnowbirdripper]

Love my Ghosts - gonna be hard to decide between next years Ghost & Quest 12 - may just have to get'em both!

[Spats]

Thanks Alka - I bought some Impacts last year, but returned them because the cuff was too high on my calf, and pinched. The foot shape fit seemed good for me though.

The cuff isn't too high: the boot isn't tapered enough in the lower leg area. That's why you like the Hawx: it's very strongly tapered and holds the lower leg well, meaning you don't need to crush your foot in order to keep your heel down.

Most boots are shaped like a pipe: straight down into the ankle. Legs and feet aren't shaped like that.

[mntlion]

I tried on a 25 and agree with everyone else

impact lower, nice walk mode, 2cmish lower cuff, lace up liner.

I think with a intuition liner (lighter / warmer) , and a WC plate in the front (to make it taller for me) it should be a nice option for me.

[Caucasian Asian]

^^^Do you still have the 25 in the store?

[splat]

What's the instep height like?

I'm with this guy, Cody. How are these boots for high foot volume and wide feet? I'm shopping boots.
Start Haus got these? Dixon is my new favorite boot fitter.

[mntlion]

CA: nope, monods has them in stock... stop by to try some on.

without a footbed it felt large volume, might work for you?