Salomon Quest Walk-Mode Defect

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09-08-2014, 01:02 PM
iLLbiLLy

Salomon Quest Walk-Mode Defect

I spent the majority of my season Salomon Quest Max 130. While overall, I think its a solid boot, I'd like to discuss a poor design decision they made with the Walk/Tour Mode.

Basically, any time I went off something larger than ~20ft, my boot would all of a sudden be in walk mode. When this happens you loose all support and it feels as if you are going to snap the boot in half. At first I thought I had maybe just forgot to dis-engage walk mode after touring but then it started happening around the resort.

If you aren't familiar with the quest series, its hike mode is activated by flipping a leaver on the rear of the boot from the down position to the up position. Applying forward pressure on the boot makes it easier to engage walk mode.

http://www.backcountry.com/images/it.../NICTRA_D5.jpg

My hypothesis: When you hit a cliff and enter the snow (correctly) two things happen that cause the boot to engage walk mode.
1: A large amount of forward pressure is briefly applied as the snow is displaced by the skis (this is the moment where you either tomahawk or stomp. N/A to hot-tubing).
2: A small upward force is applied to the leaver as the boots plunge into the snow.

I was hoping this would be address in the 2015 line of Quest Pro Boots, but my pair came in last week, and it appears to be even more prone to the issues (its easier to engage into walk mode, regardless of forward pressure). I'll be duct taping my the walk leaver down anytime I'm not touring this season.

Anyways, just wanted to hear thoughts from community. Anyone else ever experience this issue?
09-09-2014, 06:49 AM
LC

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLLbiLLy

I'll be duct taping my the walk leaver down anytime I'm not touring this season.

That's going to suck walking back to the car after skiing.
09-09-2014, 09:31 AM
gregL

Get an X-Max 130 for the days you would tape down the lever?
09-09-2014, 11:43 AM
neonorchid

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregL

Get an X-Max 130 for the days you would tape down the lever?

Good recommendation, i have a X-Max 120 myself for lift served.
09-09-2014, 01:07 PM
ak_powder_monkey

why not ski strap the lever down? then you can put it back in walk mode to walk
09-12-2014, 04:54 PM
iLLbiLLy

Quote:

Originally Posted by LC

That's going to suck walking back to the car after skiing.

I was thinking more just a small piece of duct tape over the lever. Not completely wrapping it. Just peel it back when I need to go into walk mode.

And thats probably a bit exaggerated. I will probably only go through the trouble when it would really be bad to end up in walk mode. Lines with no fall zones. Big Drops. Chinese Downhills
12-08-2014, 12:45 PM
çayzi

I tried bc quest 120 in 2 different store and experienced that when in walk mode and try to move arround there is clicking sound present in walk mechanism. Somebody else experienced the same?

Thanks!
12-08-2014, 03:35 PM
MagnificentUnicorn

I don't get it. The mechanism in the WTR Quest boots just blocks extension in ski mode it doesn't allow for anymore flex. I can barely tell the difference skiing in walk or ski mode. It's a little more evident with an Intuition Pro Tour liners but with the stock liner there is hardly any more motion in walk mode unless you loosen the power strap and open the cuff buckle.

The lever just lifts the extension block with a cam action. There is never any lock for forward flexion.
12-08-2014, 04:55 PM
nwslider

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronWright

I don't get it. The mechanism in the WTR Quest boots just blocks extension in ski mode it doesn't allow for anymore flex. I can barely tell the difference skiing in walk or ski mode. It's a little more evident with an Intuition Pro Tour liners but with the stock liner there is hardly any more motion in walk mode unless you loosen the power strap and open the cuff buckle.

The lever just lifts the extension block with a cam action. There is never any lock for forward flexion.

I've had a similar experience. Granted, I'm in the quest 90s so much softer in flex than op. I only notice the extra range with the top buckle undone.

As for the second bit, it seems with the lever in ski mode you are actually locking the cuff forward.

Also, I have inadvertently switched into walk mode when post holing in heavy snow. So I guess sort if the same as ops cliff hucking
12-08-2014, 05:31 PM
MagnificentUnicorn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nwslide

I've had a similar experience. Granted, I'm in the quest 90s so much softer in flex than op. I only notice the extra range with the top buckle undone.

As for the second bit, it seems with the lever in ski mode you are actually locking the cuff forward.

Also, I have inadvertently switched into walk mode when post holing in heavy snow. So I guess sort if the same as ops cliff hucking

I have Quest 120 Pros and the switch doesn't lock the cuff in ski mode, it just blocks extension but doesn't inhibit forward flex, I guess I didn't word that well in the first post. As far as I can tell all the Quests are like that. And honestly the stock liners are so stiff I can't really tell much difference between walk or ski modes with the buckles closed tight for skiing.
12-08-2014, 05:34 PM
PNWbrit

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLLbiLLy

Chinese Downhills

What are they?
12-08-2014, 07:01 PM
2clue

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronWright

I have Quest 120 Pros and the switch doesn't lock the cuff in ski mode, it just blocks extension but doesn't inhibit forward flex, I guess I didn't word that well in the first post. As far as I can tell all the Quests are like that. And honestly the stock liners are so stiff I can't really tell much difference between walk or ski modes with the buckles closed tight for skiing.

I've had the Quest 110 Max, Quest 120, and now I am on the Quest 130 Max. The liner in the 110 and 120 flexed in walk mode plenty enough for me to notice it, but the Liner in the new 130 mind as well chuck the walk mode out...I get almost no backward flex on those puppies at all.
12-08-2014, 09:25 PM
MagnificentUnicorn

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2clue

I've had the Quest 110 Max, Quest 120, and now I am on the Quest 130 Max. The liner in the 110 and 120 flexed in walk mode plenty enough for me to notice it, but the Liner in the new 130 mind as well chuck the walk mode out...I get almost no backward flex on those puppies at all.

Well the liners in my boots flex enough to make walking more comfortable but it's not much. I'm comparing to an AT boot with a decent walk mode.
12-09-2014, 02:09 PM
iLLbiLLy

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronWright

I have Quest 120 Pros and the switch doesn't lock the cuff in ski mode, it just blocks extension but doesn't inhibit forward flex, I guess I didn't word that well in the first post. As far as I can tell all the Quests are like that. And honestly the stock liners are so stiff I can't really tell much difference between walk or ski modes with the buckles closed tight for skiing.

I agree, just walking around in the boots it's not a huge difference. Out touring or boot-packing up a line, it's a different story. I didn't really notice it until i went back into a older boot without walk mode.

Upon playing around with the walk mode more (while not wearing the boot), the forward flexion doesn't really seem to make it any easier to engage than when in resting position. Since backwards pressure (like landing in the backseat), applies pressure to the blocking device, it does make it more difficult to engage walk mode. This contrast is likely why I thought that forward pressure was making it easier to engage walk mode. Earlier I was testing while wearing the boot and what I thought was "resting" was likely putting some level of backwards force on the cuff.

I'm still convinced it's possible for the boot to engage walk mode while riding. The dynamics are likely related to the post holing observation above. It also would not be as likely to happen when landing in the backseat.

Takeaway? Always land backseat off large cliffs ;)
12-09-2014, 02:22 PM
MagnificentUnicorn

I can see how post-holing might raise the walk lever.

And I can definitely tell the difference when I'm hiking in them and put them in walk mode and open the top buckle. Over all I really like the boots paired with the WTR tech sole blocks.
12-13-2014, 01:39 PM
Bluebird

Quote:

Originally Posted by çayzi

I tried bc quest 120 in 2 different store and experienced that when in walk mode and try to move arround there is clicking sound present in walk mechanism. Somebody else experienced the same?

Thanks!

I get the click too while in walk mode, at least when walking. I haven't toured with them yet so I don't konw if they do it then too. Annoying, but quickly forgotten.

On a related note, anybody know how many times one can realistically swap soles? I haven't done it all all yet but trying to gauge how many times I can without causing problems. I have the mc 120's
12-13-2014, 01:44 PM
MagnificentUnicorn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluebird

I get the click too while in walk mode, at least when walking. I haven't toured with them yet so I don't konw if they do it then too. Annoying, but quickly forgotten.

On a related note, anybody know how many times one can realistically swap soles? I haven't done it all all yet but trying to gauge how many times I can without causing problems. I have the mc 120's

What bindings are you using? With STH/FFG 14s and 916s the toe height adjusment works great with the WTR tech soles blocks and the afd lines up perfectly too. I don't switch blocks between using those bindings and tech bindings. The boots fit in px bindings too but I don't know how much stress it puts on the auto height adjustment so I just use Solly/Atomic with driver toes.
12-13-2014, 03:22 PM
Bluebird

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronWright

What bindings are you using? With STH/FFG 14s and 916s the toe height adjusment works great with the WTR tech soles blocks and the afd lines up perfectly too. I don't switch blocks between using those bindings and tech bindings. The boots fit in px bindings too but I don't know how much stress it puts on the auto height adjustment so I just use Solly/Atomic with driver toes.

I use a mix of 916's and 997's. yes, the 916's work great. the 997's don't have enough adjustment to work well. I need to max out the adjustment and then test the release and see how bad it is. I would love not to have swap.

edit: Well looks like I found my answer. I actually looked in the little book/manual that comes with the soles and sure enough I found this, "Salomon warrants the dismantling and reassembly of the walk soles, up to a maximum of 10 times, provided that you comply with the following instructions...."

looks like i need to find more 914/916's.