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Salomon Quest 10 boots? Recommendations?

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jensen
Posts: 2576 - Karma: 1,267
So I have been doing some research and most of the info I can find about the Quest series relates back to the tech insert and durability questions in the 10/11 line. I found a good deal on the 11/12 Quest 10 boots... can any provide some advice (preferably from experience and not hearsay)?

Little background info:
I skied the old Salomon 1080 Pro series for six years. No joke 6 years of heavy skiing, I had to have been around 800 days in them. Salomon fits my foot well from past experience, I have a wide flat foot. I would go back to the 1080, or guess SPK now, but I hate the two buckle design and the boot hardly has any forward lean. I came to the Quest thinking they look like a good deal, I just moved to AK and am planning on getting into more touring in the future but haven't much yet. Anyways I want a boot that has:

-Salomon type fit
-flex index around 100-120
-some forward lean
-durable

I ski about 60% mountain, 30% park, 10% out of bounds (hopefully moving to more in the future)

A friend recommended the Nordica Ace of Spades as an alternative.

Thanks anyone for the help! +k

PS: I am nervous about the toe piece on the Quest because I have ripped binding toe pieces out a couple of times.
Sep 27 2012 7:24PM
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k2andcannoli
Posts: 644 - Karma: -36
idk bout the quest boots but the new xmax is great!
Sep 27 2012 7:36PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,589

If you are looking at the quests, then go for the new Quest max 120 or 100. Its a whole new shell design this season, and the entire clog is custom shell.

I wont go into to many details but the durability on the old quest shells was not good, but the updated max range seems to be much, much better.

One thing to note though is that the Quest max 120 will not be as stiff as an alpine boot in 120.

Other boots to look at may be last seasons Ghost 120. It will be 2 mm narrower then your old 1080 boots, they were built off the old Xwav shell, which was a 100mm last, so if you fitted those well, chances are your foot is not as wide as you think.

The updated version of the Xwave is the impact. You could look at the Impact 100 or 120. There would fit very similar to your old boots.

The new boots from salomon this season areteh X max, they replace the X3 shell. They are a 98mm last but again have a full custom shell clog which can be molded up to 8mm wider. However you may want to replace the stock liner if you were molding them that much wider.

I have skied in the SPK for years and I am thinking of switching to the Xmax 120 this season. Its a great fitting boot and once teh shell has been molded it should be perfect.

Overall though go chat to a bootfitter. Salomon are some of teh best boots out there but there are other great brands too.

Whatever you end up in make sure you get some good Custom footbeds, my preference is teh sidas conformable.

Good luck.

Sep 27 2012 7:36PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
The problem with the toe/heel pieces was not with the actual pieces themselves but the metal tech inserts in them, which were not industry standard. Salomon has since removed the metal inserts (which means no TLT compatibility) and therefore there are no issues with the toe/heel pieces. The toe/heel pieces are rated for a 20 DIN release (that means you release at DIN 20 from the binding before the pieces rip off the boot).

Another thing about the fit of the boot(s)- there is no such thing as a Salomon fit. Salomon has lasts that cater to 95, 98, 100, 102, 104, 105mm feet, and so does every brand. If you approach finding a new boot with a brand in mind, chances are you are setting yourself up for a fit problem. Just explain the features you want to see in the boot and let the boot-fitter do the rest. He/she will find you the proper fit along with the features you are looking for.
Sep 27 2012 7:43PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,589
Im sure you are aware onenerdy but if others are not, salomon has reworked the tech insert heel and toes for the quests, and they will be available this season, as an aftermarket purchase for both the quest and quest max boots.
Sep 27 2012 7:48PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
This actually goes to show how separate the development centers for Salomon and Atomic boots are- I did not know this. I thought they were doing it for 13/14 not 12/13. Danke Tom!
Sep 27 2012 7:56PM
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jensen
Posts: 2576 - Karma: 1,267
Thanks for the solid advice everyone. The only problem is I am looking at last years because I don't have a lot to spend, so this year's max is a bit too pricey for me. The Quest seems appealing for someone such as myself who skis mostly inbounds but wants to progress to more OB.

Also, I 100% agree on footbeds. With my flat feet I have been a huge advocate for them as long as I can remember.

I am pretty much between the Salomon Quest 10, Nordica Ace of Spades, or Full Tilt High Fives. I am ordering online (I know, I know) for the deal, but I should probably try to make my way down to a shop to try them on. I'll bring them back in once I buy them to be molded and get footbeds.
Sep 27 2012 8:33PM
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nagelthebagel
Posts: 205 - Karma: 36
I had last years Quests 12 and the quality sucked so much!!!!!!! I broke of 2 buckles and then at the middle of the season the walk/hike buckle at the back of the boot broke of. Luckly all of this got warranted and I this year Quest 12 now. I really hope they fixed the issues they had.
Sep 28 2012 9:14AM
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jensen
Posts: 2576 - Karma: 1,267
This is kind of what I was hoping to hear from someone. Thanks. I don't think I am going to go with the Quest.
Sep 28 2012 5:18PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7160 - Karma: 17,589

Yeah I think thats a pretty good descison.

If you cant afford this years boots, I would instead look at the ghost or Impacts from last season.

Obviously you will be best off going to try them on, and as Onenerdy said above there is no real salomon fit, so dont limit your self to just trying salomons.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Sep 28 2012 5:25PM
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