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Salomon Quest Max

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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
Soooo I've been on the SPK pro for about 5 years now and I love the boot. My current pair (2010) are pretty much beat to hell and ready to be retired.

I really wanted to get a new pair of SPK's but they are sold out in my size. My second choice would probably be the Ghost but they are also sold out in my size. I spent about half of my days touring last season so I was thinking it might make sense to go with the Quest Max 130 or Quest Max Bc 120.

Anyways, I'm concerned about how the Quest will fit my style of riding compared to the SPK. I consider myself a park rider in the backcountry and I've heard the Quest might be oriented towards a more technical riding stance. Also have a extremely wide foot, which the SPK fits perfectly. How does the Quest size up compared to the SPK? Also how would this boot do on bit drops (50+ feet)? One thing I love about the SPK is it's ability to absorb impact and prevent toe & shin bang.

Pretty much any details or experiences on the Quest or welcome. Hoping to find someone who has ridding on both the Quest and the SPK. Needless to say, I'm going to try the boot on before I buy.

Sorry if there is a thread on this already, wasn't finding the info I needed around the web.
Oct 20 2013 5:26PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7137 - Karma: 17,392
The quests are great boots. If you have a wide foot rule out the quest 120 bc as it does not have custom shell. That leaves the 100 and 130. The 100 will be a little softer then the spk an the 140 will be quite a bit stiffer. Fit wise some goo footbeds and a well completed shell mold should be fine. I have got those shells over 20 mm bigger then stock just by molding. Stretching can still be done after the mold too if required. They will be a better option then the ghost a try fit pretty narrow. Other option is the way maker series from atomic. Nice mid to wide fit and a super strong construction. I was skiing the carbon 130 recently and it was great.

Let me know if you have any specie questions about the boots.
Oct 20 2013 7:05PM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
Are you talking about the custom 360 shell?

I just went to a Christy Sport and tried on a pair of XPro 120, which the boot fitter said was the exact same lower shell as the Quest 120. The fit didn't feel too narrow in the toes but my arc was a bit uncomfortable. He said that it wasn't a width issue but instead a had something to do with my arch and a custom footbed would fix it.

While I do want something stiffer than my 4 year old SPK's, I feel like the 130 might be a bit too much. According to the website it looks like the 120 and 110 might have some of the same shock absorbing features as the SPK? Are these features worth basing my decision on? Is there a reason the boots are way cheaper than the Quest Max? Also do you know anything about the quest BC?

Sorry for asking a bazillion questions.
Oct 20 2013 8:01PM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
The xpro is by no means the same lower as any if the quest boots. Look at the quest 110. Do not get the max shell if you liked the way the spk fit. The regular quest 110 is an entirely different shell than the max boots. By all means please get properly fitted.
Oct 20 2013 8:33PM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
why would you say not to get the quest max if I want to fit closer to the SPK? The Quest Max 100 and 130 both have the 360 shell which can be molded to have the same width as the SPK (104). The 110 has a width of 100, which is going to be way different than the SPK.

I'm going to try on the quest 120 tomorrow but the XPro is a similar fitting shell (100 width).
Oct 20 2013 11:49PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6656 - Karma: 10,859
Quest Max is based off a low volume 98mm last. Yes, it can become wider but the volume won't change as much as the width will.

X-Pro is medium volume, taller instep 100mm last, which would in my opinion (without seeing your feet obviously) would be a better starting point if you want a more "SPK" fitting boot.
Oct 21 2013 2:39AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7137 - Karma: 17,392
So far this season we have found that there is not much difference between the Xmax and Xpro fit wise. Some people find the Xpro fits bigger some the Xmax. So try both but if the Xmax fits go with that. The quest is based off the Xmax so if that works so will the quest.

The quest 120 bc I like the old quest pro Pebax. It features a non custom Pebax lower clog. This may be harder to fit as it's not custom.

Non of the boots your looking at feature any of the shock absorbing features that the spk does but if fitted correctly hopefully this will not be an issue.

And regarding the 110 quest avoid the old shell. The back bone may not be strong enough for what your after so the 110 and standard 120 may not be a good choice.

My recommendation on quest may be to try the 130. It's really not that stiff but can be made much bigger then your old spk if required.
Oct 21 2013 3:28AM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
Thanks for the helpful info!

On the salomon website it says the 120 has a "Heel Cushioning System" and SCS (Salomon Cushioning System). I'm sure the SPK has additional features but you don't think these are worth weighting into my choice.

I'm a bit concerned about the stiffness of 130. Also, I'm probably going to downsize to a 28.5 this year (the boot fitter who put me in the XPro said I could/should go down a size), so that means I actually could go with the SPK again... For the type of skiing I'm after (freestyle big mountain), do you think the quest is still a better choice?

I'm going to try on the Quest 120 at REI. Unfortunately, I don't think anywhere around Boulder has the Quest Max 130.
Oct 21 2013 11:22AM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
Dude if you are in boulder go to Larry and get a proper fit. That will be the end of it. As to why I said that, it is a hell of a lot better way to get a bootfit starting with an appropriate fit, not hoping that the fit will get better with custom shell. If custom shell caused a perfect fit for everyone's foot, people would only by custom shell. Don't buy in to technologies over proper fit.
To Tom, have you put of an xpro? It is a significantly higher volume shell. When I shell check the lower foot there is a massive difference. The only reason I could think people would be saying that they feel the xpro is lower volume is because it is padded to hell, but we shouldn't be fitting people for how a boot feels in the store, but how it breaks in. The max shell is much lower volume in the heel, ankle and upper cuff, if the person being fit fits that description the xpro is going to cause way too much movement when broken in.
Oct 21 2013 1:26PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7137 - Karma: 17,392
Yep I first tried the Xpro last season and te shell check is not tht much bigger to the Xmax. As I said its 50 50 to how many think the Xpro shell is bigger and who think the Xmax is bigger. Personally I think always go Xpro. It's a much stiffer shell but can still go huge when needed. It really is one of the best boot to work with currently available. Obviously the liner is arguably better in the Xpro but wait to see the new liners on the way from salomon they are even better still.
Oct 21 2013 2:32PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7137 - Karma: 17,392
Should say always go Xmax not Xpro.
Oct 21 2013 2:33PM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
Where is Larry? Does he carry the Quest Series? I'm pretty much stuck with either the SPK or Quest because I only have proform on Salomon.

I tried the Quest 120 in a 28.5 today at REI. The lady fitting me had good knowledge but was definitely not a master fitter. I've been in a 29 or 29.5 in my SPK so it was definitely a good bit tighter, but in a good way. I'll need a toe punch and custom insole but I think its going to be a much better fit than the SPK was (doubtfully as comfortable, but thats ok). It really wasn't as stiff as I had anticipated. If I could try on the Quest Max 130, I might consider going with it. But since volume was almost an issue in the Quest 120, I have a feeling the Max 130 would be too tight on my instep and ankle.

Anyways, I'll probably pull the trigger tonight or tomorrow. If anyone has any final suggestions then please let me know what you think.
Oct 21 2013 3:05PM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
^ I look up Larry's Boot fitting. Definitely seems legit. But how does that work? Does he carry boots? Seem like his service is fitting the boots you already own.
Oct 21 2013 3:08PM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
No, go in there and they will take you thought the whole process. Make sure to buy a full custom insole, and not chaulk it up to them trying to up sell you. It is quite possible the most important purchase you can make for skiing.
Oct 21 2013 3:19PM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
It's also good to remember that boots are gonna be 20-30% stiffer on mountain than in a 70* store. Don't buy something that is on the edge of too stiff in the store cause there is no chance you will be able to flex it properly on mountain.
Oct 21 2013 3:40PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7137 - Karma: 17,392
The quest max 130 will be able to go bigger then the quest120 so don't worry to much there. The instep is one area which is tough to stretch conventially so having the max custom shell could be a big benifit. The ankle is prob site because of the lack if a footbed so your foot may be pronating. The 130 really is not too stiff go see if you can try it an see what you think.
Oct 21 2013 4:03PM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
hmmm... I'm trying to proform these though. I've got pretty much unlimited free access to some good bootfitters in steamboat for footbeds and shell customization. I know I want to downsize to a 28 shell, I just can't decide if I want to go 120 or max 130 at this point.
Oct 21 2013 4:46PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7137 - Karma: 17,392
Well how much do you weigh, how tall are you and what type of riding do you. How did you find the flex of the spk? Also how old are you and what skis will you be using.
Oct 21 2013 4:48PM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
Also someone above mentioned that the volume in the max will not change much? Part of me really wants to go with the Max 130 but if hes right about the volume this definitely worries me. The volume of the 100 last in the Quest 120 was just about perfect.
Oct 21 2013 4:54PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7137 - Karma: 17,392
The overall volume can certainly increase a lot. The older shell which the 120 uses is not that big. The max shells can go bigger no problem. They claim to have a working range of 98-104 but through fitting them for a while I have found its much bigger then this. The ability to raise the instep is one of the best features.
Oct 21 2013 4:57PM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
Glad to hear that because I went ahead and decided to go with the Quest Max 130. Just placed my order! I'll definitely be taking it to a master boot fitter to get it dialed in when I got it.

Its refreshing to actually see NS function as a normal forum community where people can act mature and be beneficial to each other.

Thanks Guys!
Oct 21 2013 5:28PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7137 - Karma: 17,392
Good choice man I think you will love them. If you need an help getting the most out of the fitting process let me know.

Oct 21 2013 5:32PM
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