Salmon MTN Lab/Explore

NightFantasiesHas anybody here tried these boots out at all? Thinking about picking up a pair this season.

Currently rocking Salomon Questmax100's and I love them to death so this boot seems like a good fit as my first dedicated touring boot.

Yep, I love the Explore, stiff enough that I could ski them inbounds if I had too (used to be on a 8 flex Full Tilt with booster strap) but light and they walk very well. I've had some blistering issues but I think I'm close to fixing those, and anyway everyone's foot is different in that regard. I do wish the cuff was a lighter higher, but other than that it's not a big deal.

cydwhitYep, I love the Explore, stiff enough that I could ski them inbounds if I had too (used to be on a 8 flex Full Tilt with booster strap) but light and they walk very well. I've had some blistering issues but I think I'm close to fixing those, and anyway everyone's foot is different in that regard. I do wish the cuff was a lighter higher, but other than that it's not a big deal.

Badass that's awesome to hear. Do you happen to know/have you tried head molding the shell of the boot at all? That's something I usually have to do with every boot I have to get but I have never worked with grilamid...

I think I'm leaning to the quest right now, since I'm not sure that bit of extra flex is worth the extra half a pound.. but then again I'm inexperienced with touring so it might be worth it haha.

NightFantasiesBadass that's awesome to hear. Do you happen to know/have you tried head molding the shell of the boot at all? That's something I usually have to do with every boot I have to get but I have never worked with grilamid...

I think I'm leaning to the quest right now, since I'm not sure that bit of extra flex is worth the extra half a pound.. but then again I'm inexperienced with touring so it might be worth it haha.

Hmmm, from what I've heard boot fitters love the new QST shell as far as it being very easy to work on. For me MTN Explore is perfect performance wise. I'm gonna get a 6th toe punch tomorrow, but other than that I'm very stoked.

Which QST would you be looking at? And I'm not sure I get your "flex vs weight" question? The QST and MTN explore are pretty different in their intentions

cydwhitHmmm, from what I've heard boot fitters love the new QST shell as far as it being very easy to work on. For me MTN Explore is perfect performance wise. I'm gonna get a 6th toe punch tomorrow, but other than that I'm very stoked.

Which QST would you be looking at? And I'm not sure I get your "flex vs weight" question? The QST and MTN explore are pretty different in their intentions

Oh shit haha ignore me... I totally just said the wrong thing. I mean I am leaning towards the MTN. Explore (vs. going for the MTN lab) because of the weight... but I'm wondering how moldable these boots are since they are Grilamid.

For the flex/performance vs. weight I was talking about the MTN Explore vs. the MTN lab.

TL;DR, I'm an idiot.

NightFantasiesOh shit haha ignore me... I totally just said the wrong thing. I mean I am leaning towards the MTN. Explore (vs. going for the MTN lab) because of the weight... but I'm wondering how moldable these boots are since they are Grilamid.

For the flex/performance vs. weight I was talking about the MTN Explore vs. the MTN lab.

TL;DR, I'm an idiot.

Aha, sweet!

Ha, you're not an idiot, I've spent enough of my life listening to the "MTN Lab or Atomic Backland?" stupidity that mixing up the QST and Lab is nothing.

I'd recommend the Explore for you since you said you were coming from a 100 flex boot. Salomon calls the Explore a 110 and the Lab a 120 and I think for once they are being pretty fair, both boots are at the stiff end of that range.

So if you're used to the Questmax100 the Explore's 110 should be just fine for you, and you get the weight savings and awesome walk mode as an added bonus.

I don't know on the molding thing, I'll ask my boot fitter when I get mine punched.

cydwhitAha, sweet!

Ha, you're not an idiot, I've spent enough of my life listening to the "MTN Lab or Atomic Backland?" stupidity that mixing up the QST and Lab is nothing.

I'd recommend the Explore for you since you said you were coming from a 100 flex boot. Salomon calls the Explore a 110 and the Lab a 120 and I think for once they are being pretty fair, both boots are at the stiff end of that range.

So if you're used to the Questmax100 the Explore's 110 should be just fine for you, and you get the weight savings and awesome walk mode as an added bonus.

I don't know on the molding thing, I'll ask my boot fitter when I get mine punched.

Badass dude you the man.

If you can ask him for me that would literally be amazing. Im on the east coast right now so its hard to get any information about anything touring. They looked at me like I had 4 heads after mentioning tech bindings :/

Cheers!

Another thing to think to about with the Explore vs. Lab, the Lab has a slightly higher cuff and a "booster" style strap compared to a regular velcro on the explore.

I have the Mtn lab and love it

rigzzAnother thing to think to about with the Explore vs. Lab, the Lab has a slightly higher cuff and a "booster" style strap compared to a regular velcro on the explore.

As far as I can remember the Explore has much more volume than the Lab too.

Derp, nevermind, it looks like they got rid of that pos or it is now the quest custom