Salomon Quest 5 Hiking Boot Review

It’s just before dawn, and my feet crunch over dry gravel as I speed walk toward the sound of a gobbling turkey in the distance. The silhouettes of ponderosa pines are just becoming clear against the lightening sky. I make out a fading star, which slides beneath a hillside as I step out of a meadow and into a forest.

A steep ridge rises in front of me, and I step hard into the dirt game path, feet clawing up as I close the distance, hoping to get close before light breaks and the turkeys fly down from their roosts.

On my feet, the Salomon Quest 5 doesn’t slow me down. A burly hiking boot, the Quest 5 is also light, nimble, and fast — a fact that I appreciate as I hustle through the pre-dawn forest. I top out on the ridge, settle behind a tree trunk, and let out a couple of yelps from a call.

Nearby, a gobble rumbles through the morning murk, and my heart thunders in return.

In short: The Salomon Quest 5 ($240) is one of the best hiking boots on the market today. It’s relatively light, supportive, and has good traction. While the newer version has yet to prove its durability, previous iterations of the Quest were remarkably tough for a modern boot. If it fits your foot well, it’s a top choice for a boot that can handle a modest load on everything from mud and light snow to rocky, steep trails and even light off-trail use.

Compare the Quest 5 to other boots in our guide to the Best Hiking Boots.

Salomon Quest 5 Review

As the name suggests, this is the fifth iteration of the Salomon Quest line. It is GearJunkie’s Best Overall Hiking Boot in our guide to the Best Hiking Boots.

The Quest 5 has a wider toe box than the 4, something many hikers asked for. It also shaves 10% off the Quest 4’s weight, bringing it to an impressive 2 pounds, 9.3 ounces for a size 9.5 pair. My test boots weighed 1 pound, 4.83 ounces each on my scale, slightly less than the claimed weight.

While light, the Quest 5 is also supportive and capable. It has a “4D Advanced Chassis plastic chassis construction,” which the brand claims offers stability and support while allowing the foot to move through its natural range of motion. Mix in protective rubber toe caps, a light but durable nubuck leather and ripstop upper, a responsive EnergyCell midsole, and a grippy Contragrip outsole, and Salomon cooked up one very fine hiking boot.

Fit Notes

The Salomon Quest 5 has a wider, roomier fit than previous models. I tested size 9.5, and while it did fit, I could potentially downsize. Other users also report that the Quest 5 runs slightly large. So if you’re on the cusp, I’d recommend going with the smaller of the two sizes to begin with.

Here’s how it performed on the trail.

Salomon Quest 5: A Hiking Boot Evolution

I’ve been hiking in the Salomon Quest lineup for a few years. I’ve used it a lot as a light hunting boot, where off-trail abuse is much more extreme than the trail use most hiking boots face. My test of the Quest 5 was similarly tough, with about 5 miles of off-trail hunting during Colorado’s spring turkey hunting season.

While tough and supportive, the Quest 5 is quite light, giving hikers who want a true, over-ankle boot a nice compromise between heavy-duty leather boots and lightweight trail running or hiking shoes.

Starting from the bottom, the outsole is good. Salomon uses its proprietary Contragrip outsole. It’s grippy and seems durable, but it doesn’t quite match Vibram’s best outsoles in grip. It does, however, offer a smooth, efficient walking gait.

I used the boots to climb steep ridges and scramble over rocky terrain, and I never had any problems slipping. However, I haven’t tested the boots on slushy slopes or wet leaves, and I suspect it won’t measure up to stiffer Vibram soles. That’s OK, because as a trail-focused shoe, its grip is entirely sufficient.

Walking in the Quest 5 feels efficient and fast. The sole offers good flexibility on the ground, giving a hiker plenty of feedback. But it does protect and support the foot well. Those carrying medium to heavy packs will appreciate the support over big-mile days on trails.

The midsole feels quite minimal. While I’d call it responsive, it’s not thick or cushy. I like this, as I like to feel the trail. While protective and supportive, the Quest 5 uses very little padding or extra material to shave weight. It feels bare bones on the feet.

Moving up, the outer material is again rugged but light. The ankle was narrow enough that I didn’t feel any heel slip after a lot of hiking. The lacing system, which has a set of two locking lace hooks at ankle height, and then two simple hooks to close the cuff, is infinitely adjustable.

That said, the ankle cuff felt a little restrictive after several hours of hiking.

Where the Quest 5 Excels

As a light yet supportive, over-ankle boot, the Salomon Quest 5 handles shallow streams, wet grass, and shallow snow like a champion. Its waterproof GORE-TEX build ensures you’ll stay as dry in wet conditions, and it really does work. I’ve worn these boots while crossing nearly knee-deep streams with gaiters, and they’ve stayed totally dry. It’s impressive.

The Quest 5 also crushes it on rough terrain, like rocky trails, and in modest off-trail travel. Similarly, when thrashing through tall grass or brush, the high cut keeps a lot of debris out of the boot. It’s not as good as wearing gaiters, but for short jaunts across fields or forests, it’ll keep your feet happy until you’re back on the trail.

The Quest 5 is also good for carrying somewhat heavy packs. I say “somewhat heavy” because I would not choose it for true heavy-duty pack-hauling (50+ pounds). That means it’s not really suited for things like backcountry big-game hunting or other hard use. But for its intended purpose of on-trail hiking, it’s perfect.

With 35 pounds on my back, the boot provides enough support to keep my ankles from rolling on missteps. The support under my foot is sufficient for the weight.

While I’ve tested the Quest 5 for about 2 months, I’ve seen how well previous Quest models perform in harsh conditions. My wife wore the previous version on the Tour du Mont Blanc. During the hike, we post-holed many miles, and she rarely needed to wear gaiters or traction devices. Yes, the Quest 5 is an evolved version of that boot, and I’ll update this review with more impressions as I rack up more miles. But so far, I see the Quest 5 handling everything previous versions were capable of with no issue.

Weaknesses

I noted two problems with the Quest 5.

First, as a GORE-TEX boot, it’s hot. If most of your hiking is in warm, dry conditions, look elsewhere. A high-GORE-TEX boot is just not that breathable. My feet got kind of swampy feeling above about 75 degrees.

Secondly, my Quest 5s were a little squeaky in the cuff. It wasn’t that bad, and I probably wouldn’t notice it if I weren’t a hunter, but the cuff definitely made a soft squeaking noise after my first couple of days of wear. It’s a minor annoyance and may go away with lacing adjustments, but it’s worth noting.

Who Should Buy the Salomon Quest 5

The Quest 5 is a great choice for hikers who want significant support in an above-the-ankle, waterproof boot. While heavier than hiking shoes, the Quest 5 is vastly more supportive and protective. Hikers in cold, wet conditions, or those facing snowfields or off-trail journeys, will enjoy these boots. They’re ideal for long days on mountain terrain, especially when facing shallow creek crossings, lots of puddles, and cool conditions.

Avoid them if most of your hiking is in hot weather, or if you can get by with a shoe or lower-cut boot.

But for those who want a full-on hiking boot at a reasonably light weight, the Quest 5 is going to be very tough to beat.