I read the huge boot thread upon searching for answers, however my questions are specific to these. I am currently have on paper a few boots I plan to try on: Asolo Fugitive, Salomon Quest 4D, Scarpa Kalish, and Lowa Renegade.
I was wondering if anyone could give me the low down on these particular boots, positives and negatives as to why one should be preferred over the other (aside from fit, though i’ll probably make my decision once I try it).
My question is regarding the midsoles of these popular boots and was wondering anyone who owned these boots could shine some light as to which boot has what.
I’ve notice that of all these, the Salomen Quest are the only ones with EVA instead of PU. Also, what kind shank does this boot have? Descriptions mention a TPU plate, is this the same as a rigid shank? If so, how far up does it go because Ive seen pictures of the shoe curl at the forefoot (maybe 3/4?). For those that own the shoe, has the EVA midsole died out on you?
How do these boots rank in terms of midsole rigidness compared to the others?
Not sure about the Fugitive but I have three pairs of Asolo FSN 85/95 and they are oustanding boots. Check out Sierra Trading Post, they have real good deals now and then.
I own the Salomons and really, really like them. That being said, you are at a price point where its hard to go wrong. (BMW, Mercedes, Lexus etc…) I would just try them on and see which once make your feet smile the most!
I got Fugitives and love them. Very durable and supportive. No rocket science, just some well made boots, as long as they fit your foot good. I have a normal width foot as far as I know, and they fit nice and snug like they are supposed to, but people with wider fit complain that they are narrow.
I don’t know all of the specifics about the boots mentioned and I’m far from a foot SME but if I’m not wearing flipflops at the house I have Salomons on my feet.
I have a narrow foot and the Salomons fit the best. That’s the best I can offer.
I have Asolo, danner, danner, meindl . One thing they all have in common. I take the insoles out, and insert SUPERFEET.
They make any boot more supportive. Most anyone with foot issues would greatly benefit. They compare to $400 custom orthotics for $40. Your feet need support, not some dr soles cushion bullshit. SUPERFEET ARE AMAZING JACK.
I tend to prefer Sole rather than Superfeet, especially considering there are more features and similar price. Also like the Spenco PolySorb Total Support. Having said that, the general advice of getting some decent aftermarket insoles rather than the stock ones is certainly correct in my humble opinion.
Looking forward to Duck Dynasty?
Seriously though, what kind of mileage do you tend to get out of a set? I’ve had various inserts, insoles, etc and all seem to get worn down sooner than it seems like they should.
They will last a very long time. The support part will not fail. SUPERFEET cup your heel and support your arch with strong plastic. I have never replaced a set, but my sons can beat up a pair pretty well in cleats worn every day. But they will last months if not years. It really depends on how much you wear them naturally. But they won’t flatten out.
Orthotics you spend hundreds on are very hard plastic usually, these are quite similar. They have different colors depending on how much room you have in your shoes. I get the green ones for boots and I think orange.
I have high arches and my sons have almost flat feet. They like them as much as me. It’s just what your feet need. REI is a good place to get them. I get my shoes about .5 size larger, because they do take up space. The black ones are good if you dont have inserts to remove. Like cowboy boots and such.
Check them out. They will make marginal boots good, and good boots…JACK
Normally I go to Fleet Feet (a running store nearby) and have Superfeet fitted for any new shoes I wear. My Quest 4Ds are the exception though, as the midsoles are extremely comfortable. I have owned my boots for about 9 months now and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase.
For backpacking boots all the brands/models you mentioned are great boots. I wouldn’t worry about things like EVA vs. PU. I would be more concerned with fit, and having the right boot for your requirements. After learning to run all over again in minimalist shoes I have found my ideas on boots have changed to “less is more” and “light is right”.
Of the brands/models you listed, I found I preferred the Salomon Quest 4D GTX. In fact I found them to be the best hiking/backpacking/combat boot I have ever used. I have just bought a second pair of the Salomon Quest boots, and outside of fashion/casual shoes, like SWATcop556, I now wear Salomon 95% of the time. However, like d90king, I found I wear my Salomon XA PRO MID GTX a lot more than my Quest, as they are lighter and allow more foot movement. With a pack or carrying a load over uneven terrain the Quest makes more sense. With a heavy load and steep terrain a light mountaineering boot might make even more sense, I prefer the Hanwag.
I have a similar Salomon product (Discovery GTX) and they are probably the most comfortable boots that I have. I also have the Scarpa Kailash boots and while they are comfortable, I should have gone with the “wide” version instead of the regular. If you go with the Scarpas, You might want to check out the wide width if you have D width feet or greater as the Scarpas tend to run a bit tight in the toebox. Very comfortable but I would have gone with the wide.
After some very light use, I have to say that I am very disappointed in my pair of Salomon Quest 4Ds.
They are uncomfortable to walk in (they felt great when they were brand new) and the out sole is coming apart from the rest of the boot at the inside heel.
I would contact Salomon on that. I’ve worn the Quest for a couple years as have a bunch of my buddies with no wear like that. They should last a lot longer.
