The original Salomon Quest 4D GTX is long gone from shelves, but the boot line it started is still in production. Salomon now sells the Quest 5 GORE-TEX, which it calls the “5th edition,” at $240 for the men’s version [1]. If you are shopping for a Quest 4D GTX today, the Quest 5 is the boot to look at. It keeps the 4D chassis, GORE-TEX membrane, nubuck upper and 12 mm drop, and Salomon targets it at multi-day hiking and backpacking [1].
Status: which Quest is current?
The Quest has gone through several named versions. The older ones are no longer sold:
- Quest 4D 2 GTX: a retailer lists it as “no longer available” [5].
- Quest 4D 3 GTX: Cotswold Outdoor shows it as “not available” [6].
- Quest 4 GORE-TEX: still has a page on Salomon’s US site, but the page says the product “is not sold on our website” [2]. REI now sends Quest 4 searches to the Quest 5 and says it no longer carries the older model [4].
- Quest 5 GORE-TEX: the current model, sold by Salomon at $240 [1][3].
Salomon also still sells the Quest 4D Forces 2 boots, which are separate from the hiking range. A search of Salomon’s US site lists the Quest 4D GORE-TEX Forces 2 at $270 [3].
Spec comparison across versions
| Spec | Quest 4D 2 GTX (older) | Quest 4D 3 GTX (older) | Quest 4 GORE-TEX | Quest 5 GORE-TEX (current) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 640 g [5] | 640 g [6] | 1 lb 7 oz per shoe [2] | 1 lb 5 oz per shoe [1] |
| Upper | Nubuck leather, textile [5] | Nubuck leather and textile [6] | Nubuck leather / textile [2] | Nubuck leather plus ripstop fabric [1] |
| Waterproof membrane | GORE-TEX Performance Comfort Footwear [5] | GORE-TEX Performance Comfort Footwear lining [6] | GORE-TEX [2] | GORE-TEX [1] |
| Chassis | 4D Advanced Chassis [5] | 4D Advanced Chassis [6] | 4D advancedCHASSIS [2] | 4D advancedCHASSIS [1] |
| Midsole | Molded EVA [5] | Dual-density EVA [6] | EnergyCell EVA foam [2] | EnergyCell EVA foam [1] |
| Outsole | High Traction Contagrip [5] | High Traction Contagrip [6] | All-Terrain Contagrip [2] | All-Terrain Contagrip [1] |
| Stack (heel / forefoot) | Not confirmed | Not listed | 34 mm / 22 mm [2] | 34 mm / 22 mm [1] |
| Drop | Not confirmed | Not listed | 12 mm [2] | 12 mm [1] |
| Intended use | Hiking and winter hiking [5] | Rough terrain [6] | Multi-day hikes, backpacking [2] | Multi-day hikes, backpacking; rocky, technical terrain [1] |
The weight figures don’t compare directly because sellers use different sample sizes. REI lists the Quest 5 at 2 lbs 9.3 oz per pair [4]. Salomon lists it at 1 lb 5 oz per shoe [1].
What the 4D design does
The core idea hasn’t changed since the 4D 2. A plastic chassis sits between the midsole and the upper. Salomon says it adds stability and support [1]. The Quest 4D 2 GTX listing describes the boot as one that “borrows from running shoe technology to provide stability and comfort” [5]. For the Quest 4, Salomon says the chassis was updated to target sensitive joints. It also says the boot stays stable and smooth even when the wearer is tired or carrying a heavy pack [2].
The current Quest 5 has a gusseted tongue, a protective toecap and mudguard, Salomon’s SensiFit fit system and a molded OrthoLite sockliner [1]. Salomon offers men’s sizes 7 to 14 in a regular width [1].
Who it suits
- Backpackers carrying real weight. Salomon rates the Quest 5’s foot support as “stable” and recommends it for multi-day hikes and backpacking [1].
- Hikers on rocky, technical or alpine ground. Salomon lists rocky, technical terrain for the Quest 5 [1] and mixed and alpine terrain for the Quest 4 [2].
- Wet-weather hikers. Every version has a GORE-TEX membrane [1][5].
Who should skip it
- Hikers with wide feet. Salomon lists only a regular width [1].
- Anyone who wants a low-drop or minimalist feel. The 12 mm drop and 34 mm heel stack [1] put the Quest firmly in traditional-boot territory.
- Hot, dry-trail day hikers. A leather-and-membrane mid boot built for backpacking is probably more boot than these trips need.
Current alternatives
- Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid (men’s), $280. It has a nubuck upper, GORE-TEX lining and Vibram Renegade Trac outsole, and weighs 590 g per shoe. The retailer lists it for “on-trail day hikes and short backpacking trips” [7].
- Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid GTX (men’s). This is a suede-and-fabric GORE-TEX boot with a Vibram outsole, about 570 g per shoe. The retailer says it is “engineered for alpine adventures” [8].
- Vasque St. Elias (men’s), $250. It has a full-grain oiled and waxed leather upper, a GORE-TEX membrane with Extended Comfort technology and a Vibram Megagrip outsole [9].
Bottom line
The Quest 4D GTX name is retired. Its design, a stable chassis, a GORE-TEX membrane and a 12 mm drop for loaded hiking, continues in the Quest 5 GORE-TEX [1]. If you liked the old boot, the Quest 5 is its direct descendant. If you want a different fit or outsole, the Lowa, Salewa and Vasque boots above cover the same kind of hiking.
Sources
- Salomon — Quest 5 GORE-TEX (Men's) (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Salomon — Quest 4 GORE-TEX (Men's) (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Salomon — Site search results for Quest (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- REI — Salomon Quest 5 GORE-TEX Hiking Boots, Men's (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Wilderness Supply — Salomon Men's Quest 4D 2 GTX (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Cotswold Outdoor — Salomon Mens Quest 4D 3 GTX Boot (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Neptune Mountaineering — Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid, Men's (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Neptune Mountaineering — Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid GTX, Men's (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Irish Setter (Vasque) — St. Elias Men's Waterproof Hiking Boot (accessed Oct 8, 2026)