Salomon Forces Boots 1/7/15 - Salomon, an icon in the civilian outdoor gear industry is introducing their Forces product line; dedicated to the specific needs of military, safety and law enforcement professionals. Two of their new Forces boots are featured here. They're adapted from their successful commercial models; the Quest 4D and XA Pro 3D mid. Both are/will be available from Salomon dealers that specialize in tactical gear. For unit/department quotes for LE, first responders and military, contact Mission Ready Equipment or Über Group Llc. Mission Ready Equipment (MRE) was set up as a sister company to Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, to focus solely on selling equipment to the government. Über Group represents a number of outdoor brands and are positioned as somewhat of a bridge between specialty outdoor and the tactical community. Quest 4D Forces Boot (non-GTX) - The new Quest 4D Forces boot is designed for full mission profile with closed eyelets for MFF (Military Free Fall) and Fast Rope. The 4D chassis provides the support of a light mountain boot but still has the flexibility to take a knee or sprint to the target. The Quest 4D Forces is available in a GTX (GORE-TEX®) and non-GTX version shown here. The non-GTX version is designed for warmer, drier climates. The civilian version only comes in a GTX model at this time. Note that much of the specs for the Forces boot overlaps with the civilian version which I featured here back in 2011. Manufacturer Specs: Protective rubber toe & heel caps

Gusseted tongue

Closed eyelets

Anti-debris mesh Textile/Nubuck Leather Upper

Non-reflective materials

Low-vis design and printing

Molded EVA Midsole

Non-marking Contagrip® Outsole

Ortholite® Sockliner

4D Advanced Chassis

Colours: Navajo (sand - shown here), Black

7.5" high measured from floor to boot top (size 8.5").

Weight (size 8.5, per pair) - 2 lb 13 oz (1 lb 6.5 oz per boot). Quest 4D Forces boot











Boot uppers - The Quest 4D Forces uses a combination of nylon textile and Nubuck suede leather for the upper. Much of the boot upper is covered by leather, especially the parts exposed to the most wear. While the civilian version has the black and brown woven nylon textile, the Forces version has a tan nylon. The boot upper is lightly padded around the heel and ankle for protection and comfort. Anything that was shiny or reflective on the civlian Quest is now subdued and non-reflective on the Forces Quest. The boot upper is protected from bumps by a rubber toe cap in the front, and a plastic heel guard (which is part of the midsole). An additional rubber 'heel sling' protects the back of the heel from abrasion. There's a pull tab at the back of the boot made out of soft webbing, which I find preferable to leather. Leather loops are stiff and sometimes catch the back of your pant cuff, making it ride up. The collar dips down about 1" at the rear of the ankle, and is comfortably padded. My usual foot size is 8.5 US, but only whole size samples were available for preview (early Sept, '14) so I went with size 9 rather than wait. The size 9 boot measures 7.5" at its tallest point (measured from the floor), and 6.5" at the back of the collar - same as my size 8.5 civilian version. The inside of the Quest has a wicking polyester lining to absorb and disperse excess moisture. The inside of the collar and upper part of the tongue is lined with mesh. The heel is lightly padded to prevent hot spots in the heel. The tongue is padded to relieve lace pressure and constructed out of nylon, with a leather reinforcement on the upper half. It's gusseted up to the bottom of the 2nd eyelet to keep water and dirt out of the boot. The lacing system is where the Quest Forces differs from its civilian counterpart. The civilian Quest uses a combination of plastic eyelets at the bottom, and metal hooks at the top. On the Forces boot, the eyelets on the lower part are leather, and the upper ones are eyelets instead of hooks. The third eyelet from the top is a lace lock, and locks the lace in place so you can lace the boot up differentially; with different tension at the top than the bottom. To release the lock, you simply pull the upper part of the lace back, out of the teeth in the lock. The Quest Forces comes with 550 cord laces.



Tongue/laces



Quest 4D GTX and Forces boot



Insole/Outsole - The Quest 4D Forces has a removable dual-density Ortholite footbed/sock liner for shock absorption and support, with an antimicrobial treatment to deter odours. It's made partially of recycled tire, and Ortholite claims that it will not break down, or lose effectiveness over time. The 4D Advanced Chassis™ thermoplastic urethane midsole supports help control flex, reduce ankle strain, enhance stability and protect feet from rough terrain. The '4D' refers to the four layers provided by the foam insole, the midsole support plate, another cushioning pad in the sole, then the outsole. On the civilian Quest, the thermoplastic midsole is visible from the outside of the boot as the clear, stiff plastic right above the outsole. On the Quest Forces, this is now non-reflective khaki. The plastic is not only more abrasion resistant than rubber to rocks, but provides the stiffness needed to provide stability to the foot. The shank extends about halfway, so that the front half of the boot flexes longitudinally, making it flexible and comfortable enough to run in. It's not surprising, since the Quest was designed with trail running technology. It's stiffer laterally, to prevent the forefoot from twisting. The civilian and Forces Quest boots have exactly the same sole pattern and shape except that the Forces sole is tan coloured. The Contagrip® rubber outsoles have an ascending lug pattern in the front of the sole, and a braking pattern in the rear. The Contagrip sole has several densities to optimize grip and durability, designed for the intended usage of the boot. The rubber in the center of the forefoot is a softer compound than the surrounding rubber. The geometry of the mountain Contragrip outsole features a high wear abrasion resistant rubber, with self-cleaning lugs. They do tend to pick up tiny pebbles/stones in the siping, though.

Ortholite insole

Boot fit - I have size 8.5 feet (measured), and depending on the boot, wear 8.5 or 9. My forefoot is between a regular and wide width, which is why I'm sometimes a 9 in narrower fitting boots. I got the civilian Quest in size 8.5, and they were a perfect fit for me. The Force samples are in size 9, and they're more roomy, as expected. Not that much where I can't wear them though, and I think that if you have wide feet or there's chance that the feet may swell, you can go up half a size. Otherwise, stick to your measured foot size and you should be fine. Unlike the Salomon XA Pro low shoes I have, which fit slightly narrow, there's a little more room in the forefoot of the Quest than some boots, which I find much more comfortable than a tight-fitting boot. Ample room for the foot to expand, and to keep the big toe from stubbing the inside of the toe cap when descending. Other than having a bit more toe room, I was able to tighten up the Forces boot to fit the same as my civilian pair. Like the civilian Quest, the Forces boot has a narrower fit in the back and arch, and a roomier fit in front. This is actually the way I like it. Too often, I find that boots that are wide enough in front don't provide enough support for my foot at the arch and heel. The Quest provides better arch support than most others, and keeps the heel from shifting around with its snugger fit. General notes/observations - Note that my observations for the Quest 4D Forces basically mirror that of the civilian Quest 4D, as they're the same boot except for some external differences. I didn't need much of a break-in period; all it took was about a day or two for them to conform around my foot, and the creases to form. The light padding surrounding the heel and ankle help prevent hot spots or discomfort in that area. At less than 1.5 lbs per boot, they feel quite light on the feet. Not as heavy as a mountain boot, but slightly heavier than a light hiker or trail runner. I found the 550-cord laces a bit harder to adjust than on the civilian boot. This is due to the eyelets being closed vs. open hooks. It takes a bit longer to unlock the locking eyelet because you can't just pull the lace away from it like on the civvie boot. But once locked in, it's secure and is great because you don't have to keep constant tension on the laces when lacing the top of the boot up. When the lace engages the locking eyelet, it can be tightened, but won't loosen. To loosen the lace, you have to pull it away from the locking serrations; which I have to do every time I take the boots off. Obviously, I did not test the water resistance of this particular model of the Quest 4D Forces since it's a non-GTX boot. I didn't swap between the civilian and Forces Quest boots to see whether the GTX model made my feet more sweaty, but I've had a chance to wear the Forces model in hot weather and cold weather now (since Sept '14) and my feet feel pretty dry and comfortable. The Ortholite insoles are cushy/bouncy, and fine for general purpose, especially if you're walking or standing on hard surfaces all day. They don't provide much arch support though. If you have more of a flat foot, that's not an issue. In my pair of civvie Quests, I swapped the Ortholite insole out for green Superfeet insoles for comparison, and while the green Superfeet provide additional support in the arch, they're not really necessary unless you need it. I did notice that the green Superfeet feel a bit cooler than the Ortholites, though. If I were doing some longer hikes with a load, I'd probably put the green Superfeet in there, because I pronate and my arches need more support. I wore the Quest 4D Forces on a flat range and also while hunting in some hilly terrain. Stability feels good going up and down hills, and the lightly padded upper part of the boot provides lateral support for the ankle without restricting range of motion for climbing or descending. Like the civvie Quests, I've been wearing the Quest 4D Forces in a mixture of outdoor and urban environments - around town, walking and standing on hard surfaces most of the day. Outsole grip is good, but they do tend to squeak when wet on smooth floors.

Range















Hilly terrain

XA Pro 3D Mid Forces (non-GTX) - The Salomon XA Pro Mid Forces is the non-GTX version of the civilian XA Pro Mid GTX boot. The XA Pro 3D Mid Forces is designed as a hot weather assault boot, providing underfoot stability and ankle protection with a breathable mesh upper and Quicklace™ system. The civilian XA Pro 3D Mid GTX was designed as a trail running shoe - grippy, waterproof, with a mid height to provide ankle protection and reduce the amount of debris entering the shoe. The XA Pro Mid 3D Forces comes in both GTX and non-GTX versions, and with a different outsole than the civilian version. It's not a shortened version of the Quest, but a different shoe altogether. Manufacturer Specs: Protective rubber toe & heel caps

Gusseted tongue with lace pocket

Quicklace™ system

Sensifit upper connects to lace points for a secure, wrapped fit

Anti-debris mesh Textile Upper

Non-reflective materials

Low-vis design and printing

Textile/Waterproof Split Suede Leather Upper

Molded EVA Midsole

Contagrip® Outsole

Ortholite® Sockliner

3D Advanced Chassis

Colours: Navajo (tan - shown here), Black/Asphalt

6" high measured from floor to boot top (size 9").

Weight (size 8.5, per pair) - 2 lb (1 lb per boot).

XA Pro 3D Mid Forces







Boot uppers - I've owned a pair of XA Pro 3D Ultra 2GTX shoes for a couple of years, which are essentially the lower cut version of the XA Pro Mid Forces. I had a lot more miles on the civilian version, so I'll use it as a comparison here. The Mid Forces uses a combination of anti-debris mesh textile and smooth synthetic leather for the upper. The upper textile is thinner than that used on the Quest 4D Forces, which is more like Cordura nylon, so I'm assuming that the material on the XA Pro would be slightly less abrasion resistant. It's a compromise to save weight. The 'synthetic leather' accents also provide much of the structure and protection of the boot upper. The boot upper is lightly padded around the heel and ankle for protection and comfort. The boot upper is protected from bumps by a rubber toe cap in the front, and a plastic heel guard (which is part of the midsole). The heel guard is lower than on the Quest. The collar dips down about 1.5" at the rear of the ankle, and is comfortably padded to protect the ankle bones from impact. My size 9 boot measures 6" measured from the floor to the side of the boot; the tongue extends further up. The inside of the XA Pro Mid has a wicking polyester mesh lining to absorb and disperse excess moisture. The inside of the collar and upper part of the tongue is lined with mesh. The heel is lightly padded to prevent hot spots and abrasions in the heel. The tongue is nicely padded to distribute lace pressure and is constructed out of nylon fabric. It's gusseted up to the top the 2nd eyelet to keep debris out of the boot. The XA Pro Mid has Salomon's Quicklace™ system, which they use on quite a few of their shoes. The Quicklace system is a minimalist system using a very thin but strong Kevlar lace, designed for 'one-pull' tightening. The Quicklace systems come in two types - assymetrical (as on the XA 3D Ultra low) and symmetrical (on the XA Pro Mid). The Quicklace System has a rubberized pull piece at the top, which you pull to tighten up the laces. It also covers the sewn-together ends of the laces. Small adjustments can be made as you tighten them up. The toggle/cord lock is then snugged up to secure the laces, then everything (excess lace, rubber pull and cord lock) is stuffed into the spandex lace pocket located at the top of the tongue. It's easy to use, snag-free and clean-looking. To doff the boots, the laces are retrived out of the lace pocket and the spring-loaded button on the lace lock is pushed upwards while pulling on the lace lock to allow the laces to slide through the lock. Not visible in the photos below, the laces actually run through small plastic tunnels inside each lace loop. The lace does not abrade the webbing loop itself. The XA Pro Ultra low shoe has a slightly different arrangment, with the plastic lace guides exposed. Shown below are the low XA Pro 3D Ultra 2GTX and XA Pro 3D Mid Forces side by side for comparison. I know a lot of folks probably own the low shoes are are curious to see the differences.



Laces



Ultra2 Low vs Forces Mid



Mid vs. low

Insole/Outsole - The XA Pro Mid shares the same removable dual-density Ortholite footbed/sock liner as the XA Pro Ultra low shoe. Other than the yellow colour, I'm not sure I can tell the difference between it and the one in the Quest, which is green. The sock liner absorbs show and provides support, with an antimicrobial treatment to deter odours. It's made partially of recycled tire, and Ortholite claims that it will not break down nor lose effectiveness over time. The XA Pro Mid features Salomon's 3D Advanced Chassis™. To quote their website about the 3D chassis: "Salomon's low profile advanced chassis, placed between the outsole and midsole, maximizes security, motion control, energy management and push through protection for a high performance, stable and responsive ride." For 4D chassis, it says "Foot control and protection with active comfort provided through a stable chassis construction that works together with two different midsole components." The difference between the 3D and 4D chassis is that the 3D chassis was developed from running shoes, and the 4D came from hiking boots. The physical difference between the two is that the Quest 4D chassi has cushioning plates on top of and below the wishbone-shaped midsole support plate. The Contagrip® non-marking rubber outsoles have a different tread than on the Quest, but also has an ascending lug pattern in the front of the sole, and a braking pattern in the rear. The Contagrip sole has several densities to optimize grip and durability, designed for the intended usage of the boot. The outsole on the XA Pro Mid Forces is different from my earlier XA Pro Ultra2 and XA Pro Mid GTX, but from Salomon's website photos, it looks like the Forces boot and current XA Pro Mid GTX have the same tread pattern. The only difference is the colour.

Sole



Inside



Ortholite Insole



Different soles

Boot fit - As I've mentioned in all my footwear writeups, I have size 8.5 feet (measured), and depending on the boot, wear 8.5 or 9. My forefoot is between a regular and wide width, which is why I'm sometimes a 9 in narrower fitting boots. When I first got my XA Pro Ultra2 GTX shoes, iI felt that they fit a bit more narrow than the Quest. They're made on a narrower last, it seems to me. I was afraid at first that they'd be too tight, but they did break in after a month or so and loosen up. Since my sample pair of the XA Pro Mid Forces are in size 9, they don't feel narrow at all, and fit fine with a lot of room in the toe box. If the size 8.5 fit just like the Ultra2, then you should be fine buying your measured foot size and not need to get a half size up. Just be aware that it may take some time to loosen up if they feel narrow initially. General notes/observations - After the break-in period where they felt narrow, my civilian XA Pro Ultra2 GTX shoes became one of the most comfortable trail shoes I wear. They're more of trail runners than hiking boots, due to their low height. Since my XA Pro3D Mid Forces boot came in size 9, I didn't have the initial feeling of tightness, and I was able to wear them comfortably right out of the box. I just cinched up the laces to take up any extra room around the foot, and have lots of room in the toe box. With their mid height, they feel more like very light hikers than trail runners, and will provide some ankle protection that the lower shoe won't. They'll also keep out sand/debris a bit better as well when running around in the dirt. They're light at about 1 lb per boot, and are low cut enough to allow as much flexibility as the ankle needs when kneeling or squatting. Note that the low height doesn't provide as much ankle support as a higher boot like the Quest 4D, but does provide more than the low cut XA Pro Ultra2 GTX shoe. I had initially thought that it didn't add any support at all, but flexing my ankle while swapping back and forth between the XA Pro 3D Ultra2 GTX shoe and the XA Pro 3D Mid Forces shows that there is a difference. The civilian XA Pro Ultra2 GTX shoes have been my go-to pair of GTX shoes for rainy days around town when I don't want to get my feet wet in puddles, but don't really need the added bulk of boots. I've worn them in all sorts of weather, and terrain, and they've performed very well. The XA Pro 3D Mid Forces, not being water proof, are reserved for dry weather, and I've had a chance to use them in hot weather as well as chilly weather. Basically I've been bringing both the XA Pro Mid Forces and Quest 4D Forces with me and switching between them during the day on outings. The XA Pro 3D Mid Forces are designed as 'go fast' boots; light weight and flexible; just aching for any kind of fast action. If hiking, I'd limit their use to lighter backpacks. The upper is thinner and more flexible than that on the Quest 4D, which will provide more support when hiking with heavier loads. Think of the XA Pro 3D Mid as a light hiker and the Quest 4D as a medium hiker.



















In summary - Salomon's civilian boots have been used by military forces for years (typically SOF), despite the lack of 'military-specific' colours. If you're familiar with the civilian versions of the two Forces models featured here, and like them, you'll be happy with the Forces line. It's nice to see yet another outdoor company recognize and cater to the specific needs of military and law enforcement personnel.