The lower section runs so smoothly that it's super easy to tighten and there's a locking eyelet at the flex zone between the foot and ankle so the fit you've dialled in at the bottom stays the fit throughout your walk. The lacing system is a highlight - it's one of the best we've used. The toe box gives the toes room to comfortably splay and the heel is effectively locked into the boot, reducing chances of blisters. We didn't find these quite as narrow as other Salomon footwear but you definitely need to size up from your usual size by at least half - best to try before you buy. Grip across other terrain like mud and loose gravel is nothing short of confidence inspiring. Salomon's Contagrip outsole has lacked grip on greasy rocks and tree roots in the past, but the version on the Quest 4D 3 seems rock solid (excuse the pun) easily competing with most other walking boots. The Ortholite insole is also fairly well cushioned and does the job, but for more customised foot support our advice is always to go for an aftermarket insole. Having said that the balance between stability and feeling lithe and bouncy is just fine, and fatigue doesn't set in prematurely purely because of the boots.

They feel pretty neutral to walk in, there isn't the pronounced roll that you feel in some boots and they aren't quite as springy as some of the more lightweight offerings.

They loosen up a tad but still retain an element of stiffness across the sole which helps them to work excellently in challenging terrain including scrambling. In use the Quest 4D 3 GTX feels a little stiff to start with - which is to be expected. What they do perfectly is strike a middle ground between build and weight, making them suitable for most walkers - in fact the only people that won't appreciate them are fast and light converts who go dancing around the hills in trail running shoes and dog walkers who are just looking for something waterproof.

Salomon quest 4d 3 gtx anaconda