Review: Hiking with Salomon Quest Forces Boots

Hope everyone had a great New Year.

Today I took my Salomon Quest Forces on a little hike. About 20 km, 3200 feet

Cant ask for better weather

Not much of challenge but I wanted to soften them a bit. I have worn them several times before but not much hiking. I mostly use either my grey Salomon Quests 4D GTX or my Salomon Ultra 2. These last ones are my go to shoes most of the time given the warmer climate. My grey Quests are already nicely broken in and just feel more comfortable. The Forces one are still a tad stiff.

So how did they do? Well, as expected they did great. Didn’t get to soften them much but it’s a boot that doesn’t need it much anyway because they are very comfortable from the go.

The trail was a rocky mountain trail. Lots of loose pebbles and rocks, at times covering larger rock surfaces which felt like walking on marbles. I was careful not to fall and after kicking the rocks out of the way the boots provided sure footing on the smooth rock surface. Some people don’t believe boots provide ankle support. I don’t agree with them at all. Many times I stepped in the most messed up angle and I could feel the boot help improve the support in those instances.

Pretty rocky trail though

What can I say that most people don’t already know about the legendary Quest boots?  They are just high quality, premium footwear. Not cheap but worth every cent. Comfortable, solid, don’t slip where other shoes do. The anti-debris mesh actually worked for me today. I like the locking eyelets a lot too. The toe cap and heel cap are an appreciated feature that keeps your boot from tearing against the rocks. The Goretex didn’t feel particularly hot, but of course you want to take breaks, take your boots and socks off and let them dry when taking a break on the trail.

Salomon Forces Quest 4D GTX $249.95

Love them. If you’re looking for a great boot that is light, comfortable yet tough, and don’t look half bad with a pair of jeans,  give the Salomon Quest 4D GTX a good long look.

FerFAL

Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Grey man? Waved through security thanks to Glock hat

The Italian Polizia at the Vatican entrance was having none of it.

The guy in front of us could walk back from where he came or drop the selfie stick in the bin but he was not walking past security with the popular telescopic device. 

Security at the Vatican was tight this past Sunday, as it usually is before the Pope speaks around 12:00. I was there in the queue behind “selfie stick guy” with my two kids, waiting to enter St. Peter’s Square. My Leatherman Charge and folder had stayed back home. My only knife consisted of the tiny blade in my Leatherman PS4 which replaced the Minichamp in my keychain for this specific trip. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to carry it with my carry-on on the flight to Rome. Rules say its fine if the blade is under 6cm.  I was carrying my North Face red messenger bag, wearing a gray tshirt, blue 5.11 taclite pants and my Glock Perfection khaki hat. Oh! We were also armed with some delicious gelato we had just bought. 

After selfie stick guy mourned his gadget left behind in the bin and kept on walking it was our turn.

“Buongiorno!” I said, with my best crappy Italian. The young polizia officer looked at me, his eyes went to my hat and he smiled back “Buongiorno!”. He pointed with his finger an asked how was my ice cream. I said it was great (it really was). I started to open the flap of my messenger bag but he waved us through so I kept waking with my youngest son. He stopped my oldest son and pointed to his backpack, but I turned and said “È mio figlio”, so he waved him through too. 

After that there was another queue for the metal detector. I sent my bag through the scanner and when I walked through the metal detector it went off. The guard looked at me, I again saw his eyes go to my Glock hat and while I started to remove my riggers belt which was obviously the reason why the metal detector was triggered the officer told me not to bother with the belt and just waved us through again.

Believe it or not this scene repeated itself time and again in museums, monuments and other security points across Rome during our visit. It happened so much my youngest son asked why police and guards “like me” so much. 

The only reason I can think of is positive profiling.  At least in Italy, I can say that police related to my gun nut hat in a very positive way.  A guy with two kids, wearing basically the same clothes I use for ISPC shooting, 5.11 pants, gray/black Salomon X-Ultra shoes, Riggers belt, Wiley X glasses and a big red North Face bag, just doesn’t fit the terrorist type. 

Does the same apply to police and security checkpoints everywhere? Probably not. But don’t be afraid to try things out and experiment some, you might be surprised. The Glock hat is somewhat tasteful and not so much “in your face”. It’s the kind of thing other gun people notice while 99% of the rest of the population probably wont.  Being friendly and smiling helps a lot too, no matter what you wear. 

 Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

7 Summer EDC Essentials

I hope everyone is having a great day!
With the nice warm weather EDC changes a bit. Here’s some stuff I find myself using a lot these days.

5.11 Taclite shorts

I have some of the old lot of 5.11, canvas 100% cotton. They are falling apart so it was time to get new ones. These are a cotton/nylon blend which is far more durable.
They are comfortable, don’t look half bad with good shoes and a neat tshirt or polo and they have the exact same configuration as your standard 5.11 taclite pants. Pockets for all your EDC and then some. Spare magazine pouch upfront and you can through a couple rifle mags or 20 12ga shells in each back pocket if needed.

Glock Hat

Much needed to keep the sun from your face and head.
I’ve used this Glock hat for a few years now. At this point I feel that although it does contradict my main philosophy of “gray man” wardrobe, I did notice a couple things. First, I LIKE wearing it. That’s always important. Second, and this you only notice after wearing it for some time, is that while I got zero negative comments or even weird looks, I did get a few “cool hat bro” approving nods and thumbs up from people in the know. Not everyone knows what Glock Perfection means and those that do will most likely be gun people.

Seiko Orange Monster

I love the Seiko Monster series. They are true diver watches. Big, built like a tank and just look solid, like a piece of stainless machinery. Although my standard go to watch is still the Protrek PRG 250T, I do wear this one a good bit during the summer. The orange dial looks amazing and the pics don’t do it justice.

Leatherman Charge Tti
This one is with me year round but just a reminder. The Leatherman Charge Tti is such a fantastic tool and has served me so well over the years. My most used EDC tool, hands down. Its been with me many summers, many beaches and it has been a trusted companion. A minimum amount of care, a couple drops of oil and it handles a trip to the beach perfectly well.
WileyX Valor

I somewhat recently updated my shades to these polarized Valor, retiring my much loved WileyX Revlovr. Let me tell you, if you haven’t tried polarized eyewear yet, do it. The difference is very much noticeable and worth every penny.

LG G6

People sometimes ask about a good phone that doesn’t cost a fortune and fits the requirements for people with a survival and preparedness mentality. To me that means toughness and waterproofing, without sacrificing what a smartphone is supposed to be.

Sure, there are specific “rugged” phones, but you give up having the performance of flagship models in terms of camera, display and other features. Not with the LG G6.
My previous phone was a Note 2 which I kept in an Otterbox defender case. Tough as nails but not waterproof and dorky as hell with the large case carried in the belt.
I keep my LG G6 in a Spigen Tough Armor case, added a Spigen screen protector and that was it. Its resistant enough, IP68-rated for water and dust-resistance (the Iphone X is only IP67)
IP67 means the unit can be dropped into a body of water up to a meter deep for half an hour, while IP68 guarantees protection in water up to 30 meters deep for the same period of time. Both are resistant to dust.
Its still a big 5.7” display but thanks to having no front button (centered in the back, like they all should be) and 18:9 ratio, it slips perfectly into my jeans pocket.

Salomon Ultra shoes
I have a couple of Salomon Quest 4D boots which I use all the time but they are a bit bulky for summer.
The Salomon X Ultra are comfortable, light trekking shoes. Surprisingly durable too, unlike my last pair of Merrells that fell apart in a couple months.
So, do you have anything in your EDC that changes depending on the season or weather?
Let me know in the comments below.
Take care!
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”

Survival Footwear: Salomon Quest 4D Forces

The Philosophy

Every hiker knows that his boots are the most important part of his gear. Lose your backpack, lose your pants, its all good, but without shoes… your mobility is greatly handicapped and without mobility you have very few options.
Given how important it is to have adequate footwear during an emergency, your daily wear shoes should reflect that. If something happens and today whatever you chose to wear is all you will have to walk several miles, get by for days or even weeks, walk across broken terrain, help people or extract yourself or others across rubble and debris, keep yourself dry when raining. Therefore we are looking for practical, capable footwear.

Salomon Quest and X-Ultra

I’ve been using Salomon footwear for about a year now and have not been disappointed.
Even the low-top hikers X-Ultra have kept my feet dry and provided more than enough foot support and traction.
The Salomon Quest boots are a in a league of their own. Tough, impossibly comfortable once broken in and durable.

The grey ones are the typical hiking boots that made the Quest boots famous. Since these ended up in the feet of military personal nearly as much as in the feet of hikers, they came up with the Quest Forces model. The colours are more militaristic and use leather loops instead of metal eyelets but other than that its mostly the same great boot.

I think they all work very well for all-round footwear. They are comfortable enough for normal, everyday use yet provide serious hiking capability if it’s ever needed. It doesn’t hurt that they look great. The Quest boots are clearly more suited for moderate to cold climates (especially with Goretex models) and the low top do well in very warm climates. These do have goretex as well, which granted, makes it warmer, but then again its great to step on a few inches of water and not have a single drop go in (have done so numerous times already)
Give Salomon a try. You won’t be disappointed.

FerFAL
 Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

Survival Footwear: Salomon Quest 4D Forces

A bit disappointed with my Merrells (interior fabric broke in less than 6 months) but I have high hopes for my new Salomon Quest 4D Forces. Reviews are excellent, it’s often mentioned as one of the best choices in light hiking boots, usually along with Asolo Fugitive and Lowa Renegade II.The Quest are very comfortable, provide excellent support and although I haven’t used them nearly enough all reviews mention how durable they are.

What’s survival footwear by the way? Think of it this way: If your car breaks down and you have to walk a few miles back home. If there’s a disaster and there’s debris and broken glass to navigate through in your usually nice sidewalks, if you have no choice but to walk across uneven terrain or along paths and muddy trails to reach safety, if you have to stick with whatever’s on your feet right now for a few days or a few months. What would you rather have? If you think of it this way, you’ll be selecting what you wear with a different perspective and making the best of whatever dress code you have to work around.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

Best Survival T-shirt: Cotton vs Merino Wool vs Synthetic

Rain Gear Recommendations‏

Recently, you endured a rainy climate. What worked and what didn't? From umbrellas to boots, town and country, drizzle to downpour. Personally, I find that umbrellas are under-appreciated, and most rain pants are not worth the trouble.
Jo
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Hello Jo,
Indeed, after four years of Irish weather rainy climate has a whole new meaning for me. It practically rains every given day, and when it doesn’t its cloudy with +90% humidity.
Ironically enough, people over there don’t seem to be worried about dressing appropriately for the weather. Most teens and young adults can be seen walking around with cotton hoodies. If it started drizzling a bit heavier they would pull the cotton hoodie over their heads, as if that was some kind of solution. Adults and school age children could be seen walking around just getting wet. There’s almost a pathological denial regarding umbrellas, you just don’t see people carrying them as you’d expect. Not me, I learned to love umbrellas in Ireland and carried a cheap but sturdy IKEA umbrella everywhere I went. If you want something classy, get a Fulton Huntsman. My wife loves her Fulton Bubble clear birdcage umbrella.
As for what I learned:
1)A quality rainproof jacket, with a good hood makes all the difference in the world. Most of the time I would just carry a Hi-tec jacket. Their waterproof breathable fabric is called Dri-tec. It’s not as fancy as Goretex but it works well enough. Usually a waterproof shell and t-shirt or long sleeve shirt would be all I’d wear on top. Only in the colder winter days, and some years we did have lots of snow and pretty cold temps, did I wear my 3 in 1 North Face jacket.

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The North Face Mens Atlas Triclimate Jacket

2)At first I just got along with 100% cotton t shirts, same I would use in South America. Of course this isn’t that good an idea in such wet and cold climates. It stays damp longer given the constant rain and high humidity, which causes you to lose heat. Here is where Merino really makes a difference. I got along ok with cotton because I’m not particularly sensitive to cold temperatures and Ireland isn’t excessively cold most of the time, but I can tell a Merino t-shirt is pretty much ideal for wet, cold climates such as the one in Ireland. Try Icebreaker or if you’re particularly sensitive to itch, give Smart Wool a go.

Icebreaker Men's Tech T Lite Short Sleeve

3)For footwear I mostly used light hiking waterproof footwear. Again Hi-tec proved to be affordable yet good enough for my needs, but other brands such as Columbia and Merrell have served me well as well. When hiking in tougher terrain I use Caterpillar Hydraulic boots. Waterproof, sturdy as hell and good traction for walking in rocky terrain.

4)Socks and underwear has been the thing I’ve learned to appreciate the most. Using synthetic fitted socks (technical liners from Dunnes) and underwear (Under Armor) makes a big difference.
About technical fitted socks and liners: These would be the socks you buy both for your foot size and which come fitted for left or right feet. It may not seem like a big deal but I’m a believer. I’m fed up of these tubes on my feet that never fit quite right. If you think about it your left foot is the exact reflection of your right one, very different! In the same way a right-hand glove fits poorly your left hand, a sock shouldn’t be expected to be interchangeable. People have emailed me about having a hard time finding these. These New Balance Technical Elite are pretty similar to the ones I wear. Give them a try, I’m sure you’ll love them. For longer socks try Nike Men's Dri-Fit Cushioned Socks 3 Pair

Nike Men's Dri-Fit Cushion Crew Socks - 3 Pair Pack

5) I tend to agree that in general, pants aren’t that important unless its pouring rain and you’re doing some kind of outdoors activity. For running errands and such, jeans work ok. 100% Cotton jeans do get pretty wet in the Irish weather though, the 50/50 (50% cotton, 50% synthetic) blends dry a bit faster and don’t hold as much water. 50/50 is what the military uses for their BDU so it’s a good compromise. My favourite pants, synthetic 5.11 Taclites, are clearly more suited for rainy weather because they are less likely to absorb water and even if they do they dry faster. I did grow a bit tired of 5.11s and lately I was using mostly 50/50 jeans.

5.11 Tactical #74273 Men's TacLite Pro Pant

6)Protect your eyes. Sunglass also come in handy when there’s strong winds and rain. Ireland is very windy, so shades that aren’t too dark are very useful to keep rain way from your eyes. I recommend the ones I use, Wiley X Revolvers.

Wiley X Revolvr Sunglasses, Smoke Grey, Matte Black

I’ve used my pair for years, all the way from shooting ranges to the streets of Buenos Aires, Ireland and now the sunny Mediterranean beaches in Spain. Everywhere I go the Wiley X Revolvers come with me.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

Survival Clothes: SmartWool

I’ve posted before about my quest to find the complete, ideal clothes setup from a modern survivalist perspective. By this I mean, practical, functional, even tactical, without being “tacticool”. I don’t need digicam. I don’t need to look like a deer hunter. I need subdued colors, in good, functional fabrics. This logic should be applied to all clothes, from the socks you wear everyday to the jacket you grab before going through the door for a night out in town with friends. That’s what we’ll be on your back when you need it, when disaster strikes without warning. That’s your real survival clothes.
This is how I ended up interested in Merino wool, a natural fabric that is softer than ordinary wool, wicks moisture away from your body, keeps you both warm and fresh and has natural odor resistance even if wearing the same clothes for a few days. It is also a better option in terms of fire resistance than synthetics.

Smartwool NTS Micro 150 Tee

I tried Icebreaker t-shirts and I do like them. I will say they are a bit itchy, especially when wearing it at first. As minutes go by you notice it less but some people may be more sensitive than others. If that’s the case there’s still hope: Smartwool. Smartwool is merino with a special treatment that makes it less itchy while retaining the desired properties. How well does it work? Pretty good actually. Better than expected. It’s not cotton. There’s just a bit, a tad of itchiness at first, but its almost like cotton and it is better in the itchy department than Icebreaker.

FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

Survival Clothes Selection Part I

Icebreaker 100% Merino Wool Clothes

In my search for the ultimate survivalist wardrobe I came across Icebreaker brand of clothes. I’m pretty excited with my first Icebreaker 100% Merino base layer. Fits great and being made of 100% merino wool, what’s not to like?

-Warm, even when wet

-Cool when needed

-Wicking action, drawing moisture away from the skin.

-Antibacterial properties.

-Naturally odor-resistant, Non-itch merino

-Great material and very finely made garment.

FerFAL

 Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.