Alpine Utility Unleashed: The BEAMS x Salomon 50th Anniversary XT-QUEST GTX BEAMS

BEAMS isn’t doing quiet logo swaps for its 50th anniversary—it’s bolting actual ski hardware onto a trail titan. Taking the already rugged Salomon XT-Quest GTX, the Japanese powerhouse equips the upper with functional ski boot ratchet buckles over a stealthy triple-black GORE-TEX frame. It’s peak alpine utility turned high-heat urban uniform.

The XT-Quest GTX BEAMS combines a leather-and-textile upper with premium ripstop and a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane. Salomon’s advancedCHASSIS adds stability, while SensiFit helps hold the foot securely. Underneath, a Mud Contagrip outsole uses deep, sharp lugs designed for loose, soft and uneven ground. Quicklace provides one-pull tightening, with ski-boot-inspired buckle details adding the collaboration’s distinctive alpine look. The shoe anchors the seven-piece XT-QUEST BEAMS collection, created for BEAMS’ 50th anniversary.

BEAMS and Salomon go back a while, from the XA Pro 3D GTX in 2019 to last October’s purple-fade XT-Whisper, and the XT-Quest itself has been through Slam Jam’s hands in 2023 and OAMC’s in January. This is the most practical of the lot. GORE-TEX, a Mud Contagrip sole and an all-black finish is about as useful a combination as you can buy for a British winter, and between the Quicklace and the buckles, you’re never retying wet laces at a bus stop.

Salomon XT-Quest GTX BEAMS Release Information

It went on sale early at BEAMS in Japan on 7 November, while Salomon’s global release is due on 12 November. The Salomon UK website currently only says “Coming Soon”, but we can expect the pair to arrive sooner rather than later. With a £220 RRP against $240 in the US, that’s serious money for a trainer. But this is closer to a boot than most, and it’s the kind of shoe that earns its price once the winter peak sets in by February. If you could only buy one winter Salomon, I’d make it this one over another XT-6.