#hiking boots

I've been using the Salomon Quest 4D for a while now, and I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed. I know a lot of people swear by them, but for me, they just haven't held up on longer hikes. The tread starts to wear down way too quickly, and the ankle support isn't as great as I thought it'd be. I've been on a few 20-mile hikes with them and my feet have been killing me by the end of it. Has anyone else had this experience? I'm starting to think it's not the shoe, it's just not meant for long-distance. Maybe I'm just not used to the more minimalist design, but I've been hiking in Merrells for years and never had this problem. I dunno, maybe I'm just getting old and my feet are getting weaker or something. But seriously, has anyone else had issues with the Quest 4D on longer hikes?

I've been thinking about how the latest fashion trends are influencing my outdoor gear, particularly when it comes to hiking boots. Wired braided shoelaces seem to be making a comeback, but are they really better than elastic laces? In my experience, wired laces provide a more secure fit, especially on tough terrain. However, they can be a real pain to deal with when you're trying to get your boots on and off quickly. Elastic laces, on the other hand, are super convenient but can come undone at the worst times. Has anyone else had to deal with this? I've been looking at the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX hiking boots, which come with wired laces, but I'm tempted to switch to elastic laces for the sake of convenience. What's your take on this?