UKH

I have a pair of Salomon Quest fabric boots with Contragrip soles. Several times over the last year they've let me down on wet rock in conditions where my heavier Scarpas, which have Vibram soles, would have been fine. The last time the happened I bruised a knee quite badly when my foot slipped.

Does anyone else find that Contragrip performs poorly on wet rock?

Yes, lethal, but that was years ago. I just don't buy them anymore.

Yes, but like jon it was years ago and they had a reputation so haven't touched them since.

Interesting to hear, as My old Salomon B3s has Contragrip, and it was sticky as! Gave plenty of confidence on wet rock, snow and even ice.  Based on your experience I'm assuming they have different types of Contragrip.

It certainly seems that way with Vibram... both my B2s (North Face S4K) and B3s (Scapa Phantom techs) have Vibram soles. The grip/friction on the B3s is reassuring in all conditions whilst the B2s perform like greased ferrets?! 

I have raced a lot of km across rocky terrain in all weathers whilst wearing Speedcross shoes with contragrip rubber  with no problems.

Maybe it works better on more flexible running shoes rather than boots.

yes, read about it somewhere recently when researching for a new Salomon boot, which put me off

this one seems to back you up..

https://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=39976.0

Way back when I had some quality Salomon approach shoes and winter boots, probably 20 years ago. The contagrip soles were great.

Then they must have changed the rubber because the newer ones were awful. 

Mine were approach shoes. Just awful. https://constant-practice.com/products/1990s-salomon-exentric-l-tan-red-43-...

Interesting, and kind of backed-up by what jon and galpinos said up-thread. I've always rated Salomon and my current pair aren't my first, but I'm starting to suspect that they're maybe not as good as they were in respect of grip. Okish in dry weather but otherwise nope. I guess Mr Salomon won't be getting any more money from me.

Thanks. One of the responses mentions getting a pair of Quest boots re-soled by LSR. Not an option I'd considered but one I'll look into.

I think they're so called because you inevitably spend a lot of time muttering "Grip, ya cont' in a panicked voice.

I don't buy them anymore either.

was looking at quest 4d vs quest element. the element has the 'mud 'contragrip sole rather than the 'all terrain' sole which should have better grip in wet if less durable..

youtube.com/watch?v=xkPM-dxHxH0&

https://www.salomon.com/en-gb/stories-guides/trail-running/advice-what-cont...

I've never tried Salomon approach shoes but I do like my running shoes to have quite a bit more flex in the soles than any pair of approach shoes that I have ever owned.

I wore approach shoes for my first few fell races and it wasn't much fun.

My very first Salomons were a mid ankle job bought from TK Maxx for £20 over 10 years ago. They've been worn to bits and the uppers are shot but the soles, of course worn down, are still going so a great buy for longevity but I quickly realised they're best in deserts or the high street - very slippery.

My latest are a pair of "Trailster" shoes which are excellent for UK approaches - grass, rock, gravel etc. but the soles are wearing out fast. 

Hence your question intrigued me and I had a quick look - see link below - and found there are currently 6 different soles that bear the trademark "Contagrip" (note no 'r') so heaven knows how many variants there've been over the years to cause us confusion over their uses.

https://www.salomon.com/en-nl/stories-guides/trail-running/advice-what-cont...

Maybe there's a clue in the name...

Though I think it's probably Contagrip...

Just like 'Vibram'; there are many formulations of the compound, and sole unit designs.

As have others, I've found speed cross great, but ankle boots sketchy, so i think there are varying grades of it. 

Interestingly on the running side Salomon have just released the Genesis running shoe with a more specific indication for rock. As others have said I have got on well enough with Speedcross and Ultra Glides amongst others. I have some boots (XA Pro 3D) also and they are a bit more slippy so perhaps it is about the type of shoe.