BEAMS’ 50th birthday is shaping up to one of the best the collab runs of 2026. The Tokyo retailer already talked Arc’teryx into resurrecting the 1998 Theta AR for the occasion (a revival we covered back in September), and now it’s calling in another longtime outdoor ally. This time it’s Salomon answering the phone, and the French brand showed up with actual ski hardware in hand. Enter the seven-piece XT-QUEST BEAMS collection, headlined by the buckled-up Salomon XT-Quest GTX BEAMS.
From Colorways to Co-Creation
Salomon and BEAMS go back further than most sneakerheads realize. The two have been trading collabs since the XA Pro 3D GTX in 2020, with RX Slides, an XT-Pathway, a run of XT-6s, and an XT-Whisper filling the years between. Hell, BEAMS already released an exclusive XT-Quest colorway this past February.
For the big anniversary, though, a fresh paint job just wasn’t going to cut it. Working under the theme of “Hybridisation” and the tagline “Born in the Alps, Refined in Tokyo,” the duo decided to completely rebuild the shoe itself.
Three Shoes in a Trench Coat
The XT-Quest was already Salomon’s resident mutt, mashing the XT-Wings trail runner together with the bones of the Quest 4D hiking boot. For BEAMS’ birthday, the pair added a third ingredient pulled from Salomon’s original line of work: skiing.
A set of ratchet-style ski boot buckles now straps across the quickLACE rigging, cinching down the leather and textile upper like you’re about to drop into a couloir. It’s an absurd detail (in the best way possible, of course), and a sharp nod to the Annecy brand’s 1947 ski-binding roots.
Underneath all of the aesthetics, it’s still a high-performing hiker. Waterproof GORE-TEX, a stabilizing advancedCHASSIS, sensiFIT construction, and a deep-lugged Mud Contagrip outsole handle the performance side. And everything is murdered-out in triple black.
The Jacket Is Wearing a Backpack
The other six pieces keep that mountain-meets-Shibuya energy rolling. Our favorite is the ripstop nylon shell, which hides a zippered pouch and bungee cording in its back panel so the jacket carries like it has a pack strapped on.
Matching ripstop pants, a back-print tee, a packable cap, a padded-strap tote, and a quick-dry bandana round out the affair. Like the shoe, every piece arrives exclusively in black with both brands’ logos throughout.
Spec Sheet
Brand: Salomon x BEAMS
Model: XT-Quest GTX BEAMS
Collection: XT-QUEST BEAMS (7 pieces)
Upper: Leather / Textile
Membrane: Waterproof GORE-TEX
Chassis: advancedCHASSIS
Outsole: Mud Contagrip
Lacing: quickLACE + Ski Boot-Style Buckles
Weight: 1LB 3OZ (Per Shoe)
Colorway: Black / Black / Black
Price: $240
Pricing & Availability
The XT-QUEST BEAMS collection pre-releases at BEAMS Harajuku on November 6, hits BEAMS stores and its online shop November 7, then rolls out to Salomon stores in Japan and globally on November 12. Stateside, the XT-Quest GTX BEAMS is listed at $240 on Salomon’s site, with the rest of the collection spanning $25 for the bandana up to $190 for the jacket.
Recap
Salomon x BEAMS XT-Quest GTX BEAMS
Salomon toasts BEAMS’ 50th anniversary by strapping ski boot buckles onto a GORE-TEX XT-Quest, headlining a seven-piece all-black collection dropping November 12.
