Scarpa Maestrale RS Alpine Touring Boots

While the new Maestrale RS is more of an evolution than a revolution, it incorporates many new features that make it more powerful and versatile. Most of these changes will be familiar, as they have been borrowed from Scarpa’s 4‑Quattro Boots. By integrating proven elements from the 4‑Quattro boots, Scarpa is able to create a more cost‑effective Maestrale RS that builds on an already successful design. So what’s new with this latest iteration of the Maestrale RS ski touring boots? Here’s a quick overview:

• $150 CAN less expensive
• 5 points stiffer 130 flex rating
• 110 g heavier per boot
• Built with a more powerful cuff and a re‑engineered lower shell
• New plastic power‑strap mechanism
• New Speed Lock 4 ski/walk mechanism
• New four‑buckle configuration
• Tongue stiffener in the Intuition liners
• Insulating layer underfoot

The first thing you notice about the new Maestrale RS boots is their four‑buckle configuration. This redesigned alpine‑style closure ensures a uniform, secure fit and reliable control. While it adds a minor amount of weight, it offers greater versatility, providing both additional power and improved comfort. Combined with the Maestrale RS’s more powerful cuff and re‑engineered lower shell, you get a stiffer, higher‑performing boot that can confidently drive wider, more demanding skis in a broad range of conditions.

You can see the inspiration for the Maestrale's (left) new 4-buckle orientation from the 4-Quattro Boots (right).

The ski/walk mechanism on the Maestrale RS has been updated to the Speed Lock 4 system, also from the 4‑Quattro boots. Rather than the single high‑pivot design of the previous ski/walk mechanism, the new Speed Lock 4 uses a much more compact layout that eliminates the need to lift your ski pants to allow the lever to swing up in walk mode. This lower‑profile design is more efficient and easier to use, providing strong, precise flex on the descent and an excellent range of motion on the climb.

You can compare ski/walk mechanisms on the previous Scarpa Maestrale RS (left) and that of the new Scarpa Maestrale RS Boots (right) below, along with that of the Speed Lock 4 Ski/Walk mechanisms on the 4-Quattro (left) and the new Maestrale RS boots (right).

A new, presumably lighter, power strap is also found on the Maestrale RS boots. It uses a plastic hook instead of a metal one and features an integrated push button for easier release. Scarpa calls this their Booster Active Power Strap. While it may only save a few grams, it is much simpler to use and notably more glove‑friendly. This same power strap is also found on Scarpa's new F1 RS Boots, so it may start appearing on all Scarpa boots as they come due for a refresh.

The new powerstrap borrowed from the just released F1 RS Boots on the right and the old metal strap on the left.

For added warmth beyond what the Intuition liners already provide, Scarpa has added an insulating layer below the liners. This combines high‑density wool, low‑density felt, and a thermo‑reflective layer in the shell platform underfoot.

While the more powerful cuff and re‑engineered lower shell contribute greatly to the Maestrale RS’s stiffer 130 flex rating, Scarpa has also chosen to use an Intuition liner with an integrated tongue stiffener. This helps deliver an even higher level of performance while still enabling a smooth, progressive flex.

On the bottom of the Maestrale RS ski touring boots, you’ll find Vibram’s Cayman LT sole, which is very aggressive and provides impressive grip on boot packs and slippery lodge floors alike.

The new Maestrale RS maximizes strength and performance in a lightweight, do‑it‑all “quiver of one” boot that is equally at home touring or lapping the resort. The Gea RS is the women’s version and features a women’s-specific cuff with the most powerful flex in its category. While these RS versions have received major upgrades, the regular Maestrale remains unchanged this season and keeps the same buckle configuration, using the Wave Lite closure system to eliminate a forefoot buckle. If you’re looking for that classic Scarpa fit in a boot that can handle both touring and resort days, put the Maestrale RS on your shortlist.

Shell/Cuff/Tongue: Grilamid / Pebax Rnew® / Pebax®
Liner: Intuition® Pro Flex Performance
Outsole: Vibram® Cayman LT (ISO 9523)

• High power and precision on the descent.
• Excellent comfort on the ascent.
• DIY (Do It Yourself) maintenance.
• Ski/Walk Mode: Speed Lock 4.
• Binding System: AT + TLT.
• Closure: 4 Buckles + Booster® Active Power Strap.
• Tongue stiffener in the Intuition liner.
• Insulating layer underfoot combines high-density wool, low-density felt and a thermo-reflective layer.
• Vibram Cayman LT sole.
• More powerful cuff and a reengineered lower shell.

The new Maestrale RS ski touring boots are now stiffer than ever and owe much of their updated design to features borrowed from Scarpa’s popular hybrid all‑mountain touring 4‑Quattro Boots. This includes the new four‑buckle layout, the Speed Lock 4 ski/walk mechanism, and the more powerful cuff and re‑engineered lower shell. This design philosophy of borrowing proven technology from other in‑line products to cost‑effectively revise an existing product comes from the car industry, where they routinely update models affectionately thereafter referred to as “parts‑bin” cars. Rather than starting from scratch and spending heavily to recreate solutions that already exist elsewhere in the line, Scarpa has chosen this smarter business approach to create a highly effective new RS version of the Maestrale. Scarpa's 4‑Quattro boots have already refined and perfected the balance of stiffness to weight ration, so it makes sense to port over their buckle layout and Speed Lock 4 mechanism. The end result is a stiffer RS version of the Maestrale without having to reinvent the wheel, which helps keep the MSRP at a very reasonable $999 CAN.

Having already reviewed the 4‑Quattro XT boots, the Scarpa 4‑Quattro Pro 130+ boots, and the 4‑Quattro GT boots, I am very familiar with their four‑buckle design, stiff shell, and low‑profile Speed Lock 4 ski/walk mechanism. All of the traits that make the 4‑Quattro boots so adept at skiing challenging terrain are now what make the new Maestrale RS such a competent touring/resort boot. The elimination of the Wave Lite closure system, which debuted on the previous Maestrale RS, made room for two forefoot buckles borrowed from the 4‑Quattro boots. At the same time, the Heel Retention Ratchet Buckle was removed, and there are now two buckles on the RS’s upper cuff. Initially, this worried me, as the Heel Retention Ratchet Buckle was extremely effective at pulling your foot back and seating it properly in the boot's heel pocket. With the more traditional alpine four‑buckle configuration found on the new Meastrale RS Boots, I didn’t think I’d be able to achieve as secure a foothold as in the previous RS version. I was wrong. The comfort and foothold in these new RS boots is just as good—if not better—than before, thanks to the more rigid cuff, re‑engineered lower shell, and the tongue stiffener in the Intuition liner. This combination also contributes to how powerful and connected the boot feels; they can easily drive a ski that is 110 mm underfoot or wider, with confidence.

The combination of rigid foothold, progressive flex, and impressive downhill performance is matched by a generous 61° of cuff rotation. This makes the uphill climb feel very fluid, and the borrowed Speed Lock 4 ski/walk mechanism makes transitions even easier. Its low‑profile design means you no longer need to pull up your ski pants when switching into walk mode, making changeovers faster and more efficient. This design is more resistant to icing in walk mode and provides a very rigid and impressive ski experience—welcome improvements across the board.

Another notable change is the new Booster Active Power Strap, which uses a plastic hook instead of the previous metal one. This saves a bit of weight without sacrificing performance and is the same design used on the new F1 RS Boots. It’s quick and intuitive to operate and remains easy to manage with gloves on.

While the line between the 4‑Quattro and the new Maestrale RS boots is becoming increasingly blurred, that’s not a bad thing. Incorporating proven elements from the highest‑performing boot in Scarpa’s lineup and integrating them into a tried‑and‑true touring platform—the Maestrale RS—makes a lot of sense. If you’re in the market for new alpine touring boots, or you’re simply looking for a single boot that can excel both inbounds and out, make sure you get the Maestrale RS on your feet.