Scarpa 4-Quattro XT Boots

“The 4-Quattro boot is Scarpa’s first line of ski boots fully focused on the alpine-ski world, so we made sure to build a boot that’s performance-oriented, light and technical enough for the best skiers in the world, but one that’s comfortable and versatile for everyday skiers who want a boot that spans a big range of potential uses,” said Massimo Pellizzer, ski boot category manager, Scarpa.

The 4-Quattro XT Boots use what Scarpa calls their Axial Hybrid construction which is a classic tongue and overlap design that allows for easy entry and exit while still providing the stiff flex and volume control of an alpine boot and the mobility of an AT boot. The shell also incorporates an over-injected carbon insert which is essentially a U-shaped piece of carbon wrapping underneath the boot that helps improve torsional rigidity and energy transmission.

Scarpa makes the new 4-Quattro XT men's and women’s Boots with Grilamid Bio and the 4-Quattro SL with Pebax Rnew. Both of these materials are derived from the castor bean plant which reduces fossil fuel use in the construction of the boots and also reduces overall emissions by moving away from the use of raw non-renewable materials. Castor beans can be grown on arid land where other agriculture typically isn’t possible, so this means that their production doesn’t compete with food crops.

The Speed Lock 4 ski/walk mechanism found on the spine of the 4-Quattro XT Boots uses a friction-free magnesium construction that provides 61 degrees range of motion in walk mode. In ski mode, the Speed Lock 4 mechanism is extremely strong and yet also light, easy to use and doesn’t ice up.

The 4-Quattro's Intuition liners use a multi-density layup of closed-cell foam that is thermo moldable for a custom fit. They provide support and comfort with just the right amount of warmth for touring or resort skiing.

4-Quatro literally means 4-4 and likely eludes to the boot’s four-buckle system which along with the Booster Active Power Strap provides a snug yet fully customizable fit around the foot and lower leg.

Scarpa touts their new 4-Quattro Boot line as the lightest GripWalk Hybrid Ski Boots on the market. This of course means that the 4-Quattro XT Boots are compatible with GripWalk-certified downhill or ski-touring bindings. They use a full length rubberized ergonomic Presa outsole which is bonded to the boot so the stand height is very low, which puts the skier closer to the skis resulting in better energy transmission. They also have excellent grip when walking on any surface, be it rocky ridges or slippery lodge floors. 

The men’s and women’s 4-Quattro XT have a flex rating of 130 for men and 115 for women, with weights of 3kg for the men’s size 27 pair and 2.68kg for the size 25 women’s pair. The men’s and women’s 4-Quattro SL have a flex rating of 120 for men and 100 for women, with weights of 2.86kg grams for the men’s size 27 pair for the size 25 women’s pair.

Shell/Cuff/Tongue: Grilamid® Bio w Carbon Core/Grilamid® Bio/Pebax®
Liner:  4Pro Flex XT
Outsole: PRESA® SKI-01/GripWalk Tour (ISO 23223)

• Grilamid Bio shell with an over-injected Carbon Grilamid® LFT insert for high torsional rigidity
• Alpine Axial Hybrid construction provides easy entry, precise fit, and increased power transmission
• Presa outsole is compatible with GripWalk certified alpine downhill and alpine touring bindings
• Super lightweight Magnesium buckles and ski-walk mechanism
• Intuition liner is thermoformable and guarantees a warm, precise, comfortable fit
• Recco Technology 

Since the Freedom SL Boots are no longer in production the Maestrale XT Boots would be the most comparable boot in Scarpa's lineup and one you may have been considering prior to the 4-Quattro XT Boot’s release. I’m going to talk about how the 4-Quattro XT Boot's performance stacks up against that of the Maestrale XT Boots since I have been wearing those boots for a few years now and know them very well. Having tested the 4-Quattro XT Boots over numerous resort and touring days this spring, I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed. While I am very happy with my existing Maestrale XT Boots for hard-charging resort/backcountry days there are a few areas in which the new 4-Quattro XT Boots excelled. The most notable benefit of the 4-Quattro XT Boots is that they have a slightly larger cuff rotation at 61° compared to the Maestrale XT Boots 56 degrees. While this is not really all that noticeable in walk mode, what is apparent is when you switch the 4-Quattro XT Boots into walk mode without undoing any of the buckles or power strap you get a very impressive range of motion, especially compared to the Maestrale XT Boots who remain very rigid. This ability to flex when fully buckled has always been a huge factor in my preferential rating of an alpine touring boot for a few reasons. First, it is always faster and more efficient to switch into walk mode without having to undo all your buckles or at the very least a few of them. It also provides a better foothold and seats your ankle back in the boot's heel pocket which means no blisters. It also means that the boot's buckles are not flailing around as you walk and you don’t have to mess with your ski pants cuff or reset the buckles before switching back over to ski mode. It's just a much cleaner and more efficient process when the walk mode provides enough flex to climb even when the boot is buckled up. This is the main reason I spent so many years in the La Sportiva Spectre Boots as they are one of the few boots that provide a massive amount of flex when buckled or unbuckled. Scarpa’s F1 LT boots are another boot that does this, albeit much lighter and less stiff than the 4-Quattro Boots.

The out-of-the-box fit of the 4-Quattro Boots was also impressive, like all Scarpa Boots they fit my feet well and while this is purely subjective as everyone’s feet are different, I found that there was very little boot fitting I needed to do whereas with other brands I typically have to perform pretty major surgery in order to get them to work. The lower volume shell with its 100mm last provides enough room in the toe box and a comfortable fit while still positioning my foot back in the heel pocket where it belongs. I did notice that they were a little snugger than my Maestrale XT Boots but nothing that made my feet feel cramped or created any hot spots. This trimmed-down volume of the 4-Quattro XT Boots also helps provide a tighter, performance-orientated fit. 

While not breaking any weight records for a 130 flex touring boot, the 4-Quattro XT Boots are substantially lighter when compared to the older Scarpa Freedom boots. They are, however, approximately the same weight as the Maestrale XT Boots which also weigh around the 3kg mark. The 4-Quattro XT Boots use Grilamid Bios material made from the oil of castor beans and despite the material's environmental nature, it feels much more rigid than the traditional Grilamid used in the Maestrale XT Boots. This Grilamid Bios material does make the 4-Quattro XT Boots a little more difficult to get your foot into as it does not flex that much, but this is a small price to pay for the environment.

Overall the 4-Quattro XT Boots provide great support and foothold for aggressive all-mountain skiing in bounds and when you want to seek out fresh lines and earn your turns the cuff rotation was second to none. If you are looking for a true alpine touring boot that can be your resort daily driver as well, both the Maestrale XT and 4-Quattro XT Boots should be at the top of your list. For those with slightly narrow feet or wanting a more environmentally conscious boot with a more accessible cuff rotation then the 4-Quattro XT Boots would win out.

If you are looking for comparable boots to the 4-Quattro XT Boots with a similar weight and 130 flex you could consider looking at the Scott Superguide Carbon AT Boot, Fischer Ranger Free 130 Walk DYN Boots, Scott Freeguide Carbon Boots and of course Scarpa’s own  Maestrale XT Boots.