Scarpa Maestrale RS AT Boot

Before we share our own impressions, hear what Kim, Scarpa North American CEO, has to say about this season's Maestrale series. 'love the verb "hot rodded." 

Inside side view.

Two of the best features appear here. The super beefy power strap (with thumb hole for reefing on it) and the buckle holder bar (in yellow) that keeps the buckle from flopping around on the uptrack. 

Here is the "z" or "wave" cable system across the forefoot which enables a single motion, full coverage buckle. The little wheels on the buckle proper perform an ingenious "cam" type function. The only downside? Sometimes the cable gets caught under the black  plastic flap and is tough to dig out. 

This is the Scarpa signature buckle. It keeps your heel down and contributes to the overall solid fit of the boot (and many others in the Scarpa line-up).

Pictured here is the external ski/walk mode lever. It snaps up and down, no problem. Because it's external, field repair may be more easy. Note that the Scarpa-branded pulls on the end of the levers tend to break down and explode with use. Perhaps a more durable cord material could be considered. Also, the ski/walk mechanism gets iced up occasionally which can make for a pain getting into a secure ski mode. 

The Maestrale RSs have Dynafit Certified inserts. These are the only way to go if you ski tech bindings (which you should). Look for the orange toe bracket on new boots (on any brand). Note the little notch under the hole too. That's the Quick Step Insert which makes getting into you bindings a little easier. 

Other than a slight steampunk look, it's unclear to me what the benefits of the aptly named "air ventilation" chainmail-type material on the boot's back cuff is. I think it's another way to keep the weight down—more than it ventilating in any way.  

Vibram Cayman PRO soles. Good for the occasional scramble on rock and good grip on hardpack and icy stuff. Vibram have got soles dialed. It's what they make. 

Intuition liners are the best. Hands down. If my boots don't come with 'em, I tend to chuck the stock liner and slip these in. Warm, very comfortable, and stiff where you need them, these are great liners. Careful though, try them once and you'll never go back. 

• Outsole: Vibram Cayman PRO (ISO 9523)
• Shell: Carbon Grilamid LFT
• Cuff: Grilamid
• Tongue: Pebax

Everybody in the ski business is making big claims these days and the good people at Scarpa were no exception when they released these boots. Could this model really be such an improvement on the previous Maestrale RS? Lighter? Stiffer? Betterer? The weight-to-stiffness ratio is a significant criteria and often involves a sacrifice on either side. The Maestrale  RS manages to be stiffer and lighter than its earlier best-selling RS iteration. No sacrifice here. Scarpa's claim is credible!

I have skied the regular Maestrales, the earlier Maestrale RS's and now these. They have the same comfort that Scarpa is famous for—they just weigh less and feel stiffer. Bravo. Oh.. almost forgot: at 60 degrees, the range of motion is amazing on the uptrack.

I always found the earlier Maestrales a little fussy to get in and out of. This version is a slight improvement but I still find myself getting caught up in the tongue/liner interface. 

The Scarpa Maestrale is not a super light boot, but it is one of the lightest 130 flex rated boots out there (just look at our comparison chart). Remember that flex ratings tend to be a little arbitrary and are best for evaluating various boot flexes within a brand's line. For example, the Dynafit Vulcan that we reviewed (and still run) has a 130 flex but it feels a little more stiff than the RS—and it's more heavy. The Maestrale RS is for skiers who don't want to go super light and sacrifice the feeling of control on the down. If you liked the earlier RS, you'll love the new RS. And, maybe most importantly, If you can only spring for one pair of touring boots, the RS is a good call. 

FIT. Note that Scarpa boot shells break on the full size. In other words, if you are a 27.5 mondo like me, you'll be in a 28 shell and you may have a little volume to address when fitting. The liners are different for full and half sizes but I have found that the 28 shell size is a factor for me. This is not the case with the F1s which fit me like a glove right out of the box.