The launch of the utterly redesigned Scarpa Maestrale household largely flew beneath the media radar final fall. That’s shocking on condition that the Maestrale has been the best-selling AT boot of all time. Possibly it’s as a result of it doesn’t look that completely different? However the brand new iteration is a giant departure from years of incremental upgrades – it is a utterly new boot with a well-known silhouette.
In line with Scarpa, the principle targets for the redesign have been to enhance match and downhill efficiency, which backcountry skiers know could be both harmonious or opposing targets. There’s extra carbon and a wholly new shell form, amongst different updates.
The Maestrale household raised me, so I needed to dig in. I spent about half of final season in two completely different pairs of the brand new Maestrale RS’s, and I can say with none hesitation that these are the perfect Maestrale’s but. However there are nonetheless just a few tiny particulars that I believe may very well be upgraded with the following iteration (or in a gear tinkerer’s storage).
Match and Sizing
First off, the brand new Maestrale doesn’t match like your outdated Maestrale. Folks at all times say, “attempt it on before you purchase it” and I’m normally like, “why would I do this once I already know my measurement?” Effectively, that vanity got here again to chew me.
I began with a measurement 27.5 Maestrale RS. I’ve been a 27.5 Mondo in Scarpa, which break on the complete measurement (i.e. 27.5 and 28 are in the identical shell) since Maestrale Gen 1. My Scarpa F1’s and F1 XT’s, measurement 28, match about completely with out sufficient room to downsize. The brand new Maestrales, which have a 2mm longer BSL, are longer internally. I knew instantaneously that I made a mistake in sizing once I slipped my foot right into a smaller 27 at Cripple Creek Backcountry.
So after about 15 days of snowboarding, to the annoyance of the gracious Scarpa reps that helped get me new boots to check, I needed to swap for a 27. Now that I’m one other ~25 excursions into the brand new boots, the match is dialed.
It wasn’t simply me. Bootfitters at Cripple Creek and others have discovered that there’s a definite measurement discrepancy between the brand new Maestrale, F1 LT/XT, and the Quattro. Of us that have been on the point of sizing down earlier than will very possible be sizing down with the brand new Maestrale. And a 28 Quattro/F1 isn’t the identical as a 28 Maestrale. Ethical of the story? Attempt this stuff on at your native store earlier than committing.
As soon as the self-inflicted bootfitting kerfuffle was sorted, I rapidly felt the impression of the brand new shell’s form. The brand new heel cup is narrower than earlier iterations, and it’s extra cup-like. It does a a lot better job at holding the heel in place, even after the 258g Instinct Professional Flex Efficiency liners broke in naturally (with out warmth molding).
My outdated Maestrales are filled with shims beneath the liner and footbed to mitigate the heel raise. That hasn’t been the case with the brand new model. I did add the included 4mm full-length volume-reducing shim once I was battling the bigger measurement, however as soon as I sized down, I haven’t had so as to add any aftermarket changes to maintain my heel locked in or cut back rubbing. I’ve but to get a blister, even sans Leukotape. That’s a giant enchancment in itself.
The shell is decrease quantity than the earlier variations, which have been fairly roomy and will get sloppy as soon as the liners packed out. Width-wise they felt comparable however are literally 1mm wider at an accommodating 102mm final. However once more, they didn’t really feel sloppy side-to-side even with common width ft.
The Maestrale RS buckle format is usually the identical however with the addition of the ability strap
Buckles and Straps
I skied quite a lot of vertical within the new Maestrale, together with just a few mogul bashing days at Alta. The brand new Maestrale acquired an influence enhance unquestionably, and I’ve been working to tease out the place that comes from. Seems, it’s just a few issues.
First off, the ability strap on the RS model of the boot is an computerized efficiency enhancer. It’s a camming energy strap similar to a Booster Strap, which most power-oriented boots are transferring in direction of now that Booster’s patent has expired. The precise camming gadget is far lighter, although, at 25g apiece in comparison with Booster’s 54g. This isn’t utterly new – the Maestrale XT, a beefier model of the boot, has had the hooked cam for just a few years, however that is the primary 12 months that it has trickled right down to the Maestrale RS.
The camming hook is large, meaty, and straightforward to hook. Nevertheless, it does unhook fairly simply when it’s stuffed beneath my pant gaiter. I ended up reattaching it on about half of uphill-to-downhill transitions. I believe that model works properly for an alpine boot, because it sometimes stays tight, however I believe it wants a little bit additional safety to maintain it latched on condition that totally loosening it’s required to unlock the Maestrale’s vary of movement.
The elasticity of the strap does extra than simply improve energy, although. Actually it’s extra in regards to the match enhancement. When it’s pulled tight, it just about eliminates useless house between my shin and the tongue. That interprets to fast tongue engagement relatively than a extra on/off feeling. It helps the progressive ramp up begin a lot earlier and permits extra elasticity in that preliminary development. The outcome? They’re extra lively and interesting at slower speeds earlier than you may have the momentum to actually lean into the tongue.
Aside from the ability strap, issues are fairly comparable within the tightening division. The higher buckle is refreshingly easy with a beefier buckle ladder. The Instep strap, now extra simply replaceable, is unchanged performance-wise. The decrease Z-buckle on the shell now sports activities a barrel adjuster for micro-adjusting rigidity.
Paired with the brand new shell form, the buckles and straps did a wonderful job conserving my ft in place, my heels locked down, and my shins engaged. That is the improve that the historically roomy Maestrales have at all times wanted.
Supplies
The Maestrale hasn’t deviated away from its longstanding three piece Cabrio design. Aside from a bit extra power-enhancing cuff overlap, the general design is much like earlier iterations. Supplies received an improve, although – they’ve Grilamid Bio shells with Carbon Core beneath the arch, Pebax Rnew cuffs, additionally with strategically positioned carbon, and Pebax tongues.
The brand new carbon within the shell and cuff surrounds the principle pivot so as to add stiffness the place the shell deforms deep into the boot’s flex. It’s an excellent addition – the boots’ flex development feels predictable and it doesn’t fold when it’s actually leveraged ahead. I appreciated fewer cases of that “going over the bars” feeling.
Downhill Efficiency
I had quite a lot of enjoyable snowboarding the brand new Maestrale RS and I threw each ski and snow situation at my disposal beneath the brand new boots. I wasn’t shocked that they skied higher than earlier variations – what can be the purpose in any other case? However I used to be impressed with simply how a lot better they felt pushing larger skis by way of chunky snow.
Along with extra energy, there’s one thing in regards to the new Maestrale that’s simply “crisper” than earlier variations. They really feel a little bit extra energetic, fast to have interaction, and torsionally stiff on edge. That’s certainly a mix of higher match and a extra strategic materials format.
There’s quite a lot of begin/cease snowboarding within the backcountry and loads of meadow-skipping. It felt like the brand new boot was extra alive all through, as an alternative of needing a kick begin to interact. The rebound felt extra energetic throughout even at slower speeds such as you anticipate from a Cabrio-style boot, which wasn’t significantly pronounced in earlier iterations.
With extra energy and a greater match, I half anticipated the Maestrales to really feel mismatched to among the lighter, shorter skis I’ve been testing this 12 months – the brand new DPS Pagoda Tour CFLs (179cm), the Fischer Transalp 92 CTI (176cm), and the Blizzard Zero G 95 (179cm). Although I sometimes ski that group with lighter boots, all of them really paired properly with the Maestrale RS, particularly in difficult snow situations on condition that I’m 190lbs. They’d most likely really feel too stiff for lighter skiers on small skis, although.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, they felt greater than ample, perhaps even completely matched, to larger touring skis like my 191cm 4FRNT Hojis, 189cm Kastle TX 103s, and DPS’s new Pagoda Tour CFL 105s.
I used to be fairly happy with their energy and smoother development. Did they really feel like beefy 4-buckle alpine boots? Not fairly, however they’re greater than highly effective sufficient for 95% of backcountry skiers. At no level was I wishing for extra boot within the backcountry whilst a big particular person snowboarding quick on giant skis.
Touring Efficiency
The Maestrale RS has by no means been a featherweight, and at a claimed 1,470g per boot in measurement 27 (my scale confirmed 1,467g, for the file) the brand new Maestrale RS isn’t a significant divergence – about 20g heavier with the addition of the camming strap. For comparability, my 2-buckle Fischer Transalp Carbon professional in the identical measurement weighed in at 1,429g.
At first I used to be puzzled by the brand new boot’s vary of movement. It felt beneficiant rearward, restricted solely by my ankle. However ahead there was a tough, untimely cease. After fiddling round with the buckles, I noticed that the bail keeper slot on the higher buckle was the wrongdoer. The remainder of the ROM was unlocked as soon as I unhooked the buckle utterly. After that, I used to be impressed by the massive vary of movement in comparison with earlier fashions. It’s no F1 XT, however Scarpa claims 61 levels, and I’d say it checks out.
Even higher, the vary of movement feels almost frictionless. Rather more akin to boots within the ultralight realm than the Maestrales of yore. The rearward movement is extra beneficiant than another boots on this class, together with the aforementioned Fischer Transalp Carbon Professional.
With the ability strap coming unhooked and the higher buckle needing to be totally unlached, transitions weren’t as clean as I’d hoped. However the big selection of movement made it value it, for my part, although it will be a simple factor for Scarpa to deal with within the subsequent iterations.
Ski/Stroll Mechanism
The ski/stroll mechanism has modified with almost each iteration of the Maestrale and this new one isn’t any completely different. Earlier variations have succumbed to ice, particularly after bootpacking. In comparison with the earlier model, the hook and bar swap locations. The hook is now on the shell beneath the cuff and the bar is on the lever. It’s a greater setup. Neither the hook nor the bar have gotten iced over even after trudging round within the snow on foot.
I did have one weird occasion on the prime of couloir the place the spring refused to snap the lever down right into a locked place. Even after clearing all attainable ice and giving it just a few good whacks with my adze, the lever merely wouldn’t end its throw. I ski strapped it right into a locked place and skied it as regular. It weirdly by no means occurred once more and I couldn’t replicate it afterwards. I reached out to Scarpa to ask if this was widespread, they usually stated it was not a problem they’d heard of after a full season of manufacturing. I’ll name it a fluke.
Ahead lean is adjustable 2° +/- the 16° manufacturing facility setting by way of two screws on the base of the lever. I didn’t really feel the necessity to make any changes, however angle-obsessed skiers can be glad the Maestrale retained the function.
Conclusion
Haters will say the Maestrale is a “Jack of all trades, grasp of none,” and now I can confidently disagree. Possibly they’d some extent with the older variations, however that label isn’t related any extra. The brand new Maestrale RS is a stellar boot – grasp of most. Downhill efficiency? Nice. Match? A lot improved. Uphill and touring efficiency? Actually good for a boot this beefy.
So, who’s it for? All people besides who it isn’t for, which is a a lot shorter listing. Skiers pushing softer skis or these narrower than ~95mm underfoot might get away with one thing lighter with an excellent larger vary of movement. Skiers blasting big faces and dropping large cliffs, or these spending 75%+ of their time within the resort might most likely bump as much as one thing heavier with a fourth buckle. However mainly everybody else, together with those that need one boot to drive a various quiver of skis, can be properly suited to the brand new Maestrale RS. They’re by far the perfect Maestrales but.
Examine present value at REI right here.
Bergen Tjossem is a ski fanatic, conservation skilled, and nature nerd based mostly in Vail, Colorado. His life and profession have centered round defending the pure setting and public lands that raised him, however as Ed Abbey put it, “It’s not sufficient to battle for the land; It’s much more vital to get pleasure from it.” So when he’s not working his day job, you’ll discover Bergen ski touring earlier than daybreak, mountaineering at the hours of darkness, operating trails till his legs fall off, snowboarding 13er’s along with his pals, or making the world’s finest pizza along with his spouse, Rachel. Yow will discover him on Instagram.
