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Scarpa Maestrale RS 2019 – 2020 Boot | Review

New for 2019/20, Scarpa have added a little extra weight to the Maestrale RS to improve downhill performance

Flex: 125
Last: 101 mm
Cuff Range: 60˚
Forward Lean: 16˚ +/- 2˚
BSL: 302 mm (27.0)
Binding Compatibility: All touring bindings
Weight (per boot): 1450g
Price: £520

Website: scarpa.co.uk

Why we chose the Scarpa Maestrale RS: Solid ski touring boot that’s seen further updates.

The Maestrale series of boots from Scarpa have become something of a modern classic. First released in 2010, years before any of the big players from the downhill scene barged into the ski touring market, they soon became the go-to boot for ski tourers – no matter their preferred weight or flex category (we didn’t really have the luxury of multiple boot options back then).

The original Maestrale was identified by their bright orange looks, with a riveted tongue design that would fold out of the way for you to easily slide your foot into the boot. The design become such a classic that you’d frequently hear people asking to buy “the orange boots” as they chatted to ski shop staff.

“The Maestrale series of boots from Scarpa have become something of a modern classic”

Fast forward almost ten years and we’ve got these, the Maestrale RS; an extremely refined and high performance version of that classic Maestrale design. And thankfully, for those who don’t like the fizzy Tango vibe, there’s not even a speck of orange to be found on this version.

The Maestrale RS makes use of a hybrid three-piece design to provide the 125 flex rating. A three piece is made up of three (funnily enough) pieces of plastic: a cuff, lower and tongue (rather than a traditional two-piece overlap boot). The bulk of what you’re flexing into is the tongue, meaning the tongue provides the majority of the stiffness to the boot rather than the cuff of an overlap.

So what’s so great about a three-piece design? Well, you’ll likely feel a more progressive flex in a three-piece. This flex is commonly identified by a soft flex as you start to push into the tongue, with the stiffness ramping up the more you flex into the tongue, rather than the occasional brick wall feeling of an overlap touring boot.

“The middle buckle is a wonder”

Bringing the shell design together are some extremely well thought-out buckles. Firstly is the lower buckle, which essentially does the job of two buckles through the use of a cable which tightens over the entire lower – this buckle also handily sits at the top of the boot, to avoid getting damaged when bootpacking through rocky terrain.

The middle buckle is a wonder. Similar to the one found on the Dynafit Hoji Free, it’s a ratchet-style buckle that’s able to be cranked up to really pull your heel into the back of the boot. Skiers (myself included) have been known to take these buckles and retro-fit them onto different brands of boots in an effort to make them perform better.

Finally, a large top buckle and power strap holds everything together over the cuff. More on that cuff: it’s made partly from a Carbon Grilamind web frame in the lower shell, with a Grilamid cuff that’s been shaped with ventilation holes to enhance breathability.

Coming in at a measly 1450 grams, this is another serious contender for the single-boot quiver. The Scarpa Maestrale RS could be purchased as a full-on downhill focused touring boot that’s more than capable of driving fat skis.

The ingenious middle buckle has long been a part of the Maestrale

This boot can do it all at an impressive weight (quick shout out to its excellent smooth walk mode). While it might have seen a rise in competition over the years, many of the big brands are still struggling to match the Maestrale’s ideal (for many) performance to weight ratio.

Industry Insider

The stiffer and more powerful version of our top-selling Maestrale, the Maestrale RS lives at the intersection of freeride performance and backcountry functionality thanks to an innovative carbon-infused Grilamid shell to add power and rigidity without adding weight, as well as an all-new power strap featuring Recco Technology for increased avalanche searchability.”

Expert’s Verdict

Tom Grant, UIAGM Mountain Guide

WEBSITE: TOMGRANT.GUIDE

“This is Scarpa’s most versatile ski boot and my go to choice for everyday touring and big mountain missions. The Maestrale RS offers the perfect blend of lightweight tour-ability with great downhill performance. The boot has a precise feel with a playful, yet powerful enough flex. The rear range of motion for touring is more than plentiful for long tours of 2,000m plus on big days.

“The construction provides very rigid lateral support. This translates to better edge hold and performance on hard and variable snow. I’ve used this boot to ski steep and technical lines in the Alps as well as taking it on expeditions to remote parts of Alaska, New Zealand, British Columbia and Norway.”

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