First to set the stage, I am a expert skier with a racing background who likes to ski at speed and with aggression. Though not big in stature at 5'10 and 155lbs, I feel at home with more powerful equipment. I have skied a variety of boots over the past 10 years from stiff alpine race boots to more recently alpine focused touring boots. Living on the west coast, I ski variable terrain with heavier snow thus prefer wider skis with a minimum of 105mm underfoot.
For the past few seasons I have used Black Diamond Methods with marginal results. I found them heavy and the walk mode made me feel like Frankenstein. While in ride mode, I persistently was blowing buckles off even with the boots cranked down so tight it would cut off circulation.
With narrow heels and flat feet, it has always been challenging to find ski boots that fit comfortably. In order to have most boots fit I would have to employ some creative molding. After a month of trying on different boots I set my sights on the Maestrale RS. The original orange version had some appeal but their lack of forward stiffness to drive stiffer and wider skis prevented me from pulling the trigger.
But now for 2013, let's get down to the details.
Walk mode
Great rearward movement
Great Forward Movement
The RS's walk mode is both easy to engage and offers a great range of motion. The free flowing feel eliminated the sensation of hitting a wall with my shins all day and has thus far left me with no shin bang to speak of. Though the walk mode isn't without its challenges. The rearward lean (with what seems like no rear hard stop) has caused me to get back seated a few times on some rolling/downward traverses.
I have had a few issues with the ski/walk mechanism icing up and preventing it from engaging into ski mode which forced me to ski with one boot in walk mode all day. This is something I am monitoring closely. This was a problem that a friend has experienced with this original Maestrale's as well.
Overall the walk mode promotes a natural stride with enough rearward and forward range of motion to allow fast pain free touring all day.
Ski Mode
I was impressed with the overall feeling of the boot. It is both stiff but not harsh, a nice progressive flex pattern. The only other Scarpa boot I have skied was the Mobe which felt blocky and almost too stiff with no easing into turns. The Maestrale is easily as stiff as this boot but provides better sensitivity. The oversized power strap really allows you to tighten up the flex and drive a stiff ski.
Overall I have been very impressed with the ski mode. One thing I have noticed is that the first toe buckle does very little to add stiffness to the boot and I would likely not notice a difference in performance if it were removed. This buckle is more for volume control than increasing the skiability.
Pushing these boots in bounds does not disappoint either. Riding them to the limit on groomers and powder conditions they continue to be predictable and stable. As the conditions get choppy the boot pushes through. The boots feel as if they dampen the harshness that is often encountered when skiing a tech setup in resort as the forces are more directly channeled through the boot and body.
Now for some gripes...
Boot Plastic
Aside from the previously mentioned ski/walk mode issue the plastic may prove to be another potential weakness. The lower boot is very thin and I have already put some pretty big scratches in the boot. With such a thin plastic is seems possible that with the right impact you could completely rip through the shell. This is something that I plan on watching in terms of durability. This is a really catch 22 because the thin plastic is integral to the boots light weight but long term I may be replacing boots sooner rather than later.
Inside buckle showing wear
Dents in the plastic
Buckles
The buckles seem a little oversized and square. With so many lightweight minimalist features on the boot it seems that the buckles were almost an after thought. In addition to their size the buckle track seems to be very shallow and any build up of ice has caused the buckles to not seat properly and blow off when tightened.
Thick and crowded
What I liked
Though I have some refinement concerns with the boot, overall this boot has been one of the best all around boots I have skied in a long time. The combination of the great walk mode and stiffness for the descent I find myself more confident initiating turns knowing that there is support to really drive the ski. The fit seems to have changed from the original Maestrale and the expanded volume has created a boot that almost hugs my feet. That is something of a luxury as I haven't had a boot that fit this well out of the box in a long time.
The stock intuition liner is a great bonus and adds to the value and versatility for fitting the boot. Not to mention how warm your feet stay with a high quality liner. Gone are my cold toes!
So who is this boot right for? I would say this is a great purchase for someone looking for a lightweight performance oriented boot. It gives up almost nothing on the down but provides great comfort on the up. My issues are mostly nit picking and I do not regret the purchase.
