Scarpa Maestrale RS Alpine Touring Boot

We’ve read the reviews across the web for the Scarpa Maestrale RS Alpine Touring Boot and summarize the results below:

Universal Ranking

PeakScore: 85 (out of 100)
User Rating: 4.2 stars 
Expert Rating: 4.2 stars

Number of Ratings Reviewed: 26

Pros & Cons

Reasons to buy:

User Reviews

  • Easy to change between walk and ski mode.
  • Fit well on some wide feet.
  • The buckle and power strap combination allows for a customizable fit.
  • Very warm liners.
  • Offer good control, even on challenging terrain.
  • Works well in the backcountry and at resorts.

Expert Reviews

  • Feel light going up, but powerful skiing down.
  • Large range of motion available.
  • Good traction for bootpacking.
  • Versatile for different weights and textures of snow.
  • Warm but good at ventilating.
  • A good fit for wide feet.
  • Notably high-quality liners.

Reasons NOT to buy:

User Reviews

  • A bit heavy for touring boots.
  • The liners tend to pack out after some use.
  • Metal pieces on the tongue are relatively delicate, as is the walk mode adjustment, although these are fully covered by warranty.
  • Not simple to put on or take off.
  • Some users have had issues with the shells cracking around the toe, although this was recently addressed with a recall and refund on early models.

Expert Reviews

  • The buckle system can be difficult to adjust with gloves on.
  • The ski/walk lever gets easily clogged with snow and ice, but it is usually about as easy to fix as a clogged-up binding.
  • A bit heavier than comparable boots.
  • Scarpa customer service can be hard to get a hold of (but if you do, they are great).
  • This boot can be tricky to fit right for some feet. Might be challenging to find sweet spot between too tight (painful) and too loose (hard to ski).

Summary:

The Scarpa Maestrale RS Alpine Touring Boot offers a relatively lightweight feel going uphill with a sturdy ride going downhill, making them an admired boot for many backcountry skiers looking for reliability both in and out of bounds and in all types of snow. This boot offers an impressive range of motion and customizable fit, with well-loved liners that offer warmth and comfort throughout the day, and a sturdy sole that bootpacks as well as it skis. Although some durability issues have been raised on the shell and the walk-mode function, Scarpa has set out to address these issues, and many users have stayed loyal throughout, still preferring the ease and sturdiness of the Maestrale RS.

Multimedia:

Note: User and expert rankings were reviewed across the web. Some expert reviews include these: 1, 2, 3, 4.