#Maestral 3 update#
#Maestral 3 skin#

I’m no lightweight at 225 pounds nor do I have the grace of a ballerina, so I’m confident in saying I’ve been putting the RS through its paces. And to tie it all together, the RS is noticeably light on the feet, which is a huge benefit on long arduous climbs while skinning or kicking steps. Further, the boot is crampon-compatible with most automatic or semi-automatic models. The Maestrale RS is extremely comfortable while bootpacking too-the Vibram Cayman PRO sole provides excellent traction on everything from rocks to snow and ice. For comparison, another boot I was testing, the Salomon S/Lab MTN, has a 47-degree flex and felt much more restrictive.

#Maestral 3 skin#

In the Mount Baker backcountry, I found myself on a skin track that pushed the limits of my climbing skins-and my Achilles tendons-yet the boots handled it with ease. Importantly, this degree of movement actually exceeded my ankle’s range of motion. The total flex (forward and backward) of the RS I tested was 60 degrees, a huge increase from the previous model’s 37 degrees (note: the latest 2022 model has a 56-degree ROM, which is still excellent). This allows my calf and ankle to flex without my heel moving around. When climbing, I release the single toe buckle, ankle buckle, and Velcro strap but keep the heel-retention buckle snug. With a high degree of flexibility, lightweight build, and easy-to-transition buckle system, the Scarpa Maestrale RS excels on the uphill.

#Maestral 3 update#

We are testing the retooled boot this winter and will update this review accordingly, but in the meantime, we’ve noted the applicable changes in text below. For reference, the latest 2022 model has a slightly higher listed weight of 6 pounds 6.2 ounces per pair, 56-degree range of motion (the 2017 version had 60 degrees of flex), and light changes to features including the liner, ski/walk lever, shell, and cuff. To see how it stacks up, see our article on the best backcountry ski boots.Įditor’s note: This test was done on the 2017-2018 version of the Maestrale RS, and Scarpa has since made some notable updates to the design.

Below I break down the Maestrale RS’s touring and downhill performance. The previous RS was my alpine touring boot of choice for multiple seasons, so I understandably was eager to try out the latest model through a season in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia and Washington state. A stiffer version of their popular Maestrale, the RS is designed to be light on the skin track and extra powerful on the descent. Among Scarpa’s impressive and diverse lineup of ski boots, the Maestrale RS alpine touring model is a standout.