I use a current SCARPA Maestrale for much of my skiing, and used my old boots the day before the test day, so it was fairly easy to compare the two. That’s how it should be! Imagine a world where all AT boots were super-light and toured like tennis shoes, and one could choose solely based on how they felt on the down wouldn’t that be incredible? Customers can now choose based on downhill performance, much like they do with alpine boots. The only difference is the negligible weight and the flex. They have the same number of buckles, and the same range of motion in tour mode. They are almost identical in weight only 10 grams difference per boot. Interestingly, one effect of these redesigns is to make the “normal” Maestrale and RS boot lines much more similar. These changes have been implemented in all Maestrale models : Maestale, Maestrale RS, and women’s Gea, Gea RS. RS Maestrale and RS Gea is about 5.5 oz lighter (161 grams) per boot. In an AT boot much of the flex comes from the lower shell flexing, so this increases the stiffness significantly, and reduces weight. The reinforcement made of “Grilamid LFT”, a form of LFT plastic that infuses “long strand” carbon fibers directly into the Grilamid plastic. The RS boots get carbon fiber reinforcements in the lower shell of the boot. It is still an Intution thermo-moldable liner (the best, IMHO), but it’s slightly stiffer, with fewer seams in the toe area for increased warmth and comfort. The top buckle is changed slightly, but is effectively the same.
Perhaps those old boot designers retired or something?) (A certain skier sometimes known as “His Blogness” is known for removing what he calls the “vestigial buckle” from various 4-buckle boots, and thus receiving disdainful looks from boot designers who’ve spent literally years of their lives figuring out excuses for having 4 buckles.
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