Continuing to raise the bar for ski touring boots, the Maestrale and Gea ski boots are ready for their 6th generation since the first Maestrale hit the shelves 13 years ago. The newest version keeps the same design philosophy, the perfect blend of weight, walk-ability, and power, that has made the Maestrale and Gea an iconic boot at trailheads across the world. All while updating technology and materials to make the lightest and greenest Maestrale ever.

Design

The biggest update is, without a doubt, the completely redesigned shell. Utilizing the Carbon Core technology that has been perfected in the Alien and Quattro boots to provide lateral support and structural integrity with minimal weight penalty. All versions of the Maestrale and Gea have an Carbon Core in the lower part of the shell that wraps around the mid-foot and up to the pivot. The Maestrale RS and Gea RS also feature a Carbon Core in the cuff that wraps around the rear of the boot and again down to the main pivot. This second carbon injection helps with increasing the overall stiffness of the RS boots, as well as increasing the side to side energy transfer.

Materials

With the new shell comes a slew of new materials to build it out of. The new Maestrale and Gea were designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. To do this, SCARPA completely removed fossil fuel-based oil from the production, and instead uses plastics that come from castor bean oil. Pebax RNew makes up the shell and tongue of the new boots, as well as the cuff of the Maestrale and Gea. Pebax RNew is an elastomer and has excellent shock-absorbing and flex properties. The RS boots receive Grilamid Bio cuffs that, while also are made from castor bean oil, are much stiffer making them ideal for the lateral power transfer needed higher in the boot, and to achieve a higher flex rating.

FIT

Along with a technologically redesigned shell comes a new fit for the Maestrale and Gea. While the last gets bumped up from 101mm to 102mm, the entire mold for the boots has been changed to be more form-fitting in most of the foot. The heel and top of the foot are lower volume from the old boots, following the natural foot shape to give better heel hold and feeling while skiing.

Other updates

Other welcome updates include an updated HRS strap which is now easily replaceable by the customer with the included multi-tool and an updated power strap. The Maestrale and Gea both receive an updated Finger Strap that has an easier to use finger loop, an integrated RECCO reflector, and hi-vis highlights. The Maestrale and Gea RS get a completely new elastic Booster powerstrap, similar to what was featured on the previous Maestrale XT, and has a cam-lock buckle that makes it incredibly quick to loosen and tighten in transitions.

Another important update, especially for big missions in the Spring, is a new Vibram Cayman LT outsole that has 50% more surface area and 25% more traction than the previous sole, while also being more durable. This will help the boot hold up much better after repeated boot packs over rocks and through dry spots.

Rounding out the updates for Fall 23/24 is a new ski/hike mechanism. This mechanism is incredibly good at shedding snow and resisting ice build-up and is completely replaceable if need be.

Who’s this boot for?

Looking at just the specs, it’s easy to see that the 4-Quattro boots are not much heavier than the Maestrale/Geas, have the same range-of-motion, and share a lot of the same technology, so why go with one boot or the other? The biggest consideration is going to be fit. On paper, yes, the 4-Quattros have a 100mm last while the Maestrale/Geas have 102mm so of course they fit different, but the designed uses have also informed the fit of the boots.

The Maestrales and Geas are dedicated touring boots. They feature a taller instep, a buckle layout that promotes quicker transitions, and an AT norm sole (ISO 9523). The boots also include a wider toe box to promote ease of use, comfort, and compatibility in the backcountry, even though they still ski incredibly well.

Meanwhile, the 4-Quattros are designed around in-area performance. With a design informed by former ski racer Bode Miller, the Quattro series uses a traditional 4-buckle layout, lower instep, and much shorter boot sole length to promote energy transmission to the skis and a snug fit around the foot. They also include GripWalk soles, making them compatible with most inbound and touring bindings. The low weight and great range of motion still mean that the Quattro boots tour well, but the fit means they may not have the comfort for multi-hour missions in the backcountry or hut trips.

KEy Stats

Maestrale RS	Gea RS
Sizes Available: 24.5-32 (Half Sizes Available)	Sizes Available: 22.5-27 (Half Sizes Available)
Flex Rating: 125	Flex Rating: 120
Weight: 1470 g (Size 27)	Weight: 1310 g (Size 25)
Last: 102 mm	Last: 102 mm
Range of Motion: 61-Degrees	Range of Motion: 61-Degrees
Binding Compatibility: TLT, AT	Binding Compatibility: TLT, AT

Maestrale	Gea
Sizes Available: 24.5-32 (Half Sizes Available)	Sizes Available: 22.5-27 (Half Sizes Available)
Flex Rating: 110	Flex Rating: 100
Weight: 1400 g (Size 27)	Weight: 1240 g (Size 25)
Last: 102 mm	Last: 102 mm
Range of Motion: 61-Degrees	Range of Motion: 61-Degrees
Binding Compatibility: TLT, AT	Binding Compatibility: TLT, AT