 Poster: A snowHead
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I've been told a couple of times now that my Spirit 4's are too soft and too upright for what I'm skiing and I need to either go back to Alpine or get some more appropriate AT's. I've looked at the Maestrale RS and they feel light enough for what I want, I've put my feet in them, strapped up and they seem stiffer but I can't tell if they're more ramped without skiing them.
So, I want to buy some stiffer, leanier, Dynafit binding compatible boots and hoped some snowheads that already use Maestrale RS's could tell me that they're the bees nuts.
Or whatever. 
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 11-03-13 22:01; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Coshise pro light dyn
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Hi Ross, I've just bought some Maestrale RS boots but have yet to ski in them. The stiffness seems comparable to my BD Factors which they're replacing. The Maestrale has two forward lean settings and the most forward feels way forward when compared to the Factors and I have these on the most forward setting. I like the way they're stiff, light and have a huge range of motion in the walk mode.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Tried them on earlier in the season, comparable stiffness to Cochise 120s (which I went for), slightly less than the Factor 130 (unsurprisingly, given they're supposed to have a 120 flex). Very very nice walk mode, really easy to get into. Too tight on my insteps even in bigger sizes than I'd have wanted, sadly, or it would have been hard to choose between them and the Cochises. Probably also worth looking at the Dynafit Mercury, however, assuming they're the same as the Vulcan (shop only had the Vulcan, which incidentally is stiffer than concrete) they're a massive faff to get on/off.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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moffatross, not sure if you have seen this on wildsnow about the Maestrale RS http://www.wildsnow.com/page/3/ and there's been a few other articles on what they call beef touring boots recently - may be of interest
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks everyone, really appreciated. Just back from Glasgow and great to see so many useful replies since I asked the question. Hadn't thought about the Technica/Cochise options, the Pro Light Dyn looks like a good compromise however I haven't happened across any stockists in Scotland (not that I've looked that hard).
There is an Edinburgh retailer selling a pair of RS in my size for a knock-down price and I'm very tempted to try them on, especially reading Lou's take @ wildsnow and seeing some of the other reviews ( http://www.gearinstitute.com/best-in-class/item/best-backcountry-ski-boots ). The one's I tried on in EB @ Breahead were a shell size up so it'll be good to feel if the correct size fit my feet. I have a feeling it could be an expensive weekend coming up.
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moffatross, I got a pair to replace my Denalli XTs from Braemar Mountain Sports. Way stiffer than the XT, bit of a shock but once over that I think they are fantastic. Fit wise they feel slightly narrower than the same size Denalli but the mouldable inner has been a revalation. Even better now I've got orange superfeet beds in them. If you've not got them yet I'd say get them, the only problem I have is off day moments where I feel a bit all the gear! Well that and them being overkill and the wrong colour for Pennine skiing.
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moffatross, they are the bees nuts.
Less stiff than the bd factors and soooo light. I find them still a little stiff, but I prefer my boots a bit softer, nothing that leaving the power strap slightly loose didn't solve. They are not as bad as many scarpa boots for the high instep thing. Once you have the sequence dialed in they are very easy to get on and off plus the liners are warm. They have no boot board but are slightly ramped, I had a small heel lift fitted. I still have them on the most upright setting and might tilt them forward a touch.
Tip, unlike most boots they change sizes on the half size. Finally they are a breeze to use with dynafits as they have the grove below the tech fitting. My only long term concern is how robust they will be as everything is so light.
Recommended.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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moffatross, I had my liners baked, and all the better for it, but I do have rather challenging feet. Enjoy your boots, mine are so nice I was thinking of sticking dynafiddles on all my skis. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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moffatross, mine were shop baked, have mates who've bought the ordinary oranges off the internet as deals. Going with the shop has been worth it for me in terms of the advice and help they've given getting the fit right. There has been a bit of mold, ski, mold, ski, tweak - bingo. That's mainly due to challenging feet again - usual high arch, wide forefoot and relatively narrow heel. Keep reading stuff about using a shop with good boot fitting expertise and have to agree.
Ran them with the BD Guru and they were interesting, almost as interesting as running the Denalli with the Sentinels. Sentinel and RS though is shaping up as a perfect match.
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I bought a pair but have only done 2 days in them, but those 2 days were without problem. Which is more than I can say for my 4 seasons on the Dynafit Zzeus boots I had previously. The RS's are much stiffer and positive. I have just put aluminium tape over the toe area of the liners as in the -15 C we had recently I got cold toes.
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You know it makes sense.
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First impressions, light as a feather and, oh so very white. Despite an identical inside shell fit , they seem longer because their 27.0 Intuition liner is longer but slimmer than the 27.0 Thermo out of the Spirits. They always squashed my toes a bit and needed the board underneath to take up volume and remove the arch hump. Even unmoulded they seem to give a very firm hold. No discernible ankle lift either whereas the Spirits were always slighty loose around that area. Not skied them yet though so can't say for sure but they certainly seem to fit my foot shape better out of the box and hope the initial comfort/fit delight isn't a false promise. Easy enough to get in and out of too, once I'd sussed out the hinging tongue folding over faff.
The BSL is 206 mm versus 205 mm for the Spirits but Scarpa have put the Tech toe pin fittings 3-4 mm further forward on the Maestrale RS's so the boot sits about a 4-5 mm further back on the ski. Hope it won't make too much difference to how the skis balance and also suspect that their stiffer, leanier nature will compensate by encouraging more forward pressure anyway. An extra 1mm is not going to make any difference using AT bindings but the Dynafits needed adjusting. Luckily enough there was sufficient adjustment to open up the toe-heel gap to accommodate this although I suspect that was more Spyderjon's foresight and judgement when installing the Quiver Killers and him noticing that the Spirit was a short gap boot. If it had been the other way around I'd be gubbed for a remount. Thanks Spyderjon Anyway, relieved that they seem to fit and set up OK. Some fettling to be done with the buckles but think that'll be about it. If not, may do a cautious DIY baking.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| moffatross wrote: |
| The BSL is 206 mm versus 205 mm for the Spirits |
Wow you have small feet (or do you mean 306 mm  )
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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FAQ
