Interesting AT boot Review

Scarpa Mastreale is designed for a foot that has a higher arch. All scarpa AT boots for that matter have a high arch.

I don't know about that, Joe. I have pretty much NO arch, and wore the Maestrale comfortably without my footbeds for about 15 minutes today. Come to think of it, I've worn Scarpa AT boots comfortably for the last 3 years or so. Really impressive range of motion in walk mode, nice low-volume package, not very stiff compared to almost any other 4 buckle AT boot.

Dynafit-to narrow for me and in between sizes. Walk mode limited compared to the other models. Light.

Limited in walk mode? Are you serious? I had a pair of TLT5 Performances (carbon cuff) on at Escape Route in Whistler this summer, and felt like I could dance en pointe in them in walk mode. Range of motion was off the charts. They also were about as light as my Salomon trail runners and felt super stiff in ski mode. Hard not to like everything about them but the price.

I don't know about that, Joe. I have pretty much NO arch, and wore the Maestrale comfortably without my footbeds for about 15 minutes today. Come to think of it, I've worn Scarpa AT boots comfortably for the last 3 years or so. Really impressive range of motion in walk mode, nice low-volume package, not very stiff compared to almost any other 4 buckle AT boot.

Limited in walk mode? Are you serious? I had a pair of TLT5 Performances (carbon cuff) on at Escape Route in Whistler this summer, and felt like I could dance en pointe in them in walk mode. Range of motion was off the charts. They also were about as light as my Salomon trail runners and felt super stiff in ski mode. Hard not to like everything about them but the price.

I should have been more specific, I did not try on the TLT5 due to them not having any available in the 29+ shell. I can see what you mean in that boot. But Dynafit is made for the slim foot. Imagine how thin that shell is on the TLT5 and how easy it would be to blow through the sidewall if you tried to blow it out.
I tried all three of the upper models. For me, best walking Range of Motion (ROM) was the Green Zzero4. I tried the Zzeus, Titans, Zzero UT-F. Just painful, I'm sure they ski just great, it was not that I did not want them to work, but I did not see the need to put that much work into them to make them work. Been there, done that and by the time they get comfortable they are worn out as much as I am on doing adjustments to them.

As for the Scarpa can't say what it is that makes your foot special for a flat footer Greg.
Maybe it's a loose chunk of pipe resin that dislodged from my brain when I've tried on the Scarpa AT boots in the last few years. There is no denying that if you pull out the bootboard there is a clear plastic semi firm footbed that has a predominate arch in it. That when it's in the boot proper my footbed rockers like a teeter-totter on hump in the arch of the boot. I even had the bootfitters pull the boot apart and analyze this and they confirmed what I was feeling when I wear Scarpa AT boots. And I have a medium arch, So that is a mystery ???

Thanks for posting the letter and cool that BD responded so thoroughly.  I am a 29.5 BD boot as well and was very excited for the Quadrant.  I reluctantly ruled it out because the liner was so tight.  Whether it is akin to an Intuition remains to be seen, that is a bold statement.  They shouldn't be surprised the staff is a little confused since they have not been through Seattle for a vendor clinic yet and not all staff got a close look last spring.  My take was that the liner was SO tight (with proper shell fit) that I would never buy it expecting it to grow that much--even if it was an Intuition. I don't even know if I could jam a toe cap in there with that fit. However, to be fair, I haven't baked one yet.  I haven't had the opportunity to try the 30.5 (largest available) but the 29.5 is the correct shell for me anyway. Interestingly, if you were at the Seattle store, one of the two 29.5s in stock recently fits slightly larger than the other FWIW. I haven't molded a pair yet so hopefully the liners do accomodate.

Yeah Gorp and ClimberDave,
I finally succumbed and purchased the Quadrant. Liner problems are easy to fix compared to shell fit problems. But I think that I will be able to get the liner to work. If it does not I will work on a liner exchange with BD using the letter they sent back to me as a reference that I told you it is not possible to blow out the toe of the liner with stitching so close to the toe end.
We will see and I will report when I do my fitting this weekend.

The Scarpa's - up until the Maestrale - have had a very high instep, but the Maestrale has a lower and more traditional instep and will fit a lower to normal arch/instep better. 

All of the other Scarpa models are the same as in the past.

Yesterday I baked the Quadrant liners and what a difference. I doubled the toe cap (normal AT + neoprene) and the liners are now quite comfortable. Thanks Joe for posting your email to BD. Armed with the knowledge that the liners are meant to be punched, I was aggressive in the beginning of the molding process as was not disappointed.

Now I need to put them to the real test!!

I also did my Quadrant and Scarpa TX-Pro boot work yesterday.
I found on the Quadrant as I predicted, the vertical seams restricted the ability for the toe area to extend out further. It was challanging and my toes got crushed doubling up the toecaps. It was more complicated compared to the liner I baked for the Scarpa TX-Pro the seams never got in the way on those liners.
The Quadrant liner is pretty soft after it gets baked and cooled maybe a little to soft, but we'll see on that. I can feel how this liner may pack out a little more due to the comfort cushion I feel. Like Dave, it's time to put them to the snow test.