Blizzard Rustler 10 Review

Blizzard has been around since the 1940s but has only recently started to become one of our go-to companies when picking great skis to review. They're known for producing hard-charging skis that love to go fast and have recently been creating skis that are more multidimensional. The Blizzard Rustler 10 is an excellent example of the progress Blizzard has made in making a tremendous all-mountain ski that is suitable for most skill levels.

The Blizzard Rustler 10 is made for deep and soft snow days due to its waist width and shape alone. We found versatility in this ski's ability as well, even on days that started out with dust on crust. Blizzard's Carbon Flipcore D.R.T Technology is responsible for the Rustler 10's consistent and progressive flex even at higher speeds through long powder lines.

Performance Comparison

Stability at Speed

Stability at speed is one of the Rustler 10's worst scoring categories, but it still put up a respectable score. That should tell you something about the all-around abilities of this ski. The main critique our testers had of the Rustler 10 was that it couldn't open it up with as much confidence as some of the skis we tested, and that confidence decreased as the snow began to firm up.

All that aside, the Rustler 10 can still perform well at speed, and blew away similar soft snow-oriented competition in this category. At 102 millimeters underfoot, it's hard for this ski to truly compete with some of its skinnier competitors. Some chatter and vibrations are definitely apparent at high speed on firm snow. Keep your expectations realistic and the Rustler 10 should impress you as it impressed us.

Carving Ability

Don't shy away from laying this ski over just because it is 102 millimeters underfoot. It is quicker edge to edge than you might expect. You may even forget you're on a mid-fat ski. While not our first choice for a carving ski, the Rustler 10 is an absolute blast to carve. The 17.5-meter radius is flexible enough for both short and longer turns back to the lift.

Again, some skis that were built specifically with on-piste performance in mind scored higher in this category. The edge hold from the Rustler 10 is quite good, and the pop when transitioning between edges gives the ski an incredibly quick and light feel. This ski wants to turn and is much more responsive than most of the other playful skis we tested. Overall, the carving performance of these skis is fantastic and shined on fresh soft groomers.

Powder Performance

Powder day is a synonym for Rustler 10. There's no point in overthinking it. Blizzard's Carbon Flipcore D.R.T Technology really shines through and helped us feel stable and nimble even in deep and heavy powder. The Rustler 10 maintains its progressive ski flex quality even in these deep conditions which cannot be said for other skis in this category. At 102 millimeters underfoot and 133 millimeters at the tip, this ski kept us floating on top even on those white room days.

Whether you are charging through blower pow in tight trees, or a windswept open backbowl, the Rustler 10 will keep up and urged us to keep the throttle down. Previous versions of this ski have been described as forgiving or poppy. This year's model is a bit more burly feeling which helps with blasting through wind drifts and heavy snow. Staying centered over this ski through the powder helped us access and maintain top speed. We think the athletic and experienced skier will be able to keep this animal under control. The Rustler 10 was made for this category, and you should be reaching for this ski any time your local hill gets a delivery from mother nature.

Crud Performance

The Rustler 10 was surprising in this category. After feeling the relatively soft flex in the tips and noticing quite a bit of rocker upfront, most of our testers predicted that the tips would deflect off the crud and generate lots of chatter. We were stoked to be proven wrong.

Although you may have to ski a bit more aggressively on the Rustler 10 compared to our top performer to make it through the crud, our testers found it easy to keep the ski on track with a bit of extra effort. Clearly better suited for more consistently soft snow, crud is a category that we could at least manage confidently with this ski. Plenty of big pow days involve some traversing or climbing through some ugliness and we were happy to be strapped into the Rustler 10 for those days.

Terrain Playfulness

The Rustler 10 is just as playful as some other top performers in the men's all-mountain ski category. It has just the right mix of pop, flex profile, and nimbleness that translates into a super playful ski that makes every hit and drop more fun than the next.

The pop we've seen from these skis in other categories is most evident when taking these skis into the air, and it reminds us of the pop we feel with some others. The soft tip is very forgiving on the takeoff and landing, while the tail, which is slightly stiffer, allows for the perfect amount of give on your landing. Although none of the skis we tested are true park skis, the Rustler 10 may give your skinny twin tips a run for their money.

Value

The overall performance from a true soft-snow-oriented ski is impressive in the Rustler 10. Blizzard has clearly done a great job once again in combining high-level build quality and proven technologies. The result is a product capable of getting outside its comfort zone. Overall, an excellent offering from Blizzard.

Conclusion

The Blizzard Rustler 10 is an amazing all-mountain ski that is capable of pushing its own limits. It is light and soft enough to swing around in the air or tight terrain. The skis are stable and predictable while carving or smearing around the hill. It can feel a bit unstable at the highest of speeds but generally holds together well, even in poor conditions. Our testers fell in love with the Rustler 10, and we often found ourselves arguing over whose turn it was to ride them. Don't let these skis tear your crew apart — go ahead and buy a pair for each of you.