Massive updates for a best-seller
When Blizzard initially launched the Rustler collection in 2018, the skis immediately modified the sport. At that time they have been arguably the most effective all-mountain skis but for mixing playfulness with aggression. For scads of skiers, they took away the selection between a “enjoyable” ski and a steady ski. As an alternative, they gave you each! And so, the Rustler 10, at 102mm underfoot, dominated.
Quick ahead, and the primary Rustler overhaul has arrived.
Blizzard Rustler 10 Evaluate: Area Notes
Whereas another manufacturers have tended lately to make small refinements to fashionable fashions (ie the most recent Nordica Enforcer 100 replace), Blizzard went deeper with the brand new Rustlers. Notice: Additionally they overhauled the Sheeva line, and Alex wrote concerning the new Sheeva 10 right here.
The Rustlers convey a brand new form, building, profile, and lengths (plus New Graphics Expertise, after all). Whereas the unique Rustler featured a sheet of steel underfoot that tapered out to carbon and wooden within the ideas and tails, the brand new model strikes the titanal round. You continue to get a full-width sheet underfoot, which runs simply forward of and behind your bindings. However a la the “steel the place you want it” method you’ve seen from Volkl (Titanal Body) and K2 (Y-Beam), that titanal now wraps the perimeter of the skis. Seen within the topsheet, it extends by means of (although not round) the guidelines and tails. Blizzard’s calling the tech FluxForm, in case you’re into the nitty gritty.
Talking of tech: Blizzard additionally brings its TrueBlend wooden core to the brand new Rustler 10. TrueBlend, which has already confirmed up in the remainder of the Blizzard assortment in notable skis just like the Brahma and Bonafide, consists of a cocktail of strategically positioned wooden stringers. Within the Rustlers, these woods are beech, poplar, and paulownia. The objective with TrueBlend is to enhance the skis’ suspension, energy, and ski-ability with out including a bunch of weight. Blizzard pulled that off: The brand new Rustler 10 weighs in at 3870 grams/pair within the 180cm dimension—a pair hundred grams lighter than the earlier model.
As for sizing. I spec at 5’7″ / 160 lbs, and I examined a 180cm Rustler 10. The complete dimension vary, additionally barely up to date this 12 months, measures 162, 168, 174, 180, 186, and 192.
Groomers
Including steel across the edges of a ski and into the guidelines, particularly while you do it with out making the ski clunky, is a fairly sure-fire solution to maintain people glad on groomers. That checks out within the new Rustler 10.
Whereas the unique model of this ski carved with snap and power whereas holding a dependable edge at excessive speeds, the brand new Rustler 10 ups the ante. Extra stability and higher suspension on agency snow imply even larger consolation at speeds upwards of Mach Loony. I loved carving the earlier model at excessive speeds, however while you pushed it laborious by means of the shovels, you observed the place that titanal sheet ended. Not so within the new model. You get the identical power and rebound—perhaps much more, actually—with added grrrr. And contemplating that this comes with out further weight or a clunky/planky really feel, this elevates the Rustler 10 into the higher echelon of wider all-mountain skis with regards to pace, stability, and aggressive snowboarding.
Notice: You’ll be able to nonetheless slide the Rustler 10 round somewhat than carve it. Rocker by means of the guidelines and tails offers you that versatility (and the light-ish weight doesn’t damage both). So people who slarve somewhat than carve needn’t shrink back. However extra on that later.
Bumps and Bushes
While you get the Rustler in tight locations, you unlock one other aspect of the brand new skis. Whether or not or not you prefer it depends upon your ski fashion.
What does that imply? Effectively, extra informal, extra playful, and fewer aggressive skiers all loved the unique Rustler 10 partially due to its soft-ish ideas. Stout and supportive underfoot, however forgiving, slide-able, and simple to pivot. The brand new Rustler 10 seems like extra of a fall-line hawk. You’ll be able to nonetheless throw it sideways, however it requires extra dynamic snowboarding and extra enter to take action. The trade-off is a smoother, extra steady experience which you can push tougher. I liked the way in which the Rustler 10 felt glued to the fall-line on steep, chalky bumps; it felt steady and chargey with out feeling like a two-by-four. After I did slip into the backseat, it didn’t really feel as forgiving as the unique Rustler 10. Nevertheless it additionally allowed me to get better rapidly (once more…it’s not a heavy ski).
In order somebody who likes to assault the autumn line and appreciates even suspension/flex and smoothness by means of all kinds of snow—I obtained alongside effectively with the brand new Rustler 10.
Powder and Combined Snow
In chop, mank, crud, chalk, crust, buff, variable, even “machine groomed unfastened granular,” the FluxForm steel and TrueBlend wooden core present that they’re greater than empty/flashy advertising gimmicks.
The Rustler 10 held up effectively and stayed planted down a number of steep faces at Crested Butte—a spot the place you wish to really feel stable concerning the ski beneath your toes—in all kinds of snow varieties. It tracked effectively by means of contemporary snow and busted by means of piles of sun-baked nonsense. I loved snowboarding it ahead with an aggressive stance and in addition extra centered the place you let issues come to you. It will get deflected lower than the unique Rustler 10, but like I discussed, it does wish to be pushed tougher, proving much less forgiving to drained quads and lackadaisical steering.
As a pow-hunting freeride ski, the Rustler 10 nonetheless holds serve. The taper and rocker profiles permit it to smear, float, and hyperlink turns intuitively, and also you gained’t be upset while you discover delicate snow. It does really feel much less playful than the unique, although. So if butters, pow slashes, and airs are your purpose for snowboarding, yow will discover skis that higher facilitate a playful fashion. Together with the unique Rustler 10. In comparison with heftier choices on this class, the brand new Rustler 10 does nonetheless really feel extra enjoyable (much less weight, extra power). Nevertheless it’s not going to make you be happy and unfastened subsequent to extra freestyle-oriented all-mountain freeride skis.
Draw back
The features the Rustler 10 makes will enchantment to skiers on the extra aggressive aspect of the spectrum. The FluxForm steel, the added suspension and stability, the upper pace restrict. Yeehaw!
However in comparison with the unique, and several other different skis on this class on the extra playful aspect, the brand new Rustler 10 is a little more demanding a bit much less “unfastened.” So skiers who wish to shade exterior the traces or worth forgiving rides could also be higher suited with different choices.
Backside Line
The brand new Rustler 10 instantly levels-up the Rustler assortment. Aggressive skiers, specifically superior and professional fall-line hawks, will love the updates. It’s nonetheless a top-shelf all-mountain ski for a variety of skiers—and I’d embody athletic/stoked intermediates in that—however it now leans barely extra towards the chargier and extra directional aspect of the spectrum.
The brand new model will not be as universally splashy as the unique Rustler 10 when it dropped in 2018. And that has as a lot to do with this being a deeply saturated class of skis as the rest. However apparently, it nonetheless manages to occupy its personal area of interest. The 2023-2024 Rustler 10 is lighter and extra energetic than some full-blown chargers round 102mm underfoot. But it’s considerably extra steady, smoother, and extra succesful in varied circumstances than a slew of different freeride-minded choices. That versatility will proceed to make the Rustler 10 a best choice for plenty of skiers trying to find a wider all-mountain ski.
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