Curated Skiing Experts Ian Hamilton and Luke Hinz got their hands on the 2024 Blizzard Rustler 10 this spring. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, but consider the fact that each and every skier is different; if you have any questions about the Rustler 10 or need recommendations on which ski would be best for you, reach out to a Skiing Expert here on Curated.

Before we get started, it's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does Blizzard claim about this ski? [Ian] Blizzard markets the Rustler 10 as an all mountain, freeride ski. It’s a playful, freestyle oriented, freeride ski.

[Luke] The Rustler is Blizzard's freeride line of skis. It is much different from their all mountain collection, which includes the Brahma, Bonafide, and the Cochise. Those skis are going to be stiffer, they've got two sheets of metal, and they've got almost no rocker and full camber throughout. In comparison, the Rustler has strategically placed metal in the ski that’s cut out in certain spots, and it also has more rocker in the tip and the tail. Blizzard did this because they wanted the ski to be better in soft snow and more off piste conditions. So, Blizzard claims that the Rustler is their more versatile, all mountain, freeride ski.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of the ski? [Ian] Rustler 10 - I love this ski! This is a ski that's made for the type of skiing that I like to do. It's really playful and has a lot of rocker and early rise in the tip and tail, but it still has camber underfoot.

[Luke] Having skied a couple days on the Rustler 10 in powder, it definitely lives up to Blizzard’s description. I've been a huge fan of the Rustlers for years, and I think they’re a super versatile ski. I had a blast on these skis - they rip all over the mountain.

How does the shape of the ski affect the way it rides? [Ian] It has some stiffness underfoot, but it is a little bit softer in the noses and the tails because of the early rise in the tip and tail. This means it has the carving ability that Blizzard is known for, so you can really rail some turns on this ski. But, it also has the twin tip, the playfulness, and it’s a bit more forgiving than some of Blizzard's other skis.

[Luke] Blizzard switched up the Rustler for 2024. In past years, there was metal in the middle of the ski and then it tapered out before reaching the tip and the tail. They did that because they wanted the ski to have the stiff middle section and then get progressively softer as you got towards the tip and tail to make the ski more maneuverable, more playful, more smeary and floaty in soft snow - and it worked.

So for this year, there's metal actually running down the full edges of the ski, but then it's milled out in between to cut weight. Then, there's another piece of metal right underneath the binding to give you this stiffer mid-section. What Blizzard likes to reinforce is that these sheets of metal don't connect at the tip of the ski, and that keeps the tip of the ski torsionally more flexible and softer, which is exactly what Blizzard wants with this ski. They want a ski that is softer, smeary, and more playful. But, it also has this damp mid-section that you can still carve effectively on. Overall, it works!

Carving

How does the ski turn? [Luke] I like that stiff midsection because I can carve effectively with them when I'm not off piste or in soft snow. When I hit a groomer, I can trust my edges and know that the ski is going to do what I want to do. That being said, this isn't a stiff, hard charging, groomer oriented ski like the Bonafide. The softer tips and tails means that the Rustler prefers tighter radius, shorter turns.

What is the edge hold like? [Luke] Again, it’s not a full blown carving ski by any means, but they can hold an edge and they can get you back to the lift very admirably and playfully, which I really like.

What about dampness? Any chatter in the skis? [Luke] I don't feel a ton of chatter in these skis unless I'm hitting really high speeds on groomers. In that soft tip and tail, you can feel it a little bit, but that's a trade off for these skis performing a little better off piste.

Freestyle

How is it for freestyle skiing? [Luke] I wouldn't say it's a full park ski but it does have a partial twin tip so you could take it in there. The ski is definitely more oriented for off piste skiing and doing more natural hits and cliffs.

Could you speak about playfulness and pop? [Luke] Compared to Blizzard’s all mountain skis, this ski is definitely very playful. It's got some pop to it, and it's got some energy. I would say that the flex on these skis is medium stiffness in the middle and getting progressively softer as you go towards the tip and tail.

Is it good for skiing switch? [Luke] You can definitely ski switch on the ski. Again, a park freestyle ski isn't its first role, but it could be a secondary role for the ski.

Freeride

How is it for freeride skiing? [Luke] These skis are so much fun when you hit powder, soft snow, or you're going off piste. The more torsionally soft tip and tail make the ski really nimble, and really easy to spin and shut down. When I'm off piste, I can drive these skis hard if I want to, but if I'm in a tight spot I can shut them down really fast because of that softer tip and tail.

How is it in powder? [Ian] It is wide enough to be a one ski quiver. You could definitely handle up to a foot and a half of powder on this ski just because it has so much rise in the nose. You'll get some pretty good float, but you could still rip hardpack and have a good time.

[Luke] If I could take these skis anywhere in the world, it'd be out West on a powder day when I'm looking to go through trees and ski deep pow.

How is it skiing in the trees? How is its maneuverability? [Ian] They’re really good in the moguls and trees.

[Luke] This is a great ski in trees and moguls because that softer tip and tail make it much easier to smear and pivot around tight spots.

What terrain is this ski good for? [Luke] When you take the ski in powder and off piste, that's where it really shines. Again, that softer tip and tail make the ski very maneuverable, very agile, and nimble. It allows you to pivot through whatever terrain you want to. It also gives a great float.

This is the ski that Blizzard puts much of their athlete team on, and I can see why. It's super versatile and you can rip it all over the mountain. It's great in powder, but it's stable enough for landings and hits as well.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend these skis to? [Ian] This is definitely a more advanced ski, so I’d recommend these to intermediates and up for sure. Expert to advanced skiers are going to love this ski. If you like freeride skiing, hitting couloirs and cliffs, jumping off stuff and spinning (but in an all mountain sense), this is one of the best skis on the market, in my opinion. I had a really good time on it.

If you're an intermediate skier and you're looking to take your skiing to that next level, this will open some doors to new terrain where a lot of more intermediate focused skis will struggle.

[Luke] The Rustler 10 would be a great option for an ambitious intermediate skier who wants to start stepping up their game quickly, especially if they are starting to take more trips out West or places with more plentiful snow. They're also great for an advanced or expert skier who wants a freeride machine that they can take off piste, surf pow, use for natural hits and cliffs, more aggressive skiing, and more technical terrain.

Who should avoid these skis, there are better options out there for them? [Luke] If you're looking for a really damp, stable ski for just on piste skiing, these aren't going to be your first choice.

Skis work differently for different types of skiers. If you are wondering whether the Rustler 10 is the right ski for you, chat with Ian, Luke, or any other Skiing Experts here on Curated, and they’ll put together free, personalized ski recommendations on the best skis for your needs.