Welcome, ski enthusiasts! Today, we're comparing two fantastic products: the Salomon QST 98 Skis (2024) and the Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis (2023). Both are top-tier all-mountain skis, designed for intermediate to advanced skiers who crave versatility and performance. The Salomon QST 98 is a playful, freeride-oriented ski that excels in powder and off-piste conditions, while the Blizzard Rustler 10 is a hard-charging, stable ski that shines in a variety of terrains. Both skis are praised for their maneuverability, stability, and versatility, making them excellent choices for a one-ski quiver. However, they each have their unique strengths and weaknesses, which we'll delve into in this comparison. So, buckle up, and let's hit the slopes!

Salomon QST 98 Skis · 2024 summary

The Salomon QST 98 Skis (2024) are marketed as an all-mountain, freeride freestyle type of ski, with potential for backcountry touring. They're designed to be a one-ski quiver, wide enough to handle powder but still equipped with camber underfoot for groomers and resort skiing. The QST 98 is the softer, more playful sibling in Salomon's all-mountain lineup, with the Stance being the stiffer, more hard-charging counterpart.

The QST 98 is a mid-width ski at 98mm, making it a great all-around, intermediate one-ski quiver. It has significant early rise in the nose and tail, which helps with float in powder. The ski's shape allows it to pivot quickly, and the effective edge isn't super long due to the early rise, meaning the tip and tail don't catch as much as a fully cambered ski. This makes the QST 98 more playful, surfy, and easy to pivot than many stiffer, directional skis.

The ski's carving performance is forgiving and fun, with enough camber underfoot to make skiing groomers enjoyable. It also features a cork damper to reduce chatter from the early rise tips. While not a dedicated freestyle ski, the QST 98 can handle park skiing and is good for skiing switch, thanks to its partial twin tip.

The QST 98 is a versatile ski that performs well in a variety of terrains, from groomers and moguls to trees, powder, and backcountry. It's recommended for intermediate to expert skiers looking for a good all-around one-ski quiver.

Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis · 2023 summary

The Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis (2023) are designed for advanced to expert skiers who want a ski that can handle a variety of terrains. They're built with a wood core and a layer of carbon, plus cork dampeners in the tip and tail to absorb vibrations. This construction results in a ski that's stiff underfoot but playful in the tips and tails, offering a balance of stability and forgiveness.

The Rustler 10 is a medium-flex ski with a surprising amount of rocker in the tip and tail. This design makes the ski more playful and easy to maneuver, especially in powder and off-piste conditions. Despite the rocker, the ski is stable and doesn't chatter much, thanks to the titanal layer that covers the entire cambered portion of the ski and extends a bit beyond it.

The ski's carving performance is strong, with good edge hold and stability at high speeds. However, it's not as nimble in short and medium radius turns, requiring some force to initiate. The Rustler 10 is also a great ski for high-speed, large radius turns, especially in crud or fresh spring snow.

While not a park ski, the Rustler 10 is playful and fun in the air, making it a good choice for skiers who enjoy hitting big cliffs in the side country, woods, or powder. It's recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers who want a versatile, all-mountain ski that can handle a variety of conditions.

Similarities

The Salomon QST 98 and Blizzard Rustler 10 are both all-mountain skis designed for intermediate to advanced skiers. They're both marketed as versatile, one-ski quiver options that can handle a variety of terrains and conditions, from groomers and moguls to trees and powder. Both skis feature a combination of rocker and camber profiles, with significant early rise in the tips and tails for improved float in powder and maneuverability in tight spots.

Both skis are praised for their stability and edge hold, making them fun and reliable options for carving on groomers. They're also both described as playful and fun, with a balance of stiffness underfoot for stability and softer tips and tails for forgiveness and playfulness. Both skis are recommended for skiers who like to ski aggressively and charge hard on a variety of terrains.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While the Salomon QST 98 and Blizzard Rustler 10 share many similarities, they also have key differences that make them better suited to different types of skiers and conditions. The QST 98 is marketed as a more freeride freestyle type of ski, with a softer, more playful feel. It's a great choice for skiers who enjoy off-piste skiing and want a ski that's nimble and easy to pivot. The QST 98 is also a good option for skiers who like to dabble in park skiing, thanks to its partial twin tip.

On the other hand, the Rustler 10 is a more hard-charging, stable ski that's built to handle a variety of terrains at high speeds. It's a great choice for skiers who like to ski aggressively and want a ski that's stable and damp at speed. The Rustler 10 is also a good option for skiers who enjoy hitting big cliffs in the side country, woods, or powder, thanks to its stability on landings and wide platform.

In terms of construction, the QST 98 features a cork damper to reduce chatter, while the Rustler 10 has a titanal layer for added stability and edge hold. The Rustler 10 is also a bit wider underfoot, making it a better option for skiers who frequently find themselves in deep powder.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

1. Versatility: Both skis are highly versatile, but the Salomon QST 98 takes the edge here due to its more freeride freestyle orientation, making it a bit more adaptable to a wider range of conditions and styles.
2. Stability: The Blizzard Rustler 10 wins in terms of stability, thanks to its titanal layer and damp, stable ride at high speeds.
3. Playfulness: The Salomon QST 98 comes out on top in terms of playfulness, with its softer, more playful feel and partial twin tip design.
4. Powder Performance: The Blizzard Rustler 10 takes the win for powder performance, with its wider underfoot width and large shovels providing excellent float in deep snow.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Salomon QST 98 and Blizzard Rustler 10 are excellent all-mountain skis that offer a balance of stability, versatility, and playfulness. The right choice between the two will depend on your personal skiing style and the conditions you typically ski in. If you're a skier who enjoys off-piste skiing and wants a playful, nimble ski that can handle a bit of park skiing, the Salomon QST 98 is a great choice. If you're a hard-charging skier who wants a stable, damp ski that excels in a variety of terrains and conditions, including deep powder, the Blizzard Rustler 10 is the way to go. Either way, you're getting a top-tier ski that will elevate your time on the mountain. Happy skiing!