Ski: 2023-2024 Blizzard Rustler 11, 186 cm
Test Location: Crested Butte Mountain Resort, CO
Days Skied: 8
Available Lengths: 168, 174, 180, 186, 192 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 183.7 cm
Stated Weight per Ski: 2065 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2082 & 2089 grams
Stated Dimensions: 142-114-132 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 142.3-114-132.6 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (186 cm): 20.5 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 81 mm / 49 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 3 mm
Core Materials: poplar/paulownia/beech + titanal (1 partial layer) + fiberglass laminate
Base: sintered
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -7.6 cm from center; 84.2 cm from tail
Boots Used: Lange Shadow 130 LV, Tecnica Mach1 MV 130, Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD BOA 130
Bindings Used: Tyrolia Attack 13 MN
Intro
Blizzard overhauled their freeride collection of Rustler skis for the 2023-2024 season, and we started spending time on all of them in the spring of 2023.
The Rustler 11 returns as the widest, most soft-snow-oriented ski in the collection, but Blizzard has changed many aspects of its design, so we were eager to see how it would compare to past iterations — and the rest of the market.
What Blizzard says about the Rustler 11
“Skiing is always fun, but we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t a whole lot more fun when you need to pack your snorkel. The Rustler 11 lives for the days when the snow gods deliver, and is as eager to race your buddies to the rope drop as you are. At the heart of the redesigned Rustler 11 is a lightweight, energetic Freeride Trueblend woodcore and an all-new FluxForm metal layup technology. Trueblend and FluxForm are designed to work together to provide stability and strength underfoot, yet retain all of the float and playfulness you’ve come to love and expect in the tip and tail of a Rustler 11. For the deepest days of the year and every day in between, the Rustler 11 is ready to Press Send.”
For more details on the backstory and tech of the latest Rustler and Sheeva skis, check out our video from the 2023 Blister Summit where we go over all of that with Blizzard:
Shape / Rocker Profile
The Rustler 11’s shape hasn’t changed a whole lot — it’s still a ski with pretty minimally tapered tips and tails, especially for its width (114 mm underfoot for the 186 cm version).
The Rustler 11’s rocker profile is also quite similar to its predecessor — the new ski still has pretty deep tip and tail rocker lines. The main difference we can notice is that the new Rustler 11 has more tail splay and its tail looks a bit more “twinned.” The new ski also has a bit more tip splay and its tip rocker line seems to start rising just a bit more quickly / abruptly than the original Rustler 11.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Rustler 11:
Tips: 7
Shovels: 7-8
In Front of Toe Piece: 8-9.5
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-8.5
Tails: 8-7
Overall, the new Rustler 11 has a very similar flex pattern to the previous version. It’s not a super burly flex pattern, nor is it a really soft one — fairly middle-of-the-road for a ski in this class.
Dimensions
As with the other Rustlers, past and present, the latest Rustler 11’s waist width varies by length. The 168, 174, and 180 cm lengths of the Rustler 11 have a stated waist width of 112 mm; the 186 cm and 192 cm versions have a stated waist width of 114 mm.
Sidecut Radius
The stated sidecut radius for the 186 cm Rustler 11 is 20.5 meters. That’s nothing super out of the ordinary for this class, and is nearly identical to the stated sidecut radius of the original 188 cm Rustler 11, which was 21 meters. (FWIW, those two lengths of the new and old ski share the same stated tip-waist-tail widths, so it makes sense that their sidecut radii are almost the same.)
Mount Point
The latest Rustler 11’s recommended mount point is about -8 cm from true center — again very similar to past versions, and again falling somewhere between really directional skis and really freestyle-oriented skis.
Weight
Our pair of the 186 cm Rustler 11 weighs about 2085 grams per ski. That’s a bit lighter than Blizzard’s stated weight for the 188 cm length of the 22/23 Rustler 11 (2170 g), but it’s not a dramatic difference.
Overall, the Rustler 11 falls on the lighter end of the spectrum for its width, but there are plenty of comparable skis on the market that come in at similar weights.
For reference, here are our measured weights for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to try to keep things apples to apples.
1710 & 1744 Atomic Bent Chetler 120, 184 cm
1808 & 1809 Line Pescado, 180 cm
1833 & 1894 Head Kore 111, 184 cm
1835 & 1820 ARV 116 JJ UL, 185 cm
1863 & 1872 Atomic Bent 110, 188 cm
1873 & 1878 Line Vision 118, 183 cm
1885 & 1914 Moment Wildcat Tour, 190 cm
1920 & 2006 RMU North Shore 110, 186 cm
1921 & 1927 Fat-ypus D-Sender, 184 cm
2006 & 2063 Elan Ripstick 116, 193 cm
2009 & 2018 RMU North Shore 114, 184 cm
2019 & 2051 K2 Mindbender 116C, 186 cm
2027 & 2052 K2 Reckoner 112, 184 cm
2043 & 2046 4FRNT Inthayne, 188 cm
2060 & 2075 4FRNT Hoji, 184 cm
2082 & 2089 Blizzard Rustler 11, 186 cm
2083 & 2137 Blizzard Hustle 11, 188 cm
2105 & 2185 Head Kore 117, 189 cm
2163 & 2166 Moment Wildcat, 184 cm
2180 & 2195 DPS Koala 111, 184 cm
2182 & 2218 Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, 185 cm
2183 & 2258 DPS Koala 118, 189 cm
2196 & 2211 Rossignol Sender Free 110, 184 cm
2212 & 2215 Armada ARV 116 JJ, 185 cm
2216 & 2246 Meier Leeper, 185 cm
2222 & 2278 Prior CBC, 184 cm
2243 & 2287 Salomon QST Blank, 186 cm
2259 & 2279 Black Crows Anima, 189.2 cm
2280 & 2286 Icelantic Nomad 115, 191 cm
2302 & 2342 Dynastar M-Free 108, 192 cm
2318 & 2322 Line Blade Optic 114, 186 cm
2328 & 2370 Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm
2341 & 2357 Dynastar M-Free 118, 189 cm
2343 & 2360 J Skis Friend, 189 cm
2438 & 2492 Rossignol Blackops 118, 186 cm
Now, onto on-snow performance:
FULL REVIEW
Powder
Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg): The Rustler 11 is the second-widest ski in Blizzard’s 23/24 lineup and the brand’s copy about this ski makes it clear that it was designed with fresh snow in mind.
As a powder ski, I think the latest Rustler 11 feels pretty similar to its predecessors. I.e., it’s not best-in-class in terms of flotation or maneuverability for a 114mm-wide ski, but it’s generally easy to get along with.
Especially on steeper slopes (roughly 35°+) where you can keep some momentum going, the Rustler 11 planes nicely and is very easy to pivot, slarve, and throw sideways. I’d definitely put it on the more maneuverable end of the spectrum for this width.
On lower-angle slopes, the 186 cm Rustler 11 required me to ski it more centered or backseat to keep its tips up in snow deeper than roughly 6” / 15 cm. I wouldn’t say this ski is prone to “diving” in deep snow, but rather, I think its wide, minimally tapered tips and fairly abrupt tip rocker line can cause a “plowing” effect when the snow is deep and the pitch isn’t very steep. I.e., pushing the snow, rather than planing up and easily gliding on top of it.
Skiing the Rustler 11 with a more centered stance without much pressure on the shovels generally solves this, but especially for a 114mm-wide ski with this much rocker and a not-super-centered mount point of about -8 cm, the Rustler 11 doesn’t encourage me to really drive it in deeper snow. Instead, I found it was best to either “wiggle” smaller, bases-flat turns from a centered stance, or if the snow was deep enough, actively try to get the ski to dive in and out of the snow (i.e., “porpoising”), using its fairly lively flex pattern to bounce it in and out of turns.
In steeper terrain and/or at higher speeds, this becomes less of an issue — once you get the ski moving and/or pointed down the fall line, it planes up nicely and feels conducive to both carved and slashed turns.
In sum, I most enjoyed the Rustler 11 as a pow ski in terrain that allowed me to keep my momentum going, where it felt very maneuverable and generally pretty easy to ski. It felt similarly maneuverable in pow-covered, moderate-angle terrain, but in that scenario, it often required a fairly upright or backseat stance to avoid getting hung up in the deep snow and initiating an “over the handlebars” sensation.
Soft Chop
Untracked pow is great, but the soft, cut-up snow that follows was actually where I ended up most enjoying the Rustler 11. In these conditions, I didn’t have to focus quite as much on my body positioning to keep the ski from bucking me forward, and I think the Rustler 11 offers a really fun blend of maneuverability, stability, support, and accessibility.
The Rustler 11 is far from the most stable ski in its class, but I rarely found myself wishing for a much more stable ride when skiing fast on it in low-density chop. Relative to its fairly low weight (~2085 g per ski @ 186 cm), I think the Rustler 11’s tips do an impressive job of minimizing deflection in these conditions. At the same time, it still feels quite nimble for its size. So I could easily make a few quick slashes or air a gap between piles of pushed-around snow and then still be able to relatively comfortably make it through an ensuing high-speed runout.
Again, this is not the ski I’d recommend if you want to blast through chop at super high speeds (especially in heavier, denser, wetter snow). There are much heavier skis that will better serve you. But for its weight and how maneuverable it is, the Rustler 11’s composure in cut-up pow is impressive. I also think it offers a nice, pretty big sweet spot in these conditions — I could drive it hard in shallower and/or firmer snow and then ski it pretty centered in softer spots without feeling like I was wildly outside of where the ski wanted my balance and weight distribution to be.
Firm Chop & Crud
The Rustler 11 starts to struggle a bit more in these conditions, as I would expect, given that it’s a fairly wide ski that’s not particularly heavy. Relative to those two aspects, I’d say the Rustler 11 is fairly good to maybe slightly above average in these rougher conditions, but it definitely doesn’t feel designed to excel in them.
In firm, cruddy, inconsistent conditions, the Rustler 11 can feel a bit twitchy. My preferred approach on it in those scenarios was to utilize its maneuverable ride to make lots of smaller, more controlled skids, rather than try to bulldoze through the snow with big, high-speed turns.
If you want a pow-oriented ski that is also really planted and composed in crud, check out (much) heavier alternatives.
But if you want a pretty quick and maneuverable ski and you don’t mind taking it easy when the snow isn’t ideal, the Rustler 11 still warrants consideration.
Moguls, Trees, & Tight Terrain
As I’ve mentioned a few times now, the Rustler 11 falls on the more maneuverable end of the spectrum for its class, and that’s most obvious in tighter terrain. Relative to its size, its swing weight is pretty low, and its tails are quite easy to release and slash, so long as you’re not skiing really backseat. Its tail isn’t as forgiving as many of the more playful, more freestyle-oriented skis around this width, but the Rustler 11’s tails are more forgiving than many of the more directional alternatives.
All of this makes the Rustler 11 pretty easy in tight terrain. Whether the snow is firm or soft, it doesn’t take a great deal of effort to pivot and slide the Rustler 11 around, and I was almost always able to recover from a sloppy backseat turn within the next one or two turns that followed. At the same time, when the snow was firmer or shallower, the Rustler 11 felt pretty supportive and allowed me to drive its shovels between mogul troughs, trees, and the like. It’s a pretty accessible ski, but it’s far from a noodle of a ski that folds as soon as you lean into it.
Groomers
The Rustler 11 isn’t a groomer-oriented ski, but it’s worth noting that it is quite fun for its size on piste. It initiates turns pretty easily, offers above-average edge hold for its class, and can even produce some energy at the exit of a turn when you bend it.
I don’t think this will be that important for many people, but as someone who never likes to be forced into thinking of groomers as “afterthoughts” — even on pow days — I appreciate that the Rustler 11 is still enjoyable to carve.
Playfulness
Overall, the Rustler 11 is a pretty playful ski, but I wouldn’t say it feels like a very freestyle-oriented ski. On one hand, it’s pretty loose / surfy, has a low swing weight, can ski switch pretty well, and lets you ski it fairly centered. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel super balanced in the air when mounted on its recommended line, its tips and tails aren’t that easy to bend, and it definitely prefers a forward stance on firmer snow and shallower conditions.
So if freestyle performance is a big priority for you, keep those latter aspects in mind. But if you rarely land switch in deep snow, don’t need a very soft or ultra-loose ski, and prefer a ski that lets you ski both centered and forward, it’s still very much worth considering.
Who’s It For?
Overall, I think the Rustler 11 makes the most sense as a ski that you’ll primarily use in soft-ish conditions. There are better alternatives for very deep snow (especially in lower-angle, tighter terrain), and there are tons of better skis if you’ll primarily be using them on firm snow when it hasn’t snowed in days or weeks.
But, as a generalist soft-snow ski, the Rustler 11 could work for a pretty wide range of skiers. It’s neither super directional nor freestyle-specific, and that’s a big part of what makes that ideal demographic quite large. You can ski it quite centered (especially in soft snow) and find it to be a pretty playful, maneuverable, and nimble ski. Or you can ski it with a forward stance (especially on firmer snow), and it feels pretty precise and composed at speed, relative to its fairly low weight.
The Rustler 11 definitely isn’t your best bet if you want a really planted, stable ski that easily blasts through dense chop and crud. It’s also not the best in its class when it comes to flotation, maneuverability, or forgiveness. It sits closer to the more maneuverable side of things than the ultra-stable side, but the way in which it balances many different traits makes it a viable option for many people seeking a soft-snow-oriented — but still pretty versatile — ski.
Bottom Line
The latest Blizzard Rustler 11 maintains much of what we enjoyed about the previous versions. It’s a ski that excels in soft snow and feels quite nimble and maneuverable, yet it’s not so focused in those regards that it quickly feels out of its element when the fresh snow gets chopped up, or you head into some firmer zones.
Deep Dive Comparisons
BLISTER+ members and those who purchase our Digital Access Pass can check out our Deep Dive comparisons linked below. Get our Digital Access Pass to view all our Deep Dives and Flash Reviews, or become a BLISTER+ member today to get access to that and a LOT more, including the best worldwide Outdoor Injury Insurance, exclusive deals and discounts on skis, personalized gear recommendations from us, and much more.
Check out our Deep Dive comparisons of the Blizzard Rustler 11 to see how it compares to the first-gen Rustler 11, Blizzard Hustle 11, Blizzard Rustler 10, Nordica Unleashed 114, DPS Koala 111, Line Bacon 115, Rossignol Sender Free 110, Rossignol Blackops 118, RMU North Shore 114, Meier Leeper, Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, Whitedot Altum 114, Black Crows Anima, Icelantic Nomad 105, Moment Countach 110, J Skis Friend, Moment Wildcat, 4FRNT Hoji, Atomic Bent 110, HEAD Kore 111, Head Oblivion 116, Parlor McFellon Pro, Line Blade Optic 114, Volkl Revolt 114, & Salomon QST Blank.
Best R11 top sheet in a few years.
I liked the previous color but at least now it’s not going to be confused with the Cochise 106. The two skis looked kind of a bit too similar for a couple years…
Ha, agreed – if I had a nickel for every time I confused the previous 11 for the Cochise…
eagerly awaiting the full review of these. The old version was such a good all conditions ski, hoping removing the hinge point will solve all my issues and make it into an awesome backcountry weapon.
Anyone try mounting it a couple cm forward of recommended? Any thoughts on that for this ski?
I’ve got a pair of 2022 Rustler 11’s mounted 2cm forward of recommended mount point. The skis float well and are easy to maneuver in steep terrain. My skis are 180cm and I’m 5’7” and weigh 160lbs. Ability is expert and have many years of experience in the conditions found in the Rockies and NW. Also I have experience as a ski tech and since my boot size is 24.5 most of my skis are mounted 2 cm forward of recommended.
Do you experience any tip dive when you press the shovels or do you mostly ski them from a neutral stance?
What is going on with the stated and measured ski length? I am torn between the 180cm and 186cm, but the decision would be clear if they are actually 2cm shorter…
It’s not actually that unusual, due to the different ways in which different ski companies come up with their stated lengths, and the way we measure it. You can learn all about it in the “Measured Length vs. Stated Length” section of our “How to Think About Ski Length” article: https://blisterreview.com/recommended/how-to-think-about-ski-length
Long story short: most skis measure a bit shorter than their stated length when we measure them via the straight-tape method. But some don’t, and that’s why we list our standardized straight-tape length measurements for all the skis we review.
On the previous version there was a huge difference between the 188 and the 192. I didn’t like the 188 but liked the 192 enough to buy one and ski it for a season. Didn’t ski long and was much more damp, heavier than the 4 cm would imply. Wonder if its’s the same here.
Luke, What jacket are you wearing in the photographs?
Thanks!
That’s an old version of Open Wear’s 3L Jacket: https://blisterreview.com/gear-reviews/outerwear/open-wear-open-one-3l-shell-jacket-pants
Hey guys I demo’d the 186 and it felt so squirrelly and out of control compared to my black crows atris 190cm. I would have preferred to try the 192 as I like longer skis. I know there’s a 9cm difference in width there but I’m curious as to why such a difference in feel? Could it just be the length or that the rustler 11 is a very different ski?
Best review of the Blizzard Rustler 11 I’ve read. I own a pair of the 2023 Rustler 11s. I have not skied them yet. I live in Denver, Colorado. Apparently, the 2024 Rustler 11 has removed the hinge point.
Love the rustler 11 as a resort ski — anyone have a slightly skinnier/similarly sized touring ski that skis similarly well in all conditions they like?