Thanks for sharing your experience!

Sounds perfect Thomas! You'll love the Rustler 10 on days when your 9 gets a little bogged down. Super easy to ski with a high performance ceiling.

Thanks! Appreciate the kind words.

Thanks Glenn!

Sweet! Glad you're loving them. Super fun skis!

Thanks James! It's a great ski, there's a lot to like about the Rustler 10.

Thanks! Fantastic wider-option for a quiver for sure.

Bummer! Sorry to hear that!

Salomon Stance 102 also has a wonderfully reflective base glow.

Nice, Steve! Hopefully you get in some deep snow on the Rustler 10 because it's a very smooth floater! SE

I think you describe it nicely--the blend and balance of playfulness and power really make the Rustler stand out. Have fun! SE

Give it another year and I expect you'll change your mind and are glad you have the 180 cm! Really appreciate you chiming in with your experience, I'm sure others will find it valuable as well.

@Can't Ban Jesus I used to get all my powder skis in 190+ lengths thinking I was being some kind of badass, but really it just made skiing less enjoyable. These days my skis max out in the ~185 cm range.

Ranger 102 feels lighter on your feet. It doesn't have the same vibration damping as the Rustler, although it's not bad in that department either. There's also a little bit more freestyle influence in the Ranger's shape. Slightly more of a twin tip than the Ranger, and accommodates more centered mount points better. Both are very playful, agile skis, although I think the Rustler feels a little stronger, especially for a directional skier.

Hey Mark, Sorry we're just getting back to you. I think it would be cool to at least differentiate from the Rustler 10 and get something from a different line. The Serpo feels like an excellent choice as it basically splits the difference between your two current skis. Responsive and carves well, but isn't nearly as demanding as the Brahma. Alternatively, it's good in soft snow, but not as surfy as the Rustler 10. Feels like a great choice. Camox and QST 92 could work too, but in my opinion, the Serpo would be a great choice.

You know, they're actually pretty similar. I think the Declivity has more of a surfy/slarvy feel. The shape is a little different, and the Declivity lets you do those long drifty turns more easily than the Rustler. I do think the Rustler is more precise and more responsive, but yeah, overall, pretty darn similar.

Demo’d them in Big Sky last week after they got those 3-4 days of snow - wanted to see what the difference was on Mtn between my Brahmas and a wider ski - I could definitely tell they handled better in deeper snow on runs likeThe Bowl and Rice Bowl and through the trees - the also did really well on the groomers, not as responsive or snappy as my Brahmas but perfectly fine for my skill level - I feel like I need to demo some other skis before settling on this one, but I did like them a lot

For sure. There's noticeably more edge grip and carving performance in the 9 compared to the 10 and if you have a wider ski to go with it like the Rustler 11, I think the 9 would make a lot of sense. The shape still works in soft snow too, you just don't have as much float as the 10.

Fischer Ranger 102, Salomon QST 99, Liberty Origins, those would all be good skis to take a look at.

Yup! Light enough and good backcountry performance for a touring bindings. Not crazy light, but definitely light enough.

Both could work well. Rustler feels looser, more surfy and more easily maneuvered in trees and stuff like that. FX96 gives you more responsiveness, more feedback, and a little more bite, especially in the tail. Both are fun, just a matter of which matches your skiing style better.

Yeah the spur looks sick

Yeah, good all-mountain ski for someone who spends most of their time off trail, or most of their time in softer snow. You can butter with these, although it is a directional ski so you have a lot more ski in front of you than behind you, which can make things like nose butter 3s, 5s, etc less balanced. The 11 definitely feels softer and has longer rocker. It's not as precise or as stable as the 10, but very surfy and with great float in deep snow. We'll have to wait for a super-deep day to really test the Spur, but we'll try to get to it!

@@SkiEssentials Thnx alot:D I went to look at them today, but was a bit too directional, so bought the last pair of K2 Marksman 2020. Which seemed insanely fun. I also got a pair of the last 19/20 Majesty lumberjacks wood. Which is one of the funnest skis Ive ever skied!

P.S. I have been skiing on the 2013 Rossignol Soul 7's out west and enjoyed those except at high speed on groomers when the tips flap a bit.

Hey Bill! I would go with the Rustler 10 for where you do most of your skiing. The 10 is still a very versatile ski and can handle groomer cruising just fine, but it's quite a bit better in soft snow than the 9. On those deeper days in CO and UT, I think you'll appreciate having the extra width of the Rustler 10, especially considering you've been skiing Soul 7s. Rustler 10 should give you similar float as the Soul, but will be more rewarding everywhere else. Hope that helps!

Fantastic! Thanks for the confirmation!

The 9 definitely has more groomer performance than the 10. It just depends how much you want. You can still lay over turns on the 10 too, it's just not quite as strong both in edge grip and overall directional stability. I'd think about how often you're in soft snow conditions. If it's a lot, go with the 10. If it's not that often, stick with the 9 for more firm snow performance. Hope that helps!

The Rustler 10 is a little lighter, more noticeable in swing weight than anything else as the metal doesn't extend to the tips and tails. I'd also say the Rustler is just easier to ski in general. More tail rocker, slightly softer flexing. Easier tail release, so certainly can feel a touch more playful. Enforcer 100 is stiffer, heavier, and certainly more powerful, but it's a little more demanding and more fatiguing. Not as playful as a Rustler, that's for sure. You can kind of blend the two with the Enforcer 104 Free. More of a playful shape like the Rustler, but still a very strong build. Hope that helps!

If you like the overall character of the 94, the 104 is a safe choice. If you're looking for a lighter swingweight with a bit more flotation, I'd go Rustler. The Enforcer is a better on-trail carving ski due to the shape and more metal.

The Rustler has better grip underfoot due to the metal, but the Atomic is one of the best tree skis I've ever been on.

We have a review of the 2022 Ripstick Black Edition and we talk about those differences in great detal. The 2022 gets more carbon rods and different carbon sheets. It has more vibration damping than the 2020, that's the biggest difference. Really feels very damp and smooth for a ski without metal. The 2020 is still a really good ski, and a tremendous value right now.

They certainly have some similarities! I find the Rustler feels a little looser. More maneuverable and easier to pivot and smear with the longer tail rocker. Ranger 102 is a little more responsive out of the tail, and I think it's fair to say it has slightly better edge grip. So, it kind of depends what you value most. If you really want to maximize soft snow performance and agility, I think I would probably go Rustler. Hope that helps!

@@SkiEssentials Thanks so much! I ended up going with Rustlers because I found a deal I couldn’t miss but it seems like I would’ve been happy either way. Hope this winters gonna be a blast!

I think the 172 is the way to go for you. The 180 is a bit heavy, my guess is that you'd like the shorter size based on your stats and application. Have fun! SE

@@SkiEssentials Thanks for the reply. Since posting this, I have demo'd QST 98 and Enforcer Free. I hated the QST, felt I couldn't keep an edge and control off-piste (was skiing wet heavy chopped up mank in the rain that day...but that is what we get sometimes in the PNW - I assume it would be better in lighter snow), and it was ok on piste but nothing to write home about. The Enforcer Free on the other hand (same day, same conditions) just blew me away - I loved everything about it. I could pivot and bring it around on steeps (even in the heavy crud), blast through chop/crud, and then carve beautifully on the groomers back to the lift. The only caveat I would say to the Enforcer Free was ability to quickly smear/slash in trees to check my speed, it was good maybe not great (QST was better in this regard). This result was kind of the opposite of what I was expecting for my perceived ski style and ability, but makes me reconsider my ski options and maybe a little more toward the damp and charger type ski (a la Enforcer Free) rather than lighter and playful (a la QST)? I am looking to demo some more but if I had to buy now it would be Enforcer Free hands down. So what else should still be on the table? I can easily demo the Rustler 10, am interested in Ranger 102 if I can find a demo, QST 106 - still on the table?, Line Blade Optic?

188 cm for sure. Even for me (Jeff), the 180 feels short at times.

Yup, everything carries over to 2022 for the Rustler line.

The Vantage 97 will work on a lot of powder days, but I'd say 8-12 inches is where you're going to reach a limit, or rather where you could benefit from a wider ski with more rocker. So, it basically comes down to how often you're skiing snow that deep. If it's not often, you'll be just fine on the Vantage, but if it's a decent amount of days in a given season, I'd look to pick up something in the 108+ range.

@@SkiEssentials hi, thank you so much for your wonderful reply!!! I will just ski at Squaw Valley and Heavenly in CA, and I don’t think I need a pair of new powder skis soon until I figure out how frequent I will ski with huge Pow! I already took your notes down on my laptop! Thank you! Btw, I am a new skier but been following this channel for a couple of month! Absolutely love the ski reviews and comments from Jeff and Bob, who are so knowledgeable all the time! So happy for Skiessentials.com to have those wonderful guys! I will recommend this channel to more friends!

There are effectively 4 different answers to that question depending on your personal preferences, ability level and overall desired performance out of a ski. Knowing more about you as a skier would help us answer that!

Yes, the best part is that you still get good carving from the metal underfoot in the Rustler.

Plenty of people ski the Rustler 10 here at Stowe! Stowe averages about 330 inches of annual snowfall, which is consistent with lots of mountains in the west. We've skied all over the country. Stowe and the backcountry terrain in Smuggler's Notch is some of the best skiing in the country when the snow is good. Check out our QST Blank review from last year, you'll see what I mean.

Hey Lance! I expect the Rustler 9 would be a really good ski for you. It's a little better on groomers, and the longer camber and longer metal in the 9 will be a little more supportive for your size than the 10, while still feeling more nimble and less demanding than the Enforcer 104. Liberty Origins are a lot of fun, but might feel a little too washy for your weight. Rustler 9 will allow you to rip turns on groomers, then also play around on the sides of the trails, in bumps, etc.

That's a pretty huge category; Ranger 102 might be a good choice, could go Enforcer, Sego Cleaver, or M5/M6 Mantra... M-Free 99 might also be a great option based on the 108 (haven't seen any reviews on the 99 yet) I'm 6'2 240, skiing an M5 and Declivity 92 for AM skis

Steven brought up some good skis in his reply. Rustler is a little stiffer than the Origin 96, but you might want more at your size if you find the Origin noticeably too soft. The Enforcer 100 feels like a good options, or Mantras. Ranger 99 Ti might actually be a better choice than the 102 FR. M-Free 99 is going to be too light and too soft.

@@src248 thanks for chiming in! Some good recommendations in there. We've actually been busy testing the M-Free 99 and will have a review up within the next 2 weeks!

@@SkiEssentials Looking forward to it, though if it's light/soft as mentioned in the other reply I'm going to have to take it off my wish list :P

@@SkiEssentials Hi, thank you so much for getting back to me. I really appreciate the hard work and dedication that you guys put into your reviews! Keep doing what you're doing. Skiing smugglers lodge next year around this time,. Hoping I somehow see yall around.

HI Alek! While you can take them in the park, they have more of a freeride tail than a freestyle twin tip. Still going to take off and land switch if needed.

They have some of the same characteristics, but differences too. The Bent Chetler has a more energetic flex pattern and much higher camber, so feels more springy. The Rustler 10 is more damp and quiet and the rocker profile is longer, so has a different personality in soft snow conditions.

Ok thank you

Holyshred has more of a twin tip shape. More freestyle influence in its design. The Rustler has lighter swing weight, which makes it a little quicker in the trees and other tight terrain. The Holyshred requires a little more skier input in those situations. Not as long rocker on the Holyshred, which definitely plays into that. I do think it's probably fair to say you can push the Holyshred a little harder on groomers, however.

@@SkiEssentials thank you!

How about just multiple trips out west? In a typical season, we're out there at least once or twice. We all love Vermont, so I don't think completely relocating will ever happen, but maybe someday we could have a shop and/or 2nd warehouse out west!

Elan Ripstick or Volkl Blaze may be decent options, as well

This ski is too heavy for strictly touring. It weighs 2105g per ski in 180cm length. In comparison I have touring skis in 110mm width and 180cm length that weigh 1587g per ski. I'd look for lighter ski to tour.

@@johnblock5073 thanks for the recommendations!

@@vitaminb4869 while I know that lighter ski = easier uphill, I am also going to be skiing a lot of downhill. I’m looking for a “Do it all ski”. I don’t want it to be to light or I sacrifice downhill performance. If you have any suggestions for a freestyle all-mountain ski that also tours decently enough, that would be greatly appreciated. Also, what skis are you using? Thanks!

@@micah9666 I'm using G3 SEEKr 110 as my touring ski. They are light and powder oriented. I also have the Rustler 10 for resorts. They are also I'd say powder oriented as they float really well, just much heavier. I'm not an expert on skis as I have limited experience with different types of skis. There are so many choices out there, it is very hard to choose, especially when it's not clear what makes a ski different from another besides the graphics. I'd say go for something that has an aggressive rocker profile as that helps float in powder. And something that doesn't have a metal in it as that adds to weight.

There are some similarities for sure. Both strike a nice balance between feeling strong and damp, but also playful and maneuverable. The Holyshred is more of a twin tip shape, that's for sure, and with more forward mounting options. Rustler is a more directional shape. Aside from that, I think it's fair to say the Rustler is a little easier to ski. Lighter swing weight and the tips and tails are a little looser. Holyshred can feel somewhat demanding in tight terrain as it has a heavier feel, takes more input to flick it around.

Amazingly, even more rocker in the QST 98, making it a better floater, relative to width, than the Rustler 10. You're getting a bit more grip and a longer turn shape with the Rustler, but the QST 98 is a surprising carver due to the short radius and burly build. For a ski without metal, the QST 98 is very smooth and stable.

Hey man, I'm not the shop guys, but I am your height and weight and would consider myself advanced intermediate too. I rode these skis all last season in both 180 and 188, and I loved them. I found the 188's more stable at speed in the open (more edge on the ground), and a little floatier in powder as they're a touch wider to go with the extra length. The only time I didn't appreciate the extra on the 188's was then I was in tight trees, or found myself in the middle of a really carved out mogul field. As the guys said in the video, it's a forgiving ski with a good rocker on both ends and feels really manageable in both lengths. They really helped me progress my skiing. I'd go longer if you ski more open areas and quicker, or shorter if you ski in tighter terrain. Hope this helps =]

I agree with Karrot. If you're skiing tight terrain, go with the 180. If you're in more open terrain, go 188. You could definitely ski the 188, it's just a matter of whether you need that extra length and whether it would be more of a benefit or a hindrance. If you're mostly skiing tight, technical terrain, for instance, there's really no benefit to the longer ski. In open terrain and deep snow you're getting more stability and more float, however.

@@SkiEssentials Thanks for the Reply! I am a skier in the West so it sounds like I could use that extra length for the big snow and powder chop days. I am trying to find clarification if there were any changes between the 2021 vs 2022 Rustler 10's. Do you know if any changes were made?

@@joshuwalla Nope, no changes. Even the same graphic for 2021 and 2022.