I did purchase a Blizzard Zero G85 last year and now had enough time to ski it in most conditions. Overall, I really like the ski which is very, very stable for its weight. The ski is – as mentioned in tests – rather stiff, thus it skis very well on hard snow including groomed slopes, where the ski has an astonishing edge grip, considering that it weighs only a bit more than 1kg. With its medium width, the Zero G 85 is suitable for most conditions including light powder. As the ski is quite stiff (much stiffer than e.g. the Movement Response) it does not ski that well in softer, heavier snow.
Overall, I can highly recommend the Zero G 85 for good skiers that want a very light ski, that can skied agressively.
Blizzard has introduced a brand new and very light touring ski line offering with (according to tests) very good performance. The Blizzard Zero G 85 only weighs 2170g per pair (171 cm) and has gotten very good reviews as an agile ski with good edge grip.
Bergsteiger Magazin (November 2015): “… punktet in fast allen Disziplinen, v.a. mit seiner Wendigkeit. Ein Spitzenski …” (English: great well balanced ski for its weight, agile).
Outdoor Magazin (November 2015): ” .. fährt sich fast wie ein Carving Ski … fast zu viel an Kantengriff .. eher steif ..auch gut in weicheren Verhältnissen …” (English: skis almost like a carving ski, very good edge grip, als good in softer conditions, also a ski for heavier skiers as it is rather stiff).
Berg und Tal Online Magazin also gave the Zero G85 a very favorable review: Master of all disciplines, agile, good egde grip, stable, good in soft conditions, very light.
With the Blizzard Zero G 95 and the G 108 (above) Blizzard is also offering wider versions which are a bit heavier, of course. Both skis got good reviews as well:
Test at 14erskiers.com
Test at EarnYourTurns.com
Test at Backcountry Magazine
The APLIN Magazin rated the Blizzard Zero G 95 as the best ski for agressive (advanced) skiers. The even wider Blizzard Zero G 108 was rated “good”in ALPIN Magzine‘s recent test (i.e. not as great as the G 85 and the G 95). At 3450g per pair at 185cm it is quite a bit heavier than the Foscher Hannibal 100 and it does not turn as easy as the Hannibal 100.
And, last but not least, there is also a softer Lady’s version (Zero G 85 Women) with the same weight as the G 85.
Ski Weights Blizzard G Series:
Zero G 85 (116-85-99.5) – lengths 157 cm (945 g per ski), 164 cm (1015 g), 171 cm (1090 g), 178 cm (1175 g), 185 cm (1255g)
Zero G 95 (128-95-111.5) – lengths 164 cm (1070 per ski), 171 cm (1150 g), 178 cm (1250 g), 185 cm (1330 g)
Zero G 108 (136-108-122) – lengths 171 cm (1540 g per ski), 178 cm (1650 g), 185 cm (1750 g)
I have not skied any of the Zero G’s yet, but the skis seem to be suitable for strong skiers (as they are a bit stiff). The Zero G 85 seems to be one the “grippiest” very light ski (most very light skis do not have good edge grip).
swisspowder.net 