2023 Fischer Ranger 108 Skis Review

The Lowdown

This may just be the most capable quiver-killer to date. For technical skiers whose search for untracked lines often means lapping some warmup cruisers, skiing some bumpy runouts, navigating technical traverses, plowing through crud, and all the other conditions in between, the new Fischer Ranger 108’s seem to check all the boxes. The ample width under foot, wide shovel, and plush flex in the rockered tip make them quick edge-to-edge, surfy, and playful in soft snow. Meanwhile, their 18m radius sidecut, under-foot camber, and smooth-but-sturdy flex make them come alive on firm snow and reward the rider with stable, rounded turns on rails you’d expect from a narrower GS-style ski. Previously, I felt like I had to choose between surfy, playful shapes and ones that were capable of really carving on piste - the Rangers seem to have figured out how to excel at both in a single platform.

Ride Impressions

When I first saw the 108’s and held them up to my other 108-ish mm skis (Black Crows Atris and Faction Candide 3.0), I was surprised by how much more tip and tail width they had - a byproduct of the shorter 18m turning radius. Base-to-base, they had just a whisper of camber and the early-rise tip started further back than I had expected, more akin to the Atris than the Candides. The tails were more traditional with less tail rocker than both skis, and the tail width difference was even more pronounced than the tip. It was clear they would be more directional and more optimized for on-piste skiing than previous skis I’ve tried in this class.

This became evident when I got them on the snow and could immediately feel Fischer’s race DNA coaxing me into a round, slicing carve, something that usually has to be forced with the 105mm+ skis I’ve ridden. They really rewarded me for being patient with my turns, beckoning me to stay locked in and finish my carves - rather than hastily skidding - before energetically transitioning to the next turn.

As I got more comfortable on the Rangers, it became clear that the harder I pushed them, the more they came alive and showed what they’re capable of. These skis reward solid carving technique and balanced, driving, aggressive skiing, and they love to go fast especially on piste. The faster I skied them, the more locked in they felt. Unlike more big-mountain inspired 108’s (like my last year’s Black Crows Ferox) they didn’t just compel me down the fall line - instead, they seemed to want to slice across the fall line and dared me into pulling more G forces as they sliced into the turns.

Despite their carvy nature, I was pleasantly surprised to find they were capable of - and even excelled at - many different turn shapes. I was still able to easily wash out turns as needed to scrub speed or in tight places without feeling that the tails were loading up, a typical problem with more directional skis. They were surprisingly fun in the bumps and plowing through crud, although their desire to be on edge made them feel a bit twitchy at first in variable conditions. Once I got them into some deeper soft snow, I was delighted at how they floated and played, surfing, carving, slashing, and porpoising at will, far from the one-dimensional carvers I expected. In fact, in powder, they felt more like my old favorite DPS Wailer 112RPs, owing to their wide shovel and plush early-rise tip. This allowed and encouraged more creativity in the powder and had me looking for places to experiment with different lengths of turns, slashing surfing, arcing, and bounding down the mountain. I was also pleased with the feel of the shovel - the Rangers were plush and floaty enough up front to push in for deep turns without risking augering in, and also supportive of more forward, driving turns without folding or giving way.

My test pair is mounted up with Salomon Shift Lab MNC 13’s and came with some evo x Pomoca Pro Glide skins. I’ve had Shifts on my last several pairs of skis and continue to be a big fan of that platform despite a few minor gotchas (wide brakes like to snag, somewhat fiddly in transition, AFD plates seem to back off a bit, etc). But, the evo x Pomoca skins were completely new to me - color me impressed. They were a total pleasure to set up with the offset-style cutter, and they were noticeably lighter and more compact than my early 00’s-era Black Diamond mohairs. They were easier to apply with the wide front loop and innovative rear clip, less prone to pucker and warp, and the adhesive felt like a good balance between too gummy and not sticky enough. Applying the skins to the Rangers was a snap and I immediately appreciated the slight tail notch Fischer included to secure the skins and prevent that annoying tail clip slip so common with many resort-centric powder skis. 

On the up, the Rangers + Shifts felt balanced if not a tad tail-heavy, a welcome aid on a couple of tricky kick turns where tips would typically tend to dive. Compared to skinning on the Atris, their less-pronounced tail rocker and wider tail gave me more feeling of purchase on steeper ups, while their wide shovels felt like they plowed and floated well when I was breaking trail. And while they’re a bit heavier than previous carbon iterations of the Ranger, I didn’t find them to be cumbersome for the frequent sidecountry jaunts and relatively short day tours I typically do. The skins also performed well, gripping nicely even on steep climbs and gliding pretty smoothly in the occasional descents.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Who Are They For?

The Fischer Ranger 108 is an ideal ski for technical, aggressive skiers who prefer to find soft snow but expect high performance from their skis even on the groomed runs. They’re well-suited to resort skiing as they’re super fun for carving round turns on groomers, slashing through crud, and playfully surfing in deeper snow. They’re also light enough to be a perfectly capable choice for folks who like to supplement their resort days with sidecountry hikes, day tours, and other ways of pursuing soft snow without having to switch skis. While they excel for these types of skiers, I would not recommend them for beginning or intermediate skiers, nor would they be a good choice for skiers who prefer more jib-friendly skis, more exclusively on-piste skiing, or a more casual skiing style.

From the Brand

The Ranger ski line is the result of 30 months of intense collaboration between team athletes, shop employees, ski engineers, and ski addicts with the aim of getting more out of every day spent on snow, regardless of conditions or the terrain.

The skis in the Ranger range are made in Europe and have been developed with close attention to the selection of raw materials and the use of recycled materials to minimise our environmental impact.