In the Ranger series from Fischer, the 108 sits atop a pretty competitive line. Only the 115 is wider, and as a result, the 108 is blending the all-mountain with the freeride. Most skiers will choose to keep these skis off-trail, but due to the stiffness and construction, they are pretty nice on-piste rippers as well. They probably won’t be mistaken for a race ski by any stretch of the imagination, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun carving the groomers. The Ranger 108 Ti is a perennial favorite among big mountain resort skiers who love the wood core with two sheets of metal. The 19 meter radius at 182 cm length is enough to make some awesome turns, and the long, low rocker in the tip equates to silky smooth turns through fresh snow of pretty much any depth. As with other Fischer products that we’ve tested, our testers gushed over the stability and torsional stiffness of these skis, all the while commenting that they are playful, quick, and versatile.
Marcus Shakun skied the 188 cm and found them to be stable and forgiving with great edge grip. His overall impression was 4 out of 5, and his low score of 3.5 out of 5 for quickness and maneuverability is still pretty good. He commends the skis for behaving “mellow and smooth. The tips and tails are damp that allow it to plow through the soft snow. They’re torsionally rigid, so they hold well at speed.” Given the heft and bulk of the skis, they nonetheless “roll over easily into and out of turns.” He concludes by calling the Ranger 108 a “great all-mountain soft-snow charger.”
Also skiing the 188 cm length, Bob St.Pierre gave high marks for stability, torsional stiffness, and overall impression. He claims that the skis have “awesome power—they work better at speed and when given proper directions.” Bob is saying that the pilot has a lot to do with the feedback that one receives from the Ranger 108. As long as you are giving the skis the right input, you’ll get the corresponding output, whether good or bad. “Lots of edge power,” he says, in regards to Fischer’s undeniable reputation for making freeride skis perform and feel like high-end on-piste boards. He cautions that the Ranger 108 is “not an everyday ski, but on the right days, it is a great one!”
Stability and torsional stiffness were the top marks for Mike Aidala, who skied the 182 cm length. He felt that the Ranger 108 Ti “provides a very damp performance, plowing through the heavy chunky spring snow. If you are a hard charging aggressive skier looking for a ski to build your confidence, this is the machine you need to stay on the line you want to take.” We’d paraphrase Mike’s nice comments by calling the Ranger 108 “unwavering.” Whatever you put in front of these skis, will be demolished.
Mike Thomas loved the flotation, stability, and edge hold of the Ranger 108 in the 188 length. He calls them “smooth and powerful. Pretty much effortless power. The shovel profile allows the ski to glide over the snow when flat, but really blends with the sidecut when on edge. I never felt the ski tugging from the rocker/taper point. Stable at speed, not super playful, more serious.” That’s some great analysis from Mike, who picks up on the fact that these are certainly meant for the upper levels of skier. Beginners and intermediates will feel overmatched by a long shot.
Fischer has a winner on its hands once again. Advanced and expert skiers will love the solid, nimble, and powerful feel of the Ranger 108 Ti, just so long as they stay on top of the things.
