Built for off-track adventures, the Fischer Traverse 78 is a comfortable, capable backcountry performer with all the goods. Loaded with adventure features, the Traverse 78 has full metal edges, a wood core, and offtrack crown and an Easy Skin attachment. Even without the skins (a separate accessory), these skis climb really well, and are a blast on the descent. If you’re looking for stability and confidence in the winter woods, the Traverse 78 is the way to go. Our testers loved the adventurous nature and high-end feel of these skis and when paired with a BC boot, they raved about the off-road capabilities of the skis.
Shelby Parenteau skied the 169 cm length and gave top scores for stability, maneuverability, versatility, and overall impression. She calls it a “great ski for doing it all. Stable and maneuverable. The offtrack crown made the grip and glide feel seamless. Skis gripped on the way up, but were still able to get down.” Yes, that grip on the up does have its own pitfall, as Shelby notes, the skis were “a little slow on the downhill, but maneuverability and stability were great going down.” So there’s a silver lining to that as well, you do get more control.
Bob St.Pierre put his 189 cm test length “through the paces.” He loved the stability of the skis, and also gave high marks for versatility and overall impression. Not surprisingly, weight, speed, and glide were on the lower end of the score sheet, but that’s what you get with a BC-oriented ski. Bob calls the Traverse 78 “good up the track, but worked better out of the classic track. I took it on to the MTB trail and broke trail for a bit, then came down some packed snowshoe trail and back to the track. Then downhill off-piste. Not the best turner, but is likely due to my inexperience. Loved it for an adventure ski!” I think that’s exactly what Fischer had in mind with the Traverse 78.
Allison Ruschp skied the 169 and called it a “fun backyard ski!” Here top marks, along with the other testers, were given for stability and overall impression. She calls the skis “stable with plenty of grip. The traction off-trail and maneuverability in crud were great. The edges help with downhill traction and turning. They’re still okay on-trail, but slow.” There’s certainly a large number of skiers out there who don’t want a speedy ski, especially in packed downhill conditions.
Kristi Brown was also on the 169 and loved the stability, versatility, and maneuverability of the 78. She notes that it’s her “first time on an offtrack 78 and loved it. Fantastic stability and adaptability. Love the bonus of having a wider tip and narrower waist that lends to easier turns and control.” This sounds like a pretty common thread with the 78, and Kristi picks up on it pretty quickly. In her words, she declares that the Traverse 78 is “the gentle charger that heightens the fun-factor.” Again, we don’t think Fischer could say it any better than our testers.
Marcus Shakun was, like Bob, also on the 189 and loved the stability, maneuverability, and overall impression of the Traverse 78. Glide and weight were further down the list, but that’s not what these skis were designed for. Marcus says the 78’s “maneuverability in the deep snow was great. It had nice shape that allowed for ease of turning. Very stable and stiffer, so it worked well in the deeper and thicker snow. Great traction on the uphill, it would be nice to have an Easy Skin if going on a steeper adventure.”
For skiers looking for stability and grip, the Fischer Traverse 78 is a fantastic choice. The wood core, metal edges, and Easy Skin option make it virtually unstoppable out there in the snow.
