2021 Fischer Ranger 94 FR

Fischer is doing some cool stuff with their graphics this year, and it's worthy of note because that simple change is going to get a lot more skiers on these great sticks this year. Offered in a grey as well as purple/pink combo, the Ranger 94 FR's two different color options just makes the ski more visible. When more people see a product, they're more likely to inquire about it. And for a refined, precise, and playful ski like the Ranger 94, that is a very good thing. There are a ton of skiers out there who would love this ski if only they got the chance. At 94 mm underfoot in the 185, the skis have a ton of versatility. The waist does get narrower as the ski gets shorter, so if you're on a smaller length, expect the ski to have a slightly narrower waist. This makes the ski feel the same for different skiers regardless of size, and that makes for a more refined product. All of our testers really liked the playful yet powerful performance of the Ranger 94, as the shape and the profile all lend to that true all-mountain ski. By utilizing carbon in the tips, they've made the ski lighter, floatier, and more responsive. Our testers love the new colors as well as the returning performance of the Ranger 94 FR.

Marcus Shakun owns a 191 in the 102 FR, so he's familiar with the shape and build of this ski for sure. He skied the 94 in the 185 (longest length in this model), so there is a bit of a size difference from what he's used to. "As opposed to my longer and wider 102, I think a lighter skier or less-aggressive skier will enjoy the 94 a bit more. Still playful and forgiving, I found it easy to maneuver off-trail and in anything bumped up. The length was okay-plenty of tail if needed for stability. It's easy to initiate turns and light so it can make shorter, quicker turns." Since it's a bit shorter and has a smaller turn radius, Marcus notes that he "found it not wanting to hold the big turns at speed." There's just likely not enough material for a skier of Marcus's size and ability to allow for such forces, and that's okay.

Jeff Neagle is on the smaller side, especially versus Marcus, so he did have a different experience on the 94. Jeff was on the 177, but he's kind of in between that and the 185 in this ski-he could go either way, really. He states that "the Ranger 94 FR is so gosh darn fun to ski it'll just make you smile. Super nimble, super playful. Pretty ideal for an east coast skier who likes to ski moguls, trees, and other off-piste terrain more than groomers. It'll do just fine on groomers, although that's not its focus and skis like the Ranger 92 Ti or especially the RC One 86 GT take groomer performance to the next level. So, if that's your focus, it might not be the best for you, but if you can more about playfulness, off-piste terrain, versatility, etc., it's a great choice. Also will double as a park ski really nicely. There's some obvious freestyle influence in its design, although it's not symmetrical and still has a directional feel, so you're not giving anything up in terms of all-mountain ability. It's also super lightweight, especially in terms of swing weight, which makes it a reasonable candidate for a touring ski. To me, however, its highlight is its playfulness and I think the ideal application is using it as a playful, maneuverable, and super-versatile resort ski." Lots of versatility and fun in this ski to be sure.

Quick, nimble, fun, and now purple! The Ranger 94 FR for 2021 gets a fun facelift to make it appeal to a wider swath of skiers, and for a ski like this that really blurs a lot of lines in terms of performance, this is a very good thing, as those skis tend to get a bit lost in the fray. Not no more for the 94!