2021 Fischer RC One 86 GT

The 2021 Fischer RC One 86 GT returns unchanged for 2021, so if you're looking for a total and complete freight train of a setup, this is the one for you. We wish they'd shorten or tighten up the name a bit, but we're just nitpicking. For all intents and purposes, this 86 is like a race ski on steroids or HGH or something that makes it smoother and more stable than almost any other non-race ski on the market. At 86 mm underfoot, the skis have the build that enables them to basically hold more mass than a narrower ski. If the dense wood core wasn't enough, Fischer uses their race room .7 mm titanal laminate in the ski. While .2 mm of metal doesn't sound like a lot, you can feel it not only on your feet, but also in your hands when you pick them up. These things are solid. If you do not like heavy skis, you should certainly look elsewhere. But with that weight, you get endless stability. The metal laminate is not a full one, but rather tapers in the tips and tails to allow for a slightly more maneuverable and playful entry and exit of the turn. Anyone who has been on these has a pretty similar experience. Our testers rave about the strength of the skis, and if you're looking for that type of rock-solid performance, this ski should be right up your alley.

Phil McGrory skied the 182 (the longest length) and noted it was a good size. His lowest scores of 3 out of 5 were given for flotation and versatility, as these are not the intended characteristics of the ski. A 5 for stability and overall impression is more like it. "This ski is an exciting frontside ripper that feels glued to the snow at speed but has a smooth turn initiation. Has a pretty versatile turn shape allowing it to make both short radius turns as well as long radius turns depending on your terrain or what you feel like doing. Not too demanding of a ski so taking it through variable terrain is fine but certainly has plenty of power when you want to hit the gas pedal." Fellow Pinnacle colleague Mike Thomas was also on the 182, and he too gave the ski scores of 5 for stability and overall impression, as well as edge hold and torsional stiffness. Mike calls it a "front side biased all-mountain ripper! If you're looking for an all-mountain ski with the DNA of a technical carving ski, but with a ton of added versatility in mixed snow conditions, give this ski a long, hard look. It loses a bit of edge to edge quickness when compared to narrower carvers, but it more than makes up for it with its tremendous performance in crud and bumps. Is it the best carving bump ski or the best bump skiing carver?" I love existential ski questions like that.

Similar scores and reviews from Jeff Neagle, who also skied the 182. "Expert level all-mountain ski through and through. The RC One 86 GT is the real deal. Thick metal laminates like a race ski give it a stiff, powerful flex pattern and feel. Some companies try to keep the carving shape, but make the flex pattern softer to achieve versatility. Fischer basically did the opposite, kept the stiff flex, but gave it more taper and more blunt/rounded tips. The result is a ski that absolutely rips when you want it to and can lay down carves at any speed with no lack of edge grip whatsoever. The shape then allows you to actually make more freeride-style turns in softer snow and ungroomed terrain. It still requires a pretty high-level skier because of the stiff flex and hefty feel, but an advanced/expert level skier will really appreciate how they can manipulate it into different turn styles while also having the ability to ski fast, aggressively, etc."

Stiff boots and strong skills are a pre-requisite for skiing the RC One GT 86. If you can say and remember the name properly, you also get bonus points.