2022 Fischer Ranger 102 FR W
The 2022 Fischer Ranger 102 FR in the Pink color is one of the coolest skis we see around the hill. While there’s a good mix of skiers on these skis, as they’re available in all sizes that the Blue is, we’re including them in the women’s portion of the ski test for some strange reason. Choose a color—the ski is the same. And by same, I mean awesome. These skis have a wood core with a carbon nose, and an interesting way of shaping that wood core so that you get a lot of energy out of it. Light enough for a touring option, burly enough to rip down some big mountains, and fun enough to use in the park or in a freestyle backcountry setting, the 102 FR checks a whole lot of boxes for a wide range of skiers. At 102 mm underfoot, they certainly have the width for playful powder skiing, while also being narrow enough to enjoy a carved turn on a groomer for sure. There aren’t many bad things to say about these skis.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
Carbon Nose
PREFERRED TERRAIN
All Mountain, Powder, Park
Carly Monahan was on the 163, noting that it skis true to size and is a good length for her. She had quite a few high scores for this ski, with 5’s out of 5 given for flotation and playfulness. The rest of the scores on her card were 4’s, so this is a consistently high-scoring ski in Carly’s mind for sure. She notes that “While I wouldn’t seek out a ski of this width for my everyday ski, this thing slays in soft snow and was a blast in corn bumps. For its width, it’s quick edge to edge and swings nicely.” Here in VT, some people do opt for that 102 mm underfoot ski for most days, but it certainly doesn’t have to be that way. Lauren Lepage also skied the 163, noting the properness of the length. All 5’s and 4’s for Lauren as well, with the top marks given for versatility, overall impression, playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability. Lauren states that the 102 FR Pink is a “Playful, Fun and Lightweight ski that handles extremely well on edge too! The versatility of this ski stands out the most to me!” We totally agree, Lauren.
On the 170, Nifer Hoehn loved the length, and had a lot of high scores and effusive praise to go along with it. She scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for stability, flotation, quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, and forgiveness. Going against the grain of our other testers, Nifer gave it 3’s out of 5 for versatility and overall impression, enforcing our opinion that skiing would be boring if everyone felt the same way about a ski. Nifer backs up her scores by stating that “These are so very good looking. Sharp, fun, and bright bright pink. These float nicely, but aren't afraid to dig in and carve a turn as well. I didn't get to test them out in a ton of conditions, but they strike me as really versatile, and a good all mountain option for those looking for a fun, powder/tree focused all mountain ski. They aren't as powerful as some of the others I tested, but they don't lack power. It's just not a defining strength of this ski. They are a fun, stable, and light ski.” Astute and proper of Nifer to point out that even though they can be strong, that’s not what they’re known for, and that’s fine.
The Fischer Ranger 102 FR Pink skis are an ideal choice for advanced skiers, but have the range to accommodate an intermediate looking for something wider and playful, and they can definitely be used by experts who know how to access the full potential and performance of a ski. Fun, agile, and versatile, the Ranger 102 FR has made a lot of skiers happy over the years, and will continue to do so for the near future as well.
I’m having a ski-life indecision crises. I’m in for a new pair of skis, something that will let me grow and challenge myself/the mountain. Last winter I did a demo of Nordica Enforcer 104 Frees (@186, I’m 5’11”, 185 lbs) at Alta and had an amazing day, with fresh powder however. Most of my skiing is done east coast, with a trip out west. I’m looking for a fun, 1 quiver ski, able to rip a groomer and dip into the trees.
These rangers always come up, and they’re more narrow, a plus for the East. But I already have a loved experience with the enforcers. Do you recommend this over the enforcers? Any other suggestions?
(As an aside, I’d also love to have an uphill aspect to my 1 quiver, but money is tight and idk if I’d get too much use. Maybe future shift mounts can help the decision)
HI Jake Y!
I think you’re better off in the ~100 category, but I have friends here in VT that use the 104 everyday and are mainly fine with it. Don’t expect uphill efficiency out of any Enforcer (non-Unlimited, that is). Give a look to the Elan Ripstick 96 Black Edition, Dynastar M-Pro 99, and even Ranger 99Ti (not too heavy despite being stiff and rugged). I think the Ranger 102 might be a little wide and light for what you’re looking for. Have fun!
SE
I’m looking to add an East coast powder ski to my quiver and something I could take out west. I love your reviews and how knowledgeable you are about skis. Im 5’4” and weight 145 and consider myself an Advanced skier. I’m not sure what size to get. I love feeling like I’m floating on clouds when I’m skiing in fresh powder. For my height the 156 would be just right for me, but if I’m planning to use these skis on powder days, would you suggest the 163 for added flotation and possibly mounting them plus 1 or 2? How do you think they would compare to the Ripstick 102’s or the DPS Pagoda 100 RP’s as an alternative? Thanks for all your great reviews and for your help in making this decision.
HI Chrissy!
I think you’re going to be happier on the 163, especially if it’s a soft-snow specific ski. It’s never fun thinking you left performance on the table by going shorter, and since the skis are pretty light and maneuverable, the 163 sounds like a good choice to me. The Ripstick is a bit lighter and uses carbon in a different way, so I like to think of the Ripstick as more energetic and snappy versus the slightly heavier Ranger. 162 in that ski would work well. As for the DPS, it’s likely the ski with the highest-performance ceiling due to the full dual-carbon laminate. It’s on the stiff side, but the RP shaping bring it more in line with the turn shape of the Ripstick in the 162. It is a bit heavier as well, with the Ripstick remaining the lightest option and the Ranger and Pagoda splitting the heavier side of the spectrum. The nice thing about the DPS is that it offers the best eastern performance to go along with a strong flotation personality. So, I’d say the DPS is your reach while the Ranger and Ripstick are more of your safety. For mounting, we stick to the line unless there’s something specific about the ski and its intended use. Hope that helps!
SE