2022 Fischer Ranger 99 Ti

Right in the sweet spot for true all-mountain skiing, the 2022 Fischer Ranger 99 Ti gets a graphics refresh, but is the same badass ski as last year. Thanks to their use of titanal, carbon, and a unique core shaping profile, these skis have a unique feel to them in the upper-90's underfoot category. For one reason or another, these have been slightly overlooked in a competitive field, but there’s really no good reason for that. They’re lighter, more agile, and quite a bit more playful than some of the burlier skis in this range, and they still have an incredibly high-performance ceiling. With a partial metal laminate that does the bulk of the heavy lifting in terms of power and stability, the skis also have a carbon nose that directly attaches to this titanal plate. This connection gives the 99 Ti a boost of power and energy without adding weight. In fact, the carbon nose really does a great job at reducing swing weight and making the ski maneuverable and fun to use, especially in softer snow. That does not, however, detract anything from the firm-snow responsiveness and carving power of the ski, and the aero shaping of the wood core has a lot to do with the success in that department. As usual, our testers have nothing but good things to say about this amazingly agile all-mountain ski.

On the 181, Andrew Ruschp noted that it skis true to size. He had some high scores for these skis, with 5’s given for all categories, right across the board. This is a pretty clear giveaway that Andrew was quite the fan of the Ranger 99 Ti. His comments back it up. “I have to say I generally feel there is too much Titanium in most skis even for an aggressive skier, Fischer nailed it with this ski. Best ski I tried all day. It absolutely sends pow, slush, and rips a hard carve.” There is certainly something to say for the right amount of metal in a ski, and in Andrew’s experience and opinion, Fischer has gotten it right with the Ranger 99 Ti. Phil McGrory was also on the appropriately-sized 181, and while his scores weren’t as consistently high as Andrew’s he still had 4’s for flotation, stability, quickness, maneuverability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and versatility. His lone 5 was given for overall impression, so like Andrew, Phil holds this ski in very high regard. “The Ranger 99ti is one of the most versatile skis available in its waist category. At 99 underfoot with a gradual tip rocker profile the ski can float in fresh snow but still maintains torsional stiffness with its titanal layering. The carbon tip construction also gives the ski the ability to cut through crud and chop. Advanced to Expert skiers.” While a lot of skis with carbon in the tip can feel chattery, this is not the case with the Ranger 99 Ti as that carbon nose is directly connected to the metal laminate, reducing vibrations and making for a very smooth-skiing experience.

On the 188, Bob St.Pierre loved the size and the ski’s ability to handle a wide variety of conditions and terrain all at the same time. He scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, edge grip, versatility, and overall impression. 4’s for playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability are all quite impressive as well. “I got to ski this in a bunch of different conditions, and couldn’t quite find a weakness. The last time I skied it was in the middle of an awful freeze/thaw cycle, and during the “freeze” phase, while most of the mountain was closed, I took it down one of our bump trails here that should have been closed, but perhaps the rope just didn’t make it up. Either way, it was a day in which moguls should not have been skied. I was immensely impressed with the Ranger’s composure and willingness to tackle the icy bumps, as that’s not really a category in which these skis should excel. But they did, and if they are capable of doing that, then everything else is just gravy. Total confidence in a carved turn, no matter how firm or soft, and just a ton of fun with unlimited potential. Very intuitive.” With that said, we still think advanced and expert skiers will get the best performance out of these skis.

While we can’t share too many details as of our test’s publishing date, we do know that these skis in their current form are getting an overhaul for 2023, so if you’re looking to get on a pair of amazing all-mountain skis that have a huge performance potential, go get yourself a pair of Fischer Ranger 99 Ti’s and you’ll have an absolute blast.