2023 Fischer Ranger 108

The 2023 Fischer Ranger 108 is an awesome choice for advanced and expert skiers who are looking for something floaty, fun, and surprisingly versatile. It was tough letting go of the 107 Ti version of the ski, as that thing was burly, strong, predictable, and stable. With a bit more of a freeride mentality incorporated into the 2023 version, we’re seeing the soft snow emphasis start to come out a bit. Built with a blend of poplar and beech wood, the skis also get Fischer’s shaped titanal laminate that keeps the underfoot zone of the ski sturdy and smooth. As the Ranger skis get wider, they also increase in taper and rocker, making the 108 pretty bent and ready for soft and deep snow. Somewhat surprisingly, they are giving this ski an 18-meter turn radius in the 185, which sounds on the short side for a ski of this width at this length. It’ll certainly give the ski a poppy and playful feel in the soft snow while adding to the on-trail capabilities for when you get to ski back to the lift. Coming in at 2120 grams per ski in the 185, it’s on the heavy side, especially for a ski without full-metal laminates. We’ll see a lot of high-performance skiing on these 108’s, from pros and locals alike this year.

On the 185, Bob St.Pierre noted that it “felt good—likely not going to size up for around Vermont, but for a pure powder ski, I’d go bigger. Big, burly, stable, and damp, the Ranger 108 is happier in softer snow and bigger turns. Despite the 18-meter turn shape in the 185, I felt like it wanted to go straight, and that's okay, because I think it works better in a ski like this. If you try to make it turn short and quick, you'll get some complaints, but if you let it run, it's actually very sturdy.” This supports his high score of 4 out of 5 for flotation for sure. Fellow tall skier Marcus Shakun also skied the 185, noting it felt “perfect. Much like many of this category it’s a big mountain charger. Takes a bit to get it on edge but with a bit of speed and power it rips. You can pull big turns or push piles of snow. The shovel is not as stiff as the Black Crows Corvus, so you don’t get thrown around the bumps. The tail is stiff and holds up to whatever you throw at it. If locking in long radius turns this thing will surf through deep snow and can throw them sideways with ease to dump speed. Not a versatile ski, but more so than others in this 108 freeride class. A strong skier will get the most out of this ski.” Like Bob, Marcus also scored the Ranger 108 5 out of 5 for flotation, but he also added a 5 for stability.

Hans von Briesen noted the 185 felt “accurate” and scored it 5’s out of 5 for both flotation and stability. Overall impression, versatility, torsional stiffness, edge hold, playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability all got 4’s. Hans states that “This ski is a great new version of the Ranger series. 108 is slightly wider than an everyday driver but with a slightly tighter turn radius this ski makes a superb argument for me to consider. Nimble, inviting and solid are the three words that I’d use to best describe the Ranger 108.” Matt McAlary “Really enjoyed this one. Probably a bit long for me to ski on a firmer day but I would definitely want the 185cm in softer snow. I can see this ski being a blast in pow. When I found firm snow it railed, which I was surprised by. The metal under the foot made the ski feel solid without feeling too much like a plank (tips and tails had the ability to flex with quick changes in terrain or snow conditions). The one thing I would say is that it wasn’t super lively, so if you want something really snappy, this isn't the one.” Matt was also a 5 for flotation, with 4’s for stability, overall impression, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and forgiveness.

With some bigger and more aggressive testers on the Ranger 108, it’s easy to see that flotation and stability are the big selling points. If you’re at the top of a steep cliff band that opens up into a wide-open bowl below, the Fischer Ranger 108 should be at the top of your list of skis to have on your feet.