2023 Fischer Ranger 90 W

If you’re looking for one pair of skis to get it done no matter what the conditions or terrain may be, it’s hard to do better than a freeride-inspired all-mountain ski, and the 2023 Fischer Ranger 90 is one of the best new skis at this we’ve seen in a while. Thanks to the shape, profile, and construction, Fischer’s got a winner here, likely for years to come.

Built with a full poplar wood core, the Ranger 90 W also gets a sheet of shaped titanal metal on top. This .5-mm thick metal laminate does a fantastic job of increasing torsional stiffness, edge grip, and dampness, especially underfoot. The metal extends towards the tips and tails of the ski, leaving a bit of a dip towards the ends of the laminate. This allows for better edge grip along the longer sides of the ski while keeping the middle part flexible and ready to handle softer snow. There’s a flex-cut indentation to the laminate at the mid-point of the ski, and this allows for a more natural flex to the board. By leaving the very tips and tails unencumbered by this metal laminate, skiers get better versatility and freeride acumen. In the 170, the skis generate a 16-meter turn radius and tip the scales at 1750 grams per ski. All of these numbers add up to a fantastic time out there on the hill.

Carly Monahan loved her time on the 170, although she felt it was a bit long, and would likely be happier on the 163. She scored the ski top marks of 5’s out of 5 for stability, playfulness, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and overall impression. Versatility, forgiveness, quickness, maneuverability, and flotation all got 4’s, so we’re seeing a very high baseline of scores here for the Ranger 90 W. Carly calls it “Fast, flowy, and fun. The Ranger 90 is super playful - the turned-up tails make it easy to release from a variety of turn shapes - quick, smeary turns are effortless. But they're certainly not noodles either; they're strong and stable and ready to rail into bigger-radius turns. Very versatile for a variety of conditions and abilities. If you’re on the east coast and of a single ski to do-it-all mindset; the Ranger 90 should be a top contender. It’s stiff enough to handle crud and chunder, and carve a turn on stiff groomers… but still super playful and maneuverable. If you like to do mix it up from groomers, trees, and bumps - and still feel prepared for powder days - the Ranger is comfortable with it all.” Comfort goes a long way with a lot of skiers who are looking to make the most out of their day on the hill.

The variety of turn shapes and styles, combined with the lighter weight and mid-range radius makes a lot of sense for a ski in the ~90 mm range. Thanks to the freeride-inspired tips and tails to go along with the metallic underfoot zone, the versatility of this ski should not be understated. If you’re looking for something that’s right in the Goldilocks zone for being able to do everything, the 2023 Fischer Ranger 90 W should be at the top of the list.