2023 Fischer Ranger 96 W

New for 2023, the Fischer Ranger 96 W is an awesome choice for advanced and expert skiers who are looking for one ski to do it all. We talk a lot about skis in the mid-90's being great for one-ski quivers, and this Ranger 96 W is no different. Built with a Poplar wood core and one sheet of shaped titanal metal, the general construction is pretty simple, but when you look at the application of metal, the shape of the ski, and the rocker profile, then it gets a little more sophisticated. With a .5-mm thick titanal sheet that extends about midway between the midpoint of the ski to the tips and tails, the Ranger 96 W has strong torsional stiffness and edge grip underfoot, and good playfulness and light swing weight in the front and back. This gives the ski a great feel from end to end—predictable carving on groomers and floaty fun in the fresh. The 166 cm length generates a 16-meter turn radius, and in the 173, the ski weighs 1850 grams per ski. These are both mid-range numbers that lead to the well-rounded nature of the ski. While we’ll miss the outgoing Ranger Ti and FR models, the new skis in the Ranger lineup have a whole lot to offer a wide range of skiers and skier types.

Carly Monahan was on the 166, and noted that it was just right for her and felt true to size. With the lone exception of a 5 out of 5 for overall impression, Carly scored the ski all 4’s, meaning that this has a high-performance ceiling and a well-rounded nature. Carly notes as such: “4's across the board for these - they're stable and predictable, strong but not overpowering. Being flatter at the tail and stiffer underfoot than their big siblings gives them a quality carving vibe with great edge grip. But at the same time, the tips and tails are plenty light for quick, drifty turns. Happy both in soft snow or on groomers, these would be a great ski for advanced skiers who like to do a little of everything. Easy to steer and reliably responsive, a strong intermediate skier could find these or the Ranger 90's to be a great ski to advance on.” Shannon Walton also found her 166 to be just right, and she had mainly 4’s as well, which is kind of to be expected for a mid-90's all-mountain ski. She gave the ski top marks of 5 out of 5 for torsional stiffness and edge hold, with 4’s for overall impression, versatility, playfulness, flotation, and stability. Shannon states that “With a new construction for this year, this ski definitely skis differently than the previous model. With more titanal in the ski you can feel more stability in the tip but the ski loses a bit of its playfulness. That being said the edge hold is fantastic on firm snow. I like the added materials as the ski feels stronger and more stable while still being maneuverable. I would recommend this ski for advanced to expert skiers!” Good to see the high end still rings true for Shannon, and other skiers as well.

Allison Kozar liked the “Nice surfy turns” of her 166, scoring it 4’s out of 5 for flotation, quickness, maneuverability, and playfulness. She had 3’s the rest of the way, which is still the consistency that we like to see for these versatile all-mountain skis. Allison also notes that she ”Got thrown around a bit in the mashed taters. It held decently otherwise, very easy to go fast.” Since Allison likes to go fast, it’s easy to see why this ski got those higher scores. Louise Lintilhac skied the 173 and noted that it felt long for her, but she still had top marks of 5 out of 5 for torsional stiffness, edge hold, and stability. Overall impression got a 4 while all other scores were 3’s. Louise states: ”I like the way this ski charges but it definitely skis larger than you’d expect. It does best at high speed and with big turns. It can be slow edge to edge with smaller turns. This is a ski for an advanced skier who wants a ski that can lay trenches with no real top end speed limit. Definitely not for the faint of heart.”

The new shape, build, and design of the 2023 Fischer Ranger 96 W all add up to a good time on the hill. If you are looking for a one-ski quiver at the high-performance end of the spectrum, this should certainly be on the list. For skiers in the advanced and expert range who value versatility, underfoot grip, and soft-snow acumen, the new Ranger 96 W is one of the best in a competitive group.