Review: Fischer Ranger 96 Skis · 2024
By Curated Experts
Henry Kvietok and Leo Cocchiara
Fischer Ranger 96 Skis · 2024
from:$479.99
$799.99
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8 photos
The Curated Take
4.7/5
The Fischer Ranger 96 Skis are ideal for advanced to expert skiers seeking a versatile, all-mountain ski. With a stiff midsection for stability and a rockered tip for easy turn initiation and powder flotation, these skis excel in various conditions. They are not recommended for beginners or freestyle skiing due to their strong tails and lack of playfulness. However, they are perfect for skiers looking for a reliable ski that can handle both resort and backcountry terrain. Overall, the Ranger 96 is a high-quality, durable ski that offers great value for skiers seeking a do-it-all option.
Ideal for
- Stiff midsection for good underfoot stability
- Very rockered tip floats the ski up in powder and makes turn initiation easy
- Great for carving
- Versatile waist width for a variety of all-mountain conditions
Not ideal for
- Rockered tip can be a bit chattery at very high speeds
- Not ideal for super-deep powder
- Not a freestyle ski
- Not ideal for beginners
- Rather strong tail which punishes back seat skiing
Turn Ease
The Fischer Ranger has a bit more tip rocker than other similar skis in this mid-upper 90s all-mountain category. This makes for easy turn initiation on groomers and in tight...Read more
The Fischer Ranger offers high-performance skiing while being very approachable to intermediates and experts. It has a classic all-mountain, all-conditions cut with a gently progressive rocker profile that allows for...Read more
Playfulness
These skis come in at just under 2,000g per ski in the 180cm length, so they are relatively easy to whip around. They have the benefits of metal in the...Read more
When skiers talk about playfulness in skis, our minds tend to gravitate towards freestyle-oriented twin tips that are easy to flex, spin, smear, and pop. The Ranger is a lot...Read more
Durability
During my testing of the Rangers, I have not been let down in any regard as far as durability goes. They certainly have a more durable and quality feel with...Read more
Fischer has a reputation in the industry for high-quality construction and performance, with its heritage steeped in racing tradition. They certainly know how to make skis that can take a...Read more
High Speed Stability
These skis can certainly go fast; however, there are some better (more stable) options out there if pure speed is one's goal. Other skis with less pronounced tip rocker and...Read more
The Fischer Ranger has been a hot topic in the ski industry this season since the whole design got a major overhaul between this season and last. It follows the...Read more
Carving
The tip rocker on the Ranger 96 makes carve initiation quite easy. The skis don't require much speed to lay them on edge. I felt I could push the midsection...Read more
Fischer's background in racing comes through in the way the Rangers can lay down a carve. Race skis are the epitome of carving performance. They're designed to lock skiers into...Read more
Versatility
The mid-90s to low 100s waist width zone is often considered a good Goldilocks zone for most skiers in higher snow areas looking for one ski to do it all....Read more
The Fischer Ranger 96 is highly versatile for a wide range of skiers, from intermediates to experts, as well as a variety of snow conditions and disciplines. The real shine...Read more
Flotation
The generous tip rocker on the Ranger 96 allows them to stay pretty afloat in some powder. Plus, the 96mm waist is not skinny, so skiers will be well-equipped if...Read more
There's not a ski on earth that can't go down the hill in fresh powder. We've been doing it on old straight skis, shaped parabolic skis, super fat banana rocker...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Henry Kvietok
About the ski gear
- Model: Fischer Ranger 96 Skis · 2024
Test conditions
- When I bought these: December 2023
- Where I’ve used them: Loveland Ski Area (Colorado), groomers, ice, chop, slush, moguls
- How many times I've used it: 3
Expert Reviews of the Fischer Ranger 96 Skis
Henry Kvietok The Fischer Ranger 96 is the daily driver ski skiers reach for when unsure what the day's conditions will be. If there is some fresh powder, these skis have a generous amount of tip rocker that will have them floating to the top. If someone is ripping some fresh morning corduroy, these have a stiffer midsection and tails that can be powered hard into turns. And, if a skier is skiing some bumps and trees, these have very easy turn initiation (softer, rockered tips), which makes flicking them around in tight terrain a breeze.
Advanced to expert-level skiers will get along best with this ski. While the tips are quite soft, the midsection and tails are rather strong, and the ski can be punishing if someone's in the back seat. Strong and heavier-weight intermediate skiers could progress with this ski, too.
Overall, this ski is ideal for East Coast and Midwest skiers who are looking for a slightly wider option and a daily driver ski for those in the Rockies and West Coast.
Leo Cocchiara The Fischer Ranger has been a hot topic in the ski industry since the whole design was majorly overhauled between this season and the last. There's a big reason why we've seen it in so many ski movies this season. It follows the trend of the partial metal core, with the bulk of the bite being directly underfoot for a good mix of stability and light swingweight. It's a classic all-mountain, all-conditions cut with a gently progressive rocker profile that allows for easy turn initiation and release and a clean carving performance. At 96 underfoot, it handles powder decently well, only really finding the limits of its float in above 6-8". The real shine of this ski, though, is in its impressive ability to blend resort and backcountry performance. It's light enough that it handles daunting ascents in stride without a smidge of sacrifice in its downhill performance.
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Includes bindings | No |
| Model year | 2024 |
| Ski type | All Mountain |
| Skill level | Advanced, Expert |
Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Turn Ease
5/5
Henry Kvietok gave 5 of 5 stars. The Fischer Ranger has a bit more tip rocker than other similar skis in this mid-upper 90s all-mountain category. This makes for easy turn initiation on groomers and in tight trees and moguls. The tails are a bit stiffer, and the ski overall has a more directional style to it, so it’s not as loose and surfy as others out there.
Leo Cocchiara gave 5 of 5 stars. The Fischer Ranger offers high-performance skiing while being very approachable to intermediates and experts. It has a classic all-mountain, all-conditions cut with a gently progressive rocker profile that allows for easy turn initiation and release that all levels will appreciate.
Playfulness
5/5
Henry Kvietok gave 5 of 5 stars. These skis come in at just under 2,000g per ski in the 180cm length, so they are relatively easy to whip around. They have the benefits of metal in the core but with a more forgiving overall weight. Plus, the tip rocker gives them a more playful feel in that they are agile to jump between piste and off-piste skiing. These skis are worth a look if one's runs frequently include jaunts into the woods to find the soft stuff, followed by some carves on groomers.
Leo Cocchiara gave 4 of 5 stars. When skiers talk about playfulness in skis, our minds tend to gravitate towards freestyle-oriented twin tips that are easy to flex, spin, smear, and pop. The Ranger is a lot more traditional than that in its design and definitely has a stiffer midfoot-to-tail construction than any twin tip, but skiers can still ski playfully and do all of those things with it, too. It's not playful like a park ski, but skiers can certainly make it dance.
Durability
5/5
Henry Kvietok gave 5 of 5 stars. During my testing of the Rangers, I have not been let down in any regard as far as durability goes. They certainly have a more durable and quality feel with thick sidewalls. These skis also have a partial titanal (metal) layer in them, which can aid in maintaining a ski’s energy and shape over the long run.
Leo Cocchiara gave 4 of 5 stars. Fischer has a reputation in the industry for high-quality construction and performance, with its heritage steeped in racing tradition. They certainly know how to make skis that can take a beating. One of Fischer's goals with the current design of the Rangers was to make it lighter, and that always calls for some compromises that make this maybe not the most durable ski on the market in its class but very much on par with the majority of what's out there.
High Speed Stability
4/5
Henry Kvietok gave 4 of 5 stars. These skis can certainly go fast; however, there are some better (more stable) options out there if pure speed is one's goal. Other skis with less pronounced tip rocker and stiffer tips will fare better at higher speeds. At very fast speeds, I find the tips floppy and not as planted as other skis I’ve tested. However, for low to medium speeds, these are a blast.
Leo Cocchiara gave 4 of 5 stars. The Fischer Ranger has been a hot topic in the ski industry this season since the whole design got a major overhaul between this season and last. It follows the trend of the partial metal core, with the bulk of the bite being directly underfoot for a good mix of stability and light swingweight. The lack of metal in the tip can make them feel a little "skatey" if someone's a little back seat, but they handle speed well if skiers maintain pressure on the front of their boots.
Carving
5/5
Henry Kvietok gave 4 of 5 stars. The tip rocker on the Ranger 96 makes carve initiation quite easy. The skis don't require much speed to lay them on edge. I felt I could push the midsection since it's pretty stout underfoot. Plus, the overall stiffer tails made finishing turns quite satisfying. However, if someone drives through the tips of their skis, they may find these to be a bit lacking at higher-speed carving; I would look for something stiffer upfront and less rockered.
Leo Cocchiara gave 5 of 5 stars. Fischer's background in racing comes through in the way the Rangers can lay down a carve. Race skis are the epitome of carving performance. They're designed to lock skiers into turns on hardpacked, icy surfaces and allow for lightning-quick transitions edge to edge. Just about every skier wants that kind of confidence from their all-mountain ski, and the Ranger delivers.
Versatility
5/5
Henry Kvietok gave 5 of 5 stars. The mid-90s to low 100s waist width zone is often considered a good Goldilocks zone for most skiers in higher snow areas looking for one ski to do it all. The Fischer Ranger meets that as they come in at 96 underfoot. Combined with good carving chops and rocker, that makes them enjoyable in powder and tight terrain.
Leo Cocchiara gave 5 of 5 stars. The Fischer Ranger 96 is highly versatile for a wide range of skiers, from intermediates to experts, as well as a variety of snow conditions and disciplines. The real shine of this ski, though, is in its impressive ability to blend resort and backcountry performance. It's light enough to handle daunting ascents in stride without a smidge of sacrifice in its downhill performance.
Flotation
4/5
Henry Kvietok gave 4 of 5 stars. The generous tip rocker on the Ranger 96 allows them to stay pretty afloat in some powder. Plus, the 96mm waist is not skinny, so skiers will be well-equipped if a powder day hits. However, they are not what I would reach for on a powder day. Wider skis are just much floatier by design. Look to wider models in the Ranger series, like the 102, 108, or 116.
Leo Cocchiara gave 4 of 5 stars. There's not a ski on earth that can't go down the hill in fresh powder. We've been doing it on old straight skis, shaped parabolic skis, super fat banana rocker skis, and the most basic entry-level rental skis. Getting into any mid-90s all-mountain ski with a shape profile like this is light years above anything skiers picked up off the basic rental rack or had from 10 years ago. The Fischer Ranger 96 is right there in the middle of the pack for powder in its category. At 96 underfoot, it handles powder decently well, but it only really finds the limits of its float above 6-8".
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Henry Kvietok The Ranger 96 strikes a really nice balance of hardpack-to-powder performance. It has a stiffer midsection that inspires confidence on hard snow, but it has fairly generous and soft tips, making it fun in the soft stuff.
Leo Cocchiara The real shine of this ski is its impressive ability to blend resort and backcountry performance. As mentioned, it's light enough to handle daunting ascents in stride without sacrificing downhill performance.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Henry Kvietok While testing these at Loveland, we had fresh corduroy with some chop on the sides of the trails. I ripped a carve and then bounced into the variable snow with ease. It felt effortless to transition between the two snow types.
Leo Cocchiara I skied this at Brighton Mountain in Utah in January 2024, bopping through 4" or so of day-after powder conditions, and they were perfect for transitioning between crusty groomers and sun-warmed powder stashes.
Why did you choose this product?
Henry Kvietok I was pretty intrigued by the new metal layup in the Ranger skis ("Shaped Ti"). I was also interested in skiing on any new ski. They each shine in different aspects.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Henry Kvietok The Fischer Ranger is a pricier ski, but one really gets a lot out of it. For one, Fischer’s construction quality is top-notch. I can feel the durability. And two, this is a well-balanced all-mountain option for skiers who often go off-piste. I can easily see it as a single resort ski quiver.
Henry Kvietok
Ski ExpertLeo Cocchiara
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