Review: Fischer Ranger 102 Skis · 2024


By Curated Experts
Dave F and Maximilian D.

Fischer Ranger 102 Skis · 2024
$509.99
$849.99
40% off
5 photos
The Curated Take
4.4/5
The Fischer Ranger 102 Skis are ideal for advanced to expert skiers seeking versatile performance across various conditions. They have excellent edge hold, pop, and a well-balanced flex pattern and excel on groomers, in powder, and on hardpack. Despite a tendency for softer tips at high speeds, their lightweight construction and titanium alloy reinforcement offer stability and durability. Playful yet composed, they suit aggressive skiers who prefer a centered stance. While priced at a premium, their excellent build quality justifies the investment compared to competitors. These are recommended for those prioritizing performance and durability in an all-mountain ski.
Ideal for
- Excellent edge hold and lots of pop
- Premium lightweight construction
- Near perfect flex pattern
Not ideal for
- Doesn't cater to a timid skiing stance
Turn Ease

The soft shovel mentioned elsewhere in this review aids in the ease with which this ski enters and shapes a turn, allowing me to adjust the radius of my turn...Read more

There is no doubt that this is a ski for an advanced skier. When skiing in a more aggressive, forward position at slightly higher than average speeds, the skier will...Read more
Durability

I broke my pair of the last generation of these skis, and although my current pair hasn't been pushed entirely to the same breaking point, these skis have held up...Read more

Nothing about the durability stands out to me. Fischer uses very high-quality materials for the wood core and base. When it comes to the topsheet durability, it's about what I'd...Read more
High Speed Stability

I'm a big guy, ex-racer, ex-FWQ competitor, and I've been on plenty of hard-charging skis, so my opinion here may be different from most. This ski tends to feel a...Read more

If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times: The Fischer Ranger 102 is fast. And fun. And stable. This ski is the most stable ski I've ever skied...Read more
Carving

I prefer a narrower ski for purely carving groomers, but these skis perform admirably for the width. Excellent and predictable edge hold, easy to bend the ski into a variety...Read more

The first time I ever skied this ski, I giggled like a little kid, absolutely flying down the mountain while being able to touch my hip to the snow. I...Read more
Versatility

As I'm sure you've gathered from the rest of this review, I love this ski everywhere. I've skied it in every condition imaginable, and for a quiver of one, it...Read more

In a word, I would describe the Fischer Ranger 102 as "versatile." It's easily one of the most versatile skis I've ever snapped into. I've taken it on groomers, in...Read more
Flotation

Flotation is a hard thing to quantify, as there are a lot of factors that are involved. Ski length, skier weight, speed, and snow density are just a few. For...Read more

102mm is just fine for the occasional powder day. If someone's skiing powder more often than not, I'd consider going up to the Ranger 108. Other than that, this ski...Read more
Playfulness

The stiffer tail in relation to the shovel of the ski makes popping off everything in sight easy and fun, and the ease of turning allows for quick slashes and...Read more

This ski was not designed to be very playful but more or less an aggressive all-mountain ski. However, it is shockingly playful. The first time I skied this ski, I...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Dave F
Maximilian D.


About the ski gear
- Model: Fischer Ranger 102 Skis · 2024
Test conditions
- Where I've used them: From icy groomers and to firm bumps to deep powder days
- How many times I've used it: 50
Expert Reviews of the Fischer Ranger 102 Skis
Dave F The Fischer Ranger 102 has been my daily driver since last season and continues to impress. This is far from the stiffest or hardest charging ski available in this category, but it makes up for all that with a damp ride, excellent edge hold on groomers, and an ease in powder that makes it hard to believe it is only 102mm underfoot. I grab this ski literally every day I head out unless there has been a massive amount of snow overnight. Still, if I was away from home and this was the only ski I had with me, I wouldn't be the slightest bit upset skiing powder of any depth, though they start to get a little overwhelmed when the snow starts getting up to about mid-thigh deep. The only downside I've found in this ski's design is that the tips are a little on the soft side, so if someone is driving the shovels very hard at high speeds, they can feel a bit less supportive than something like the Volkl Mantra 102. I think this ski is a great fit for an advanced to expert skier with solid technique who prefers to ski from a more centered position instead of driving the tips of the skis extremely hard.
Maximilian D. The Fischer Ranger 102 was easily one of the most shocking pairs of skis I have ever owned. I had these skis on demo for about a week earlier in the year before I decided to pick up a pair for myself. I tried really hard not to fall in love with these skis. After feeling underwhelmed and borderline disappointed with previous generations of the Fischer Ranger, I was eager to get my hands on the complete re-design for 2022-2024. The new generation of Fischer Ranger uses a titanium alloy plate directly underfoot with special cuts and grooves to allow the ski to bend exactly how Fischer wanted it to. In terms of materials, these skis boast a beech and poplar wood core that is exactly near what I'd expect from a tier-one ski. Overall, I couldn't be happier with this ski. The Ranger 102s are ideal for someone who loves all-mountain and big-mountain skiing but wants to maintain stability in hardpack.
Product Specs
Age Group | Adult |
Gender | Men's |
Includes bindings | No |
Model year | 2024 |
Ski type | All Mountain, Big Mountain, Freeride |
Skill level | Advanced, Expert |

Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Turn Ease
5/5
Dave F gave 5 of 5 stars. The soft shovel mentioned elsewhere in this review aids in the ease with which this ski enters and shapes a turn, allowing me to adjust the radius of my turn by bending the shovel through leaning into the boot and making the ski forgiving and easygoing at slower speeds.
Maximilian D. gave 5 of 5 stars. There is no doubt that this is a ski for an advanced skier. When skiing in a more aggressive, forward position at slightly higher than average speeds, the skier will be rewarded with an exact yet easy turning machine that will hold up to high speeds and sharp back-to-back turns.
Durability
4/5
Dave F gave 5 of 5 stars. I broke my pair of the last generation of these skis, and although my current pair hasn't been pushed entirely to the same breaking point, these skis have held up exceptionally well. The topsheets show almost no wear after 50+ days, and the edges are still true after hitting all sorts of surprises under the snow.
Maximilian D. gave 3 of 5 stars. Nothing about the durability stands out to me. Fischer uses very high-quality materials for the wood core and base. When it comes to the topsheet durability, it's about what I'd expect.
High Speed Stability
4/5
Dave F gave 3 of 5 stars. I'm a big guy, ex-racer, ex-FWQ competitor, and I've been on plenty of hard-charging skis, so my opinion here may be different from most. This ski tends to feel a little "loose" at very high speeds, something I don't notice while skiing groomers so much, but charging through chopped-up powder or crud isn't where this ski shines for me. Luckily, the playful nature allows for a different approach in these conditions, but if skiing as fast as possible through deep or chopped-up snow were my plan, I'd probably reach for something more stable/stiffer.
Maximilian D. gave 5 of 5 stars. If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times: The Fischer Ranger 102 is fast. And fun. And stable. This ski is the most stable ski I've ever skied at high speeds, especially at a 102mm waist. I'd accredit this stability to the poplar and beech wood core and the titanium alloy reinforcement.
Carving
5/5
Dave F gave 5 of 5 stars. I prefer a narrower ski for purely carving groomers, but these skis perform admirably for the width. Excellent and predictable edge hold, easy to bend the ski into a variety of turn shapes, but as stated earlier, lacking a little bit at the very top end speeds. It's not a race ski, but with the right technique and some finesse, skiers will be laying trenches all over the mountain.
Maximilian D. gave 5 of 5 stars. The first time I ever skied this ski, I giggled like a little kid, absolutely flying down the mountain while being able to touch my hip to the snow. I couldn't believe how well this ski carved on groomers. The Fischer Ranger 102 is the first 102mm-waisted ski I've ever been able to go hip to snow with.
Versatility
5/5
Dave F gave 4 of 5 stars. As I'm sure you've gathered from the rest of this review, I love this ski everywhere. I've skied it in every condition imaginable, and for a quiver of one, it is probably my top choice. Purpose-built skis will do certain things better than the Rangers, but I haven't skied a ski that does everything so well.
Maximilian D. gave 5 of 5 stars. In a word, I would describe the Fischer Ranger 102 as "versatile." It's easily one of the most versatile skis I've ever snapped into. I've taken it on groomers, in powder, in chopped-up snow (sometimes at very high speeds), and this ski still doesn't take "no" for an answer.
Flotation
4/5
Dave F gave 4 of 5 stars. Flotation is a hard thing to quantify, as there are a lot of factors that are involved. Ski length, skier weight, speed, and snow density are just a few. For me, flotation comes down to whether or not I'm fighting to keep the ski from diving to the bottom more than if I'm floating on the very top, and the tips on these skis have shown very little tendency to dive while skiing deep snow. They probably won't keep skiers floating on the very top like a dedicated powder ski will, but I'd be hard-pressed to expect more from them for their size.
Maximilian D. gave 3 of 5 stars. 102mm is just fine for the occasional powder day. If someone's skiing powder more often than not, I'd consider going up to the Ranger 108. Other than that, this ski floats just like most other 102mm-waisted skis on the market, with a few exceptions, of course.
Playfulness
4/5
Dave F gave 4 of 5 stars. The stiffer tail in relation to the shovel of the ski makes popping off everything in sight easy and fun, and the ease of turning allows for quick slashes and easy line adjustments in tight trees. I don't think they're the most playful ski on the market, but they also don't sacrifice nearly as much in some other categories that those do.
Maximilian D. gave 4 of 5 stars. This ski was not designed to be very playful but more or less an aggressive all-mountain ski. However, it is shockingly playful. The first time I skied this ski, I immediately noticed a sort of unicorn effect. It was playful and stable at the same time. However, I have to be pretty aggressive and forward in this ski to see its playful side, hence why it only got 4/5 stars in this category.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Dave F There isn't a single reason I love this ski, but many. This ski has been a reliable, fun, durable companion for everything I can throw at it. The flex pattern is spot on for how I like to ski (aggressive yet playful charging all over the mountain), the rocker lines work to keep the ski performing as expected across a wide variety of conditions, and it lets me forget about what's on my feet and only worry about the turns, cliffs, jumps, and bumps ahead.
Maximilian D. There is a lot to love with the Fischer Ranger 102. My favorite part is just how quickly this ski can go from a frontside, fast groomer ski to a backside, hard-charging ski. Plenty of "do it all" skis are on the market, but most don't feel nearly as composed as the Fischer Ranger 102.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Dave F It's hard to pinpoint a single instance on this ski that rises above the rest, but most recently, I skied Highland Bowl on opening day with a knee-to-hip deep powder, and there wasn't a moment I wished I was skiing something different. After that, I skied firm, steep bumps and finished the day by dropping my hip to the snow on the groomers and heading back to the base. I can't think of another ski I'd be that happy on across such a wide range of conditions.
Maximilian D. My favorite moment with the Fischer Ranger 102 was the first time I skied them. On the first lap of the day, I giggled like a little kid skiing down the mountain because I just couldn't believe how fast and composed they were on hardpack snow for being a 102mm-waisted ski. I thought there was no way they'd be nearly as fun off-trail, but to my surprise, they tackled everything I threw at them that day with ease.
Why did you choose this product?
Dave F I owned the previous version of this ski, the Fischer Ranger 102 FR (in fluorescent pink, the main thing I miss from the last generation), and was heartbroken when they met their untimely demise due to some hidden rocks, so this ski was the obvious choice.
Maximilian D. The Fischer Ranger stood out to me mainly because of the exposed titanium outline on the topsheet. I thought it looked really cool and was certain there were a host of technical reasons behind why Fischer decided to shape the reinforcement in that way.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Dave F Value-wise, this ski sits at the higher end of the price range for a ski in this category, but skiers are getting a premium product with excellent build quality and a ski they can expect to last. I've skied mine over plenty of rocks, bushes, and tree stumps, and the skis have helped up extraordinarily well, whereas similar skis I've owned have come out of similar abuse with deformed or torn-out edges and blown sidewalls. No ski is indestructible, but these have held up as well as any I've owned.
Maximilian D. There's really no way to sugarcoat it. These are expensive skis. The closest competitor, in my mind, would have to be the Salomon QST 98 at around $649.99. They are made out of similar materials and have similar geometry. Now, I think the Ranger 102 is the better ski, hands down; even at about $799.99, I'd still say it's worth the extra $150.
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Dave F
Ski ExpertMaximilian D.
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