Ski: 2020-2021 Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, 189 cm
Test Locations: Crested Butte & Aspen, CO; Jackson Hole, WY
Days Skied: 15
Available Lengths: 175, 182, 189 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 187.7 cm
Stated Weight per Ski: 2200 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2321 & 2335 grams
Stated Dimensions: 141-109-133 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 141.3-108.1-132.0 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (189 cm): 19 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 62 mm / 23 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~4 mm
Core: poplar + titanal (2 layers) + carbon nose + fiberglass laminate
Base: sintered
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -9.15 cm from center; 84.7 cm from tail
Reviewer: 5’10”, ~180 lbs
Boots / Bindings: Salomon S/Max 130 Carbon; Full Tilt First Chair / Tyrolia AAAttack2 13 AT
[Note: Our review was conducted on the 19/20 Ranger 107 Ti, which returns unchanged for 20/21.]
Intro
Fischer’s Ranger series has been around for a few years, and overall, we’ve been fans of the skis. The old Ranger 98 Ti and 108 Ti came in at fairly low weights that made them solid 50/50 options, and they seemed particularly well suited to people who appreciate a properly carved turn, rather than sliding and surfing around.
For the 19/20 season, Fischer overhauled their Ranger series, and we were pretty excited about the updates. Let’s take a closer look at the new Ranger 107 Ti to explain why.
The 19/20 Fischer Ranger Lineup
The “Ranger FR” line comes back with some minor updates and a new ski. The Ranger 102 FR returns unchanged (if you’ve read our review of that ski, you’ll know we’re happy about that), and so does the junior Fischer FR ski.
The Ranger 115 FR comes back with a bit less metal and a slightly softer flex pattern. Then Fischer is adding the Ranger 94 FR, which is a narrower version of the 102 FR, and is a ski that we’ll be talking about very soon.
Fischer’s “Ranger Ti” series sees the most dramatic updates, with all new shapes and constructions in the form of the new Ranger 92 Ti, Ranger 99 Ti, and Ranger 107 Ti (the Ranger 85 returns unchanged, apart from graphics).
The new “Ranger Ti” skis now each feature different rocker profiles, whereas the old Ranger Ti skis all shared the same rocker profile. This change makes a lot of sense — most people don’t want / need as much rocker on a 92mm-underfoot ski as they do on a 108mm-underfoot ski, or vice versa.
The new Ranger Ti skis also have a completely new core construction, which Fischer is calling “Air Carbon Ti 0.5.” Basically, it’s a full wood-core construction that has a carbon reinforcement over the nose / shovel, and then two layers of titanal. The top layer of titanal extends edge-to-edge in the middle, then tapers to a point as you move toward the tip and tail (in this regard, it’s similar to the titanal construction on the Blizzard Rustler and Sheeva series).
The old Ranger Ti skis only had a sheet of titanal underfoot to mostly help with binding retention. The new skis have more metal and new shapes. Fischer says this about the new Ranger 92 Ti, 99 Ti, and 107 Ti:
“Significantly stronger ski through the mid section to the tail. Improved on and off piste performance. Higher speed limit. Maintains the ease of entry into the turn. Stronger on edge performance. More fall line driven. Carbon and Ti transition zone improves flex points for better tip to mid section performance.”
Now that we have the skis in hand, let’s see how those updates actually look on the Ranger 107 Ti.
Shape / Rocker Profile
While the Ranger 108 Ti did not have a ton of tip taper, the new Ranger 107 Ti has even less. And the Ranger 107 Ti’s tip shape is a bit different — instead of smoothly tapering to a point, it’s more blunted and angular. In theory, this increases surface area for flotation in powder, and could also decrease tip deflection in rough snow. In the tail, the Ranger 107 Ti looks very similar to the Ranger 108 Ti — it’s still pretty minimally tapered, especially compared to skis like the K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Moment Commander 108, and Dynastar Legend X106.
The Ranger 107 Ti’s rocker profile looks very similar to the Ranger 108 Ti’s, which isn’t that surprising given that the current Ranger Ti skis’ rocker profiles are based on the Ranger 108 Ti’s. The Ranger 107 Ti still has a fairly moderate tip rocker line by today’s standards, and it has a fairly shallow, flat tail rocker line. The Ranger 107 Ti has the same tip splay as the Ranger 108 Ti, and a touch more tail splay (23 mm vs. 17 mm).
The Ranger 107 Ti’s shape and rocker profile aren’t that crazy, but this next characteristic kind of is…
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Ranger 107 Ti:
Tips: 9-8.5
Shovels: 8.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 9-9.5
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-9
Tails: 9-9.5
This ski is stiff. Like, really stiff. I can bend the shovels while hand flexing it, and to a slightly lesser degree, the tails. But the vast majority of this ski is very strong. To put it into perspective, I was borderline out of breath after hand-flexing this ski. Maybe that just means I need to get into better shape, but still, this ski is stiff.
The current Ranger 108 Ti is a fairly strong ski, but it’s nowhere near as stiff as the new Ranger 107 Ti.
Overall, the flex pattern of the Ranger 107 Ti reminds me of the Prior Husume — another ski that basically has no portions where it’s remotely soft. That said, the Ranger 107 Ti’s flex pattern feels like it has a bit more snap / rebound than the Husume’s, at least during a hand flex.
Weight
This is another big surprise. The current Ranger Ti skis are pretty light. The new Ranger Ti skis are not.
At a little over 2300 grams per ski for the 189 cm version, the Ranger 107 Ti clearly falls on the heavier end of the spectrum. While you do have to take into account the length differences, it’s still very surprising to see the new 189 cm Ranger 107 Ti coming in nearly 400 grams heavier per ski compared to the 182 cm Ranger 108 Ti.
For reference, here are a number of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to try to keep things apples-to-apples.
1605 & 1630 Line Vision 108, 183 cm (19/20)
1642 & 1651 Renoun Citadel 106, 185 cm, (18/19)
1843 & 1847 Head Kore 105, 189 cm (17/18)
1848 & 1903 Line Sick Day 104, 186 cm (17/18–19/20)
1849 & 1922 Elan Ripstick 106, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
1898 & 1893 Armada Tracer 108, 180 cm (18/19)
1913 & 1943 Sego Condor Ti, 187 cm (18/19)
1923 & 1956 DPS Alchemist Wailer 106, 189 cm (17/18–18/19)
1941 & 1965 Fischer Ranger 108 Ti, 182 cm (17/18–18/19)
1950 & 1977 Blizzard Rustler 10, 188 cm (17/18–18/19)
1980 & 2016 Liberty Origin 106, 187 cm (16/17–18/19)
1994 & 2011 Fischer Ranger 99 Ti, 180 cm (19/20)
1996 & 2012 Dynastar Legend X106, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2005 & 2035 Liberty Origin 106, 187 cm (19/20)
2013 & 2013 Moment Commander 108, 188 cm (18/19)
2018 & 2045 RMU North Shore 108, 185 cm (18/19–19/20)
2022 & 2047 Faction Dictator 3.0, 186 cm (17/18–18/19)
2026 & 2056 Black Diamond Boundary Pro 107, 184 cm (17/18–8/19)
2030 & 2039 Rossignol Soul 7 HD, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2036 & 2064 Salomon QST 106, 188 cm (18/19)
2046 & 2120 Black Crows Corvus, 188 cm (18/19–19/20)
2112 & 2125 4FRNT MSP 107, 187 cm (18/19)
2143 & 2194 ON3P Wrenegade 108, 184 cm (18/19)
2165 & 2211 K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 186 cm (19/20)
2182 & 2218 Nordica Enforcer 110, 185 cm (17/18–19/20)
2233 & 2255 Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, 186 cm (19/20)
2250 & 2307 Argent Badger, 184 cm (19/20)
2283 & 2290 ON3P Wrenegade 108, 189 cm (18/19)
2312 & 2386 Prior Husume, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2318 & 2341 J Skis The Metal, 186 cm (16/17–18/19)
2321 & 2335 Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, 189 cm (19/20)
2376 & 2393 Blizzard Cochise, 185 cm (15/16–19/20)
Sidecut Radius
The new Ranger 107 Ti shares a lot in common with some other all-mountain chargers, but its stated sidecut radius does set it apart from most of those skis. At 19 meters, the 189 cm Ranger 107 Ti’s sidecut radius is fairly short, and not nearly as long as the sidecut radii on skis like the Blizzard Cochise, ON3P Wrenegade, and Prior Husume. Granted, we don’t put that much stock into stated sidecut radii, but the difference here is large enough that we think it’s worth noting and keeping in mind during our testing.
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) The current Ranger Ti skis stand out because of their great carving performance, so will the new Ranger 107 Ti maintain that characteristic?
(2) The new Ranger 107 Ti is a very strong, heavy ski with a pretty moderate rocker profile. So how demanding will it feel, and will you have to be an expert skier to enjoy it?
(3) The Ranger 107 Ti now looks like it falls more in line with true “chargers” than lighter 50/50 skis, so how will the Ranger 107 Ti compare to skis like the Blizzard Cochise, ON3P Wrenegade 108, and Prior Husume?
Bottom Line (For Now)
While its shape and rocker profile aren’t that different from the Ranger 108 Ti, everything else about the new Fischer Ranger 107 Ti makes it look like a very different ski than the one it replaces. We’re very eager to get the ski on snow to experience the result, so stay tuned for updates.
FULL REVIEW
Soft Snow
In soft snow, the Ranger is 107 Ti is definitely not some surfy ski. Rather, it emphasizes power over playfulness across the spectrum of soft snow conditions I’ve had it in, and it remains highly composed and always feels very directional. Its large, fairly strong shovels help keep the front end from diving, but are more likely to blast through inconsistencies in the snow rather than rise above and over them. This ski excels when pointed down the fall line in soft snow, so if you like to spend a lot of time sideways in pow, you will be fighting the natural inclination of the Ranger 107 Ti.
This isn’t a ski that affords you much “pop” when you can’t push off the bottom. But it does allow you to put down the landing gear with authority and stomp stuff in a big way. No need to backslap in soft snow here.
An unexpected characteristic of the Ranger 107 Ti compared to other skis with similar construction and weight was that I didn’t feel the need to hit 25 mph in soft snow before they would begin to plane or come alive. The 107 Ti was quick to get up to speed, and was happy to wiggle as much as it was to arc big turns in soft snow. This was a very welcome counterpoint to its general lack of playfulness, enabling it to work more effectively as an everyday resort ski.
Skiing the 189 cm Ranger 107 Ti, I think you’d need to be a very large and very angry human to begin to find this ski’s speed limit in soft snow. Generally, this is going to be a ski that skis “big” compared to its overall length.
So while this is not the first ski I would reach for on epic deep days or in very light and dry powder, with 6-12” of new snow overnight, for directional skiers who like strong skis, I am willing to wager that the Ranger 107 Ti will put a smile on your face all day while effortlessly dealing with whatever you might run into that’s still hiding deeper in the snowpack.
Chop / Crud
While I like the overall performance of the Ranger 107 Ti in soft snow, it is in chop, crud, windblown, and other textured snow where the Ranger 107 Ti truly shines, and in my opinion, why I find it to be so enjoyable as an everyday resort ski. Its 189 cm length, ~2300 g weight, two partial layers of metal, and powerful flex make quick work of snow inconsistencies you so often find off piste between storms.
I’d say that the magic of the 107 Ti comes from its progressive flex. Stiff throughout, the ski progressively grows into more of an oak tree the further away from the tips you get. So while every part of this ski has the muscle to deal with variable snow conditions, it won’t beat you up or buck you around as you drive the ski through the tips and encounter soft variable snow the way a softer-flexing ski can. You can drive the shovels without devoting too much of your brain’s RAM to managing your body positioning in those moments when you encounter something solid.
Overall, the Ranger 107 Ti is a lively ski with good suspension and controlled rebound characteristics. But the firmer the snow, the harsher the ride is going to be. While big and heavy, this is still a stiff ski throughout, and when you really try to attack the hill in firmer, chalky, or refrozen conditions, you need to stay on top of the ski to keep it from getting away from you. And if it does get away from you, this is a ski that’s going to buck you back, rather than forward.
The silky smooth ride that you get from a ski that has a combination of solid weight, metal, and a less-stiff flex pattern (e.g., J Skis The Metal) isn’t quite here. The Ranger 107 Ti is definitely faster and more powerful, but this is still a lively ski at heart, and one that wants to be driven rather than ridden.
Moguls, Trees, & Tight Terrain
As a wise man once sang, “The further on the edge, the hotter the intensiteee-eeee.”
The Ranger 107 Ti doesn’t know much about slarving, but it does know a lot about arcing a turn around obstacles. Yes, it will slash and slide sideways in tight terrain, around trees, and other stationary objects, but it would much prefer you to put it on edge while you make jet plane noises.
With a tight 19 meter sidecut radius, the 189 cm Ranger 107 Ti isn’t a ski you need to shoehorn into tight spaces. For its substantial weight, I would dare to call it “quick” edge to edge, and swinging the tips across the fall line to change direction is only hindered by the skis overall length. If you get into places where you really are making jump turns and the like, the 189 cm Ranger 107 Ti will be a handful. But navigating normal levels of “tight” terrain is very easy for a ski this powerful.
So for someone who is looking for a lively and powerful ski, the stiff flex pattern of the 107 Ti will help hold you up when you stuff it into the back of a mogul. But remember, that stiff flex, long length, and high amount of edge grip will also make it more difficult to disengage this ski if it starts to get away from you. The “throw it sideways only as a safety valve” nature of this ski makes it a bit more work to turn than a softer flexing, more rockered ski, so I wouldn’t classify the Ranger 107 Ti as very forgiving of mistakes.
Groomers
The Ranger 107 Ti’s groomer performance was by far the biggest and best surprise I experienced while testing this ski. To put it simply, it made me feel like I knew what I was doing on a groomed run. It definitely retains the excellent groomer performance of the previous 108 Ti. Easy initiation, great edge hold, a ton of energy exiting turns, and extremely confidence inspiring. Put this ski on edge and enjoy the grip.
On all but the most boilerplate of firm snow, it was the ligaments in my knees that would tap out before the edge hold of the ski would fail. With a moderate rocker profile, powerful but accessible shovel, and very stout tails, I could snap the Ranger 107 Ti in and out of turns with an authority that I don’t normally associate with skis over 100 mm wide.
Typically, I prefer to aggressively de-tune my skis, but the 107 Ti is one where I would make an effort to keep it sharp. As several of us at Blister put more and more days on our review pair and the ski’s edges got more worked, I could feel a bit of the ski’s groomer magic leaving it. So if you care about carving performance (as opposed to a looser feel off-piste) … this is a ski that I would keep a nice tune on since it’s just so good when you do.
Mount Point
The Ranger 107 Ti’s recommended mount point is -9.15 cm from center, or 84.7 cm from tail. In that location, it carries the vibe of a very directional ski.
I typically ski with a rather forward stance, and prefer a more traditional mount point, and the Ranger 107 Ti and I got along great in this regard. Pointing the ski off rollers, cliffs, and other obstacles was straightforward and without drama. Stay compact and tight in the air, and your center of gravity will bring you back to earth safely without much effort. If you take off in the back seat or open up in the air, you will find it more of a challenge to get forward again over the front of the ski, so be prepared to roll down the windows with enthusiasm in the process.
The 189 cm model we’ve reviewed still has a bunch of tail out back, but this is not a ski that initiates a turn by pivoting from the center. You drive the shovel of the Ranger 107 Ti to get it headed in the direction of your choosing.
This does require you to commit to a turn with the ski in the fall line when things get tight or steep, so if you are someone who prefers to pivot and slide their skis in such situations, or you like to ski with a more upright / neutral stance, you will probably find the Ranger 107 Ti to be a handful.
Playfulness
The Ranger 107 Ti is here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and it’s all out of bubblegum.
If you like to butter, shifty, spraffy, and generally hoon around the mountain, go get some other ski. And sure, I can think of some other skis that are even less playful, but that’s not really the point here. The Ranger 107 Ti is a high energy and lively ski, but it manifests that energy and liveliness as a powerful (and again, relatively quick ski given how powerful it is), not a playful one.
Length
I’m a big fan of the 189 cm version. But given its minimal taper and subtle rocker profile, this is a long ski. While we haven’t skied the 107 Ti in a shorter length, I suspect that for many people, the 182 cm model is going to provide the stability and security you need, and will feel more like a ~185 cm long ski than you might expect.
Given its tight sidecut radius, its general willingness to get on edge quickly, and the fact that I found that I could still make the ski conform to the turn shapes I wanted to make, I would say that the Ranger 107 Ti does fall into that category of skis that you can size up (if you are so inclined) relative to the size (and openess) of the terrain you’ll be skiing most. It skis like a longer ski than it is, but its relative quickness (for how big and heavy it is) affords the opportunity to size up.
Who’s It For?
If you like lively, stiff, directional skis that stay composed at high speeds, eat up variable terrain, and prefer / need to be actively driven, then this ski should be on your radar. And even more so if you like to ski a variety of terrain all over the mountain, and can take advantage of the ski’s groomer performance and precision, too.
I would not in any way categorize this as a ski for beginners.
But if you enjoy a ski that you need to drive and say on top of, it can be very rewarding. I think that it could be an excellent foundation for a 1 or 2 ski quiver, and I would ski it at any resort in North America (including the US East Coast, where I grew up).
I’ve found the Ranger 107 Ti to be such an intriguing option because it didn’t force me to choose between being highly engaging at either just low or high speeds. Traditionally, those long, heavy, metal laminate skis that I enjoy most come with big sidecut radii and a minimum speed you need to get them up to for them to become enjoyable. The Ranger 107 Ti did a fantastic job of bridging the gap between a ski that can be fun on both the frontside and the backside of the mountain.
Bottom Line
The Ranger 107 Ti is a stout ski for the person looking for precision, power, and exceptional edge hold in their wider all-mountain ski. For such a skier, I would call this a true everyday, inbounds ski in the west. It has the weight, stiff flex pattern, and relatively versatile dimensions to handle groomers, chalky conditions, and soft snow without missing a beat. Skiers who attack the fall line at high rates of speed and appreciate the ability to easily articulate a ski on edge will find themselves right at home here.
And don’t let the 19 m sidecut radius scare you away. While it’s energetic, powerful, and easy to initiate turns, the 107 Ti doesn’t force you into just making small turn shapes the way some small-radius skis can. There is still enough heft here for this ski to be very comfortable and stable when going very straight and very fast.
Finally, stay tuned for an upcoming Deep Dive comparison where we’ll discuss how the Ranger 107 Ti stacks up to some of the other skis in its class.
Is this comparable to the Dynastar Legend Pro?
Hey K- It’s been prob 6 years since I have been on a DLP, but, mehhhhh…. no.
I have both, though the Pro Riders aren’t mounted yet (they’re from the 19/20 production run. Yes, you read that right).
What I can say from experience with many other skis and having skied the 107Ti is that they embody different approaches to designing a “charging ski”. This shows up most obviously in their flex vs camber tradeoffs. The Pro Rider is significantly softer than the 107Ti but also has a lot more camber. Both distribute a lot of pressure to the ends of the ski when flexed, which is a big part of what makes them both charge. The Fischer’s tips/tails are like a very stiff spring that’s compressed just a bit, while the PR’s are like a softer spring that’s compressed a lot. This means that they differ in how the tip/tail pressure changes as you flex them further. While both blast through crud and chop just fine, softer high-camber skis like the the PR feel less “reactive” when doing so because small deflections don’t have as much effect on the forces transmitted back to the rider. Note that this is consistent with Eric’s comment about the 107 lacking a “silky smooth ride” (and that’s my experience with it as well btw).
The downside with softer but highly cambered skis like the PR is that in soft snow in particular they feel really dead and sluggish until you get them going fast enough to flex the tip and tail. The Fischer is flat enough to begin with that you can maneuver them passably even if you’re not going fast enough to really engage that stiff flex. Again this is consistent with what Eric says above and my experience.
The PR is about 300 g heavier per ski.
Also note the sidecuts. The PR is nominally 27 m (I measured my pair and came up with 28, but I didn’t do the most precise job ever) vs 19 m for the Fischer, though as Eric points out it’s shocking stable for such a small sidecut.
I am wondering if this ski isn’t intended to be a return to some of the characteristics (balanced combination of stability and dampness for both carving and off-piste) that the Motive series had before Fischer went to the Pro Mtn line.
Re the carving question, of course it will carve. If it’s a Fischer, and an alpine ski, it will carve — and do so very, very nicely.
Every word I read in this great early review, as well as both photos, had me planning next year’s purchase.
Until the stiffness. Holy steel girder beam, Batman! That just seems too stiff for a soft snow ski.
I’ve got a pair of the Ranger 115 ti for my pow skis. Even they are just a bit stiffer than needed for a ski of this type, and personally, I’d much prefer this new 107’s shape and rocker profile.
Looking forward to the actual on-the-snow review!
This ski fixes pretty much everything I wanted to change about in the Ranger 108ti (radius too long for the construction, not damp enough). This ski sounds rad. Very curious to hear how it skis!
I’ve skied the 107 Ti and overall I liked it. I can see the direction Fischer wants to go: creating more of a spread between the Ranger Ti and Ranger Fr lines. This is definitely a stiff ski, so expect that you will want to be in fairly good fitness or you will pay for it. I give it really high marks for precision, laying down a beautiful continuous carve that can power through rubble with aplomb. It’s fantastic on groomers. I rode a 15″ storm in Utah and it was godlike in untracked and tracked powder. I personally like a little heft in my skis: more mass powers through the heavier Sierra snow that I routinely ride. But, if you struggle with heavier skis, something like the Head Kore 105 is much easier to manage while remaining stable at speed. The 107 Ti is likely to be a lot to manage in tight corners (narrow trees, bumps, couloirs). There are a lot of fun, well-made skis in this range, including especially the new Enforcer 104, the new QST 106, the Armada ARV 106. The Ranger is the stiffest of the bunch by a good margin.
Just bought one of the last 18/19 Ranger in 188cm cause I wanna use them as a one quiver and don’t want a heavy charger.
On the scale they weight 2250 gr. Impressed by the weight – thought it’s something around 2000 gr – so the new one is not really heavier than the 18/19 skis!
Full review coming any time soon? Wobbling around between this and the Mindbender 108. Generally like the shape of the Fischer, but maybe the flex of the Bender. Thanks!
Yep, should be dropping in the next couple weeks. Short story — the Ranger 107 is definitely a more game-on ski than the Mindbender 108 (more demanding, more precise / less loose, but can be pushed a bit harder at speed).
Thanks, Luke. I’m going to hold off on deciding until you post the full review.
Don’t go getting a big head, or anything, but there really isn’t any comparable review source to Blister.
Have a great Christmas!
How do these compare to the Woodsman skis from ON3P? Have been rocking some ranger 98’s and love them but want to give the Woodsman 108’s a go.
I like to hit the back country most and find myself skiing variable terrains from powder, to trees, wind blown hard snow, and occasionaly ride groomers with the kids at the ski hill.
In short, they don’t compare. These are two very different skis. And while I’m sure that shorter lengths of the Ranger 107 will be better suited for things like “riding groomers with the kids at the ski hill,” the 189 is a big gun. It’s got a much flatter tail than the Woodsman, is less loose, more demanding, and is going to be best appreciated by those who really like a strong, ‘game-on’ ski.
Hey, I’ve ridden groomers with the kids on the 189 cm 107Ti (trading laps with the SO, so changing skis was impractical). Just stay out of the backseat and nobody has to get hurt.
Seriously, I think we may be overstating just how “game on” this ski is just a bit. It loves to be laid up on edge and driven hard, but it’s fundamentally pretty manageable compared to some others I’ve ridden (not many of those are made today, though). If you have good balance and “well-programmed” recovery instincts, such that you can avoid getting back on those (stiff, flat, minimally tapered) tails in the wrong circumstances, then you won’t have much trouble making tight turns or shutting them down if need be.
The more I think about it the more I would describe this as a “directional purist’s ski”, which has become a bit of an increasingly endangered species in the market. If you believe that the tips and tails of your skis are meant to behave very differently, and you have technique to match, then you’ll probably get along with it.
I’m no ski god BTW. I’m in my late 40s, overweight, and only get 20-30 days/year post-kids (trying to increase that, though). I do have some racing background and reasonable leg/core strength. I honestly think these skis are all that difficult if you’re using them as intended. They’re positively relaxing compared to a full-on FIS GS, for example.
As I’ve noted in a couple other comments, I’ve been riding the 189 cm 107Ti this season as an all-day resort ski. I second everything Eric says in his review, and want to emphasize how insanely fun this ski is when given room to run in mid-density snow like wind buff. Lay it way up on edge, drive it from the shovel, and lay down some nice big hero arcs.
I got to demo this ski at Jackson Hole right before Covid and loved it. I never pictured myself as directional, power, heavy ski type skier until I was on this beast. It goes through crud not over it. Also tried the Volkl Mantra 102 and liked that as well. To me they had a lot of similarities, but I’m no expert. How would you guys differentiate the two? Trying to decide on which to buy.
Not a ski for me I suspect, but great to read and learn about it. Enjoyed Eric’s take as well as his writing style (more please), always good to get different perspectives. Have to say I enjoy and appreciate all the comments, Blister readers are such a great source of insight too.
Any difference in construction between the 182 and 189 lengths? Also, is this remaining unchanged for next year? Thanks
From what we’ve been told, there are no out-of-the-ordinary construction differences between the different lengths of the Ranger 107 Ti, and it returns unchanged for 20/21.
Thanks for the quick reply Luke, now I just need to make the decision on if I go for the 189 or 182.
Any comparison on the Ranger 107ti vs the Ranger 102 FR? Looking for an east coast charger ski. Trying to decide between these in 189 and the 102 FR in 191.
Hey Christian- I only have a few days on the Ranger 102 FR, but, I’d say go with with the Ranger 102 FR if you prefer your skis to be more playful and energetic. And go with the Ranger 107Ti if you prefer a more precise and powerful ski. Both are stable all-mountain options with good firm snow performance and that reward classic form.
I have been smoking West Canada resorts on the Salomon FDrive 8.8’s that Jonathan raved about a few years ago. I am looking at the 107 ti ski as a replacement. Would you agree?
Hey Brian- I have never spent any time on the FDrive 8.8, so I can’t make any comparisons. Intended use for those two skis seems quite different, though.
hello I am about to order a 107ti only I hesitate on the size that I advise you for a size of 1m71 and 75/77 kilos, use freeride / station (track) 60/40.
thank you for your reviews you are great
Hi, Brian – sorry to be chiming in late here, but while both skis have stiff tails … I really don’t see how this ski would be much of a replacement for the 88mm-wide 8.8s? But if you got along well with the 8.8, then there is some reason to think you’ll like the much wider Ranger 107. Neither ski is great for lazy skiing.
I’m looking to find a 105-115 waisted directional daily driver for softer snow. It’ll complement 187 masterblasters for firmer snow and 185 motherships for absolute charging.
I’m interested in the Cochise and ranger 107s – is there anything else that should be on my list for a ski in that waist range that really carves hard? And when do you think you’ll have a deep dive that looks at these?
After a good effort trying to like Black Ops, I’ve decided I’m just a directional kind of guy and that’s ok.
Hey Goran- I have really enjoyed my time on the 4Frnt MSP 107 and Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti this season. Both fall into the directional daily driver category and I think both lay down a mean turn when snow conditions allow. They would both be on my personal list of skis to check out. Between those four you have some pretty awesome choices…
Thanks, Eric! Is it fair to say that the msp 107 and sender ti are both mellower than the Cochise and ranger 107? How would you compare the latter two skis?
Would it be crazy to put a shift binding on this ski for side county/short tours? I have a lighter setup for longer tours and a health quicker of resort skis. I was thinking the 189(but possibly the 182) length with a shift might be a good travel setup as well, seems like it could be enjoyable in just about all conditions. Also, Im a bit of a Clydesdale, tipping the scales at 200-210 lbs. I was thinking about pairing this with a ranger free 130 boot because it seems like it has good downhill performance and can support a bigger guy. Thanks
The 189 + SHIFT would certainly be a “heavy” setup, but I don’t think anyone can really decide for anyone else how heavy is too heavy, or how light is too light.
For me personally, I would have zero interest in this ski + SHIFT as a touring ski. But that’s just me. If our review makes it seem like this would be a good backcountry ski for you, then .. by all means, go for it.
hello blister I am in full hesitation between this ranger 107 ti, enforcer 110 or the last cochise 106 of 2021, that advise you for use performance on track (carving ..) and 70% off track, drill, powder …
thanks and keep it up
I am intrigued by the sound of this ski, especially the 19m sidecut radius… my home hill is RMR and I prefer to carve rather than skid my turns to check my speed i.e. let them run! So skis with big turning radius just don’t work at this hill for me because of the consistently serious angle of descent. Don’t get me wrong, I love to go fast (I should be wearing full body armour) so looking for a ski that will give me more stability at those speeds. Current skis Head Monster 88 185cm (Frontside hard snow charger), Atomic Vantage 100TI 188cm (daily driver), Nordica Enforcer Pro 115 191cm (Pow days), have the Monster 108 185cm but the 25m sidecut forces me to be on the brakes all the time and the Enforcer Pro’s are too soft up front (not really chargers if you ask me)…also wondering about length, currently 175 lbs down from about 190 last year, hoping to get well below 170 by season start…hoping to put in over 100 days this season but will be coming off knee surgery (so we will see…). BTW strictly directional skier…
any ETA on a deep dive?
Hey Blister when can we expect the deep dive? I have a pair of 13/14 Cochise in a 185 that I need to replace and these Ranger’s are on my radar. Love the suspension of the Cochise, but wouldn’t mind a bit of float and shorter turn radius keeping in mind I would be losing some suspension.
I am intrigued by these. Less slarvy than my beloved Bodacious 196’s, but they sound like they could chew up terrain just as quickly.
“Hoon around the mountain” … too funny.
HI, Guys! Anybody experimented with mount point on this ski?
Late reply!
I bought a pair of 182s and mounted them on the line. They absolutely ripped on groomers like no 100+ waisted ski I’ve ever been on. Extremely quickly turn engagement, enough power to go full hip-dragging, etc. That said, after loving the skis on groomers, wind pack, etc, I finally got to ski them in some crud and moderately untracked snow, and they were not awesome. I’d hit soft snow at speed on edge and the skis would just go straight. The tips were too soft to flex with the soft snow and the tails would get hung up. Bummer! The other beef I had with them is that the tips had enough early rise that I had a hard time loading the tips into bumps.
So I took the plunge and remounted them at -2 from the line, which is pretty far back since the line was already at something like -8 or -9 from true center. I’ve now spent two days with that mount, and my current verdict is that this is how they should ski. They engage with a little less vigor on groomers, but they can be loaded more through the tip and are less chattery at speed. And in deeper snow they’re now really nicely balanced. They are happy to lock in or slide sideways, play well in bumps etc. An easy winner as a soft snow daily driver for me.
Maybe the 189 would be better on the line. But the 182 does seem like a nice length and while I haven’t been going nuts on big mountain lines, the 182 mounted back has been stable enough for me for most resort purposes.
For reference, I’m 6′ 175lbs, ski 60-100 days a year and grew up racing.
What is the best (boot center) mounting point on the 182cm length?
Any experience?
I’m currently skiing K2 Seth Morrison 118 Annex in 188 length. I’m looking to get an all mountain ski to ski most days on the resort. Will 182 be too short? I’m 6 foot, 224 lbs. I’m not an expert, but like to ski hard/fast. I want something that’s a little more nimble for the occasional tree skiing, and chasing kids around.
I just bought this pair in 182 and i wanted to ask if i should mount on the line or -2 for a 1 ski quiver mainly for the alps, i am and advanced skier and just wanted a more powerful ski than my old soul 7 hd
Hey Joseph, I just spent five days in Klosters on the 189. Fairly low tide conditions but still plenty of +\- boot deep smooth snow to be found off the ridges. Also lots of wind-buff, sun-crust, and chalk of varying hardness. So, variable off-piste en extrem. For the most part I agree with everything in this review. It’s a stiff and powerful ski that *demands* to be driven through the shovels to initiate turns. This ski is completely different than the Soul 7. It’s much heavier, way less pivoty, and honestly just more demanding. I am 6’2, 270# so getting the ski to flex is not at all a problem for me, but I could see it being an issue for someone smaller who doesn’t pressure the edges as much as I do. In tight spaces and steep chutes that required jump turns, I was able to get the ski to perform, but there are definitely many skis I would take ahead of the Ranger for such purposes. This ski forces you to be on your game form-wise, it’s not nearly as forgiving as a ski like the Soul 7. The upside to this is that it stays way more composed through variable crud, crust, and chunder. This isn’t a replacement for a ski like the Soul 7, which is far more fun in soft, hero conditions and generally quicker in tight spots than the Ranger. But if paired with your Soul 7’s the Ranger 107ti could form the other half of a two-ski, “everything but the truly deep days,” quiver.
Also, sorry for not answering the main question: I had these mounted on the line and never felt that performance would be improved by moving back. If anything, the need to engage the shovels to get this ski to do it’s thing would make me hesitate to even consider it.
Old review, but: I have a pair 189s that I [re]mounted with demo bindings, and I’ve played around with the mount point +/- 1.5 cm. I ended up preferring them on the line. As Max says, the 189 mounted on the line needs to be driven aggressively through the shovels. I’m an ex-racer and. mostly ride them with 150 flex boots (Raptor 140s with all 3 cuff bolts). Mounting them back didn’t add much in that respect, but did make them harder to skid when needed.
They can’t be driven as hard through the shovels as, say, my 193 cm Head eGS FIS (or even the 185 cm iSpeed Pros that I use for mid-speed groomer bashing), but they’re not supposed to.
I realized that this is an old review of a discontinued ski and not of any real interest, but…
On a recent hard-snow day I switched from my 189 cm 107Tis to a pair of 182 cm Dancer 2s, and noticed an unexpected difference in how they responded when brought slightly on edge when practicing “single-ski” drills (both hard snow and low edge angles maximize the importance of sidecut relative to other attributes) despite both being spec’ed at “19 meters”. Being an OCD-ish engineer I measured both using the FIS (ISO 6289) process. The Dancers were spot on at 19, but the 189 cm 107Ti measured out at 21 m, which makes it a bit less exceptional compared to other chargers.
I realize that the Dancers also have elliptical sidecut, but in my experience that has subtle effects and doesn’t make a big difference in hard-snow turning radius when feathered on edge [*]. The Dancer 2s feel like they have similar “native radius” in that respect to my 19-meter 185 cm Head eSpeed Pros, for example (though those two skis are radically different when loaded up and driven hard and fast).
[*] Honestly the only place where I can definitively “feel” the elliptical sidecut of the Dancer 2 or 4 is when tuning them using a Trione, as its cut-depth adjustment is radius-dependent.
Two seasons now with these skis (182 cm). Perfect for the whole mountain. It’s a shame Fischer discontinued them. But it’s a good thing my pair is still in good condition