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Fischer Transalp 105 CTI Review

This is a well-rounded touring ski for hunters of soft snow
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Fischer Transalp 105 CTI Review (We paired the Fischer Transalp 105 CTI with lighter weight Market Alpinist bindings to offset its relatively heavier...)
We paired the Fischer Transalp 105 CTI with lighter weight Market Alpinist bindings to offset its relatively heavier weight.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Price:  $950 List
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Manufacturer:   Fischer
By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 4, 2024
75
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 17
  • Weight - 25% 7.4
  • Firm Snow - 20% 6.0
  • Powder - 20% 8.0
  • Crud and Poor Snow - 20% 8.0
  • Stability at Speed - 15% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Fischer Transalp 105 CTI is a great choice for the fit ski guide working in the snowy Intermountain ranges of North America. It is a bit heftier than other touring skis and, as such, is geared more towards downhill performance. This is a Teton Pass or Red Mountain Pass ski; it certainly can suffice as a Tahoe storm cycle ski or as the ski you take on a hut trip in the Selkirks. These locations, of course, are highly appealing because for many people they are dream backcountry skiing destinations. But for the rest of us who don't get to ski powder every day, it's important to note that this ski doesn't perform as well on firm snow. Like many of the other skis in our lineup of today's top-rated backcountry skis, the Transalp 105 CTI joins a long list of excellent, soft-snow touring skis.
REASONS TO BUY
Damp
Versatile
Excellent in soft snow
REASONS TO AVOID
Sub-optimal on firm snow
Relatively heavyweight for long tours
Editors' Note: We mounted the Transalp 105 CTI with Marker Cruise 12 bindings and tested it during 2023-2024. This ski returns unchanged to the Fischer lineup for the 2024-2025 season.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Backcountry Skis
Top Pick Award
Optimized for Downhill Performance
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Top Pick Award
A Realistic Backcountry Ski
Price $950 List
$898.99 at Amazon
$899.95 at REI
Compare at 4 sellers
$799.95 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$800 List$900 List
$749.95 at Amazon
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Bottom Line These should be on your short list of excellent downhill-focused touring skisThis relatively wide all-season ski is one of our favorites and great for all-around human-powered useHeavier skis that offer meaningful performance on the downhill, ideal for newer backcountry skiers or for experts who don't mind trading a bit of efficiency for a bit more funReasonably affordable and great for a wide range of human-powered skiing, these are your backcountry "quiver-of-one"If you have a truly wide-ranging ski habit and have realistic expectations of what you will find out in the mountains, consider these skis very closely
Rating Categories Fischer Transalp 10... Blizzard Zero G 105 Salomon QST Echo 106 K2 Wayback 106 Atomic Backland 95
Weight (25%)
7.4
7.6
5.5
8.3
8.2
Firm Snow (20%)
6.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
10.0
Powder (20%)
8.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
Crud and Poor Snow (20%)
8.0
8.5
9.0
7.0
6.0
Stability at Speed (15%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Specs Fischer Transalp 10... Blizzard Zero G 105 Salomon QST Echo 106 K2 Wayback 106 Atomic Backland 95
Measured Weight Per Ski (g) 1573 1513 1779 1436 1422.5
Measured Length Tested (cm) 178 178 180 179 175
Measured Waist Width (mm) 105 105 105 105 94
Weight Per Surface Area Ratio (g/cm²) 0.72 0.72 0.8 0.68 0.73
Measured Weight Per Pair (g) 3146 3025 3557 2872 2845
Measured Weight Per Pair (lbs) 6.9 6.7 7.8 6.3 6.3
Manufacturer Claimed Length (cm) 178 180 181 179 177
Available Lengths (cm) 164, 171, 178, 185 164, 172, 180, 188 157, 165, 173, 181, 189 165, 172, 179, 186 161 ,169, 177, 185
Measured Dimensions, Tip/Center/Tail (mm) 139/105/123 133/104/118 140/105/125 131/105/120 126/94/114
Manufacturer Claimed Dimensions (mm) 139/105/124 133/105/119 136/106/126 132/106/121 128/95/116
Turn Radius (m) 22 23 19 22.3 18
Construction Type Semi-Cap Sandwich Sandwich Semi-Cap Semi-Cap
Core Material Air Tec Wood Core Paulownia Poplar, Caruba Paulownia Poplar
Rocker/Camber Profile Tip and tail rocker, flat underfoot Tip and tail rocker Tip and tail rocker, camber underfoot Tip and tail rocker, flat underfoot Tip and tail rocker, camber underfoot

Our Analysis and Test Results

In our review there are almost a half dozen close competitors to the Transalp 105 CTI. The sexy subcategory of soft-snow-focused touring skis receives a lot of attention from manufacturers, consumers, and our test team. In this realm, this Transalp is excellent. However, when the snow stops flying, it doesn't perform particularly well in firm snow. Whether the firm conditions are due to wind, spring melt-freeze, or even traffic-packed snow on hand-cut or gladed trails below treeline, you would do better with a different ski.

Performance Comparison


Expedition skiing demands adapting to the conditions. Although the Transalp 105 CTI has the heft to work through chop, it's a bit wider than we'd like for skiing lots of firm snow.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Weight


We look for all-around human-powered skis that weigh roughly 1600 grams or less. Many skiers will look for even lighter products, chopping up to 300 grams per ski in the interest of uphill efficiency while not fully sacrificing downhill enjoyment. On a calibrated scale, one of our test skis weighed 1581 grams and the other 1565 grams, for an average weight of 1573 grams. This puts the Transalp 105 CTI right in the mix with the best “downhill-focused” backcountry skis. It certainly skis well, but so do other options we tested that weigh up to 100 g less per ski. That level of weight savings pays dividends on the uphill, without any significant penalty in ski performance.

fischer transalp 105 cti - pair the fischer with light skins, bindings, and boots and their...
Pair the Fischer with light skins, bindings, and boots and their weight is mitigated. Of course, you could pair the same accessories with lighter skis and get even greater efficiency.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Firm Snow


You'll see excellent athletes and other reviewers using the Transalp 105 CTI for steep, firm, serious skiing. Although these skis will survive on firm snow, we argue that what is “doable” is different from what is ideal. Specifically, the edge hold is a bit unbalanced – no matter how much energy you put into the turns, the squared-off tails of this ski grip better than the early-rise tips. As a result, you need to exercise balance and attention to even out fore and aft edge pressure. At reasonable speed, the edges hold just fine, but many other skis we tested are better balanced. If you want a single backcountry ski for all conditions, this Transalp is a reasonable choice. If you aim to primarily ski firm, steep slopes, then there are much better options.

fischer transalp 105 cti - tough snow in remote settings might demand something as big as the...
Tough snow in remote settings might demand something as big as the Transalp 105 CTI. For most folks, though, this ski is better used in day trip settings in soft snow destinations.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Powder


For the vast majority of powder snow conditions, the Transalp 105 CTI is exactly what you want and need. In the deepest, softest snow – up to the point that it is “actually too deep to ski” – there are bigger skis that will float better and ski faster. On those days, these skis simply aren't fat enough. Despite this limiting factor, we loved the sensation of skiing powder on this Transalp. When the going gets a bit funky, you'll appreciate the sweet spot that these 105-millimeter-waisted skis offer compared to fatter or skinnier skis.

A comparison of the tip and tail profile of the Transalp 105 CTI.
A comparison of the tip and tail profile of the Transalp 105 CTI.
The early-rise tip really pays off in deeper snow.
The early-rise tip really pays off in deeper snow.

Crud and Poor Snow


This ski really excels in difficult snow conditions. As we noted above, you can opt for wider or narrower skis that excel in powder or firm snow, respectively. Of course, other, heavier skis will blast through crud better, too. However, none of these archetypal designs will handle tough snow the way this versatile Fischer ski does. Of course, our assessment of performance in poor snow is decidedly subjective – our test team is loaded with ski guides who are confident skiing in any conditions. Nonetheless, we are confident that the Transalp 105 CTI is among a select few skis that truly excel in this metric.

fischer transalp 105 cti - this test day high on mount moran was just right for the transalp...
This test day high on Mount Moran was just right for the Transalp 105 CTI. Some powder skiing, but mainly lots of soft, tough snow to navigate.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Stability at Speed


Considering the caveats of balance and edge hold on firm snow, we say let 'em run on the Transalp 105 CTI. This hefty, relatively stiff ski does fine at higher speeds, especially in soft snow. At more reasonable backcountry-skiing speeds, you'll enjoy unhindered performance through a variety of turn radii and shapes.

Compared to other skis in the 105-millimeter range, this Fischer is relatively stiff.
Credit: Jediah Porter

Should You Buy the Fischer Transalp 105 CTI?


Yes, but first, we suggest carefully considering when and where you'll ski them. If you can honestly say that you will spend much of your time skiing soft snow, then proceed with confidence. If you appreciate a ski that can bust through chop and difficult snow conditions, then the Transalp 105 CTI offers that power. However, there are a handful of skis in our lineup that are closely comparable, and it's worth looking at some alternatives below.

What Other Backcountry Skis Should You Consider?


In our review, you have lots of options in the general sub-category of soft-snow touring skis. The award-winning Blizzard Zero G 105 is very similar to the Transalp 105 CTI, just slightly lighter weight and a touch better in firm snow. The reasonably affordable K2 Wayback 106 is even lighter weight, though you will sacrifice a bit of performance in crud or poor snow compared to the Fischer or Blizzard skis. The lively DPS Pagoda Tour CFL 105 should certainly be on your shortlist, though this ski is much more expensive than the others.

Jediah Porter