Fischer Powerlight Review

[red_pine]

Hi everybody. I am a longtime lurker on the forum, and have decided to finally make my first post, a review of the Fischer Powerlight ski. This is not a typical backcountry ski. Rather, it is a skinny track ski (51-46-49) with full metal edges. Obviously, they are useless off trail except in shallow or hardpacked snow. However, they are a very nice track ski, especially when the snow is hard and icy. The full metal edge makes it extremely easy to herringbone up a hill without slipping, and the downhill control is absolutely incredible. With this ski, I am able to tear around corners at much higher speeds than I could in the past. There were stretches of trail this past weekend where most skiers were removing their skis to walk down steep, icy hills. By contrast, the Powerlights allowed me to ski right down those stretches with no problem at all. In the past, riding down hills and around corners on icy snow would cause me to either move very slowly, or to lose balance and fall. With these skis, icy hills have become pure joy.

While the edges do add some weight, it is not anything that I notice. The edges also do not add any significant amount of drag. Indeed, on my most recent outing, I was passing almost everybody on the trail, which is an unusual occurrence for me, as I am usually a slow skier.

The only real difficulty I have encountered with them so far is a lack of grip in tough conditions, which I attribute to my lack of skill with grip waxing (these are my first waxable skis). On days with soft, cold snow (like last Sunday), I have had perfect grip and glide. On days when the snow was transformed, or above freezing, I have had issues with slipping. Overall though, I have been happy with the skis, and would recommend them for anyone who wants a track ski with more downhill control. After my experience with them, I find it very baffling that these types of skis are not more popular.

[lilcliffy]

Hello and Welcome Pinus resinosa (aka red pine)!

Icy transformed snow?
Klister- pure magic.

Thank you for your review and please keep telling us your ski story!

[red_pine]

Thanks for replying lilcliffy. I've been using your waxing system (ironing polar into the entire base and applying the wax of the day to the grip zone) up until now. It's been a good system so far, much simpler than ironing in separate base binders and glide waxes. How do you incorporate klister into your system? I've read so many articles with differing advice, and it's hard to know where to begin. Do you use a universal klister, or try to match the temperature? Do you apply a hard wax over the klister to prevent icing, or just leave the klister bare? The articles make everything seem difficult, but it's hard to know how complicated it really has to be.

[12gaugesage]

Thanks for the review, Im gonna keep my eyes open for a set of these. Im often on hard, frozen snow and ice, especially on skied out xc trails. I've been considering a set of e89s, dont see them too often though

[fisheater]

Thanks for the review, Im gonna keep my eyes open for a set of these. Im often on hard, frozen snow and ice, especially on skied out xc trails. I've been considering a set of e89s, dont see them too often though

What are you skiing on now? Just curious, my trails get skied out. I am happy with my Gamme for the good, bad, and ugly. Just wondering where you’re coming at this from.

[12gaugesage]

Thanks for the review, Im gonna keep my eyes open for a set of these. Im often on hard, frozen snow and ice, especially on skied out xc trails. I've been considering a set of e89s, dont see them too often though

What are you skiing on now? Just curious, my trails get skied out. I am happy with my Gamme for the good, bad, and ugly. Just wondering where you’re coming at this from.

Either my T78 or a Spider 62. The T78s seem stiffer and better for it, but wider and heavier, dont fit a track.

Ill peep out the gamme's.

[fisheater]

Gamme doesn’t fit the track well. I skied some more crude tracks in softer snow recently with the Gamme. I have a feeling those were wider than normal.
My local trails, get skied, biked, snow shoed, and boot packed. Gamme tracks pretty well on those hard uneven surfaces. It handles soft snow well also. If it gets much deeper than 6” with a base, and I’m taking out a more turn oriented ski.

[Woodserson]

First, Fischer appears to be removing skis from their website as they sell out, so you can't see what they have in their catalogue. Does anyone have a work-around for this? (fischer website = dumb)

Second, I bought a pair of Powers (SAME dimensions, NO edges, NO "lite") last year on super sale over the summer. Twin Skin version, 204cm. I got them for icy track skiing here in NH. So far, only one day due to miserable conditions, but they were awesome! There is definitely something to getting a dedicated track ski for the track. The Efficient Forward thing is actually a thing. The skis were smooth and fast and I felt like I was skiing on springs. Cool feeling for sure. I will say, as Red Pine mentions, they are totally useless off the groomed tracks. A super soft tail collapses immediately in any soft snow. Hardpack only. But damn! The addition of the metal edges on the "lite" is interesting. I'm surprised they went with full metal instead of just 3/4 metal.

Red Pine, are you in North America? I'm not sure this ski is even available here.

[12gaugesage]

First, Fischer appears to be removing skis from their website as they sell out, so you can't see what they have in their catalogue. Does anyone have a work-around for this? (fischer website = dumb)

Second, I bought a pair of Powers (SAME dimensions, NO edges, NO "lite") last year on super sale over the summer. Twin Skin version, 204cm. I got them for icy track skiing here in NH. So far, only one day due to miserable conditions, but they were awesome! There is definitely something to getting a dedicated track ski for the track. The Efficient Forward thing is actually a thing. The skis were smooth and fast and I felt like I was skiing on springs. Cool feeling for sure. I will say, as Red Pine mentions, they are totally useless off the groomed tracks. A super soft tail collapses immediately in any soft snow. Hardpack only. But damn! The addition of the metal edges on the "lite" is interesting. I'm surprised they went with full metal instead of just 3/4 metal.

Red Pine, are you in North America? I'm not sure this ski is even available here.

Think its an older ski, different than the Power EF twin skin. Maybe this one from '07:
https://www.skionline.eu/ski-equipment/ ... n,106.html

They would be a great basement/consignment shop find.

Fischer does seem to like to deprive us in the states though, they make an e89 twin skin that intrigues me, but doesn't show in the US catalog....

[12gaugesage]

P.S. Cool to hear the EF thing is legit, I almost bought the power ef's last season on clearance just out of curiosity