Rossignol Escaper 105 Nano – Touring/Backcountry Review

Rossignol’s Escaper 105 Nano hits a sweet spot for modern backcountry skiers: light on the skin track, confident and playful on the descent. With 105 mm underfoot, tip and tail rocker, and a targeted Nano Titanal plate underfoot, it balances float and maneuverability with reassuring edge hold for a ski this light.

• Personality: lively, quick to pivot, composed enough for firm snow by touring standards.
• Turn shape: prefers medium to long arcs; pivots and slashes easily in tight trees and steeps.
• Ideal for: intermediate‑to‑advanced ski tourers seeking a powder‑leaning daily driver without carrying extra grams.

• Powder: 105 mm waist plus generous tip rocker produce easy planing. Early‑rise tail helps speed control and quick direction changes without feeling hooky.
• Tracked/chop: the underfoot Nano Titanal calms vibrations better than ultra‑light carbon builds. Still, it’s a light ski—expect less plow‑through damping than heavier freeride boards.
• Firm/hardpack: rectangular sidewalls and “Extended Sidecut” deliver solid bite for a touring layup. The 20 m radius (179 cm) rewards a bit of speed; very short, forced turns take more input than a tighter‑sidecut ski.

• Weight: around 1400 g per ski (179) keeps long climbs efficient and legs fresh.
• Swing weight: the Aero Profile makes quick kick‑turns and hop turns feel precise and low‑effort.
• Skin‑ready: V‑Skin anchors at tip and tail make skins fast, secure, and hassle‑free.

• Light Poplar core: trims mass while keeping a lively, supportive feel.
• Nano Fiberglass + Nano Titanal (0.4 mm underfoot): targeted grip and torsional support with minimal weight penalty.
• Rectangular full sidewall: direct power transfer and better edge hold on firm snow.
• Sintered HD base: durable, fast glide with good wax absorption.
• Aero Profile: reduces swing weight for quicker, more accurate steering.

• Rocker profile (tip & tail rocker / early‑rise tail): boosts float, eases turn initiation, and enables speed‑scrubbing slarves in tight or steep terrain.
• Sidecut (135‑105‑125 mm): 105 mm balances powder float with all‑round versatility; the supportive tip initiates cleanly while the slightly narrower tail releases predictably.
• Weight (≈1400 g/ski @179): efficient on the skin track; trades a bit of high‑speed damping versus heavier, metal‑laden skis.
• Turn radius (18 m @170 | 20 m @179 | 22 m @187): stable at speed with smooth, confidence‑building arcs; rocker still allows easy pivots at low speed.
• Lengths (170/179/187 cm): go shorter for tighter terrain and lower mass; go longer for more stability, float, and longer turns.

• Atomic Backland 107: surfs looser in deep snow; the Escaper 105 Nano feels more precise on edge and slightly calmer at speed.
• Salomon MTN 106 Carbon: a touch heavier and damper on the down; the Rossignol climbs lighter and feels more playful in mixed conditions.
• Blizzard Zero G 105: stiffer and more demanding on firm; the Escaper is friendlier and easier to pivot in tight spaces.
• Black Crows Corvus Freebird: charges chop better but weighs notably more; the Escaper is the better choice for long vert days.

• Tourers who prioritize low weight and powder performance but still want trustworthy edge hold on the exit.
• Skiers who like medium‑to‑long turns and a playful, pivot‑friendly feel across variable alpine snow.

Key takeaways

• Light yet capable: real touring efficiency without sacrificing downhill confidence.
• Powder‑friendly and maneuverable: easy to slash and pivot in steeps and trees.
• Less damping in rough chop: not a bulldozer for resort crud at high speed.

Q: What bindings pair well with the Escaper 105 Nano?
A: A lightweight tech binding (about 250–400 g) preserves its uphill edge. If you want more downhill support, consider a 400–600 g tech binding for added elasticity and retention.

Q: What length should I choose?
A: Around your body height fits most skiers. Size down (‑5 cm) for tighter terrain and agility; size up (+5 cm) for more stability, float, and longer arcs.

Q: Is it suitable for beginners?
A: Ambitious beginners to advanced tourers will get along well thanks to the forgiving rocker and low swing weight. True novices on hard snow may prefer a narrower, shorter‑radius ski.

The Rossignol Escaper 105 Nano is a modern, lightweight touring ski with genuine backcountry versatility. It excels in powder and variable snow, climbs effortlessly, and keeps enough edge hold for confidence on firm—trading only a bit of crud‑busting damping. If you want one touring setup that favors soft snow without compromising everyday utility, put it at the top of your list.