Transalp 86 CTI review

Overview

The Fischer Transalp 86 CTI is an uphill-oriented 86 mm touring ski aimed at fit ski-mountaineers who want a single chassis for fast ascents and confident descents on firm and mixed snow. The CTI platform combines an Air Tec Ultra Light Woodcore, carbon stringers and a Shaped Ti insert (a sculpted titanal layer rather than a full sheet) in a sandwich sidewall construction. It comes in 155, 162, 169, 176 and 183 cm; at 169 cm Fischer lists 116/86/104 mm, a 20 m radius and 1190 g per ski.

On-snow performance

Fischer's Tour Rocker shortens the contact length for easier turn initiation, while the 86 mm waist and Shaped Ti insert give the Transalp 86 CTI a precise feel on hardpack and corn — it rolls onto edge directly, with the Shaped Ti insert quieting the ride compared with all-carbon lightweight tour skis. The 21 m radius at 176 cm (20 m at 169 cm) sits at the longer end of the tour-86 segment, favouring stability at speed and committed long-radius arcs over slow-speed pivots. With 86 mm underfoot, soft-snow float is intentionally limited; this is a ski tuned for tracks, refrozen surfaces, and predictable couloir-side carving rather than deep days.

Construction & specs explained

The Transalp 86 CTI runs an Ultra Light Woodcore (with an Air Tec milling pattern that Fischer says cuts core weight by 25% without losing flex or torsional stability), carbon stringers for longitudinal stiffness, and Shaped Ti Technology — a titanal insert with sculpted geometry that adds dampness only where it pays back, rather than across the full ski. Sandwich Sidewall Construction pairs the wood core with ABS sidewalls for balanced flex and rebound, and a sintered base holds wax for long traverses. Profile: Tour Rocker, which Fischer says shortens the contact length for easier turn initiation. Factory edge angles are 87° side (3° bevel) / 1° base. Per-length specs from Fischer: 155 cm (114/85/101, 18 m, 1050 g), 162 cm (115/85/102, 19 m, 1110 g), 169 cm (116/86/104, 20 m, 1190 g), 176 cm (117/86/105, 21 m, 1250 g), 183 cm (118/87/105, 22 m, 1310 g). All weights are per ski.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Transalp 86 CTI fits the fit ski-mountaineer or skimo-curious skier who wants one tour ski for fast vertical days on firm snow. Within Fischer the Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Pro is the wider sibling for mixed and softer snow at a small weight penalty, and the Fischer Transalp 98 CTI is the downhill-oriented freetourer of the family. Outside Fischer, the Head Crux 87 pro offers a similar firm-snow-biased 87 mm chassis, the Movement Alp tracks 84 leans further into sport-tour with a lighter build, and the K2 Wayback 84 mens is the classic 84 mm tour benchmark for skiers who want a more forgiving, slightly damper feel.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Air Tec Ultra Light Woodcore + Shaped Ti insert balance low weight with damping.
• 1190 g at 169 cm (1250 g at 176 cm) is competitive in the firm-snow tour-86 segment.
• Sandwich sidewalls and a long-lasting sintered base suit long traverses.
• 87° side / 1° base factory edge angles deliver immediate edge bite on refrozen snow.

Cons

• Limited float on soft snow compared with wider freetourers.
• Fischer rates it for advanced and expert skiers, so it is not the easiest first touring ski.
• 21 m radius at 176 cm is longer than typical short-radius tour-86 skis.
• 86 mm waist sits below the sweet spot for mixed-snow versatility.

Verdict: A precise, uphill-oriented 86 mm tour ski for skiers who pick lines on firm snow and want a single light-but-damp chassis — choose it over the Transalp 92 CTI Pro when ascent speed and hardpack edge bite outweigh soft-snow float.