Wild Snow Review: Fischer Hannibal and Transalp 88 Skis
Wild Snow Review: Fischer Hannibal and Transalp 88 Skis
Guru legend and author of Wild Snow gave the Fischer a great review this AM for the Hannibal and Trans Alp models. To distill it, the skis are among the lightest in the business and because Fischer is the oldest established major ski manufacture in the world, and that these are the top sellers in Europe, the price is just as light.
Check out the review and then we will have our own take in the near future. But check out the 8Kpeak.com store and get going on this line. In our 25 years climbing and skiing, the technology is without question the best we have ever had.
Mark Langley
I got my Profoils and skis from 8K. Here is what I have to say about the Profoils:
Over the last 2 days I put about 13mi/20k miles on these skins in the Cascades in very wet snow, route-finding and putting in new skin track through below-treeline alpine terrain. It included a lot of downhill with skins on because we had to hack around through the trees a fair amount. I was very satisfied with them and mostly concur, with a couple of additional notes:
Note: It is important to note that the separator sheet is only about 18in/45cm long, so it is not hard to tuck into a pocket or into the stuff sack. I had the exact same thought about the color. Just about anything but clear, black, or brown would be better.
Plus Plus!: They weighed the same at the top of the pass after 7 miles of skinning in 38F/3C rain as they did when I started.
Minus: The tail hook is simple, but as I noted in my own review a short while ago, they loosen a little too easily. You can’t just set it and forget it. I had to adjust it on the tour a couple times, as well as in the morning. Maybe it is the strap either slipping or stretching when it is wet?
Plus: Part of our route included a groomed downhill road (not long enough to want to take the skins off). As I glided by (slowly), one of my partners on traditional skins said, “I’m feeling kind of jealous about now.” They also seemed less grabby, more predictable, and with relatively good control when skiing down short stretches
Needs watching: The creases in at the fold “hinges” don’t stay flat on the ski if you are not standing on them. I did not experience any bad ice buildup under the skin, but I will have to see what happens as the glue gets more worn.
Minus: I highly doubt they are re-gluable
Overall I really like them! I agree that this is an innovative product that has some real advantages. I have zero regrets taking a chance on them. My major questions are mostly about durability:
Will the folds tear or break?
How will the glue last?