Transnordic 59 Twin Skin Xtralite

The Transnordic 59 Twin Skin Xtralite is a light steel edge ski for long backcountry days. Its narrow classic sidecut and the Twin Skin under the foot move you forward without kick wax, including when the snow has gone hard or icy.

The core is AIR TEC Steel Edge, an air channelled wood core carrying a full steel edge. The Xtralite designation means the core has been lightened without the edge being dropped, and that pairing of low weight and real edge is what makes the ski workable over a full day. The base is Sintec, finished with Speed Grinding 2.0. The grip zone runs Twin Skin Mohair Mix, with two skin strips laid offset so the kick is more secure than with a single strip. Nordic Rocker Camber lifts the shovel, keeping the tip from diving in soft snow and making the ski easier to turn once you leave the track. Sidecut measures 59 mm at the shovel, 49 mm underfoot and 55 mm at the tail, close to a classic touring profile. That delivers good glide on the flat, and the steel edge takes over as soon as the terrain tilts. Fischer rates the ski for advanced and expert skiers.

• AIR TEC Steel Edge: low weight, real edge
• Twin Skin Mohair Mix: secure waxless kick
• Nordic Rocker Camber: the tip stays up
• Sintec base: glide across a wide range
• Narrow sidecut: efficient forward travel
• Steel edge: control on the way down

This is a ski for tourers who travel well beyond groomed tracks and expect to be out all day. The weight keeps the legs fresh, the skin removes the waxing, and the edge supplies the control you need when the ground drops away.