I feel compelled to proclaim my love for Fischer E99 Crown Xtralites. I have more than a few pairs of a skis and they are all great, but my E99's are this steady trusted friend in the background, muted and quiet, but always dependable, always ready to go. I totally take them for granted. I gush over all my other skis, talk them up, "yakyakyak," but I lately realized that I avoid the fact that I put more XC miles on my modest E99 than any other. They just end up on my feet and away I go.
(How come they are now harder (almost impossible) to find in the North American market? Fischer, yo! Wake up!)
It's probably the most accessible backcountry touring XC ski for most recreational skiers with good K&G experience, the most bang for the buck. It hits all the major points somewhere squarely in the middle: price, stability, glide, grip, rocker.... They are not "the best of the best" but they do so much over a broad spectrum without major complaint. If you are on a budget and you want a traditional length classic XC ski for non-groomed snow, the E99 is it. It's an easy choice.
Yes, they are light and not super torsionally rigid in the shovel, and not everyone loves them, and it can be argued that other skis in this class are better. I won't disagree, this isn't about "best" but "most used" and whenever snow conditions are kind of weird I go for the E99, it just happens. The Offtrack Crown is excellent, the rocker is just right... It's just the ski for when you don't know the conditions before hand or or there's two inches of sleet and slush on the lake, or you want to go tap-dance some chewed up granular snowmobile trail, or you are feeling lazy and just want to ski and not think about it. The E99 rocks for this!
I bought a back-up pair late last season, 19/20 model, and I weighed them, they came within 3 grams of my older ('11/'12?) pair. 3 grams! That's Fischer Precision right there. It's a consistent product.
Sure, my Asnes Gammes are stronger. Flashier. Faster. With a more pronounced wax pocket. They are also heavier and stiffer. I love my Gammes. They are the cream of the cream, a shining beacon of what it means to be a high end ski in the E99 class. It's like a Bugatti to a Miata. If I'm going to do a long distance wilderness trip, I will bring the Gammes. But when I want to do a messy lunchtime K&G though the rolling hills in New Hampshire real quick like and it's 38degF outside and it hasn't snowed in a week... E99 Crown. They basically live in the back of my car the entire winter, I just leave them in there.
The Fischer E99 Crown just works, grinding away in the background. The E99 is the grand-daddy of the E99 class ski, a dependable ski for decades now, and it continues to be. I love you Fischer E99!
I've posted this picture before, but here are some Fischer E99 powder-8's:
EDIT TO ADD
Here is LC's review on the E99, with community discussion. He swings through many opinions over several posts and the discussion is interesting, NUANCED, and thought provoking. A worthy read on this worthy ski.
http://telemarktalk.com/viewtopic.php?f ... c74029c920
Good read
