Race-Bred, Resort-Ready: The Best Carving Ski of 2026

The Fischer RC4 Noize brings World Cup precision to the masses—without the unforgiving race flex.

Man in red jacket carving down groomed ski slope

(Photo: Keri Bascetta)

Published September 26, 2025 10:00AM

Fischer’s RC4 line has defined the brand’s racing heritage for decades, delivering the speed, precision, and edge hold that Austrian-engineered skis are known for. At our 2025 SKI Test in Big Sky, Montana, the newest addition—the RC4 Noize—proved it lives up to that legacy. Testers named it the best carving ski of the year in a crowded field of high-performance carving specialists.

Fischer RC4 Noize carving ski — (Photo: Courtesy Fischer)

Best in Test: Fischer RC4 Noize

$1,400 with binding at Ski Town Allstars

$1,399 with binding at Colorado Discount Skis

Lengths: 168, 173, 178, 183 cm
Dimensions: 112-66-101 mm

Pros and Cons
⊕ Powerful
⊕ Balanced
⊗ Needs a strong pilot
⊗ Slalom turns are not its forte

Fischer RC4 Noize: Race Technology for Mere Mortals

A sibling to Fischer’s competition models, the RC4 Noize is positioned as a multi-radius ski and comes with Fischer’s new M-Plate, developed for the World Cup. This plate adds height underfoot for better power transfer and increased edge angles, a feature that will please expert skiers. The metal layer in the core, Fischer’s Shaped Ti, however, is shaped strategically to soften the race flex and open up accessibility to a wider range of skiers.

Man carving on Fischer RC4 Noize ski down groomed slope — Tester Chad Jakob takes the Fischer RC4 Noize for a test lap at Big Sky. (Photo: Colton Stiffler)

This versatility is what made the RC4 Noize a tester favorite. It’s a race-heritage ski that’s accessible to both strong intermediates mastering their carves and experts who can tap into the ski’s rebound energy and stability at speed. “This ski suits a fairly wide range of upper abilities—from aggressive East or West Coasters looking for a dependable carving ski, skiers looking for a beer league GS ski, or experts wanting to tap into the ski’s energy without having to work too hard,” said Nick Loomans, a Utah-based expert tester and former racer. “Just know it’s not for the lighthearted.”

Vibration-Free Performance: Noize Control Technology

Fischer’s engineers built the RC4 Noize around their new Noize Control Technology, inspired by music. Think of a guitar string: pluck it, and vibrations create soundwaves. Similar vibrations are transferred to a ski that travels through snow. Now imagine 3D-printed mini metal particles under the ski’s topsheet, running tip to tail, that absorb and “tune” those vibrations as the ski moves down the slope. The result? “Vibrations are non-existent,” said tester Chad Jacob, a race coach based in New York. “This is a very strong, balanced ski that will make both cruisers and high-speed skiers really happy. It just locks you into the turn and holds.”

Best for Groomers, But Capable Beyond

Though best suited for groomers and hardpack, testers pushed the RC4 Noize into refrozen snow and late-day chop with respectable results, noting that it absorbed chatter and stayed composed in crud and moguls.

Skier in soft moguls — Tester Cooper Johnson took the RC4 Noize into soft moguls in the trees and was pleasantly surprised with their stability there. (Photo: Colton Stiffler)

Not every skier will click with it. The 66-mm waist and medium-to-long radius sweet spot mean forgiveness and versatility aren’t its strengths. Even with its multi-radius design, tight turns—especially in the 183 cm length—took more effort. (Slalom fans should look at the RC4 Noize ST, with its 13-meter radius.) To confidently control the Fischer RC4 Noize, you need to already know how to carve. “The only knock is this ski needs a strong pilot,” said Canadian tester Matt Coté.

Who It’s For: Advanced Carvers Seeking Speed

Among testers, the Fischer RC4 Noize emerged as a favorite. It rewards skiers with solid fundamentals while remaining more accessible to a broader audience than a pure race ski. As more North American skiers discover the fun of piste-centric gear, especially in low-snow years, the RC4 Noize represents a compelling option: a reliable, long-turning, fast-charging frontside ski that brings race technology to a wider audience.

Fischer RC4 Noize: SKI Test Scores

Performance Criterion	Score (out of 10)
Hard-Snow Performance	8.79
Stability at Speed	9
Carving	8.79
Quickness	8.14
Responsiveness	8.36
Playfulness	6.93
Forgiveness	6.71
Versatility	6.86

Best Carving Skis Comparison

Infographic showing SKI Test scores of best carving skis — (Illustration: Tyler Hartlage)

About SKI Test

Ski testers adjusting skis at Big Sky base for 2025 SKI Test

SKI's annual gear test is a week-long affair, during which 30 industry professionals click into more than 150 pairs of skis to weed out the best from the rest. Colton Stiffler

Shot of Lone Peak at Big Sky, Montana with ski runs below

Woman in red ski suit skiing down groomed slope

Two skiers typing on phones by ski racks at ski resort base

Skiers looking up at Big Sky tram from tram station.

Each year, SKI’s editorial team conducts one of the most rigorous and trusted ski tests in the industry. At the 2025 SKI Test in Big Sky, Montana, 30 experienced skiers from across the country tested 13 carving skis in real-world resort conditions. To reduce subjectivity, all testers skied each model on the same day, in the same conditions, and submitted digital scorecards evaluating each ski across eight criteria, from hard-snow performance to playfulness to forgiveness and more. When judging the best carving skis, we place the greatest emphasis on hard-snow integrity, carving, and stability at speed—three key indicators of a top-tier carving ski. The Fischer Rc4 Noize earned consistently high marks across all categories, especially these three. Learn more about our testing methodology and scoring criteria here.

Why You Can Trust Our Reviews

Our ski reviews are the result of the largest, most rigorous on-snow test in the industry. We never charge brands to participate and don’t guarantee coverage—our annual SKI Test is a fully independent editorial project designed to deliver objective, in-depth reviews. Our 30 expert testers include ski instructors, ski patrollers, ski shop owners, hardgoods buyers, ski technicians, and race and freeride coaches. We handpick this crew for their professional expertise and intentionally include a range of body types, ages, and home mountains to reflect the broader ski community. Bottom line: There’s no pay-to-play here—just honest feedback from people who know skis.

More from the 2026 Winter Gear Guide

The Best Women’s Carving Skis
The Best All-Mountain Skis
The Best Frontside Skis

Krista Crabtree

Krista Crabtree grew up in New Hampshire skiing every winter weekend with her family. After racing NASTAR at age 5, she was hooked on racing. Crabtree raced for Bates College in Maine and was also on the tennis and waterski teams. She graduated with a B.A. in English and a Concentration in Creative Writing. While at Bates, Crabtree got her Level 100 USSA coaches’ certification. After college, Crabtree coached at Ski Club Vail in Vail, Colorado, and taught at Vail Valley Ski Academy. She later moved to Boulder to attend graduate school at the University of Colorado, receiving a M.A. in Creative Writing. She coached at Eldora Mountain Resort and joined SKI Magazine as an intern. The internship turned into full-time job as an editor, where she covered style, instruction and gear. She was also the women’s ski test director and a boot tester for the magazine. Concurrently, she joined PSIA-AASI and got her Level I cert. She later received her PSIA Level II and Children’s Specialist II certifications. Over the past two decades, Crabtree launched a freelance writing career, writing for publications such as SKI, Outside, NSAA Journal, and 32 Degrees. She started She Skis Women’s Ski Testing Clinics in Vail, the first ever consumer-based ski testing clinic. Crabtree also organized ski tests wrote reviews for OnTheSnow.com and ran gear clinics at the PSIA-AASI Women’s Summit. She’s the author of two children’s books, Being Stellar, about snow crystals, and Greening Up, about wildland fires. Along with testing skis and writing reviews for SKI/Outside, Crabtree currently runs the women’s program at Eldora Mountain Resort, coaches for Vail’s Her Turn clinics, organizes women’s ski clinics such as the Silverton Women’s Big Mountain Weekend, and coaches for the Eldora Mountain Ski Team and the Nederland High School Ski Team. She enjoys skiing with her husband Ed and their daughter, Trinity.

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