MHD fluctuations in the solar wind have been investigated previously by use of Els¿sser variables. In this paper, we present a comparison of the spectra of Els¿sser variables in the undisturbed solar wind at 1 AU and in the ion foreshock in the front of the Earth. Both observations take place under relatively strong solar wind flow speed conditions (≈600 km s-1). In the undisturbed solar wind we find that outward propagating Alfv¿n waves dominate, as reported by other observers. In the ion foreshock the situation is more complex, with neither outward nor inward propagation dominating over the entire range investigated (1--10 mHz). Measurements of the Poynting vectors associated with the fluctuations are consistent with the Els¿sser variable analysis. These results generally support interpretations of the Els¿sser variables which have been made based strictly on solar wind data and provide additional insight into the nature of the ion foreshock turbulence. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1994