Review: DPS Pagoda Tour 112 RP Skis · 2023
Published on 07/19/2023 · 3 min readCurated Ski Experts share their experience with using the 2023 DPS Pagoda Tour 112 RP Skis. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.By Ski Expert
Hunter R.
6 photos
The Curated Take
4.1/5
The DPS Pagoda Tour 112 skis are excellent for advanced to expert backcountry skiers seeking lightweight, wide skis for powder days. Their carbon and wood construction offers high-speed stability without sacrificing lightness, making uphill treks faster and downhill rides floaty and playful. Despite their stiffness, which aids aggressive skiing, their wide width (112mm underfoot) hinders carving efficiency and restricts their versatility on groomers and icy days. Nonetheless, their durability and performance in deep snow make them a worthy investment for those who prioritize powder skiing.
Ideal for
- Great float in powder
- Super lightweight for uphill treks
- Very responsive
Not ideal for
- Too wide to be able to hold an edge easily
- Only handles very well in powder
- Very stiff, not great for newer skiers or intermediates
Flotation
These skis were built to float. They are wide, light, and designed to keep one on top of the snow, even on the deepest days. Though I wouldn't want these...Read more
High Speed Stability
Due to their low weight, I was hesitant about how stable these would feel over variable snow or at higher speeds. Usually, a lighter ski gets bounced around pretty easily...Read more
Carving
Though these are great for powder and can handle some crud and ice, they are definitely not great carving skis. They don't feel unstable once I'm on edge, but with...Read more
Playfulness
These are so wide that they almost feel like a surfboard. I wouldn't want to make a ton of tight turns on the Pagoda Tour 112s, but they are super...Read more
Durability
Though I only demoed these for two-ish months, I owned DPS skis before and had no durability issues with any of their products. A few times, I had accidentally skied...Read more
Turn Ease
These skis are made with a full wood core and two layers of carbon laminate on either side. This construction was designed to keep the ski lightweight and stable at...Read more
Versatility
Though the DPS Pagoda 112s can handle almost any kind of terrain and snow, they are definitely made more for powder and aren't the most versatile option if someone is...Read more
Expert Reviews of the DPS Pagoda Tour 112 RP Skis
Hunter R. The DPS Pagoda Tour 112 skis are like an absolute dream on powder days. They are mostly carbon-constructed, making them incredibly lightweight for hiking uphill. The low weight and wide waist width also allow them to float really well on deep days. I demoed these for about a month and only used them in the backcountry. I could tackle the uphill portion of tours way faster than ever before thanks to the low weight, and luckily was demoing them at a time that we were getting tons of new snow out in Utah. The only downsides to these are that their wide width doesn't allow them to be super versatile, and they are pretty stiff and need to be driven pretty hard. The 112mm waist width makes them difficult to get an edge grip with, and I wouldn't want to use them on icy days, through much crud, or over groomers. The stiffness is not much of an issue or noticeable for skiing more open areas such as bowls or faces, but they are difficult to maneuver in tight trees or narrower lines. If someone is looking for a backcountry ski for primarily deep powder days where they want to get a few backcountry laps in without getting tired from the uphills, the Pagoda Tour 112s are a great option!
Review Ratings
Flotation
5/5
Hunter R. gave 5 of 5 stars. These skis were built to float. They are wide, light, and designed to keep one on top of the snow, even on the deepest days. Though I wouldn't want these as a daily driver since they are so wide, they are a super fun option for fresh snow days. They are a great addition to someone's quiver if they tend to backcountry ski in areas that get a good amount of fresh snow days every year.
High Speed Stability
5/5
Hunter R. gave 5 of 5 stars. Due to their low weight, I was hesitant about how stable these would feel over variable snow or at higher speeds. Usually, a lighter ski gets bounced around pretty easily on anything that's not powder, and it ends up feeling a bit chattery and loose when I turn or try to control my skis. That was not the case with the Pagoda 112s. I felt very confident at high speeds on these, and I had good control over them even when skiing at higher speeds in variable snow.
Carving
3/5
Hunter R. gave 3 of 5 stars. Though these are great for powder and can handle some crud and ice, they are definitely not great carving skis. They don't feel unstable once I'm on edge, but with the 112mm underfoot width, it takes a lot of effort to get these up on edge and carve very efficiently. I wouldn't take these out if I expected to do a lot of carving or if I was going to a resort to ski. These are certainly better suited for deep days!
Playfulness
4/5
Hunter R. gave 4 of 5 stars. These are so wide that they almost feel like a surfboard. I wouldn't want to make a ton of tight turns on the Pagoda Tour 112s, but they are super fun and playful in more open areas, such as bowls or faces. How they cruise easily over the top of new snow would make them fun for any skier who likes a more playful, poppy ride.
Durability
5/5
Hunter R. gave 5 of 5 stars. Though I only demoed these for two-ish months, I owned DPS skis before and had no durability issues with any of their products. A few times, I had accidentally skied over small rocks or trees and been worried that when I got to the bottom, I would find a huge core shot taken out of my ski. I have some tiny scratches in my previous DPS skis after 3+ years of heavy use, but never anything bad enough to warrant taking them to a shop. In my previous skis, I would ski over similar small obstacles to find my edge slightly bent or a large gash taken out of the middle of my base. I am always impressed by how well DPS skis hold up, which adds to my willingness to spend more money on these skis since I know they'll last a long time.
Turn Ease
4/5
Hunter R. gave 4 of 5 stars. These skis are made with a full wood core and two layers of carbon laminate on either side. This construction was designed to keep the ski lightweight and stable at higher speeds. However, thanks to that construction, the Pagoda 112s are pretty stiff. If skiers are mainly looking for something that doesn't require them to put a ton of effort into the ski to turn and is super maneuverable through tighter areas, something with a softer flex would be ideal. The ski does respond well to more aggressive skiers thanks to its lighter weight, but it still wouldn't be my first choice if I were expecting to ski through tight trees or in narrower couloirs.
Versatility
3/5
Hunter R. gave 3 of 5 stars. Though the DPS Pagoda 112s can handle almost any kind of terrain and snow, they are definitely made more for powder and aren't the most versatile option if someone is looking for something super well-rounded to handle most of their touring days or to use as a crossover for a resort ski. I wouldn't want to ski these at a resort as they would be hard to carve on. I also wouldn't want these to be my only pair of touring skis because I go out on a lot of days when there isn't fresh snow, just as a means of getting my dog some exercise. If someone is looking for a one-quiver backcountry ski for deep days and between storm cycles, I would consider getting the slightly narrower 106 underfoot version of the Pagodas since those are more versatile.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Hunter R. My favorite day on these skis was at the end of a full week of snow storms during the deepest year on record for Utah. I went skiing with my partner and two dogs to a place I had been touring quite a few times before. There was so much snow that it was almost an entirely new experience. We skied an open face generally pretty covered with shrubs, even in the winter. This time it was totally filled in with about two new feet of untouched powder. Being on a 112 underfoot ski, I felt like I was surfing. At every turn, I was effortlessly floating over deep snow. When we got to the bottom, we even hiked back up to do the same run again. I usually don't like doing two laps while touring, but since the Pagoda 112s are so lightweight, it seemed like it would be a breeze to get back up there. It was some of the deepest snow I have ever skied in the backcountry, and I had the perfect pair of skis for it.
Why did you choose this product?
Hunter R. I chose this product to demo because I considered getting new touring skis and wanted to try something a bit wider. My previous skis are the DPS Alchemist 106, which is also a great ski but not quite as wide. We had a record winter in Utah with tons of new snow, so it seemed like a good year to demo some wider powder skis. My partner was doing some photo work for DPS, so I tagged along and asked to test the Pagoda Tours. My partner is quite a bit taller than me, so I sometimes have a hard time keeping up with his longer stride on the uphill. I liked that these were lighter weight, so they might help me make the uphills a bit quicker without the extra weight of a heavier ski.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Hunter R. There's no way around it. The DPS Pagoda Tours (and DPS skis in general) are pricy. They retail for around $1,200, whereas many other similar touring skis not made by DPS are closer to $800 at most. The price mostly stems from the high-quality technologies they incorporate to ensure this ski is light for the uphills but stable enough to handle whatever kind of snow or terrain someone runs into on the downhills. A lot of similar skis that are a bit cheaper feel slightly chattery, hard to control, or bouncy on ice, crud, or bumps. The Pagodas don't feel that way and seem like they can tackle any kind of terrain without any stability issues and still leave me with enough energy when I get to the bottom to do another lap.
While they are a particular type of ski, they are worth every penny for a specific kind of skier (someone who really values weight and is an advanced/expert skier). My previous touring skis were DPS, which were also pricey. Still, I knew that if I were to get a new pair of touring skis, I would get DPS brand skis again because they have been so fun to ski and make the uphills seem like less of a trek than if I were to be on heavier skis.
What do you love about this product?
Hunter R. These are great skis for a day of fast touring with deep powder. Thanks to the wood and carbon construction, they are incredibly lightweight, and the 112mm underfoot waist width is a dream for floating over powder. My previous touring skis were about two pounds heavier than these (the 178-length pair weighs a total of 6lbs). Though I didn't expect the two pounds to make a huge difference, I could do the uphill section of ski tours much quicker with this lighter pair of skis.
5.00
Hunter R.
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