2025 DPS Pagoda Tour 105

DPS has always been at the forefront of innovative shaping and styles, so it makes perfect sense that they’d move the needle in the touring world as well. With a focus on lightweight carbon applications in the past, it’s a natural transition for the company to boost the uphill efficiency of their touring skis while keeping a lot of the downhill fun firmly intact. As a new ski for 2025, the long-winded in name DPS Carbon Pagoda Tour CFL 105 is a true backcountry weapon with powder on its mind. By borrowing from skis like the newer Kaizen with the tail shape and previous Pagodas that have a longer 18-meter turn radius, this ski has a lot going for it in terms of adventure. For the most part, and for most skiers, this will be a dedicated touring ski that blends lots of different performance attributes.

The construction of the ski is new for DPS, as they’re moving partly away from two full carbon layers. But not by much. The Pagoda Tour 105 has a paulownia wood core to start, and that wood features a nice mix of light weight and high stiffness. We’re constantly amazed at how well these skis respond to input, and that’s just with the wood core. The new wrinkle here is the implementation of a Carbon and Flax laminate to help give the ski its signature style. Carbon on its own can be pingy and harsh, so by adding flax to the mix, they’re cutting a little bit of rigidity off the top. It makes for a quieter, smoother feel in the ski, and most skiers will be on board with that. As per usual, DPS handmakes their skis in the USA, and that’s a big selling point for them.

With more of a narrow and flat tail than some of the more alpine-oriented skis in DPS’s current and former lineup, the Pagoda Tour 105 looks a lot more like the Kaizen 105 from a shape and profile perspective. We get the slightly longer 18-meter turn radius that allows for more direct skiing in the fall line while the 40% rocker profile provides plenty of flotation when soft snow is encountered. 105 is a good place to be underfoot, matching flotation with agility and putting a lot of focus on the skier and their preference of turn shape and style. The tip is rockered, but not as spoony or curved as the older Pagoda skis, or the ones that typify DPS’s outlandish style. As such, this 105 is more moderate in shape and profile, hopefully ushering in a more traditional skier style and future DPS customer.

While this ski exudes quality and precision, it also exudes a high price tag. Skiers who will ultimately settle on a Pagoda Tour 105 will likely know what they are doing and will be willing to pay for it. Price tag aside, this ski is a wonderful blend of light weight and high performance for adventurous skiers who are looking to push the boundaries of what is possible and available out there in the distant winter mountains.