DPS Kaizen 112
By PTO Team, Shop Staff · Spec review + backcountry demo on this ski · Mt. Hood backcountry, OR
The take
“The ski that made me stop carrying two pairs into the backcountry.”
The Kaizen 112 is DPS's wide-waist touring ski — built for backcountry skiers who are going out specifically because it dumped, and who want to skin to untracked lines without carrying a 5-pound ski on each foot.
Same split core as the Kaizen 100: poplar over ash, damping glue at the bond line, full carbon laminate above and below. At 112mm underfoot, it's a powder ski. The deep tip rocker and taper give it genuine float — the 141mm tip at 189cm planes over soft snow without any effort. The lowered tail rocker profile adds edge engagement for traverses and variable descents.
Weight is the story. At ~1,867g in the 178, this is a 112mm-waist ski that weighs less than many 100mm all-mountain skis. On a long skin, that matters. DPS achieves this through carbon construction — not by cutting material out of the ski. It still has full-wrap sidewalls, Rockwell 48 edges, and a race-grade sintered base.
On firm snow, it's predictable but not its happy place. 55% effective edge is less than the Kaizen 100, and you feel the width on hardpack traverses. This is a ski for powder days and spring corn, not icy mornings.
Five lengths from 158 to 189. The 178 and 184 are the most popular for average-to-tall male skiers. Phantom base comes factory-applied.
If you tour in the Cascades and you're chasing powder, this is the ski. If you need hardpack versatility, stick with the Kaizen 100.
Bindings we'd pair with it
Mount point: DPS recommended touring mount point. Our pick: Marker Kingpin 13.
- Marker Kingpin 13Recommended
Purpose-built touring binding. Lighter than the Shift, excellent retention for a pin binding. Best match for long backcountry days.
- Shift MNC 13Resort + touring hybrid
If you occasionally ski the Kaizen 112 at the resort on powder days. Heavier, but alpine-quality downhill mode.
- Dynafit Rotation 14Ultralight touring
If weight savings on the skin track is your top priority. True tech binding with solid retention.
A touring binding is strongly recommended for the Kaizen 112. This is a backcountry ski — an alpine binding adds unnecessary weight.




