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DPS Kaizen 112

By PTO Team, Shop Staff · Spec review + backcountry demo on this ski · Mt. Hood backcountry, OR

Carving4Park2Playful.7Forgive.7Stabili.7Powder9
Carving4
Park2
Playfulness7
Forgiveness7
Stability7
Powder9

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.