DPS Carbon Kaizen 105 Review

From DPS comes the Carbon Kaizen 105. This versatile ski really is the all in one package for ripping the entire mountain in virtually any conditions. With a completely new shape and state of the art technology its time you try the DPS Carbon Kaizen 105.

Handling and Best Use Cases

The DPS Carbon Kaizen 105 is a truly versatile ski. With the 105mm underfoot, these skis are perfectly capable of floating on deep days while remaining nimble enough to ski moguls and carve groomers. I was able to test these skis in everything from powder to moguls to even park.

In powder the DPS Carbon Kaizen 105 floats quite well and naturally wants to stay on top of the snow. It wouldn’t be my first choice for ultra deep days, but it should work great after most storms. The Kaizen 105s felt great on groomers and could carve and hold an edge well at high speeds. Even when screaming down the mountain there was no chatter – a testament to DPS dampening technology. Because these skis are relatively stiff, expect to put in energy to initiate a hard carve.

The Kaizen 105s are quite maneuverable and felt great on highly technical terrain with harder snowpacks. These skis also handled moguls well and were easy to throw around. When it comes to crud skiing (heavy choppy snow) these skis feel stable but do not earn the title of crud buster. The skis are fairly light and not quite large enough to truly plow through crud.

Overall, the DPS Carbon Kaizen 105 would be my all mountain go to ski. A ski that can do almost anything on almost any day.

Construction

The Carbon Kaizen 105 is a newly designed ski with a completely new construction and shape. This ski comes with World Cup race bases, Rockwell 48 steel edges, binding reinforcement, and full wrap integrated sidewall for maximum durability and unparalleled glide.

The ski utilizes horizontal lamination concepts, ash wood, and special glue for maximum vibration absorption, while the full carbon laminate optimizes energy transfer. This combination results in DPS’s “most stable and energetic ski ever”. A description I have to agree with.

Specs

• Shape (179 cm)                                                                           134 / 105 / 118
• Radius                                                                                           18
• Weight (179 cm, g/ski)                                                              1800
• Lengths                                                                                         155, 163, 171, 179, 184, 189
• Est Flex (stiffness)                                                                      4 out of 5
• Rocker                                                                                           40%
• Effective Edge                                                                             60%

DPS Carbon Kaizen 105 Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Versatile for various skiing conditions
• Nimble for moguls and groomers
• Stable at high speeds on groomers

Cons:

• Not ideal for ultra deep days
• Requires energy to initiate hard carve
• Not the best for skiing through heavy choppy snow (crud)

Overall Impression

Overall, I really enjoyed riding the DPS Carbon Kaizen 105 Skis ($1,695). These skis are a wonderful all mountain ski that can do it all. If you’re looking for a single ski to meet all your needs, look no further than the DPS Carbon Kaizen 105.

Related Skis

1. Black Crows Mirus Core Skis
2. Line Bacon 108 Skis
3. Renoun Eartheart Skis