DPS Lotus Tour 117 — Review

The DPS Lotus Tour 117 is a dedicated deep-snow touring ski that takes the well-known Lotus 117 powder shape and lightens it for the backcountry. With a 117 mm waist it sits firmly in the wide-touring category, aimed at skiers who want serious float on storm days but who reach the goods on their own steam rather than on a chairlift. Offered in 171, 178 and 185 cm, it pairs a big surface area with a stable 21 m turn radius, so it floats without feeling twitchy. The construction is trimmed for the up-track: at 1,525 g per ski in the 178 cm length it is genuinely light for its width. This is a specialist tool built around one idea — carrying the Lotus 117's powder personality into terrain you have to earn.

In soft, deep snow the Lotus Tour 117 does exactly what its shape promises. The 117 mm platform and early-rise tip and tail deliver planing surface and easy flotation, so the tips stay up and the ski surfs rather than dives. The minor camber underfoot gives it a defined point of support for edge engagement on firmer transitions, while the 21 m radius keeps things stable and predictable through longer, drawn-out powder turns. The round tip and flat tail keep the shovel clear of debris and give a clean platform for skin attachment. Because it is built light, it is a pleasure to swing on kick-turns and to carry on your pack. The trade-off is honest: on wind-scoured or firm spring snow the light layup transmits more chatter and feels less damp than a heavier resort ski, and in cut-up chop the low mass can get deflected. It is happiest pointed at open, soft lines.

The Lotus Tour 117 is built on DPS's CFL — a Carbon-and-Flax Laminate — laid over a full Paulownia wood core, with full sidewall construction and a polyamide topsheet. Paulownia is one of the lightest usable core woods, and the flax in the laminate adds a measure of vibration damping that pure carbon can lack, which helps take some edge off the light build. Full sidewalls give more direct edge grip on firm patches than a cap ski. Sidecut grows with length: 138/117/124 at 171, 139/117/125 at 178 and 140/117/127 at 185 mm, all on a 21 m radius. Weights run 1,485 g (171), 1,525 g (178) and 1,630 g (185) per ski. The profile is early-rise tip and tail with minor camber underfoot.

This is a ski for committed powder tourers who want maximum float without a resort-weight penalty. If you also tour firm spring couloirs or want one ski to do everything, a narrower tool will serve you better. Cross-shop it against the Black Diamond Helio Carbon 115, a light carbon powder tourer, and the Armada Locator 112, another dedicated wide touring ski. The Faction La machine 3 is an ultralight carbon alternative. Within DPS, the DPS Lotus 117 is the heavier resort-charging version of this shape, while the DPS Pagoda Tour CFL 112 is the narrower, more all-round tourer.

Pros

• Big 117 mm float for deep-snow days.
• Genuinely light for its width at 1,525 g (178 cm).
• Stable, predictable 21 m radius in powder.
• Flax laminate adds welcome damping over pure carbon.
• Round tip and flat tail suit clean skin attachment.

Cons

• The 117 waist and soft-snow focus are wasted on firm spring tours.
• Light build is less damp and more deflectable in cut-up chop.
• A specialist, not a one-ski quiver.
• No narrow lengths for lighter skiers seeking versatility.

Verdict: The DPS Lotus Tour 117 delivers the Lotus 117 powder personality in a package light enough to earn turns for. If your goal is float-first backcountry skiing on storm days, it is a focused and rewarding choice — just pair it with something narrower for firm-snow missions.