DPS Pagoda Tour CFL 100 — Review

The DPS Pagoda Tour CFL 100 is a genuinely light all-round touring ski that refuses to give up on the descent. With a 100 mm waist, a consistent 15 m turn radius across the range and a weight of just 1415 g per ski at 179 cm, it sits in the sweet spot for skiers who want a single, versatile backcountry ski rather than a specialised uphill tool. It comes in 153, 163, 171, 179 and 184 cm lengths, so most tourers will find a size that matches their stride and skiing style.

Thanks to an aggressive tip rocker paired with camber underfoot and a moderate tail rocker, the Pagoda Tour CFL 100 floats through soft snow while still hooking up on firmer surfaces. The 15 m radius gives it a lively, quick-turning feel, and the camber underfoot means it carves and skis actively rather than washing out like some ultralight touring skis. The flax fibres woven into the carbon layup add a layer of natural damping, so the ride is calmer than the raw weight might suggest. On mixed spring snow, wind-buff and short powder shots, it feels balanced and willing.

At the heart of the ski is DPS's CFL, or Carbon-and-Flax Laminate, wrapped over a superlight Paulownia wood core. A full-wrap sidewall gives the edge solid grip and durability, and the world-cup base holds wax and glides well. The clever part is the flax: it brings natural damping to the carbon without adding the weight of a metal laminate, which is how DPS keeps the ski both quiet and light. The sidecut grows gently with length, from 129/100/114 at 153 cm to 133/100/118 at 184 cm, while the radius stays at 15 m throughout. Weights run from 1230 g at 153 cm up to 1485 g at 184 cm.

This is a ski for the tourer who values the climb but does not want to suffer on the way down. If you want one ski to cover most backcountry days, the 100 mm waist and 15 m radius make a strong one-ski quiver. Skiers chasing a similarly light carbon all-rounder should also look at the Head Crux 99 pro, while those who ski more resort laps between tours might prefer the Elan Ripstick 102. For deeper, dedicated touring in soft snow, the wider Atomic Backland 107 is worth a look, and within DPS's own range the slightly wider DPS Pagoda Tour CFL 105 trades a touch of quickness for extra float.

Pros

• Genuinely light at 1415 g per ski at 179 cm, easy on the climb.
• Camber underfoot lets it carve and ski actively on the descent.
• Flax-and-carbon layup adds natural damping without metal weight.
• Versatile 100 mm waist and 15 m radius make a capable one-ski quiver.
• Full-wrap sidewall and world-cup base for solid grip and glide.

Cons

• The light carbon-flax build is less damp and planted than heavier resort skis in chop and at speed.
• 100 mm is a compromise width on the very deepest powder days.
• Premium price sits at the top of the touring market.

Verdict: The DPS Pagoda Tour CFL 100 is a well-judged one-ski quiver for the backcountry, pairing a genuinely light build with a descent that still carves and stays lively. Accept that a light ski gives up some composure in chop and at speed, and that 100 mm is a versatile rather than a deep-day width, and you have a touring ski that earns its keep on both halves of the day.