It would be interesting to hear comments/do a test on the PM Lahasa Pow in the context of similar skis. I’ve never seen a peep out of you guys. Is there a personality conflict?
I must say that your reports are the best in the biz.– Actually the only reports/reviews in the biz worth reading!
Hi, Richard – from a design standpoint, the Lhasa Pow and the Lotus 138 have very little in common, other than they’re both pow skis, of course.
But we were supposed to review several skis from PM Gear to review this past winter, but we never received them. So perhaps this coming season?
Hi! Do you’ve any experience with K2 Powabunga 136? I think this 2 pair of skis could be the same, but K2 price is only $300
Hi Richard, Thanks for reading and for the kind words. I have no experience at all with PM Gear skis and have never even held a pair in my hands. I have an open mind to all of the ski makers out there and would be excited to give anything a try.
I’ve a pair of 186 Lahasa’s that I acquired used & put about 30 days on. Ultra-light for the size of the ski, and a step up from my old Watea 101’s and the DP112’s i demoed. But there are so many different constructions and shapes out there now that my limited sample gives little basis for comparison.
I like the combination of a relatively stiff ski with a early rise bullet nose for charging through crap, and the semi-pintail and light weight makes it very maneuverable in tight trees and deep pow.
Paul, nice review. I would like to see a detailed comparison to the Praxis PB and the 138 if you ever find the time. Thanks for this one!
Thanks Dane! I did my best to provide comparison with the Powder Board in this review but I’m happy to answer any questions you have based on my time on the skis. Is there anything in particular you were wondering about?
Paul,
Would the Lotus 138’s work well for tree skiing in areas like Niseko, Japan?
What other DPS ski would work well for the Niseko trees?
Also, can you recommend a Japanese resort that has accessible and plentiful bowl type skiing?
Thanks,
Clay
Hi Clay, the Lotus 138 would be my first choice for a trip to Japan and it was, indeed, the ski I took last year. I have never been to Niseko but it was super fun in tight steep trees and open, alpine terrain around Hakuba. Re: other DPS skis. Depending on your taste in skis the Lotus 120 spoon could also be an awesome choice especially if you’re into more traditional shapes. The Spoon 138’s might be a great successor to the old 138. Personally, if I make another trip to Japan I’d love to have the Spoons with me but have no experience with them yet. Regarding ski areas in Japan, I’d check out the Blister reports from last year’s trip to the Niseko area. Happy pow skiing!
Clay,
I skied in Niseko for two weeks in January 2013, and I was on the DPS 112RP at 178cm and Dynafit bindings and skied with Dynafit ZZero carbon boots. I’m 5’5″ and 140 lbs and I thought that the ski was great for the powder and everything else.
It was very cold there, about 5 degrees Fahrenheit. But it is still a Maritime snowpack, just like Valdez, so the snow is cold, but still high in water content and sticky. That is what makes the amazing pillows of snow.
I saw lots of DPS skis there, and many tele markers. And I even ran into the Australian DPS rep there. But I don’t think you need a super fat ski. If you stick to the resorts, the pow gets skied out quickly, so a ski that can also do the skied out stuff makes for a better day.
A question on sizing.
I’m 5’10” 180 lbs. Competent advanced to expert skier, but not rad by any means. I ski fast in good snow, but dial it back in variable conditions. Only small airs here and there.
Looking for a pow ski that is a bit different. Right now I have 184 112 Wailer RPs mounted tech that I use for pow touring. I have some 186 Volkl Ones mounted alpine that I use at the resort for fresh snow. Happy with both (and keeping both), just looking to try something different.
I was thinking of adding a 138 to the quiver. It is sufficiently different from the above 2 skis that I don’t think there would be too much overlap.
It will mostly be used for touring, as I think that’s the best way to get reliable fresh/untracked. Most of my skiing is touring nowadays (80-90%). But also would be used for any mechanized skiing (cat, sled) that I might do in the future, although nothing specific planned in this realm.
I think I’d mount Beast 14s to use both touring and mechanized use. Scarpa Freedom SLs for my boot.
I don’t feel like the 184 112s or 186 Ones are too short. I prefer skis around 180 for touring, maybe a little longer for resort pow, but I’ve never skied anything longer than a 187. I’ve never really felt like I’ve needed a longer ski, but maybe I don’t know what I’m missing. Especially for touring I prefer a shorter ski for tight spots, kick turns, less weight, bushwacking, etc.
I was leaning towards a 182 lotus 138 spoon. Is that crazy for someone my size? Thoughts on the sizing?
Thanks in advance.
I am currently looking for a touring setup to explore the backcountry along i70 CO and the occasional trip to Jackson Hole. The 138 lotus intrigues me due to its light weight, float, and playful yet charging style. My question is would this ski be good center-mounted (or near center mounted)? I am looking for a playful ski to bring into the backcountry to send tricks off of cliffs and booters but would love to have the float as I am on the larger side (6ft 220 lbs). I know other skis would probably be better for freestyle but I also like to charge down the fall line from time to time so the stiffness of the ski would be appreciated. Would this be a good fit or should I be looking elsewhere?
Thanks
Hey,
Excellent review, do you guys made a review about the 15/16 DPS Lotus 138 Spoon ?
It would be interesting to hear comments/do a test on the PM Lahasa Pow in the context of similar skis. I’ve never seen a peep out of you guys. Is there a personality conflict?
I must say that your reports are the best in the biz.– Actually the only reports/reviews in the biz worth reading!
Hi, Richard – from a design standpoint, the Lhasa Pow and the Lotus 138 have very little in common, other than they’re both pow skis, of course.
But we were supposed to review several skis from PM Gear to review this past winter, but we never received them. So perhaps this coming season?
Hi! Do you’ve any experience with K2 Powabunga 136? I think this 2 pair of skis could be the same, but K2 price is only $300
Hi Richard, Thanks for reading and for the kind words. I have no experience at all with PM Gear skis and have never even held a pair in my hands. I have an open mind to all of the ski makers out there and would be excited to give anything a try.
I’ve a pair of 186 Lahasa’s that I acquired used & put about 30 days on. Ultra-light for the size of the ski, and a step up from my old Watea 101’s and the DP112’s i demoed. But there are so many different constructions and shapes out there now that my limited sample gives little basis for comparison.
I like the combination of a relatively stiff ski with a early rise bullet nose for charging through crap, and the semi-pintail and light weight makes it very maneuverable in tight trees and deep pow.
Paul, nice review. I would like to see a detailed comparison to the Praxis PB and the 138 if you ever find the time. Thanks for this one!
Thanks Dane! I did my best to provide comparison with the Powder Board in this review but I’m happy to answer any questions you have based on my time on the skis. Is there anything in particular you were wondering about?
Paul,
Would the Lotus 138’s work well for tree skiing in areas like Niseko, Japan?
What other DPS ski would work well for the Niseko trees?
Also, can you recommend a Japanese resort that has accessible and plentiful bowl type skiing?
Thanks,
Clay
Hi Clay, the Lotus 138 would be my first choice for a trip to Japan and it was, indeed, the ski I took last year. I have never been to Niseko but it was super fun in tight steep trees and open, alpine terrain around Hakuba. Re: other DPS skis. Depending on your taste in skis the Lotus 120 spoon could also be an awesome choice especially if you’re into more traditional shapes. The Spoon 138’s might be a great successor to the old 138. Personally, if I make another trip to Japan I’d love to have the Spoons with me but have no experience with them yet. Regarding ski areas in Japan, I’d check out the Blister reports from last year’s trip to the Niseko area. Happy pow skiing!
Clay,
I skied in Niseko for two weeks in January 2013, and I was on the DPS 112RP at 178cm and Dynafit bindings and skied with Dynafit ZZero carbon boots. I’m 5’5″ and 140 lbs and I thought that the ski was great for the powder and everything else.
It was very cold there, about 5 degrees Fahrenheit. But it is still a Maritime snowpack, just like Valdez, so the snow is cold, but still high in water content and sticky. That is what makes the amazing pillows of snow.
I saw lots of DPS skis there, and many tele markers. And I even ran into the Australian DPS rep there. But I don’t think you need a super fat ski. If you stick to the resorts, the pow gets skied out quickly, so a ski that can also do the skied out stuff makes for a better day.
A question on sizing.
I’m 5’10” 180 lbs. Competent advanced to expert skier, but not rad by any means. I ski fast in good snow, but dial it back in variable conditions. Only small airs here and there.
Looking for a pow ski that is a bit different. Right now I have 184 112 Wailer RPs mounted tech that I use for pow touring. I have some 186 Volkl Ones mounted alpine that I use at the resort for fresh snow. Happy with both (and keeping both), just looking to try something different.
I was thinking of adding a 138 to the quiver. It is sufficiently different from the above 2 skis that I don’t think there would be too much overlap.
It will mostly be used for touring, as I think that’s the best way to get reliable fresh/untracked. Most of my skiing is touring nowadays (80-90%). But also would be used for any mechanized skiing (cat, sled) that I might do in the future, although nothing specific planned in this realm.
I think I’d mount Beast 14s to use both touring and mechanized use. Scarpa Freedom SLs for my boot.
I don’t feel like the 184 112s or 186 Ones are too short. I prefer skis around 180 for touring, maybe a little longer for resort pow, but I’ve never skied anything longer than a 187. I’ve never really felt like I’ve needed a longer ski, but maybe I don’t know what I’m missing. Especially for touring I prefer a shorter ski for tight spots, kick turns, less weight, bushwacking, etc.
I was leaning towards a 182 lotus 138 spoon. Is that crazy for someone my size? Thoughts on the sizing?
Thanks in advance.
I am currently looking for a touring setup to explore the backcountry along i70 CO and the occasional trip to Jackson Hole. The 138 lotus intrigues me due to its light weight, float, and playful yet charging style. My question is would this ski be good center-mounted (or near center mounted)? I am looking for a playful ski to bring into the backcountry to send tricks off of cliffs and booters but would love to have the float as I am on the larger side (6ft 220 lbs). I know other skis would probably be better for freestyle but I also like to charge down the fall line from time to time so the stiffness of the ski would be appreciated. Would this be a good fit or should I be looking elsewhere?
Thanks
Hey,
Excellent review, do you guys made a review about the 15/16 DPS Lotus 138 Spoon ?
Thanks in advance.