Jones snowboards is fast becoming one of the premier snowboarding brands, particularly when it comes to all-mountain, freeride and powder boards.
The 2018 Jones Snowboards are another step in their evolution. Below, I have outlined the Jones line up for 2018 and placed them in the categories that I think they belong in.
There are a couple of new boards coming in for 2018 (Lone Wolf, Mind Expander, Dream Catcher & Dream Catcher Split).
Beginner Jones Boards
Jones don’t really do beginner boards, IMO. The closest that would come to beginner boards would be the Mountain Twin and Twin Sister.
Both these boards would be doable for beginners but not strictly beginner boards.
Jib/Street Jones Boards
There aren’t any boards in the Jones lineup that could be classified in this category, IMO.
Freestyle/Park Jones Boards
Again, there aren’t any boards in the Jones lineup that I would classify in this category.
All-Mountain-Freestyle Jones Boards
Still nothing! Told you they are more all-mountain/freeride focused.
Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle Jones Boards
Men’s
Women’s
- Jones Airheart (the Airheart is the most freestyle oriented board in the Jones line, IMO – it was new in 2017 and continues in 2018)
All-Mountain Jones Boards
Now we are getting into Jones territory.
Men’s
- Jones Mountain Twin – see full review |Top 10 All-Mountain Board
- Jones Ultra Mountain Twin
Women’s
- Jones Twin Sister – Top 6 Women’s All-Mountain Board
Aggressive All-Mountain Jones Boards
Men’s
- Jones Explorer – see full review | Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards
- Jones Aviator
- Jones Project X (was new for 2017 and returns in 2018– one of those boards that’s out of the price range for most)
Women’s
- Jones Dream Catcher | NEW FOR 2018 – seems to be very much the equivalent of the Explorer in the men’s line.
Freeride Jones Boards
Men’s
- Jones Flagship – Top 5 Freeride Board
- Jones Carbon Flagship
- Jones Lone Wolf | NEW FOR 2018
Women’s
- Jones Women’s Flagship – Top 5 Women’s Freeride Board
- Jones Women’s Solution
Powder Jones Boards
Men’s
- Jones Hovercraft
- Jones Ultracraft
- Jones Storm Chaser
- Jones Mind Expander (though this is also supposed to be a blend of freeride and freestyle)
Women’s
- Jones Women’s Hovercraft – Top 5 Women’s Freeride/Powder Board
Available as Split Boards
The following are also available as split boards. Naturally, being a backcountry focused snowboarding company, plenty of Jones boards are available as splits.
Men’s
- Jones Carbon Solution Split
- Jones Solution Split
- Jones Ultracraft Split
- Jones Hovercraft Split
- Jones Storm Chaser Split
- Jones Aviator Split
- Jones Explorer Split
Women’s
- Jones Dream Catcher Split
- Jones Women’s Solution Split
Youth Boards
- Prodigy (comes in 110, 115, 120, 130, 140)
- Discovery (comes in 132, 138, 145, 150)
- Discovery Split (comes in 138, 145)
Cool to see a Youth Board come in a split model. That’s pretty rare to see.
Thanks for reading
Hopefully this list will give you a perspective of the Jones line up for 2018.
Check out the full review links and top 10/top 5 links above to learn more. Also check out the link below for more snowboard top 10s and top 5s by category.
>>Top 5s and Top 10s by Snowboard Category
Hi Nate! I’m ready to upgrade my board. I’m an intermediate rider but I feel I’ve really progressed this season especially after spending a week in Big White exploring off piste and riding through trees. We had three powder days and it was so much fun! But I realized after the trip that my 2015 Capita Birds of a Feather isn’t the right board for me. Not really a park person. I’m looking at the Jones Dream Catcher and the Hovercraft. What’s the difference between the two? Which size would you recommend? I’m 5’2, 127 lbs., and size 7 boot. During the season I normally ride in the Pacific NW (Crystal Mountain) but I usually take a week long trip to interior BC, next year I’m doing Japan. Need a board that carves well on and off piste, through trees. I know both do well in powder. Your thoughts?
Hi Jenn
In terms of size I think something between 142 to 144 would be a good length for you.
Ideally something under 240mm at the waist would be best for your boot size (roughly 227 to 237mm at the waist). Neither of the Jones options you’ve mentioned are in this range, but the Twin Sister 143 is pretty close – and I think that would be a great length for your specs/how you describe your riding and your ability level.
You could go down to the 139 but I think that would be getting on the shorter side – though certainly doable – but since you like to ride powder and carve mostly then the 143 is going to be better in those areas. That said, it can be nice to go shorter for trees – but I think on balance, the 143 is the better size. But the other thing is, what size is your current board – what you’re riding currently is also a factor as you’re used to that. But for a board like the Twin Sister compared to the Birds of a Feather, you can certainly go up a bit in size, as the effective edge on the Birds of a Feather makes it a board that rides longer than it’s size (compared to a more all-mountain board like the Twin Sister).
Whilst, I think the Hovercraft is going to be a little better for powder and for speed, I don’t think there’s really a good size for you there. The shortest size is 146 and I think that’s getting a bit long – especially as it’s wider too. If you were just riding wide open powder faces with no trees or that sort of thing, then it would be a possibility – but to ensure you still have good agility for the trees, I think it’s getting a bit too big for you.
So, I think the 143 Twin Sister would be a good match for you, IMO – and it’s still good in powder, for carving and good at speed – and overall more versatile as well, if you were to ride switch at all or get into anything freestyle at any point.
Hope this helps
Thank you Nate. I currently ride a 144. I will check out the Twin Sister.
You’re welcome Jenn.
I still think the 143 is the best size. You could go up to the 146 but I think on balance 143 is better. You’ll be loosing a little in terms of effective edge to the Birds of a Feather (but that’s going to also make the board more agile for the trees) and dropping 1cm in overall length, but the Twin Sister is better setup for riding powder, so it even at the shorter length, it will be more effortless in terms of powder. Also, as it’s wider than the Birds of Feather 144, overall, that will also help with float.
If you’re really worried about powder, you could go up to 146, but you’d loose a bit of agility for trees (compared to both the 143 Twin Sister and the 144 Birds of a Feather). So, on balance I’d still say 143.
Hope this helps
Nate,
I just want to let you know that I ordered the 143 through my local shop and yesterday rode it for the first time at my local mountain, Crystal Mountain in WA state. Blue bird day plus fresh powder from the previous evening. Great conditions. At first I was a little cautious riding the Twin Sister kind of like driving a brand new car. After warming up,I started having a ton of fun. Easy to turn on steeps, effortless carving, floats on powder, and faster on the flat cat tracks than the Birds of a Feather! I’ll keep the Birds of a Feather for early season and when the snow is icy. Thank you for recommending this! I’m going to Whistler for a long weekend at the end of the month and I can’t wait to explore with the Twin Sister!
Jenn
Hi Jenn
Glad you’re digging the Twin Sister! Enjoy Whistler!
Hey im debating between the twin sister and dream catcher… Whats your opinion.. I ride on and off-piste, but mostly like off, glades, powder etc… But then when im on groomers, i like to ride switch sometimes as well… Would i be fine riding switch on the dream catcher?
Hi Rebecca
Thanks for your message.
I think either would do the job for what your describing. The Dream Catcher a little better for carving and at speed, but the Twin Sister isn’t bad in those areas either. The Twin Sister is a little easier for riding switch – but you could certainly still do it on the Dream Catcher. The Dream Catcher is perhaps slightly quicker edge-to-edge, which is nice to have in the trees – but not by too much.
What might be a deciding factor is size. The Dream Catcher only comes in 3 sizes, so if one of them isn’t appropriate, then the Twin Sister would be the better option.
If you know your size and you have the option of either, then I think it comes down to whether you want easier switch riding or a little more performance carving and at speed. If you’d like a size recommendation, if you could let me know your height, weight and boot size and I can recommend what I think is the best size for you.
Hope this helps