Our 25/26 Jones Howler Snowboard Evaluation Now Out there

I took the Jones Howler by means of its paces and got here away with a fairly clear impression: this factor was damp, clean, and critically secure – particularly when issues acquired quick or messy. It wasn’t essentially the most playful or easy-going experience, however once I pushed it, it gave again in a giant method and will take no matter I might throw at it.

On this assessment, I’ll check out the  Howler as a freeride snowboard.

As per custom right here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I’ll give the  Howler a rating out of 100 (based mostly on a number of components) and see the way it compares with different freeride snowboards.

General Score

Board: Jones Howler 2026 

Worth: $699

Model: Freeride/Aggressive All-Mountain

Flex Score: Mid-stiff (4/5)

Flex Really feel on Snow: Mid-Stiff (7.5/10)

Score Rating: 88.6/100

In comparison with different Males’s Freeride Boards

Overview of the  Howler’ Specs

Try the tables for the  Howler’s specs and out there sizes.

* weight suggestions are based on the producer

Who’s the  Howler Most Suited To?

The Howler is finest suited to stronger intermediate and up riders who wish to experience with intent and desire a damp, clean, secure board that may deal with pace, crud, and tough situations very well. It’s the form of board that rewards aggressive driving — carving arduous, bombing runs, smashing by means of messy snow and stomping landings — fairly than informal cruising or playful freestyle.

It might work effectively as a freeride-leaning day by day driver for somebody who prioritizes stability, edge maintain, and composure over fast, simple maneuverability. It must also be a great possibility for riders who see a good quantity of powder however don’t essentially desire a devoted powder board.

Not one I’d advocate for rookies or extra informal intermediates. It’s not overly punishing, but it surely does take effort and doesn’t actually come alive except you’re driving it assertively.

O.ok. let’s take a extra detailed have a look at what the Howler is able to.

Demo Information

Board: Jones Howler 2026, 158cm (257mm waist width)

Date: March 5, 2025

Carving

This board actually shone once I put it on edge. I wouldn’t fairly name it elite-tier for carving, but it surely was positively up there. At slower speeds, it felt stable however not overly thrilling – however as soon as I opened it up, it got here alive.

At larger speeds, it held a carve noticeably higher than a variety of boards I’ve ridden. It felt secure, predictable, and confidence-inspiring when laying down deeper carves. I felt like I might belief it to not wash out, even when actually leaning into it.

Turning

Ease of Turning/Slashing:

It took extra effort than I might’ve appreciated to provoke turns. It wasn’t tremendous fast or slashy – it most popular a little bit of pace and dedication. After I tried to be extra informal or lazy with it, it didn’t reply as effectively. However once I rode it with a bit extra intent, it behaved higher.

Maneuverability at sluggish speeds:

At slower speeds, it felt a bit sluggish edge-to-edge. Not horrible, however positively not fast. I needed to put in some effort to maneuver it round, particularly in comparison with extra agile boards. It wasn’t one thing I’d wish to be caught driving slowly all day.

Catchiness:

There was a little bit of catch in there – particularly within the tail at slower speeds. Nothing that made it sketchy total, however sufficient that I observed it and needed to keep a bit extra dialed in.

Pace

This factor appreciated to go quick. Even when actually bombing it, it nonetheless felt composed. Stability at pace was certainly one of its greatest strengths.

It didn’t really feel twitchy or nervous – it stayed planted and clean, even when the terrain wasn’t excellent.

Uneven Terrain

Crud/Chunder:

This was one of many standout areas for the Howler. It completely crushed by means of crud. The mixture of its flex and dampness made it really feel prefer it simply absorbed the whole lot in its path.

It really felt heavier when driving than once I was carrying it, and I feel that got here all the way down to how damp and planted it felt. That “heavier” experience really feel labored in its favor right here – it didn’t get knocked round simply in any respect.

Bushes/Bumps:

In tighter terrain, it was first rate however not easy. It took some work to maneuver between bumps and bushes, particularly with out contemporary snow.

That mentioned, it might be much more enjoyable in powder-filled bushes.

Powder

Talking of that white fluffy goodness, sadly I didn’t get any vital quantities of it on the day, however from what I did experience and the way the board felt total, I’d anticipate it to carry out effectively.

It had that directional really feel, a stable platform, and a clean experience that advised it might float properly when issues acquired deeper. Even in small patches of contemporary, it felt comfy and pure. Not a devoted powder surfer, however positively succesful.

In its favor, it has a nostril noticeably longer than its tail, 8mm of taper, a ¾” (20mm) setback on efficient edge, which turns into a 2” (52mm) setback on the general size, at reference stance, due to the longer nostril. Whereas there is no such thing as a rocker within the profile it does have 3D shaping within the nostril (Jones’ Medium 3D Contour) which ought to actually assist with float.  

Jumps

This one was a little bit of a combined bag for me. However total its reluctance to wish to break its nearly magnetic maintain to the snow (which actually helped it in different areas) outweighed its extra favorable leaping traits.  

It wasn’t tremendous full of life or snappy, which made it much less enjoyable for smaller jumps and aspect hits. It felt a bit heavy within the air and took extra effort to get come out of it.

After I went larger, when there was no want to provide it impetus to get airborne and when you may set it on its path and simply go straight and regular to the launch level,  it felt much more at house. 

Pop:

The pop wasn’t simple to entry. I needed to actually load it as much as get something first rate out of it. However once I did, there was really a great quantity of whole pop there – greater than I initially anticipated.

Strategy:

Tremendous secure on strategy. It tracked effectively, even when issues had been a bit uneven. But it surely wasn’t the simplest to make fast changes.

Touchdown:

This was one other robust level. Landings felt actually stable and secure. That dampness helped take in influence, particularly on more durable snow.

Even on barely tail-heavy landings, it held up higher than I anticipated for a directional board. The tail had sufficient assist to stomp landings with out an excessive amount of concern.

Facet Hits:

Wasn’t one of the best expertise for side-hits. For getting air, it felt finest with a straight path to the take off level and with a good quantity of pace beneath it. For something the place you needed to shortly change route to discover a hit after which wish to pop effortlessly off it, it was arduous work.

Change

Not superb right here. It felt fairly directional, and that confirmed when driving change.

Transitions weren’t tremendous clean both – I observed a little bit of catch, particularly going from nostril to tail. It wasn’t unrideable change or something, but it surely positively required extra focus and didn’t really feel pure.

Spins

Spins had been doable, however not one thing this board excelled at.

It felt a bit heavy to rotate, and the dearth of easy-access pop didn’t assist. It additionally wasn’t nice taking off or touchdown change, which made spins extra work than I desire.

One optimistic was that it didn’t are inclined to wish to proceed rotating after touchdown  – however I did discover it wasn’t the simplest to finish an under-rotation after touchdown – might positively punish you for that.

Butters

Butters had been okay, however not a spotlight.

It wasn’t tremendous arduous to press, but it surely positively required extra effort than a variety of boards.

What stood out extra was the distinction between the nostril and tail – it felt a bit unbalanced, which made sure butter tips really feel much less pure.

Rotations in presses weren’t the simplest both. Needed to focus to maintain from catching an edge. Not a board I’d choose for buttering round all day – however that’s positively not what it was designed for.

General Really feel

The general really feel was semi-locked-in, bordering on secure.

It wasn’t catchy on a regular basis, but it surely wasn’t free both. It appreciated being ridden with intention and didn’t reward lazy driving.

By way of character:

• Very damp
• Very clean
• Extra aggressive than playful

It wasn’t ultra-demanding, but it surely positively leaned towards riders who wish to push their board fairly than simply cruise casually.

Rating Breakdown and Closing Verdict

Try the breakdown of the rating within the desk under.

WordPress Responsive Desk

My total impression of the Jones Howler was that it was a moist, clean, secure machine – particularly fitted to pace and tough situations.

It actually stood out once I rode it aggressively. Charging by means of crud, carving at pace, and stomping landings had been the place it felt finest.

On the flip aspect, it wasn’t essentially the most enjoyable at slower speeds, and it didn’t shine for freestyle-focused driving like butters, jibs, or spins. And whereas landings felt good for jumps, getting it off the bottom was a distinct story. It felt prefer it resisted having air between its base and the snow. It had that planted really feel that labored very well for carving, crashing by means of messy snow and stability at pace, however made issues like jumps, spins, butters and many others fairly arduous work.

If I had been on the lookout for a board to bomb runs, deal with messy snow, keep composed at pace, and one thing that might additionally excel on a powder day, this might be a robust alternative. If I needed one thing playful and easy-going, I’d look elsewhere.

For me, it felt like a “experience arduous, get rewarded” form of board—and once I did, it positively delivered.