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The Jones Howler sits at the top of the heap thanks to wide acclaim across multiple major gear test outlets. Engineered as a high-velocity hybrid between an aggressive freestyle board and a technical carver, the Howler caters to experienced riders who demand instant response and unwavering edge bite. It bridges the gap between park power and freeride stability, making it ideal for resort riders who treat natural terrain features and steep groomers with equal aggression. On snow, the Howler rewards a centered, athletic stance. Its aggressive camber profile provides immense energy and rebound out of turns, while subtle traction tech along the edges ensures reliable hold on scraped-off hardpack and morning ice. It tracks cleanly at high speeds without the tip flap or chatter common to softer all-mountain boards. The trade-off is rider forgiveness: the Howler is not a casual cruiser. If you relax your form or miss a landing slightly off-axis, the stiff flex and sharp contact points will punish you. Construction is premium throughout, featuring a sustainably sourced wood core reinforced with targeted stringers to maximize torsional stiffness without adding unnecessary swing weight. For riders with the skill and leg strength to drive it, the Howler turns high-speed resort laps into a clinic on precision. **Highlights** - High-camber profile delivers exceptional pop and energetic turn exits - Specialized edge profiling provides dependable grip on ice and hardpack - Stiff torsional flex maintains composure through high-speed chatter - Broad size range including dedicated wide options for larger boot sizes - Versatile shape balances directional drive with switch-riding capability **Watch-outs** - Demanding flex profile quickly tires out novice or intermediate riders - Unforgiving contact points can lead to edge catches at slow speeds
Pros
- Superb edge hold on firm snow and icy morning groomers
- Explosive snap and rebound out of carves and off jumps
- Stiff chassis eliminates high-speed tip chatter through rough chop
- Wide sizes available to accommodate larger boot profiles
Cons
- Demanding flex quickly tires out intermediate or casual riders
- Aggressive contact points can catch edges at slow speeds
- High price point around $700 limits broad appeal
Best uses
- High-speed groomer carving
- Aggressive all-mountain charging
- Steep technical terrain
- Large resort natural features
Specifications
- Price
- Around $700
- Riding Level
- Advanced to Expert
- Profile
- Directional Camber
- Flex
- Stiff
- Sizes
- 152, 155, 157W, 158, 160W, 161, 163W
- Primary Focus
- Carving and Aggressive All-Mountain
Pricing
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Best for
High-speed groomer carving, Aggressive all-mountain charging, Steep technical terrain, Large resort natural features
Where to buy the Howler
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The Jones Howler has emerged across major gear testing outlets as a benchmark deck for hard-charging riders who refuse to compromise between aggressive freestyle utility and technical carving precision. Sitting firmly in the upper price tier around $700, this board targets experienced riders who treat the entire mountain as a launchpad and expect immediate responsiveness beneath their feet. It is not engineered for casual cruising or beginner progression; it requires active intent, solid balance, and deliberate physical input. Built around a powerful camber profile and stiff torsional flex, the Howler is designed to eliminate chatter at top speeds and carve deep trenches into groomed runs or hardpack. Independent reviewers consistently highlight its blend of dampness and explosive rebound, allowing riders to maintain high velocities over choppy snow without losing edge bite. While the directional outline provides adequate drive in variable conditions, the board maintains enough balance to land switch or tackle large park features. However, its uncompromising nature means mistakes at slow speeds or lazy weight shifts can quickly result in abrupt edge catches.
Target Rider and Demands
The Howler is built specifically for advanced and expert riders who spend resort days seeking out steep lines, high speeds, and natural launch points. It bridges the gap between a locked-in carving deck and a burly freestyle platform, making it a natural fit for riders with strong fundamentals who stay actively engaged over their bindings. Beginners and casual intermediates should look elsewhere. The board requires constant awareness and deliberate edge weighting to initiate turns cleanly; relaxing posture or riding with passive legs on variable snow will quickly lead to fatigue or an unintentional edge catch. If you spend significant time hunting side hits, bombing freshly groomed corduroy, or powering through afternoon chop with an aggressive stance, the board delivers the stability and direct feedback necessary to push your speed limits.
Materials and Core Construction
Jones constructs the Howler with a durable, sustainably sourced wood core reinforced by composite stringers engineered to maximize torsional rigidity without ballooning swing weight. The internal lay-up emphasizes energy transmission directly to the contact points, giving the board its characteristic snap when loaded into an ollie or flexed mid-turn. Its sidewall design and specialized edge profiling increase mechanical grip on hard surfaces by focusing pressure along key traction points along the sidecut. The sintered base material absorbs wax readily and is built to withstand high frictional heat, ensuring the board carries speed across flat runouts and cat tracks. Throughout the construction, the emphasis is placed on dampening high-frequency vibrations rather than producing a featherweight shell, which pays dividends when charging over frozen ruts and textured snowpacks.
Carving and Edge Performance
Where the Howler separates itself from standard all-mountain decks is its behavior on edge. Multiple review outlets cite its tenacity on firm morning snow, scraped-off pistes, and outright ice. The pronounced camber profile stores energy as you lean into a carve, and the subtle edge bumps distribute pressure evenly to avoid washing out mid-turn. Turn initiation is direct and precise rather than loose or surfy; the board does not pivot lazily underneath your feet. Instead, it hooks in immediately and traces a confident arc. Coming out of a turn, the flex unloads with remarkable rebound, propelling the rider across the fall line into the next edge set. For riders who prioritize deep Euro-carves and technical edge hold over playful, forgiving skidded turns, this platform provides absolute security.
High-Speed Composure and Pop
At velocity, softer boards tend to flap at the tip and tail, degrading rider confidence when encountering abrupt terrain changes. The Howler combats this with stiff longitudinal reinforcement that keeps the chassis planted over chop, wind crust, and tracked-out powder. Independent testers note that this stiffness translates directly into massive pop off lips and roller transitions. Because the camber extends well toward the contact points, loading the tail releases a substantial upward thrust. The trade-off is that landings must be clean and calculated. There is very little room for landing off-axis or back-seat; the tail does not flex out gently to save a sloppy impact. It demands that you stomp landings flat and centered, rewarding precise air awareness with unwavering composure.
Sizing and Tuning Considerations
Jones offers the Howler in a comprehensive spread of lengths—152, 155, 158, and 161—alongside dedicated wide sizes in 157W, 160W, and 163W. Riders with boot sizes of US Men's 10.5 or larger should strongly consider the wide variations to prevent toe and heel drag during high-angle carves. Because of the board's inherent stiffness, sizing down slightly is a viable tactic for riders seeking better agility in tight tree runs or technical chutes without surrendering edge grip. From the factory, the base finish is fast, but maintaining a structured wax routine is necessary to exploit its full speed potential. For riders who find the contact points overly aggressive on firmer terrain, a slight detune around the tip and tail contact areas can soften turn transitions without undermining edge security underfoot.
Trade-offs and Market Alternatives
At roughly $700, the Howler occupies premium territory and faces strong competition from other aggressive all-mountain chargers like the Burton Custom X and the Capita Mega Merc. While the Custom X leans even harder into traditional directional stiffness, the Howler retains a more versatile freestyle attitude for switch riding and takeoff balance. Compared to the Mega Merc, which offers a slightly lighter swing weight and more forgiving tip-to-tail flex, the Howler provides superior dampening and a firmer grip on sheer ice. The primary trade-off remains accessibility. It is a fatiguing board to navigate through crowded bunny slopes or low-speed cat tracks where drifting and skidding turns are necessary. Buyers must be honest about their riding style: it is a dedicated weapon for aggressive pilots, not an everyday cruiser.
How we picked
We started with a long list of snowboards that people actually buy, cut anything that could not clear our baseline for durability and field performance, then ranked the 10 that were left against the same criteria. Rankings are editorial. No brand pays for placement, and affiliate links never move a pick up or down.
- Edge hold and stability
- Grip on firm snow and composure at speed for the intended skier level.
- Versatility across conditions
- How the ski or board handles groomers, crud and fresh snow in one day.
- Real-world durability
- How the material, stitching, or steel holds up after a season of hard use — not how it looks new.
- Performance in bad conditions
- Wind, rain, cold, and grit are the test. Anything that only works on a nice day gets marked down.
- Weight and packability
- Every ounce has to earn its place in the pack, but not at the cost of something that fails in the field.
- Ease of use
- Setup, adjustment, and maintenance with cold hands, in the dark, without the manual.
Howler — frequently asked questions
- Is the Howler worth it?
- We rank it #1 in Snowboards. The Jones Howler sits at the top of the heap thanks to wide acclaim across multiple major gear test outlets. Engineered as a high-velocity hybrid between an aggressive freestyle board and a technical carver, the Howler caters to experienced riders who demand instant response and unwavering edge bite.
- What is the Howler best for?
- Best for high-speed groomer carving, aggressive all-mountain charging, steep technical terrain and large resort natural features. Standouts: superb edge hold on firm snow and icy morning groomers and explosive snap and rebound out of carves and off jumps.
- What are the downsides of the Howler?
- Demanding flex quickly tires out intermediate or casual riders, Aggressive contact points can catch edges at slow speeds and High price point around $700 limits broad appeal.
- What are the key specs of the Howler?
- Price: Around $700 · Riding Level: Advanced to Expert · Profile: Directional Camber · Flex: Stiff · Sizes: 152, 155, 157W, 158, 160W, 161, 163W
- Target Rider and Demands — what should I know about the Howler?
- The Howler is built specifically for advanced and expert riders who spend resort days seeking out steep lines, high speeds, and natural launch points. It bridges the gap between a locked-in carving deck and a burly freestyle platform, making it a natural fit for riders with strong fundamentals who stay actively…
- Materials and Core Construction — what should I know about the Howler?
- Jones constructs the Howler with a durable, sustainably sourced wood core reinforced by composite stringers engineered to maximize torsional rigidity without ballooning swing weight. The internal lay-up emphasizes energy transmission directly to the contact points, giving the board its characteristic snap when loaded…
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