Editor's Note, 3 October 2026: New review, from the field notes of our snowboard crews at Whistler Blackcomb.
Our pro crew carved trenches down the Dave Murray Downhill on the Jones Howler. It rewards a rider who stays on top of it. It scores 88 out of 100 and ranks #3 in our best snowboards guide as our best Board for Carving.
Best Board for Carving
Jones Howler
Bottom Line : A big-mountain carver that locks into a trench on hardpack. It rewards a rider who stays on top of it, and under one it is superb.
Pros
- Locks into carves on hardpack
- Damp and composed at speed
- Tough base and topsheet
Cons
- Asks for a committed, forward stance
- Not a dedicated powder board
- Rides long for its size
On the Mountain
Our pro crew laid down deep, trench-digging euro-carves on the Dave Murray Downhill. On hardpack it hunts for the next turn and holds it.
It is built to last. Owners on evo and elsewhere praise the topsheet and dense base, and a GearJunkie long-term test through a low-snow, chundery season found visible scratches but no core shots.
Where It Asks Something of You
It wants commitment. James, riding with our intermediate crew, relaxed onto his back foot on his first run and the board let him know straight away. That same directional stiffness is what makes it so locked-in for a rider who stays forward.
It is not a dedicated powder board. Independent reviewers pitch it at riders who see some powder but do not want a powder specialist.
Spec Sheet vs Our Test
- High Power Camber: Locked into carves on the Dave Murray Downhill
- Directional flex: Rewards a forward stance, punishes a lazy back foot
- Traction Tech edges: Held on morning hardpack
Should You Buy the Jones Howler?
Yes, if carving is what you love and you ride with intent. One long-term reviewer found it rides noticeably longer than its stated length, so size down from your usual board for a quicker feel. Jones is adding a Howler Split for 2027 if you want to tour on it.
Strong intermediates and up who carve hardpack with a committed, forward stance.
Compare With
- Jones Flagship Pro: our best Men's Snowboard.
- Rome Ravine Pro: our best Powder Board.
- Arbor El Camino: our best All-Around Performer.
- Arbor Rain: our top Board for Kickers and Cliffs.
- Rome Women's Ravine: our best Women's Snowboard.
- Lib Tech Dynamiss: our best Women's Board for Carving.
- Jones Women's Howler: our best Women's All-Mountain Board.
- CAPiTA Space Metal Fantasy: our best Women's Freestyle Board.
- Weston Dream Machine Splitboard: our best Splitboard.
See all ten, and how we tested them, in our best snowboards of 2026/2027 guide. Heading out on two planks instead? Read our best all-mountain skis guide.
Our Testers
This review was edited by Sean Williams and tested at Whistler Blackcomb by our lead tester and snowboard crews.
- Sean Williams, Editor-in-Chief. Sean built the team of researchers and testers behind our reviews and edits every guide. His rule: we say what we actually found.
- Ryan Williams, Lead Tester. An aggressive, heavy charger on skis who hunts for steep, punishing terrain; on a snowboard, Ryan rides with our intermediate crew. He has led our field tests from Whistler Blackcomb to the shore of Lake Louise.
- James Warburton, Tester. An ex-racer on skis, James rides with our beginner to intermediate crew on a snowboard. He lives in Calgary and also tested our fat bikes at Lake Tahoe.
- Shaun, Tester. One of our pro snowboarders, aged 57.
- Tony French, Tester. One of our pro snowboarders. Tony lives in Morzine, in the French Alps.
- Ali, Tester. A pro snowboarder on our women's crew, Ali lives in Morzine, in the French Alps.
- Annie, Tester. An intermediate snowboarder on our women's crew, Annie lives in Calgary.
- Tom, Tester. Strong in bowls and glades, Tom took our powder boards into Symphony Bowl.
- Amy, Tester. Our strongest snowboarder, riding at pro level. On skis she is a progressing intermediate.
- The pro and intermediate crews. Riders from Calgary, the French Alps and beyond, who met up at Whistler to ride the same boards on the same runs.
