Jones Flagship 2025 Review vs. Flagship Pro

[@Goststriker]

Glad I bought my flagship when I did. Really do love the darker wooden top sheet.

[@mikemackenzie3305]

Same here. When I saw this year's in the spring I found one of last years

[@jb-zr7nw]

A huge thanks to James and team for the best snowboard reviews around!!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks for taking the time to write this!

[@RobertoVillaLobby]

Love your channel. Always so thorough and clear. My go-to for final decisions 😉

[@thegoodridesnow]

Many thanks!

[@willfredtk]

Maybe I'll get a jones for my next board I like the light wood base though!

[@migg8130]

I’m riding the 161 solid Jones Flagship. For my Jones Solution (which is basically a split version of the Jones Flagship) I’m riding the 164. More stable for bigger lines and a little more float for when it gets deep. As with a splitboard you encounter a lot of different types of snow. Mostly the Jones Solution is the go to split for most of my touring days. I took the 161 solid because to be honest most of the times I ride it on groomers. A little less freeriding with that one. Only some lift access freeriding or when I get the opportunity to go cat boarding. That’s when the powder stance or set back stance is the go to option and that’s awesome on the solid 161. Great board and probably one of the best freeride boards out there… at least for me. Thanks for the review

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks for your take!

[@thomasgebhard3332]

As always a top notch review!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Many thanks!

[@Sparksnorthern]

James hope youre doing well; hmgreat to see the uptick in yiur content and rest of the yt community. Snow will be back before we know it! 🙏

[@thegoodridesnow]

Many thannks!

[@jb-zr7nw]

I love my Rossi XV and have no complaints. Always wanted to add a Jones board, but I'm not sure if the flagship is different enough, or just more of the same.

[@thegoodridesnow]

Different in the fact the XV turns a much tigher radius turn and this likes to go straight/fast more and has a faster base but both are similar in shape, camber and where/when you would ride em.

[@Simon_E]

Graphics are clean

[@Jrich509]

How does the flagship or flagship pro compare to the Alchemist? Obviously jones based are better but curious about the ride. I’m a board hoarder and these videos are only contributing to my addiction. Love the content and glad to see new gear videos rolling out!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks! The Alchemist is a very good board. I would say the bases are faster with the Flagship, but you get more pop out of the Alchemist. The Flagship Pro has a little more pop, is stiffer and has a faster base. Both Flagships can set back more in powder, and the spoon nose makes the turning experience a little better. There is a lot of overlap between these 3 boards, so if you have one, you probably don't need another unless your quiver is really big and you just want to try boards.

[@dayvid589]

Stance width is the one thing I dont like about jones boards; although, I like a narrow stance, I put my bindings as close together as I can get them. I dont understand why the reference stance is so wide on boards that are not intended for freestyle.

[@brianp9268]

Jeremy rides a pretty narrow stance too. One of their reps said it was a factory thing but i don’t understand how that makes sense.

[@The-Man-On-The-Mountain]

Agree. I am 176 cm (don't know in feet sorry) and I like 48 cm as much. But it happens in many brands. Last board I bought is the Nitro Santoku, 159 because it's the equivalent to a regular 156, and I had a problem with the stance, because I have more angle in the front foot, so I have to set the stance a bit back to prevent from having more tail than nose when on my toe edge, so I had to widen my stance for that board. Wasn't very dramatic, like 50 cm instead of the 48 I like, but annoying till you adapt, and still, not optimal. I miss more inserts in general in all boards.

[@Sparksnorthern]

Wouldn't wider be better if you're looking for overall stability, especially if you're dropping in on stuff? Especially if you're going really fast free riding, I would think that wider would be better to generate leverage over the board. Plus the boards are meant to be ridden in a longer size. Harder to manipulate a long board with a narrow stance. Don't mean to come across disagreeable, but this is what I figure goes into the design because they are unique in that they're pretty narrow for their length

[@thegoodridesnow]

@Sparksnorthern, that is a good question, and I'm glad you brought it up. Some like a wide stance, but most good riders, including pros, don't. They try to find a compromise between keeping it wide for balance/stability and narrow for strength and less stress on their joints. Going with a wide stance means you hit the outer part of your quads and hamstrings instead of the middle, which is much stronger. Secondly, the wider you go, the harder it is on your ankles, knees, and hips. I've been riding for longer than I care to mention. I've tried super narrow, super wide, and more middle. Super narrow was hard to balance. If I kept riding super wide, I'd be done snowboarding, as it had too much stress on my hips and knees.

[@stimmythekid]

I don't understand why the reference stance is always so wide

[@thegoodridesnow]

Me neither

[@aaalllen]

Nice review. Is the non-pro stiffness back to what the pre-2019's had?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks! I'd say stiffer. It feels more like the first Flagships from 10+ years ago but with much better construction and uneven snow performance.

[@aaalllen]

@@thegoodridesnow awesome... thanks!

[@The-Man-On-The-Mountain]

1:10 you were definitely charging there

[@MrDeVinci11]

Stiffer than the 2024? I have a 2018 Flagship. I love it in powder and on fast runs but I don't really like it in moguls and on uneven snow where it already feels too stiff. Also read some others commenting on an ironing board feel in some conditions. That's why i'm just a bit surprised they made the 2025 even stiffer...

[@thegoodridesnow]

Yes. This is made to be really stiff and your Flagship 18 was softer than this board has ever been. Slowing down and turning through moguls or messy snow is not what the Flagship was made to do and it often get's over recommended. You and the others who complained might be much happier with a different type of board like the Frontier or Mind Expander. If you want to get into it more hit me here to give me the info I need to help you much better. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@Sparksnorthern]

Saved a few hundred by getting the 24' on spring sale. Even with stiffer flex, does the 25' still feel like the same board? Same soul and spirit?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Yeah you could get the 2024 on sale and get a lot of the same ride. Only go 2025 if you like stiffer boards.

[@Sparksnorthern]

@@thegoodridesnow cool. Just a bit bummed that I missed out, but like I said, saved probably $200+

[@jonbrown9490]

Might just be me, but Jones is starting to feel more and more like Nidecker and less like Jones

[@thegoodridesnow]

In extensively comparing both lines I'm not seeing that in terms of how their boards ride. Despite Nidecker being Jones' parent company, they offer up pretty different shapes, turning experiences, and overall rides. What are you seeing that reminds you of Nidecker?

[@jonbrown9490]

@thegoodridesnow You would definitely know better than me. I've only ridden a couple of each. I guess it's, perhaps, more of a materials and aesthetic thing or maybe just that they(jones) are broadening their line with boards like the rally cat and tweaker which are going to have more overlap with other companies decks.

[@thegoodridesnow]

Ah gotcha. Yeah I can see that. I think you are right in that they are trying to have a board for everyone like Nidecker has done for decades. I think that's a good thing.

[@brianp9268]

@@jonbrown9490 What about this flagship makes you think Nidecker?