Positives

  • Pretty Fast Response
  • Excellent Ankle Strap
  • Super Damp
  • Super Shock Absorbent

Negatives

  • No Boot To Binding Adjustability
  • Poor Stance Width Adjustability
  • Can Cause Arch Pressure

Summary

The Jones Apollo has no adjustability but has a really cool balance of being incredibly damp as well as very responsive. That is very hard to do.

Where To Buy

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Jones Official
Apollo
599.95 Buy it
Riding Level Advanced - Expert
Quick Release No
Manufactured in China
Canted Footbed No
Burton Channel Compatible Yes
Mini disc No
Approx. Weight Feels Light
Flex

Stiff

Boot Support

Locked In

Turn Initiation

Fast

Buttering

Medium/Hard

Binding Adjustability Poor
Stance Adjustability Poor
Comfort Great
Ratchet System Great
Shock Absorption Excellent

Where To Buy

No obligation, but these links support the site.

Snowcountry.eu
Jones Apollo 22/23
€ 599.95Buy it

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Jones Apollo Written Review Review by The Good Ride

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

How it rides and who it is for

Jones Apollo 2022 Snowboard Binding Review

How This Review Happened:  We borrowed this for an extended demo and then returned it.

Days: 3+
Riders:  James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo, Burton Ion
Insoles: Footprint Insole Technology Gamechangers,
Boards: Jones Mountain Twin,
Pant: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant, Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Swash Pant, Burton Gore-Tex Ballast Pant
Helmet: Smith Maze, Smith Vantage
Goggle: Smith IO Mag, Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Guide Glove, Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Clutch Glove, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove, Burton AK Tech Glove

Similar (but not the same) Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Falcor, Union Force, Salomon Quantum, Salomon Highlander, Now O-Drive

Weight

1.8lbs with screws and discs in. That is pretty light.

Highback Flex

The Jones Apollo has an incredibly stiff highback and it barely gives. It is pre-rotated but not enough on the front foot and it bites into the front of my medium sized calf with the 15 degree angle I had.

Adjustability

There is almost no adjustability with the Jones Apollo. This is frustrating for anyone who likes to dial out their boot to their binding and board. Conversely, it’s great for anyone who likes plug and play. All you can do is adjust the ankle straps and slide the discs towards the heel or toe side edge to center your boot on the board. No high back rotation, no gas pedal adjustability and no adjustable heel loop. If you can fit your boot centered in the binding and turn the disc to slide tip to tail there is really limited stance width adjustability.

Boot Support

These new ankle straps on the Jones Apollo have exceptional support as well as comfort. They really change the ride and feel great. You combine that with the more supportive heel loop that wraps but doesn’t pinch like the old NOW bindings used to do, you have a very supportive binding. You feel very locked in and ready for any kind of uneven terrain you will encounter. It isn’t a binding you get though if you like lots of freedom of movement.

Ratchet System

Pretty smooth and no issues here.

Turn Initiation/Response

So responsive. That was the biggest thing I noticed with the 2022 Jones Apollo vs. the 2021. It feels like a different binding and now in comparison to the NOW O-Drive and old Recon binding it feels a good bit more responsive. It was more responsive than my Union Atlas and while not being as quick as the Flux XF it is close. The topper is you still have incredible shock absorption so there isn’t a real compromise here between shock absorption and dampness like with the XF.

Flex Under Foot/Buttering

Jones Apollo Base Plate

The Jones Apollo is not a binding you get if you want your board to butter easier. The way the Kingpin tech creates contact with the board (even with softer stoppers) doesn’t make it flex easier tip to tail. Conversely, it doesn’t make the board feel dead underfoot which is a very cool thing. You just feel like you have a damper stiffer board underfoot which I really appreciated. It made the Jones Mountain Twin feel more damp.

Shock Absorption/Dampness

So this is the main reason why you buy NOW and now (pun intended) Jones bindings. All are really damp and make for an incredibly smooth ride in all conditions. You can hold your edge on a turn better with the Jones Apollo than where many other bindings might buck you out of your line. It allows for more competent higher speed turns in all conditions. The stiffer foam also protects you better than the Mercury, Meteorite and other NOW bindings’ sway bar pressure. With my Burton Ion’s and Kendo’s I barely felt it and didn’t have that fatiguing pressure on the arch of my foot. They both have medium soles. If you have a really soft sole like with the Adidas Tactical ADV’s you might still have issues but most won’t anymore.

Conclusion

So, overall, the Jones Apollo really stepped up it’s game this year. If you can get past the severely limited adjustability you have an incredibly supportive, damp, responsive ride.

 
Jones Apollo Past Reviews

2021 Jones Apollo Snowboard Binding Review

Jones Apollo 2021 Snowboard Binding Video Review Fast Forward Markers

0:00 – Intro 0:15 – Summary 1:07 – Weight 1:18 – Highback Flex 1:55 – Flex Underfoot 2:42- Shock Absorption 3:41 – Response 4:18 – Boot Support 5:13 – Sway Bar Issue 7:51 – Adjustability 9:13 – Conclusion 10:08 – Some BS and Outtakes 10:36 – About Our Review

Turn Ons/Swipe Right: Super damp and shock absorbent. Excellent ankle strap.
Turn Offs/Swipe Left: Sway Bar under the Gas Pedal can cause arch cramping and pain. Minimal adjustability.

Summary

The Jones Apollo doesn’t have much adjustability or works well with softer sole boots but it has a very damp, shock absorbent uniquely smooth ride.

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

Jones Apollo 2021 Snowboard Binding Review- How it rides and who it is for

Jones Apollo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How This Review Happened:  We borrowed this for an extended demo and then returned it.

Days:  1
Riders:  James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
InsolesFootprint Insole Technology Gamechangers
Boards:  Jones Hovercraft

Similar (but not the same) Bindings: Union Atlas FC,  Burton Genesis X, Burton Cartel X, Salomon Quantum, Now O-Drive, Now Recon.

Approximate Weight

Size Medium- 2.0 Lbs with Screws on which is on the lighter side of medium.

Highback Flex

Very stiff. Not much twist or give with the Jones Apollo.

Binding to Boot Adjustability

Almost none. with the Jones Apollo.  All you have is strap and forward lean adjustability. So if you are on the border between sizes you can’t do much to center the boot in the binding. You can slide the binding from edge to edge to center your boot on the board but not over the gas pedal on the binding.

Stance Width Adjustability

Not much happening here with the Jones Apollo either. The Disc is mainly for sliding edge to edge and not tip to tail. There isn’t a long channel either for sliding much tip to tail either.

Boot Support

The toe strap had issues keeping hold with our boots but the Jones Apollo’s ankle strap has great support and its very comfortable.

Sway Bar Issue

What isn’t uncomfortable is how the sway bar under the Jones Apollo has no plastic protection like all other bindings out there. So if you have a softer soled boot then you won’t be able to

Ratchet System

Pretty smooth and worked great without any catching on and off.

Turn Initiation/Response

So the Jones Apollo has a very smooth but not super quick response to it. It doesn’t initiate a turn as quickly as you would think for its flex. However it is so damp that it helps boards hold their edge better in the snow to power hard through turns. Especially at high speed turns.

Flex Under Foot/Buttering

Not much flex underfoot. The Jones Apollo makes the board feel more damp underfoot. So if you are into buttering this isn’t the binding for you. Even with the softer bushings. If you want a smooth damp ride this could be the bindings for you.

Shock Absorption/Dampness

This is what makes the Jones Apollo shine. The rubber bushings make this damp and the EVA foam makes it shock absorbent and cushy. Even though it is stiffer foam than most Jones/NOW bindings it still is cushy and shock absorbent in almost any kind of uneven snow you will come across.

2019 Jones Apollo Review

The Jones Apollo takes the NOW O-Drive bindings and gives it a Jones twist to the design. It’s a very stiff, super damp at speed, super shock absorbent binding that has med/fast response.  If you can get past the limited adjustability and your boot works with the footbed the Apollo can be a really good binding.

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  No one is perfect and we do make money from the “Where To Buy” links below, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

Days: 4
RidersJames
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Footprint Insole Technology Gamechangers Lite
Boards: OZ Custom WoodyJones Ultra Mountain Twin,  Yes Greats

These were also compared against the NOW Recon and Union Atlas on the YES Greats.  I only used the stiff stoppers.

Flex: Very stiff and just like the NOW O-Drive

Sizing: The size Medium fit my 8.5 Adidas Tactical ADV with true size 9 feet inside well enough.  Not sure how they will hold up with boots on the border of medium or large.

Boot Adjustability: Like NOW bindings, there are minimal ways to dial out your boot size to the Jones Apollo and that’s a bit of a bummer. If you are a plug n play type of rider you will like them but if you are like me and want to center your boot perfectly in the binding so heel/toe response is symmetrical then there aren’t many options.

Stance Width Adjustability: A full-size disc is great for stance width adjustability and the Jones Apollo has one but it doesn’t have as much of a channel in the screws as some bindings I’ve seen. Still, it’s more than most mini-discs and helps you get your stance right.

Comfort: Pretty comfortable for me and the ankle straps caused no pressure points.  Actually, they were excellent but there are little things with this kingpin design tech in the base that can cause issues for some.  The sides of the base sit up higher and can rub against bigger bulkier boots.  Also, under the foam, there is a solid plastic bridge right before the toe ramp that can cause stress on the arch of the foot if you have boots that don’t have a really strong, thick ubiquitous rubber sole across the bottom of your boot. I could feel a little strain with my Adidas Tactical ADV’s after a full day riding but the more you place the toe strap towards the snow the less you feel it.

Boot Support: Great boot support and I felt very locked in and secure with the Jones Apollo.

Turn Initiation:  Pretty fast but not the fastest bindings when it comes to a quick edge to edge transitioning when turning.  I’ve done extensive apples to apples testing with other bindings from Union, Burton, and many others to find these just med/fast instead of a fast like they are marketed.  They are the fastest in the line and are more than most riders need though but I love the smooth response edge to edge and it seems like the Jones Apollo’s response doesn’t change as boards get more demanding when turning edge to edge.

Buttering: Not super easy to butter and it felt like it made the YES Greats a little stiffer than it was with the Union Atlas.

Ratchet System: Pretty good.  Not terrible or amazing. It just worked.

Shock Absorption: This is one of the shining areas of the Jones Apollo.  With the rubber stoppers on the bottom and the thick soft EVA foam bottom, the binding felt like it could hammer through just about anything.  That combined with my Adidas Tactical ADV’s made it one super cush ride.

So all in all, like many NOW bindings, the Jones Apollo can be hit or miss depending on your boot size/design and adjustability needs but one thing stands clear it’s a pretty responsive super damp ride that could make some super happy.

 
Jones Apollo Specs

 
Jones Apollo Images

We try to get as many images of the Jones Apollo, but forgive us if they're not all there.

2022

2021

2019

Jones Apollo User Reviews

Where To Buy

No obligation, but these links support the site.

Jones Official
Apollo
599.95 Buy it
Snowcountry.eu
Jones Apollo 22/23
€ 599.95Buy it
Jones Official
Apollo
C$699.99 Buy it

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