Jones Freecarver 6000s - An Honest Breakdown of How It Rides Review by The Good Ride

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The Jones Freecarver 6000s Written Review

How It Was Tested:

I borrowed the Jones Jones Freecarver 6000s for an extended demo and sent it back.

I was not paid to do this review, and it comes from an honest, objective perspective with no brand oversight.

Ethics Statement: This is a best effort at an honest, objective review to help you, the consumer.
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Size: 154
Days: 3
Conditions: Varied Late Spring Conditions with some Wet, Thick Pow
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10”, 185-190lbs). I’ve tested and compared 800+ boards
Boots: Ride Deadbolt, Bataleon Acid BOA
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Force
Redundancy: Strapins in case boots or bindings break.
Jacket: Jones Mtn Surf Anorak, Skyline Fuse Jacket, Skyline Fuse FL Jacket
Pant: Jones Mountain Surf Pant, Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant, Skyline Faze Pant, Skyline Fase FL Pant
Helmet: Smith Method, Smith Scout
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove, Drop Tahoma Mitt,

James’s Set Up: 21.5” Wide. Stance Angles +18/+3, +30/+15, +27/+9 back. Close to Reference on groomers and Set all the way back in powder.

Similar Boards We Like (but not the same):

Not many. The Freecarver 9000s if you don’t want a super across the groomer/turny sidecut.

Approximate Weight

(We don’t put in the exact weight because, with wood cores, there is no consistency in a board’s weight)

Sizing

I wasn’t sure what size to get so I asked for a 158 and 154. They only had the 154 to send.

Sizing is all about balancing what fits your boot size and your weight for how you like to ride. If your boot is too wide, you can’t turn it; if it’s too narrow, you get the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag. Your weight is a close second to boot size because it determines how the board will feel under your foot.  Height comes in a distant 3^rd. Some prefer control, so matching the boot size is the priority. Others prefer dampness over control and like to size up.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for the best carving experience. Of course, you can go bigger or smaller, but I feel this is the sweet spot.
150: 8-9
154: 9-10
158: 10-11
162: 11-12

I would stay close to the Jones’ recommended weight ranges. If it comes down to boot size or weight, I would ensure it works best for your boot size first and then your weight a close second.

Shape

The Jones Freecarver 6000s is all about a very directional shape with a mellow taper and a very short nose/tail. The board is designed to utilize a long sidecut for as much board on snow as possible.

Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

This Jones Freecarver 6000s doesn’t have that ultra-high camber profile of the Freecarver 9000s I tried last year, but it could be that it’s just a demo, and the average camber height of production models is much higher. It is a lot of camber, and it is almost the entire board length. Even with a little spoon tech/lifted sides, it still makes for a very technical/locked-in experience that is best for experts or committed advanced snowboarders.

I got a few pics from some readers here and thanks to Mark and Ole, I found the camber is as I hoped, and much higher in production than the demo I had.

Edge Hold

All this camber combined with the mellow disruption of the sidecut

Flex Personality

The Jones Freecarver 6000s  has a unique flex for a carving board. It’s not very stiff and is more on the medium side. The torsional flex is pretty mellow, too, thanks to the softer flexing point in the middle. There is really good pop, but I hope the production model has more camber and more pop.

Uneven Snow

It isn’t great in uneven snow compared to many freeride boards you can get from Jones, but it’s pretty good for a carver. I didn’t have to put the board away when it was a little soft and uneven. It does better in hard, micro-bumpy, uneven snow.

Speed

If you like going straighter and making narrower down-the-line s-carves, it would be best to get the Freecarver 9000s. Going straight isn’t hooky, but it isn’t the best option out there.

Base Glide

There is an upper-tier base glide, but I miss the older, almost all-black bases Jones used to have. They are much easier to repair. If you get clear p-tex and a p-tex gun (expensive though) you can repair this and keep it looking great.

Turning Experience/Carving

This is why you buy the Jones Freecarver 6000s. It’s not quick to initiate a turn, but when you get it on edge and commit to a turn, the tight sidecut radius speeds up the turn and springs you out. I hope the production model has the same super camber profile as the 9000s I tried. That was so springy and dynamic, but even if the 6000s camber isn’t taller in production, it was still a super satisfying carve.

Powder

The Jones Freecarver 6000s is very good for a carving board. Unlike many carving boards, you can ride in powder without hurting yourself. However, compared to all of Jones’ Freeride boards, and most in the industry, it’s well behind. It’s mainly because of all that camber and such a short nose. It feels like it’s 1/4 the length of the Hovercraft’s nose and has no early rise before it. If the camber profile turns out to be like the 9000s I tried, it will make it even more challenging. That said, you don’t get the Jones Freecarver 6000s or 9000s for pow riding, so it’s a moot point and not something you should factor into the decision-making process.

Final Thoughts

So overall, I enjoyed the Jones Freecarver 6000s. It’s a springy/fun-turning experience that matches my turny riding style.