Jones Mind Expander Snowboard Review With Davey

Jones Mind Expander Written Review Review by The Good Ride

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Jones Mind Expander 2023-2025 Snowboard Review- How it rides and who it is for

How It Was Tested

Davey and I rode the Jones Mind Expander a lot on its own but also tested it the same day with the Cardiff Powgoda, Jones Ultra Mind Expander, and other freeride boards. We liked it so much that Davey asked to keep it (We only do this with favorites).
Size: 154 & 162
Days: 15+
Conditions: Everything from pretty deep powder to varied spring conditions. Also, some early morning slackountry time with Drift Boards
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs), Davey (Size 12, 6’4” 240lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo, Burton Ion,
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Force, Jones Christiansen bindings.
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom Guide Jacket, Burton Gore-Tex 3L Treeline Jacket, Jones Peak Bagger Jacket.
Pant: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant, Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Swash Pant, Burton Gore-Tex Ballast Pant
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Guide Glove, Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove, Burton AK Tech Glove, CG Habitats Work Glove, Drop Tahoma Mitt

Similar Boards (but not the same): Gentemstick Mantaray 156, Yes Hybrid, Lib Tech Orca, Never Summer Harpoon, Yes Hybrid, Ride Psychocandy, Korua Transition Finder, Weston Backwoods, Cardiff Powgoda, Jones Ultra Mind Expander

Set-Up:
James 21.5” Wide. Stance Angles +18/-3, +18/+3, +24/+6, Close to Reference and Set all the way back.
Davey 23” Wide. Stance Angles +18/+3, +24/+6, Close to Reference and Set all the way back.

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Approximate Weight

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

Sizing

The Jones Mind Expander didn’t fit me super well in a 154. It felt a little too small and chattery for my 185lbs. The 162 was a little small for Davey (specs above), but it worked. I think the 166 would be perfect for Davey, and the 158 would be much better for me, but I might prefer a 156 if they made one. One thing to note is the tail is pretty narrow on this so there isn’t as much width for the back foot as there is the front.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards. You can, of course, go bigger or smaller, but these work best for not turning the board slower than it should be and not having the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag.
146: 6-7
150: 7-8
154: 8-9
158: 9-10
162- 10-11
166- 11-12

For weight, I would stay close to the Jones recommended weight ranges. However, if it comes down to boot size or weight, ensure it fits your boot first and then your weight a close second.

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The tapered shape definitely likes more back foot weight, but it doesn’t feel super set back on board. It is in between traditional freeride boards that ride a little more centered and some alternative freeride boards that ride more set back towards the tail.

The new camber profile is a real change-up for the Jones Mind Expander’s old surf rocker. You now have camber going from pretty much the tail to well past the front inserts. It detracts from the float in pow but really adds a groomer dimension to this ride that wasn’t there before. You have a pretty stable ride underfoot, and the lifted sides on the spoon nose aren’t felt by groomers. Even with all this camber, it isn’t that catchy and can easily skid a turn if you get off your game. I love the consistent feel in hard snow and how the spoon nose comes into play to make the turning experience more fun in powder without throwing you off your game when it does.

Flex Personality

The flex is pretty stiff from the tail to the front inserts with the Jones Mind Expander, and it isn’t super easy to butter off the tail. The nose is medium and flexes pretty easily, but buttering off the spoon nose isn’t easy on groomers, and it slips out on ya. In powder, it does just fine. There is a lot of pop, and it feels more lively underfoot than the old surf rocker model. The Ultra Mind Expander is a little more poppy, but it is also chattery. So, it is a trade-off between the two when it comes to dampness vs. poppyness. I found that both are pretty cranky in hard, micro-bumpy, uneven snow. The Ultra is worse, though.

Speed

The base glide on the Jones Mind Expander is soo fast and also easy to repair. The Ultra is a little faster, but both are excellent shades. The Mind Expander isn’t a Hovercraft or Flagship but it can point it pretty well for how turny it is.

Edge Hold

The Jones Mind Expander has pretty good edge hold, and I felt both boards to be very competent in smooth, hard snow. In harder, bumpy snow, you have to dial back your riding, but it grips.

Turning Experience/Carving

Man, what an improvement with the new camber profile compared to the older Jones Mind Expander. I could lay into it hard, and it gave a fun spring back out of every turn. The turning experience is more on the turny side but still is pretty balanced for those who like more down-the-line turns. The new camber profile really changes up the ride.

Powder

The camber profile makes turning much more fun, but it detracts from the float vs. the old Mind Expander. The old Mind Expander had a ton of rocker well before the spoon nose and a good bit in the tail. That really made it float like a dedicated pow board. This is no longer a dedicated pow board, but it still has a very competent float and a decent set back on board of -4.125” at a 21.8” stance width for the 154, -4.125” back at a 22.8” stance width for the 162 and the same for the 166″. It took a little more work in deep powder, but it was still a pretty great float. We got everything from a few inches to over 2 feet.

Conclusion

With the Jones Mind Expander 2023-2025, you lose a little float, but you get a better all-around turning experience. This rounds out the ride and makes it a good tapered directional daily driver.