About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the splitboard, which I purchased with my own money in August of 2021.

My take

The Jones Solution Splitboard is lightweight, stiff, fast, and a great powder float. It is made for the advanced to expert backcountry rider, but it’s also tamed-down enough for an intermediate to handle.

About the snowboard I own

• Model: 2022 Jones Solution Splitboard
• Size: 162w

About me

• Height: 6’0”
• Weight: 190 lbs
• Experience 30 years snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought these: August 2021
• Days tested: 100 days
• Mount position: 18 front, 3 rear
• Boots: 2021 Burton Tourist
• Boot Size: 11.5
• Bindings: 2020 Karakoram Straight Line
• Where I’ve used it: Oregon backcountry and some resort pow days
• Terrain: Everything you can imagine

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for the best splitboard for variable backcountry conditions. I wanted something that would excel in powder but also be able to handle the super steep and occasional ice. I was focused on downhill performance, but I knew I had to get something that would also perform in the skintrack and handle some steep and icy ridgelines with kickturns.

Why I chose this gear

Jones is the leader in the R&D department of splitboarding; Jeremy and his crew extensively test and develop top-end split gear. When the Solution adopted the 3D tech and new shape from the Flagship, I had to have it. It’s still stiff and aggressive like the previous models, but the 3D shaping in the tip and tail, along with extra rocker in the tip and taper, transformed the Solution into a pow-slaying machine with amazing float and quick turn ability. Following a ridiculous amount of research, it was down to the Solution and Weston Backwoods—both non-carbon versions. I went with the Solution due to the lighter weight, better edge hold, stability, and versatility.

What I love about it

• Speed: The Solution has the premium sintered 9900 base, which is the fastest I’ve ridden and picks up and holds speed incredibly well. It also handles speed well with the stiff flex and long camber section under the feet. I can really point this board without repercussions.
• Edge hold: The stiffer flex and long camber section under feet give it a good edge hold and the traction tech puts it over the top. The serration really cuts into and holds on ice, which is very important in the backcountry.
• Turns: This board can really turn. The taper and setback put me on the backfoot, and when in powder, the rockered nose and 3D tech lift the nose and make quick turns easy. At high speeds on the harder snow, it takes a little extra effort, but it can still get locked into a turn pretty quick and moves from edge-to-edge quickly for the kind of board it is. Great for carving when I’m on the right kind of snow.
• Groomers: Great for speed and carving up the groomers, but who’s really riding the Solution on groomers.
• Powder: Outstanding powder performance and worlds above the previous Solution models. The addition of the 3D tech in the tip and tail and a pretty good taper and setback, with extra rocker and softer flex in the tip, all work together harmoniously to make this board excel in the deep. Pretty effortless rise in the powder, and turns are easy and quick. It holds speed well in the deep snow too.
• Trees: Again, we get back to the 3D tech, taper and setback that provides quick turning that works really well in tight trees.
• Backcountry: Everything about the Solution is made for the backcountry and it really performs.
• Durability: Splitboards take a lot of beating, so some pretty good wear with use can be expected. The sintered base is really hard and strong. I made one big gouge on this board the first day I used it by hitting a rock when crossing over a secondary ridgeline. However, it didn’t reach the core on a really hard hit, so I was very impressed. The base is pretty flawless other than that after 100 days or so. There’s some light wear on the topsheet where the skins latch on, but no bad peeling and less wear than expected in the area after that much use. Other areas of the topsheet are intact and look almost new. This board has held up really well for the abuse it has taken, so I’d say durability is a major plus for the Solution.
• Weight: As light as it gets for a non-carbon split; I can really feel and appreciate the weight on the uphill and especially kickturns.
• Stability: More stable than I expected. A board with a softer nose and the rocker in the nose will inevitably pick up some chatter at high speeds and on harder snow, but that chatter is minimal and doesn’t cause an issue. The camber and stiffness underfoot really shines through and provides a lot of dampness for this board.
• Other: Pretty much all the top tech is wrapped up in the Solution, but a few things really stand out. The Karakoram ultra clips 2.0 provide a tight clamp without any wiggle. I’m not riding a split without those clips. The Quick Tension tail clip makes putting on skins a lot easier. Plus, the slot in the tail of the board is lined with the steel used in the edges, so it decreases the wear and tear that the skin clips cause on a board. And the Traction Tech on the inside edges of the board really improve grip on the ice on the uphills and provides extra traction on those sketchy traverses.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Park: This is not a park board. It’s stiff, set-back, and tapered, so it’s not ideal for park laps. There’s plenty of pop for backcountry booters and cliff drops, and it provides a good landing platform, but this board should not be seen in the park.
• Switch riding: It’s also not meant to be ridden switch. Taper, setback, and the extra rocker in the tip make riding switch hard. It’s doable if I really have to for a short distance, but not something this board excels at.

Favorite moment with this gear

There are really too many to mention, as this board will get me to the tantalizing, untouched powder fields. My favorite run was on a storm day in the backcountry that dropped about two feet of fresh pow in 24 hours. The trek up was a chore, a breaking trail with gusty winds. But everything calmed down, and the run down was pristine and I was able to lay down some really fun pow turns on a 35° open slope.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Solution is right in line with the other top splitboards: the Weston Backcountry, Burton Hometown Hero, and Venture Storm. The Solution also outperforms them, so it’s a good value in my mind.

Final verdict

The new shape and 3D tech really transformed the Jones Solution into a versatile, backcountry slayer that performs well in all aspects and has all the tech I could ever want.