About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard, which I tested for one day in March of 2022.

My take

The new Jones Airheart 2.0 is a unique board designed for the hard-charging female who has a very freestyle flair. This board is not for a beginner, but is designed for a high-intermediate or advanced rider who likes to go fast and get lots of air.

About the snowboard I tested

• Model: Jones Airheart 2.0 2023
• Size: 149cm

About me

• Height: 5’7”
• Weight: 130lbs
• Experience: 23 years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I tested this: March 2022
• Days tested: 1
• Mount position: +15, -15
• Boots: Ride Sage
• Boot Size: 9
• Bindings: Now Brigada
• Where I’ve used it: Washington
• Terrain: Groomers, park, trees, uneven terrain

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a higher-end freestyle board. I am not much into jibbing and doing boxes and rails, so I was focusing more on boards that were really fun to do jumps on, but could also ride the whole mountain well.

Why I chose to test this board

In general, Jones makes big mountain boards, so when I saw a freestyle-oriented board come out of this company, I was extremely intrigued. I haven’t ever ridden a board quite like this that combines a stiff core to optimize control with a lightweight pop for a freestyle flair. I looked at a few other freestyle boards like the Yes Rival and the GNU Ladies Choice, but neither of these was quite the same as the Airheart 2.0.

What I love about it

• Speed: This board is an interesting mix to me of being fairly stiff for a freestyle oriented board, but extremely lightweight. I think it is the lightest board I possibly have ever ridden, which is awesome, but it took a little getting used to in order to trust it at high speeds. Once I got the feel of it, it did slice through carves and go fast, but initially it felt a little hard to trust.
• Edge hold: This board features Traction Tech 3.0 edges like most Jones boards. This is not quite the same as Magne-Traction edges, but it does provide three small bumps along the toe and heel edge that really dig in and provide great edge hold. I rode this even on fairly icy groomers and I didn’t have any problems skidding out of my turns; the edge hold was solid.
• Turns: I felt like this board was much better at larger turns than smaller turns. It features a progressive sidecut, which seemed to make larger carves feel effortless and easy to transition between. I was able to make quicker turns too, but it definitely felt like more effort had to be put in for quick turns.
• Groomers: It really does feel like a razor with its lightweight design and sharp ability to carve. Once I got used to it, the thin design was really fun to make big swooping carves on the groomed runs, and of course, hit any sidehits I could find.
• Powder: I didn’t get to test this board on a powder day, unfortunately. It is a directional twin with a blunt nose, however, so I would expect it to be better in powder than most freestyle-oriented boards. The 3D bevel on other Jones boards helps cut through powder too, and I would expect the same from the Airheart 2.0.
• Park: I think this board really shines doing airs in the park. It is definitely possible to jib and butter, but it does much better at bigger airs. The V-core that Jones uses is a bit softer between the feet and then stiffer at the tip and tail, which makes it very maneuverable and easy to set up jumps while offering extreme pop for take-offs and stability for landings. I didn’t get to try this in the halfpipe, but I would guess it would also be really fun in the halfpipe as well. I also found this board to be really lightweight, so it felt easy to maneuver in the air as well.
• Weight: This board honestly felt shockingly lightweight when I first got on it. It felt razor thin while still having a lot of pop and the ability to slice through the snow making big carves.
• Switch riding: This board is a directional twin, so it is not as ideal for switch as a true twin would be, but it’s perfectly capable of landing big airs switch and then coming out of it.
• Stability: This board is so unique; it has amazing pop and the more I put into it, the more I get. Being that it feels fairly thin and lightweight, I found it a little chattery over uneven icy terrain, but on groomers, it felt pretty damp and locked in. It is a little stiff for buttering, but definitely possible.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Trees: I found this board to make larger turns better than sharper turns, so this wasn’t my favorite board to ride in trees. It does have a slightly loose feel, so it isn’t impossible to turn quickly by any means, but I have ridden a lot of boards I like better in tight trees.
• Moguls: This is not my favorite board in moguls unless I am playfully riding over the moguls and jumping and spinning. The design isn’t my favorite for short, quick turns, and it is a little too stiff and poppy to maneuver through moguls properly. I found the board always wanting to catch air instead.
• Backcountry: I have talked to some people who feel that this board would be great in the backcountry, but personally it would not be my top choice. Overall I really enjoyed this board on fast groomers and jumps, but I didn’t love it in trees or over uneven terrain and chunder, so to take it into the backcountry where the terrain is more versatile and constantly changing, I would feel a little nervous. Jones makes so many great backcountry boards, but I don’t think that is the purpose of this one.
• Durability: Despite loving their designs, one of my biggest complaints with Jones is their topsheet. This was no different, and after a few runs I set the Airheart up against the metal rack outside the bathrooms and it slid a few inches and dinged the topsheet. It barely even hit. I don’t own this board to know how it looks after many days, but I was disappointed it dinged so easily.

Favorite moment with this gear

I think my favorite moment with this board was going through the park and hitting jump after jump. It felt so lightweight in the air and easy to control, and the great edge hold helps to immediately correct any problem with a landing so that I’m ready for the next jump. The stiffer feel offered a ton of pop as well, so it was easy to get high. I got to ride this board into the evening for some night skiing as well, which is always adventurous feeling and fun.

Value for the money vs. other options

This is one of the more unique boards that I have ever ridden, so if it fits one’s preferences, I think it is definitely worth the money. As far as price point, it sits right in the middle of the Yes Rival and the GNU Ladies Choice. But the Airheart 2.0 is a little more aimed at speed and carving than these other park boards, which makes it a bit special.

Final verdict

This lightweight board could be perfect for an advanced female rider looking for a top-of-the-line board for big airs and still carves hard. It provides amazing stability and pop on jumps and can slay the whole mountain as well. If I was looking for more of a park board, I’d size slightly down; and if I was going to be doing a bit more all-mountain riding, I would ride it a little longer.