Expert Review: Jones Dream Catcher Snowboard · 2022


All photos courtesy of Colleen Jahns
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard, which I purchased with my own money in December of 2020.
My take
The Jones Dream Catcher Snowboard is a high-quality daily driver for me. I love how it can handle all terrain, from powder and park to groomers and everything in between. I often get lots of compliments about the amazing graphics too. This board is made for more of an intermediate to advanced rider like myself. That being said, it is not really suited for beginners. I ride the 2020 version. The 2022 model has all the same features as this amazing board and similar colors but has updated mountain graphics.
Front Image
About the gear
- Model: 2020 Jones Dream Catcher
- Size: 142
About me
- Height: 5’1”
- Weight: 105 lbs
- Experience: 30 years of snowboarding/skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought this: December 2020
- Days tested: 15
- Mount position: Regular
- Boots: 2022 Women's Burton Limelight BOA® Snowboard Boots
- Boot Size: 7.5
- Bindings: 2022 Women's Burton Lexa X Re:Flex Snowboard Bindings
- Where I’ve used it: Park City, Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek
- Terrain: All mountain
How it performs
What I was looking for
I was on the hunt for a daily driver. I wanted one board to travel with, not two or three. This has become my favorite board by far. I was looking for something to handle the entire mountain from peak to resort. I also wanted something with good edge control to handle the deep pow.
Why I chose this gear
Jones is an outstanding company. They make high-quality decks at affordable prices. I have friends who ride Jones boards, and they all love them. I really did not consider many other options. I was drawn to the board based on reviews and feedback from friends. The graphics are also killer.
Back Image
What I love about it
The Dream Catcher is really just the best all-condition, all-terrain board. It truly is my favorite because it works in all conditions. It is a playful board but also very stable. For the speed, I ride and my skill level, this board has truly been a “dream” catcher.
- Speed: The board can handle speed for the advanced rider who is not extremely aggressive. But it also is great for the intermediate groomer rider. I definitely feel the speed on the groomers due to the camber in the middle of the board.
- Edge hold: Amazing edge hold on ice with its Traction Tech 2.0 edge. I got to experience this when the weather was not great in Colorado in December 2021.
- Turns: This is a quick edge-to-edge board. Making quick turns and being able to switch edges on a dime is fantastic. It is definitely a board that is ready to rip up some turns. The rocker in the tail helps initiate those turns – catch-free.
- Groomers: Dream catcher handles all groomers with ease, especially with its shape: rocker-cam-rocker. It is really easy to butter because of the rocker in the nose.
- Powder: It is a directional board and handles pow really well, especially on the West Coast. It can handle deep powder and minimal powder. It also has a solid amount of float, making it a fun board for pow days.
- Trees: This board is super easy to handle in the trees and tight turns with the rocker in the nose and tail.
- Moguls: Although I do not do a lot of riding on moguls, I can handle plenty of them with this board. I can turn it a lot, so the moguls are not too bad with this board.
- Park: The board has some pop, so it can be ridden in the park.
- Durability: This board is definitely durable. Jones makes quality products that are built to last. The Dream Catcher is built with a Sintered 8000 base, eco-plastic topsheet, and classic core – all part of the durability of a Jones product.
- Weight: This is a lightweight board compared to some others I have tested.
- Stability: This board has some pop and stability. It really has a medium stiffness. The camber in between the bindings really does help with the stability. If one is a really aggressive, hard-charging rider, they might want to take a pass on this board.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Switch riding: Not the easiest board to ride switch due to its shape, but it can still be done if needed. It is a directional board. So if someone is looking for a board to ride switch, I may recommend a true twin. I do not ride switch often, which is why I love this board so much.
Favorite moment with this gear
The Jones Dream Catcher is awesome on steeper terrain. It handles speed. I love McConkey’s Bowl in Park City with this board. I get the steepness with the double blacks and smooth riding with the board. It can especially handle the thick, fresh powder I found in the bowl.
Value for the money vs. other options
I feel this is a very affordable board for a daily driver and a board that will last a while. There are definitely less expensive boards out there and other boards that are comparable to the Jones Dream Catcher, but the pluses of this board outweigh any negatives, and it is worth the price. The Never Summer Lady West was a board I was considering for a short period until I looked at the price. It’s significantly higher than the Dream Catcher. I also looked at the Bataleon Storm, which is significantly higher than the price of the Jones Dream Catcher.
Final verdict
The Jones Dream Catcher board is a true daily driver for me. It is a top seller. The board can handle all the turns on the mountain, including steeps and powder, and it has great pop in the park. It is super easy to butter on snow. It also has a great edge hold on ice.