The holidays are almost here! To get your gear delivered in time for gift-giving or your upcoming shred trip, all web orders must be placed by the following dates for delivery ahead of the holidays:
We value the importance of time spent with family and friends over the holidays. Our staff will be off on the following holidays:
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Orders placed between November 26 and December 24 are eligible for returns until January 24, 2026. Please read our full Return Policy for more information.You can return an item if:
Every snowboard is shaped with a purpose, and the way it turns, floats and holds an edge comes from five fundamentals: shape, profile, flex, sidecut and width. In this guide, we explain directional and twin shapes, camber and rocker profiles, how flex levels feel on snow and how sidecut and waist width change your ride. Rider-tested insights to help you choose the board that feels right for your style and terrain.
Last updated: December 2025
The shape: defines the outline of your board and how naturally it turns. There are three major shape categories: Directional, Directional Twin and True Twin. You will also find more specific shapes like volume shifted boards and swallowtails that are tuned for deeper snow and surf style riding.
The profile: controls how the board sits on the snow and how much energy it gives back when you lean into a turn. The two most common profiles are camber and rocker, along with hybrid variations that blend both.
Sidecut, flex and width also play a big role in stability, edge hold and how quickly you can move from one edge to the other.
Every snowboard is built around a purpose of terrain, type of snow and rider. Some shapes are made to carve clean and fast. Others are tuned for freestyle, all terrain cruising or deep powder days. Matching the board shape to your riding style is the easiest way to feel more control and progress faster.
Before you dive into the different types of snowboards, start with three key questions.
Do you ride mostly forward or switch?
Do you want a playful or precise feel?
Do you ride more groomers, park, powder or a mix of everything?
Once you know that, choosing between directional, twin, camber, rocker or hybrid profiles becomes much easier.
Understanding the key specs of a snowboard helps you read a board’s personality before you even ride it. These terms describe how the board is shaped, how it engages with the snow and how it’s designed to turn, float and respond under your feet. Use this glossary to get familiar with the dimensions that define how a snowboard performs.
Length: the overall length of the snowboard mesured from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.
Contact length: the part of the snowboard that actually touches the snow when the board is weighted, not counting any camber or rocker profile. Plays a major role in stability and turn initiation.
Tip length (nose length): the length of the nose from the contact point to the tip of the board. Longer noses improve float and smooth turn entry.
Tail length: the length of the tail from the rear contact point to the end of the board. Tail length influences how the board finishes a turn and how easily it sinks in soft snow.
Traction Tech: small, strategically placed bumps along the edges that improve edge hold by increasing contact points with the snow. They add grip on firm and icy conditions.
Waist width: the narrowest point of the snowboard, located directly between the bindings. Waist width determines how quickly a board moves edge to edge and helps prevent toe and heel drag.
Reference stance: the recommended binding position where the board is designed to ride best. It's the ideal starting point for setting up your stance.
Sidecut: the arc of a snowboard's edge when viewed from above. The sidecut radius determines how easily the board turns and how tight or how long your turns feel.
Nose width: the width at the widest point of the nose. Wider noses help increase float and stability in soft snow.
Tail width: the width at the widest point of the tail. Tail width influences how the board releases from a turn and how the tail sinks in powder.
Taper: the difference between the nose width and the tail width. More taper makes the board float easier and feel more surfy in powder.
Effective edge: the length of the metal edge that engages with the snow when the board is tipped on edge. A longer effective edge increases the stability and egde hold, especially at higher speeds.
A snowboard’s shape has a major impact on how it turns, how it feels at speed and how easily it rides switch. Most modern shapes fall into three main families: directional, directional twin and true twin. Each shape offers a different balance of stability, versatility and freestyle performance.
A directional snowboard is designed to ride primarily forward. It features a longer, wider nose, a shorter tail and a stance set back toward the tail, sometimes with added taper. This shape delivers excellent stability, smooth turn initiation and strong float in softer snow, making it a favorite for freeride terrain and carving.
Directional shape benefits:
Best for freeride and carving
Great for all skill levels
More power and control at higher speeds
Smooth and easy turn initiation
Better nose lift and glide in powder
Feels natural for riders who ride mostly forward
Inspired by a skateboard, a true twin snowboard has a perfectly symmetrical shape with identical nose and tail and a centered stance. It rides the same forward or switch. This shape is ideal for freestyle riders, park riders or anyone who wants maximum balance for spins and switch takeoffs.
True twin shape benefits:
Best for freestyle and park
Favored by skateboarders for its symmetrical skate-like feel
Perfect balance for spins and switch riding
Equal performance riding forward or switch
Helps progress switch skills faster
Centered stance improves overall board control
A directional twin snowboard blends the best of directional and twin shapes. The effective edge is symmetrical like a true twin, but the nose is slightly longer than the tail, and the stance and flex are set slightly back. This makes the board feel balanced for switch riding while offering more stability when riding forward. Directional twins are the most versatile shapes for all-mountain riders.
Directional twin shape benefits:
Best all-mountain versatility
Best for beginners and great for all skill levels
Balanced feel riding forward or switch
Smooth, predictable turn initiation
Freestyle friendly without losing freeride performance
Setback stance and longer nose improve float in powder
Volume-shifted shapes like the Hovercraft, Storm Chaser and Mind Expander compress the surface area of a longer board into a shorter, wider outline. The added width through the nose and midsection creates effortless float, while the shorter tail sinks naturally to keep the nose rising in soft snow. The result is a compact board that feels surfy, playful and incredibly quick to pivot in tight terrain while staying stable in deep snow.
These shapes are true quiver boards, built to bring a fresh, surf-inspired feel to any powder day or tree run.
Volume-shifted shape benefits:
Easy, natural float in powder without sizing up
Quick pivoting and tight turning in trees and technical terrain
Shorter overall length for a more agile, responsive ride
Wide platform underfoot for stability and confidence
Great for surf-style riding and riders with bigger boots
For riders who live on their edges, carving-specific shapes like the Freecarver series are built to deliver clean, powerful turns on firm snow. These boards feature a longer effective edge, high camber profiles and stiffer torsional flex that lock the edge into the snow with precision. The directional outline keeps the board stable through the turn, while the tuned sidecut defines how aggressively the board arcs. The Freecarver 6000s uses a short radius for fast, dynamic turns. The Freecarver 9000s uses a long radius for smooth, drawn-out carves at high speed.
Carving-specific shape benefits:
Strong, reliable edge hold on firm and icy snow
Smooth, stable carving even at high speeds
High camber for direct energy transfer and powerful rebound
Longer effective edge for added stability and confidence
Ideal for riders who prioritize carving performance
Choose a directional shape for carving and freeride
Choose a directional twin for all-mountain versatility and do-it-all performance
Choose a true twin if you ride park or switch often
Choose a volume-shifted shape as a quiver board for surf-style riding and deep-snow days
Choose a carving-specific shape to progress your carving and build stronger edge control
Beginner? Choose a directional twin snowboard
A snowboard’s profile describes how the board curves when you look at it from the side. Profile controls how much energy the board stores, how quickly it turns and how forgiving or precise it feels under your feet. Most profiles fall into three main categories: camber, rocker and hybrid. Each one creates a very different ride.
Camber is the classic snowboard profile. When you place a camber board on the ground, the center of the board rises slightly and the contact points sit near the tip and tail.
True camber profile benefits:
Best for true twins, directional twins built for resort riding, carving boards and any shape that demands precision
Consistent pressure along the full edge
Strong edge hold on firm or icy snow
Powerful pop and energy return
Precise, stable feel at speed
Hybrid camber–rocker is the most common profile on all-mountain and freeride boards. Camber under your feet drives stability, pop and precise edge control, while rocker in the nose adds forgiveness, smoother turn initiation and better float. Some shapes also add a touch of tail rocker for easier release and improved performance in soft snow.
Camber-rocker profile benefits:
Best for directional shapes and directional twins designed for resort and powder riding with a surf-inspired feel
Great balance of precision and playfulness
Strong edge hold with added forgiveness
Smoother, easier turn initiation
Better float in soft snow and powder
Choose camber–rocker for freeride and all-mountain versatility
Choose camber–rocker for better float and smoother turn initiation
Choose camber for freestyle, park and carving
Choose camber for maximum carving power, pop and stability
Beginner? Choose a soft-flex true camber or a camber–rocker profile
Waist width is the narrowest part of a snowboard, measured directly under your bindings. The waist width of a snowboard is a critical performance dimension.
If your board is too wide, it will feel slow moving edge to edge.
If your board is too narrow, you will drag the toe cap or heel cup of your binding in the snow when you turn sharply.
Riding a board with the ideal waist width is most critical for riders with big feet, as “heel cupping” can be dangerous on steep terrain.
Find your perfect waist width: check out our guide and charts on snowboard sizing and wide boards.
Recommended waist width:
Faster edge-to-edge, lighter feel, more agile in trees and bumps.
Wider waist width:
More stable at speed, smoother in choppy snow, and better float in powder.
Ideal for riders with bigger boots.
Volume-shifted shapes:
Boards like the Storm Chaser or Hovercraft are designed to be ridden shorter and wider. Their waist widths look oversized on paper but feel perfectly balanced in real riding because of their unique shaping.
The board’s stiffness is one of the biggest factors in how a snowboard rides. It defines how the board bends and twists under your feet, affecting how stable it feels at speed, how quickly it reacts in turns and how smooth or powerful it feels in rough snow.
Longitudinal flex
How much the board bends from nose to tail. This influences stability, pop and how easily the board absorbs bumps.
Torsional flex
How much the board twists between your feet. Softer torsional flex makes turn initiation easier (commonly found in boards with biax/biax fiberglass), while stiffer torsional flex (typically built with biax/triax fiberglass or added reinforcements) delivers more precision and stronger edge hold.
Tip: Flex and profile work together. A soft-flex camber board feels playful and easy to press, while a stiffer camber–rocker board feels powerful and stable.
Rating equivalent: 1-2 flex (out of 5) or 1–3 flex (out of 10)
A mid-soft flex offers a smooth, forgiving feel. The board bends and twists easily, which makes turn initiation effortless and gives a playful, surfy ride. It absorbs bumps well and feels lively at lower speeds.
Choose mid-soft flex if:
You want the most forgiving ride with minimal effort
You’re learning new tricks or working on butters and presses
You ride at low or moderate speeds and prefer a playful feel
You are a beginner
Rating equivalent: 3 flex (out of 5) or 4–7 flex (out of 10)
Medium flex strikes the ideal balance between stability and maneuverability. The board remains responsive and predictable without feeling demanding. It handles a wide range of terrain and speeds while still being easy to control.
Choose medium flex if:
You want one board that does everything well
You ride a mix of groomers, powder, side hits and trees
You want a playful yet capable feel in all conditions
You want stability without sacrificing easy turn initiation
You’re a beginner or intermediate progressing quickly
Rating equivalent: 4-5 flex (out of 5) or 8–10 flex (out of 10)
A mid-stiff flex delivers strong edge hold, a powerful feel and excellent stability at speed or in rough snow. The board resists twisting, giving you precise control on steeper terrain and a more locked-in carving experience. It still offers a bit of give for comfort, but it demands more input from the rider. This flex level works best for riders with solid strength and good technique.
Choose mid-stiff flex if:
You ride fast and want confident stability
You carve aggressively or ride steeper slopes
You want maximum edge hold in firm snow
You prefer a planted, powerful feel
You are a stronger or heavier rider who overpowers softer boards
All Jones models feature V-CORE construction that fine-tunes the flex pattern along the length of the board. The center is slightly softer for easier maneuverability, while the sections through the nose and tail stay stiffer for stability, response and pop. This gives riders a board that feels lively and forgiving without sacrificing edge control.
Sidecut defines the arc of a snowboard’s edge from tip to tail, measured in meters. Instead of running straight, the edge curves inward to create a turning radius. This radius determines how easily the board starts a turn, how tightly it carves and how stable it feels when riding fast. Understanding your board’s sidecut helps you predict how it will react on groomers, in trees and on steep terrain.
You can still make slow, tight turns on a board with a long sidecut, and you can make big, fast turns on a board with a short sidecut, but you will need to put more energy and muscle into the turn.
Why sidecut matters
A small radius makes the board feel quick and agile. A large radius makes the board feel smooth and powerful at speed.
A short, medium or long sidecut does not limit the types of turns you can make. You can still make long, fast turns on a board with a short radius or tight turns on a board with a long radius. The difference is effort. Boards with a shorter radius turn easily with little energy. Boards with a longer radius require you to push harder but reward you with more power and stability.
A short sidecut creates a tighter arc, which makes the board turn quickly with minimal effort. It is ideal for riders who like quick direction changes, surf-style turns or playful carving at moderate speeds.
You want quick, easy maneuverability
You like fast, tight, reactive turns
You ride at low to medium speeds
You want a board that turns with minimal effort
A medium sidecut offers the most versatile feel. It balances quick engagement with stability, making it easy to vary turn size from short slashes to longer, more drawn-out carves.
You want balanced all-mountain performance
You ride a mix of groomers, pow, trees and side hits
You want stability without losing maneuverability
You ride at a range of speeds and want one board to do it all
A long sidecut favors big, fast, high-speed turns. It provides a smooth, calm feel when the board is tipped on edge and excels when carving powerful lines or riding steeper terrain.
You ride fast and carve aggressively
You want maximum edge hold and high-speed stability
You prefer a precise, locked-in carving feel
You like long, powerful turns
The most common snowboard shapes are directional, directional twin, true twin and volume-shifted shapes. Each shape changes how the board turns, floats and feels under your feet. Directional shapes offer the most stability and float, while true twins are best for freestyle riding.
Choose a shape based on where and how you ride. If you ride mostly freeride, choose a directional board. If you spend time in the park or ride switch often, go for a true twin or directional twin. If you want a do-it-all snowboard with the best versatility in all terrain and conditions, choose a directional twin.
Camber gives the best edge hold, pop and precision. Rocker offers a looser, more forgiving feel with better float in soft snow. Many riders choose hybrid profiles because they combine the stability of camber with the float and ease of rocker.
No. Most riders actually find directional boards easier to control because they offer more stability and smoother turn entry. They are less ideal only if you ride a lot of switch or spend time in the park.
Camber loads the board with energy. When you flex it, it rebounds with power, giving strong edge hold, stability at speed and better pop for carving or jumping.
Yes. Rocker naturally lifts the nose, increasing float and making the board easier to maneuver in soft snow. Many powder shapes use rocker profiles for that exact reason.
Find your perfect snowboard
Finding the perfect snowboard can be easy! Learn how to choose a freeride, all-mountain or freestyle snowboard based on your body size and riding style.
FASE® Binding System Guide
Discover the next-generation FASE® Fast Entry system. Learn how it works, set up your bindings, and maximize performance with pro tips and tricks.
Find your snowboard stance
Learn how to find the best snowboard stance, from goofy or regular to stance width and angles, plus how to adjust for freeride, freestyle and carving.
How to snowboard: Master your turns with pro carving tips
Improve your carving fast with tips from Jeremy Jones. Learn how to snowboard with better control, cleaner turns for every terrain.