2015 JONES ULTRACRAFT

With it’s low weight and proven big mountain performance, the Jones Ultracraft is certainly one of the best splitboards ever made.
I rode the Ultracraft on a perfect spring day in the Wasatch Backcountry. We had a foot of settled powder with some wind packed snow in the bottom aprons. The snow pack was stable and the weather was ideal.
For me, a good splitboard needs to perform just as well on the way up as it does on the way down. The Ultracraft has the same shape as the Hovercraft, but it features a sleek carbon topsheet and Jones’ Ultra construction to make it 25% lighter. And that lower weight made a big difference on the way up. I was able to move fast and maximize each step. Really impressed with this board on the ascent.
In the past, choosing a lightweight board has meant sacrificing some performance on the descent, but that’s just not the case with the Ultracraft. The rockered nose floats in the deepest snow and the underfoot camber gives you powerful edge hold and the ability to turn on a dime. Two things you absolutely need on technical lines where falling just isn’t an option.
I’ve also been impressed with how it handles in different snow conditions. From deep pow days in the backcountry to complex snow conditions where a splitboard tour can turn from variable ice, wind, chalk, and back to powder. The Ultracraft adapts nicely.
If you’re looking for a top-shelf splitboard that is light, well-made, and rides incredibly well, the Jones’ Ultracraft would be my first recommendation.