What is the best climbing hangboard for beginners? My personal favorite is the Trango Rock Prodigy.
Last update on 2024-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Buying a new hangboard is an exciting process, but it’s also one that takes a fair amount of research and dedication.
There are a lot of hangboard makers out there, but finding the best one can take a while since you have to sort through a lot of products.
Keep reading and I’ll show you my other top picks and training tips.
Reviews of the Best Climbing Hangboards for Beginners
1. Trango Rock Prodigy
The Trango Rock Prodigy is an update of an earlier 2016 model in which Trango used an entirely different development process for.
The result is a much gentler feeling product that’s easier to use and offers a wider variety of moves and strength training activities.
There’s more support than the prior model (and comparatively to other models on the market) and you can move your fingers easily on each set.
New users and those familiar with the older model will love this unit as it retains all the exact positioning that made the first model so popular.
It’s easy to set up and has been praised for being one of the more comfortable models you can buy these days.
It’s also been made popular because customers continue to enjoy the fact that it’s adjustable and you can change the distance between the left and right arms for improved comfort and sustainability.
This is one of the best-reviewed products – customers continually say this is one of the ‘perfect’ hangboards.
Pros:
- Extremely comfortable
- Adjustable length
- Refurbished version of older model
- Good for beginners and intermediates
Cons:
- Not cheap
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2. Metolius Simulator 3D
Metolius is one of the most well-known brands making training boards, and this is the next generation of one of their favorite product lines.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Metolius Simulator 3D is that the finger holes are arranged in an arc.
This design has an ergonomic support, allowing you to be safer while exploring a different range of motion and training tactics.
In addition, the arc recedes downwards on either side which provides more room for your forearms.
This unit comes with a good set of instructions and training guidelines, so beginners can use this one to start a new training regime for climbing and/or bouldering without having to worry about safety.
One important thing to know is that you’ll need to mount it to a backing board – some customers have purchased it without knowing this and ended up having a bad experience.
Otherwise, customers praise the versatility and the wide variety of holds that you can get out of this training board.
The texture is generally well-received and the design is consistently praised for being unique.
Pros:
- Unique ergonomic design
- Good amount of forearm closure
- Can be used by experienced climbers or beginners
- Appealing aesthetics
Cons:
- Not obvious that you need to install a backboard
3. Beastmaker 20000
The Beastmaker 2000 was designed by some of the best climbers in the UK and it shows – it provides one of the most intense tests of finger strength in the market.
You’ll be able to rocket towards your climbing goals with the Beastmaker’s huge array of positions.
You can also use the variety to target any deficiencies you may have in certain parts of your fingers, or to work toward specific strength goals.
You’ll be able to do this without ruining your fingers thanks to a gripping material that’s attractive, easy-to-grip and smooth enough not to tear your hands.
This hangboard is made out of wood as opposed to resin.
Wood is proven to be better not just for the environment but for all sorts of training bonuses. It provides superior texture, a better, stronger grip, and a more porous surface for your hands.
The Beastmaker also comes with all the screws you need to install it.
Customers have regularly reported that this product lives up to the standards set by the industry.
Pros:
- Uses a wood grip for superior comfort and friction
- Developed by top climbing professionals
- Great for targeting specific strength goals
- Comes with necessary screws
Cons:
- More expensive than resin models
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4. Metolius 3D Rock Rings
Metolius strikes again, this time with their 3D Rock Rings. These are a special product from Metolius if only for the fact that they’re portable.
This product comes with two separate identical parts that hang from a single point suspension and can be rotated.
This rotation allows your joints to be protected from injuries.
They were designed by CAD/CAM to ensure perfect symmetry.
The product comes with a good set of instructions for beginning to use them, as well as setting them up and staying safe, making them ideal for beginners and experienced users.
Since they only use resin for their construction, they’re fairly inexpensive as well.
Customers who can’t use or install hangboards say that these are a great alternative and that they’ve opened up a doorway where there hadn’t been possibilities before.
They’re great for quick workouts and ship quickly across the world.
They’re also great for customers who are renting a home and don’t want to put nail holes in their walls!
Pros:
- Good for small budgets
- Spinning design
- Portable
- Easy to install
Cons:
- Resin design – not as comfortable as wood
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5. Metolius Project Board
Yet another entry by Metolius – showing up three times on this list alone should be proof enough that Metolius makes quality products.
This Metolius Project Board makes use of an arc to position the finger holes. This provides the ergonomic benefits of being able to lift yourself quicker and faster without increasing the likelihood of injury (given that you properly follow the instructions.)
It’s been milled by CNC to ensure that a symmetrical pattern has been formed – asymmetry can cause injury when built into products that you need to use your body weight on.
The device comes with comprehensive instructions as well as a manual for training beginners and continuing to train intermediates. All parts needed are included.
Beginners have reported that this is a great introductory unit for people just starting to use hangboards.
Intermediate and experienced users also praise this device saying that it’s comfortable, easy to set up, and can handle a lot of weight and unique positions.
Pros:
- Versatile
- Made symmetrically
- Unique ergonomic arc design
- Contains comprehensive instructions for beginners and experienced users
Cons:
- Made of resin – not as comfortable as wood
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Hangboards Buyer’s Guide
Before buying a climbing hangboard, it’s important that you know not to just dive right into using it. Using a hangboard without proper instruction can lead to serious injuries.
Most hangboards come with instruction manuals, but I’ve also made sure to cover the basics of hangboard safety.
You can use hangboards for all sorts of core and upper body workouts. The most important thing, however, is that you stay safe.
Why should I buy a hangboard?
Hangboards – also known as fingerboards, to eliminate any confusion – are a great tool for people looking to train for rock climbing, bouldering, or even people hoping to add an interesting, exciting aspect to their personal workout routine.
It can be a bit tricky to decide what kind of hangboard to buy, though.
Hangboards are, first and foremost, the best way you can possibly hope to strengthen the muscles in your fingers.
They’re also great for training your upper body and your core.
Many different kinds of hangboards exist but they all serve the same basic function.
How to Use a Hangboard
It depends on what you’re hoping to get out of the experience. Hangboards can be used to work out many different muscle groups.
Warming up
No matter what you’re going to be doing with your hangboard, it’s important that you warm up first.
Start with some basic, dynamic stretching for at least fifteen minutes. Maybe do some push-ups or jumping jacks to prepare your cardiovascular system, but make sure you stretch your hands.
You can do some wrist stretches:
- Extend your arm straight out while you’re sitting, so your fist rests on your thigh.
- Then lift your fist up and back toward your body, while keeping your arm in the same position so the bottom of your wrist stays touching your thigh.
- You should feel a stretch in the tendons of your wrist.
- Hold your arm straight out with your fingers pointed upwards.
- With your other hand, gently pull back on your fingers until you feel a stretch in your wrists.
Dead hangs
Dead hangs are an important part of the warmup process – especially if you’re just buying a new hangboard or experimenting with a workout style that you’ve never done before.
A dead hang is simply hanging off the board in whatever finger position you’re preparing to do lifts in.
This allows you to coordinate whatever position you’re in and determine how much of your body weight you’re comfortable manipulating.
Safe hangboarding techniques
No matter what position or what pull you’re going to be doing, it’s important that you understand how to properly use your body. If you don’t, you’ll risk seriously injuring yourself.
Safety should always be the top priority.
Shoulders should be engaged by squeezing them gently towards each other; hanging off your bones instead of your muscles puts way too much strain on your skeleton, which it wasn’t meant for.
Keep your core engaged at all times. This not only makes it easier to use all of your muscle groups effectively, but it also stops your lower body from swinging back and forth.
A swinging lower body puts too much weight on your upper body as well as making it difficult to balance for extended periods of time.
Pull-ups
Pull-ups are the most basic entry exercise that you can expect to perform on a new hangboard.
Pull-ups in a gym are typically done using nothing more than a steel bar, which suggests that it’s important to keep your hands even on the hangboard when you’re doing pull-ups. This is not necessarily true.
In fact, pull-ups done keeping your hands at different levels are so popular that they’ve earned a name – offset pull-ups.
They can be used to work out different muscle groups, and are especially useful if you need to target a particular muscle or muscles that aren’t as strong as those on the other side of your body.
It’s important not to start your workout routine, even just with simple pull-ups, until you’ve become quite comfortable doing dead holds for extended periods of time.
Pay close attention to the feeling in your elbows – any pain noticed here during pull-ups can be a warning of possible injuries.
Adjust your technique until things are more comfortable.
My Choice for the Best Hangboard for Beginners
Hangboards are a great way to introduce yourself or your friends into the world of rock climbing.
Even if you’re not using them to train yourself for rock climbing, they’re a great alternative to going to the gym – you can save money, you can do tons of different workouts in a small space, and they’re relatively cheap.
If you are looking for the best handboard for beginners, my choice is the Trango Rock Prodigy.
If you are on a tight budget or looking for great portability, the 3D Rock Ring is a great pick.
Top Rated Hangboards
Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API