Whether you’re into wall climbing or rock climbing, finger strength is very important. And you can supplement your usual climbing with a hang board training. Most hangboards can be installed into your walls by drilling. But what if you can’t drill a hole into your wall? Is there a way on how to mount a hangboard without drilling a hole in your wall?
If you’re renting or living in a dorm, drilling a hole in your wall seems impossible. Unless you’ll pay, maybe your landlord would say yes. But that can cause a hole in your budget. Lucky for you, it’s possible to mount a hangboard without the need to drill a hole in your walls.
So we are going to show you how! So you can still strength train your grip even if you’re staying indoors.
Simple Ways on How to Mount a Hangboard Without Drilling a Hole in Your Walls
So to start, instead of drilling a hole directly into your walls and hang board, we are going to make use of a pull-up bar. This will minimize damage.
And instead of hanging it into your wall, we will hang it into your door frame. So here are simple steps.
1. Gather all the materials
We will be needing the following.
- Hangboard
- Mountable pull up bars
- Wood
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Bike hooks
2. Make sure to purchase pull-up bars that can be mounted on your doorways.
Doorway frames are a better and more durable option than the walls. This structure will be able to take more of the pressure of climbing.
Then mount the pull-up bars on your doorway following the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Screw a block of wood into your hang board.
Now get a block of wood that is a little bit wider than your doorway. Ensure that it is securely screwed onto your hang board.
4. Screw the hang board into the block of wood.
The next step is to attach the bike hooks to the same block of wood. Again, you have to ensure that the hooks are securely attached to the wood.
5. Hang the block of wood and the hang board to the pull-up board
Now that we have a new system (the wood and hang board), it’s time to hang them on the pull-up bar that you have just installed.
And then you’re all set for practice!
Is There Any Downside to this Method
There is a bit of consideration though, space.
Because you are mounting the pull-up bars on a doorway and not on the walls, there is a considerable loss of space. So taller people may have limitations in the heights that they can climb.
Do you Always Need a Pull Up Bar for this Method
Technically yes. In the absence of a pull-up bar, you may use other types of bars that can be mounted on your doorways.
But pull-up bars will offer the best value and the most function.
Is a Hang board Worth it
So should you invest in one?
If used correctly, yes does make a huge difference. And climbers who don’t have access to indoor and outdoor climbing will benefit most from installing a hang board in their homes.
Some climbers also use it to compensate for skipped climbing days, just to build consistency. And consistency is rather important for improving one’s skills.
Are Hangboards Boring to Use
Some may find the hangboard quite boring. For beginners, this can be a reality. That’s why beginners should focus on training the entire body rather than just focusing on finger strength training.
Hence, hang boards will mostly benefit intermediate and elite climbers who have a specific goal in mind. So yes, hang boards can be boring for some, but it sure does make you stronger.
There’s no other way to increase your finger strength than by training with a hang board.
Can Every Hangboard be Mounted Without Drilling
Technically, yes.
With the right technique and ingenuity, you can mount any type of hangboard without drilling a hole into your walls.
So even if you have an old hang board, you can still use it for this type of mounting.
What is a Hangboard
Hangboards are sports-specific boards that aim to improve the grip strength of climbers. If you are into rock and wall climbing, you will need this board to improve your skill. This will enable you to climb more difficult boulders.
These boards can help isolate sports-specific grip positions. Moreover, it can help control or minimize the risk of damage or injuries. That’s why hang boards are considered as one of the best tools or equipment for isometric finger strength training.
How Often Should you Use your Hangboard
So you might be asking, what is the best schedule for isometric finger strength training? How often should you use your hang board?
Well, it depends if you’re a beginner, intermediate, or an elite climber. Let’s try to break it down into details.
Beginner climbers
Beginner climbers are advised to train on the hang board 1-2 times a week. And this is recommended if you don’t have access to indoor or outdoor climbing options. Why that less for a beginner you may ask. Because the beginner climber should not only focus on the finger grip strength.
Other than the grip strength, a beginner must also learn how to involve the forearms, and the entire body to be able to climb. He must focus on using the entire body to climb and not just focus on the finger strength. And beginners are often advised to undergo isometric finger strength training with a coach.
Intermediate climbers
For intermediate climbers, finger strength training can gradually increase up to 1-2 training sessions every 5-10 days. At this level, climbers are going to start to make significant finger strength improvements.
And the hang board season is just a part of an entire training session. And the climber can choose from a variety of hang boards that will best suit his goal.
You may also like: How to Break in Climbing Shoes
Elite climbers
Elite climbers need to hang board training to squeeze out additional strength improvements. Thus, there will be an increase in volume and frequency of training compared to the beginner and intermediate climber.
Final Say
A hang board is the best way to strengthen your finger grip. And for climbers, this is nonnegotiable. And mounting a hang board on your wall can damage it, especially if you’re renting, that is not an option.
Our method of mounting the hang board on your doorways is the best alternative. This is a stringer structure and you will not drill the hang board directly into it. So this will lessen the chance of damage.