Easy-Mount Hangboard Design

Hey, I just launched a kickstarter for a new hangboard design. I'm curious if y'all have any feedback - we can still do minor edits to our design before our full production run. Thanks!

Nice! That looks slick! Very cool for apartment-dwellers who are scared of drilling or ripping down their door frame.

Could you make a picture that shows edge sizes and hold configurations (i.e. 2 finger pocket, 3 finger pocket, 4 finger edge, sloper, jug)?

EDIT: Also, could other hang boards be mounted easily to this setup? Perhaps you could make a tier with just the mounting system sans-board for those who already have a board?

This looks like a great idea and could fit a need for a lot of people. Board almost might have too many hold options. I really like how the newer tension board just gives you a pull up rung, 30 mm holds down to 8 mm; no pockets, no frills. What about making your door mount compatible with most hangboards? Just a thought. Good luck!

Matt Bwrote: Nice! That looks slick! Very cool for apartment-dwellers who are scared of drilling or ripping down their door frame.

Could you make a picture that shows edge sizes and hold configurations (i.e. 2 finger pocket, 3 finger pocket, 4 finger edge, sloper, jug)?

EDIT: Also, could other hang boards be mounted easily to this setup? Perhaps you could make a tier with just the mounting system sans-board for those who already have a board?

Thanks!! The holds include:
Jugs
35 Degree Slopers
20 Degree Slopers
4 Finger Pockets (50mm, 30mm, 20mm, and 10mm deep)
3 Finger Pockets(30mm and 20mm deep)
2 Finger Pockets (30mm and 20mm deep)
Pinches

Due to the channels in the back of the hangboard (which fit the stabilizing arms), the mounting hardware won't fit other hangboards. I evaluated alternative designs that didn't require these channels, but the alternatives didn't function as well or look as minimalist.

But I've been getting that question a lot! I might re-evaluate other designs and launch a different kickstarter in 6 months once I can work through a few rounds of prototypes

Are the pinches interchangeable? Could I mount a plastic hold instead of the wooden pinch? 

ShuShu Ywrote: Are the pinches interchangeable? Could I mount a plastic hold instead of the wooden pinch? 

You would have to modify the board a bit, but it would be relatively easy to do. We actually mail the boards without inserts epoxied in yet (we include epoxy with the shipment). Do you have a specific type of pinch in mind?

Also, we were testing out weight limits, and the hangboard holds 400 pounds without any issues

Glass Tupperwarewrote:

You would have to modify the board a bit, but it would be relatively easy to do. We actually mail the boards without inserts epoxied in yet (we include epoxy with the shipment). Do you have a specific type of pinch in mind?

Also, we were testing out weight limits, and the hangboard holds 400 pounds without any issues

Looking at using either a half dome or a rectangle pinch block. With the rectangle, would like to have ability to change the mounting angle so I can practice different pinch angles.

Glass Tupperwarewrote: Thanks!! The holds include:
Jugs
35 Degree Slopers
20 Degree Slopers
4 Finger Pockets (50mm, 30mm, 20mm, and 10mm deep)
3 Finger Pockets(30mm and 20mm deep)
2 Finger Pockets (30mm and 20mm deep)
Pinches

Can you explain the value of having 3 different 30/20mm flat holds? If you want to train two fingers instead of three or four, can't you just do that on a bigger edge? This is what I think some of the newer boards get right (e.g. tension): more edge sizes, fewer gimmicky pockets.

Great idea! I'd love it if I could buy just the mounting mechanism (very creative), and not the hangboard (would prefer to use my own). Any chance you guys will sell the mount separately? 

mike hwrote:

Can you explain the value of having 3 different 30/20mm flat holds? If you want to train two fingers instead of three or four, can't you just do that on a bigger edge? This is what I think some of the newer boards get right (e.g. tension): more edge sizes, fewer gimmicky pockets.

It was more that we had a size of hangboard that worked with our mounting hardware and maintained the minimalist look. With the milled channels for the stabilizing arms and wanting to cover up the mounting brackets with wood, this size worked really well for us. So we came up with a variety of holds that fit the available space. But we'd consider narrowing down the number of holds or switching some out for alternatives if you think there are better options

Chris Stockingwrote: Great idea! I'd love it if I could buy just the mounting mechanism (very creative), and not the hangboard (would prefer to use my own). Any chance you guys will sell the mount separately? 

Unfortunately the current mounting hardware isn't compatible with other hangboards. But I'm looking at redesigned mounting options that could be adapted more universally. It's just a little bit tricky because the stabilizing arms were necessary in our initial tests, and they work best with recessed channels in the back of the hangboard. A universal mounting system may require an intermediate board (especially to accommodate different mount hole patterns), which would make the design much bulkier and subtract from the minimalist design

Glass Tupperwarewrote: It was more that we had a size of hangboard that worked with our mounting hardware and maintained the minimalist look. With the milled channels for the stabilizing arms and wanting to cover up the mounting brackets with wood, this size worked really well for us. So we came up with a variety of holds that fit the available space. But we'd consider narrowing down the number of holds or switching some out for alternatives if you think there are better options

Why not just leave some open space on each end and put T nuts there so users can add a pair of holds of their choosing? It would be best if the holds were mirror opposites, but I guess you can't have it all. (Or are there pairs of holds like that? I'm thinking that system boards might have them.)

Very cool design! It looks great. Since I have been hangboarding more than I ever wanted to recently, a few thoughts on function:
- Agree that I would much, much rather have a wider variety of edge depths than pockets. E.g. I love boards where you have 8, 10, and 12 mm edges so you can progress at or near body weight. I find I use pockets very little.
- Slopers are useful for warming up (if they're easy) but not much for training since they're so conditions-dependent.
- Holds more than 20mm deep are good for assisted one-arm hangs, but not so much for 2-arms since you need so much weight. Also, it's annoying to try to do 2-armed hangs when the hold you want is mirrored close to the center of the board so your hands are close together. So... maybe put bigger holds for assisted one-arm hangs towards the middle and smaller ones for 2-arm hangs towards the outside?
- Make sure you've chosen the best outside radius for the edges. Hard to find something that feels good in all grip positions (e.g. tiny radii/sharp edges feel good for crimping but hurt a ton open-handed)

Glass Tupperwarewrote: "A universal mounting system may require an intermediate board (especially to accommodate different mount hole patterns)"

Yes, this is exactly what I want. I hear you that it will make it a bit bulkier, but don't put form over function here. People have strong preferences about the hangboards they like and don't like (I do, at least). Putting an intermediate mounting board might not look as sexy, but it's super functional and is where I think you're more likely to find a strong market of enthusiastic buyers.

Chris Stockingwrote:

Yes, this is exactly what I want. I hear you that it will make it a bit bulkier, but don't put form over function here. People have strong preferences about the hangboards they like and don't like (I do, at least). Putting an intermediate mounting board might not look as sexy, but it's super functional and is where I think you're more likely to find a strong market of enthusiastic buyers.

The problem is that form and function contribute to each other. If your hangboard and mounting system don't look good, then you won't leave them out and won't end up training as much. Plus a bulkier setup would be more of a hassle for setup/takedown and would be larger to store.

But I like your points! That will also be much less expensive to manufacture without all of the milled features. Thanks for the feedback!

Glass Tupperwarewrote:

 If your hangboard and mounting system don't look good, then you won't leave them out and won't end up training as much. Plus a bulkier setup would be more of a hassle for setup/takedown and would be larger to store.

Isn't the whole point of having the quick-release locks on it to make it easy to take down? I wouldn't care at all that it didn't look quite as sleek, as long as I could take it down (which I would do even if it was the sexiest-looking hangboard ever, because my bedroom door would be unusable with it mounted) and I got to use the hangboard of my choice. I don't think it would really even add all that much bulk, either. In fact, if you were planning to just mount a couple small campus rungs on the intermediate board, it might even end up being less bulky than with the integrated hangboard.

Hopefully this doesn't come off as argumentative. I really think this is a cool product you've created! Just also really hoping that I can buy a version that lets me use my own hangboard. :)

I'm working on a mounting-system-only alternative this week! I'll see if I can add that option to the kickstarter page on Thursday.

One question though: What's your ideal size for a blank mounting board? I'm leaning towards 28" x 8".

Thanks for the feedback!!

Maybe comb through here or a similar page and pick what models you'd like to support? Popular compact boards like tension grindstones and beastmakers would be no problem on 28x8. The only question is whether you'd want to support behemoths like the trango rock prodigies that take up way more space. I don't know of many bigger boards besides the trango one that are actually popular, even though they exist, so idk if that's a use case worth designing around.

Is the clamping mechanism really necessary?

rocknice2wrote: 

Is the clamping mechanism really necessary?

It's not necessary but it offers a more elegant solution that works more effectively. Look at other removable hangboard mounting solutions on the market (not going to name names). They don't work - they're bulky and unstable and won't fit many doorways

Glass Tupperwarewrote: I'm working on a mounting-system-only alternative this week! I'll see if I can add that option to the kickstarter page on Thursday.

Sweet! Super excited to hear that.

Glass Tupperware wrote: 
One question though: What's your ideal size for a blank mounting board? I'm leaning towards 28" x 8".

Yeah, 28" x 8" seems like a pretty good size. If I were making it just for myself, I'd probably go a little smaller (the Tension Grindstone is my board of choice), but it's hard to argue against going a little bigger. I suppose I'd always have the option of cutting it down myself if I really wanted to eliminate the deadspace.