Doorway Hangboard Ideas

Currently I'm winding down the SICgrip business and just innovating and releasing new designs to DIYers and occasionally making custom versions. In recent times I've morphed more from the totally portable grips/bars approach, to approaches based on using a doorway - both removable and "permanent". While I've been tinkering with some of these concepts off and on for years, the last year or so I've been building prototypes as I've had the time.

Here's some of the ideas - maybe it will spark your creativity if you can't get out on real rock or safely to a gym yet.

Foldable minimalist board [LipStik] - that auto adjusts to doorway thickness - 5 hold depths, pull-up jug and rounded 38mm flat hold

Adjustable angle foldable grip hanger [The Gallows] - I later put a plywood "skin" on it for mounting holds or screwing a hangboard on.

The following approaches do not interfere with opening/closing the door and there's enough clearance for those people under ~6' 2"

Minimalist bar using a doorway pull-up bar [FlipStik] - the Bar hangs on a doorway pull-up bar and flips end--> end for a different depths of edges

Removable/interchangeable minimalist board [ZipStik] - 4 screws using a French cleat idea. Can be flipped end --> end and has holds on front and back

The following board [FatLip] can be mounted using the lip of the doorway and is held in place by three screws that go into and through the doorway trim into the doorway casing. It is supported by a rail that rests on top of door way trim and the screws provide pressure to hold board in place and provide pressure on the facing of the doorway itself. It has silicone sheeting to protect the doorway facing. It is mainly to provide a blank board that can be used to mount any holds. I put three T-nuts for holds or screw-ons can be used. I've chosen some versatile sloper/pinch/jugs from Tension Climbing and some cut down and highly modified Tension Climbing campus rungs. I've got a set of custom wooden holds in process that I'll eventually mount.

Or, here is the same board mounted with French cleats (4 screw holes) so that it is removable from doorway. Notice the shims I added to give more hold depth options. This particular board has edges of 35mm/20mm/15mm/12mm/10mm



I'll eventually be publishing more details on this last prototype on Instagram or my blog in the near future.

While I like the idea of a non-scaring board that is totally removable doorway, there is much to be said about a simple system that only uses 3-4 screws which can easily be patched if the board/mount needs to be permanently removed. Really...how hard is it to patch 3-4 small holes in a doorway. To me this often outweighs the disadvantage of a temporary non-scaring removable board.