Climbing, like every other human activity, demands dedication to training without which one may remain a beginner for life. Learning to climb is tasking but there is a promise of excitement during the process. However, frustration may set in if one is not fine-tuned in mind and body to carry out the maneuvers involved as smoothly as possible.
Fingers of steel are the bedrock of harder and successful climbing. In your career as a climber, one of the most important components of your training regimen is the use of hangboards for finger-strength training. Training the fingers for a firmer grip will equip you with the ability to do well with small holds as compared to using uninitiated fingers.
There are different means to training for finger strength which can be through the use of hangboards and isotonic exercises(which involves moving the finger joints through their range of motions). Note that the hangboard should not be adopted as a training device if you don’t have healthy fingers.
In this post, you will learn more about the hangboard, why you should use it, and how to mount a hangboard without drilling.
What is a hangboard?
The hangboard is a very old climbing tool used to strengthen fingers and forearm muscles to achieve firmer grips on hold and edges. It is ideal for those who do not have the chance to enter the gym.
The hangboards are constructed from synthetic materials and wood. It is traditionally attached to the wall by drilling a hole on the wall before it can be installed. Having to drill a hole into the wall is an issue of concern when the house is not yours.
Climbing the rocks and hitting the gym may not be a feasible daily routine. This is why a hangboard is essential for regular and proper practice because it is within your reach and readily accessible. However, make sure your fingers and forearm are in good condition before you practice using the hangboard because it can worsen it.
The ease with which one can access an installed hangboard should not tempt you to practice excessively even though it is designed to strengthen your fingers, forearms, and shoulders. Overusing this tool may lead to painful injuries in the course of your training and this can ruin chances of further training.
Why use a hangboard for training?
Alternative to rock climbing and climbing gym
Rock climbing and using the climbing gym are efficient ways to get quick results in your finger strength training and you may not necessarily need the hangboard in achieving the same goal. However, the hangboard compensates for the time where it is impossible to keep up with routine visits to the climbing gym or going for rock climbing.
Increase Finger Strength
Apart from its use as an alternative to rock climbing and climbing the gym, the hangboard is essential when you are particular about increasing your finger strength. The hanging board helps you to attain a firmer grip and different grip techniques. For a person who does not have a body that is trimmed for climbing practices, the hangboard helps to conform the upper body to a tone that fits climbing.
Is it possible to mount a hangboard without drilling?
There are several models of hangboards that are available on the market and you may be curious about the kind of hangboard you can use without the need to drill any hole into the wall.
The good news is that all hangboards can be installed without drilling holes but the technicalities may be different in various models in terms of the design, amount of effort required and the space to be occupied by the hangboard . In the next section, you will find out how to mount a hangboard without drilling.
How to Install a Hangboard Without Drilling Holes
Traditionally, mounting a hangboard requires you to screw holes into the wall and put the hangboard in place . It is a very secure way of mounting because the wall holds it firmly but you are at risk of damaging the wall and this may cost you some money if you are living in a rented apartment.
With the awareness of the risk of damaging your home wall, it is important to know how to mount a hangboard without the need of drilling a hole.
Few mounting methods are damage-free but the consideration of the safety of using it after installation is also a concern. This is more reason to know how to install it appropriately.
Things you need
For a beginner, you will need the following things to hang your hangboard:
- Hangboard
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Mountable pullup bars
- Wood
- Bike hooks.
Follow the procedure outlined below to setup your hangboard without drilling:
- Get a mountable pullup bar and fix it to your doorway
- Attach the wood ( preferably wider than your doorway) using the screw and screwdriver to the hangboard . Make sure that it is tightly and securely mounted so as to prevent separation during your training session.
- To the back of the wood to which the hangboard is mounted, screw in bike hooks. The bike hooks serve as an anchor of the hangboard and wood system to the mountable pull up bars.
- Put the entire system in place by mounting the bike hooks over the pullup bar.
Almost all types of hangboards can be used for this method. However, you have to keep in mind that some hangboards may be too heavy and this may be too much for the pullup bar to withstand. Moreover, a bulky hangboard will be tedious to mount and it will take more than the necessary space, thereby, reducing the space for you to do the mounting.
In Conclusion
With the right choice of hangboard made by considering the strength of the pullup bar, size of your door, and provided you follow the processes sequentially, you will make a hangboard system without drilling holes on the wall.
