Building A Free Standing Climbing Hang Board

17.3.18

Building A Free Standing Climbing Hang Board

Finding time and motivation after work to drag myself to the indoor gyms in my area was getting hard. I decided to build a simple frame that would allow me to train for climbing in the comfort of my own home without having to fix to the building in anyway.

The Cost

This is variable and depends a lot on what holds and features you want to add. From memory the wooden structure didn't cost more than about £70 inclusive of bolts and wood screws. However fingerboards, screw on holds, pull up bars and Rock Rings etc are pricey things. I had already accumulated a few items that I used on my existing door frame set-up. I integrated these on the free standing system though simple wooden blocks or a single cheap set of holds would suffice for an even more budget system.

My existing set up

Concept of the new frame

The Frame

I took myself to B&Q and bought lengths of 89mm x 38mm and 63mm x 38mm plained softwood.
This stuff is super cheap, easy to work with and if used properly suitably strong enough.
A pack of M10 bolts (100mm and some 130mm), washers, M10 nuts and 50mm wood screws.

RED=M10 Bolts PURPLE=Wood Screws

Design Overview

Features

Having some small pulleys already from my high-lining days, I left one wooden cross member 120mm longer than the others in order to install a pulley system. This allows for assisted pull ups - great for endurance training when you are really pumped.

Pulleys I happen to already have

The pulley for assisted pull-ups

I also used my existing pull up bar which proves great for mounting Lapis Balls for pinch strength (with one foot on a balance cushion on the floor out in front - also works the core).

Pull-Up bar

The support cross members are essential for foot holds (wooden blocks). These allow me to train for endurance with a foot on a hold. I can make simple moves from the Lapis balls up to the upper holds - great for power endurance.
To make the whole unit is rock solid I did unfortunately have to include side cross members. These unfortunately make training a tad dangerous as falling off with feet caught behind these pieces would result in hitting the floor back first. I try to make sure I have one foot always in front of the cross members.

Structural cross braces are a necessary evil

Was it Worth it?

With the unit now in its new home in the spare room and having used it extensively for over three years I can say it has been perfect for keeping the climbing fitness up and has paid for itself many times over. I have hit it with hard training with weighted pull ups and dead-hangs and the frame has handled it no problem without any stability or structural issues. I did however remove the pulley as I found I wasn't using it.
I use the hang board for the following......

Core work (with a cheap TRX copy)
Finger conditioning and strength (dead hangs)
Endurance (low intensity pinches and moves with feet on holds)
Power (pull ups, dynamic moves to crimps etc)

The completed hang board-
Including accessories