Slant boards offer a low cost and efficient way to reduce ankle mobility limitations when squatting and to emphasize the quads.
Unfortunately, even equipment as simple as this must be chosen carefully among the many options on the market. It’s why I’ve curated this list of my favorite slant boards.
- Best Slant Board: SHOGUN – VMO PRO X
- Best Budget Slant Board: Tib Bar Guy Slant Board
- Best Adjustable Squat Wedge Slant Board: Tib Bar Guy Slant Ramps
- Best Slant Board On Amazon: StrongTek Professional Wooden Slant Board
- Best Two Piece Squat Wedge Slant Board: Rogue Squat Wedge
4.8
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4.0
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4.0
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$99.99
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$59.99
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$59.99
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High Grade Steel
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Injection Molded Plastic
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Lauan Hardwood Plywood
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4 Levels (20, 30, 35, 40 degrees)
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No, Fixed at 26 degrees
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5 Levels (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 degrees)
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450 lbs
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1000 lbs
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450 lbs
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Best Slant Board
SHOGUN – VMO PRO X
- Doubles up as a slant board and step-up box.
- 4 levels of incline adjustment.
- Portable and lightweight.
- Super durable construction.
- May be too short and narrow for bigger athletes.
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Material | High-grade steel |
Adjustment Levels | 20, 30, 35, and 40 degrees |
Grip Level | 4/5 |
Price | $99.95 |
Weight capacity | 450 lbs |
Shogun Sports offers a variety of top-notch products designed for developing quads, hamstrings, and knee health and power, including the VMO Pro X slant board, our top choice.
This is the most unique and versatile piece of equipment on the list. Not only can it be adjusted between a 20- and 40-degree incline angle, but the whole unit can also be raised to 6 inches, making it dual-purpose equipment, perfect for Petersen step-ups or other step-up variations.
The VMO Pro is made from high-grade steel, which is super durable, and the unit remains stable even in higher positions. Of course, there is some give in the construction when loaded with a lot of weight, which is absent in non-adjustable slant boards, but versatility is the key here.
You get a roll of grip tape to put on top of the board and replace it over time. Even at the steepest incline, the grip holds well. The anti-slip mat you receive with the board is another nice touch.
Although the item’s price is higher, its durability, adjustability, and portability make it worth every cent for a home gym where space and versatility are always crucial.
Best Budget Slant Board
Tib Bar Guy Slant Board
Feature | Specification |
---|---|
Material | Injection molded plastic |
Adjustment Levels | Fixed at 26 degrees |
Grip Level | 5/5 |
Price | $59 |
Weight capacity | 1000 lbs |
If $100 for a slant board is too much, the Tib Bar Guy Slant Board is an excellent budget option. The unit is made from super strong plastic, which will last you a lifetime. The top is covered with non-slip tape, carrying the TBG logo.
Both the stability and grip level are exceptional, and I guarantee they won’t be a problem in any circumstances. The incline is static at 26 degrees, right in the middle of what most non-adjustable boards are offered at.
If you want more versatility, you can buy the Slant Stack, which is essentially a few blocks you can stack on top of each other to raise the height of the board for step-ups or lunges.
There are cheaper slant boards out there, but with them, you are making a compromise with something, while the TBG Slant Boards are well made, super durable, and stable while being affordable.
Best Adjustable Squat Wedge Slant Board
Tib Bar Guy Slant Ramps
Features | Specifications |
---|---|
Material | Heavy duty steel |
Adjustment Levels | Adjustable to 22-27-33-35 degrees |
Grip Level | 5/5 |
Price | $59 |
Weight capacity | 800 lbs |
The Tib Bar Guy company also makes the most versatile squat wedges. The two wedges are the perfect solution for all your Knees Over Toes training needs.
Two separate wedges, in general, let you experiment with the width of your squats, but the 4 adjustable incline levels give you unperilled freedom both in exercise choice and in levels of difficulty and customization.
The TBG wedges are made from commercial-grade steel and have premium grip tape and anti-slip floor protection for optimal stability. Yet another bonus is their lightweight and portability, so you can easily take them to the gym.
At $59, the TBG Slant Ramps are hard not to recommend to anyone serious about “bulletproofing” their knees.
Best Slant Board On Amazon
StrongTek Professional Wooden Slant Board
- Hardwood plywood is super durable.
- Very stable even at the highest adjustment position.
- Grip is outstanding.
- Great value for the price.
- Too narrow for bigger users.
- Bulkier than metal slant boards.
Features | Specifications |
---|---|
Material | Lauan Hardwood Plywood |
Adjustment Levels | Adjustable to 15-20-25-30-35 degrees |
Grip Level | 5/5 |
Price | $59 |
Weight capacity | 450 lbs |
The StrongTek professional wooden slant board is a massively popular board available on Amazon. With 5000 reviews and nearly a full 5-star score, it is an excellent option for people who want a wooden board.
Made from Lauan hardwood plywood, this board is not as unstable as other lower-quality wooden boards sold on Amazon and has been tested to 450 lbs. There are 5 incline options, from a low 15-degree angle up to 35 degrees.
The grip is excellent and likely made from the same materials skateboard tops are covered in. It works well barefoot or with shoes. The stability is also great and remains so in every position, even on the biggest incline.
A downside of the StrongTek board and wooden boards, in general, is they are rather bulky and heavy and cannot be folded in a corner.
The board can also be too narrow for larger individuals, but it is also available in an extra-large size for $79.
If you prefer the classic wooden look, the StrongTek Professions slant board is one of the best choices for combining function, quality, and value.
Best Two Piece Squat Wedge Slant Board
Rogue Squat Wedge
- Heavy-duty steel is indestructible.
- Can be stacked on top of each other and pinned on a rack.
- Available in multiple sizes.
- Premium look and quality.
- Quite expensive for a non-adjustable board.
Features | Specifications |
---|---|
Material | Heavy duty steel |
Adjustment Levels | None. Available in six heights |
Grip Level | 5/5 |
Price | $95 |
Weight capacity | Not disclosed |
As usual, Rogue offers premium training equipment with distinct looks and functionality compared to the rest of the competition.
The Squat Wedge is offered in three sizes- a pair of wedges with 8.5″ width each, a single board at 20″ or a single board at 30″, but our choice here is the two-piece variant.
The product is made in the USA from heavy-duty steel, which will last forever and is as stable as a slant board can get. The steel is finished with a black powder coat, and you can use the boards without grip tape, but a roll is included if you want extra grip.
The Rogue Squat Wedge is not adjustable, but both the single- and double-leg versions can be ordered with 6 different incline angles, starting from 5 degrees and reaching 30 degrees. A laser cutout on the side shows the exact angle of the wedge.
Rogue also considered portability. The wedges can be stacked on top of each other for easier storage. Thanks to the patented two-hole feature, you can also use a pin to put them on a rack.
There is no denying the Rogue Squat Edge is a premium product, and the price matches the quality. At $95 for the two-piece version and no adjustment options the product is definitely on the expensive side. But there is no compromise in the quality and function.
Our Slant Board Criteria
A piece of equipment always has to cover a few criteria points before entering any of our roundup reviews. In the case of slant boards, these include:
- Material—Whether it’s wood, metal, or plastic, the board needs to be solid and have a high weight capacity so you can train safely.
- Stability– this is not an issue with fixed boards, but crappy adjustable boards can be highly unstable.
- Grip– A good slant board needs to provide excellent grip both barefoot and with shoes
- Adjustability– The list contains both adjustable and fixed options because both have pros and cons
- Value—There are many more options on the market than the ones on this list. However, the cheaper ones are too unstable or flimsy. At the same time, the more expensive boards usually offer nothing more than a comparable product listed here, so the overall value-for-price ratio is lower.
Slant Board Benefits
A slant board may be just a piece of angled wood, but you will be surprised at how beneficial it can be for your lower body. Here are the main benefits you get by training with a slant board.
Quad Engagement
Slant boards became hugely popular largely because of Ben Patrick, or the Knees Over Toes Guy. Their entire philosophy is about targeting the quadriceps through intense methods of forcing the knees far in front of the toes.
As you probably know, Weightlifting shoes have an elevated heel to allow for squatting through a full range of motion, and slant boards have the same function but a much bigger angle.
This way, a slant board promotes squatting ass to grass in an upright position while heavily loading the quads.
Calves And Achilles Training
A slant board is the absolute best way to train your calves. Simply stand on the board with your heels towards the floor, and you start in a stretched position without awkward ledges digging into your feet.
Exercise Versatility.
A slant board allows for a myriad of exercises like split squats, squats, step downs, tib raises, calf raises, as well as multiple calf and hamstring stretches.
How To Pick The Best Slant Board
Construction/Material
There are three main types of slant boards: wooden, metal, and dense rubber/plastic. Each has distinct advantages and disadvantages. Wooden boards are heavier, bulkier, and more prone to wear and tear. However, they also look better and can be very stable.
Dense rubber or plastic, like the TBG slant board, is basically indestructible, as are metal boards and wedges. Adjustable metal boards like the Shogun and TBG Slant Ramps are also very convenient because you can fold them to take up less space.
Adjustability
Slant boards can be either fixed or adjustable. The benefit of a fixed board is stability. With a solid construction and zero moving parts, there is nothing to give way or disrupt stability.
On the other hand, adjustable boards let you choose an incline angle most suitable for your level.
Additionally, squats and static stretches have different optimal angles. For a squat, 20-25 degrees is great, while if you are flexible, you may want something with at least 30 degrees of incline for calf stretches.
Surface
Since you will be standing at a steep angle, grip is crucial for a slant board, even more so if you are training with weights. All of the boards on the list have excellent grip. Some offer grip tape for users to put and replace in time, while others only rely on the texture of the surface to prevent slippage.
One vs. Two Piece
There are two types of boards you can use for ATG training. The one-piece, which lets you put both feet on, is called a slant board, while the slant wedges are made of two individual slated pieces for each leg.
Both are excellent and will be super beneficial for your training, and the choice comes down mainly to what exercises you want to do.
Both are equally good for static calf stretches. If you focus more on regular squats, the wedges are better because you can adjust the width, while boards are sometimes too narrow for some people.
Boards are the better solution for step-ups or reverse step-ups because they have a larger area to step on and are more stable.
Price
Price usually indicates quality, but more expensive does not always mean better. However, too cheap always means the product is crappy. Slant boards need to be stable and grippy, or they lose their purpose.
If you search online, you will quickly find cheaper boards than the ones listed here. However, they all lack significantly in certain areas, be it durability, stability, or grip level. I suggest sticking around the $60 mark for a budget-friendly board.
Our top choice costs nearly 100 bucks, but it’s the only product that can also be used as another piece of equipment.
Frequently Asked Slant Board Questions
Summary
The five options here should cater to all slant board needs. The Shogun VMO Pro sits on top thanks to its unrivaled versatility. If two-piece slant wedges are better suited for your needs, the TBG Slant Ramps are the best adjustable option, while the Rogue Squat Wedge is the premium fixed model.
The TBG Slant Board and the Strong Trek board are more affordable fixed and adjustable options, respectively.
- Doubles up as a slant board and step-up box.
- 4 levels of incline adjustment.
- Portable and lightweight.
- Super durable construction.
- May be too short and narrow for bigger athletes.