Kilter Board Climbing: Pushing Your Limits on the Ultimate Training Tool

Board climbing has overtaken the climbing world in the past few years. From the original fixed-angle spray walls to the LED Kilter, Moon, Tension, and Grasshopper Boards, board climbing is a tried-and-tested way to train for power and strength gains. May newer gyms include at least one type of training board, with older gyms upgrading facilities to accommodate the addition. One of the favorites of the past few years has been the Kilter Board. It has four size variations: 7x10, 8x12, 12x12, or 16x12. The easy-to-use app and aesthetic appearance of the gray, led-rimmed holds on the black variable angle board make it easy to see why it has become the ultimate training tool.

If you’ve never dabbled with board climbing or messed around without intention, you may wonder how Kilter Board climbing can translate to new personal heights. Below is an explanation of the key benefits you can gain from regularly training on a Kilter Board.

How Kilter Board Climbing Can Push You to New Limits

●     Consistency

If you’re active on social media, you’ve likely seen climbers post about workouts where they do “benchmark” climbs. These refer to boulders where Kilter Board users unanimously agree that the grade is accurate. The Kilter Board doesn’t have set benchmark climbs, but the data-driven app allows you to see how many people have climbed the problem and agree with the grade. Using the power of data, you can choose climbs fitting to your goals and use them as benchmarks to measure your progress. For example, you can pick ten boulders with many users grading it V6 and try to climb them all at the end of a training cycle or as a baseline measure for fine-tuning your training. Unless you travel to a new climbing gym, your climbing gym’s Kilter Board will remain the same, allowing you to return to projects and “benchmark” climbs repeatedly.

●     Customization          

Anyone can set a climb on the Kilter Board as long as they download and make an account on the app. Thus, you have the perfect resource for targeting your weaknesses. There are tens of thousands of climbs to choose from, and if you can’t find any with moves and holds that push you out of your comfort zone, then you create that climb. Everyone knows that growth comes from embracing discomfort. Still, it’s easy to gravitate toward certain setting styles and holds in the gym, especially when new routesetters will eventually replace your least favorites with a new set. The Kilter Board allows you to push your limits and revisit those weaknesses repeatedly until they become your strengths.

●     Steep = Strength

The steepest boulder wall angle at most climbing gyms is 45 degrees, as they aim to cater to a climbing population of all abilities. But the Kitler Board adjusts the angle from 0 to 70 degrees. Boulders on steep walls require power and strength to drive body tension. The plethora of jugs and beginner-friendly holds that other training boards lack enable you to take advantage of strength training from climbing at steep angles. So even if you can only climb V3 on the Kilter Board, try the V3 at 50 degrees rather than 10. Challenge yourself to always climb on an angle of 45 degrees or greater. Stay consistent and push yourself; you’ll see the gains emerge in your climbing.

●     Power

The Kilter Board is another form of bouldering, and boulders require a reasonable amount of power. Also, unless you set the angle of the Kilter to zero degrees, you will be climbing on slightly or severely overhanging terrain. The friendly Holset also allows climbers to set dynamic moves, deadpoints, and other powerful sequences.

●     Competition

Access to sends and climbs from the global community can stoke the fire to try hard. Board climbing is always physically demanding, but unlocking the mental fortitude to unleash your full power is tricky. Seeing others log a send on your project or climb hard shit may hone that mental focus.

The Kilter Board is ultimately just a resource in your climbing toolkit. It won’t push your limits but offers a playground to seek discomfort, challenge your weaknesses, gain strength, and improve power. The global community of Kilter Board users and data-driven phone apps can help kindle your competitive drive, unlocking your ‘try-hard” and elevating your climbing to new heights. If you’re willing to do the work, the Kilter Board awaits! Drop any questions, comments, or stories about Kilter Board Climbing below, and let us know if you plan to use it to push your limits!