Elevate Your Training with the Best Slant Boards

If you’ve ever been on the wrong end of a knee injury, you know how debilitating it can be to your training progress and everyday life. As such, it’s vital to keep this key joint protected during workouts, and the easiest way to help prevent injury is by strengthening the musculature around the area.

Strengthening your knees and other lower-body joints doesn’t need to be a complicated endeavor, though. Tools like slant boards can be simple and effective in stretching and stressing these areas safely, allowing you to reach a new range of motion without complicated movements or heavy equipment.

Slant Boards, Explained

Slant boards, as the name suggests, are angled platforms that place you in an inclined or declined position depending on your orientation. This exaggerated pitch allows the knees, calves and other key muscle groups to stretch more efficiently, creating a more natural flexion and stress that helps strengthen the areas over time.

The angled experience can also create a more natural squatting motion that allows the knees to travel over your toes. This is similar to what you’d see when performing a back squat in a worthwhile pair of weightlifting shoes.

Other Benefits of Slant Boards

Outside of training your knees, slant boards can be utilized to help strengthen your calves and other lower body areas like the Achilles tendon. Using a slant board regularly can help keep these muscles and tendons stretched for maximum performance and injury prevention. After all, we experience injuries when a load is placed on a weak portion of our kinetic chain. Keeping your lower body used to these stretches and angles can create a stronger base, allowing for increased output when you do decide to go all-in for a sprint, lift or jump.

Another great benefit to using a slant board is that the stretches available can be a great way to target your vastus medialis oblique, or VMO. This muscle is important in keeping your kneecap tracking but can be difficult to activate in other exercises. Training with a slant board can help improve the VMO’s stabilizing abilities, keeping your knees functioning properly and pain-free.

Additionally, slant board exercises don’t require a dedicated trip to the gym. Your bodyweight can be more than enough resistance to create a proper stretch across the targeted areas, and you can even get a session in while performing other tasks. Standing at the sink doing dishes? Sitting at your desk answering emails? Riding as a co-pilot on a long weekend drive? All potential instances where slant boards can be employed.

How We Tested

Freak Athlete Essentials

BEST OVERALL SLANT BOARD

Freak Athlete Essentials Slant Board Pro

• $60.00 at freakathleteessentials.com
  $80.00 (25% off)

• ANGLE: 30°
• WEIGHT CAPACITY: 800 lbs.

This slant board earns top honors thanks to its rock-solid build quality and wide platform. The Slant Board Pro from Freak Athlete Essentials is my personal go-to for stretches and ATG exercises, as I never have to worry about keeping my stance narrow across the 20” x 12” surface. This can also be a perk for athletes with wider feet that may feel somewhat constricted in their stance across other profiles.

I also appreciate how FAE offers accessory “multi-step” platforms that can elevate your stance even further, although I wish these add-ons would actually lock into the Slant Board Pro itself. The grip tape surface keeps your setup secure, but a pin-and-lock system would go a long way in reassuring your confidence, especially when performing weighted knees-over-toes squats.

Amazon

BEST UPGRADE SLANT BOARD

Slant Board Guy Slant Board

• $136.00 at Amazon

• ANGLE: 25°
• WEIGHT CAPACITY: 880 lbs.

Thanks to its wooden construction that features a center beam for added structural integrity, this slant board from The Slant Board Guy can be a worthwhile option for weighted workouts. I also appreciate the platform’s tacky traction, which is made possible through its full-coverage anti-slip grip tape surface.

Having used this slant board in the past, it’s definitely built for the long haul … at least, from a structural standpoint. The stained wood exterior can begin to pick up some dings and scratches if handled improperly. Additionally, while the 25-degree incline is enough to create a solid stretch, some athletes may want a more aggressive angle to really throw their range of motion into newfound territory.

Amazon

BEST BUDGET SLANT BOARD

StrongTek Portable Slant Board

• $28.00 at Amazon
  $38.00 (26% off)

• ANGLE: 20°–45°
• WEIGHT CAPACITY: 300 lbs.

Curious about slant boards but don’t want to break the bank just yet? The StrongTek Portable Slant Board can be an easy way to get used to the modalities from the comfort of your desk chair. At less than four pounds, this compact, plastic platform folds neatly for travel and storage. And with four varying degrees of incline, you can set the board to your liking for an efficient, comfortable routine.

Due to the plastic construction, this slant board isn’t ideal for weighted exercises or intense pressure. I also wouldn’t recommend this for extended sessions, as there’s no traction-boosting grip tape across the platform. With that said, though, if you’re new to the discipline and want to get accustomed to the movements, this is a more digestible option, especially for those keeping tabs on the cost.

Pvolve

BEST SLANT BOARD FOR BEGINNERS

Pvolve Slant Board

• $95.00 at P.volve

• ANGLE: N/A
• WEIGHT CAPACITY: 350 lbs.

While the StrongTek Portable Slant Board is a nice option for budding enthusiasts, I would recommend a sturdier, more training-focused silhouette for novice athletes, and this pick from Pvolve checks all those boxes. I appreciate the non-slip surface that aids in mid-workout traction, and the angle itself can be adjusted to two varying degrees, although the brand recommends using the board at its lowest incline unless specifically instructed otherwise.

Another perk to the Pvolve Slant Board is that its entire silhouette folds neatly into itself, creating a flat platform that can be used for even more exercises and stretches. There are limits to this sleek and stylish bamboo board, though, as the limited weight capacity handcuffs your weighted workout potential.

Amazon

BEST SLANT BOARD FOR SQUATS

Wolf Wedge Squat Wedge

• $50.00 at Amazon
  $55.00 (9% off)

• ANGLE: 15°
• WEIGHT CAPACITY: N/A

Changing your heel elevation during a back squat can be a great way to help strengthen your knees while also building those tree-trunk legs, but walking out a loaded barbell and then trying to get onto an aggressively-angled platform is not the easiest task. Thankfully, this lightweight Wolf Wedge keeps your setup low and efficient thanks to a 15-degree incline and wide footprint. The singular composition is also beneficial for squats as there’s no need to line up segmented slant boards perfectly.

The Wolf Wedge is also constructed from cross-linked polyethylene, which keeps the entire profile lightweight and nimble for easier carrying and storage. I do have reservations about the rigidity of this material, especially when under intense loads or extended use, but for people looking to upgrade their squat workouts without investing in expensive weightlifting shoes, look no further.

Courtesy

BEST ADJUSTABLE SLANT BOARD

The Tib Bar Guy Slant Stack

• $149.00 at thetibbarguy.com

• ANGLE: 26° (adjustable)
• WEIGHT CAPACITY: 1,200 lbs.

Altering the height of your slant board can help improve your strength across the various exercises and stretches. I really enjoy this setup from the Tib Bar Guy because each two-inch platform clicks into one another as well as the slant board itself, creating a singular silhouette that’s durable and sturdy. Despite the larger footprint of this Slant Stack, the entire setup is lightweight as well, which I attribute to the injection-molded plastic composition.

The only recommendation I have when using this impressive kit from The Tib Bar Guy is that you set your Slant Stack on rubberized gym flooring or carpet. The thinner plastic shells of both the base and slant board don’t have a ton of grip, so the entire profile can begin to slide if training on hardwood or other smooth flooring.

Amazon

BEST SPLIT SLANT BOARDS

Lumia Wellness 12-inch Foam Incline Slant Boards

• $34.00 at Amazon
  $40.00 (15% off)

• ANGLE: 8°– 24°
• WEIGHT CAPACITY: 250 lbs. (per wedge)

Looking for a comfortable platform to get a full stretch? The Lumia 12-inch Foam Incline Slant Boards feature a split design, giving each foot a designated incline. Adjustable inserts allow you to toggle between 8, 16 and 24 degrees, so you can easily match your preferences to your stretching routine. Because of the lightweight construction and less aggressive angles, these slant boards can also be excellent options for yoga or other balance-based modalities.

The EVA foam provides a comfortable step that’s cozy yet firm, but continued training could lead to some wear over the years. Additionally, the limited weight capacity inhibits weighted training, but in my opinion, you’d rather weight train atop a slant board featuring a more durable and sturdy composition than that of EVA foam.

Amazon

BEST METAL SLANT BOARD

Shogun Sports Mr1nf1n1ty x Shogun VMO Board Pro

• $135.00 at Amazon

• ANGLE: 20°– 40°
• WEIGHT CAPACITY: 500 lbs.

If you’re looking for a sturdy slant board to add to your home gym, metal is a good option. The VMO Board Pro features a sturdy, high-quality frame that’s capable of supporting up to 500 pounds. It’s hard to ignore, however, how versatile this product is thanks to its capabilities as a slant board and a step-up platform. I found this feature to be excellent for varied training, and switching positions and angles was a breeze thanks to the well-made teeth-and-rod construction.

I also appreciate how Shogun Sports includes grip tape and a non-slip mat with this VMO Board Pro kit, as they’re definite necessities when it comes to training. For one, the rubberized feet are somewhat slick atop smooth surfaces and can easily slide if not placed atop the mat. Additionally, the diamond-plated metal platform has some traction to it, but it’s not the greatest until the aforementioned grip tape is applied.

Amazon

BEST FOAM SLANT BOARD

OPTP Pro-Slant

• $36.00 at Amazon

• ANGLE: 18°
• WEIGHT CAPACITY: N/A

These foam slant boards from OPTP can be prime for keeping your knees and lower body engaged through stretches, all while adding a sense of coziness to your training. The sturdy construction is rigid enough to support your bodyweight, yet the foam has enough give to keep your footing well-cushioned. Plus, I appreciate the paired setup that allows for wider stances when engaging in knees-over-toes squats and other modalities.

Naturally, however, foam slant boards aren’t the most ideal pick for weighted exercises, and the foam across these Pro-Slants can begin to crumble if used heavily. For this reason, I recommend using these slant boards without shoes or socks. Taking a barefoot positioning can help lessen the chances of your gym shoe outsoles gripping and tearing the material over time.

Amazon

BEST WOODEN SLANT BOARD

StrongTek Professional Wooden Slant Board

• $57.00 at Amazon
  $63.00 (10% off)

ANGLE: 15°– 35°

WEIGHT CAPACITY: 450 lbs.

If you’re more aligned with the wood aesthetic, consider this impressive slant board from StrongTek. The incline angle is able to be adjusted from 15–35 degrees, which gives each workout an added zest of versatility. I do recommend ensuring the board is placed well into the adjustment notches, however, as the cut-outs aren’t particularly deep and could be prone to slippage if set in haphazardly.

Additionally, this StrongTek slant board can be great for your home gym and office thanks to the convenient dual-handle cutouts at each side. This feature makes toting the nearly-6.5-pound structure from one room to the other more approachable. Finally, I enjoy StrongTek’s decision to offer this slant board in varying surface patterns, which allow you to personalize your setup for how tacky or smooth you want your underfoot feel to be.

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