Developing finger and wrist strength is paramount to climbing better. Although upper body strength is a prerequisite for starting rock climbing, building the smaller muscles in your fingers and forearms is necessary for advancing in your climbing career.
Where you can kickstart the development of your forearms with exercises like pull-ups and chin-ups, these exercises do not provide great results for climbing in the longer run. One of the best ways to develop your fingers for climbing and improve handgrip strength is by training with a hangboard.
There are several different types of hangboard on the market and if you are new to the world of climbing, the plethora of options available might confuse you. However, if you are looking for a pull-up bar replacement that will help you get ready for the next climbing season, this Metolius Simulator 3D might be the one for you.
To help you make a better choice, we have reviewed the hangboard based on its edges and pockets, texture, mounting process and value for money.
The Metolius Simulator 3D is one of the best hangboards for beginners. It offers a great selection of edges and pockets and mimics the texture that you might see on most natural rock faces. It is ergonomically sound and is easy to mount.
Specifications
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Construction material | Number of holds | Training level |
| Metolius Simulator 3D | 11.32 x 4.09 x 1.97 inches | 15 pounds | Polyurethane | 18 | Beginner to Advanced |
Pros
- It has an overhanging design that puts less pressure on shoulders and joints.
- The texture strikes a perfect balance between being grippy and smooth.
- It offers a variety of edges and pockets.
- The value for money is quite high.
Cons
- It is slightly bulky and weighs approximately 15 pounds.
Construction and Texture
The Metolius Simulator 3D is constructed using polyester raisin. Hence, it provides a fine grainy texture that most wooden hangboards fail to provide.
However, for hangboarding sessions, it is imperative that the hangboard texture is not very grainy. Since the training sessions can get quite intense, a strong texture can damage the skin on your fingertips, hindering future sessions.
The Metolius Simulator 3D strikes the perfect balance between a texture grippy enough to help you hold on but smooth enough to prevent your fingers from hurting. Moreover, it is available in three color options: blue and blue swirl, black and white swirl, and green swirl.
Edges and Pockets
The Metolius Simulator 3D is an all-rounder when it comes to helping individuals train for rock climbing. The board offers an above-average number of pockets and edges. It has an overhanging design which means the pockets and edges towards the top of the board stand further out as compared to the ones near the lower end. This helps in preventing the lower portion from getting in your way when you are training.
This downward turned design also puts less pressure on shoulders, elbows and wrists allowing you to perform training exercises in a more efficient way. If there is unnecessary pressure on your shoulders or joints, you are forced to hang on to a hold until failure. This kills the point of training to develop endurance.
As far as the number of edges and pockets are concerned, the Metolius Simulator 3D comes with four sets of different four-finger edges with 1.5-inch, 1-inch, 3/4-inch, and ½-inch depths. In addition to this, it has four sets of three-finger pockets, two sets of two-finger pockets, a single two-finger pocket, and three standalone three-finger pockets. These are located at the middle and bottom of the board.
At the top, there are two pairs of slopers that are designed to help you warm up before you move on to training your fingers. The sloper set in the center is more rounded while the one on the side is tilted. It can be used for finishing off your training session as well as for warm-up.
Mounting
The hangboard has been designed according to houses with 8 feet ceilings. Even though it is a medium-sized hangboard, it can easily fit above most average-sized doors. If your house has a ceiling higher than 8 feet, you don’t have to worry about it fitting above the door threshold.
As far as mounting is concerned, the Metolius Simulator 3D comes with eight screws. These can be used to mount it on the wall or on a wooden frame, according to your preference.
Nevertheless, as compared to a non-curved model, it requires slightly more space since it is thicker on the top. Unless you are looking for a thinner hangboard that has a smaller form factor, you will enjoy the ergonomics this board has to offer.
Value for Money
The hangboard under discussion is, without a doubt, one of the best value rock climbing training boards. For a price lower than its competitors, the hangboard offers a texture that is on point, a higher number of holds, and an overhanging design to help you train better. As compared to other high-end hangboards that offer similar features, the Simulator costs a lot less.
Verdict
If you are looking for something reasonable that will help you train for rock climbing in the best way possible, then this hangboard will perform very well. Price aside, the hangboard has plenty of holds that you can play around with. It works great for climbers with beginner to intermediate level experience. However, for advanced climbers, it might be too easy. Moreover, the easy mounting method is a cherry on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the frequently asked questions are:
Are Metolius Hangboards worth it?
Metolius hangboards are one of the best, most efficient and ergonomic hangboards on the market. Moreover, they provide a high value for money.
Are Hangboards necessary?
If you want to improve your rock-climbing game and want to develop ample finger and wrist strength, hangboard training is paramount.
Are wooden hangboards better?
This depends on the type of training you are planning on. For beginners, plastic or resin hangboards work best. However, for advanced climbers, wooden hangboards are recommended.
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