At Hybrid Athlete, we mention slant boards a lot, so why not dive into what is a slant board used for? Most people associate slant boards with calf stretching, but there’s definitely more than that to them.
Having a practical way to create an incline leaves you with a lot of options in terms of training, stretching, and joint bulletproofing.
Let’s get into it.
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What is a slant board?
A slant board (as the name suggests) is a training tool that allows you to have a slanted (incline) surface at your command. Having a secure inclined surface comes in handy when you need to, for example, target your quads during goblet squats.
There are several types of slant boards up there. At Hybrid Athlete, we decided to go with the wooden, multi-angle design (get it HERE). Besides wooden ones, slant boards can be made of industrial rubber or even steel.
We opted for a wooden build because it is: sturdy, yet lightweight, and it has 3 different angles (20°, 30°, and 40°). On top of that, the wooden collapsible build makes it easier to carry.
What can you use instead of a slant board?
Wedges
If you don’t have access to a slant board, you can try filling in that need with a pair of squat wedges. They are like mini slant boards, one for each of your feet. Made of rubber, you can carry them anywhere (carrying bag included).
Despite the numerous squat wedge benefits, they are not the same as the slant board. You can read more about this in our squat wedges vs. slant board guide.
Plates
The other alternative to having a slant board is getting that heel elevation from standing on gym plates. This option can be a great fill-in, but it isn’t an ideal replacement.
The thing is – when we use a plate to elevate our heels, the mid-foot deactivates, to a degree. All the force is distributed between the balls of your feet and your heels. And, since there’s nothing under your midfoot, there’s not enough feedback to activate it.
So, use plates as a sort of first aid, but keep in mind that having a slant board or a pair of squat wedges is a better, safer option.
What is a Slant Board Used For?
There are three main purposes for using a slant board: stretching, targeted resistance training, and joint bulletproofing.
1. Stretching
If you were to ask a random gym-goer what is the slant board used for, they would probably tell you it’s for stretching. And they’d be right.
The slant board is used for calf stretching, mainly soleus and gastrocnemius. Having the option to change the slant angle comes super handy if you’re working on stiff Achilles tendons.
All in all, a slant board will help you increase ankle dorsiflexion, along with stretching your calve muscles.
2. Targeted Resistance Training
Heel-elevated squats are a great way to target your quads, especially the rectus femoris and the vastus medialis.
The slant board enables you to do three different levels of the VMO squat. The increase in the angle will help you push your knees over the toes, and allow your ankles and hips to adjust. This in turn lets you squat deeper, even while going for hypertrophy.
So, here’s how you do the VMO squat:
- Stand on the slant board with the feet pointing down the slant
- Raise your arms (for balance) and keep them parallel to the floor
- Brace your core and descend into a deep squat. Try to close the angle between your hamstring and your calf
- Push through your feet and extend the knees to get back up
Make sure to check out our guide on slant board exercises.
3. Ankle, Knee, and Hip Bulletproofing
Lastly, the slant board is used for lower-body joint bulletproofing. The progressive heel elevation allows you to put a spin on regular KOT exercises, like the Poliquin step. So, next to stretching and exercising, you can do mobility work as well.
The slant board is used for working on both dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, step-ups and reverse step-ups, as well as heel-elevated pistol squats.
Changing your regular strength and mobility routine by adding a slant will help your joints adapt to new ranges of motion as well.
So, should you get a slant board?
The short answer is – yes, you should get a slant board!
This simple piece of exercise tech puts a twist on your regular leg day routines, be it for mobility, strength, bulletproofing, or all of the above.
And there we have it. If you asked yourself what is a slant board used for, now know. And, if you’re still trying to decide whether to get one, hopefully, this blog will nudge you in the right direction.
Get the best slant boards and squat wedges at our shop:
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