Fix Your Knees With The Best Slant Boards (2024)

Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts have become very interested in strengthening their knees after hearing the advice of well-known internet trainers.

Thanks to individuals like the Knees Over Toes Guy, the average gymgoer now knows knee issues aren’t inevitable and there are ways to prevent them by strengthening specific leg muscles.

If you want strong, mobile, and injury-free legs, the slant board is essential. Slant boards are affordable and compact and open up exercise options not accessible with any other type of equipment.

But, like with all other home gym equipment, there are things to consider when choosing a slant board based on your personal needs. My goal with this roundup review is to make your slant board choice easy after reading it.

• Best Slant Board: Tib Bar Guy The Slant Ramps
• Best Budget Slant Board: Tib Bar Guy The Slant Board
• Best Slant Board On Amazon: StrongTek Professional Wooden Slant Board
• Best Two Piece Squat Wedge Slant Board: Rogue Squat Wedge

Best Slant Board

Tib Bar Guy The Slant Ramps

Pros

• Commercial-grade steel provides durability
• 4 levels of incline adjustments
• Great value for the price

Cons

• The grip material is hard to clean.

The Tib Bar Guy company also produces the most versatile squat wedges. The two wedges are an excellent choice for all of your Knees Over Toes training needs.

In general, two separate wedges allow you to adjust the width of your squats, but the four adjustable incline levels provide unrivaled flexibility in exercise selection, difficulty, and customization.

The TBG wedges are made from commercial-grade steel and have premium grip tape and anti-slip floor protection to ensure maximum stability. Another advantage is their lightweight and mobility, allowing you to easily take them to the gym.

At $59, it’s difficult not to recommend the TBG Slant Ramps to anyone serious about “bulletproofing” their knees.

They also take the top spot in my best tib bar list and make the best nordic bench making them my favorite company for Knees Over Toes training.

Specs

Feature	Description
Material	Heavy duty steel
Adjustment Levels	Adjustable to 22-27-33-35 degrees
Grip Level	5/5
Price	$59
Weight capacity	800 lbs

Best Budget Slant Board

Tib Bar Guy The Slant Board

Pros

• The special plastic is extremely durable
• Affordable price for the over quality
• Excellent grip

Cons

• Not adjustable

If $100 for a slant board is too much for your budget, the Tib Bar Guy Slant Board offers fantastic value. The product is built of highly durable plastic that will last you a lifetime. The top is wrapped in nonslip tape with the Tib Bar Guy logo.

Both the stability and grip levels are excellent, and I am sure they will not be an issue in any situation. The incline is static at 26 degrees, which is right in the middle of the range provided by most non-adjustable boards.

If you want more adaptability, you may get the Slant Stack, which consists of a few blocks that can be stacked on top of one another to raise the board’s height for step-ups or lunges.

There are cheaper slant boards out there, but with them, you have to compromise on something, whereas the TBG Slant Board is superbly built, extremely robust, and sturdy while being cost-effective.      

Specs

Feature	Description
Material	Injection molded plastic
Adjustment Levels	Fixed at 26 degrees
Grip Level	5/5
Price	$59
Weight capacity	1000 lbs

Best Slant Board On Amazon

StrongTek Professional Wooden Slant Board

Pros

• Hardwood plywood is super durable
• Very stable even at the highest adjustment position
• Grip is outstanding
• Great value for the price

Cons

• Too narrow for bigger users
• Bulkier than metal slant boards

The StrongTek professional hardwood slant board is a hugely popular item on Amazon. With 5000 user reviews and nearly a full 5-star rating, it is a good choice for anyone looking for a hardwood board.

This board, made of Lauan hardwood plywood, is much more stable than the generic low-quality wooden boards sold on Amazon and has been tested up to 450 pounds. There are five incline options ranging from 15- to 35 degrees.

The grip is great and it is made of the same materials used on skateboard tops. It works nicely barefoot and in shoes, and the board remains stable at all incline angles.

One disadvantage of the StrongTek board, and hardwood boards in general, is that they are large and heavy and require more storage space.

Another disadvantage is the size. The board may be too narrow for bigger people, although you can buy the extra-large version for $79. 

If you prefer the traditional wooden style, the StrongTek Professions slant board is one of the best options for combining function, quality, and pricing.

Specs

Feature	Description
Material	Lauan Hardwood Plywood
Adjustment Levels	Adjustable to 15-20-25-30-35 degrees
Grip Level	5/5
Price	$59
Weight capacity	450 lbs

Best Two Piece Squat Wedge Slant Board

Rogue Squat Wedge

Pros

• 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

Cons

• Quite expensive for a non-adjustable board

As always, Rogue provides high-quality training equipment with a distinct appearance and functionality that sets it apart from the competition.

The Squat Wedge comes in three sizes: a pair of wedges with 8.5″ width each and a single board at 20″ or 30″. I’ve chosen the wedges variant as the best two-piece slant board.

The product is constructed in the United States from heavy-duty steel that will endure a lifetime and is as stable as a slant board can be.

The steel is finished in a black powder coat, and the boards can be used without grip tape, although a roll is included if you desire more grip. The tape works better if you are barefoot.

The Rogue Squat Wedge is not adjustable, but the single- and double-leg models can be ordered in six incline angles ranging from 5 to 30 degrees. A laser cutting on the side indicates the exact angle of the wedge.

Rogue also considered portability. The wedges can be stacked on top of one another for easy storage. The two-hole feature also lets you hang them on a rack with a pin and take zero floor space.

The Rogue Squat Edge is unquestionably a premium tool, and the pricing reflects this. The two-piece version costs $95 and is not adjustable, so the product is costly. However, the quality is outstanding.

Specs

Feature	Description
Material	Heavy duty steel
Adjustment Levels	None. Available in six heights
Grip Level	5/5
Price	$95
Weight capacity	Not disclosed

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—Slant boards are made of wood, metal, or special types of plastic or rubber. The first consideration for the material is based on feel and visuals, but durability also largely depends on the material. Steel and molded plastic are basically indestructible, while wood will break sooner or later. 
• Stability—Fixed boards do not have stability issues, but adjustable ones can be unstable. The options listed here are all of good quality, but if you pick a different model, this is something you should consider.
• Grip—A good slant board must provide excellent grip, both barefoot and with shoes. Some companies send grip tapes for you to apply and replace when needed, and I prefer this feature.
• Adjustability—The list contains adjustable and fixed options because both have pros and cons. Fixed boards are more stable, and there is nothing to break. On the other hand, adjustable boards provide much more versatility, and you can adjust the incline angle according to the exercises you do and your flexibility level.
• Value—There are many more alternatives available than those listed here. However, cheap boards are unstable and not durable. At the same time, premium-priced boards typically offer nothing more than more reasonably priced boards, resulting in a lower total value-for-price ratio.

Slant Board Benefits

A slant board is merely a piece of inclined wood, but you’d be amazed at how useful it can be for your lower body. Here are the major benefits of training with a slant board.

More Quad Engagement When Squatting

Ben Patrick, known as the Knees Over Toes Guy, significantly contributed to the widespread popularity of slant boards. ATG training “bulletproofs” knees by stretching and strengthening the muscles above and below the joint.

Squatting on a slant board activates the quadriceps, particularly the VMO muscle. Strengthening the VMO muscle considerably lowers the risk of knee injury.

As you probably know, weightlifting shoes have an elevated heel to allow for complete range of motion squatting. Slant boards serve the same purpose but at a much greater angle.

A slant board encourages squatting in a natural stance with ass to grass while minimizing back strain.

Squatting on a slant board allows us to get lower with a straight back, reducing the involvement of the hips and glutes and concentrating the effort on the quads.

The Best Calves And Achilles Stretching

A slant board is the most effective way to stretch your calves. Simply stand on the board with your heels toward the floor, and you will be stretching.

Stretching the calves and Achilles tendons without an elevation is difficult, and a board is preferable to using a wall or another approach. Regularly stretching the calves and Achilles tendons dramatically decreases the chance of injuries in either of them.

Injury Rehab

If you have plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, patella tendonitis, or a similar condition, you should strengthen and lengthen the surrounding muscles and tendons to speed up your recovery.

A slant board can be used for various exercises, including split squats, knees over toes squats, step downs, tib raises, calf raises, and other calf and hamstring stretches. So, regardless of your leg problem, a slant board can be an essential tool for rehabilitation.      

How To Pick The Best Slant Board

Construction/Material

There are three varieties of slant boards: wood, metal, and dense rubber/plastic. Each has unique advantages and downsides. Wooden boards are heavier and more susceptible to wear and tear. However, they look better and can be more stable.

Dense rubber or plastic boards, such as the TBG slant board, are virtually unbreakable but cannot be adjusted. Adjustable metal boards, such as the Shogun and TBG Slant Ramps, are super durable and highly convenient because they can be easily stored to save room.

Adjustability

Slant boards may be fixed or adjustable. The advantage of a fixed board is stability. With a solid structure and no moving elements, nothing can give way or disrupt stability.

Conversely, adjustable boards allow you to select the most appropriate incline angle for your skill level and exercise variation.

In addition, the ideal angles for squats and static stretches vary. For a squat, 20-25 degrees is ideal, but if you are flexible, you may want something with at least 30 degrees of incline for calf stretches.

Surface

Grip level is essential for a slant board as you will be standing at a steep angle and need to remain glued to one spot. Every one of the listed boards has an outstanding grip. While some include grip tape for customers to apply and replace over time, others just rely on surface texture to stop sliding.

One vs. Two Piece

Slant boards and slant wedges are the two options you can choose from for ATG training. A slant board is a one-piece that allows you to set both feet on it, whereas slant wedges are two independent units for each leg.

Both are great and will benefit your training, and the choice is primarily based on the exercises you wish to do.

Single and double slant boards are equally suitable for static calf stretches. Wedges are better if you prefer regular squats because you can change the width, whereas boards can be too narrow for some people.

Boards are the superior solution for step-ups or reverse step-ups because they provide a wider surface to step on and are more stable.

Price

Price typically represents quality, but more expensive does not always mean better. However, a price that is too low always indicates poor quality. Slant boards must be solid and grippy, or they become dangerous or useless.

If you look online, you will easily find cheaper boards than those listed here. However, they all fall short in at least one key area, such as durability, stability, and grip level.

A high-quality, budget-friendly board costs around $60. 

Frequently Asked Slant Board Questions

Is a Slant Board Worth It?

Slant boards are well worth the investment because they are inexpensive and simple to use while providing significant benefits that would otherwise be impossible. Squats on a slant board target the quads, particularly the VMO muscle, which is essential for knee health.

Slant boards also provide access to various stretching and mobility exercises that would otherwise be difficult to perform.

What Is The Best Incline Angle For A Slant Board?

The ideal angle is determined by the type of movement you plan to do and your level of flexibility. The greater the angle, the more emphasis a squat will place on your quads due to your straighter back posture. If you have limited ankle and hip mobility, squat from a higher angle.

Stretching and mobility exercises are more effective at a larger angle, while heavy squats require a lower angle.

Most fixed slant boards are 20 to 30 degrees.

What Is An Alternative To A Slant Board?

For a long time, gymgoers used plates to lift their heels when squatting. You can also raise your heels higher by stepping on the handle of a dumbbell.

While these two solutions work squats, they cannot substitute a slant board for any other use.

Weightlifting shoes can be a better alternative if you only need heel elevation for squats and are not interested in other possible exercises on a slant board.

Summary

The four products listed here should meet all of your slant board needs. The TBG Slant Ramp comes out on top due to its unparalleled adaptability.