You would think that shopping for a slant board would be fairly straight forward: just find a decent hunk of wood that isn’t too expensive… right?
If only it were that simple!
The reality is that we live in an era of junky Amazon products which tend to fall apart just from looking at them for too long!
Luckily for you, we’ve performance tested almost all of the slant boards on today’s market.
It’s from this first hand experience that we’ve been able to put this buyer’s guide together.
Let’s begin!
Best Slant Boards – At A Glance
- Best For ATG – Mr. 1NF1N1TY X Shogun VMO Pro
- Best Overall – Slant Board Guy
- Best Budget Slant Board – FAE Slant Board
- Also Great For ATG – TBG Slant Stack
- Best Foam Slant Board – Lumia Wellness Foam Slant Board
- Also Decent – StrongTek Slant Board
Best For Knees Over Toes |
Best Overall |
Best Budget Slant Board |
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A1ATHLETE |
A1ATHLETE |
A1ATHLETE |
- Adjusts from 20-40° incline angle
- Raises 6″ off the ground (ideal for Poliquin step ups)
- Incredible traction
- 30° Incline angle
- Large surface area & no front lip
- Largest slant board on the market
- 30° Incline angle
- Significantly more affordable
A slant board is an absolutely critical piece of equipment for knees over toes training, so let me help you get the right one!
Let’s begin!
This slant board doubles as a step up box, making it one of the most versatile and portable solutions for Poliquin/Patrick step ups.
Best Slant Board For ATG
The VMO Pro is an extremely unique piece of equipment: it’s some sort of hybrid between a slant board and a step up box.
This thing can be raised 6 inches off the ground, which makes it fantastic for a whole range of ATG/knees over toes related exercises.
Now you not only have a regular slant board which adjusts from a 20° to 40° incline angle, making it great for squats and static stretching, but it’s also perfect for Patrick/Poliquin/Petersen step ups!
There’s no other solution on the market that allows you to do step ups as conveniently as the VMO Pro, not even the Slant Stack!
It’s also significantly more portable than the Slant Stack, making it my favorite option for anyone doing lots of Poliquin step ups!
Be sure to read my full VMO Pro review for more information!
Recommended Use
This is the most portable option or anyone who wants to travel with their slant board and also wants a convenient solution for step ups.
Pros
- Doubles as a step up box.
- Incline angle adjusts from 20-40°, making it ideal for both squats and static stretching.
- Super portable – folds completely flat.
- Super robust and durable with quality steel construction.
Cons
- Lacks stability during certain movements in the raised position.
USE DISCOUNT CODE “A1ATHLETE” FOR 10% OFF.
If you’re looking for a more affordable yet large and sturdy slant board, the Freak Athlete Slant Board Pro is a fantastic option.
Best Value Slant Board For Knees Over Toes
Several of the slant boards on this list are definitely on the more expensive side, but the Slant Board Pro was designed with affordability in mind.
Designed specifically for knees over toes exercises like Patrick/Poliquin step ups, ATG split squats, calf raises, and full ROM squats, it’s really hard to go past this slant board if you’re on a budge.
Solid Incline Angle
The 30° incline angle is, from my experience, quite appropriate when it comes to doing Patrick steps, Poliquin step ups, and any sort of squat variation.
It’s definitely on the steeper side, but still works great for each of these movements.
Largest Surface Area Of Any Slant Board
One of my favorite things about this slant board is that it’s big.
| Slant Board | Dimensions |
| *FAE Slant Board | *20″ x 12″ |
| SBG Slant Board | 19.7″ x 12.6″ |
| ATG Slant Board | 19.5″ x 13.25″ |
| TBG Slant Board | 19.5″ x 11″ |
| Mr. 1NF1N1TY Slant Board | 15.5″ x 14″ |
| Yes4All Slant Board | 14.5″ x 14.5″ |
| Lumia Foam Slant Board | 12″ x 11.5″ |
Why is this so important?
Because you want your entire foot on the face of the slant board when doing knees over toes movements.
At least half of these slant boards are simply too small to get your whole foot on the slant board.
Knees over toes training attracts a lot of tall athletes with massive feet from sports like basketball. I also have size 13 feet, so the bigger the better!
Extremely Well Designed Grip
This slant board uses full coverage skateboard grip tape which is my favorite as it maximizes traction whether using shoes or going barefoot.
The new and improved version of this slant board also has virtually no front lip, which means it’ll be super comfortable on your feet regardless of how you’re using it.
Unbeatable Price
Although you could find a cheaper product on Amazon, they’re not exactly designed with ATG/knees over toes in mind.
If you’re looking for a slant board that suits this type of training, you simply won’t find a cheaper slant board than this one!
Check out our full review of the FAE Slant Board Pro for more details!
Recommended Use
This slant board is ideal for anyone doing any knees over toes movements. It’s also the best option for anyone with large feet. And it’s definitely the best choice for anyone on a budget!
Pros
- The 30° incline angle is decent for most knees over toes movements.
- Large surface area – perfect for big feet.
- Textured rubber grip is effective yet not too harsh.
- Significantly more affordable than any other slant board on the market.
Cons
- Nothing! This slant board is fantastic!
USE DISCOUNT CODE “A1ATHLETE” FOR 10% OFF.
If you’re after a heavy duty, premium slant board that is exceptionally well designed and will last forever, the Slant Board Guy is the best in the business!
Best Overall Slant Board
When it comes to slant boards, the team at Slant Board Guy have been leading the charge and have established themselves as the leading brand.
The SBG slant board is made of solid structural wood and is sturdy enough to handle literally anything you put on it!
There’s good reason Ben Patrick uses his SBG slant board more than his other ones!
Extremely Grippy Surface
The SBG slant board uses a skateboard-like grip tape covering the entire unit.
It is extremely grippy, so you’ll never have to worry about traction regardless of what exercises you’re doing.
Many slant boards have issues with their grip peeling off, or not having it to begin with, but you won’t get that with the SBG board.
I will mention that you have to be super careful when using this slant board barefoot. The edges are quite sharp and the grip tape surface will rip your feet open if you’re not careful and bump into it!
Handling the slant board I’ve noticed also tends to leave your hands covered in some sort of grip residue? Since it’s practically made of sandpaper, it feels as though the slant board is exfoliating the skin on your hands when you pick it up!
Perhaps this phenomenon will go away over time once I’ve broken it in a little more.
Great For Barefoot Use
Despite being quite sharp, I prefer using my SBG slant board when barefoot as the grip is so superior. My feet tend to slip off of other slant boards with worse traction, which is magnified when you have sweaty feet!
The smooth flat ramp is also significantly better for barefoot use than other products which have a lip/drop off at the bottom.
The lip you see on the FAE and Shogun slant boards can be quite uncomfortable when using them barefoot, but you don’t have this issue with the SBG slant board.
Super Sharp 30° Incline Angle
This slant board has a 30° incline which is definitely on the steeper end of things.
Personally, I think it’s a little too sharp for squats and step ups as this makes it a little difficult to drive through your heels, which isn’t ideal when using heavier weights.
It is however absolutely fantastic for static calf stretching and is one of the best options for getting that nice deep calf/Achilles stretch in.
Optimal Surface Area For Squats & Big Feet!
At 19.6″x12.6″, this is the second largest slant board on the market, which makes it great for us big footed folks.
As someone with size 13 feet, one of the issues I have using smaller slant boards is my feet not completely fitting, which reduces the stability of my movements.
This one’s the perfect size for me and any other big footed athletes!
They’re also really lightweight at under 3kg which means they’re still fairly portable and relatively easy to kick around the place.
Huge Range Of Colors & Customizable
SBG offers a range of 6 different colors for their slant board as well as customized printing, so you can have your logo printed on your board for an extra $40!
Be sure to check out my full Slant Board Guy review!
Recommended Use
This is a fantastic all-rounder and can be used for static stretching as well as knees over toes exercises. It’s also one of the best choices for anyone training with heavy external loads.
Pros
- Far grippier surface than any other slant board.
- Large surface area makes it a great option for anyone with big feet.
- Sharp incline angle is ideal for calf stretching.
- Wide range of colors and customizable printing options.
Cons
- Grip surface and edges are sharp – be careful when barefoot.
- Quite expensive – at around $140, this slant board is quite a bit more expensive than the alternatives.
USE DISCOUNT CODE “A1ATHLETE” FOR 10% OFF WHEN YOU BUY FROM SBG WEBSITE.
If you’re deep into the ATG/knees over toes lifestyle, being able to adjust the height of your slant board will come in super handy for those Poliquin/Petersen step ups!
Another Great Option For ATG
One of the core knees over toes exercises is the Poliquin step up, used to develop the VMO and assist with building specific strength for the ATG split squat.
Tib Bar Guy’s Slant Stack is the safest and most elegant way of performing any raised platform heel elevated exercises.
The easily adjustable stack height means you’ll be able to seamlessly progress from Patrick Steps through to weighted Poliquin and Petersen step ups.
Gone are the days where you’d have to labor over stacking heavy weight plates on top of each other just to create a high enough platform…
The entire slant stack is rock solid and significantly more stable than many of the ghetto improvised setups I’ve seen people using for these exercises!
Recommended Use
This is the best choice for anyone following the knees over toes/ATG training program who will regularly be performing Patrick steps, Poliquin and Petersen step ups, as well as calf raises.
Pros
- Completely height adjustable, making it ideal for reverse step ups.
- Really affordable – You can get the Slant Stack for the same price as the SBG slant board.
Cons
- The slant board which comes with the Slant Stack is made of plastic. Hard to say how durable it is.
USE DISCOUNT CODE “A1ATHLETE” FOR 10% OFF.
ATG Equipment Slant Board
ATG also have their very own slant board which is extremely similar in design to the FAE board. If it’s good enough for Ben Patrick, it’s good enough for me!
The Official ATG Slant Board
If you wanted to get the exact same slant board that Ben Patrick is currently using, look no further!
ATG have recently released their own line of equipment and this includes a slant board.
Slightly More Expensive Option
You’ll notice the slant board is virtually identical to the Freak Athlete board, only it’s about 25% more expensive.
ATG members get 20% off however, so they can get this product for the same price as the FAE slant board.
The reason this slant board is more expensive is because it’s manufactured within the US, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth the extra cost.
25° Incline Angle
Personally, I think the 25° angle this board uses is absolutely perfect for ATG movements.
The steeper inclines might be a little too steep for some athletes’ preferences, but you really can’t go wrong with 25°.
Recommended Use
I’d recommend this slant board for ATG members who can apply their discount. Alternatively, if you think the 25° incline angle is superior to the 30° angle seen on the FAE board, choose this option.
Pros
- Ideal incline angle for knees over toes training.
- Great size and grippy surface.
Cons
- More expensive than very similar products (FAE board).
USE DISCOUNT CODE “A1ATHLETE” FOR 10% OFF.
If you’re looking for a softer option that’s great for bare foot use, the Lumia Wellness foam slant board is very popular with yoga practitioners!
Best Foam Slant Board For Yoga
This foam slant board is actually a 4 piece set which gives you great control over your incline angle…
8, 16, & 24° Incline Angles
The 4 piece set contains 2×8° blocks as well as 2×16° blocks which can be used on their own or combined to create a 24° incline angle.
This is a really nice angle for a variety of knees over toes exercises.
Ideal For Yoga
These slant boards are great particularly for yoga because they’re separate units which means you can move them around and position them as necessary for various yoga poses.
It’s made of EVA foam so it’s solid but soft at the same time, which is why they’re so popular for yoga.
Easily the safest slant board on the market!
You do unfortunately only get 8, 16, or 24° of incline using these, which is considerably flatter than a lot of the other options.
Fairly Low Weight Limit
Unfortunately the weight limit is only 250lbs and since it’s made of foam, it lacks the rigidity/hardness necessary for heavier externally loaded exercises.
They’re also kind of small at around 11.5″ in length, so if you’ve got really big feet, the front of your feet will come off the slant board.
Super Affordable
These things go for close to $30, so they’re an extremely affordable option for the right person!
Recommended Use
This isn’t the best option for knees over toes training as the foam design lacks rigidity and they’re also too small for athletes with large feet. I would recommend this option for yoga and very basic stretching/bodyweight movements only.
Pros
- Extremely safe – great option for children and barefoot use.
- Extremely cheap – this is the cheapest slant board option on the market!
Cons
- Low weight capacity – The foam design lacks rigidity and doesn’t provide enough stability for heavy loads.
Final Verdict?
I’ll briefly summarize my recommendations based on a range of different needs…
Best Value For Money
As far as value for money goes, it’s really difficult to beat the Slant Board Pro from Freak Athlete Essentials which is the most affordable option on the market.
It’s ideal for all kinds of knees over toes movements and won’t break the bank.
Great All Rounder
If you’re planning on doing a ton of squats and other heavy lifting, as well as static calf stretching, the SBG slant board is a fantastic, heavy duty slant board that can handle anything you throw at it.
Best For Reverse Step Ups & ATG
If you’re deep in the ATG/knees over toes weeds, definitely consider opting for the VMO Pro as you’re going to get plenty of use out of the platform when doing all of the various step ups and SL calf raises.
Best Alternative
You may also want to consider getting a squat wedge if you’re looking for some slightly more affordable options to do squats and other knees over toes exercises with.
If you’re unsure which to choose, check out this article: Slant Board vs. Squat Wedge.
Our Slant Board Testing & Review Process
We always make it our mission to be as comprehensive as possible with these product reviews so we can be as helpful as possible to you guys.
For this reason, over the last few months, we’ve been doing extensive research on each of the various slant board options including…
Purchasing & Personally Testing Each Slant Board
We’re almost finished testing each of these slant boards, although we are currently still in the testing process.
Currently we’ve tested and reviewed:
- Mr. 1NF1N1TY X Shogun VMO Board
- Mr. 1NF1N1TY X Shogun VMO Pro
- All Slant Board Guy products
- FAE Slant Board Pro
We’ve also ordered the TBG Slant Stack as well. We’ll also look to get our hands on the ATG slant board shortly and will keep pumping out these reviews!
Our testing process is fairly simple when it comes to slant boards and basically just involves doing plenty of reverse step ups, ATG squats, some sissy squats, the occasional ATG split squat, as well as lots of static calf stretching.
We use each slant board for at least a week or two to ensure we’ve seen everything it can do and to make sure we’ve identified all the nuances that come along with regular use.
After each product has been thoroughly put through the wringer, we’ll write a detailed written review which will likely include a video review component, so you can see us actually using each of the slant boards, which will give you a better feel for how they perform.
Finally, we’ll do a full video roundup review which we’ll embed in this article, so you have the option of reading or watching to get the info you’re looking for.
Negotiating The Best Customer Discounts For Jump Stronger Readers
Part of my mission to be as helpful as possible is to help you guys get the biggest discounts possible.
Over the last few months I’ve been able to negotiate 10% discounts with a number of these slant board manufacturers.
As always, remember to use the discount code “A1ATHLETE” at checkout when buying any of these slant boards to ensure you get the best possible deal!
Continually Updating With New Products & Information
As we gain more experience using each of these slant boards, we’ll be updating this article so that you know exactly how our feelings towards each product evolve over time.
We’re also constantly on the hunt for new slant boards that can offer value to the marketplace for inclusion in this article.
If you’re a slant board manufacturer and want your product reviewed and included in this article, please get in touch.
Feel free to read more about our product testing standards and review process.
What Is A VMO Board?
A VMO board is the exact same thing as a slant board; it’s just a different name.
VMO refers to the vastus medialis obliquus quad muscle which is heavily activated when doing certain slant board exercises.
Check out this article to learn about all of the benefits of using a slant board.
Best Angle For A Slant Board?
There is no single optimal angle to use a slant board at. It depends a lot on what you’re using it for and where your flexibility is at.
ATG Slant Board Angle
Basic stretches could be effective at 20 degrees for some people and 35 degrees might be optimal for more flexible athletes.
A good starting point would be between 25-30 degrees which will be fine for the vast majority of uses including stretching, ATG squats, ATG split squats, Patrick steps, etc.
What Slant Board Does Knees Over Toes Guy Use?
Ben Patrick has spoken very highly of both the Slant Board Guy’s products as well as the MR1NF1N1TY X Shogun slant board and has been seen in multiple videos using both of these products.
He appears to favor the Slant Board Guy’s product and it seemingly gets a lot more usage than his VMO board!
Since ATG started pumping out their own equipment, you’ll start to see Ben using their own ATG branded slant boards going forward.
Be sure to check out my full list of knees over toes training equipment to see all the different gear Ben Patrick uses!
Best Slant Board For Kids?
Any of these slant boards are decent options for kids, although the Lumia Wellness foam slant board might be the safest.
Since the FAE slant board is very lightweight and isn’t too sharp or rough around the edges, I’d probably recommend that as the best overall slant board for children.
