If you’re big into knees over toes/ATG, regardless of how good your ankle mobility is, using a squat wedge is going to make your life a lot easier.
Not only do these things allow you to get deeper into that full knee bend position, but they also allow for maximum activation of the VMO.
Squat wedges are arguably the best way of elevating your heels for any squat variation including ATG split squats, goblet squat, and regular back squats.
They’re cheaper and more versatile than slant boards and are some of the most popular knees over toes equipment.
Most Versatile |
Best Budget Squat Wedge |
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- Adjustable to 22°, 27°, 33°, and 35° incline angles.
- Fantastic grip surface and ultra durable design.
- 4 Pieces for 10°, 20°, & 30° incline angles
- Super sturdy + comes with hard shell carry case
- Slightly more affordable
I recently wrote a whole article discussing the benefits of using squat wedges and today I’m going to compare the top 6 squat wedges on the market, so you know exactly which product will give you the most bang for your buck!
Let’s begin!
The Slant Ramps from TheTibBarGuy are the most adjustable option on the market, allowing you to select the perfect incline angle, making them perfect for all variety of exercises.
Most Versatile Adjustable Squat Wedge
Being able to select the perfect incline angle is really important…
For some exercises like regular back squats, a 22° incline is going to be perfect, whereas for other movements like goblet squats and ATG split squats, you might want closer to 30°.
The Slant Ramps have earnt my top recommendation because they offer more incline angles, making them more versatile than other options.
They’re also super robust and the build quality is amazing.
The grip tape surface is far superior to most other options and the highest incline setting is amazing for static calf stretching!
Check out our full review of the TBG Slant Ramps for more details!
Recommended Use
Ideal for any athletes looking to perform a variety of different exercises including split squats, regular squats, and static calf stretching.
Pros
- Incline angles adjust from 22-35°.
- Fold completely flat – super portable.
- Great width and height.
- Ultra durable.
Cons
- Grip surface gets a little dirty and isn’t easy to clean.
USE DISCOUNT CODE “A1ATHLETE” FOR 10% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER.
The lads at Freak Athlete Essentials have made a set of squat wedges designed specifically for ATG/knees over toes training. Not only are they perfect for all your ATG needs, but they're also ridiculously affordable!
Best Budget Squat Wedge
There’s so much to love about these wedges…
Perfect Incline Angles For ATG & Stretching
This is another 4 piece feed, this time the 2 base blocks have a 20° incline, and the supplementary block has a 10° incline – stacked together you’re looking at a 30° incline.
The 20° angle will be perfect for the vast majority of exercises but having the option for 30° is great for anyone who has particularly poor mobility.
The 30° incline also makes these the steepest heel wedges on the market and by far the best option for static calf stretching.
Extremely Sturdy
Along with the Harderwill heel wedges, the Slant Blocks have a 2,000lb weight capacity and absolutely no flex or wobble, making them perfect for heavy squats.
Unbeatable Price
The FAE Slant Blocks currently sell for $50, but with my 10% discount code applied (A1ATHLETE), you can get them for just $45, making them by far the most affordable adjustable heel wedges on the market.
They’re about the same price as the Squat Wedgiez and quite a bit more versatile.
You can also get a pair of the 20° Slant Blocks (without the 10° pieces) for just $29 if you don’t need the extra elevation.
Recommended Use
The FAE Slant Blocks are ideal for anyone doing ATG exercises as well as static calf stretching. They’re great quality and also extremely affordable.
Pros
- 10°, 20°, and 30° Incline angles, perfect for ATG exercises as well as static stretching.
- Comes with a hard shell carry case.
- By far the most affordable 4 piece heel wedge set on the market.
Cons
- There isn’t much I don’t like about the Slant Blocks!
USE DISCOUNT CODE “A1ATHLETE” FOR 10% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER.
One of the more popular squat wedges on the market is the 4 piece set from Harderwill. It’s ultra sturdy, super versatile, and yet still quite affordable.
Best Squat Wedge – Runner Up
When it comes to squat wedges, Harderwill have been leading the way for a long time and they’re pretty hard to beat because they check all the boxes…
Perfect Angle(s) For Squatting
The Harderwill squat wedge comes in 4 pieces: 2 large blocks (15° angle) and 2 smaller blocks (9° angle).
The idea is you can use the large blocks by themselves or stack the smaller blocks on top to create a 24° slant angle.
Being able to use either a 15° or 24° incline makes the Harderwill squat wedge extremely versatile.
Effective For Calf Stretching
Not only is either angle excellent for squatting, but having access to that 24° slant allows you to use this heel wedge as a really effective calf stretcher.
None of the other products on this list (aside from the FAE slant blocks) have a strong enough incline that they can effectively be used for static stretching, which is a huge reason for choosing Harderwill.
Ultra Sturdy
This heel wedge (along with the FAE Slant Blocks) also has the highest weight rating of any heel wedge at 2,000lbs, about twice as much as the others, so you know it’s going to be stable enough for absolutely any purpose.
Very Affordable When On Sale
At the time of writing, this wedge is significantly more affordable than the ATG Buddies but a little more expensive than the Slant Blocks and Squat Wedgiez (which we’ll discuss shortly).
The full price of these wedges usually sits around $79, but more often than not you will find them reduced to around $39-$48, making them an absolute bargain.
When you combine the fact that this wedge has the best incline angle for all ATG exercises as well as a great incline for static calf stretching… as well as being super sturdy and very affordable, the Harderwill squat wedge is pretty hard to beat!
Recommended Use
Perfect incline angle for ATG exercises but also ideal for static calf stretching. I suggest checking the price as these are often on sale and come down to around $50 – I’d probably avoid these at their full price of ~$80.
Pros
- Both the 15° and 24° slant angles work really well for knees over toes exercises like squats and split squats.
- The 24° incline is steeper than many of the other products and is great for static calf/Achilles stretching.
Cons
- Could be a little wider.
Squat Wedgiez are a super affordable heel wedge designed specifically for squats and ATG movements.
Great Value Squat Wedges
It’s super clear to see that Squat Wedgiez really understood the existing problems with heel wedges, and have done a fantastic job at solving them.
Wider Platform = More Confident Squats
The single biggest issue when it comes to using heel wedges is that they’re usually extremely narrow.
This is problematic because it means you have to focus intently on aligning your feet perfectly in the center of the wedges as you’re walking the weight out.
There’s the constant fear of misaligning your foot and having the wedge give out from under you.
This is a genuine concern that I’ve seen several people mention in reviews.
Here’s why Squat Wedgiez are amazing…
| Heel Wedge | Width |
| ATG Buddies | 4.1″ |
| Harderwill | 4.7″ |
| FAE Slant Blocks | 4.7″ |
| *Squat Wedgiez | 6″ |
Having that extra width means you can focus 100% on your breathing and keeping your core tight and don’t have to spend those extra few seconds getting your feet perfectly aligned before your set.
The slant angle of the Squat Wedgiez is 15° which is perfectly fine when it comes to doing squats of all kinds.
They’re also rated for 500lbs each which is plenty.
Most Affordable Squat Wedge
These things are about as cheap as it gets when it comes to heel wedges and sell for around the ~$40 mark.
Unfortunately they’re not adjustable, but that’s probably not a deal breaker for most people.
Recommended Use
This is a great, budget choice for anyone who plans on doing back squats only and isn’t so concerned about ATG split squats or static stretching.
Pros
- Widest, longest, and most stable squat wedge on the market, ideal for back squats.
- This is also the most affordable squat wedge on the market.
Cons
- Some users might prefer a steeper incline or the ability to adjust incline angles.
Ben Patrick’s very own heel wedge, while it definitely gets the job done, could be improved.
How Good Is Ben Patrick’s Squat Wedge?
These are the squat wedges Ben Patrick has featured in a few of his videos, so you know they’re going to be pretty solid.
…But I think they need a revision or two before they’re able to compete with the other products I’ve discussed in this article.
Too Narrow?
Above I discussed how the width of heel wedges is really important to get right.
People were complaining that the Harderwill wedges were too narrow and that there’s a risk of instability/toppling under heavy loads.
The Harderwill wedges are 4.7″ wide and the ATG Buddies are even more narrow at just 4.1″.
This is a bit of a turn off for me as it means you have to line your feet up perfectly before beginning your set.
This is why I really like the Wedgiez product as it completely solves this issue.
On the other hand, the ATG Buddies have that flared cone-shaped base which should improve stability somewhat.
Good Incline Angle
The incline angle of the ATG Buddies is 20° which is a pretty nice middle ground between the Wedgiez and Harderwill/FAE options, so I’m quite happy with this.
Too Expensive?
Unfortunately the ATG Buddies are the most expensive heel wedge on the market at the moment…
Ben was pretty adamant about having them manufactured in the USA, but unfortunately this drives the price up quite a bit.
If you’re an ATG Online Coaching member, you can get a 20% discount on the ATG Buddies, but even with that discount applied these are still the most expensive heel wedges at the time of writing!
Recommended Use
These are a decent option if you’re already an ATG member (as you get a 20% discount) and want to support Ben Patrick. They’re still on the more expensive side, however.
Pros
- The 20° incline angle is decent for all ATG movements.
- ATG members get a 20% discount.
Cons
- These are super narrow which might reduce confidence under heavier loads.
- These are the most expensive ATG heel wedges on the market!
USE DISCOUNT CODE “A1ATHLETE” FOR 10% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER.
The squat wedges from Shogun sports are super portable and incredibly robust. They come with a carry case and are a great, budget friendly option for athletes on the go.
Most Portable Squat Wedges
If you’re simply looking for a reliable pair of wedges you can easily take with you to the gym, the Shogun Squat Wedges are definitely worth considering.
They’re on the smaller side, so you can expect a fair bit of toes-over-the-edge action, but they still do a fine job at raising your heel.
The most impressive part about these squat wedges was how sturdy they felt to use – absolutely no complaints on the quality department.
They also come in at a non-adjustable 20° incline angle.
They’re super affordable at around $50, equaling the price of the FAE Slant Blocks, so they’re a great fit for anyone on a tight budget.
Check out our full review of the MR1NF1N1TY X Shogun Squat Wedges.
Recommended Use
Great option for anyone on a budget who likes to bring equipment like this to the gym.
Pros
- Super portable and comes with carry case.
- Super affordable.
Cons
- Incline angle is non-adjustable.
USE DISCOUNT CODE “A1ATHLETE” FOR 10% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER.
Final Verdict?
My official recommendation is the Slant Ramps from TBG as they’re super versatile, durable, and work extremely well for all possible use cases.
If you’re looking to save a little cash, the Slant Blocks by Freak Athlete Essentials are going to be your next best option.
To be honest, I don’t think anyone would ever really need to venture outside of those 2 products to get a fantastic squat wedge experience!
You might also like to check out the best slant boards of 2023 if you’re looking for some more ideas!
If you’re not sure which one to get, check out this article:
My Squat Wedge Research & Review Process
I always make it my mission to be as comprehensive as possible with these product reviews so I can be as helpful as possible to my readers.
We’ve currently been able to test the TBG Slant Ramps as well as the Shogun Squat Wedges…
So in the interest of full transparency, I cannot yet speak about all of these products from first hand experience.
We do intend on getting our hands on some of the FAE Slant Blocks as well as some Wedgiez, so in the near future we’ll have more data for a more comprehensive review.
Since there wasn’t much information available on the internet about squat wedges, I decided to take the time to research each of these options and put together this list anyway, hoping some of you would find it helpful.
As an affiliate for each of these products, I often get a heads up regarding new product releases before the general public, which allows me to put together reviews with all of the most up-to-date kit.
Research Process
I spent a solid day looking at all of the different heel wedges on the market and compared things like incline angle, price, stability, and size/dimensions to help me decide which heel wedges would be most effective for ATG/knees over toes training.
Our head product tester, Eric Richter, has also been conducting in-hand product testing on the Slant Ramps from TBG – he was able to use the product several weeks before writing his review.
I also read through every review I could find on the web to find out what other people were saying about these products and was quickly able to narrow it down to just 5 products that should cover the needs of 99% of athletes.
Continually Updating With New Products & Information
As we gain more experience using these squat wedges, I’ll be updating this article so that you know exactly how our feelings towards each product evolve over time.
I’m also constantly on the hunt for new wedges that can offer value to the marketplace for inclusion in this article.
If you’re a heel wedge manufacturer and want your product reviewed and included in this article, please get in touch.
Feel free to read more about my product testing standards and review process.
Other Products Which Didn’t Make The Cut…
My research process was able to narrow it down to what I believe are the 4 best products, but here’s a few products I looked at which didn’t quite make the cut.
Double Circle Squat Wedge
The Double Circle squat wedge actually used to be a decent option up until recently, as they’re super solid and fairly affordable.
While the size/dimensions are quite good, they only come in 10° or 20° inclines and are still a bit more expensive than the newer options discussed earlier in this article.
Rogue Squat Wedge
I’m usually a big proponent of Rogue’s products, but I think they were pretty far off the mark with their squat wedge…
The product itself is extremely high quality, but absurdly expensive…
The base unit starts at $95 and you’ll pay more for the incline angle you want.
So not only are they really expensive, but they’re also not adjustable.
Amazing bit of kit, but I simply couldn’t justify the price to include it in this roundup.
Prime Squat Wedge
This is another really expensive product ($125) that has recently been discontinued and can no longer be found on the Prime Fitness website.
There’s still some available on the EliteFTS store last I checked, but I simply can’t see how this would be a practical option for ATG exercises.
Why Weight Plates Are Not A Good Solution
This is the ‘solution’ I used to use at the gym and, to be completely honest, it is absolutely awful.
The issue with just throwing down some weight plates to squat on is the massive shift in your center of gravity.
Squatting on weight plates puts you up onto the balls of your feet which makes driving through our heels virtually impossible.
There is also greatly reduced lateral stability and you’ll probably find it an absolute nightmare trying to get your feet perfectly aligned before your set.
There’s just no feeling of ‘sturdiness’ when using this approach, which is problematic when squatting.
Just the other day I was using this method and I probably spent 15 seconds with the barbell on my back, wiggling my feet around trying to get them into a position where they could get a good bite on the 5kg plates I was using…
If you’re doing any serious squat volume, invest in your own comfort, stability, and safety and just grab a pair of proper heel wedges!
