If you want to stretch properly and minimize the chance of injury problems with tightening calves, plantar fasciitis, and other foot problems, then one of these slant boards might be your best bet. Slant boards not only help you stretch your lower leg muscles, but they also help you recover several problems such as plantar fasciitis, tightening calves, and achilles tendon injuries.
Also Read: 7 Best Foot Massagers For Plantar Fasciitis
There are many slant boards available today in different materials and sizes. We, of course, want to help you pick the best slant board for your needs. Here are our buyer’s guide and review for the best slant board for stretching calf and foot.
Quick Answer:
1. StrongTek Professional Wooden Slant Board
This professional wooden slant board from StrongTek is the best for durability and functionality. It’s made of premium Lauan hardwood plywood and a non-skid step top. It’s the best slant board for stretching calf and foot because it offers the five different angles with an extra-side handle for portability.
2. Rolling With It Professional Adjustable Wooden Incline Slant Board
A strong contender is the professional wooden incline slant board from Rolling With It. It offers four different angles to increase your flexibility, relieve pain, and recover from plantar fasciitis. We love this slant board because it comes with an extra bag for storage and portability.
3. StrongTek Portable Slant Board
The StrongTek portable slant board is a more lightweight alternative to wooden versions. This board is made of lightweight plastic and a textured surface to give great stability when doing your slant board exercises. It’s available in three colors: aqua, black, and brown.
Editor’s Pick Best Slant Board For Stretching Calf And Foot
Slant Board Buying Guide
We know how difficult it is to buy your first slant board which is why we have compiled this helpful guide to help you find the best slant board for stretching calf and foot. Here are a few things you should consider when buying a slant board.
Material
The material of slant boards may vary from wood to plastic and foam. Your choice depends on your personal preference. If you want something durable, choose wooden slanted boards. For something more lightweight, choose either plastic or foam. Regardless of the material, find a board that has a superior construction to last for a long time.
Incline
Some slant boards offer adjustable incline levels while others only have one. For versatility, find a slant board that offers multiple incline levels. The best slant board features 3-5 different angles to serve a more large-scale capacity.
Size And Weight Limit
The slant board’s dimensions are important if you want to stretch comfortably on it. Professional sizes usually offer a large area for you to work on. The length is around 16-17 inches and the width can be around 12-13 inches. As for the weight limit, a decent limit is at least 300 lbs.
Health Benefits Of Slant Board
There are many reasons to use a slant board for your regular stretching exercises. Here are a few health benefits of the slant board.
- Improve walking activity in post-stroke hemiparetic patients
- Improves circulation and back health
- Relief of achilles tendon injuries and other foot injuries
- Helps with plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and calf strains
- Reduces stress and headaches
- Relaxes muscles all over the body
How To Use A Slant Board: 4 Quick Steps
- Set the slant board to the desired slanted angle.
- Next, climb onto the board and secure your feet on the anti-skid surface.
- Lay back gently and stay in the inclined position for 1-5 minutes or more.
- When you’re done with a session, rise up carefully and climb down from the board.
5 Best Slant Board For Stretching Calf And Foot Review
1. StrongTek Professional Wooden Slant Board
The StrongTek Professional Wooden Slant Board is a high-quality injury prevention equipment. This professional slant board is 16 inches deep, 12.5 inches wide, and 12 inches high. It’s made of premium Lauan hardwood plywood, a material stronger and more durable than birch and pine plywood.
We love this StrongTek slant board because it’s adjustable in five different angles: 15, 22, 25, 30, and 35 degrees. The quick-adjust locking system makes this board easy to use. The extra handle at the side makes this slant board easy to carry anywhere.
The top and bottom surfaces have anti-slip treads to keep it very stable and safe to use. It can accommodate a maximum weight of Strong450 lbs. StrongTek offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can ask for a full refund if you’re not happy with the product.
PROS:
- Made of durable and premium hardwood material
- Extra-side handle for portability
- Anti-slip design offers great stability and safety
- Adjustable to five different angle positions
- Supports a 30-day money-back guarantee
CONS:
- The non-slip strips aren’t evenly placed
Best For:
This StrongTek Professional Slant Board is best for all fitness levels and ages. It’s highly recommended for athletes or anyone suffering from any calf and foot injuries. It’s perfect for home, office, clinics, and gym use.
2. Rolling With It Professional Adjustable Wooden Incline Slant Board
The Rolling With It Professional Slant Board is another good stretch equipment for calves, foot, and hamstring. It’s made of strong plywood with a birch wood veneer. It’s built with non-slip foot placement and rubber base to protect your floors for a long-time enjoyment.
This slant board measures 17 inches in length, 13 inches in width, and 2.5 inches in thickness when folded flat. It can carry a maximum weight of 350 lbs. With its four adjustable angles (10, 20, 30, 40 degrees) and quick-adjust locking system, you can accurately measure the development of your performance and recovery.
What we love about this slant board is the high-quality Oxford cloth carry bag that comes with it. You can use the bag to store and carry the slant board anywhere you go. It also includes a Stretching Guide to help you begin your way to recovery.
PROS:
- Includes a durable carry bag
- Easy to fold and store
- Provides four angle positions
- Non-slip top and bottom surfaces
- The plywood feels solid
CONS:
- The backboard gets in the way when you stand on an incline
Best For:
The Rolling With It Slant Board is ideal for anyone who has limited space at home. This slant board folds quickly and very portable. It includes a carry bag where you can store your slant board under your bed or anywhere else.
3. StrongTek Portable Slant Board
This StrongTek Portable Slant Board is more lightweight than its wooden counterparts because it weighs at only 3.7 lbs. It’s made of plastic/rubber lip and a textured surface for great stability. It measures 12 inches long and 10.6 inches wide with a weight capacity of 300 lbs.
This portable slant board is available in three colors: aqua, black, and brown. It’s water-resistant and corrosion-resistant making it great for long-term use. The lips of this board are cushioned to protect your heels when using it. The position can be set in four angles: 20, 30, 40, and 45 degrees.
PROS:
- Lightweight and portable
- Available in three nice colors
- Provides four different angles
- Extra-cushioned lips to protect your heels
- Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee
CONS:
- The size is a bit narrow
Best For:
The StrongTek Portable Slant Board is perfect for travel. It’s very lightweight and it folds quickly for great portability. You can use also this slant board in your home and office.
4. Flybold Professional Wooden Slant Board
Measuring 16 inches long and 12.5 inches wide, this flybold Slant Board impresses us with its attractive construction. It’s made of high-quality plywood with birch finish that supports a maximum weight of 450 lbs. The anti-slip tread offers excellent grip while the smooth side handles allow you to easily carry this board anywhere. This slant board features five different angles: 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 degrees.
We love flybold because it comes with a resistance tube for stable stretching and a spiky ball for heel massage. It also includes a visual exercise guide to get you started and a 3-D packaging that looks similar to the slant board. Flybold also offers a money-back guarantee in case you’re not satisfied with the product.
PROS:
- Comes with extra accessories (resistance band and spiky ball)
- Made of high-quality plywood
- Anti-slip tread gives excellent grip
- Adjustable to five different incline levels
- Amazing 3D-like packaging
CONS:
- The hinge breaks easily
Best For:
The flybold Professional Wooden Slant Board is good for people who want more than just a slant board. Besides the slant board, flybold also offers a resistance band and a spiky massage ball.
5. OPTP Foam Incline Slant Boards (Pair)
This OPTP Foam Incline Slant Boards is a good alternative to wooden and plastic boards. It’s very lightweight as it weighs around 10.2 oz or 0.64 lb. Measuring around 11.75 inches in length and 11.75 inches in width, this board is easy to handle with its special weight-bearing foam material.
OPTP is sold in pairs. A single wedge has an 18-inch angle incline position. You can stack them for a maximum stretch because OTP sold them in pairs. This pair of foam incline boards are latex-free so they’re safe to use even for children. We don’t know exactly the maximum weight capacity of these wedges but they can hold up pretty well for 220 lbs.
PROS:
- Very lightweight, but sturdy
- Sold in pairs
- Made of dense foam
- Stackable for maximum stretch
- Easy to handle
CONS:
- Only gives one angle position
Best For:
This pair of OPTP Foam Incline Slant Boards are great for stretching, strengthening, and recovery at home or in the clinic. They’re ideal for tight calves and also helps in improving the sitting posture of children.
FAQs:
Q: What is a slant board?
A slant board is a piece of stretch equipment which consists of a platform and a base. Some boards have platforms that can be adjusted to different angles. The goal of this equipment is to help you stand upright with stretched toes and calves.
Q: Can the slant board ramp up my workout or yoga results?
Yes, slant boards can target various muscle groups in many different ways by changing foot positions. Placing your foot on a downward slant is a great way to challenge your body. Using this board puts more pressure on your feet and calves, hence strengthen them and establish better balance.
Q: Does stretching help tendonitis?
Stretching the calf and foot muscles may help reduce the pain. It also helps in the recovery of a peroneal tendon injury.
Conclusion
The best slant board for stretching calf and foot is the StrongTek Professional Wooden Slant Board because it’s the most durable among this bunch and it offers five different angle positions. It’s made of Lauan hardwood plywood and an extra side handle to make this board easy to carry.
A good alternative is the Rolling With It Professional Adjustable Wooden Incline Slant Board if you want something more portable. It includes a carry bag where you can store the slant board when you want to go somewhere. It offers four different angles, a non-slip surface, and a quick-adjust locking system for your safety.
Allen Wei is someone who believes in living his best life, focusing on balance, happiness, and relaxation. He fosters a positive lifestyle in terms of his body, mind, and environment, and he is a huge proponent of learning to be balanced via relaxation techniques integrated into our busy lives.
