Beastmaker 2000 Review: Advanced Hangboard for Strong Climbers

Design and Hold Breakdown

The Beastmaker 2000 series packs an impressive number of holds into a compact 580mm x 150mm x 58mm frame. That's roughly 23 inches wide and 6 inches tall, small enough to mount above almost any doorway. It ships with six screws for installation and weighs next to nothing.

What makes this board special isn't its size. It's what they crammed into it.

Here's the full Beastmaker 2000 holds breakdown, working from the outside in:

Slopers (Three Pairs)

The outermost holds on the board are 45-degree slopers. These are genuinely aggressive. Most climbers will find these challenging even with both hands, and they're a fantastic tool for building open-hand strength on steep terrain. Moving inward, you get 35-degree slopers (still demanding, but more manageable) and 20-degree slopers near the center. The 20-degree pair works well for warming up and for one-arm sloper training as you progress.

Three angles of slopers on a single board is unusual. Most hangboards give you one sloper pair, maybe two. The 2000 lets you train slopers as a progression, from moderate to brutally steep.

Edges and Rungs

The 2000 doesn't have many four-finger edges, and that's by design. You get two pairs of symmetrical edges (roughly 32mm and 13mm deep) and two standalone center edges (roughly 50mm and 25mm). The center edges serve double duty: warm-up holds and assists for one-arm work. The famous 22mm middle rung is a staple for max hang protocols.

For comparison, that 13mm edge would be the smallest hold on most other hangboards. On the 2000, it's a warm-up hold. That tells you what kind of board this is.

Three-Finger Pockets

Two three-finger pockets sit just off-center, at roughly 38mm and 19mm deep. They're not symmetrically paired, which means this board isn't really designed for two-arm hangs on matched three-finger pockets. Instead, they're built for one-arm pocket work or for pairing with an edge on the opposite hand. The shallower pocket is genuinely small and will test even experienced climbers.

Two-Finger Pockets (Four Sets)

This is where the 2000 shines. You get four sets of two-finger pockets at varying depths, from deep and comfortable to shallow and sloping. One set has a sloping angle that makes it significantly harder than its depth alone would suggest. The deepest two-finger pockets also feature offset holes for mono training. If you're a boulderer who gets shut down by two-finger pockets on the wall, this board gives you every variation you need to fix that.

Back-Two Pockets

A unique feature of this board: pockets specifically sized for your ring and pinky fingers. Most climbers have significantly weaker back-two fingers compared to their index and middle. These pockets let you train that imbalance directly, which is hard to do on boards that only offer standard front-two or three-finger pockets.

Monos

Two mono pockets, one with a slight slope. These are one-finger holds for climbers who need to build single-digit strength for specific projects or who want to bring up a weak individual finger. Mono training is a niche tool, but for the climbers who need it, having it built into the board is a big deal.

Mouth Jug

The mouth jug replaces the full-sized jugs found on the 1000. It's deep enough to be comfortable but small enough that it's genuinely a hold, not just a place to rest. You'll use it for warm-ups, one-arm work, and as an assist hold when training harder positions on the opposite hand.

The Beech Edition

The standard Beastmaker 2000 is made from North American tulipwood, the same material Beastmaker has used since 2007. It's light, smooth, gentle on skin, and has a warm natural grain.

In recent years, Beastmaker introduced a beech wood edition. The beech version uses FCS-certified European hardwood that's denser, darker, and slightly more durable than tulipwood. Beastmaker also emphasizes its lower carbon footprint: the beech is sourced from continuous cover forestry and transported with a smaller environmental impact.

From a training perspective, the beech feels slightly different under your fingers. It's a touch harder and smoother, and some climbers find it marginally less grippy than tulipwood. The functional difference is small, but if you're particular about texture (and climbers tend to be), it's worth knowing.

Pricing: The tulipwood version runs $138. The beech edition is $152. Both are available direct from Beastmaker in the UK and through US retailers like Mad Rock and So iLL.

Beastmaker 1000 vs 2000: Who Should Get Which

This is the question everyone asks, and the answer is more straightforward than you'd think.

The Beastmaker 1000 is a general-purpose training board. It has jugs for warming up, a wide range of edge depths from deep to 10mm, comfortable pockets, and moderate slopers. It covers the full spectrum of hold types at difficulties that work for most climbers. If you're building a foundation of finger strength, the 1000 gives you everything you need.

The Beastmaker 2000 is a specialist's board. It removes the beginner-friendly holds and replaces them with harder, more targeted options. The slopers go from "challenging" to "aggressive." The pockets get shallower and narrower. Monos appear. The warm-up holds on the 2000 would be the hard holds on the 1000.

Get the 1000 if: You're building general finger strength, you want a board that covers warm-up through hard training on a single piece of wood, or you haven't yet plateaued on a standard hangboard.

Get the 2000 if: You've trained on other boards and you know your specific weaknesses. You want steeper slopers, shallower pockets, or mono training. You're looking for a board that challenges you in targeted ways, not across the board.

They're the same price ($138 in tulipwood), so it's purely a question of what you need from the holds, not budget.

Who It's Actually For

Beastmaker markets the 2000 for experienced climbers, and that's accurate. The Beastmaker 2000 hangboard is designed for climbers who know exactly what they're training and why.

Here's the profile of the climber who gets the most out of this board:

You climb V8+ and have specific weaknesses to target. Maybe your two-finger pocket strength is lagging behind your edge strength. Maybe slopers on steep terrain shut you down. The 2000 lets you isolate and hammer those weaknesses.

You've outgrown a standard hangboard. If you're adding significant weight to max hangs on 20mm edges and the slopers on your current board feel easy, the 2000 gives you a harder playing field.

You want one-arm and reduced-finger training built in. The hold layout is designed around one-arm variations, back-two training, and mono work. If these are part of your training plan, the 2000 supports them natively.

You're a boulderer who needs grip-type variety. Route climbers tend to live on edges. Boulderers encounter weird holds constantly. The 2000's variety of slopers, pockets, and monos mirrors what you find on hard boulders. For a deep dive on each hold type and how to train them, check our grip types guide.

Training on the 2000

The 2000's hold variety lends itself to several training approaches. Here are three solid protocols that work well with this board:

Max Hangs (Eva Lopez Protocol)

Pick a hold that challenges you at near-max intensity. Hang for 6-10 seconds, rest 3-5 minutes, repeat for 3-5 sets. The 2000's range of pocket depths and sloper angles gives you plenty of options to progress through without needing to add external weight. When one hold gets manageable, move to the next harder variation on the board.

Repeaters (Anderson Brothers Protocol)

7 seconds on, 3 seconds off, for 6 cycles per set. This builds strength endurance and is excellent on the 2000's two-finger pockets and slopers. Use the deeper pockets for higher-volume repeater sets and the shallower ones for lower-volume, higher-intensity work.

Density Hangs

Accumulate time on a hold. Pick a two-finger pocket or sloper and aim for total hang time (say, 30-60 seconds) broken into whatever intervals you need. This is a great approach for building comfort and confidence on the 2000's more aggressive holds, especially the 45-degree slopers.

For more on these protocols and how to structure your sessions, see our hangboard training guide. The beauty of training on the Beastmaker 2000 is that progression is built into the board. You don't necessarily need to add weight. You move from deeper holds to shallower ones, from the 20-degree slopers to the 35-degree to the 45-degree, from three-finger pockets to two-finger to monos. The board itself is the progression ladder.

Limitations

No board is perfect, and the 2000 has some real drawbacks worth knowing about.

The Holds Are Aggressive

This is a feature and a limitation at the same time. If you're a climber who primarily needs standard edge training at varying depths, most of the 2000's holds won't be relevant to your sessions. A board with more four-finger edge options and fewer pockets might serve you better.

No Labeled Edge Depths

This is the biggest practical frustration with both Beastmaker boards. The holds aren't engraved with millimeter measurements, which makes it harder to log and track your training precisely. If your protocol calls for hangs on a specific edge depth, you'll need to measure the holds yourself and remember which is which. Boards with labeled edges are much more convenient for structured training.

Same Price as the 1000

The identical $138 price point is actually a slight drawback because it might tempt climbers to "buy up" when the 1000 would serve them better. There's no premium to pay for the 2000, but there's also no savings to reward the right choice for your level. Buy based on your needs, not on getting the "better" board.

No Pinch Training

The 2000 doesn't include pinch holds of any kind. If pinch strength is a priority, you'll need a separate training tool.

Compact Size Limits Warming Up

With no real jugs and only a mouth jug and moderate slopers for getting blood flowing, your warm-up options on the 2000 are limited. Many climbers warm up on a pull-up bar or with light hangs elsewhere before moving to the 2000.

How It Compares

vs. The Hangboard ($89.99)

The Hangboard takes a fundamentally different approach. Where the Beastmaker 2000 emphasizes hold variety (slopers, pockets, monos), The Hangboard focuses on precision edge training with labeled depths and clean progression from large to small edges. The Hangboard is designed around structured protocols where you know exactly what depth you're hanging on, making it excellent for repeatable, measurable training. If you want targeted variety, the 2000 delivers. If you want precise, trackable edge progression, The Hangboard is the better tool.

vs. Tension Grindstone Mk2 (~$171)

The Grindstone is the closest competitor in philosophy. It's also a wooden board aimed at advanced climbers, with a wide variety of holds including slopers, pockets, and edges. The Grindstone is larger (and heavier), offers more edge variety with specific labeled depths, and includes pinch rails. It's a more complete training station but takes up more wall space. The 2000 wins on compactness and sloper training. The Grindstone wins on edge variety and pinch options.

Verdict

The Beastmaker 2000 is an excellent hangboard for advanced climbers who know what they're training. The hold variety is unmatched at this size, the tulipwood construction is gorgeous and skin-friendly, and the progression built into the board (from moderate to savage) means you won't outgrow it. For boulderers pushing into the upper grades who want to target specific grip weaknesses, it's one of the best boards you can buy.

But it's overkill for most climbers. If you don't have a clear need for 45-degree slopers, mono pockets, or back-two training, you'll get more mileage from a board with a broader range of edge depths and friendlier warm-up options. The Beastmaker 1000 covers more ground for more people at the same price.

The bottom line on the Beastmaker 2000 specs: 580mm x 150mm, tulipwood or beech, $138-$152, packed with advanced holds, and built to last. If you're the climber this board was designed for, you already know it. If you're not sure, the 1000 is the smarter buy.

For more hangboard comparisons, check out our Hangboard Brand Guide or our full Best Hangboards 2026 roundup.

Frequently Asked Questions