So iLL Hangboard Review: Style Meets Function
Most hangboard companies play it safe. Same shapes, same materials, same beige designs. So iLL looked at all of that and said "nah." The result is a lineup that combines creative hold shaping, bold aesthetics, and a unique position in the US climbing market that no other brand occupies. They design their own original boards and serve as the exclusive US distributor for Beastmaker. This review covers the full So iLL hangboard lineup, with a deep look at their flagship Iron Palm and their Beastmaker distribution.
Best-in-class slopers and pinches, designed by Jason Kehl (CryptoChild)
- Best sloper training holds on any hangboard
- Functional pinch grips (three width options)
- Full-width edges prevent pocket-cheating
- Extremely durable urethane construction
- Bold aesthetics and multiple color options
- Edge gap: jumps from 35mm to 15mm (no 20-25mm)
- No traditional finger pockets
- Large footprint (27" x 11.5")
- Urethane texture differs from wood
- Less structured for data-driven training
Boulderers who climb on slopey or compression-heavy rock and want to train slopers and pinches alongside edges. If you pull on granite slopers at Rumney or sandstone compression in the Red, Iron Palm sessions transfer directly to your outdoor climbing.
Iron Palm 2.0: The Flagship
The Iron Palm 2.0 is where So iLL's identity shines through. Designed by Jason Kehl (known in the climbing world as CryptoChild), one of the strongest US boulderers from the late '90s and early 2000s, this board looks and feels like nothing else on the market.
Edge Depths
The top rail is an incut jug for warm-ups. The first crimp rail sits at 40mm with a slightly rounded profile. The second crimp rail is 35mm and flat. The bottom crimp rail is 15mm and flat. The so ill iron palm hangboard takes a fundamentally different approach to hold design. Instead of the standard pocket-and-edge layout, the Iron Palm runs its edges across the full width of the board. You choose how many fingers to use on any given edge. No pockets means no side walls to "cheat" against, which forces honest finger contact.
The Slopers
The real stars are the slopers. Two massive, softball-sized spherical holds sit on either side of the board, and they're the best sloper training holds on any hangboard today. The gentle curve from low-angle on top to near-vertical on the front face lets you adjust difficulty by shifting your hand position. If you climb slopey granite or sandstone, this is a major selling point.
The Pinches
Two pairs of pinch grips on the lower edges give you three total pinch width options. Most hangboards skip pinch training entirely or offer a single token hold. The Iron Palm treats pinch strength as a first-class training priority.
Beastmaker 1000 and 2000
Introductory tulipwood board with progression of edges, slopers, and pockets. Skin-friendly texture many climbers prefer over resin or urethane. Frequently sells out on soillholds.com.
Advanced board with smaller edges and more demanding hold profiles. Steps up the difficulty for climbers who've outgrown the 1000. Also available through REI and Amazon.
Modular hold pieces developed with pro climber Meagan Martin. Arrange your training wall however you like for custom setups.
So iLL is the exclusive US distributor for Beastmaker, which means you can get these iconic wood boards shipped from St. Louis instead of waiting for international delivery from the UK. The so ill beastmaker partnership puts two of the most respected fingerboards in climbing within easy reach of US customers. So iLL offers free continental US shipping on orders over $99, which both Beastmaker models clear.
What Makes the So iLL Hangboard Different
Design With Personality
Most hangboards are purely functional. The so ill hangboard lineup actually looks good on your wall. The Iron Palm comes in multiple color options, and its sculptural shape makes it more like climbing art than a standard training board. If your board lives in your living room, aesthetics matter.
The Sloper and Pinch Advantage
This is where the Iron Palm genuinely stands apart from the competition. The overwhelming majority of hangboards focus almost entirely on edge and pocket training. That makes sense for pure finger strength, but climbing demands more than crimping power. Slopers require whole-hand engagement and open-hand strength. Pinches demand thumb opposition force. The Iron Palm trains both of these at a level that no other single board matches.
US-Based Beastmaker Access
For climbers who want a Beastmaker but don't want UK shipping, customs fees, and long wait times, the so ill beastmaker partnership is genuinely valuable. Same authentic Beastmaker boards, domestic shipping from Missouri.
Strengths
Creative Hold Design
The Iron Palm's no-pocket, full-width edge approach gives you more freedom in how you position your fingers. Combined with the best slopers and pinches available on any hangboard, it's a versatile training tool for climbers who want more than just edge hangs.
Range of Options
Between their own urethane boards and the Beastmaker wood boards, So iLL covers both material preferences under one roof. You can compare urethane vs. wood and pick the texture that suits your skin and training style. For a full breakdown of hangboard materials, see our types and materials guide.
Durability
The Iron Palm's urethane construction is extremely tough. Urethane holds are standard in commercial gyms because they handle constant use without degrading. Your Iron Palm will outlast several sets of climbing shoes.
Skin-Friendly Progression
If you go the so ill beastmaker 1000 route, the tulipwood surface is famously gentle on skin. You can train more frequently without shredding your fingertips.
Aesthetic Appeal
The Iron Palm genuinely looks cool mounted on a wall. Bold colors and sculptural slopers turn a training tool into a conversation piece.
Limitations
Edge Depth Gaps on the Iron Palm
The Iron Palm 2.0's edge progression jumps from 35mm to 15mm with nothing in between. Most training boards include a 20mm or 25mm edge, which is the standard training depth for most climbers. If 35mm feels easy but 15mm feels impossible, bridge that gap with added weight on the larger edge or feet-assisted hangs on the smaller one.
No Traditional Pockets
The Iron Palm's full-width edges are a deliberate design choice, but some climbers prefer defined two-finger and three-finger pockets for tracking progress. If structured pocket training is your priority, a Beastmaker or Tension board will serve you better.
Beastmaker Availability
Both the Beastmaker 1000 and 2000 frequently show as sold out on the So iLL store. Beastmaker boards are in high demand globally, so you might need to wait for a restock.
Size
At 27" x 11.5", the Iron Palm is a big board. Measure your mounting space before ordering. It won't fit on a standard pull-up bar setup the way smaller boards can.
How So iLL Compares
| Feature | So iLL Iron Palm 2.0 | The Hangboard | Beastmaker 1000 | Tension Grindstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Urethane | Beech wood | Tulipwood / Beech | Poplar (coated) |
| Slopers | Best in class (spherical) | 40-degree | 20° and 35° | No |
| Pinches | Yes (3 widths) | No | No | No |
| Pockets | No (full-width edges) | No | Yes (multiple) | No |
| Price (USD) | ~$60-70 | $89.99 | ~$138 | ~$170.90 |
| Best For | Sloper & pinch training | Labeled edge progression | All-around wood board | Pure edge training |
vs. Beastmaker (standalone)
If you want a Beastmaker, buying through So iLL is the easiest path for US customers. Same board, domestic shipping, no customs hassle. The Iron Palm is a completely different training experience. It's not trying to be a Beastmaker competitor; it's doing its own thing with slopers and pinches.
vs. Metolius
Metolius boards offer more granular edge progressions and defined pockets at a lower price point. If structured, trackable finger training is your goal, Metolius gives you more data points. But Metolius can't touch the Iron Palm's sloper and pinch training.
vs. Tension Grindstone
The Grindstone is a pure training tool with precise edge depths. Better for systematic max hang protocols. The Iron Palm is better for varied sessions that include open-hand and pinch work.
For a deeper comparison across all major manufacturers, check out our Hangboard Brand Guide.
Labeled beech wood edges from 40mm to 10mm at $89.99
If you want structured edge progression with labeled depths in wood construction, The Hangboard delivers beech wood, six depths from 40mm down to 10mm, and 40-degree slopers for $89.99. Clean design, measurable training.
The Verdict
The so ill hangboard lineup is genuinely unlike anything else on the market. The Iron Palm 2.0 is not the board for everyone. If you want a standard edge-and-pocket fingerboard with precise depth progressions, look at a Beastmaker 1000, Tension Grindstone, or Metolius board instead.
But if you value creative hold design, want to train slopers and pinches alongside your edges, and appreciate gear that looks as good as it performs, the Iron Palm is a standout. It's especially strong for boulderers who climb on slopey or compression-heavy rock. And So iLL's Beastmaker distribution means you can pick the so ill hangboard that matches your style, whether that's urethane boldness or wood tradition.
Chalk up, warm up on the jug rail, and have fun with it. The Iron Palm rewards exploration.
For the full picture on hangboard options, visit The Hangboard or dive into our Hangboard Brand Guide.
Want wood + labeled edge progression?
Beech wood. Six depths. 40mm to 10mm. $89.99.
Shop The HangboardFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. The top jug rail and 40mm edge are large enough for anyone to start training on immediately. The full-width edges let you use as many fingers as you need, and you can always use feet-assisted hangs to reduce load while you build strength. The slopers also work well for open-hand training at any level since you can adjust difficulty by hand position alone.
So iLL is the exclusive US distributor for Beastmaker hangboards. You can purchase both the Beastmaker 1000 and Beastmaker 2000 directly from soillholds.com for around $138 each. They also appear on REI and Amazon, though stock varies. Buying direct from So iLL gets you free continental US shipping on orders over $99.
The Iron Palm 2.0 is made from urethane, the same material used for commercial climbing gym holds. It's extremely durable and provides a texture similar to what you'd find on indoor climbing walls. This is different from wood boards like the Beastmaker, which use tulipwood for a smoother, more skin-friendly feel.
No. The Iron Palm uses full-width edges instead of traditional pockets. Each edge runs the entire length of the board, and you choose how many fingers to place on it. This is a deliberate design choice that prevents "cheating" by gripping the side walls of a pocket. Some climbers love this freedom; others prefer the structure of defined pockets.
These boards serve different training goals. The Beastmaker 1000 is a wood board with defined pockets and a careful edge progression ideal for structured finger strength training. The Iron Palm is a urethane board with full-width edges, massive slopers, and functional pinches that prioritize varied grip training over pure edge work. If you want precision and progression, go Beastmaker. If you want versatility and creative training, go Iron Palm. So iLL sells both.
The Iron Palm 2.0 at around $60-70 sits in the budget-to-mid range for quality hangboards, and the unique sloper and pinch training you get is hard to find elsewhere at any price. If those grip types matter to your climbing, it's an easy recommendation. The Beastmaker boards at ~$138 are priced in line with what they cost through other retailers, and you get the convenience of US-based shipping.
- So iLL Official - Product specs and Beastmaker distribution
- Hangboard Types & Materials Guide - Urethane vs wood deep dive
- Hangboard Brand Guide - Full brand comparison across the market
- Best Hangboards 2026 - Complete roundup and buying guide
Ready to start training?
6 edge depths from 40mm to 10mm. European beech wood. One board that grows with your climbing.