BURSTMetolius released its iconic Metolius Simulator hangboard in 1987, an absolute game changer for athletes looking to build strength, warm up safely, and rehabilitate injuries. The Simulator took the climbing world by storm, and Metolius has been on the cutting edge of the finger training game ever since, offering several other training tools in wood and plastic, both mountable and portable. Their latest offering is their lightweight Nano Rings – portable wooden blocks you can take to the gym or crag.
The Nano Rings are sold individually or as a package of two. Each block features 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm and 25 mm edges, a 40 mm finger jug and a 40 mm full hand jug. You can use them for weighted lifts at the gym on any size edge you would like to train. They’re also great for some simple finger rolls and tugs as you are warming up, either for a gym session or at the crag. When using the rings as a pair, they easily do the trick for any hanging exercise you can think of.
Each block weighs 220 g (the weight of approximately three Clif Bars), making the Nano Rings a very portable companion. With dimensions of 35 mm x 80 mm x 40 mm, you don’t have to agonize over whether or not to pack it on even the most heinous slog to your climbing destination of choice.
With these weight and size specs, the Nano Rings are a little heavier and bulkier than some other wood blocks on the market, but they sturdy and designed to last. They are thick enough that you will never be afraid of the wood splintering as you train weighted lifts. And because the wood itself is robust, you would never pick them up and be concerned that they’re too flimsy to withstand your training protocol or that they might get crushed under the weight of your gear.
Personally, I think the Nano Rings are awesome. They’re a great design, balancing functionality, portability, and comfort. The wood is not too slippery, nor too rough, and the finish doesn’t immediately make your fingers sweat, as some other finishes do. I love having a large variety of edges on such a small device. The choice by Metolius to make the edges slightly positive is genius. When hung in open space, portable blocks tend to tilt under the weight of the climber. However, the slightly positive angle means that the edges will still sit horizontally, instead of slightly tipping downward and creating impossible-to-hold slimpers as you hang. I don’t notice the slightly positive angle bothering me with weighted lifts – the edges feel comfortable and safe to train on.
The jugs are also great for all of your needs: deadhangs, shoulder shrugs, pullups, front levers, whatever you can think of (or are capable of). Some jugs on other portable wood blocks or hangboards are uncomfortable. They can be angular, too skinny, or sometimes feature unusual notches and lines, all of which can create hot spots when you hang. It can be frustrating when you’re trying to rehabilitate an injury, but the hot spot aggravates your already irritated [insert injured body part here]. But like the edges, the jugs are pleasantly ergonomic and comfortable.
So if you’re in the market for a new portable training blocks that meets the Goldilocks standard of comfort, affordability, packability, durability, these Nano Rings are for you. Their thoughtful composition by Metolius makes them tools you will actually want to take with you to the crag and use as a part of your training routine.
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