hi mani, long term viewer, even longer time barefoot climber here. Keep crushing! I find barefoot also very beneficial for my foot arches, especially the traverse arch. I have a mostly vertical wall and as a lot of weight rest on my feet smaller balls hurt. For this application I like 25-40mm deep "edges" with a 20-40° slope; similar to the ones on your kicker. Regarding splitting: In addition to your tips, really countersinking the holes works wonders. I really recommend the wolf craft drill & countersink bit. (maybe mani can add it as a affiliate link). Pilot holes in the wall also help, at least at my multiplex wall, the wood fibers around the entrance of the screw raise up a bit, creating a ledge.
I have bunion because of climbing shoes. I cant bend my big toe completely. Now my only option is too stop wearing climbing shoes and climb with barefoot shoes or barefoot outdoor. I think that it is really underestimated on overhang terrain since it is really practical too be able too grab foothold with my feet. I still believe that i can climb at top level without climbing shoes. I just have too be very selective with my problem's.
I make a lot of wooden holds for my wall too! My recommendation is that when you drill the tunnel through the hold, you make it wide enough so that the screw thread doesn't bite at all on the hold. Then when it goes into the wall and starts biting, it pins the hold tightly onto the wall. Before I knew this I had a lot of issues with gaps behind the holds and them flexing due to not being in tight enough - maybe you've already tried this but that's the best method for me. Also I have gotten away with using only one screw on small footholds without the hold spinning (though my footholds are slightly smaller than yours). If you put the single screw slightly off-axis, and also use the above drilling method, then the hold is both tight to the wall and has no freedom to rotate. Also with only one screw it is less likely to split. This may be different on a slippier painted board rather than my plain plywood one though, so can't guarantee this works for you.
Thank you for sharing this information. I have access to small hard wood so I wanted to know how to make wood holds. I will try making some small round shapes for foot!
Hi Mani, to secure small balls with only 1 screw hole in our gym, we just drive a screw from the side in to the gap between the ball and the wall. maybe that could also be helpful for your setup
i use my thumb toe for better grip, and its a better way to climb ropes in general, aka putting the rope between your thumb toe, and index toe, then gripping, but what i hate is... WHEN IT STARTS HURTING BECAUSE YOU SKINNED IT FROM CLIMBING
The real pain starts by heel hooking barefoot. For the drilling it would be optimal to fix the wood somehow so you don't have to drill that close to your hand.
Funny yes, i mentioned i might start barefoot climbing to a friend recently… didn’t expect him to be some negative… like hanslds are super clean, i’m mostly barefoot since feb this year abd seriously thinking to hit the wall barefoot 😎
Soundbite about “toes actively gripping balls” is amazing
I do climb barefoot since April 2017 until 7b+. Nice greetings from the Frankenjura ;-)
hi mani,
long term viewer, even longer time barefoot climber here. Keep crushing!
I find barefoot also very beneficial for my foot arches, especially the traverse arch.
I have a mostly vertical wall and as a lot of weight rest on my feet smaller balls hurt. For this application I like 25-40mm deep "edges" with a 20-40° slope; similar to the ones on your kicker.
Regarding splitting: In addition to your tips, really countersinking the holes works wonders. I really recommend the wolf craft drill & countersink bit. (maybe mani can add it as a affiliate link). Pilot holes in the wall also help, at least at my multiplex wall, the wood fibers around the entrance of the screw raise up a bit, creating a ledge.
“Index toe” 😂 I have no idea what that toe is called either, but from now on it will be known as the index toe in my household! ❤️
Next step climbing V17 barefoot like Charles Albert
Or I guess its V15 now
I have bunion because of climbing shoes. I cant bend my big toe completely. Now my only option is too stop wearing climbing shoes and climb with barefoot shoes or barefoot outdoor. I think that it is really underestimated on overhang terrain since it is really practical too be able too grab foothold with my feet. I still believe that i can climb at top level without climbing shoes. I just have too be very selective with my problem's.
I make a lot of wooden holds for my wall too! My recommendation is that when you drill the tunnel through the hold, you make it wide enough so that the screw thread doesn't bite at all on the hold. Then when it goes into the wall and starts biting, it pins the hold tightly onto the wall. Before I knew this I had a lot of issues with gaps behind the holds and them flexing due to not being in tight enough - maybe you've already tried this but that's the best method for me.
Also I have gotten away with using only one screw on small footholds without the hold spinning (though my footholds are slightly smaller than yours). If you put the single screw slightly off-axis, and also use the above drilling method, then the hold is both tight to the wall and has no freedom to rotate. Also with only one screw it is less likely to split. This may be different on a slippier painted board rather than my plain plywood one though, so can't guarantee this works for you.
Mani, we need to get you a full tension board somehow!
imagine having a toe pulley injury. Do forget to warm up your toes Mani. 😜
yeah, just bat hang on the hangboard for warm up 🤪
No need to imagine it. Ive experienced it. Not fun
Thank you for sharing this information. I have access to small hard wood so I wanted to know how to make wood holds.
I will try making some small round shapes for foot!
Hi Mani, to secure small balls with only 1 screw hole in our gym, we just drive a screw from the side in to the gap between the ball and the wall. maybe that could also be helpful for your setup
Great video, thats exactly what i need👍🦶
Cool idea, Definately going to give this a try!
Those old footholds looked good for training toe strength though. Only wooden spheres is good but those edges seemed good for feet too.
i use my thumb toe for better grip, and its a better way to climb ropes in general, aka putting the rope between your thumb toe, and index toe, then gripping, but what i hate is... WHEN IT STARTS HURTING BECAUSE YOU SKINNED IT FROM CLIMBING
Hi Mani, if you don't know him, you should have a look to Charles Albert's video in font !
He was mentioned in the video.
@@terraflow__bryanburdo4547 oh sorry i didn't realized it
Hi. What socks you use to climb in gyms? Thanks 😅
The real pain starts by heel hooking barefoot.
For the drilling it would be optimal to fix the wood somehow so you don't have to drill that close to your hand.
Vice-grips.
@@terraflow__bryanburdo4547 Yes, for example
Next video Road to toe dumbell curls (44kg)
ngl I hate those shoes as I have Too wide of feet and plus Been climbing shit without Any Climbing shoes and prefer it than shoes.
You climb barehanded in public why not barefoot
Funny yes, i mentioned i might start barefoot climbing to a friend recently… didn’t expect him to be some negative… like hanslds are super clean, i’m mostly barefoot since feb this year abd seriously thinking to hit the wall barefoot 😎