Eva López MaxHangs hangboard routine – quick summary
- Eva López MaxHangs hangboard routine
- Low-volume, high-intensity protocols for significant strength gains
- Short TUT and high intensity lead to rapid neural adaptations
- MaxHangs MAW-MED 8-week training cycle spreadsheet
- Eva López MaxHangs hangboard routine details
- Eva López MaxHangs finger strength protocol summary table
- Eva López MaxHangs fingerboard strength training routine remarks
- Eva López MaxHangs finger strength training results and discussion
- Scientifically proven strength gains of up to 20.6% in just four weeks and up to 28% after eight weeks of training
- Proven strength endurance gains of up to 34% after eight weeks of training
- Cycle hangboard protocols to change the training stimuli and break the plateau
- Protocols highly recommended for intermediate and advanced climbers
- Beginners had better stay away and use other methods instead
Eva López MaxHangs hangboard routine
The Maximum Hangs (MaxHangs) protocols were developed and popularized by Eva López, a Spanish elite climber, coach, and sports scientist [1]. The training protocols are low volume and high intensity. When first introduced, the MaxHangs hangboard routine was faced with some skepticism, because of the relatively short time under tension (TUT), compared with, e.g., Hangboard Repeaters or Steve Bechtel’s 3-6-9 Ladders [2][3]. However, despite the program’s low volume, Eva López was able to prove the extreme effectiveness of her routines scientifically.
Since then, MaxHangs have become widely accepted in the climbing community [4]. Eva’s findings are in line with the results of recent research, which show that a low volume routine can be just as effective as a high volume one while being significantly more time-efficient [5]. The protocol can be executed in two versions, the minimum edge with no added weight (MaxHangs MED) and with added weight (MaxHangs MAW). Both methods trigger neural adaptations through short TUT and high loads (75 – 103% of MVC) [6].
Trigger neural adaptations efficiently through low volume, short time under tension, and high loads.
MaxHangs MAW-MED 8-week training cycle spreadsheet
Setting up your own training cycle can be challenging, particularly in the case of routines such as the MaxHangs, where it's necessary to calculate added load, edge depths, and other parameters. That's why I have created functional Excel spreadsheets for StrengthClimbing registered Premium Users.
All you need to do is register for a 1-month subscription plan and download the Excel spreadsheet. The MaxHangs MAW_MED training spreadsheet features a complete 8-week training plan that consists of 4 weeks of MaxHangs MAW and 4 weeks of MaxHangs MED. You may train various hold positions, from half crimp and full crimp through 3-finger drag, 2-finger pockets, and even pinches.
The training sessions are programmed, and hang loads are calculated automatically, although advanced users will find the spreadsheet easy to customize to modify their training plans. You just need to measure your finger strength based on the step-by-step instructions included, and the rest is done automatically.
And in case you have any additional questions, as a Premium User, you get full technical support. I can also help you customize the training plan according to your goals. On top of that, you get access to all StrengthClimbing Premium Content, including articles, instructional videos, tools, and training programs!
Eva López MaxHangs hangboard routine
Eva López MaxHangs hangboard routine details (MED)- Choose an edge on which you can hang for only 6 – 20 seconds.
- Hang for 5 – 15 seconds (leave a 1 – 5-second margin), rest for 3 – 5 minutes.
- Complete 2 – 5 sets.
Figure 1: Cardboard strips in the edge slots of the Zlagboard, to adjust edge depth.
Eva López MaxHangs hangboard routine details (MAW)
- Choose a grip position to train.
- Add enough weight to be able to hang for only 6 – 20 seconds.
- Hang for 5 – 15 seconds (leave a 1 – 5-second margin), rest for 3 – 5 minutes.
- Complete 2 – 5 sets.
Table 1: MaxHangs protocol summary.
| MaxHangs | |
|---|---|
| Hang test time [s] | 6 - 20 |
| Margin [s] | 1 - 5 |
| MVC-7 load | 75 - 103% |
| Sets | 2 - 5 |
| Hangs/set | 1 |
| Hang time [s] | 5 - 15 |
| Rest betw. sets [min] | 3 - 5 |
| TUT [s] | 10 - 75 |
| Total time [min] | 3 - 21 |
Eva López MaxHangs strength training protocol remarks
- Always warm up properly before doing the MaxHangs hangboard routine.
- Perform three to four sets with increasing added weight or decreasing edge depth (50 – 90% of the previous session’s load) [4].
- The number of MaxHangs sets can be varied between 2 – 5.
- Beginners should start with two sets.
- The hang time can be varied between 5 – 15 seconds.
- Typical hang time: 10 seconds
- The margin is also called the effort level (EL) and may be varied between 1 – 5 seconds [10].
- Leaving a margin leads to similar results as reaching failure, but reduces the risk of injury.
- Typical margin: 3 seconds
- The rest time between sets can be varied between 3 – 5 minutes.
- Typical rest time between sets: 3 minutes
- For the MaxHangs MED protocol, an edge between 5 – 10 mm is usually chosen.
- During each set try to assess the time margin you have left on the hangs.
- If you feel like your margin exceeds 3 – 5 seconds, decrease the edge depth by 1 – 2 mm, according to the perceived effort.
- If you feel like your margin approaches zero, increase the edge depth by 1 – 2 mm, according to the perceived effort.
- During each set try to assess the time margin you have left on the hangs.
- For the MaxHangs MAW protocol, an edge between 8 – 22 mm is usually chosen, but you can do it for any hold.
- Typical added load: 5 – 55 kg
- During each set try to assess the time margin you have left on the hang.
- If you feel like your margin exceeds 3 seconds, add 2 – 5 kg for the next set, depending on bodyweight.
- If you feel like your margin approaches zero, subtract 2 – 5 kg for the next set, depending on bodyweight.
Eva López MaxHangs finger strength training results and discussion
Since its introduction, the MaxHangs hangboard routine became widely known, and today it is the hallmark of hangboard strength training. What is interesting, in one of her studies Eva reports that an 8-week cycle of her MaxHangs program also resulted in a 34% average strength endurance improvement, apart from the apparent finger strength gains, which is a bonus and confirms that strength endurance is directly related to strength [11].
Because Eva López MaxHangs hangboard routines are characterized by low volume, they are designed to constitute only a part of a training session. In order to notice improvements, the routines should be performed from two to three times per week, depending on the amount of other training you do. To maintain a stable level of strength, it should be enough to execute the MaxHangs hangboard routine once a week. Execute the drills at the beginning of a climbing session, followed by a 15-minute rest before proceeding to the next exercise.
Start with four weeks of MaxHangs MAW, followed by four weeks of MaxHangs MED, to complete a full 8-week cycle and maximize gains.
The MaxHangs protocol is very effective, but owing to the relatively low volume, it does not leave you exhausted and the complete recovery time is usually as short as 48 hours [12]. According to Eva López, it is best to start an 8-week training cycle with four weeks of the MaxHangs MAW protocol and follow with four weeks of the MaxHangs MED. Such protocol combination can yield up to 28% finger strength gains [4]! I would recommend the MaxHangs protocols to intermediate and advanced climbers, but not to beginners. You need ample hangboarding experience to safely determine the loads, hang times and to avoid injury.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me. Please subscribe to the blog, to keep up to date with the upcoming posts on cutting edge methods of climbing training!
References
- Eva López Blog (link)↩
- J. Banaszczyk, StrengthClimbing – Hangboard Repeaters, Apr. 8, 2019. (link)↩
- J. Banaszczyk, StrengthClimbing – Steve Bechtel’s 3-6-9 Ladders, May 18, 2019. (link)↩
- U. Chrobak, Climber Eva López Has a PhD in Finger Strength, Outside Online, Jul. 9, 2018. (link)↩↩↩
- Schoenfeld, B.J., Contreras, B., Krieger, J., Grgic, J., Delcastillo, K., Belliard, R., Alto, A., 2018. Resistance Training Volume Enhances Muscle Hypertrophy but Not Strength in Trained Men. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 1. (link)↩
- Eva López Blog – Maximal hangs, Intermittent Hangs (Repeaters) or a Combination. Which 8-week program is more effective for developing grip strength in rock climbers?, Mar. 14, 2018. (link)↩
- TransgressionUSA.com (link)↩
- Fingershinder.com (link)↩
- Zlagboard.com (link)↩
- González-Badillo, J.J., & Gorostiaga, E., 1993. Fundamentos del entrenamiento de la fuerza. Aplicación al alto rendimiento deportivo. (link)↩
- López-Rivera, E., González-Badillo, J.J., 2019. Comparison of the Effects of Three Hangboard Strength and Endurance Training Programs on Grip Endurance in Sport Climbers. Journal of Human Kinetics 66, 183–195. (link)↩
- Eva López Blog – Fingerboard Training Guide (III). Program design and Periodization of MaxHangs, IntHangs and SubHangs. Samples of MaxHangs training programs, Jul. 5, 2018. (link)↩
