Slackboard vs. Slackline: My Honest Opinion as a Pro

When I started slacklining, the Slackboard didn’t exist yet. To be honest, I still don’t know whether that was a good or a bad thing. Today the board is booming, mainly thanks to Gibbon, and people often ask me whether it can replace a real slackline. Here’s my honest answer.

First, a disclaimer: this is my personal opinion, not a neutral review. I’m a professional slackliner, not a longevity or mobility guru. What doesn’t excite me as a trickliner might be exactly right for you, and the other way round.

What is the Slackboard?

The Slackboard, formerly known as the Giboard, is a board with a short piece of slackline webbing tensioned on it. You stand just a few centimetres above the floor and need no trees or anchor points. If you’re searching for “Slackboard vs. Giboard”: it’s the same product under a new name.

What I like about the Slackboard

It lowers the barrier to entry. For kids and older people in particular, the Slackboard is a great way to start balancing. You stand just above the floor, it feels less intimidating, and you can use it almost anywhere.

It’s a strong training tool. For balance training and targeted strengthening exercises, the Slackboard is genuinely good. If you treat it as a training tool and work with exercises, you’ll get a lot out of it.

Professional athletes use it too. Even ski legend Lindsey Vonn trains on the Slackboard, as she shows in an Instagram video, and it isn’t a sponsored post. As supplementary training for athletes, I think the Slackboard is great.

Where it can’t keep up for me

The feeling is completely different. A real slackline swings and bounces much more. And it simply feels different whether you’re standing a few centimetres above the floor or balancing higher up on a line. For me, that feeling is clearly better on a real slackline.

Walking is barely possible. Because the webbing is so short, the part where you actually walk is very limited. Without exercises, you’ll reach the limits of the Slackboard quickly. Gibbon knows this and actively works to keep users engaged: the Gibbon app offers lots of exercises for the Slackboard.

And the Slackrack?

For me, the Slackrack sits somewhere between an outdoor slackline and the Slackboard. It’s a frame with a longer line that you can set up anywhere, no trees needed. The downside: it’s quite heavy, so it isn’t ideal if you want to carry it around a lot.

Still, the Slackrack is a great tool for me, especially in workshops and for hands-on stations at events. Because it stands anywhere, guests can try out balance on the line right after a show. How I use it at company events is described in Corporate Event Entertainment Ideas.

Side-by-side comparison

My personal rating, from one star (hardly suitable) to five stars (perfectly suited):

My verdict

Would I trade my slackline for a Slackboard? Never. Is the Slackboard still a good product? Yes, absolutely.

My key message: as supplementary training, especially for athletes, the Slackboard is great. But if you want to seriously start slacklining as a sport, it can’t replace a real slackline.

• You want the real slackline feeling, to walk and maybe learn tricks one day? Get a slackline. I show how to rig it properly in How to Set Up a Slackline, and explain the first steps in How to Slackline for Beginners.
• You’re looking for a balance and strength training tool for indoors, for kids, older people or as a supplement to your sport? Then the Slackboard is a really good choice.
• You want to get groups or guests onto a line without trees? Then the Slackrack is ideal.

Want to try something yourself? In the Gibbon webshop you’ll find the Slackboard, the Slackrack and classic slacklines such as the ClassicLine Set. With the code MORITZ you get 15% off all products.

Transparency: I work with Gibbon Slacklines. Links to the Gibbon webshop are partner links.