Crane Scale vs Force Plate for Climbing
A crane scale is enough if you only want a max pull number every month or two. For live feedback, fast readings for the critical force test or rate of force development, or measuring on your own hangboard without rigging, you want an inline load cell or a force plate.
If you want numbers for your finger training, you have three kinds of tools to choose from: a cheap hanging crane scale, a dedicated inline load cell such as the Tindeq Progressor, or a ground force plate such as Entralpi. Forums are full of “is a crane scale enough?” threads, and the honest answer is: sometimes.
This article explains what each tool measures, how accurate each has been shown to be, and which one fits how you train.
How does each tool work?
Crane scale. A hanging scale made for weighing loads, usually clipped between a sling on a hold and an anchor on the floor. You pull up on the hold and the scale reads the tension. Community apps such as the open-source Dyna connect to Bluetooth models like the WH-C06.
Inline load cell. The same principle as a crane scale, but built for climbing: a sensor rigged between a hold and an anchor that streams force to an app many times per second. The Tindeq Progressor, PitchSix Force Board and Frez Dyno work this way, as does Crimpdeq, an open-source sensor you build yourself.
Ground force plate. You stand on the plate and hang from any hangboard, block or bar. The plate measures how much of your weight leaves it; that difference is the force your fingers are holding. No rigging, and the hold can be anything. This is how Entralpi works.
Where each type of device measures the force, shown in green.
What can each tool measure?
| Measurement | Crane scale | Inline load cell | Ground force plate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak force of a single pull | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live force during a hang | Depends on the app and scale | Yes | Yes |
| Critical force test (24 pulls) | Possible, awkward | Yes | Yes |
| Rate of force development | Not reliably | Yes, within its sample rate | Yes, within its sample rate |
| Works on your hangboard as mounted | No, needs a rigged hold | No, needs a rigged hold | Yes |
| Dead hangs with full bodyweight | No | Needs a harness setup | Yes |
The key difference is not the sensor but the setup. Inline tools measure a pull on a rigged hold, which is great for one-arm tests and portability. A force plate measures what happens on the board you already train on, including full-bodyweight hangs, and needs nothing but floor space.
How accurate are they?
- Tindeq Progressor. Compared with a laboratory force plate in 25 climbers, it showed excellent agreement (ICC 0.99), with limits of agreement of 22 N in one-arm rung pulls and 37 N in lock-offs.
- Entralpi force plate. Compared with a laboratory force platform, it showed ICC 0.991 and a mean relative error of 0.41% in finger flexor tests.
- Crane scales. Sellers list a static accuracy, but we found no published study validating a crane scale for dynamic finger force testing, and most do not publish a sample rate. The Dyna app’s developer reports that the WH-C06 sends about 8 readings per second, too few to measure rate of force development. Static accuracy tells you how well it weighs a sack of flour, not how well it tracks a fast pull.
For most climbers, any of these is accurate enough for a maximum force test repeated every few weeks. The differences show up in fast measurements (rate of force development), in long tests (critical force), and in convenience.
Is a crane scale enough?
- You mainly want a max pull number every month or two.
- You are happy to rig a hold and an anchor each time.
- Budget matters most, and you like tinkering with open-source apps.
When do you need a dedicated device?
- You want to train with live feedback: hold a target percentage during max hangs, repeaters or no-hangs.
- You want to run the critical force test or track rate of force development, which both need a steady stream of fast readings. See our testing guide.
- You want to measure on your own hangboard, gym boards or any hold without rigging (force plate), or you want the most portable one-arm setup (inline load cell).
Every device compared
Prices, sample rates and app plans below come from each manufacturer’s site and are kept up to date in one place.
| Device | Price | Sample rate | Max load | Works with | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground force plates | |||||
| Entralpi Force Plate | $185 | 100 Hz | 150 kg | Any hangboard or hold | Free |
| Inline load cells | |||||
| Tindeq Progressor 200 | US$160 | 80 Hz | 200 kg | Any hangboard or hold | Free |
| PitchSix Force Board Portable | US$169 | 80 Hz | 300 kg | Any hangboard or hold | Free, optional paid tier |
| Frez Dyno | US$89 | 250 Hz | 300 kg | Any hangboard or hold | Free, optional paid tier |
| DIY Crane scale (e.g. WH-C06) | from US$25 | – | – | Any hangboard or hold | Third-party apps |
| Instrumented hangboards | |||||
| Climbro Mini | from US$299 | 100 Hz | – | Its own holds | Free, optional paid tier |
| Climbro Pro | US$749 | 100 Hz | – | Its own holds | Free, optional paid tier |
| SmartBoard SmartBoard Pro | from €2,290 | – | – | Its own holds | Included, no subscription listed |
| Sensor mounts for a specific hangboard | |||||
| SmartBoard mySmartBoard | €662.50 | – | – | Beastmaker or YY board | Included, no subscription listed |
| Griptonite Motherboard | £349.99 | – | – | Beastmaker 1000/2000 | Free, optional paid tier |
| Timing boards (no force measurement) | |||||
| Zlagboard Pro / Evo | €99 | – | – | Its own holds | Included, no subscription listed |
The bottom line
A crane scale is a fine way to find out whether numbers help your training. If they do, you will want live feedback, faster sampling and a setup you actually use every session. Choose an inline load cell if you value portability and one-arm pulls; choose a force plate if you want to measure on the hangboard you already own, with no rigging.
More on testing: how to test finger strength and the critical force test.
Do this in Entralpi
The app’s tests need your plate and a hold to pull on (Take a test). What each test measures says how the app counts each number. Without the plate, the timer runs a session but measures no force.
Sources
- Labott BK, et al. (2022). Validity and reliability of a commercial force sensor for the measurement of upper body strength in sport climbing. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living.
- MacDougall KB, et al. (2023). Validity of the Entralpi force plate in the assessment of finger flexor performance metrics in rock climbers. Sports Biomechanics.
- Dyna, an open-source app for the WH-C06 crane scale.
- Crimpdeq, an open-source force sensor you build yourself.
