The First Ascent: Scouting the Idea for Porta-Hang

Prototyping the Dream: First Steps with Porta-Hang
As a woodworker, crafting things from wood has always been a passion of mine. So, when the idea for a portable training tool struck me, it felt natural to grab some tools and start prototyping. My goal was simple:
- Lightweight and compact enough to fit in my carry-on.
- Capable of using a variety of climbing holds.
Using the measurements I had gathered from hotel door frames, I crafted a prototype out of wood—small, adjustable, and built with hardware from Home Depot. I picked up some climbing holds from Metolius, or ones I carved myself and got to work. The result? Well, as you might expect, the first iteration was a bit… clunky. But that didn’t matter. The important thing was that it gave me critical insights into how this idea could work.
Early Testing and Feedback
The first tests were surprisingly promising. I showed the prototype to a couple of my climbing buddies, and they agreed—it was a useful concept, something you could toss in a bag and take on the road. But there were issues.
- It took way too long to set up, and each unit had to be custom-built to fit a specific door frame size.
- Any mismatch in door frame dimensions meant trouble: pulling on one side would push the opposite side out of alignment.
- And, of course, the prototypes were massive—definitely not ideal for portability.
While the feedback was positive, I knew there was a lot of room for improvement. The concept was solid, but it needed refinement. The next challenge was clear: I had to find a way to make Porta-Hang more portable, more versatile, and easier to use.