Devil's Beard might appear like a walk in the park, but don't let this obstacle fool you. Heavy grade netting is pinned to the ground, only providing you so much room to crawl underneath to the other side. Whether its the opening of the net that you can get snagged on, or the uneven ground surface you need to crawl through - Devil's Beard might have you feeling a bit like hell.
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Get low
Crouch down, so you can move at a quicker pace under the net
Head down
Let your back take the brunt of the friction of the net and keep your arms and legs lower so they don’t get caught
Give yourself space
Try lifting the net with your arm, if you want to try and walk through crouching down
Side by Side
Go with your team member, so both of you can keep the net higher and less restrictive.
“Looked easy, but got caught up in the net a few times…my friend and I couldn’t stop laughing”
The inside word
Deep dive into the details of Devil’s Beard.
How To Conquer
Get low and use your arms as a way to hold the thick, heavy netting above you. Commence army crawling your way under or if you have the core mobility, bend you body in half and walk under, with your back taking the majority of friction on a ‘smooth’ surface so your head & arms don’t get caught.
A HISTORY: PYRAMID SCHEME
Simple, yet effective for the challenge. Devil’s Beard has been with Tough Mudder for years & makes it’s appearance on course when you least expect it.
Lean in - but not for a kiss. In order to keep yourself out of the drink, you'll need to coordinate with a fellow Mudder to maintain a semblance of balance while crossing the Widow's Peak water pit. You'll have your own slackline to plant your feet on as you shimmy across, but sharing a single line for your hands means that you'll feel every buck and blunder from your new friend.
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Plant Your Feet
Get some solid footing on the slackline before you begin your traverse.
Lend a Hand
Grasp the handhold line and be courteous – you’re sharing it for support.
Make Eye Contact
It’s the polite thing to do. Plus it’ll make communication so much easier.
“It take two to Tango, but only one to make a splash”
The inside word
Deep dive into the details of Widow’s Peak.
How To Conquer
You’ve got four things to concentrate on here: your hands, your feet, your fellow Mudder, and your core. Start with solid footing on the lower line and a firm grip on the upper line. Tighten your core to maintain stability and begin to shimmy across in unison with your counterpart in the next lane.
A HISTORY: WIDOW’S PEAK
New for 2022, Widow’s Peak builds upon the prestigious foundations of Dong Dangler and Black Widow, adding a dash of teamwork to the classic combo of slack lines and water pits.
Holding hands isn't just for lovers - it's for anyone hoping to make it through Texas Hold'em. This topsy-turvy obstacle features sharply two sharply angled platforms on a pivoting base. You'll need to grab hands with another Mudder (friend or stranger, it doesn't matter at a Tough Mudder) and shuffle in unison to keep the whole seesaw from rocking you off.
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Hold Hands
Sweaty hands are no excuse – clasp hands tightly and stay interlocked.
Do the Two Step
Moving out of sync is a fasttrack to failure. Coordinate those foot movements!
Find Your Center
No two participants are identical, so find your center of gravity before moving!
“We laughed, we cried, we fell off.”
The inside word
Deep dive into the details of Texas Hold’em.
How To Conquer
The two things to remember here are balance and trust. Choosing a partner that is roughly your height won’t hurt either. Get a good grip on each other’s hands (crosslinking helps some people), bend your elbows slightly, and plant your feet on the platforms simultaneously. Shuffle, don’t step, in coordinated movements to keep the platform (relatively) steady.
A HISTORY: TEXAS HOLD’EM
Invented in 2019, Texas Hold’em was designed to add a simple-yet-engaging shot of teamwork to the Tough Mudder course. The design was further refined in 2021 to get that famous wobble just right.
Piggyback rides are fun. Hauling your tired, muddy friend (or new acquintance) along a long stretch of trail is exquisite. Don't worry - you'll get to switch with them halfway.
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Choose your Style
Piggyback or Fireman style – that is the question. See what feels right.
Eye on the Prize
See that sign in the distance? That’s where you switch. Make haste.
Meet & Greet
Don’t know anyone? No problem. Odd numbers are as common as even numbers. It’s time to meet a new friend.
“It was the greatest, muddiest piggyback ride of my life.”
The inside word
Deep dive into the details of Hero Carry.
How To Conquer
Talk with your teammate (or random partner) about how you’d like to carry and/or be carried. Piggybacking is traditional, but the advanced fireman’s carry technique – in which you carry your partner across your back by hooking one of their arms and one of their legs with your elbows – is the key for fastmovers.
A HISTORY: HERO CARRY
The concept of carrying a companion for the sheer joy of it is surely as old as humanity itself. Our innovative team would never dream of taking credit for it.
We'd tell you to watch your step, but it'll do you no good: there's no telling where the next hole will be. Pitfall will take you across a muddy swamp, filled with hidden sinkholes. Even the most sure-footed Mudder can expect some mud on their face.
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Step Lightly
Don’t stomp through the swamp on this one. Tread carefully and feel for the holes.
Look Around
See where that guy just fell? Don’t step there.
Embrace the Mud
Face it – you’re getting muddy. Might as well laugh about it.
“Don’t be hasty. Those holes are SNEAKY.”
The inside word
Deep dive into the details of Pitfall.
How To Conquer
Move slowly here and step lightly here, because there’s not much more that you can do to prepare. The holes are deep and random, so don’t go stomping.
A HISTORY: PITFALL
Originally devised by a sneaky excavator in the early days of Tough Mudder, Pitfall introduced a simple element of surprise that’s hard to top.
This obstacle ups the ante as Mudders have to drag their muddy bodies up a pipe, and find themselves perched at the end of a 5’ drop into the cold water below. Falling gracefully isn’t really an option, so just hold your nose and take the plunge.
Pucker up because you're about to get up close and real personal with the mud. Navigate through less than 18" of barbed wire clearance in an army crawl motion through uneven muddy surfaces. The only way out is a low & slow motion to avoid a prick before you are on your way to the next obstacle filled with surprises.
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Army Crawl
Use your knees and elbows to get you across to the other side
Low Ceiling
With only so much clearance, make sure to keep you head low to avoid the gnarly barbed wire
Wet & Wild
Uneven surfaces lurk below the muddy madness
Low & Slow
Take your time to avoid getting pricked
“There is no getting out from this obstacle clean!”
The inside word
Deep dive into the details of Arctic Enema.
How To Conquer
Pause to reflect on your first move and channel your inner commando crawl. Get on your hands and knees and aim to get as low into the mud as possible. Perform a forward motion army style crawl keeping your head low, to avoid the barbed wire. Surfaced will be uneven below the wet, muddy surface – so expect the unexpected.
A HISTORY: KISS OF MUD
Anywhere we can get away with throwing barbed wire into the mix, that obstacle becomes an instant classic. Kiss of Mud is known for not holding back and leaving Mudders crawling out from the obstacle covered head to toe in the muck.
At 9’ tall with a tiny 4” foot hold, this mud slicked wall is a deceptively difficult challenge that even the most experienced Mudders have to take seriously.
As you approach the angry beast, you can hear it clicking its 1,000 yellow tongues at you, just waiting for you to run right into its gaping mouth. Others go ahead before you and for a split second you think it will all be okay—hey, look, that guy’s making it through fine. But you can feel the sweat on your brow as you realize, holy sh*t it’s your turn. You’re about to dash through 10,000 volts of electricity...
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
Grit
Teamwork
Strength
Fun
START FAST
Just start running and don’t stop.
WATCH YOUR FEET
Wet sloppy mud that makes you slip and the electricity worse.
SLOPPY MUD
Obstacles dotted among the wires to trip you up.
10,000 VOLTS
That’s right. You will feel it.
“What the hell just happened?”
The inside word
Deep dive into the details of Electroshock Therapy.
How To Conquer
Don’t overthink it – there may well be a correlation between the time spent procrastinating and the number of shocks… Psych up (a battle cry may help) and charge straight into the belly of the beast. Run like hell, cover your face and remember to get back up quickly if you do go down.
Obstacle Training Tips
There are not many recommended ways to train for this obstacle. However, keeping your feet is very important. So work on your balance and stability when moving over uneven ground. Working on your footwork, agility and ability to change direction quickly will all be beneficial. But in the end, just close your eyes and run.
Obstacle FAQs
Q: What does it feel like?
A: Being hit in the head by an angry ghost.
A HISTORY: ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY
Perhaps Tough Mudder’s most controversial obstacle, this simple structure remains largely unchanged from its inception and earliest days on course. A field of wires dangling from a rectangular frame, clicking as 10,000 volts crackle through them. Over the years mud, trenches, rows of hay and even a grandstand have been added to enhance the spectacle. A right of passage for most participants and favourite amongst spectators who enjoy watching the carnage.
