The best skipping ropes for a more rigorous workout
Not only do skipping ropes make a great low-impact alternative to running, they're also a space-saving and affordable piece of kit for home-bound cardio. Here's what to know before you take the leap
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Skipping rope? Jump rope? Whatever you call it, the classic playground pastime is making a comeback. Already a familiar fixture in boxing gyms, skipping ropes help fighters work on their coordination and footwork, while offering plenty of benefits outside of training too.
Spending some time with the rope indoors or outdoors can be a low-impact alternative to running when you need to get your heart pumping. It’s also a way to spend some valuable time toning both the upper and lower body. Whether you’re grabbing it for those double unders or to get warmed up, it’s the kind of workout tool that can add surprisingly good value and variety into your training.
Skipping ropes are now better built to go the distance, even if you spend just a short amount of time putting them to regular use. They can even be adjusted to give arms a more rigorous workout, while some have the ability to keep track of just how much jumping you’ve done in a session.
So grab your pair of gym shoes, know what to look for in a good rope and choose from our pick of the ones to get skipping with.
Skipping ropes: indoors or outdoors?
All ropes will be suitable for indoor use, but when you head out and move onto skipping on surfaces such as concrete it pays to look for a type of rope that’s better equipped for hitting harder ground. Ropes that offer extra protection for that outdoor use have durable materials, such as stainless steel, to make it better suited for regular impact with the floor.
What’s the best rope for skipping at speed?
This is likely to be less of an immediate concern for beginners, but if you’re feeling confident that you can master a quick skipping action there are ropes better designed to accommodate picking up the pace. Look for ropes that use ball bearing mechanisms connecting the handles to the rope. These are better designed to offer smoother, more stable rotations as you look to maintain that skipping speed.
Should I buy weighted skipping ropes?
Weighted skipping ropes are designed to offer a much greater workout for the arms, if you like the idea of building some upper-body strength as well as getting the lower body moving. This is usually offered by ropes that let you place weights inside of the handles to increase the resistance. You can also go for a thicker rope that might have more in common with the kind of battle ropes you’ll find in gyms.
1/13Beast Gear
Another option for boxers who want to work on their footwork, Beast Gear’s rope uses long aluminium handles with a grooved design to help you keep a good hold of them. Ball bearings are used to provide that fluid action and help you keep control of those jumps. The rope measures three metres long and can be tweaked in length with the supplied tool. £19.97. At amazon.co.uk
2/13Gravity Fitness
This sleek all-black jump rope combines affordability with a solid build quality, thanks to CNC-machined aluminium handles for lightweight durability and a ball bearing swivel for a tangle-free skipping experience. Its PVC-coated three-metre cable should last for years too, while its length can be easily adjusted with just a couple of screws. £12.95. At gravityfitness.co.uk
3/13Nike Fundamental Speed
Speed in name, speed in nature, Nike's minimalist skipping rope has a high-density narrow-gauge plastic rope for a fast rotation, with metal bushing for a smoother, wider range of motion. The rope length can be adjusted to suit your height too, making it an ideal choice for sharing with a workout buddy. £17.99. At amazon.co.uk. At Argos. argos.co.uk
4/13Jordan
Jordan's weighted speed rope is rather unique in the sense that the weight comes from the rope itself, rather than the handles. The 0.75lb or 1.25lb weighted rope has a smooth rotation thanks to built-in ball bearings and the extra weight does a great job of ramping up the difficulty in a way that rivals can't match. £26.40. At bestgymequipment.co.uk
5/13Adidas
Adidas' rope comes with weighted cores you can place inside of the handles to up the difficulty stakes when you start skipping. The 9ft long rope should be suitable for most to put to good workout use, with a carrying case included to keep hold of the extra weights and ropes when you need to take it on your travels. £29.99. At amazon.co.uk
6/13Decathlon
This rope includes wooden handles with ridges to ensure a reliable grip when you start skipping. There’s also room to add in removable 45g weights, should you need to make things more of a challenge, which are connected to a PVC rope that’s designed to hold up to regularly hitting the floor and can be adjusted to make it a better match for your technique and height. £12.99. decathlon.co.uk
7/13Aerb
Aerb’s connected option uses a dual-chip sensor to reliably track your jumps and sets, showing off stats as well as calories burned and workout time on the display built into the handle. The battery-powered setup uses a covered steel wire rope with foam handles and is equipped to store your most recent skipping session, so you can see the jump numbers to match or beat when you grab it next. £16.99. At amazon.co.uk
8/13Mirafit
Mirafit bulks things up with its weighted rope that will help build arm strength. It uses rubber on the handles to make them easier to keep hold of for longer and also offers two rope length options. That should mean there’s a strong option for most to put their endurance – as well as their strength and speed – to the test. £19.99. At amazon.co.uk
9/13Bodymate
Bodymate includes two three-metre long steel ropes that can be paired up with handles built to better manage when things get sweaty. It uses screws to make it easy to adjust rope length and also includes a rope protector to make it better suited for outdoor skipping sessions. Drop the optional 140g weights into those handles and you’ll also throw in some extra strength work while you get those legs jumping. £13.99. At amazon.co.uk
10/13Fitness Mad Ultra
This super-fast speed rope is tangle-proof, with metal bearings to help ensure a smooth and steady pace no matter how fast you're working. Ideal for everything from CrossFit to boxing training, and everything in between, its knurled metal handles give it a clean, aggressive look, while offering plenty of all-important grip in the process. £15. At bestgymequipment.co.uk
11/13Pro Fitness
The Pro Fitness speed rope is one of the better deals out there, offering a tangle-free, fast skipping experience with a length-adjustable 300mm cable. It might lack the fancier metal handles of some rivals, but at comfortably less than a tenner, we're perfectly happy with a plastic handle at this price. £7.99. At Argos. argos.co.uk
12/13JTX Fitness
This leather skipping rope from JTX Fitness is a simple, no-nonsense affair that gets the job done with a classic look, at a price that's easy on your wallet. Ball bearings within the handles make for a smooth action, while the handle shapes make for an easy grip. It's not adjustable, with a set length of 275cm, so you might want to look at an alternative if you're after a specific length or adjustable option. £16. jtxfitness.com
13/13Megilo
A rope specifically made for indoor skipping sessions, Megilo lets you get to grips with tough aluminium handles paired up with an adjustable 9ft long cable rope, which uses steel ball bearings to offer that smoother skipping motion. Take your pick of gold and metallic red looks and then get to work building up your stamina and strengthening that lower body. £4.99. mymeglio.com
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