Best Skipping Ropes Independently Reviewed
Jumping rope is a seriously underrated exercise. This age-old hobby that most of us loved to do as kids provides a full-body workout and can burn up to 1300 calories per hour. That’s pretty intense. However, not all jumping ropes are created equal. Different ropes suit different goals, and there is a wide spectrum of quality and prices.
Whether you want to start out or upgrade your current rope, we want to help you out by recommending 6 of the best skipping ropes. This is our independent opinion, and it’s not sponsored by any brand. We only have your best interests at heart.
| PRODUCT | DESCRIPTION | RATING | PRICE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | WOD Nation Attack Speed Jump RopeComes with a light and heavy rope | ££ | Check Price | |
  | Reebok Premium Speed RopeExtremely robust and high-quality | ££ | Check Price | |
  | Fit Bod High Speed Skipping RopeAmazing value for money | ££ | Check Price | |
  | Valour Strike Leather Skipping RopeSuper stylish and unique leather rope | ££ | Check Price | |
  | Beast Gear Beast Rope ProHigh-quality and ultra durable | ££££ | Check Price | |
  | King Athletic Leather Skipping RopeGood value for money | £ | Check Price |
Best 6 Independently Reviewed Skipping Ropes
WOD Nation Attack Speed Jump Rope
The Attack Speed Jump Rope by WOD Nation is regularly featured in skipping rope reviews because it’s just that good. It’s a fantastic value for money considering the features you get. The best of which is that it comes with two cables, one heavy and one light, so you can get any type of jump rope workout out of it.
The light cable is 2.2 mm and allows you to do double-unders, improve your footwork, and push your speed limits. The heavy rope is 3.3 mm and will give your upper and lower body a proper aerobic and resistance workout. The ball-bearing design also makes the rotations extremely smooth.
Everything about this rope feels well made. From the plastic-coated steel cables to the smooth ball bearings to the extremely grippy rubber-wrapped handles. It even comes in a very nice carry bag so that the cables don’t tangle with your other gear. However, we don’t recommend this rope for beginners, as the 2.2 mm cable is extremely fast. That being said, it will help experienced skippers push their limits.
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Reebok Premium Speed Rope
Reebok needs no introduction. They make some of the best high-performance gear at the moment, especially for CrossFitters. It should come as no surprise that one of their speed ropes managed to make it onto this list. The inherent quality also shouldn’t surprise you once you get your hands on this rope.
You can feel how solid the cable and handles are. You get incredibly stable and consistent rotation from a rope that feels like it will never quit. This rope is made with a durable, 3 mm steel cable which is suitable for jump rope users of all skill levels. It’s not too fast for beginners, but pros will still be able to go fast, especially considering the performance of the bearings.
This speed rope looks sleek and understated, giving it a timeless quality. You can choose between black and silver or red and silver handles. Unfortunately, it requires an Allen key to adjust the length. However, if you have one, it’s easy enough to do.
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Fit Bod High Speed Skipping Rope
We hadn’t heard of Fit Bod before, but as soon as we saw the attractive price, the amazing features, and the glowing customer reviews, we knew we had to try this rope out for ourselves. Boy, were we impressed! The specs themselves are impressive: maintenance free and high-precision cartridge ball bearings, glass-filled nylon resin handles and a coated steel cable.
The rotation of the cable is exceptionally smooth, and this leads to an impressive skipping speed. Sure, it’s a very straightforward rope and doesn’t come with any extras besides a handy tote carry bag, but this simplicity is also one of its strengths as it allows you to focus on total performance.
As far as the cable goes, we were impressed with how little it got tangled up. The only slight problem found is a design flaw that causes the cable to slip outwards from the ball bearings, which reduces the rope size while you skip. The rope length is easy to adjust with screw caps—zero equipment needed.
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Valour Strike Leather Skipping Rope
If you take part in boxing, MMA or any other type of fighting sport, you probably want to check out a leather skipping rope. This has been the favourite type of jumping rope of all the greats and is still widely used in these circles. Valour Strike does the legacy of leather ropes justice with an awesome product.
The rope itself is made of 100% real leather, the handles are grooved rosewood and the bearings are smooth and robust. It’s got that distinct old-school air that will make you feel as if you are training like Rocky. Every inch of this product is made of quality you can feel. The leather is top-notch and should last you quite a while, unlike some other leather ropes.
On the other hand, the grip on the handles and the rotation are a far cry from modern speed ropes, which doesn’t sit well with everyone. The Valour Strike skipping rope produces a good amount of whipping noise as you skip that will help you keep time with the motion. If you want a leather jump rope, you can’t do much better than the Valour Strike. However, make sure you know the pros and cons.
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Beast Gear Beast Rope Pro
The Beast Rope Pro costs quite a lot more than any other product on this list. Naturally, we wanted to see whether it was worth the price. This particular rope is Beast Gear’s newest version of this model and promises to be faster, stronger, more durable, lighter and more robust. It’s a serious rope for anyone whether you want it for cardio, MMA, boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing or CrossFit. It’s even used by WBO boxing champion, Ben Jones.
They say that it’s for everyone, but it is an extremely fast rope, so we preach some caution to total beginners. It features an ultra-strong, anti-tangle steel cable, a brand new ball bearing system inside the handles and innovative weight distribution. It is also protected for outdoor use. It comes with a free bag, double-under guide and spare screws and caps.
Unfortunately, you have to adjust the cable length using an Allen key. Overall, our impression was that you could feel the quality that went into this jump rope. We just aren’t sure if it’s totally worth the price considering what the other ropes have to offer.
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King Athletic Leather Skipping Rope
Next up, we have another leather skipping rope. As you can see, this one is less of a classic design and more of a blend of old and new. It’s a leather rope that comes with modern handles and grips. It’s also more affordable than the Valour Strike (almost half the price). The main tradeoff you make between the two is style and novelty for a bit of modern convenience.
The padded grips are extremely comfortable, which is extra welcome when you are working with a more substantial and slower type of rope. As it’s a leather rope, it’s perfect for boxers, MMA fighters or mixed martial artists. It also features an easy-to-use adjustment mechanism, so it won’t be necessary to cut your rope to size like some leather products.
One hiccup is that you will need to buy neatsfoot oil to treat the leather rope before you use it. If you don’t, it might start to wear down. However, once you have done this, you’ll find that it’s a good quality rope for the price.
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Conclusion
Taking all factors into account, there can only really be one winner: the WOD Nation Speed Rope. It’s truly a rope for everyone, as it comes with both a 2.2 mm and a 3.3 mm rope to boost any type of workout. The price is also fantastic considering you get two high-quality jump ropes.
The Reebok also ended at the top of our list because it’s a simple yet effective skipping rope that will work for just about anyone. It’s one of those products that’s just almost impossible to find anything wrong with.
The Fit Bod and the Beast Gear are two very similar speed ropes that come at very different price points. The Beast Gear is fantastic. However, we think the extra quality isn’t worth the significant hike in the price.
We then have our two leather ropes, the Valour Strike and the King Athletic. Once again, you pay for the extra bit of style and quality that you get for the Valour Strike. However, the King Athletic is probably a more accessible product for most and has better grips.
Buyer’s Guide to Skipping Ropes
What’s so great about skipping rope?
Not many people realise just what a great, full-body workout skipping rope is. Not only do you have to continuously jump in the air with your entire body weight and swing the rope using your entire upper body, but you also need to engage your core to keep your body straight and balanced. Incorporating tricks or different jumping styles round out this amazing exercise even further.
Because it engages your whole body, it can burn up to an astounding 1300 calories per hour of continuous exercise. Surprisingly, it can even provide muscle building benefits if you go with a heavier rope. To top it off, it’s not as impact heavy as running, which decreases your chance of injury.
What you need to look for in a great skipping rope
Speed
Just like any other type of exercise, the faster you go, the more calories you will burn. A speed rope also allows you to complete certain trick moves, like double-unders, more easily. However, very fast ropes might be difficult for beginners to use and they probably won’t be able to take full advantage of their capabilities.
Weight
Like we briefly mentioned, using a heavier jump rope slows down your actions, but it can also help you build strength. The heavier rope will feel like you are doing a light and dynamic form of resistance training, especially in your upper body. You can even look for ropes with adjustable weight to fine-tune your workouts.
Handles
The type of handles affects both the weight of the rope and the type of grip. You should choose a grip that’s comfortable for you as the action can be pretty tough on your palms. Leather grips aren’t as popular because they can get very hot. Rubber and plain plastic grips are simpler and lighter.
Type of Rope
Ropes can be made of a number of different materials, each with their own benefits. Leather ropes are slightly slower and heavier which make them a favourite of fighters. Rubber ropes are similar, cheaper versions. Coated cable ropes are the fastest and are usually used with ball bearing mechanisms for speed ropes.
Adjustment Mechanism
Some ropes require you to use a tool, such as an Allen key, to adjust the rope length. This is not ideal since you will need to have this tool with you to be able to adjust it at any time. In theory, however, you should only need to adjust your rope once. But needing a tool may be annoying for those who have to share a rope, for example.
Tom Purton is a fitness junkie. Testing the latest and greatest products on the market and writing reviews in the strength, nutrition, running and many more. For more information about the latest reviews check out Ghost Fitness.
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