Jump On It: Dozens Tested to Find the Best Jump Rope (2022)

By Amanda Capritto

Jump roping is a great form of exercise. Not only is it fun and a welcome change from other types of cardio exercise (*ahem* treadmill running), but it has oodles of health benefits from improved heart health to boosted coordination. There’s just one problem: With so many jump ropes available, how do you choose? With our expertly formulated guide to the best jump rope, of course.

The WOD Nation speed jump rope has been a long-time favorite of two product testers on our expert roster. Why? It’s simple: This under-$20 package comes with two PVC-coated wire cables, plus a soft carrying case to tote your rope around.

While the plain plastic handles aren’t anything to gush over, the smooth bearing rotation system and wicked-fast 2.5-millimeter cable absolutely are. One of our product testers has been using this WOD Nation rope for years and it’s still in great condition and helping her smash double-under workouts week after week.

For the CrossFitters among us, having the right jump rope is crucial to becoming a double-under wonder who tops the whiteboard time after time. We recommend the Rogue Fitness SR-2 3.0 Jump Rope for a lot of reasons, but particularly because one of our product testers immediately PR’d her double-unders upon opening and sizing this rope.

Yes, you do have to size and cut this rope yourself, which can be quite cumbersome due to the tiny adjustment screws. But that’s a small price to pay for an uber-thin cable attached to a super-smooth ball bearing rotation system and knurled aluminum handles that won’t slip from even the sweatiest hands.

Speed is the name of the game at RPM, and that’s abundantly evident as soon as you pick up the RPM Comp4 Jump Rope. This rope comes standard with a bare steel cable, which will make an advanced jumper giggle with glee—but could make a newbie cry when it inevitably makes contact with skin (and it will, if you’re not used to speed ropes).

So while we reserve our recommendation of the Comp4 for advanced jumpers, we do so with wholehearted enthusiasm thanks to the full-length knurling on the thin handles, dual-bearing rotation system, and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fast wire cable.

Can’t be bothered to count your number of jumps? Just prefer to focus on form? No problem: With the Tangram Smart Jump Rope Rookie, all you have to do is jump and the sensors in the handles will do the rest. This smart jump rope automatically tracks your reps and sends exercise data to the app, where you can see stats like jump count, estimated calories burned, and time elapsed.

Smart features aside, the rope itself is nice, too. While the handles may prove a bit short for people with bigger hands (and the smooth plastic could get slippy when things get sweaty), the 5-millimeter PVC cable provides great tactile feedback. Not to mention this rope is infinitely adjustable, no wire-cutters required!

If you’re not ready for a real butt-kicking, don’t pick up this rope. The RX Smart Gear Drag Rope is for those who are serious about increasing their stamina and endurance—it’s not for the faint of heart, according to our product testers. The thick, braided rope and lack of bearings or bushings (swivel systems) in the handles are designed to make jumping rope harder.

While it’s not a weighted jump rope in the truest sense of the term, it is heavier than most jump ropes, weighing in at 10 ounces, or about double the weight of a typical speed rope. However, the weight of this rope matters less than the fact that it creates drag (hence the name) as it moves through the air. The braided polypropylene isn’t the most durable material, as it might fray on abrasive surfaces like concrete. But, our testers didn’t notice any damage when using it on gym flooring.

For less than $10, you can get a simple plastic jump rope from a reputable brand that comes in various sizes to fit a range of heights. The Rogue Fitness Licorice Rope is just as good for the little one who simply wants to jump for fun and the youth athlete extraordinaire who can already rep out large sets.

Either way, the thicker (5-millimeter) PVC cable won’t hurt too bad if or when it makes contact with skin, and the lack of a formal rotation system—the cable simply rests inside the handle with a knot—means this rope won’t spin fast enough to leave welts. Plus, PVC is resistant to sun damage, so no worries if the kiddos leave these ropes lying out in the lawn.

You might be wondering why in the world someone would buy a jump rope without a rope. Well, there are many reasons someone might want a cordless jump rope such as the RX Smart Gear Rotational Trainers, including, but not limited to: physical needs for adaptive athletes; a desire to learn how to jump rope but fear of welts; a way to improve advanced jumping via tactile feedback; or low ceilings that don’t allow for a regular 10-foot rope.

Our team of product testers especially loves the RX Smart Gear Rotational Trainers because of their supreme adjustability and simple design. Any exerciser can make these Trainers work for them by adding or subtracting knots in the 34-inch braided ropes. We’d love to see an option for short or knurled handles, but other than that, there’s nothing not to like about this ropeless jump rope.

Want to try your hand at jumping rope but not sure if you’ll stick with it? Simply don’t have the means to fork out $20 to $70 on a jump rope? Whatever your reason for wanting to keep costs down, we recommend taking a gander at the DEGOL Ball Bearing Skipping Rope, our top pick for the best budget jump rope.

This simple and inexpensive jump rope features comfortable memory foam handles, an adjustable length, ball bearing system, and a tangle-free cable. While nothing about the DEGOL skipping rope is superb, per se, it costs less than $10, is of decent quality, and will arrive at your door in 24 hours or less so you can start amping up your cardio workouts stat.

How We Chose the Best Jump Ropes

Several of the product testers on our expert roster include certified CrossFit coaches and personal trainers who have been jumping rope for years. In addition to our experience with various jump rope workouts over the years, every rope you see on this list went through thorough hands-on testing and was put through a ringer of tough criteria.

Benefits of Jump Ropes

• • Cardiovascular health: Get your heart rate up with a jump rope workout and reap the health benefits of jumping rope, including reduced cardiovascular disease risk factors.
• • Coordination: Jumping rope can help you become more agile and body-aware. It takes a lot of coordination to properly time your jumps and wrist rotations, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself feeling more nimble!
• • Endurance: Skipping rope will kick your muscles and your heart into gear. By continually challenging yourself with a jump rope, you can improve your endurance and stamina.
• • Travel-friendly: You can take a jump rope set anywhere; simply fold up your rope and stash it in a small bag (usually a set comes with a drawstring pouch).
• • Weight loss: If done consistently over time, jumping rope can help you lose weight in conjunction with a healthy diet, proper hydration, plenty of sleep, and other healthy lifestyle factors.

What to Look for in a Jump Rope

Keep these factors top of mind as you browse the internet for your own jump rope.

Cable Sizing and Adjustment Options

First of all, you’ll want an adjustable jump rope, no matter what type you get. Some jump ropes come in different lengths with adjustment options that don’t require cutting, while other ropes require you to size and cut the rope on your own. Both types are great, just make sure you have wire cutters if you choose the latter.

Handle Rotation

Most jump ropes have a bearing or bushing rotation system at the base of the handles. Bearing systems allow for 360-degree swivel, making for super fast ropes, while bushings are a bit more limited. Some ropes don’t have a formal rotation system at all and rather feature a simple knot at the cables’ ends nestled in the hollow handles.

Cable Width and Material

The cable is perhaps the most important part of a jump rope. High-quality skipping ropes usually sport wire ropes (coated or not) or thicker PVC cables. If you’re on the hunt for a high-speed jump rope, you’ll want the former; if you’re not in this for speed, PVC cables don’t cost as much and don’t hurt as much when they make contact with skin.

Grips

From wooden handles to foam grips to fully knurled aircraft-grade aluminum handles, jump rope handles come in a wide variety of options. If your hands tend to get really sweaty, go with grips that have some texture or overmolding. Simple plastic handles are fine if your hands don’t get slippy.