5 Best Jump Ropes for Working Out in 2023

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Most of us associate jumping rope with days on the playground but for the everyday athlete, it's one of the best cardiovascular activities you can do as an adult, Andrew Laux, NASM-CPT, and Fyt personal trainer, told Insider.

Though jumping rope gets your heart pumping, it also helps improve bone density and builds strength and stability through your entire kinetic chain (your feet to your shoulders). Plus, it's a fun workout you can do almost anywhere.

Aside from learning how to jump rope, the main way to benefit from the workout is with the rope itself. And if you think all jump ropes are the same, think again: Many manufacturers made technical improvements to jump ropes over the years, offering more options for ease of use, adjustability, and rope weight.

As a personal trainer, using a jump rope is a staple of my weekly fitness routines — and I've included my five favorites below. You'll also find answers to a few FAQs, as well as insight into how I test jump ropes, at the end of this guide.

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Best overall: Crossrope Get Lean Set - See at AmazonCrossrope reimagines the tried-and-true jump rope by offering multiple weighted rope options, an easy-to-use handle clipping system, and a companion app with workouts and insight.

Best for speed work: WOD Nation Speed Jump Rope - See at AmazonWhen speed and lasting performance are your main concerns, the WOD Nation Speed Jump Rope is your best option.

Best for beginners: SKLZ Jump Rope - See at AmazonThe SKLZ jump rope is easy to use, lightweight, comfortable, and affordable, making it a smart choice for those just starting to jump rope.

Best for multiple heights: Rx Smart Gear Rapid Fit Jump Rope - See at AmazonThe Rx Smart Gear Rapid Fit Jump Rope allows you to easily switch between lengths, so the whole family can use it. Plus, it's so smooth and comfortable.

Best budget: Tone It Up Jump Rope - See at AmazonThe lightweight Tone It Up jump rope comes in at under $10, while still offering an easy-to-use rope that'll last through countless cardio sessions.

At $99, Crossrope's Get Lean Set isn't exactly inexpensive — but it's not just any ole jump rope, either.

This specialized jump rope set features ergonomic handles that are lightweight and easy to hold. The handles feature a quick clasp system making it easy to swap them in and out of the different weighted ropes. Each handle has a soft grip that won't slip out of your hand, even when you start sweating — we've tested this in the humidity of NYC and the comfortable, tacky grips are a very welcome sight.

The other feature that makes Crossrope an attractive choice is its variety of rope weights. The Get Lean Set, specifically, comes with both a 1/2-pound rope good for advanced cardio exercises and a 1/4-pound rope that works well for HIIT routines and endurance training. As mentioned above, the handles just click in and out of the end of each rope for easy swapping.

Crossrope also offers a companion smartphone application that comes standard with workout inspiration and routine guidance. The Lite version is completely free whereas premium access runs $10 per month. — Rick Stella, health and fitness editor

If you're looking to perform quick tempo jumps, like high knees, crossover, or double-unders, you want a speed rope, which moves faster, Louis Chandler Joseph, NASM-CPT, trainer at Dogpound in LA told Insider. "Speed ropes are also great for working hand-eye coordination," he added.

WOD Nation Speed Jump Rope uses a patented four-metal ball bearing system in the handles. There is a bearing on the tip of each handle to hold the cable and another bearing in each handle for smooth rotations, and the handles are made of tapered nylon resin for a better grip.

This speed rope comes in nine colors and with an extra cable, replacement hardware, and a carrying bag. The cable is 2.5mm thick and 11 feet long, which you can easily adjust.

WOD Nation's jump rope comes with a "100% satisfaction guarantee," so you can try it for 60 days and if you're not completely satisfied, return it for a complete refund. (However, its return policy says it will only accept returns on unused items within 14 days of purchase, so that's a bit confusing.) If you order through Amazon, you get 30 days to return. — James Brains, home and kitchen reporter

If you're new to jumping rope, you need a straightforward jump rope that's easy to set to your height and easy to swing. The SKLZ jump rope is all of this and more: The soft, padded handles allow for a solid, comfy grip, while the swivel on the inside of the handle makes for easy rotations and lots of control (which is super helpful for those jumping in small spaces).

It's also lightweight, making it easy to move at a pace that works for you, especially as you tackle technique and eventually add in speed.

Adjusting the rope is easy — just unscrew the handle, pull the rope through to the length for you, push the plastic tab back, and cut the extra. Then, close the handle back up. Cutting the rope does mean it's a one-and-done adjustment so you can't share your rope with someone of another height. But at under $15, your partner or roommate can buy their own cheap, too.

I tested this rope both indoors on carpet and outside on cement, and it lasted through lots of jump intervals. It's definitely a no-frills cable but offers everything you need to get your jump rope routine started.

If you're 5-feet tall and sharing this rope with your 6-foot-tall partner, you can both use this Rx Smart Gear jump rope without anyone compromising proper length. The Rx Smart Gear Rapid Fit Jump Rope allows you to swap between sizes, just by pressing the end of the handle, removing the cover, and pulling the rope to the top (to make it shorter) or bottom (to make it longer).

The standard size of the Rapid Fit Jump Rope works for people 5- to 6-feet tall. There's also a short cable option that's a better fit for anyone under 5 feet, as well as a longer cable for those over 6 feet.

To be adjustable, this rope has long, thin handles. This shape has the added benefit of being easy to grip while you flick your wrists on the spin, and it offers good control over the rope so you can dial up or down the speed.

This adjustable jump rope also comes with a carrying case. The price point is higher than other models, but it's cheaper than buying two high-quality jump ropes of different lengths.

For a super affordable jump rope, the Tone It Up offering costs less than $10 and is available at Target, while still delivering all the basic necessities of a cardio jump rope. At less than 13 ounces, the lightweight design makes for easy rotations and quick rounds. The padded foam handles also make for a soft feel as you hold onto the rope through each jump.

To adjust the cable, simply unscrew the end of the handle, and move the plastic stopper tab to the spot that works with your height — the cable is short enough for those 4-foot-9 and long enough for those 6-foot-6. While you can shove the excess rope back into the handle, I suggest cutting off any extra (particularly if you have a lot of excess). The wound-up rope inside the handle occasionally made the rope twist up as I hit my rotations.

To top off the benefits of this purchase, you'll also support a women-owned brand.

If you're looking for a truly lightweight rope for picking up speed on your feet, this rope has a well-designed handle that makes it comfortable and easy to whip the rope around.

This rope comes at a fixed height. It didn't make our main list because of its expensive price tag, but we do love this rope for speed work.

Another rope that handles well, works fast and makes for smooth transitions, this SKLZ Speed Rope is also super affordable. The sturdy handles felt heavier than other speed ropes, and the adjustable rope itself stands up against kinks.

The biggest downside is you need a wire cutter to remove the extra material, which isn't always easy to get your hands on.

Each jump rope featured in this guide went through a series of tests to see how well they stacked up across these four categories: Ease of use, versatility, durability, and value. Specifically, here's how each category factored into which jump ropes ultimately made this guide:

Ease of use: Jump ropes should be easy to use right out of the box (so long as you have your timing and rhythm down), but through the course of testing for this guide, we realized there's plenty to a jump rope that can make it easy to use. The first is how comfortable the handles feel in hand. We also considered the flexibility of the rope, if it rotated cleanly on the handle, and if it avoided getting tangled too easily.

Versatility: There are a variety of workouts you can do using a jump rope, and they're not all just the standard motion you first think of. Whether we were doing double under, crossing the rope, or any other variation, we looked at how well the rope moved along with us at every turn. Even if our own jump roping technique wasn't flawless, we still were able to see how versatile the rope was able to be.

Durability: Much of our jump rope tests occurred outdoors where the rope would constantly hit the cement beneath our feet. Because of this, the part of the rope hitting the ground would naturally start to file down. After spending several hours jumping rope with each pick, none of those we featured ended up snapping or even filing down dangerously close enough to breaking.

Value: Jump ropes shouldn't cost much to begin with but it is important not to just buy whatever the cheapest on the market is. Keeping in mind the three categories above, as well as a jump rope's actual sticker price, is a great way to judge the overall value. Our top pick is even $99, which seems like a lot for a jump rope, but considering everything it comes with, and the fact it scored the highest in terms of ease of use, versatility, and durability, it's worth every bit of that investment.

Jumping rope is dauntingly easy — but the right technique is very helpful to master the cardio skill. Andrew Laux, NASM-CPT, and personal trainer with fitness platform, Fyt, offers three tips:

1. First, think of it like a pogo stick. "Keep your body in a straight line but relax your muscles and joints so you can easily absorb the jump and get ready for the next," he said. Bend your knees slightly and jump on the balls of the feet to help with that impact.

2. It's important to keep your shoulders back and chest tall (think of this as having good posture).

3. And finally, look out on the horizon. "Once your eyes drop to your feet, your form will crumble," Laux warns.

When it comes to your actual jump rope workout, Laux loves jumping to his favorite song, resting for one minute, then repeating for another few pump-up jams. If you're just starting out, though, he suggests going for just 10 seconds of effort, then resting for 20 seconds.

As you get better and can do five to 10 rounds, build the work interval, and decrease the rest break.

"Once you build up your strength and fitness levels and slowly build up your jump duration, you will find yourself jumping for longer time periods like 5 minutes or even 10 minutes nonstop," he said. "It takes time, but you will get there."

If you're considering which jump rope to buy, think about how you want to use it. "The heavier the handles, the harder the shoulder and forearm workout," Laux explains. "The lighter and thinner the rope, the faster you can spin the jump rope around and around."

Anything labeled as a speed rope will likely feel lightweight and fast, while a more straightforward rope (usually plastic with foam handles) may be slightly heavier and likely, more affordable.

The most important thing to consider once you know the kind of rope you want is its length. If a rope is too long, it might be harder to find your rhythm. Conversely, one that's too short may increase your chances of tripping.

Make sure to check out the brand's sizing guide before you buy. Then, to measure a jump rope to your height, step in the middle of the rope with both feet, ensure the rope is symmetric and taught, and adjust it so the bottom of the handle reaches your armpits, said Louis Chandler Joseph, NASM-CPT, trainer at Dogpound.

You can always test out the rope and decide if you want it to be shorter or longer, too. Once you have a length you're comfortable with, use scissors or wire cutters to clip the ends of the cable so you don't have annoying and unnecessary lengths of the rope hanging off the handles.

Also, Chandler Joseph suggests hanging your rope for storage — though, some ropes (like the Rx Smart Gear rope) do come with their own carrying case, making it far easier to stash away. Just try to avoid any kinks or bends, no matter how you chose to store them.

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