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If you're looking for a heart-blasting, calorie-burning workout that requires minimal space and exercise equipment, jumping rope is tough to beat. According to Portland-based fitness instructor Jamaica Mehr, it's an amazing full-body exercise. "You're able to target all the major muscle groups, especially if you get a little fancy with your workout."
Mehr explains that it's an excellent way to warm your body up for another workout, but it's also a great stand-alone exercise. "It can get your heart rate up really fast and burn calories quickly," she says. "Jump rope is excellent cardio," confirms certified personal trainer and jump rope instructor Kiara Licursi. "It can either be low or high-impact, depending on your specific needs."
Okay, we're convinced. With pointers from these pros in mind, we rounded up the choicest jump ropes in every category, including speed, freestyle, weighted, strength, adjustable, lightweight, beginner, cordless—you name it.
Scroll down for the best jump ropes around.
Best Overall: FitFort Tangle-Free Rapid Speed Jump Rope for Women
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Budget-friendly
Lightweight
Adjustable length
Ergonomic handles
Not ideal for tall people
FitFort's Tangle-Free Jump Rope pulls out all the stops. Weighing less than a half-pound, it's super lightweight, plus you can adjust it down to a fraction of an inch to achieve your perfect length. We also like that it's notably high-quality but also incredibly budget-friendly.
As its name suggests, this durable PVC rope resists tangling, allowing you to focus on your skips and hops without all the fuss. What's more, the moisture-wicking handles have an ergonomic anti-slip design for unbeatable comfort and grip. There are also ball bearings on each side, offering super-smooth rotation with every jump.
Length: Up to 110 inches | Weight: 0.35 pounds
Best Budget: BuyJumpRopes Double Unders Jump Rope
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Budget-friendly
Lightweight
Adjustable length
Plastic handles
Licursi says BuyJumpRopes is one of the brands she uses most often, and we can see why. This lightweight, wallet-friendly jump rope boasts an all-purpose design. We also appreciate that it can be adjusted up to 120 inches in length to accommodate people as tall as 6-foot-6.
Length: Up to 120 inches | Weight: 0.25 pounds
Best for Beginners: Fila Cardio Speed Rope
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Good for beginners
Lightweight
Length not adjustable
Never jumped rope before? No sweat. The beginner-friendly Fila Cardio Speed Rope has comfy foam handles and a skinny thermoplastic-coated nylon cord. And once you get your rhythm going, you won't have to swap it out because this rope is great for all skill levels.
Length: 108 inches | Weight: 0.29 pounds
Best Speed Rope: Nike Fundamental Speed Rope
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Adjustable length
Comfortable handles
Designed for speed
Allen wrench required for adjusting
"The speed rope has short handles and a thinly coated metal rope. It is used to perform jumps at a high speed," says Licursi. "It can be used in CrossFit or any fitness environment." Check out this thermoplastic-coated steel beauty from Nike. It's got comfortable handles designed for smooth rotations and boasts an adjustable length of up to 108 inches.
Length: Up to 108 inches | Weight: 0.44 pounds
Best Freestyle: EliteSRS Pro Freestyle Jump Rope for Adults
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Versatile
Adjustable length
Resists kinks
Thin cord
Licursi recommends checking out EliteSRS jump ropes, like the kink-resistant Pro Freestyle. "This rope is typically used to perform anything from tricks to endurance workouts," she notes. Weighing a half-pound, it's not too light but also not too heavy and can be extended up to 120 inches.
Length: Up to 120 inches | Weight: 0.5 pounds
Best Weighted: Proud Panda Heavy Jump Rope
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Weighted
Rubberized handles
Multiple sizes available
Handles don't spin
Not adjustable
To increase the intensity of your workout, reach for a weighted jump rope like this no-nonsense option from Proud Panda. It features a traditional twisted rope-style cord with soft rubberized handles and comes in four weights ranging from 2.8 to 5.4 pounds.
Length: 110–119 inches | Weight: 2.8–5.4 pounds
Best Adjustable: DEGOL Skipping Rope with Ball Bearings
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Adjustable length
Ball-bearing system
Lightweight
Handles may spin off
Featuring a braided steel wire rope coated in PVC (thermoplastic) with a ball-bearing system, this impressive rope offers smooth rotation and an exceedingly durable design that won't crack or break under heavy use. Not only that, but you can quickly and easily adjust the length from 108 to 118 inches.
Length: 108–118 inches | Weight: 0.33 pounds
Best Handles: New Balance Ultra-Grip Foam Speed Rope
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Comfortable handles
Adjustable length
Resists kinks
Hard to adjust
Handles are a critical feature of any jump rope. With that said, you won't be disappointed with the comfortable textured handles on New Balance's Ultra-Grip Speed Rope. Aside from the grips, we like that the cord is designed to resist kinking and can be adjusted to accommodate folks as tall as 6-foot-6.
Length: 108 inches | Weight: 0.41 pounds
Best Cordless: Redify Weighted Cordless Jump Rope
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Cordless design
Comfort handles
Weighted
Balls may come unscrewed
Believe it or not, the cord of a jump rope is optional. Take this cordless model, which is essentially a set of two moisture-resistant, anti-skid comfort handles with weighted silicone balls. The handles effortlessly rotate a full 360 degrees while pumping up your heart rate without any tangles or trips.
Length: N/A | Weight: 0.7 pounds
Best with Ball Bearings: GoFit Pro Speed Jump Rope
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Ball-bearing system
Ergonomic handles
Adjustable length
Prone to tangling
The GoFit Pro has extra-comfy ergonomic handles for a non-slip grip as you grind through your workout. But where this jump rope stands out is its ball-bearing system, which offers ultra-smooth, non-stop rotation that won't quit before you do.
Length: 108 inches | Weight: 0.75 pounds
Best Lightweight: ProsourceFit Speed Jump Rope
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Lightweight
Several colors available
Adjustable length
Hard to adjust
If you're looking for a lightweight model, your best bet is the ProsourceFit Jump Rope. Weighing just a quarter of a pound, it's the perfect featherweight for speed jumping and double-unders. Not only that but the vinyl-coated wire cord can be adjusted up to 120 inches in length.
Length: Up to 120 inches | Weight: 0.25 pounds
Best Leather: Champion Sports Heavyweight Leather Ball Bearing Jump Rope
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Leather cord
Wooden handles
Ball-bearing system
Not adjustable
Designed for high-speed cadence jumping, this attractive rope has a durable leather cord and ball-bearing wooden handles. At 0.63 pounds, the Heavyweight is slightly heavier than most models. While it comes in three sizes, you can't adjust the length of the rope.
Length: 102–114 inches | Weight: 0.63 pounds
Best Smart: Tangram Factory Rookie Smart Jump Rope
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Syncs to smart device
Counts reps
Interval training function
Relatively expensive
Tangram's Rookie Rope syncs with your smartphone or watch to count reps and provide real-time fitness data, like your calorie burn and jump time. What's more, it has a built-in interval training function, allowing you to use it in conjunction with strength training and other cardio exercises.
Length: 118 inches | Weight: 0.5 pounds
Best with Counter: Multifun Jump Rope with Calorie Counter
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Counts calories and reps
Crack-resistant cord
Adjustable length
Prone to tangling
It's nice to be able to count your reps and calories while skipping, and the Multifun Jump Rope makes it easy. Thanks to a built-in LED display on one of the handles, it shows your rep count and calorie burn in real-time. We also like that the crack-resistant and adjustable PVC-coated steel cord is suitable to use on all floor materials and outdoor terrains.
Length: 108 inches | Weight: 0.5 pounds
Final Verdict
If we could only recommend one jump rope, we'd have to go with the FitFort Tangle-Free Rapid Speed Jump Rope on account of its lightweight, high-quality design, tangle-resistant cord, ergonomic handles, and affordable price tag. However, if you want to skip the cord altogether, go with the Redify Weighted Cordless Jump Rope, which features 360-degree rotating balls instead.
What To Look For When Buying a Jump Rope
Type
As Licursi explains, there are three main categories of jump ropes on the market: freestyle, speed, and strength. Freestyle ropes typically have long handles and PVC cords, whereas speed ropes usually have PVC-coated metal cords and slightly shorter handles.
"Last but not least, strength ropes are characterized by long or short handles with a heavy-weighted braided or plastic rope," says Licursi. "These are used to build both strength and endurance by activating every muscle in the human body as it works to stabilize this movement."
Adjustable Length
Mehr says to look for "something that adjusts for an adult." This will allow you to set your jump rope to the right length for your height and adjust it as needed. If you know the exact size you need, this may not be necessary, but beginners should definitely consider getting an adjustable model.
Price
Generally speaking, a jump rope is a budget-friendly piece of fitness equipment. Though there are some exceptions, most of the ones you'll find on the market today will be somewhere between $10 and $18. According to Mehr, "You should not have to pay more than $20, and there are tons of options online."
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How do you use a jump rope?
Holding the jump rope by the handles at hip level, start with the cord behind your feet. To swing the rope, rotate your wrists in a soft forward-tossing motion. When the rope rotates over your head and underneath you from the front, jump with both feet at the same time. That's one rep. Repeat this motion at a comfortable speed.
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How many calories does jumping rope burn?
Licursi tells Byrdie that jumping rope for 10 minutes is equivalent to running for 30 minutes. "In just a 15-minute jump rope session, you can burn around 250-plus calories," offers Mehr. This is because it gets your heart rate up quickly and requires muscle groups to engage throughout your entire body.
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How long should a jump rope be?
Most jump ropes are between 108 to 120 inches long. To figure out if a jump rope is the right size, step on the center of the cord and pull it up so that it's taut. The ends (not including the handles) go up to your armpits. If you're not sure what length you need to order, opt for an adjustable model.
Meet the Expert
Kiara Licursi is a certified personal trainer and jump rope instructor based in Montreal, Canada. She is the founder of Jump Rope Fitness.
Jamaica Rylin Mehr, RN, BSN, CEN, is a pediatric emergency nurse based in Portland, Oregon, as well as a fitness coach and Barre3 instructor.
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