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Byrdie / Lecia Landis
The calorie burn and heart-blasting aerobic challenge you get from skipping rope are almost unbeatable. According to Jamaica Mehr, a Portland-based fitness instructor, it's a stellar full-body exercise. "You're able to target all the major muscle groups, especially if you get a little fancy with your workout." And if you want even more of a challenge, you can swap out your basic rope for one that's weighted.
Weighing anywhere from a half-pound to about 5 pounds, strength ropes usually feature heavy handles and a braided or plastic rope. "They are used to build both strength and endurance by activating every muscle in the human body as it works to stabilize this movement," explains certified personal trainer and jump rope instructor Kiara Licursi.
We conducted hours of research on the best weighted jump ropes, evaluating them on weight, length, adjustability, and comfort and ease of use. After consulting with a jump rope instructor, and considering dozens of options, we landed on these top-rated choices.
Best Overall
Nike Fundamental Weighted Rope
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Dickssportinggoods
Adjustable length
Ball-bearing system
Comfortable handles
Allen wrench required for adjusting
Bounding into first place, Nike's Fundamental Weighted Rope has a simple yet effective design. A half-pound weight is built into each of its comfortable, grippy handles, and while this might not seem like much, but you'd be surprised how much of a difference an additional pound makes when you're bouncing up and down.
This jump rope also uses a ball-bearing system with aluminum sockets, so you can count on ultra-smooth rotations with every rep. What's more, the high-density plastic cord resists tangling, and you can adjust the length up to 108 inches.
Price at time of publish: $28
Length: Up to 108 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Handle material: Aluminum
Best Budget
Athletic Works 9-Foot Weighted Jump Rope with Adjustable Length
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Walmart
Budget-friendly
Adjustable weight
Adjustable length
Tool required for adjusting
May need to be replaced every year or so
Getting your sweat on doesn't need to be complicated, and it doesn't have to cost very much money. This wallet-friendly jump rope from Athletic Works allows you to adjust both the weight and the length to your liking, and the foam-coated handles offer a comfy grip.
Price at time of publish: $8
Length: Up to 108 inches | Weight: Up to 2 pounds | Handle material: Foam
Best Splurge
Crossrope Jump Rope Get Strong Set
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Amazon
Comes with two ropes
Versatile design
Carrying pouch included
Could be too heavy for beginners
If you're open to splurging on an all-in-one system, look no further than the Crossrope Get Strong Set. You'll get a 1-pound rope and a 2-pound rope—which are easy to switch out from the fast-clip handles—plus a carrying pouch and free access to Crossrope's mobile fitness app.
Price at time of publish: $169
Length: 96–114 inches | Weight: 1–2 pounds | Handle material: Rubber
Best Heavy
Proud Panda Heavy Jump Rope
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Amazon
Heavy
Rubberized handles
Multiple sizes available
Handles don't spin
Not adjustable
If you want something a bit heavier, we recommend this weighted rope from Proud Panda. Featuring a traditional rope-style cord with soft rubberized grips on either end, the no-nonsense design is available in four sizes ranging from 2.8 to 5.4 pounds.
Price at time of publish: $27
Length: 110–119 inches | Weight: 2.8–5.4 pounds | Handle material: Plastic
Best Cordless
Redify Weighted Cordless Jump Rope
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Amazon
Cordless design
Comfort handles
Budget-friendly
Balls may come unscrewed
Believe it or not, jump ropes don't actually need cords. Take this cable-free option from Redify, which is basically a pair of sweat-resistant, anti-slip handles attached to weighted silicone balls. The handles spin a full 360 degrees and work to elevate your heart rate without any trips or tangles.
Price at time of publish: $15
Length: N/A | Weight: 0.7 pounds | Handle material: EVA
Best Leather
Champion Sports Heavyweight Leather Ball Bearing Jump Rope
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Walmart
Leather cord
Wooden handles
Ball-bearing system
Not adjustable
We're also loving this visually pleasing leather number from Champion Sports. With ball-bearing wooden handles and a durable leather cord, the Heavyweight tops out at just over a half-pound. Just bear in mind that while it comes in three lengths, the cord isn't adjustable.
Price at time of publish: $17
Length: 102–114 inches | Weight: 0.63 pounds | Handle material: Wood
Best with Ball Bearings
Gaoykai Weighted Jump Rope
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Amazon
Ball-bearing system
Anti-winding cord
Non-slip handles
Cord susceptible to snapping
Gaoykai's Weighted Jump Rope boasts an anti-winding cord and non-slip handles for a comfy grip as you skip. But where it really stands out is the ball-bearing system, which resists tangling and ensures a stable 360-degree rotation with every rep.
Price at time of publish: $19
Length: Up to 120 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Handle material: Aluminum
Best Speed
Ethos Weighted Speed Rope
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Dickssportinggoods
Adjustable length
Ball-bearing system
Good for cross-training
Handles can spin off
As Licursi explains, a speed rope will have short handles and a thin, PVC-coated metal cord like the 2-pound Ethos Weighted Rope. "It is used to perform jumps at a high speed and can be used in CrossFit or any fitness environment," she tells Byrdie.
Price at time of publish: $25
Length: Up to 118 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Handle material: PVC
Best with Counter
Te-Rich Weighted Jump Rope with Counter
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Amazon
Built-in counter
Adjustable length
Cordless option
Short battery life
It's nice to be able to count your reps while skipping, and the Te-Rich Weighted Jump Rope makes it easy. An LCD screen on one of the handles displays not only your reps but also your calorie burn and session time. What's more, you can remove the cord and replace it with weighted balls when you're tight on space.
Price at time of publish: $17
Length: Up to 118 inches | Weight: 0.8 pounds | Handle material: Silicone
Best for Cardio
GoFit Heavy Jump Rope
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Amazon
Adjustable length
Soft foam handles
Good for cardio
Length can be hard to adjust
Weighing 1.5 pounds for optimal resistance and speed, the GoFit Heavy Jump Rope will get your heart rate up in no time. We also like that it has soft foam handles with a swivel connection for extra-smooth, tangle-free rotations.
Price at time of publish: $20
Length: 108 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Handle material: Foam
Best for Beginners
Everlast Evergrip Weighted Jump Rope
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Amazon
Removable weights
Handles are easy to grip
Easy to transport
Made of plastic
This option is a happy medium between a weighted jump rope and speed rope. With removable weights that you can adjust to your desired intensity level and an adjustable length, you can start out light and work up to a heavier weight as your strength increases. As noted, it's a good option for a speed rope because it has precision ball bearing rotation.
Price at time of publish: $19
Length: Up to 108 inches | Weight: Up to 1.5 pounds | Handle material: Plastic
Best Handles
Pulse Weighted Jump Rope
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Amazon
Rope doesn't tangle
Comfortable to grip
Easy to adjust
Could be heavier
If you want an option that's super easy to grip, especially for long workouts. this is it. The handle is composed of steel and wrapped in foam, so you can get a firm, comfortable grip. This rope is thick enough to ensure it doesn't tangle, and also has an adjustable length.
Price at time of publish: $25
Length: Up to 120 inches | Weight: Up to 1.2 pounds | Handle material: Steel, foam
Final Verdict
The Nike Fundamental Weighted Rope is the best option overall on account of its comfy handles, ball-bearing system, and high-density adjustable cable. For something a little more budget-friendly, go with the Athletic Works Weighted Jump Rope, which has foam-coated handles and an adjustable cord. If you're interested in a cordless model, your best bet is the Redify Weighted Cordless Jump Rope.
Meet the Expert
- Kiara Licursi is a jump rope instructor and certified personal trainer 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 barre instructor.
What to Look For in a Weighted Jump Rope
Weight
When browsing weighted jump ropes, you'll see they come in varying weights. Most are between 1 and 1.5 pounds, but you can find some as light as 0.5 pounds and as heavy as 5.5 pounds. As with dumbbells, beginners should err on the lighter side and work their way up to a heavier rope. If you're used to lifting heavier weights, try the Proud Panda Heavy Jump Rope, which is available up to 5.4 pounds.
Length
Mehr recommends getting a weighted jump rope with an adjustable length. That way, you can customize it to your height and adjust it if needed rather than trying to figure out the exact size you need before ordering one. Pulse Weighted Jump Rope is just one example of a weighted rope with an adjustable length on our list.
Handles
Handles are an important feature of any jump rope, but they're particularly crucial when you're bearing additional weight. Look for an option with ergonomic handles, as this will provide the best comfort and grip. Additionally, foam handles are also a great choice, as they'll provide a comfy feel in your hands and help prevent slippage while you skip, like on the GoFit Heavy Jump Rope.
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a home workout aficionado and seasoned commerce writer with a background in fitness and self-care. She has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020, where she covers wellness products, cosmetics, and exercise equipment. For this roundup, she spoke to multiple experts, researched weighted jump ropes from a wide range of brands and retailers, pored over user reviews, and considered the key features of dozens of models before making her final selections.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any weighted jump ropes from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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