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Best Skipping Rope UK Reviews

It doesn’t matter if you call it a skipping rope or a jump rope (in the US), the truth is that this often-overlooked piece of gym equipment is the best cardio-centric movement you’re not doing. You might think of it as something just for school kids to use during break time, but it’s actually a training powerhouse.

No matter your fitness modality of choice, adding in rope skipping to your program training is useful and beneficial for plenty of reasons. From CrossFit to boxing training, running to cycling, every athlete can benefit from a little time spent with a skipping rope.

Man and woman jumping / exercising with skipping ropes

Let’s take a look at the benefits of skipping and how to select the right rope for your personal goals.

ImageProductScorePrice
Editor's Choice
Gritin Skipping Rope

Gritin Skipping Rope

9.6
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Beast Rope by Beast Gear

Beast Rope by Beast Gear

9.5
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Beast Rope Elite

Beast Rope Elite

9.4
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Valour Strike Leather Weighted Skipping Rope

Valour Strike Leather Weighted Skipping Rope

9.3
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TechRise Skipping Rope

TechRise Skipping Rope

9.1
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TOQIBO Skipping Rope

TOQIBO Skipping Rope

9
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Note: There’s a lot more information below but clicking the above links will take you to current prices, further information and customer reviews on Amazon.

Skipping Rope Reviews

This steel-coated PVC adjustable skipping rope is great for those who plan to take their workouts outside. A swivel ball beraring helps give an effortless spin while skipping. Thick handles are coated in soft memory foam, so your hands won’t fatigue easily when using this rope.

Summary

It’s great that the Gritin skipping rope has an adjustable length, especially if you’re going to be sharing your rope with other people. The foam handles might be unnecessary since most skipping work is done with the wrists and not the hands. Using this outside or in the gym makes it versatile, and a good choice for an absolute beginner.

Things We Like
  • Length is easy to change – great for getting it set up for the first time
  • Easy to carry and tangle proof
Things we don’t like
  • Steel might be a little heavy for advanced users who are focusing on speed and agility
  • Handles are weighted, which isn’t necessary
  • Handles are large which might be taxing on those with smaller hands

The Beast Rope is a thin and lighter rope and comes with a tidy carrying pouch, so can go with you anywhere. Its flexible design makes this a great rope for those who are mastering more complex jumps, like the double under. Perfect for high intensity workouts, thanks to the ball bearing system spin.

Summary

The versatility of the Beast Rope really sets it apart from other ropes on the market. It’s great that it can be used both indoor and out, and the brand stands by its product. Ideal for technical work like double-unders, or for any vigorous cardio-training program.

During full rotation, there’s a bit of resistance on the pull-through which adds time to a workout. This isn’t a big deal for lots of people, but it’s definitely not the rope to use during a CrossFit competition. A portion of the purchase of this Beast Rope goes to aid gorilla conservation, which is an added feel-good bonus.

Things We Like
  • Thinner rope makes it a great option for speed work and technical work like double unders
  • Bearings spin really quickly
  • Handles aren’t weighted
  • Can be used outside with an optional protector
  • Tangle free
  • Adjustable height options are suitable for many people

 

Things we don’t like
  • The bearings can slack at times, so it’s possible that you lose your rhythm
  • Handle design can be awkward for some users to hold
  • Full rotation is occasionally disrupted by the handle

This Beast Rope is super light weight because it’s made from aluminium. That means it’s great for fine-tuned jump and agility work, so it’s suitable for athletes who have been jumping for a while. This skipping rope rotates with ball bearings to easily control speed and whip. Thin handles help set this rope apart from the rest on the market; you won’t have to worry about an oversized gripped handle slowing you down. It’s easy to adjust but bear in mind the excess cord can hinder the ball bearings so really you might find this rope only suitable for one person.

Summary

This rope is easy to handle since the Allen key stays hidden inside the handle. Tightening the grub screws before each use is a good idea just to be sure that nothing flies out while you’re skipping. The design of the Beast Rope Elite handles and the careful attention the bearing movement makes this an easy choice for serious skippers. A portion of the purchase of this Beast Rope goes to aid gorilla conservation, which is an added feel-good bonus.

Things We Like
  • Grip grooves help keep the handles in your hands
  • Handles aren’t weighted
  • Simple length adjustment with an included Allen key that stores inside the handle
  • Handles are rigid to provide smooth movement and balance

 

Things we don’t like
  • Can tangle if it’s not stored properly
  • Handle joints can snap if the rope isn’t used correctly
  • Bearings can stiffen over time if used at high speed often

 

Old school leather skipping ropes have been around for a long time because they’re durable and efficient. Opposed to PVC wrapped around steel or aluminium, the advantage of a leather rope is that it’s going to last. This Valour Strike weighted rope features wooden handles that are ergonomically shaped or good grip. It comes with removable weights to add another challenge to your workout.

Summary

This leather rope from Valour is built to withstand even the most gruelling skipping rope workouts. The leather holds its form through rotations, so it’s easy to gauge where it is in relation to your body.

This weighted skipping rope is an excellent choice for someone who plans to incorporate skipping into their long-term training approach. It’s not a throw away rope and since it’s built to last, will be around for a very long time.

Things We Like
  • Removable weights great for those that want to burn extra calories
  • Wooden handles won’t break like plastic
  • Vertical grooves on the handles help reinforce your grip
  • Dual rotation system allows for stability, so you can focus on keeping your stabiliser muscles engaged

 

Things we don’t like
  • Unless your hands are chalked, they might slip from the wood
  • The rope is a little noisy since it’s made of leather

 

The TechRise skipping rope has a full rotational spin, and since this rope is heavy enough to sense it, you’re always going to know where it is in relation to your body. The smooth handles are easy on your grip – good news after a long lift. It’s easy to customise the length of this skipping rope, and the excess is quickly trimmed away.

Summary

The TechRise has a lot going for it – it’s a lightweight rope and can easily be used for double-under work or anything else that’s technical. The handles might be annoying for some users because they’re covered in that sort of soft foam that tends to deteriorate after time. The ball bearings are smooth and fast, which helps to isolate wrist movement while skipping.

Things We Like
  • Very lightweight, so it’s great for speed and agility work
  • Easy to customise the length
  • Ultrathin steel wire
  • Comes with a carrying bag to keep it tidy in your gym bag

 

Things we don’t like
  • Handles can be slippery and hard to grip when moving fast
  • Handle shape might not be good for some people because of the thickness
  • Bearings might slow over time, making this less of speed rope

The TechRise skipping rope has a full rotational spin, and since this rope is heavy enough to sense it, you’re always going to know where it is in relation to your body. The smooth handles are easy on your grip – good news after a long lift. It’s easy to customise the length of this skipping rope, and the excess is quickly trimmed away.

Summary

The TechRise has a lot going for it – it’s a lightweight rope and can easily be used for double-under work or anything else that’s technical. The handles might be annoying for some users because they’re covered in that sort of soft foam that tends to deteriorate after time. The ball bearings are smooth and fast, which helps to isolate wrist movement while skipping.

Things We Like
  • Very lightweight, so it’s great for speed and agility work
  • Easy to customise the length
  • Ultrathin steel wire
  • Comes with a carrying bag to keep it tidy in your gym bag

 

Things we don’t like
  • Handles can be slippery and hard to grip when moving fast
  • Handle shape might not be good for some people because of the thickness
  • Bearings might slow over time, making this less of speed rope

Benefits of Using a Skipping Rope

One of the most apparent benefits of using a skipping rope is that you can get in a workout anywhere. It’s easy to carry a rope in your bag and bring it along on holiday, during work trips, or whenever you know you have some extra free time.

Boosts cardio health

When you train your brain and heart to pump blood more efficiently, oxygen gets delivers to muscles and organs more easily. This is called aerobic conditioning, and it happens when you perform continuous movements of large muscle groups to help strengthen your heart and lungs. Skipping is considered an aerobic activity because you can perform it for longer periods and it boosts the ability of your heart and lungs to work under stress.

Brain development

Emerging science shows that jumping rope can help with the development of your left and right brain hemispheres. This helps to increase spatial awareness and improve your memory. Skipping might help you feel more alert and increase your reading comprehension too. Since you’re jumping up and down on the balls of your feet when you skip, you’re always re-correcting and adjusting your body. This means that your overall balance and coordination improve, which in turn keeps your reflexes sharp.

Decrease foot and ankle injury

Skipping can help improve foot coordination and increases the strength of the stabilizer muscles in your ankle and foot. This helps to decrease the changes you injure those areas. For athletes or anyone who wants to get faster on their feet, jumping rope helps train you to stay on the balls of your feet instead of on your heels.

Increased elasticity of low-leg stabiliser muscles

Sure, you can do a million calf raises to get strong in your back leg muscles, or you could just skip rope and strengthen not only your calf muscles but also the tendons and fascia. Increased elasticity helps prevent Achilles tendon strain and plantar fasciitis.

Improved bone density

Studies have shown that jumping up and down helps to increase bone density. Since everyone should be concerned with bone density as they age, adding skipping rope to your workout routine can help prevent bone fractures in the future.

Portable and fun

Skipping rope is one of the most accessible cardio workouts because the rope is so compact. All you need is the space to safely swing the rope and you can easily create challenging heart pumping workouts.

Significant calorie burn

Want to burn fat? When added to circuit training, skipping rope can ramp up the intensity, helping to burn fat at an increased level. Compared to moderate-paced jogging for 30 minutes, jumping rope can burn more calories. You might be surprised just how many calories you can burn. A skipping rope can burn up to 1300 calories per hour which is equivalent to an 8-minute mile.

What Are the Different Types of Skipping Ropes?

Outdoor jumping

If you’re planning to workout outside frequently, then you should select a skipping rope that won’t wear out quickly on hard surfaces. The most durable types of outdoor skipping ropes use PVC cord or shatterproof beads.

Speed ropes

One of the most popular ropes in gyms, speed ropes are lightweight and durable. They allow you to work on footwork, agility, and overall endurance. Speed ropes are quiet and are well suited for doing advanced skipping techniques like the double under. A double under jump is when the rope makes two passes per jump instead of one. One downside is they can tangle easily, so it’s essential to store them properly.

Weighted ropes

Weighted skipping ropes can offer more caloric burn and greater muscle engagement. Options range from .25 kg to 2.25 kg, so it’s easy to customise a workout based on your fitness level. The added weight gives you a more intense workout. Weighted ropes can be a little more expensive, but they’re durable and exceptionally functional, so it might be worth the money if you’re at that fitness level.

Gym ropes

A basic rope for use in the gym doesn’t need to be very thin or fast. These skipping ropes have comfortable grip handles, thick PVC cord and can be easily sized. Thicker cords are especially useful if you’re starting with rope work. You can quickly establish a rhythm and get your heart rate to a target zone. Basic gym ropes won’t tangle like speed ropes or beaded ropes.

What is the Perfect Length and Thickness for a Skipping Rope?

No matter which type of rope you purchase, the length is critical to your rope-work success. The handle of the rope should come up to just about your armpit.

Excluding the handles, the cable should reach to the top of your chest.

An easy way to remember this is that you want your rope to be roughly 91 cms (approximately 3 feet) taller than you are.

The thickness of your skipping rope will depend on the intended use. Ropes range from 1.1 mm as an ultra-thin cable to 4 mm PVC cord. For most beginners, a 3.22 nylon coated cable might be most beneficial, since it can be used anywhere.

Types of Exercises You Can Do With a Rope

There are innumerable ways to add skipping rope into your workout routine, no matter if you’re doing CrossFit, cross-training, or conventional powerlifting and bodybuilding. Often boxing and martial arts enthusiasts will rely on a skipping rope to help improve their speed and performance. However, what kinds of workouts can be done with skipping? Let’s take a look at the most popular.

First, it’s essential that you warm-up for skipping rope properly. This should include multi-plane jumps by jumping in all three planes of motion. Preparing your muscles and connective tissues for the work they’re able to do helps prevent injury. Most skipping experts suggest performing 8-10 jumps in each direction with a 30-second rest in between.

Exercises you can do with a skipping rope:

Basic jump

As it sounds, the basic jump is merely jumping up and down. The skipping rope passes under your feet while you’re in the air. This is a good jump for a warmup or as part of a longer cardio workout.

Side to side jump

Side to side jumps work planes of motion that some athletes might not activate often. The lateral movement while jumping makes this an agility exercise, and one that helps improve coordination and endurance.

Single leg jump

This jump helps isolate leg muscles on one side of your body. Keeping one leg straight while the other is bent at a ninety-degree angle helps encourage muscle stabilisation. Simple leg jumps provide a challenging workout.

Double-under jump

A super rewarding jump to master because it’s so technical, double-under jumps require a lot of speed and wrist momentum. There are plenty of tricks to help you master this jump, but all double under jumps ultimately require a lot of practice and patience.

Other Things to Consider

Using a quality rope is essential to learn how to skip correctly and improve your fitness. In addition to the length of the rope, you should also carefully evaluate the rope weight and rope quality.

Rope weight

Most ropes on the market have been created to maximise user speed. This is great if you’ve been using a rope for a while, but not so great if you’re new to skipping. It’s hard to become proficient on jumps if you’re not able to feel where the rope is during its rotation. Speed ropes are best suited for advanced jumpers who want to fine-tune their performance.

The most effective skipping rope for beginners should have some weight to it, but no more than 0.5kg. This will allow you to determine when the rope is coming around your feet to cue yourself to jump.

Weight in the handles of a rope isn’t ideal, so look for one that only has ball bearings in the handles. Proper skipping form means your arms move very little during jumps, so there’s not much benefit to having weight in the handle at all.

Rope quality

A quality rope is going to have durable handles that give you a good grip. Ball bearings are essential for smooth rotation of the rope, especially at high speeds. When purchasing a rope, look for one that can be used on a variety of surfaces. Since a skipping rope is so portable, there’s no telling where you might workout.

Conclusion

Skipping ropes are amazingly versatile and very portable, there’s never a reason to miss a workout. Whether you’re new to the world of skipping or you’re trying to perfect your double-under technique, there’s a rope that’s well suited to your level.

Skipping regularly can help improve your cardio fitness and your agility, which is good news for athletes of all levels. When you regularly incorporate skipping rope into your programming, your coordinate will improve, and you decrease the risk of foot and ankle injury.

It’s so portable, which means that skipping can be done anywhere that you take your rope. You’ll burn major calories while skipping, and it can help with your bone density and breathing efficiency.

So, if you are looking to get much fitter without spending very much at all then you can’t go far wrong with any on our list of best skipping ropes. If you’ve not done it before, why not start skipping? You’ll be amazed just how quickly your fitness improves.

Photo of author

Jason Barnham

Jason started lifting weights back in 1990 which sparked his interest in Nutrition. He went back to college in 1993 then started at the University of Surrey in 1994, graduating in Nutrition and Dietetics in 1998.

Having worked in both the NHS and running his own dietetic clinic, he has now settled into the web publishing world.

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