The research
Why you should trust us
I’m a senior staff writer covering fitness and the author of Wirecutter’s guides to pull-up bars and kettlebells.
For this guide:
- I tested 12 jump ropes over three months. I also recruited Tania Islam, a Brooklyn-based jump roper with 10 years of jump roping experience who uses various ropes in her workouts, to help me test.
- To learn which types of ropes are best for people of varying skill levels, I spoke with experts at national jump rope organizations and competitive collegiate jumpers. From these conversations, I also learned about the best surfaces to jump rope on and what, exactly, makes jumping rope such an effective workout. I also relied on reporting by previous authors of this guide on how to shorten ropes and which ropes to test (and which ropes not to).
Who this is for
Whether you’re a gym rat or looking to start exercising, jumping rope is a great addition to just about any workout program. You can do it as a warm-up or for more serious conditioning. “It engages muscle groups in the legs, core, and arms, and can be highly effective for both aerobic and anaerobic training,” said Graham Booth, a board member for the National Collegiate Jump Rope Association.
The experts we spoke to overwhelmingly recommended that beginning jumpers start with a beaded rope or licorice-style rope, which is usually made of PVC.
Nick Woodard, who has 30 years of experience jumping rope and co-founded Learnin’ The Ropes, a nonprofit promoting the sport, said that beaded ropes provide a newcomer good feedback. “There’s weight on the rope the entire time, they can understand where the rope is in space,” he explained.
Kaleyna Zahuranic, who jumped competitively for the jump club at the University of Notre Dame, said she was taught to use a beaded rope until she learned to control tempo and built enough arm strength. But you don’t have to ditch the beaded rope once you’ve advanced in skill; Zahuranic mainly used a licorice rope in competition but still used a beaded rope for warming up, as many competitive jump ropers do.
A licorice rope is typically lighter than a beaded rope, but it can still be manipulated relatively easily and is used by many freestyle jump rope competitors, said Kaylee Woodard, co-founder of Learnin’ The Ropes. She added that beaded ropes made of cheap, thin plastic sound hollow or high-pitched; such ropes shouldn’t be used outside, because the plastic will shatter much easier than ropes with thicker beads, like those found on our beaded pick and kids ropes.
Licorice ropes made of PVC can snap in cold temperatures and chip on pavement, added Carly Simpson, president of Rope Skipping Canada.
Your ideal rope length is influenced by your height, arm length, shoulder width, mobility, rope-swinging style, and, most important, your experience level. Jumpers going for speed are likely to want a shorter rope—the fastest jumpers actually stoop and lower their heads so that their ropes can be the shortest possible while still clearing underfoot. A general rule of thumb is to stand on the rope with both feet together and extend the ends of the rope minus the handles to your armpits.
Booth noted that someone should switch to a cable/speed rope only if they have a proper technique and their goal is to increase their speed. “Proper technique means your hands are level with your hips and roughly six inches away from your body, your elbows are positioned slightly closer to your body than your hands, and your wrists and elbows are relaxed while jumping,” Booth said, adding that speed ropes are usually not well suited for doing tricks.
Carly Simpson said that the best way to avoid possible injury is by starting slow and building up speed gradually. “Jump rope is all about rhythm,” she said. “I count all the time when jumping. You could also jump to music, use the beat of the music as your rhythm.”
When it comes to form, you should keep your hands as close to the hips as possible, Simpson said. “Holding your arms too far shortens the rope, and you’re more likely to make a mistake,” which could mean hitting yourself with the rope or simply losing your rhythm.
How we picked and tested
For this guide, we evaluated beaded ropes, licorice-style ropes, and cable/speed ropes with the goal of finding the most dynamic jump ropes.
After speaking to experts about what ropes you should use depending on your skill level, I spent hours reading owner reviews and posts on enthusiast message boards to find the most popular models. In addition, I spoke to more than a dozen runners, boxers, crossfitters, and other athletes who use jump ropes as warm-up tools or as part of concerted workouts.
We chose to test 12 ropes to find the best ones for beginners and people looking to add speed or new tricks to their repertoire.
Although most jump ropes cost $20 or less, some, usually weighted ropes used for specific training purposes, can cost $100 or more. “You don’t need to spend a ton of money to get a good jump rope,” Carly Simpson said. “You can get a good rope for $20 and be fine, especially if you’re just starting out.”
I jumped with each rope for a total of about 15 minutes on a hardwood floor and outside on pavement, keeping track of whether and how often I got caught up. I also skipped with ropes to see how the ropes fared at a slower speed, and whether they caught up or loped coming around the top.
I asked Tania Islam, a Brooklyn-based jump rope hobbyist who has over 10 years of experience exercising with jump ropes, to help test. We took note of each handle’s length and width, whether it was slippery when wet, and its grippiness. Almost every expert I spoke to said that nicks against the body are common when you’re learning to jump with any rope, but we noted if a rope seemed to cause more stings than others.
Most ropes will earn a fair amount of dings or scrapes, no matter the surface you jump on. We observed if a rope incurred immediate marks or accumulated them slowly over time. Graham Booth said that using a rubber mat underfoot can help prevent damage to the rope and make for a good alternative to jumping on other surfaces when a wood floor isn’t available. However, he added that “rubber mats introduce more friction, which can slow your rope down or make your rope bounce off the floor, which increases your risk of making mistakes.”
Whereas a quality licorice jump rope should last you several years, a beaded rope may last only around a year, though on some models you can replace the beads.
While some of our picks are heftier than others, for this guide we did not test weighted jump ropes, such as thick, Muy Thai–style and braided ropes meant to increase drag and therefore increase the load of a workout. (Read about our experience with one such rope, the Crossrope Get Lean, below.)
Top pick: KSY Jump Rope
Top pick
The stylish KSY Jump Rope is a great first rope for beginning and seasoned jumpers alike. Adjusting the length of the rope is simple, and it stays free of tangles when you’re jumping. The handles offer a few grip positions, and the licorice-style PVC rope is easy to clean and durable. It didn’t cause any nicks on our testers.
The handles are dynamic and easily controllable. The first thing you’re likely to notice when picking up the KSY Jump Rope is its smooth and comfortable handles, which are just under 8 inches long. The thinner part closer to the rope, about 5 inches’ worth, feels slightly knurled—not as rough as a dumbbell, but with a good grippiness—alleviating any worries that the handle will slip out of your hand. The smoother, wider base provides another grip option for people with bigger hands. I prefer shorter handles, but I was able to jump without a problem by holding the KSY rope’s handles by just the wide base.
It’s lightweight and fitting for people of many sizes. The rope weighs only 3.75 ounces. You can shorten the rope by pulling it through the end of a handle, adjusting a plastic regulator to the desired length, cutting the unwanted length, and then re-securing the regulator. “The weight of the rope and grip of the handle was perfect,” Tania Islam, our competitive jump roper tester, said.
It’s durable. A jump rope is bound to be dropped and get scratched, but often little marks can be more noticeable on some ropes than on others. The KSY Jump Rope barely showed any wear when we used it outdoors, and Islam, who used it during a drizzling rain, found it easy to clean afterward. “I don’t think I would want to change anything about this rope,” she said. “It felt quite luxurious when skipping.”
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Some tricks might be difficult with this rope. The KSY rope is a great all-arounder, and we were able to do a variety of single-leg jumps, high knees, boxer steps, and fast skips with it. But crisscrosses (video) may be more difficult to perform with this rope. For trick jumping, consider the Elite Jumps Fit+ Jump Rope.
KSY is sometimes listed as Jump Pro. KSY, named after jump rope competitor Kim Su-yeol, is based in South Korea, but it also sells ropes on retailers such as Amazon under the name Jump Pro. The ropes are the same, but the different listings might be confusing.
Best for tricks: Elite Jumps Fit+ Jump Rope
Best for…
The Elite Jumps Fit+ Jump Rope, formerly known as the EliteSRS Pro Freestyle, has tapered handles that are the same 8-inch size as our top pick’s but a bit thicker, wrapped in grip tape that feels secure in the hand. In trying a variety of tricks, we found that this rope remained free of tangles and rotated well—it pivots freely in the handle, as it has no bearings like some other ropes meant for tricks. After three months of testing, though, this PVC rope showed more wear and tear than our top pick from KSY.
The handles are great for tricks. As you get more accustomed to jumping with a licorice rope, you might be inclined to try tricks like crossovers, behind-the-back moves, and rope releases (video). The Fit+ Jump Rope has 8-inch-long handles that help with maneuverability. We performed tricks like crossovers and single-unders with no problems.
It’s functional without sacrificing style. This Elite Jumps rope has comfortable, foamy-feeling grips that provide a sense of security as you’re trying out new tricks, reducing worries about losing control of the handle. The jump rope comes in a variety of bright, flashy colors, and shortening the rope is a simple process, with no end caps to remove and internal clips that slide smoothly into place.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Nicks might hurt more with this rope. This PVC rope is a bit thicker than our top pick, and the sturdier composition of the rope means that when you get stung, you will definitely feel it.
Best for speed: Rogue SR-1 Bearing Speed Rope
Best for…
If you’re less concerned about learning tricks and just want to go faster, the Rogue SR-1 Bearing Speed Rope is the ideal jump rope for gradually building speed. The handles are 7 inches long and don’t slip in the hands, and the PVC-coated nylon wire whips through the air. It’s not designed to be used outdoors, though.
This rope accommodates speed bumps. The jump rope slices the air effortlessly but allows for those with a slower pace to gradually build speed, thanks to rotating pivots on the handle that roll on a ball bearing. This setup also allows you to keep a smooth motion even without perfect form.
The handles and other materials provide a sense of security. At first, it may seem intimidating to use a wire rope, given its speed and how much a nick against the skin might hurt. But the Rogue SR-1 has long, tapered handles made of nylon resin with a matte texture that should prevent slippage. A plastic cap covers the cut-wire end, which is a nice touch for safety.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The rope can feel floppy. While tangling shouldn’t be a problem with this wire rope, we did notice that it felt a little floppy at times. Because it’s notably thinner than PVC ropes, it might take an adjustment period to get used to. “Sometimes wire ropes are so light that beginners can’t feel the feedback from the rope and have a harder time controlling it,” said Kaylee Woodard. Also, wire ropes aren’t designed for outdoor use and will show wear quickly on concrete or pavement.
This rope can be difficult to shorten. The shortening system on the SR-1 is a bit more complicated than with the PVC ropes we recommend, as it has a metal collar with a tiny Phillips-type screw that can be hard to adjust.
Best beaded jump rope: Buddy Lee Beaded Speed Jump Rope
Best for…
The Buddy Lee Beaded Speed Jump Rope offers good value with eye-catching colors and sturdy, 8-inch-long handles. We didn’t have any problems with the beads tangling during workouts, and when we used the rope outside, the beads didn’t incur any large scuffs.
It’s easy to build a rhythm. One of the first—and most important—steps of learning how to jump rope is building a rhythm. The long, firm beads on the Beaded Speed Jump Rope make a noticeable but not distracting click against a floored surface, an audible cue that you can use to count a rhythm in your head. Even with light noise or music on, you should still be able to hear the distinct clacking sound.
Shortening this rope is fairly simple. If you want to take some beads off your rope to shorten the length, the rope pulls easily in and out of the handle. From there it’s just a matter of untying a knot, releasing beads, and retying for simple adjustment.
This rope is not just for beginners. Although the usual recommendation is that newcomers use a beaded rope, our jump rope tester Tania Islam found that more-advanced skills such as crossovers, side swings, double-unders, and boxer steps were easy to pull off with this rope. The thinner beads allow for more speed than thicker beaded ropes, which also might make this model a good warm-up rope for competitions.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The long handles may hinder some beginners. Many of our experts recommended starting with a beaded rope, and this one has pretty long handles. Unlike with our top pick, you can’t really hold the handles on the Buddy Lee Beaded Speed Jump Rope in different positions, so if you don’t like the position of a longer handle when you’re jumping, or if you have shorter hands, it could take some time to adjust to.
The best jump ropes for kids
Since 2020, we’ve tested 14 jump ropes meant for children with a handful of Wirecutter kids between the ages of 5 and 12. We’ve found that the Zocy Soft Bead Jump Rope is the best. Its rubber-like beads provide some weight to keep the rope moving, but don’t sting as much as harder beads (or a PVC rope) when they hit the body.
Best for…
The handles have a bit of a sticky feel that creates a nice grip. Like most beaded ropes, the Zocy’s heft causes it to rotate a little faster than cotton ropes, so it might not be the best option for total beginners.
If the Zocy rope is out of stock, there are several similar-looking beaded rope options. (We previously recommended the Ohyaiayn Soft Beaded Jump Rope, which is no longer available.) We’ve also tested the Grawun Jump Rope for Kids, which can be bought in sets of two, three, six, or 12; and the Jywybf Soft Beaded Rope, which is made of firmer PVC beads and sold individually or packs of two.
If your kid is a total beginner or likely to be intimidated by a beaded rope: The Homello Cotton Jump Rope is a lightweight woven option with wooden handles. Some of our kid testers liked the comfy feeling of the woven cotton, but its light weight can be a pro or a con, depending on the kid: Some found it hard to get going because it caused a slight lag or blew about on a windy day outside. Others gravitated toward it because it doesn’t sting when it hits legs (or a face). The adjustable 8.2-foot Homello rope comes in two colors in a pack of two and has wooden handles.
If you’re looking for a longer rope for double Dutch: The Elite Jumps Custom Beaded Jump Rope is easy to personalize, from the handle length and grip to the rope length to the bead type and color (you can choose up to six different hues). This jump rope is not adjustable—you choose a set length at the time of purchase. We ordered the hard, shatterproof plastic beads for our testing because the sound of the beads hitting the ground can help a jumper establish a rhythm, and they’re more durable for outdoor use. However, the beads are weighty, so the rope doesn’t respond well to changes in direction, and it’s not very forgiving when it smacks into the backs of your ankles.
For a kid who wants to jump to the next level: We like the KSY Kids Luxury Jump Rope. It is similar to our top pick for adults, but shorter in length and with shorter handles. The rope is easy to adjust and its lighter weight allows for faster jumping and tricks. One kid tester, who jumps rope regularly for taekwando training, said the handles provide a comfortable and slip-free grip.
The competition
The all-black licorice XYLsports Jump Rope is simple to use, with its bearing-assisted rotation and squishy foam-padded handles. It’s harder to shorten than our top pick, but it proved durable on pavement and pretty easy to maneuver. Several Amazon reviews mention the rope tangling too much.
The Amazon Basics Jump Rope looks similar to the XYLsports Jump Rope and may be an impulse buy due to its availability on Amazon and its price. We found it to be a decent beginner rope, but it tangled more often than our top pick. The foam cushioning on the handles showed minor fraying after only a few weeks of use.
The Buddy Lee Aero Speed Jump Rope, with a T-grade aluminum handle, looks like it should last you close to a lifetime. It performed decently, but we saw too many reviews complaining about the cables snapping or the handles breaking off.
The Dope Ropes Singature Beaded Jump Rope comes in a variety of appealing bright colors. We liked that it didn’t tangle or cause us any nicks, but the handles were a bit slipperier than those of our beaded pick, and the beads felt a tad heavier.
The Elite Jumps Beaded Jump Rope is a solid beginner rope, as it didn’t really tangle or cause a lot of nicks. But we thought the handles felt a bit flimsy, almost brittle, and Tania Islam said she noticed that they felt slippery after only 10 minutes of use. We also found that the beads garnered scrapes much more than those of other beaded models we tested—they are sort of loosely aligned, like a macaroni craft necklace.
The Everlast Fit Speed Jump Rope has handles designed like those of our top pick, with a wide base, and comes in a basic all-black color. Available in 9-foot and 11-foot options, the Everlast rope didn’t tangle much, but it showed more wear than our pick when we used it outdoors.
The Loocio Cordforce Jump Rope has a nice, thick handle with smooth cushioning. It was fairly easy to adjust and didn’t tangle a lot, but several buyers have claimed that the rope doesn’t last more than six months.
The licorice-type PVC Buddy Lee Rope Master Jump Rope arrived kinked up, and the instructions required us to cook it (no, really, in a pot of water at a soft boil for a couple of minutes) to straighten it out. And even after you take that step, it retains any loops from storage, making it hard to straighten out for jumping.
Crossrope offers two sets of interchangeable weighted ropes and jump-centric workouts via a companion app. We tried the Crossrope Get Lean, which includes a 0.25-pound rope, a 0.5-pound rope, and a pair of slim, grippy handles. Solidly built and versatile, the ropes swap in and out of the handles easily and swing comfortably. A $99 companion-app membership includes hundreds of workouts and related content. Considering that a good jump rope can be had for $10 to $20, a Crossrope set is a commitment: The Get Lean set costs about $90, and to take full advantage of the app, you need to pay the monthly membership fee. If you’re a beginner looking for guidance or a more experienced jumper out for a challenge, this one might be worth the investment. Note, though, that there is no shortage of free jump rope workouts on YouTube.
The licorice-style Degol Tangle-Free Jump Rope had a decent heft and jumped and skipped nicely, but it tended to stick to itself and tangle when not in use. The 6-inch handles have intermittently placed strips of smooth padding, but they felt a little cheap.
The PVC DynaPro Jump Rope has a rubbery, almost gummy texture (it reminded us of a jelly bracelet) and non-padded aluminum handles that are dimpled for grip but feel rough. It lagged while skipping and was too responsive during bouts of jumping, feeling like it was stretching upward at the top of the swing and messing with our timing.
The licorice-style Elite Jumps Boxer Training Rope 3.0 jumps and skips similarly to the XYLsports Jump Rope, but adjusting the rope is much easier. This 5 mm PVC rope is 10 feet long, which gives those who might need a bit of extra length something to work with.
The Elite Jumps Elite Surge 3.0 has slick-looking aluminum handles that have a nice weight, turn smoothly, and could work with speed cables and licorice ropes alike (sold separately on the Elite Jumps site). At slower skipping speed, however, it had one of the most pronounced loping feels of any rope we tested.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Adult Leather Jump Rope With Foam Handles (currently unavailable) arrived dry, cracked, and hopelessly kinked up. The specs list its length at 116 inches, but we measured it at just 105 inches.
The WOD Nation Speed Jump Rope comes with an extra rope and hardware and pivots on a bearing, which swung smoothly but didn’t feel quite as sturdy over the long term as the bearing system on the Rogue SR-1 Bearing Speed Rope.
Caira Blackwell, Amy Roberts, and Ingrid Skjong contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.
Sources
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Graham Booth, secretary and treasurer, National Collegiate Jump Rope Association, email interview, June 14, 2024
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Carly Simpson, president, Rope Skipping Canada, video interview, May 30, 2024
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Nick and Kaylee Woodard, co-founders, Learnin’ The Ropes, video interview, May 20, 2024
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Kaleyna Zahuranic, jump rope competitor, Notre Dame Jump Rope Club, email interview, June 4, 2024
