Jumping rope, or skipping is an awesome workout and a standard favorite within the CrossFit world but, how do you find the best jump ropes for CrossFit? While jumping rope is a relative simple exercise, not all CrossFit jump ropes are created equal and in this article, we’re going to show you why and help you know what to look for when buying your next rope.
Is jump rope part of CrossFit?
Jumping rope, specifically the movement called “Double Unders” is a very common element of a CrossFit WOD or workout. “Double Unders” are jumping rope and having the rope pass under you twice for each jump. The rope must move faster and/or you must jump higher to do a double-under vs a single-under.
Here are our top jump ropes for Crossfit
| Product Image | Product's name | More Info |
|---|---|---|
 | ROGUE SR-1 BEARING SPEED ROPE | View latest price |
 | RX CUSTOM JUMP ROPES | View latest price |
 | POWERMAX JUMP ROPES | View latest price |
A quality jump rope is one of the most important pieces of equipment for CrossFit training. Jumping rope is a super effective functional exercise, not just for CrossFit WODs. This is the reason why you’ll see it used in the training regimens of so many sports athletes. Jump rope training targets speed, balance, agility, dexterity, coordination, endurance and concentration. It’s an excellent cardio workout and also builds shoulder strength and is great for your legs.
What weight jump rope should I get?
The weight of your rope is a personal choice, but typically a beginner learning double-unders at CrossFit will benefit from a heavier rope and a more experienced Double-under jumper can master a lighter, faster rope.
A heavier rope provides more feedback to the beginner. It requires more wrist effort and will be slower than a lighter rope. The most important part is finding a rope that allows you to string together double-unders in big chunks. Constantly stopping or tearing up your hands is not fun. You will mess up your timing if your rope is too light or heavy (or the wrong length!).
For example Rx Smart Gear has CrossFit jump ropes weights ranging from:
- 1.3 oz (advanced CrossFit double-under jumpers doing 75+ in a row)
- 1.8 oz (advanced doing 60+)
- 2.6 oz (intermediate to advanced doing 50+ double-unders)
- 3.4 oz (beginners doing less than 50 double-unders)
- 4.1 oz (very beginner or advanced doing weighted rope workouts)
- 8.6 oz (weighted training rope)
- 12.1 oz (weighted training rope)
- 16.2 oz (weighted training rope)
The best CrossFit Jump Ropes For double unders
Whipping the rope under your feet twice while in mid jump – is a classic CrossFit exercise known as a “Double Under”. That’s because it marks both muscular strength and cardio endurance. This is a great exercise for CrossFitters training to improve their double-unders. But if you’re a beginner, the right rope for your body and workout styles will make all the difference.
There are four basic key points to think about when you’re looking for the best CrossFit jump rope
1. Length
Essentially, taller people need longer ropes. The two things to consider when looking at the length of a jump rope for CrossFit is the static rope length and the dynamic rope length. The static length is how long the rope is when it’s not being used. On the other hand the dynamic is the range of length the rope covers when you’re jumping. Dynamic rope length will depend on your body size and the exercise you’re doing. That’s why when choosing your new jump rope for CrossFit training, you’ll be focusing on static length.
This is how you work out the ideal static length for your next rope. Stand with your hands held at your midline axis. Keep your elbows relaxed and shoulders disengaged where you’ll be holding the rope handles before you start to jump. From this position, the ideal rope length will have a minimum of 12” even clearance passing over your head and in front of your toes. A lot of ropes, especially the standard issue plastic speed ropes will come with adjustable lengths. Amazon offers a great selection of jump ropes with adjustable lengths. Click here to check them out.
2. Weight
The second basic thing to look for when buying a jump rope for CrossFit is the weight of the rope. Beginners will have better luck learning the moves with a thicker cable and heavier rope. A heavy jump rope cable moves more slowly so you have more control over the movement of the cable which allows you to build your coordination and skill. Because the rope moves slower, you’ll also be doing fewer jumps to a slower rhythm, so if you’re hitting around ten or less double unders or trying double unders for the first time, a thick and heavy rope is your best choice.
For intermediate CrossFitters reaching around 50 double unders, a mid-weight rope of around 3mm diameter is ideal. For advanced jumpers who are whipping out 100 plus double unders, a thin, light speed rope of less than 2mm diameter is generally your only option. A light rope will give you less shoulder and wrist fatigue, but as they are so much faster you just have to make sure your legs can keep up!
3. Material
One you’ve figured out how long your ideal rope is and the weight of rope you’ll need for your personalized CrossFit training, the third key point you’ll be also thinking about the rope material. There are plastic, vinyl cord, rubber tube and nylon ropes; those made of traditional rope or leather; beaded jump ropes with plastic sheaths for weight; and there are also steel cable types of jump rope. The type of rope you choose will depend on what you need it for within your training, as well as your overall size and body condition.
The most common ropes are made of vinyl plastic or rubber and are great for beginners right through to advanced skill levels. Plastic ropes last for a reasonable time depending on how often you use them, and they’ll typically come in different colors. For the traditionalist, jump rope made of actual rope or cloth, or sometimes leather can be an option but these tend to be lighter so are better for more advanced skill levels. These cloth or leather ropes do tend to wear out faster.
Jump ropes for CrossFit are also available with thin metal cables. These thin wire cables move incredibly fast so before considering buying one, you’ll need to be approaching at least 100 consecutive double unders. Another thing to consider when using wire jump ropes is these things seriously sting if they hit your feet, so wearing shoes while jumping is highly recommended to avoid getting hurt.
4. Handle
In addition to these basic elements, the type of jump rope handle you choose will also be something to consider. Most jump ropes have plastic handles, though there are some made of wood. Whether you choose plastic or wood, you’ll be looking for two things. The first is the way the rope connects to the handle and the second is ball bearings.
The best jump ropes for all fitness levels will have a swivel mechanism attachment. This allows the rope to rotate freely from the handle. Some beginner style ropes will have the cable fitted within the handle. This is fine when you’re starting out. But the more repetitions you do, and the faster you start to workout, the quicker the handle will wear away at the rope. Having a rope rotating freely reduces this common point of wear and tear and will help you get more out of your new jump rope.
Jump ropes with ball bearing weighted handles are the best choice for CrossFitters moving from beginning to intermediate levels. Although beginners can use them too, they are an absolute must for advanced jumpers. The ball bearings within the jump rope handles evenly distribute the weight of the rope throughout the rope’s rotation. This allows for a smoother movement, which all translates into easier and more efficient jumping for you.
So, now we know why jumping rope is such an awesome part of CrossFit training. We’ve also seen some things to consider when looking for a rope to match your needs. Now, let’s have a look at the best jump ropes to buy for CrossFit and where’s the best place to buy them.
SR-1 Rogue Bearing Speed Rope
The SR-1 Rogue speed rope is the ultimate in jump ropes for advanced CrossFitters and one of the best jump ropes for double unders. This speed rope is made of a metal 3/32″ cable coated in a plastic sheath, and is easily adjustable to your rope length needs. The six inch tapered handles have a glass filling and nylon resin coats which means they’ll last pretty much a lifetime. Each handle is weighted with two ball bearings and has a swivel rope attachment providing a smooth and clean rotation.
The only drawback to the SR-1 is the plastic cable sheath will wear out over time, particularly if you’re jumping on concrete or a similar surface, leaving you with an exposed metal cable. If that does happen though, Rogue also stocks relatively cheap replacement cables that are easily fitted to the handles. If you’re after a shorter handle, Rogue also makes the SR-1s Speed Rope.
Click here or on the picture above to purchase.
Pros – highly durable handles with long and short options avaialble, well designed for smooth action
Cons – plastic coating on cable wears out
Rogue Custom Rx Jump Ropes
Rouge fitness make a seriously good Rx jump rope that is available in custom lengths and weights. These ropes all have plastic, ergonomically molded handles with patented ball bearing weights and a swivel cable attachment. These ropes come in five different plastic rope weights from heavy for beginners to ultra-light for the double under masters. On the other hand, the lengths range from 7 feet to just shy of 10 feet. While custom Rogue Rx jump ropes have everything you need when looking for a new jump rope for CrossFit, the absolute best thing about them is the ropes are interchangeable. So, if you buy a heavy rope to start out learning on, as your fitness increases, you can easily switch to lighter and faster ropes on the same handles. Brilliant.
The Rogue Custom Rx Ropes sell for $52 from Rogue.
Pros – Custom rope options can be interchanged on same handles
Cons – The plastic rope can wear quickly for advanced users.
Powermax Jump Ropes
Powermax jump ropes from Rogue are a good option if you’re just starting out with a metal cable rope or a curious to see how they perform. The rope here is a 3/16″ vinyl coated steel cable. This makes it heavier than the SR-1 but a better choice for intermediate cable users. The Powermax handles are 5.5” and made of soft grip foam. Each handle has a single ball bearing to aid movement, and a basic swivel attachment. The ropes come as either 9’ or 10’ lengths. The Powermax aren’t the best in ultra speed cable jump ropes, but they are a great option for cheap jump ropes for more advanced CrossFitters.
The Powermax jump rope will cost you $11.50 for the 9′ and $12.50 for the 10′ lengths from Rogue.
Pros – Cheap. A good introduction to jumping with a cable rope
Cons – lack of adjustment options makes for a less personal rope than other brands
The Verdict
What’s the best jump rope for CrossFit? One of the best ropes CrossFit athletes can find for all round performance is the Rogue Custom Rx Jump Rope. With excellent quality materials and a fantastic range of custom options to suit all skill levels, the Custom Rx is a no fail choice when you’re looking to buy a jump rope.
Rogue take it again for the best jump rope for double unders in CrossFit! Their hi-precision and high quality SR-1 Rogue Bearing Speed Rope is one of the best speed jump ropes for CrossFit.
Now you know what to look for when shopping for the best jump ropes for CrossFit. You’ve got no excuse but to get on out there and start whipping out those double unders like never before.
Top Resources for Crossfit Jump Rope
- The Best CrossFit Jump Ropes – Morning Chalk Up – The best CrossFit jump rope depends in large part on your skill level. Our experts break down the top picks to help you find what works best for you. (morningchalkup.com)
- Amazon.com : crossfit jump rope (amazon.com)
- The 8 Best Jump Ropes for CrossFit Workouts – Double-Under Ropes – These jump ropes are ideal for CrossFit workouts, with cables and durable handles so that you can work through double-unders. (menshealth.com)
- The Best CrossFit Jump Ropes of 2021 | GearJunkie – Dial in those double-unders at the gym with the best CrossFit jump ropes of 2021. These include top picks from RPM, Rogue, and more. (gearjunkie.com)
- 5 Best Jump Ropes for CrossFit Double Unders (2021) – BuyJumpRopes.net – “What’s the best jump rope for CrossFit?” It’s a question we get all the time. This article is intended as a comprehensive product review of the top six jump ropes on the market for CrossFit (buyjumpropes.net)
- Jump Ropes – Explore our complete catalog of the best fitness jump ropes including bearing speed ropes, cables ropes, Powermax jump ropes, and more. (roguefitness.com)
- Best Jump Rope in 2022 | Garage Gym Reviews – From true beginners to double-under wonders, we have the best jump rope pick for everyone. (garagegymreviews.com)
- 5 Best CrossFit Jump Ropes in 2022 – Everything you need to know when looking for the best CrossFit jump rope; handles, cable, material, length, weight, price, and more… (boxletes.com)
- CrossFit Preferred Course: Jump Rope – The Perfect Jump (crossfit.com)
- The 4 Best CrossFit Jump Ropes Of 2022 – After training for aw while, you might consider purchasing your own personal jump rope. In doing so, you can adjust the rope length, feel, and fit, so that you can maximize your training and results. That’s why we’ve compiled the 4 best CrossFit jump (swolverine.com)
- Best CrossFit Jump Ropes For Fitness And Double Unders – There are a few things that you should consider before buying the best jump rope for CrossFit, fitness or your specific workouts. I am sure that you have tried your local gym or fitness center and noticed dozens of jump ropes hanging on the walls. Mo (amrapantics.com)
- Best Crossfit Jump Rope: Your Road to Double Unders | WOD Tools – Double unders aren’t only a great combination of coordination, muscular strength and aerobic endurance. They can also be an enjoyable and impressive exercise. After all, isn’t that what Cross fit’s all… (wodtools.com)
- 5 CrossFit Jump Rope Travel Workouts – Fittest Travel – Everything travelers need to know about fitness. Travel workouts, hotel gyms, bodyweight exercises, strategies for staying fit and healthy while traveling, and more. (fittesttravel.com)
- Best Crossfit Jump Rope [2022] for Double Unders Mastery – This is a review of the 8 best CrossFit jump ropes for doing double unders and other CrossFit WOD exercises. (atemi-sports.com)
- The Best CrossFit Jump Rope to Improve Your Double unders – Wod Review – Jumping rope, or skipping is an awesome workout and a standard favorite within the CrossFit world but, how do you find the best jump ropes for CrossFit? While (wodreview.com)
- Learn to jump rope like a pro | Buddy Lee jump ropes – Buddy Lee Jump Ropes – Learn to jump rope like a pro from the world’s leading jump rope expert! Through the Buddy Lee jump rope system, you will learn not only the basics of jump rope training, you will understand the biomechanics and how to structure a training program. E (buddyleejumpropes.com)
- Rx Jump Ropes – Find a variety of high-impact fitness jump ropes designed for maximum workout results. Get a free jump rope bag with every Rx Jump Rope purchase. Shop now! (rxsmartgear.com)
- CrossFit Jump Ropes – Speed Ropes – You’re ready to progress from the beat up jump ropes at your CrossFit gym to having your own speed rope for double unders. Good idea. These speed ropes are used and recommended by some of the top CrossFit athletes in the world, including Justin Mede… (elitesrs.com)
- 8 brutal jump rope crossfit WODs – Velites Sport Blog – Post your favourite jump rope WOD below. What’s the hardest WOD with a jump rope you’ve ever done? (en.velitessport.com)
- 680 Jump Rope Workouts (WODs) – Jump Rope Workouts (WODs) (sorted by relevant) (wodwell.com)