Who has never skipped rope as a child? In gym class, on the playground or after school, you probably played skipping rope with your classmates. Well, believe it or not, what you were doing when you were younger is a sporting activity that offers many benefits.
If you want to improve your physical condition with simple and effective exercises, skipping rope is a great option. All you need to do is get a quality skipping rope and a little motivation and off you go. To help you find the model that best suits your needs, we offer you an overview of the best models of the moment as well as some valuable advice.
Specification
This adjustable skipping rope offers you 2 jumping modes: with rope (up to 2.9 m) and without rope. It has an LCD screen on which you can set different measurements. Its handles are non-slip and its ball bearing offers a great comfort of use.
Key Features
With the model without rope, you can jump anywhere, regardless of the ground and the space you have available. The PVC rope is adjustable in length and the ABS and non-slip handles are comfortable. It is an ideal model for crossfitters, boxers or to do jumping exercises in the house.
Specification
This model is a speed skipping rope. The handles are made of soft memory foam and the steel cable is coated and adjustable in length. It has a modern and fast ball-bearing system that prevents the rope from getting caught in your feet.
Key Features
This ultra light rope is both adjustable and ergonomic. It is a compact, high-performance model that is accessible to all because its price is very affordable. It is an ideal rope for training with fast and light jumps. You will have no reason not to adopt it!
The 5 best skipping ropes according to Musclopedia
Rope skipping is a very complete exercise in itself that provides many benefits, as well as a good option to complement other sports.
Here is a comparative table of the best models currently on the market. We have selected them according to their characteristics, advantages and price. Take a look at them!
Benefits of a good skipping rope
Training without injury
There are great advantages to exercising, whatever the reason. However, some offer more than others. For example, skipping rope generates less stress on the joints than other sports such as running, for example.
For this reason and many others, it is a very safe exercise that causes very few injuries (as long as it is done correctly, of course).
Practicing a sports activity at a low cost
We keep repeating it over and over again, this is a very complete exercise, since this activity allows you to work both your cardio and your muscles without rushing them. It’s also a sport that doesn’t cost much, since to perform your routines, all you need is a rope and a space to jump, nothing else. So all you need to do is get motivated!
Whatever your level or your physical condition, the practice of the skipping rope allows you to train at your own pace and at a low cost. Indeed, you won’t need to invest to start a daily practice, so a little motivation and let’s go!
How to make a jump rope?
To improve your cardiovascular system
To begin, you should know that skipping rope is a very good exercise for your cardiovascular system. With it, you will improve your aerobic capacity, as well as your endurance. In some cases, this translates into a reduction in heart rate and an increase in blood pressure.
Improve your musculature
On the other hand, with this exercise, you will involve both the upper and lower body in terms of muscles. And also those of the center of the body, such as the lumbar and abdominal muscles. For this reason, you can also use the jump as a warm-up exercise.
Improve your coordination
In addition, it is an exercise that will help you gradually improve your coordination, since you will need to coordinate the movements of your arms with those of your legs. In fact, in addition to toning up your muscles, the skipping rope practice allows you to develop eye-hand-foot coordination.
Improve your speed
Similarly, the more you progress in your exercises, the more you will increase your speed. This improves the muscle fibers that are responsible for speed as well as agility. This is why it is a fundamental exercise for boxers who always include it in their training.
Finally, even if it is not the main reason, but it can be important for some people, skipping rope will help you lose weight and keep the line, more or less like when you run!
How to choose a skipping rope?
The thickness of the rope
In today’s market, there are several thicknesses of ropes that will adapt to different needs and jumping practices. Here are a few of those to keep in mind.
The 2.5 mm thick models are faster and less tiring in terms of muscles when jumping. These combos are the best to use in fitness competitions or for Crossfit.
The 4 mm models are ideal if you are just starting to jump. That’s because they make the turn more noticeable, as well as the hit on the ground. All this will allow you to acquire and improve your jumping technique until you can move to the lower layers. They are also recommended for boxing or martial arts practitioners to improve endurance and speed. In addition, the 4mm models are more robust over time because their coating is thicker.
The material of the rope
The composition of the rope is undoubtedly the most important criterion for the choice of his skipping rope. The best skipping rope for you will have to be chosen according to your needs and your practice. Indeed, you will have to choose the rotation speed, the diameter but also the use (inside and outside). In addition, each material corresponds to a level of use.
Plastic-coated steel rope
As its name suggests, it is a steel cable covered with a plastic layer. Its main advantage is that it offers a higher rotation speed for a small diameter (from 2.5mm to 4mm).
These models of fast and light ropes can be used both indoors and outdoors. They are recommended for sports where fast jumps are done as well as for advanced jumpers.
Plastic or PVC rope
It is the most well-known model on the market. The main advantage of this material is that it is available in a wide variety of thicknesses, colors and finishes. So you can choose the one that best suits your training and also the one you like the most.
Moreover they are quite thin ropes (from 5 to 6mm), with a high rotation speed. Therefore, this model is designed for intermediate athletes who are looking for intense training.
Leather rope
Used by boxers during their training, leather ropes are more versatile and have a diameter of 6mm. Indeed, this model is aimed at sportsmen and women looking for good quality material to improve speed and coordination.
These models usually have plastic or wooden handles. The only big drawback is the outdoor use, because the material is organic and tends to get damaged faster.
Fabric or nylon rope
These skipping ropes remind us of the ones we used to play with when we were children. Intended for beginners, this model is heavier (about 8mm diameter) and slower (low rotation speed), so it is not recommended for speed jumping exercises.
Moreover, its non-use is not recommended for outdoor use either, because with the humidity of certain soils, it can become even heavier and especially deteriorate more quickly.
Handgrips
Handgrips are also important for jumping. This is not necessarily the first criterion that comes to mind, but if you use a skipping rope that slips or is too stiff, you will not practice your training in good conditions. It is essential that you are comfortable when you jump.
It is also important that they have some roughness in them to help you behave and that they are not made of materials that make your hands sweat.
There are handles made of different materials, such as plastic, wood or metal, and each will be best suited for different uses. For sports where you want to be fast, lightweight metal handles are best. Woods are not recommended for outdoor use. Plastic models are often used for inexpensive skipping ropes.
Finally, between the handle and the rope or cable is the rotation system on some models. Make sure that it is of good quality, so that the movements are fluid and that it does not get stuck. If possible, try several types of handles to see which one is most comfortable for you before choosing one.
The use
As mentioned above, you must consider the use you will make of this accessory. Intense use will not be the same as regular use.
Just as it will not be the same to use it for sports such as Crossfit as it will be to practice combat jumping itself.
All of this will influence aspects such as the type of rope you will need, the weight it should have or the material it should be made of. Once you have defined the use and objectives you have in mind for this accessory, you can choose or discard models based on their characteristics.
The different types of skipping ropes
Competition ropes
They are among the fastest models on the market due to their characteristics. When we talk about speed, we are talking about the lightness of the rope but also about the type of rolling. For this product range, we generally find models with a thickness of 2.5 mm or 4 mm.
The ball bearing will generate more speed during the exercise, thus increasing endurance thanks to maximum compensation during the effort.
Weighted Speed Rope
This type of skipping rope has an “extra” weight, as the name suggests. This weight is very often added to the inside of the handle in a space provided for this purpose. Adding weight allows you to increase the difficulty of the exercise.
There are different sizes of weights available. It will depend on the goal you want to achieve in your training, such as improving the muscles involved in jumping for example.
Cordless Jump
Although the name is confusing, there are many skipping ropes without ropes. These are actually handles with a few centimeters of rope with a small weight at the end to simulate the weight of a “real” rope.
These models are especially used for speed training. Appreciated also by beginners, these skipping ropes are very useful for indoor use with space to evolve.
FAQ
Q. How much does a skipping rope cost?
R. Several factors influence the price. However, you can find cheap skipping ropes for £7, and even cheaper if there is a good deal. On the other hand, better quality ropes can cost you between £20 and £25.
Q. Where can I buy a skipping rope?
R. This small accessory is available in sports stores or department stores with this department. On the other hand, to have all the options on the market, we recommend that you go to online stores such as Amazon. They have a great variety, as well as economical prices.
Q. How do I adjust the skipping rope?
R. To reach the ideal height, step on the rope with your foot and bring the handles in a horizontal position up to the height of the nipples. This is the optimal height. If you are a beginner, you can add a few more centimeters and if you are advanced, you can reduce them.
Q. What type of skipping rope do the boxers use?
R. In order to improve the speed and resistance of the trains, boxers usually train with 4 mm thick plastic-coated steel ropes.
Q. What is the best skipping rope for the Crossfit?
R. For Crossfit, whether it is for technical training or for jumping in WOD, it is recommended to use lightweight combos that allow for quick movement, such as 2.5 mm thick competition ropes and plastic coated steel.
Q. How many ways are there to jump on the rope?
R. There are a wide variety of jumps that can be done. In addition to the basic or single jump, there is the double jump, backward jump, one-legged jump, trot, scissor jump, cross jump, side jump, etc.
Q. How many skipping rehearsals do you do?
R. It will obviously depend on the goals you have. In general, it is recommended to jump for about 20 minutes, 5 times a week, which is good practice. The general rule of thumb is that you should do about 125 jumps per minute (simple, of course).
Highlights of the skipping rope
Numerous studies indicate that frequent participation in sport significantly improves quality of life in many ways. Even if you don’t have enough time (or the desire, sometimes) to go to the gym when you leave work, you should try to escape a sedentary life.
With the little things we can have at home, like skipping ropes, it’s much easier for us to spend a little bit of our day getting our bodies moving and developing good habits. Moreover, with the ropes, you can do a very complete exercise with just one accessory.