Which Jump Rope Should You Buy?
- Coach Jamie
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
Which Jump Rope Should You Buy?
Walk into any gym or browse online and you’ll find dozens of jump ropes claiming to be the fastest, smoothest, or best for double-unders. The truth is that choosing the right rope comes down to a few things:
Experience/ability level - ie can you or can’t you do any yet
Rope thickness - how the heavy the rope is going to be
Handle length - the speed at which the rope could turn
Get these right and you’ll learn faster, miss less, and enjoy skipping far more.
What is your experience/current ability level?
Are you a complete newbie/never got a double under yet? If so stick right to the beginner level options.
Have got some in the past but they come and go and possibly need to single double through workouts? Aim for the middle based options or beginner and look to upgrade soon.
Can regularly do DU in workouts using the ropes we have sometimes the large numbers you can’t quite hit but wouldn’t scale to singles? If so middle option/ going for the faster ropes can work. Remember a faster rope can mean going back to learning again the new rhythm but it’s worth it in the long run.
Understanding Rope Thickness
The thickness of a jump rope refers to the diameter of the cable.
The thicker the rope the heavier it feels the harder it is to turn. Meaning the shoulders and forearms have to work harder to make it happen and fatigues you much quicker.
The thinner ropes are much faster and save energy but come at a cost of “feel” some are so fast you can feel them turning so rhythmically it’s much harder to learn and control.
How to Measure Rope Thickness
2.5-3.5mm Rope
Best for:
• Complete beginners
• Children
• Anyone learning single skips
Pros:
• Easier to feel where the rope is
• Slower speed gives more time to react
• Builds rhythm and coordination
Cons:
• Harder to perform fast double-unders
1.8-2.5mm Rope
Best for:
• Intermediate athletes
Pros:
• Good balance of feedback and speed
• Suitable for single skips and double-unders
• Most versatile option
Cons:
• May feel too fast for complete beginners
Under 1.8mm Rope
Best for:
• Advanced athletes
• Competitive CrossFit athletes
Pros:
• Extremely fast
• Ideal for large unbroken sets of double-unders
Cons:
• Less feedback
• Punishes timing mistakes
• Not recommended for beginners
Understanding Handle Length
Many athletes focus only on rope length, but handle length matters too. The short the handle the fast the rotation and the longer is the opposite. When learning it can be easier to have a longer handle and work your way down the sizes.
How to Measure Handle Length
Measure from the very bottom of the handle to the very top.
Typical handle lengths:
Short Handles (12-15cm)
Best for:
• Experienced athletes
• Fast rope turnover
• Competition use
Pros:
• Lightweight
• Efficient wrist movement
Medium Handles (15-18cm)
Best for:
• Most athletes
Pros:
• Comfortable grip
• Good control
• Suitable for all skill levels
Long Handles (18cm+)
Best for:
• Beginners
• Athletes struggling with double-unders
Pros:
• More leverage
• Easier to control the rope path
Cons:
• Slightly slower turnover
How to Size Your Rope Correctly
Most ropes online now have a sizing chart based off of your height. Follow these first. And fall into these categories:
The easiest method:
1. Stand on the middle of the rope.
2. Pull both handles upward.
3. For beginners, the tops of the handles should reach around armpit height.
4. For intermediate athletes, around the bottom of the chest.
5. For advanced double-under athletes, around the sternum or nipple line.
Remember: shorter ropes are faster, but only if your technique is good enough.
My Recommendation
If you’re a beginner
Choose:
• 2.5-3.5mm cable
• Medium or long handles
• Rope length reaching armpit height
If you’re learning double-unders
Choose:
• 2.0-2.5mm cable
• Medium handles
• Rope length reaching lower chest height
If you’re advanced
Choose:
• 1.5-2.0mm cable
• Medium or short handles
• Rope length reaching sternum height
The best jump rope isn’t the fastest rope. It’s the rope that allows you to perform the highest number of successful repetitions with the least frustration. For most athletes, a 2.0-2.5mm cable with medium-length handles is the sweet spot.
Budget
You can spend probably as low as £20 up to £100+ for a jump rope. Normally the quote “buy cheap buy twice” is accurate with ropes.
I’ve put below some websites that stock different types of rope that I’ve used in the past.
My current rope. Expensive but hope to not need to replace ever.
This is fast and took me quite a while to learn but now I feel like it’s cheating compared to how easy it is vs the red ropes we have.
You choose the length base off of your height here. In the future if I want a shorter and faster rope I can order it.
The rope I first moved to after getting reps with the red ones we have. Cost wise affordable. Slightly longer handles and thicker cable than what I have now and is a great rope to have. You need to adjust the length and cut this one.
Here is a notable mention
https://rpmtraining.com - shortest handles for the fastest rotations.
Lots of information above but let me condense it.
Find your ability level?
Get the rope that suits you?
Make sure it’s the right length.
Order it.
Practice with it!!!!!!!!
I will put together a Double Under programme for people to follow if they want? Hands up if you would like that?
Questions? Fire away
✌️
Jambon
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