The best skipping ropes
The cheapest bit of gym kit there is: the skipping ropes that turn smoothly and last.
Skipping is a full cardio workout in ten minutes, and a rope costs less than a gym day pass. It's a staple of boxing training for footwork and fitness.
Thin steel cables are fastest; thicker PVC cords are easier to learn on. Ball-bearing handles turn more smoothly, and adjustable length matters: stand on the middle and the handles should reach about your armpits.
What matters
- Steel for speed, thicker PVC to learn.
- Ball-bearing handles.
- Easy length adjustment.
- Comfortable grips.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Blukar Speed Skipping Rope, Tangle-Free
Under £10 Price range
A steel-cored rope in a PVC coat that turns smoothly on ball bearings and doesn't tangle, with foam handles and spare buckles for adjusting it to anyone in the house.
What owners say: Owners find it good quality, light and easy to adjust, and good value, though a few had a handle break.
A closer look: Stand on the middle of the rope and the handles should reach about your armpits; trim or adjust to that. Skip on a mat or wooden floor: concrete wears the coating fast.
- PVC-coated steel wire
- Ball-bearing handles
- Adjustable, about 3m
- Memory-foam grips
- Spare adjustment buckles, 179g
Best for: Most people
- Cord
- PVC-coated steel
- Handles
- Foam
- Length
- About 3m, adjustable
- Ball bearings
- Yes
- Weight
- 179g
#2 of 5
Best for speed
Beast Gear Speed Rope (aluminium handles)
Under £10 Price range
Slim grooved aluminium handles and a thin coated steel cable that whips round fast: the rope for learning double-unders and quick boxing-style footwork.
What owners say: Owners praise the build and performance, especially for double-unders, though a few had the cable break near the handle.
Heads up: Thin steel speed ropes sting if they catch your shins, so beginners may prefer a thicker PVC rope first.
A closer look: Keep the elbows in and turn with the wrists, not the arms: that's where the speed comes from. Leave a little extra length until you've got the rhythm.
- Coated steel cable
- Grooved aluminium handles
- Ball bearings
- Adjustable, about 3m
- 200g
Best for: Double-unders
- Cord
- Coated steel cable
- Handles
- Aluminium
- Length
- About 3m, adjustable
- Ball bearings
- Yes
- Weight
- 200g
#3 of 5
Best for beginners
Elite Jumps 6mm PVC Skipping Rope
£10–£20 Price range
A thicker 6mm cord with a bit of weight to it, so you can feel every turn and find a rhythm quicker. Snap-lock ends make adjusting it easy, and it doesn't kink.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to adjust, light and easy to get into a rhythm with, though a few had it break at the handle.
A closer look: The extra thickness makes it forgiving: it slows the turn a touch, which helps beginners. It's also good for steady warm-ups before a run.
- 6mm PVC cord with inner string
- Non-kinking
- 10ft, snap-lock adjusters
- 5in handles
- 159g
Best for: Finding a rhythm
- Cord
- 6mm PVC
- Handles
- Plastic, 5in
- Length
- 10ft (3m), adjustable
- Ball bearings
- –
- Weight
- 159g
#4 of 5
Most complete
Titan Armour Self-Locking Speed Rope with 2 Cables
£10–£20 Price range
Two steel cables in the box (swap them for speed or feel), aluminium handles with a bit of weight, self-locking length adjustment, a cable protector and a carry bag.
What owners say: Owners find it good quality with a nice weight and easy length adjustment, and like the bag; it helps with double-unders.
A closer look: Keep the spare cable in the bag for when the first one frays. Use the cable protector on rough floors or outdoors.
- 2 steel cables included
- Aluminium handles, self-locking
- Precision bearings
- Cable protector and carry bag
- 240g
Best for: Keen skippers
- Cord
- Steel (2 cables)
- Handles
- Aluminium
- Length
- About 3m, adjustable
- Ball bearings
- Yes
- Weight
- 240g
#5 of 5
Best budget
Amazon Basics Adjustable Jump Rope (3m)
Under £10 Price range
Simple, light and cheap: a PVC cord on ball-bearing handles with soft foam grips. Enough for a daily ten-minute session in the garden.
What owners say: Owners find it excellent value and quality, light, easy to adjust and comfortable to hold.
A closer look: An easy one for children too: shorten it right down and they're away. Ten minutes of skipping is a proper workout, so start with short bursts.
- PVC cord
- Ball-bearing handles
- Foam grips
- 3m, adjustable
- 186g
Best for: Kids and quick sessions
- Cord
- PVC
- Handles
- Foam
- Length
- 3m, adjustable
- Ball bearings
- Yes
- Weight
- 186g
How they compare
| Feature | #1Blukar | #2Beast Gear speed | #3Elite Jumps PVC | #4Titan Armour | #5Amazon Basics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for speed | Best for beginners | Most complete | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| Price | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | Under £10 Price range |
| Cord | PVC-coated steel | Coated steel cable | 6mm PVC | Steel (2 cables) | PVC |
| Handles | Foam | Aluminium | Plastic, 5in | Aluminium | Foam |
| Length | About 3m, adjustable | About 3m, adjustable | 10ft (3m), adjustable | About 3m, adjustable | 3m, adjustable |
| Ball bearings | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 179g | 200g | 159g | 240g | 186g |
| Best for | Most people | Double-unders | Finding a rhythm | Keen skippers | Kids and quick sessions |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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