Top 5 compared
The best jump ropes
A quick, sweaty workout anywhere there’s room to swing, from the backyard to a hotel room.
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The top 5 at a glance
A jump rope is a cord or cable between two handles, and ten minutes of steady jumping is a real cardio workout. Thin steel speed ropes turn fastest, for fast jumping and double-unders; thicker PVC and beaded ropes are easier to time while you learn; and weighted ropes turn steadily and add some upper-body work.
Most are adjustable, and finding the length is simple: stand on the middle of the rope and the handles should reach about your armpits. A rope that doesn’t adjust is ordered by height instead. Thin steel cables sting if they catch a shin, so a thicker rope is the gentler place to start.
What matters
- Ball-bearing handles, which turn more smoothly.
- A length that adjusts without screws or tools.
- Foam or rubber grips that stay comfortable through a session.
- A cord that doesn’t kink or tangle.
#1Elite Jumps 6mm PVC jump rope
$20–$30
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: Well balanced and smooth, it handles speed work, cardio and CrossFit, and setting the length is easy. One owner felt the heart rate climb within 45 seconds of starting.
A closer look: Thick enough to cope with rough ground outside as well as a gym floor, it can come along for a warm-up before a run. Beginners feel each turn, while the extra resistance gives seasoned jumpers a harder cardio session.
- Snap-lock adjusters
- Doesn’t kink
- Copes with rough ground
Best for: Finding a rhythm
- Cord
- 6mm PVC
- Handles
- Plastic, 5 in
- Length
- 10 ft, adjustable
- Ball bearings
- No
- Weight
- 5.6 oz
#2Leeboom Soft Beaded Jump Ropes (3-pack)
Under $10
Three soft beaded ropes in green, pink and blue, so siblings or friends can jump together. The beads keep the rope’s shape as it swings and click on the ground, which helps children learn the rhythm, and it doesn’t tangle.
What owners say: Parents find the soft beads don’t break and the length is quick to change between heights, so children pick up jumping easily; beginners and adults use them too. The three colors go down well.
A closer look: Adjust each rope so the handles reach the armpits when the child stands on the middle, and it’ll suit them as they grow. The soft beads are gentle if a rope catches a leg, and their click on a sidewalk or gym floor helps keep the count.
- Three ropes: green, pink, blue
- Beads click on the ground
- Doesn’t tangle
- Soft beads, gentle on legs
Best for: Kids learning to jump
- Cord
- Soft beads on nylon
- Handles
- Plastic, rubber grip
- Length
- 9.2 ft, adjustable
- Ball bearings
- –
- Weight
- 9.9 oz for all three
#3HEREROPE 1/4 lb Weighted Jump Rope (lime)
$20–$30
A quarter pound of extra weight in a 6mm PVC-coated steel cable, so the rope turns steadily and you feel each pass, on ball-bearing handles that spin smoothly. The weighted handles add some upper-body work to the cardio.
What owners say: The quarter-pound weight gives feedback on every turn, and it spins smoothly without tangling, which helps with rhythm and stamina. Durability is the catch for some: a few had a handle break within three weeks.
Heads up: It isn’t adjustable: choose the size by height when ordering, and Hererope suggests the longer size for beginners between two.
A closer look: The extra weight makes the rope easier to time than a light speed rope, which helps beginners, while the steel core stands up to rough surfaces outdoors. It’s a good step up for anyone bored of a basic rope.
- Weighted handles work upper body
- Steel core suits outdoor surfaces
Best for: Learning with a little weight
- Cord
- 6mm PVC-coated steel, 1/4 lb
- Handles
- Faux leather
- Length
- 108 in (sized by height)
- Ball bearings
- Yes
- Weight
- About 14 oz
#4LIFEEZY Self-Locking Speed Jump Rope
$10–$20
A thin, PU-coated steel cable on aluminum handles with a double-bearing system, so it turns fast and smooth for quick jumping. The length sets in seconds with a self-locking clamp, no screws or tools.
What owners say: The slightly heavy handles and smooth spin get the praise, along with how quickly the length adjusts, and plenty of beginners use it for short cardio bursts. How long the cable lasts varies: a few had one give out early.
Heads up: Thin steel speed ropes sting if they catch your shins, so beginners may prefer a thicker PVC rope first.
A closer look: Stand on the middle of the cable, pull the handles up to your armpits and lock the length there. Jump on rubber gym flooring, wood or a mat where you can, since rough concrete wears through the coating fast. It suits anyone working toward faster jumping or their first double-unders.
- Self-locking, tool-free adjustment
- 1.2 in handle diameter
- Suits first double-unders
Best for: Fast jumping and speed work
- Cord
- PU-coated steel cable
- Handles
- Aluminum, rubber grip
- Length
- 10 ft, adjustable
- Ball bearings
- Yes
- Weight
- 7.4 oz
#5Amazon Basics Adjustable Jump Rope (9.8 ft)
Under $10
Simple and light: a plastic cord on ball-bearing handles with soft foam grips. Enough for a daily ten-minute session in the backyard.
What owners say: Its weight suits jumping and the length is easy to change, and one owner noticed real gains in stamina and coordination. It splits opinion on durability and length, and plenty complain that it tangles badly.
A closer look: An easy one for children too: shorten it right down and they’re away. Ten minutes of jumping rope is a real workout, so start with short bursts, and hang it up after use rather than balling it up, which helps with tangles.
- Shortens right down for kids
Best for: Short daily sessions, children too
- Cord
- Plastic (PP)
- Handles
- Foam
- Length
- 118 in, adjustable
- Ball bearings
- Yes
- Weight
- 6.6 oz
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Elite Jumps PVC | #2Leeboom 3-pack | #3HEREROPE weighted | #4LIFEEZY speed rope | #5Amazon Basics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for kids | Best weighted | Best speed rope | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 |
| Price | $20–$30 | Under $10 | $20–$30 | $10–$20 | Under $10 |
| Cord | 6mm PVC | Soft beads on nylon | 6mm PVC-coated steel, 1/4 lb | PU-coated steel cable | Plastic (PP) |
| Handles | Plastic, 5 in | Plastic, rubber grip | Faux leather | Aluminum, rubber grip | Foam |
| Length | 10 ft, adjustable | 9.2 ft, adjustable | 108 in (sized by height) | 10 ft, adjustable | 118 in, adjustable |
| Ball bearings | No | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 5.6 oz | 9.9 oz for all three | About 14 oz | 7.4 oz | 6.6 oz |
| Best for | Finding a rhythm | Kids learning to jump | Learning with a little weight | Fast jumping and speed work | Short daily sessions, children too |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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