Nicole Saunders is a former associate commerce editor for Select on NBC News, covering wellness and lifestyle.
5 best jump ropes for beginners and workouts
Why health experts recommend jump roping — and their favorite jump ropes.
Roy and Donlan are both fans of Crossrope’s Lean jump rope, which can sync with Apple Health and Google Fit. You have the ability to swap out the handles to upgrade your jump rope from Light (0.25 pounds) to Heavy (0.5 pounds). Roy also appreciates the ergonomic, texturized handles and finds the jump rope doesn’t tangle like others. It boasts a 4.8-star average rating from 2,990 reviews on Amazon.
This is Gallucci’s favorite jump rope for beginners since it helps users “get a feel for the rhythm of jumping and how to do it properly.” He noted the weighted jump rope is great for engaging arm muscles. It earned a 4.3-star average rating from nearly 250 reviews on Amazon.
Gallucci also recommended Lifeline’s speed jump rope for those who want “a killer workout” and to “go at maximum speed and build endurance.” It weighs just 0.75 pounds and received a 4-star average rating from more than 150 reviews on Amazon.
One highly-rated PVC jump rope worth considering is from EliteSRS. It has a 4.4-star average from more than 330 reviews on Amazon and is height-adjustable. After measuring the correct height, pull part of the 10-foot cord through one of the handles, release the attached lock and once you have the right length, snap the lock back in place (and use scissors to snip any excess cord poking out). The jump rope is available in six colorways, ranging from Pink/Purple to Silver/White.
This jump rope is the No. 1 bestseller on Amazon and it boasts a 4.3-star average rating from more than 35,200 reviews. The 9-foot jump rope is height adjustable and covered with PVC that’s designed to help prevent floor damage. It also features ergonomic memory foam handles.
Morten Mueller, a performance coach at personal training service Future, said two of the most common mistakes his clients make with jump roping are overexerting themselves and jumping too high. “The rope is all about rhythm and coordination for sustained periods. If we jump too high, we will have a hard time replicating the almost same technique over and over again and might even have to stop early,” he said. Mueller noted that jumping too high also limits the cardio benefits of jump roping and can cause joint stress to your lower body. “Think rhythm first, duration second and height last.”
Mueller also shared three simple steps to help you get started with jump roping:
Before reaching for a jump rope, start by pretending the jump rope handles are in your hands right next to your hips, and bounce up and down just a few inches over the floor.
Once you find a comfortable rhythm and can maintain the motion for at least 30 seconds, grab both handles of the jump rope in one hand and combine the bouncing with swinging the rope by your side. His biggest tip is that your wrist controls the movement rather than your arm or forearm.
Once you master the swing and jumps for at least another 30 seconds, you are ready to jump through the rope. "Always remember to never sacrifice rhythm for the duration or height of jumps," he said.
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