Studies show that a ten-minute skipping session can be as effective as half an hour of running.
Fast-foot rope sessions are also lower impact and brilliant for improving coordination and balance – the foundations for extending your fitness well into your grandpa years.
Lucky, then, that when it comes to gym kit, the humble rope is about as lightweight, affordable and convenient as it comes.
Here’s our tried and tested pick of the latest hot-steppers.
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Mirafit Battle Jump Rope
£15.95, mirafit.co.uk
If skipping over skinny, lightweight loops isn’t challenging enough, this hard-wearing, battle rope/jump rope hybrid adds some upper-body conditioning to your endurance workouts.
At one to two inches thick, with a hefty weight that ranges from 1.1kg to 3.9kg, they’re excellent for everything for fat-stripping HIIT, to building grip, shoulder and arm strength.
Despite that extra bulk, Mirafit ropes pack comfortably in a gym bag, while the rubber reinforced handles make them easy to grip and brilliantly durable.
Grip: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5
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Crossrope Jump Bundle
£218, crossrope.com
With one rope weighted for strength, another for getting lean – and a fast clip system – this bundle lets you switch up the work rate easily mid-workout.
The slimline handles are nicely ergonomic and the ropes are designed for any surface. There’s also a partner app with over 500 goal-orientated workouts.
Grip: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5
Primal Strength Steel Skipping Rope
£9.99, primalstrength.com
If you’re looking for a speed rope, this has brilliantly smooth swivel bearings to ensure a reliably rapid spin. It also packs textured, lightweight steel handles for better grip, and it’s adjustable.
Grip: 4.5/5
Durability: 4/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
RDX Digital Calorie Burn and Workout Counter
£18.99, rdxsports.co.uk
RDX’s connected rope uses embedded sensors to accurately count your jumps, estimate calorie burn, with all your stats appealing alongside a countdown timer on an LED display in the handles.
The 3.1m rope is adjustable and the non-slip handles ensure maximum grip.
Grip: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
Sundried Skipping Rope
£10, sundried.com
This lightweight, super-slim speed rope copes well smashing out rapid-fire boxing drills and general gym sessions.
The 12cm rubber grip handles are fatter than some, but ergonomic thumb grooves make for a comfortable grip. The 3m cable is length adjustable and the set comes with a spare.
Grip: 4/5
Durability: 4.5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Adidas Skipping Rope Set
£34.99, amazon.com
If you want flexibility, Adidas’ unique rope set has 50g and 100g interchangeable weighted cores that slot inside the handles, plus two 2.75m ropes – one weighted, one lighter for speedwork – so you change gears to suit your goals. It also comes in a portable case ideal for travel.
Grip: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Venum Thunder Evo Gold
£19.98, uk.venum.com
Blinged up and ready to bring the thunder, Venum’s ultralight 216g rope is designed for indoor use. Its 3m cable adjusts easily and spins with a smooth and fast action that’s excellent for all-round cross training, speedwork and preparing for combat sports.
Grip: 3.5/5
Durability: 3.5/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
Words: Kieran Alger