Chances are that prior to joining a CrossFit affiliate, the last time you touched a jump rope is elementary school. That’s too bad, as the jump rope is a fantastic and underrated tool that should be included in any athletic training regime. A jump rope doesn’t take up space in your house/garage like a squat rack or rower/bike, and yet it can test multiple General Physical Preparedness skills such as Agility, Coordination, Balance, and Speed in any location (pending ceiling height). Bottom line, every CrossFit athlete should be familiar with and comfortable with a jump rope. This article will focus on how you can find the right jump rope to assist with your fitness journey.
What Should I Look For In A Jump Rope?
Up front, I’m not a salesman and I’m not going to push a certain brand of jump rope on you. I’m more interested in you knowing the fundamentals and being empowered to make informed decisions. The most important factor you should look for in a jump rope is size (yes, it matters here). The size of the rope is really the length of the rope. To be specific, I’m talking about the length of the rope itself minus the handles. The quick version to determine the optimal length of the jump rope is your height + 3 feet or 36 inches. For example, I’m 5 feet 7 inches tall (or 67 inches), which would make my ideal jump rope size 8 feet 7 inches tall or 100 inches. If you decide to purchase your own jump rope, OF WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND, bring it in, and any of your friendly neighborhood CFHR coaches can help you properly size/trim your jump rope for you. Once your rope is properly sized, you are less likely to get frustrated with jumping rope in class. I say less likely, not completely eliminated, because there are so many things we can do with a jump rope in CrossFit that we really need to consistently practice and use the equipment to reach its optimal potential.
How To Check Your Jump Rope Size
The following tips are borrowed from RX Smart Gear (again, I’m not paid to endorse them):
- Step on the rope with one foot, bring your feet together and pull the rope tight.
- Bring the handles together and point the top towards your chest.
- Only check where the cable ends – do not include the handles with rope size.
- If you follow our length guidelines, the cable will stop at your sternum or lower pecs.
- The rope should not go higher than this point.
- Any longer than this will have too much rope overhead, and will slap the ground excessively.