A jump rope seems like the simplest piece of equipment in any gym bag, but the wrong one makes double-unders far harder than they need to be. Here's what actually separates a good speed rope from a bad one.
Cable vs. PVC
Thin steel cable ropes spin faster and with less air resistance than thicker PVC ropes, which is why most CrossFit and Hyrox athletes use cable for double-unders and speed work. PVC ropes are more beginner-friendly for learning basic timing since they're slower and more forgiving, but they become a limiter once you're trying to string together fast reps.
Handle weight and length
Lighter handles let the cable do the work and reduce wrist fatigue over high-rep sets — useful when a workout calls for 100+ reps. Length matters more than people expect: a rope that's too long forces you to jump higher than necessary, and one that's too short catches your feet. Most adjustable ropes let you trim to your height, roughly the cable reaching your armpits when you stand on the middle of the rope.
Adjustability
An adjustable cable means one rope works for you regardless of height, and it's easier to dial in the exact length that stops the rope catching without you having to guess before buying. Non-adjustable ropes sized for an average user are a common reason double-unders feel harder than they should.
What this looks like in practice
For most CrossFit, Hyrox and general conditioning use, an adjustable steel cable rope with a lightweight handle covers the vast majority of use cases — it's fast enough for double-unders, adjustable enough to fit properly, and durable enough for daily use. Our Adjustable Speed Rope is built around exactly this spec.