Skipping rope is one of those things that people either love or hate. But for those who love it, it’s practically a lifestyle. With the right setup, a jump rope is a great tool to improve cardio, speed, power, and endurance without needing to leave the comfort of your home. Few workouts can boast a similar benefit.

If skipping rope is a regular activity for you or something you’re looking to get into, not just any jump rope will do. This is something CrossRope knows very well. CrossRope is a jump rope company that believes strongly in quality. The company produces some of the smoothest-turning, highest-quality ropes you’ll find.

The CrossRope System

The CrossRope 2.0 complete system includes seven detachable cables, from the two-ounce Sprint cable to the monstrous three-pound Titan rope. And for those who skip regularly, these cables are nylon-coated steel, so they won’t have the same wear on the center of the rope that you may be accustomed to. There are also two different handles: the Quick handles and the Rugged handles, designed for either speed training or for the big heavy ropes. You can get the whole set, single ropes and handles, or combos.

The combo pack I have been using is the Double Under Domination set. This set includes the Quick handles and three cables at 5 oz., 0.75 lbs., and 1.25 lbs. This set is designed for the conditioning benefit of the middle-weight ropes and is meant to be used for standard skipping and, of course, for double under workouts. If you’re not familiar, a double under is when the rope passes under your feet twice in one jump. Double unders are great for speed, power, and endurance.

Always Improving

Crossrope 2.0 has made many improvements over their original design. This tells me not only that they care about what they do, but also that they listen to their consumers and strive for improvement. These are always good traits in any company. Amongst the improvements are shorter overall handles and connections to minimize clumsiness in the movement, as well as encased ball bearings to extend the life of the handles.

If you’re interested in starting a rope skipping program, but don’t know where to begin, CrossRope offers instructional videos and challenges on their website. The many skills and fitness tests will keep you busy with your new rope for years to come.

You Get What You Pay For

I put price as a con, but only because the CrossRope will be more expensive than some other basic rope. But really, you get what you pay for. Yes, a child can make do with a fixed plastic cord at the end of two sticks. That will work just fine, and the CrossRope isn’t needed. But if you intend to spend time skipping rope and want something that’s not just nice to use, but also built to last, then spend the extra money. Having the right jump rope is like having the right shoes when you’re a runner. It makes all the difference.

From smooth operation to high adjustability, I loved using the CrossRope 2.0. I train fighters in many disciplines, so jumping rope is a workout I know can provide great benefit for everyone, not just athletes. The CrossRope is definitely one of the best jump ropes I’ve tried, and I recommend it to anyone.

The CrossRope 2.0 Double Under Domination set is available for $69.99 at CrossRope.com.

The post CrossRope 2.0 (Product Review) appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Whether you come from a martial arts background, an endurance background, or you train in CrossFit, you’ve probably spent a lot of time with the jump rope. Back in my kickboxing days we used to play around with heavier ropes to strengthen our ability to hold our hands up through a fight. In CrossFit you see people using lighter and lighter ropes in pursuit of endless double unders.

CrossRope aims to take you beyond the regular rope and create an entire system for fitness. Unlike some companies, their goal is not to be the lightest rope out there, but instead to provide a tool for building strength and strength endurance. They do this by having seven different weights of rope and two different types of handles available for you to order in any variety of combinations.

The seven weights of rope are:

• Sprint – 1.9 oz.
• Speed – 2.9 oz.
• Stamina – 5.2 oz.
• Explode – .75 lb.
• Power – 1.25 lb.
• Strength – 2.00 lb.
• Titan – 3.00 lb.

I found jumping with the heavier ropes actually made my shoulders feel good. I could feel my shoulders working, but they never felt strained. While my personal experience is certainly nothing scientific, I feel like using the heavier ropes helped strengthen my shoulders in a good and stabilizing way. I was careful to follow the advice of the people at CrossRope, too, and not go too heavy too soon. I was lucky enough to have a variety of ropes that they sent me, so I slowly worked my way up to heavier and heavier ropes.

There definitely is a mental hurdle to overcome when you first start using the heavier ropes. I found myself in anticipation of getting whacked with the thick cable. Truthfully, hitting myself with the lighter cables was far more painful and once I realized that and got a feel for behavior of the heavier ropes my hesitation about using them disappeared. You can see my highly amusing first attempt with the Power Rope here.

I would also caution you (and of course I would never consider doing this myself) not to use the heavier ropes as a way to avoid cardio. I know you know what I’m talking about – it’s the same as when you do more weight than “prescribed” in a CrossFit workout in an attempt to remain macho while avoiding being breathless. Don’t do that. These ropes are not meant to have you jump very slowly, but rather have you maintain speed while building strength and endurance.

The nicest thing about the CrossRope system is that you can purchase exactly what you need for your body and your goals. You can customize the length, choose the appropriate weight of cables (or a combination of them), and choose the handles that work best for your hands. While these aren’t the least expensive jump ropes on the market, they are very well made. I was impressed with the craftsmanship and the sturdiness. The bearings feel great and smooth while you’re jumping and the clipping system makes it very easy to switch cables. Given that CrossFitters are apt to destroy jump ropes with some regularity, I think they will find the CrossRopes last them longer than the average rope.

One word of caution: Be mindful of where you jump when using your CrossRopes. They are coated in vinyl and if you jump on concrete or other harsh surfaces you can slowly wear the coating away, exposing the steel cable inside. Your ropes will last longer if you’re nice to them.

If you’re not sure where to start or how to pair products, CrossRope offers pre-packaged combo sets based on different fitness goals. If you’re looking for ideas for workouts and skills, then also checkout the CrossRope video library.

CrossRope cables are available for $8.99-25.99 and CrossRope handles are available for $34.99 at CrossRope.com.

CrossRope is offering a special discount just for Breaking Muscle readers.

Right now if you enter BREAK13 at checkout you’ll get 10% off your order.

The post Product Review: CrossRope Jump Rope System appeared first on Breaking Muscle.