Skipping rope vs speed rope: which one is best for you

Jump ropes or skipping rope have been around for a long time. Speed ropes - not so long! However, both seem to be a popular choice among fitness enthusiasts as skipping does seem to deliver great results when it comes to weight loss, cardiovascular endurance, and overall fitness levels. 

What is the difference between a skipping rope and a jump rope

Both types of ropes are a piece of exercise equipment that is made with a cord of varying material depending on the quality, attached on either side to handles - again made of different material. So how do skipping ropes and speed ropes differ? Let us take a look:

Skipping Rope	Speed Rope
Thicker cord, slower movement	Thinner cord, faster movement
Heavier material	Lighter material
Good for general fitness activities like warming up, recovery, cardio	Good for advanced fitness activities like double unders, agility, speed
More suitable for beginners	More suitable for intermediates

 

Benefits of skipping

Whichever rope you decided to go for, be rest assured that you will reap some serious benefits from skipping:

Improved coordination

Skipping requires your arms and legs to coordinate to facilitate a well timed jump.

Increased stamina

Skipping requires constant movement from your body, which makes your heart pump more blood and work more efficiently, thus increasing stamina.

Helps with weight loss

Skipping can be an intense workout which helps you burn calories at a fast rate, which in turn helps you with weight loss. 

Strengthens joints

Skipping requires you to continuously jump on your toes, which makes your ankles stronger.

Improves concentration

Since skipping requires a good amount of hand-leg coordination, it requires concentration to perfect each jump, and the more you skip, the better your concentration gets. 

 

Check out the Soulflex Aluminium Jump Rope

 

Which one should you choose?

While both - a skipping rope and a speed rope can be used by anyone as their benefits and usability can overlap, in most cases one type will be more suitable than the other depending on certain factors. Let us take a look at which rope you should choose:

	Skipping rope	Speed rope
Beginners	✅	❌
General fitness	✅	✅
HIIT and more advance workouts	❌	✅
Endurance	✅	✅
Weight loss	✅	✅