Barefoot jump rope: everything you need to know

One question I’m often asked is: “Can I jump rope barefoot?”

And the short answer is: Yes – but with a few caveats.

Read on to find out more about the pros and cons of barefoot jump rope based on my personal experiences.

When barefoot jump rope works best

I love barefoot jumping, especially on soft surfaces like a beach. It gives you excellent feedback from the floor and encourages good form.

Without anything between your foot and the floor, you develop a better feel for the push-off and proper foot positioning. It helps you understand how your feet should interact with the ground – something that gets lost in thick, cushioned shoes.

In fact, I’d rather jump rope without shoes than in squishy, overly padded running trainers. While great for high-impact sports, they’re not ideal for jumping because they:

• Make it harder to feel your movement
• Reduce your ability to react quickly off the ground
• Increase the risk of rolling your ankles (thanks to those thick soles)

When to avoid barefoot jump rope

While I do love jumping barefoot on occasions, it’s not suitable for every session.

My routines involve a lot of complex footwork and fast rope rotations. And when you accidentally whip a rope across your bare toes, it hurts. A lot!

Instead, I prefer to compromise and go halfway between barefoot and cushioned running shoes by wearing very flat, low-profile trainers without a thick sole.

They’re the perfect compromise if you don’t love the idea of jumping rope without shoes but still want good feedback from the floor.

How to start with barefoot jump rope

Curious about trying jump rope without shoes? It’s definitely worth a go to see how you get on with it!

My advice if you want to try jumping barefoot would be as follows:

• Start off slow
• ALWAYS jump on a mat
• Don’t try to learn new tricks (unless you want to repeatedly whack yourself on your bare toes!)
• Take off your socks if you’re jumping on a slippery surface (like on tiles in your house or on a sportshall floor)

Experiment to see if barefoot jump rope is right for you

Give barefoot a go, and if it works for you, then great.

But if you feel more comfortable with trainers on, that’s fine too.

It really comes down to personal preference, and there’s no right or wrong answer.