Types of jump rope explained: do you really need more than one?

When people first start jumping and find out there are loads of different types of jump rope, the same question always crops up:

“Do I need more than one type of rope?!”

Let’s break down the most common types of jump rope, what each is best for, and whether it’s worth having more than one in your training kit.

Beaded jump ropes: the best for beginners

Beaded options are without doubt the best jump ropes for beginners.

The segmented plastic beads help them hold their shape much better than PVC or wire ones and provide more feedback, giving you more control.

This means they’re also the perfect option if you’re progressing on to learning jump rope tricks.

There are a few different types of beaded rope. Hard 1-inch beads on a regular nylon cord is the most common design, but some have 1.5 or 2-inch beads, soft beads and/or thicker nylon.

PVC ropes are a great all-around jump rope option

PVC ropes are ideal for adding speed whilst maintaining some control.

There are different types of PVC rope: 5mm PVC is the most common option, but you can get different thicknesses. This comes down to personal preference.

You can learn with a PVC rope, but it tends to be trickier than beaded, especially when it comes to releases.

That being said, they can be a nice happy medium for learning double unders as you get both speed and control.

So, if you’re looking for the best jump rope for speed and some freestyle skills, a PVC rope might be your go-to.

Wire ropes are the best jump ropes for speed

Wire ropes have a wire cable and bearings at the handles, making them very fast but tricky to control.

They’re only suitable for proficient jump ropers looking to max out reps (like on double unders).

Even if this is your goal, you should start with a beaded rope and then progress to PVC before a wire one.

Different types of jump rope have different handles

And there’s also a variety of handle lengths to choose from! Long handles, in particular, are great for advanced jump ropers performing freestyle routines where they need to transition between complex and restrictive skills, and vary speeds (like if they’re linking multiple under-leg crosses).

What is the best type of jump rope?

There’s no real, solid answer to this question, because it all depends on your goals and your experience!

From my personal experience, I switch up my ropes depending on my session.

If the tempo of my routine allows for it, I use a beaded rope (I use this type for routines that are less than 200 beats per minute). There isn’t a single trick I can’t do with one of these beauties!

If I’m doing anything faster, I find it easier to use a PVC option. But there are a couple of release variations I struggle with on PVC, and some skills I can do with these but prefer doing with beaded (leg crosses are a prime example).

I also have wire ropes and have used them occasionally during CrossFit workouts and for maxing-out double unders, which they’re great for. I don’t use them much as they’re not suitable for tricks.

Regardless of what type of rope I’m using, they all come from Dope Ropes; they’re my absolute favourite and the brand I recommend to everyone!

Do I need more than one type of jump rope?

So, should YOU have more than one type of rope?

My answer is YES.

You should learn on a beaded rope, but because jump rope is a sport where you can make rapid progress, you’ll probably need a PVC one pretty quickly. And you’ll need to switch between the two – you’ll learn brand-new tricks on your beaded rope, and use your PVC option for the ones you’ve already mastered.

So, I always recommend that you have both a beaded and PVC rope. The Dope Ropes bundles are ideal for this – you can get both options in different colourways at a discounted price.

Use different types of rope as your jump rope journey progresses

Choosing the right rope can make or break your progress – especially as a beginner.

Starting with the best jump rope for beginners, like a beaded one, sets a strong foundation.
From there, explore other jump rope types to match your goals, whether that’s tricks, speed, or strength.

Always remember that jump rope is a journey (one that’s often non-linear!) – and the right tools make all the difference.