Boxing skipping rope
Steel cable speed ropes, weighted ropes, cordless electronic models and PVC ropes for learning
The essentials: eight models covering every use. Speed ropes with a coated steel cable and ball bearings for boxing and double-unders, a 1.2 kg weighted rope for strength work, a cordless electronic rope with an LCD counter for small spaces, and a soft PVC rope for learning. Free standard shipping.
The skipping rope is the oldest and most effective tool in a boxer's preparation. It works footwork, weight on the ball of the foot, upper-to-lower body coordination, timing and conditioning, alternating effort and recovery the way a bout by rounds does.
You still have to pick the right one. A speed rope and a weighted rope do not build the same qualities, and a badly adjusted rope breaks the rhythm inside the first minute.
🥊 Steel cable speed ropes
This is the boxer's family: a braided steel wire in a PVC coating, thin and lively, mounted on ball bearings that let the cable turn through 360° without dragging the handle. That mechanism, and only that, is what makes double-unders workable. All of them adjust to the user's height.
By handle. The metal rope has a thin knurled handle, very reactive, in 7 colours — our reference for pure speed. The foam handle rope swaps metal for thick fluted foam that absorbs sweat and vibration: the choice for long sessions and unheated gyms. The Elegance rope goes for a slim handle with gold-finish end caps, in gold and grey, gold and black or gold and rose. Same mechanism, different look.
By what comes with it. The Skynet rope arrives with its drawstring storage bag, which stops it taking a kink at the bottom of a kit bag. Five colours. The Supreme rope goes further: a complete spare cable, grub screws and extra end caps, in a storage bag. Since the cable is the only wear part on a speed rope, you double its lifespan at the point of purchase.
🏋️ The weighted rope, for strength work
The 1.2 kg weighted rope is not a high-end speed rope: it is a different tool. Braided polyester, 25 mm in diameter over 3 m, it forces you to drive the rotation actively and loads the shoulders, forearms, upper back and grip on top of the cardio. Slow tempo, short sets.
📱 The cordless electronic rope
The cordless rope with counter works both ways: a 3 m steel cable in classic mode, or two weighted balls replacing the cable to skip under a low ceiling, in a living room or while travelling. An LCD screen shows jumps, duration and estimated calories.
🌱 The PVC rope, for learning
The PVC rope is the only one in the collection that is not steel, and that is deliberate. Thicker and slower, it gives you time to synchronise the jump and stings far less on the legs when you miss. Four colours.
📊 Which rope for which goal?
| Your goal | Model | Cable |
|---|---|---|
| Learning to skip, warming up | PVC rope | Soft PVC |
| Pure speed, footwork | Metal rope | Coated steel |
| Long sessions, sweaty hands | Foam handles | Coated steel |
| A handsome object, as a gift | Elegance | Coated steel |
| Club training, travel | Skynet | Coated steel |
| Intensive, long-lasting use | Supreme | Coated steel plus a spare |
| Small space, tracked numbers | Cordless with counter | 3 m steel or cordless |
| Shoulder and forearm strength | 1.2 kg weighted | 25 mm polyester |
📏 What length for your height?
A rope that is too long drags on the floor and breaks the rhythm; too short, it forces you to hunch. These are the starting markers, to be fine-tuned by level.
| Your height | Indicative length |
|---|---|
| Under 1.60 m / 5'3" | About 2.50 m / 8'2" |
| 1.60 to 1.75 m / 5'3" to 5'9" | About 2.70 m / 8'10" |
| 1.75 to 1.90 m / 5'9" to 6'3" | About 3.00 m / 9'10" |
| Over 1.90 m / 6'3" | 3.10 m / 10'2" and above |
The three-second check: stand on the middle of the cable and pull both handles up along your body. For a beginner they should reach shoulder height. For an experienced skipper chasing speed, armpit or upper chest height. The shorter the rope, the faster and the more demanding it is.
🔧 Adjusting a steel cable rope
- Tighten the grub screws at both ends before first use, so the cable cannot slip mid-session.
- Loosen the screw at one end to free the cable.
- Slide it to the length you want, then tighten firmly.
- Cut the excess with pliers, or coil it if you prefer to keep some margin.
- Refit the end cap over the cut to protect it.
Work in stages rather than all at once: you can always shorten, never lengthen.
The floor matters as much as the rope. A coated steel cable wears out very fast on asphalt or bare concrete: the sheath splits, then the strands give way. Skip on wood, a sports mat, tatami or rubber flooring. That also spares your ankles, knees and Achilles tendons.
📦 The Esprit Boxe way
We pick each model for one precise use rather than stacking up references, which is why this collection holds eight products that do not overlap. Real stock, fast dispatch, free standard shipping and advice from a team that trains. We supply individuals, clubs and gyms across Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Australia. Torn between two models? Write to info@esprit-boxe.com.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Which skipping rope should I choose for boxing?
A speed rope with a coated steel cable on ball bearings. Thin and lively, it holds its tension and lets you build cadence without the rope floating. The choice then comes down to the handle: knurled metal for reactivity, fluted foam for comfort on long sessions.
What length of skipping rope for someone 5'9" (1.75 m)?
About 3 metres for a height between 1.75 and 1.90 m. Check by standing on the middle of the cable: the handles should reach the armpits for an experienced skipper, the shoulders for a beginner. Our steel cable ropes adjust and can then be cut to the exact measurement.
Steel or PVC rope: what is the difference?
PVC is thicker, softer and slower: it forgives mistakes and suits learning and warming up. Coated steel is thin, lively, holds its tension and allows fast cadences and double-unders. The first is for learning, the second for performing.
What are ball bearings for?
They let the cable turn freely without dragging the handle. Without them, every rotation adds a twist: the rope tangles, catches and loses speed. With bearings, rotation stays smooth through 360°, which is the condition for double-unders and high cadences.
What is a weighted skipping rope for?
To add strength work to the jump. The weight forces you to drive the rotation actively, which loads the shoulders, forearms, upper back and grip while keeping the cardio effort. Because the rotation is slower, you work in short sets rather than chasing cadence.
Can you skip in a flat?
Yes, with two precautions. Lay a sports mat to absorb the impact and limit the vibration passed into the floor. And if the ceiling is low or the space tight, an electronic rope in cordless mode removes the cable entirely: nothing slaps the floor or catches the furniture.
What surface should I skip on?
A forgiving one: wood, a sports mat, tatami or rubber flooring. Avoid asphalt and bare concrete, which tear the PVC sheath of a steel cable within a few sessions and expose the strands. A cushioned floor also protects your ankles, knees and Achilles tendons.
What does skipping do for a boxer?
It builds footwork, weight on the ball of the foot, coordination between upper and lower body, timing and conditioning. It strengthens the ankles and calves, and reproduces the effort-recovery alternation of a bout by rounds. It is the boxer's historic exercise.
How do I get my first double-unders?
You need the right kit first: a thin steel cable and ball bearings, without which the rotation will never be fast enough. Then shorten the rope to armpit height, jump a little higher without folding the knees back, and drive the rotation from the wrist rather than the shoulder.
Does the cable of a speed rope need replacing?
Yes, it is the only wear part. The cable brushes the floor on every pass, the sheath eventually opens and the steel strands give way, while the handles and bearings are still intact. Our Supreme model comes with a second cable, its screws and its end caps.
🛒 The Esprit Boxe world
- boxing gloves and hand wraps — for the rest of the session.
- punching bags and focus mitts and Thai pads — striking work.
- speed bags, double end bags and reflex balls — speed and coordination.
- mats and wall padding — to skip without wrecking the cable or your joints.
- boxing arcade machines — in the same connected spirit.
To go further, read our article 14 good reasons to skip, or see our boxing equipment guide. To train in: boxing shorts, and the 2-in-1 short with a built-in inner short, designed for running and long sessions.