There are two app options: Light (free), which offers a sampling of workouts and challenges, and Premium ($10 a month), which has hundreds of workouts and additional content. (The Get Strong combination includes a 1-pound rope, a 2-pound rope, and a pair of heftier grippy handles.) Solidly built and versatile, the ropes swap in and out of the handles easily and swing comfortably. We tried Crossrope Get Lean, which includes a ¼-pound rope, a ½-pound rope, and a pair of slim, grippy handles. The pricey boutique brand Crossrope offers two sets of interchangeable weighted ropes and jump-centric workouts via a companion app. A plastic cap covers the cut-wire end, which is a nice touch for safety. The long, tapered handles (about an inch longer than most of the speed ropes we tested) are made of fiberglass nylon resin and have a matte texture that should prevent slippage in sweaty hands, as well as make tricks such as crossovers easier to perform.
The Rogue’s two mechanisms allow slower paces without a loping feel over the top and keep the rope swinging smoothly even if your form isn’t perfect. Many speed ropes operate with just one pivot point-the other three we tested included-which generally works well, particularly if your form is good and you’re moving at a good clip.
The effect is a swift, smooth swing, and in the timed minute test led to our fastest jumping-and, more tellingly, we did not miss a single jump during any of our tests with it. This PVC-coated steel wire-connected to the handles at a 90-degree angle-slices the air as it pivots effortlessly from two points, rotating from the handle and rolling on a ball bearing. If “lightning fast” is your primary rope request, go for the Rogue SR-1 Bearing Speed Rope.