My New Favorite Exercise Is a $200 Jump Rope: Hear Me Out

In the last 3 months, I’ve tallied more than 90,000 jumps. That equates to nearly 22,000 calories burned over about 1,600 minutes (about 28 hours).

I know this because my jump rope tells me so. Well, my jump rope’s app. And believe me, if the idea of a jump rope with its own app sounds like a bridge too far, I understand. I felt the same way.

But then I tried it. I’ve been using the Crossrope AMP set ($199), a Bluetooth-connected jump rope set. And if that’s not bougie enough, I have the companion premium app subscription ($10 per month).

I know, I know — who would pay more than $200 for something as simple and commonplace as a jump rope? I, too, was skeptical. But after 90 days committed to a regular Crossrope routine, I can honestly see its place.

In short: Crossrope AMP is a hefty investment when you compare it to a basic jump rope. But when taken as a whole and compared to a full gym membership — with its suite of weights and cardio offerings — this “smart” fitness rope actually packs a heck of a value. Plus, it’s more fun, challenging, and rewarding than a set of dumbbells or a treadmill.

Fitness Should Be Simple

Let me start by saying I have no previous affinity for jumping rope. I’ve done it, and I’ve had some fun doing it, but it always seemed like a novel — and optional — accessory to a more committed cardio routine.

And as for CrossFit or other high-profile fitness programs in general, I’ve abstained. I love the idea of functional strength and dynamic movement. However, I do not love busy gyms, cultural fads, or expensive memberships. I have some kettlebells, sandbags, a punching bag, and plenty of running shoes.

I generally believe you can achieve great physical and mental fitness gains with little more than a keen imagination and some determination.

So, needless to say, I went into testing the Bluetooth-connected Crossrope with more than a healthy dose of skepticism. On to the review!

Crossrope AMP Jump Rope Review

What You Get

At its core, the Crossrope system consists of a high-quality rope (actually braided steel inside a rubber housing) and handles with a clasp.

These clasps allow you to swap out ropes of various weights — Crossrope sells ¼-pound,½-pound, 1-pound, and 2-pound ropes, as well as some extra-light speed ropes. This review utilized the ¼-pound, ½-pound, and 1-pound ropes.

In its most basic form, that’s it — no app, no Bluetooth — just weighted, interchangeable ropes and handles. So if you already know what you’re doing and just want the basic equipment, that’s an option.

But the Crossrope system quickly becomes much more robust than that. Instead of “dumb” handles, you can purchase the Bluetooth, app-pairing AMP handles ($99). These are rechargeable and the crux of Crossrope’s app-based fitness memberships. You can use the AMP handles without a membership, but it greatly reduces the number of app workouts available and mostly offers simple jump count tracking.

To really buy in and use everything Crossrope offers, you have to pony up for the monthly app membership — this costs $10 per month ($69/year for the first year).

To sum up, you can just buy basic handles and a rope or two for a little over $100 and be done. But for the full experience — which I tested — you’re looking at the “Get Fit Bundle” for $199: three ropes (¼-, ½-, and 1-pound) and the AMP handles. Add to that your membership of $69 for the first year, and $99 per year thereafter.

If you’re doing the math and thinking, “$300 to buy into a jump rope program?!” I sympathize. I thought the same thing. Onto the testing.

Crossrope Workouts: What It’s Like

With the membership, the app offers video tutorials, benchmark tests, individual workouts, and full fitness programs. You can also “free jump” anytime if you want to hop without instruction.

When you first begin, you’ll enter some basic biographical information and pair your handles. This setup is pretty straightforward.

Benchmarks

Benchmarks are an excellent way to track your progression. There are two varieties, both a simple time challenge: how many jumps you can do in 30 seconds, or how long it takes to complete 1,000 jumps (for the ¼-pound rope; 500 and 250 for the ½- and 1-pound ropes, respectively).

Start with these benchmarks early — they will help motivate you and chart your overall progress. These benchmarks will also help establish your jump targets, which dictate the intensity of your workouts. The app will prompt you to retake these assessments every so often to reset your targets.

Workouts

Crossrope boasts a library of more than 2,000 different workouts. I did not scroll all the way through, but I can confirm there are many, many workouts of different lengths, intensities, and compositions.

The workouts fall into one of three categories: endurance, strength, or HIIT (high-intensity interval training). They range from under 10 minutes to over 40.

There are three intensity levels, and the workouts include rope training, kettlebells, and/or bodyweight workouts. Users can sort the workouts to filter out or include any of the above criteria. You can also filter by rope weight.

Filtering and sorting will be necessary, based on your equipment, time, and personal preferences. This feature is important and mostly effective. However, there are some improvements I’d like to see here, as users can only sort by “exact match” or “includes.” There is no “exclude” option, which can be annoying.

For example, if you have a ¼-, ½-, and 1-pound rope, you may want workouts that include some combination of just those ropes and not any others. If you select “includes” for those ropes, you will see all workouts that have some of those ropes, but may also include 2-pound, 5-pound, or 9-ounce ropes.

Conversely, if you select “exact match,” you will only see workouts that include all three of those ropes, and none that include just two of them. For now, Crossrope suggests users choose the exact match they want to search on any given day.

Programs

Crossrope also has a constantly updating library of multiday programs, which include a variety of workouts tailored to a specific goal. For example, I tried a 14-day Beginner Speed Builder and a 30-day Six Pack Starter program.

There are nearly endless programs. Like individual workouts, they can include some combination of ropes, kettlebells, and bodyweight workouts — all in varying intensities and spanning a few days to several weeks. The app tracks your progress and will tick your progress throughout the program.

Not Quite AI, but Smart

One other handy-dandy aspect of the AMP handles and app is the adaptive targets. Remember those benchmarks? The app will use your performance from those assessments, along with your progress after each workout, to set and adjust your jump targets.

Because each workout is based on interval training, the app keeps you progressing by moving your targets up (or down). For example, I started at an 8.7 intensity level for the ¼-pound rope, but I’m now up over 10. That translates into my jump goal for each interval within a workout.

So while the app pushed me to complete, say, 120 to 130 jumps in a 1-minute interval when I started, it now challenges me to go above 175.

You can also adjust these targets manually by jump type (skill). Crossrope currently includes 24 different jump skills — from alternate-foot, to basic (two feet), double-unders, high-knee, and more. If you notice you keep falling short in specific skills, you can set them to be easier (or more challenging).

Crossrope AMP Fitness Jump Rope: 3-Month Test

Value

Remember when I said I was very skeptical of forking over $300+ for a jump rope? I have to say, I think for some folks (like myself), it’s actually a great investment. I think it’s important not to look at Crossrope as a very expensive jump rope, but instead as a very reasonably priced fitness program.

Buy once, cry once on the $99 AMP handles — the heart of this regimen. These handles are rechargeable, but after about 100 days of use, I still haven’t recharged them. (Note: The batteries here are long-lasting and not intended to be charged until they are nearly or totally discharged.)

Pile on a few ropes — check out various bundles — and you’ll add $50-100. Compared to a full set of weights or any cardio machine, you’re still coming out ahead. And that can be your full investment. If you want to access coaching and training through the app, that’s $99 for the year ($69 your first year). That’s about what you pay for a single month at a gym.

What’s Good

So, the value is there in principle, but what about in practice? I was a multisport athlete and played into college. I also had a meathead phase in which all I wanted was to pump iron for hours a day. And for good measure, I spent a few years track racing on a bike. I’ve been thick and I’ve been lean — and fitness has always been a part of my routine.

With the Crossrope, I rotated out of trail and road running and scaled back on strength training to focus on this system. Not only have I become more proficient with the rope, which I expected, but I’ve also noticed greater upper body tone and size — particularly arms, shoulders, and abs. This is due in part to some fat burning through interval training and regular cardio. But it also owes to the weighted ropes, which can be surprisingly (and delightfully) taxing.

There’s also an undeniable fun factor. I find running for the sake of running can become monotonous. Because the Crossrope workouts are interval training and there are so many different skills, workouts, and programs, it stays pretty fresh and engaging. Add to that the “gamification” of hitting jump targets, and it makes for a consistently satisfying workout.

That said, I don’t use it every day — especially at the outset when I noticed all new varieties of soreness. I average about 3-5 jump days a week and am very happy with it.

What’s Not to Like

The Crossrope program suits me, in part, because I don’t like commuting by car and I don’t like crowds. A great workout is a few steps out my back door, and I can play my music with nobody to contend with.

But if you enjoy the community aspect of a gym, this may not be the program for you (unless you find a willing cohort).

Also, while any exercise requires some space, jumping rope and hopping into kettlebell or bodyweight workouts requires plenty of clearance and room to move. I am lucky enough to have a mostly enclosed carport with a concrete floor. So I have access to tons of room, fresh air, and privacy. Without it, I would have to be more creative.

Finally, jumping rope is pretty accessible to most folks, but not everyone. People with hip, shoulder, or foot injuries may find this particular exercise aggravating. I’ve had my share of shoulder dislocations and some days I feel that lingering soreness. Thankfully, I still have a lot of utility and range of motion — and I know my limits.

Final Thoughts

Nearly 100,000 jumps since I started — 97,884, to be exact — I’ve knocked nearly 30 seconds off of my 1,000-jump benchmark. I’m looking and feeling stronger in certain areas. My running times are not as strong, but my knees are happier.

I look forward to each workout and I’m excited by the progress I’m making — with no end in sight. So if you prefer a solo workout you can do almost anywhere, and you can stomach an initial modest investment, then I think Crossrope AMP should absolutely be on your radar.

The brand offers a 60-day return policy. In that time, you can tackle a few benchmarks and begin to see some physical benefits. If it’s for you, keep on jumping!