While there’s a time and place for exercise machines for workouts, there are other, more affordable ways to get your cardio in at home.
Running is the most obvious and affordable alternative to things like the best treadmills and stationary bikes, but we’d like to highlight another often-overlooked item you always have in your gym bag. That’s jumping rope.
4 reasons to buy a jump rope
(Image source: Getty Images)
1. Multifunctional and fun
Skip during a circuit workout to get your heart rate up even more, skip on its own for a little pick-me-up, or learn fun new skills like jump rope crossovers and double unders. You can also make that your goal. —A sure-fire way to make your training more engaging.
But a word to the wise: If you want to progress beyond the regular rope skipping style, you’ll need a speed rope like the WOD Nation one above. This is because the cable is thinner and made to move faster than traditional thick jump ropes.
2. It’s a cheaper home cardio option
A high-quality jump rope doesn’t cost a fortune.
I use a Bulldog Gear JR1 intermediate bearing speed rope which I bought a few years ago for around £10.
However, if you live in the US and want a similarly affordable item, the WOD Nation Variable Speed Jump Rope (24% drop on Amazon on Black Friday) should display correctly.
Both are about 1% of the price of the most affordable Peloton Bike. Granted, my jump rope doesn’t have a built-in touchscreen or smart features, but like the Peloton bike, it’s an effective way to get your heart and lungs working.
3. Effective
“A daily 10-minute rope-jumping program is as effective as a daily 30-minute jogging program for improving cardiovascular efficiency.”
Alternatively, a 2013 study American Health, Physical Education and Recreation Association.
Improving cardiovascular function (related to the heart and blood vessels) has a variety of positive effects on other health outcomes.
These include improving cholesterol and blood pressure levels, reducing the risk of many diseases including heart disease, and strengthening the heart and lungs. cleveland clinic.
4. Compact
I really like exercising. Otherwise, I might not have gotten this job.
So when I head off on holiday, I like to find a way to incorporate some kind of workout into my morning.
Jumping ropes offer an elegant solution that takes up very little space in your luggage and is an easy way to add some excitement to your outdoor sessions.
Annie from CrossFit workouts (double unders and butterfly sit-ups, alternating sets of 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10, completed as quickly as possible) is my go-to for a fast and fun challenge. It’s a workout I always come back to.
