The 7 Best Shoes for Jumping Rope Reviews & Guide 2024

Jumping rope is an excellent warm-up exercise. It’s also perfect for an intense cardio session. Moreover, it benefits agility, power, and coordination. But do you need shoes for jump rope? After all, we’ve all seen kids doing this activity barefoot. If you’re accustomed to exercising shoeless, you might be okay. Still, most of us would prefer to wear the best shoes for jumping rope.

What type of sneakers is best for jumping rope? We recommend cross-trainers, but some athletes say running shoes are good for jumping rope, too. Let’s talk about the features that make a shoe comfortable and safe for this exercise.

Which shoes are best for jumping rope?

To explore which shoes are suitable for jump rope, consider the mechanics of the exercise. You’ll need to be standing in an upright posture with your knees slightly bent. You’ll spend a lot of time leaping and landing on the balls of your feet. But you don’t have to jump high, just enough to clear the rope (1).

That’s the basic form for jumping rope. There are also advanced exercises like double bounces, the boxer shuffle, straddles, and staggers.

In all cases, it’s important to have stability and cushioning against impacts, especially if you’re exercising on a hard surface.

The best shoes for jumping rope have a zero drop – they’re flat with no elevation in the rear, unlike most running shoes. That’s why we prefer cross trainers or tennis shoes as most are flat-soled zero drop or have a low heel. They are stable so that you don’t twist an ankle during rapid movements.

However, if you’re new to jumping rope and haven’t spent a lot of time doing high-impact activities, it’s important to have good cushioning and support. Running shoes have a lot of padding in the rear to handle heel strikes. That’s great for running but not so handy for landing on your toes repeatedly as you jump rope. Compare that to cross trainers and similar athletic shoes that distribute the cushion across the whole sole.

Another factor is traction or grip. You won’t want slippery soles when you’re jumping rope. Along with that is the fit of the shoe. Does it have enough room in the toe box to feel comfortable? Does your foot slide around inside? Are the laces putting too much pressure on the top of the foot? How does the arch support feel?

Check out the reviews below to see why we selected these athletic shoes for jumping rope:

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Best Shoes for Jumping Rope in 2024

Reebok Women’s Speed Tr Flexweave Cross Trainer

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One of the best all-around shoes for jumping rope is made by Reebok. They are ideal for CrossFit, too.

Reviewers say the sole is supportive and responsive, making it downright fun to bounce up and down. Although they are very shock-absorbent, they are firm and stable.

The mesh upper is very breathable and it fits like a glove. Since all material is synthetic, the shoes are vegan-friendly.

Lastly, the slim design lets you rock out on complicated jump rope moves without getting tripped up by your own feet.

Pros:

• Our favorite jump rope shoes that are also perfect for CrossFit
• Supportive, shock-absorbent sole
• Firm and stable, with a slim profile
• Breathable mesh upper
• Vegan-friendly

Cons:

• None unless you don’t love the color scheme

New Balance Women’s 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer

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We doubt that anyone considers these sneakers to be sexy. With leather uppers and a durable rubber sole, they are considered casual training shoes. They come in basic colors like black, white, and brown. However, it’s the inside that matters.

They feature a plush polyurethane insert with an ABZORB heel cushion that soaks up impacts. The molded EVA midsole and shank keep the shoes stable and supportive. No wonder people who are on their feet all day love these sneakers. You might even decide to go without socks as the liner is smooth and practically seamless.

If you have wide feet, give New Balance a try. This brand also caters to persons struggling with plantar fasciitis and bone spurs.

Pros:

• Sturdy, stable, durable trainers with leather uppers
• Good shock absorption and cushioning
• Suitable for many different types of exercise and everyday wear
• Available in wide widths

Cons:

• Not the most attractive pair we reviewed, but highly functional, durable, and reasonably-priced

PUMA Women’s Tazon 6 WN’s FM Cross-Trainer

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Jumping rope requires balance and stability. These cross training shoes provide that and more. The sleek profile of the leather uppers and rubber sole lets you focus on the action instead of your feet. But don’t be fooled – there’s plenty of room in the toe box.

You can also use the shoes for running and aerobics as they have a midfoot saddle and EVA cushioning in the heel. Rapid side-to-side and up and down movements are easier with the stable platform they provide.

Reviewers love the bounce these lightweight shoes provide. The biggest complaint is the small selection of colors.

Pros:

• Cross trainers with a slim profile
• Very stable and lightweight
• Roomy toe box with a midfoot saddle and EVA-cushioned heel
• Can be used for running and aerobics

Cons:

• Only a few colors available

adidas Performance Women’s Triple Cheer Shoe

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Think about it: cheerleaders have to bounce a lot on their toes. That’s why you should consider cheer shoes for jumping rope. This pair is flexible yet absorbs impact especially well in the forefoot. They have a patented cushion called ADIPRENE+ that returns the energy you put out to give you extra propulsion.

The lightweight shoes have a breathable mesh upper that’s stabilized with leather overlays so that you don’t twist your foot. The mesh lining also helps keep you cool.

Hey, if tumblers, flyers, and bases all love these shoes, you know they are perfect for the intense workout of jumping rope.

Pros:

• Cushioned forefoot with patented ADIPRENE+ for extra bounce
• Slim profile and lightweight, breathable material
• Stable and flexible
• Beloved by cheerleaders and coaches alike

Cons:

• Only available in white

Under Armour Women’s Charged Aurora Cross Trainer

This gym shoe is a cross trainer with a special cushioned midsole that returns energy while dampening impact. It has a full rubber outsole with extra good grip. At the same time, the upper is designed to keep the foot in place while the shoe flexes around it.

Furthermore, it was designed especially for women’s feet which tend to be thinner than men’s feet. Ladies love them for high-intensity workouts like aerobics and Zumba, not just CrossFit. Therefore, they are ever so comfortable for jumping rope, too. Reviewers say the only downside is that they’re only good for running short distances if you are a heel striker.

Pros:

• Cross trainer gym shoe with specially cushioned midsole
• Absorbs impacts and returns energy
• Preferred for high-intensity workouts like jumping rope, aerobics, and Zumba
• Good variety of colors

Cons:

• Not ideal for long-distance running

Nike Women’s Fitness Shoes

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Which are the best jump rope shoes by Nike? That’s a hard question to answer, so we selected a pair of affordable jump rope shoes from this popular brand. They can serve as your all-purpose athletic shoe and also keep you company running errands. One reviewer wore them for several miles each day as a mail carrier and loved them. Another enjoyed them at work in the hospital.

These training shoes have a deep footbed to absorb shocks and let you bounce back energetically. They are breathable and have good traction with a non-marking sole. What’s also nice is the wide selection of colors.

The downside is the band across the top. If you have a high arch or a wide foot, you may find it uncomfortable.

Pros:

• All-purpose athletic shoe
• Deep footbed for shock absorption and energy return
• Non-marking sole with good traction
• Wide selection of colors

Cons:

• The elastic band over the laces squeezes the wearer’s foot if they have high arches or a wide foot

Inov-8 Women’s F-lite 235 V3

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If you prefer to feel the ground or you enjoy barefoot shoes, check out this pair. They have a unique design called META-FLEX which allows the natural flexing of the feet. They’re really only there to improve your traction and give you a little support and protection.

As one reviewer pointed out, they fit like a glove. They snug right around the middle of the foot but leave plenty of room for the toes to spread and flex. Meanwhile, the mesh liner and lightweight upper let your feet breathe.

Besides skipping rope, these shoes are good for weightlifting and functional training. Although they are a little pricier than some options, there’s a decent color selection.

Pros:

• Ground feel shoes with a roomy toe box and good traction
• Allow natural flexing and movement of the foot inside the shoe
• Fit like a glove but breathable
• Also good for functional training and weightlifting

Cons:

• Not the cheapest option

Bonus Section: How to Choose a Jump Rope

If you’re ready to get into jumping rope, you need something bigger and better than a child’s toy. As a beginner, look for a lightweight rope that weighs no more than a quarter of a pound. It’s easier on the wrists and helps you focus on the timing and rhythm. You can always go for a weighted rope later.

As for length, an 8-foot rope isn’t long enough unless you are under 5’3″. Most adults will need a 9-foot rope. Anyone over 5’10” will need a 10-foot rope.

If you be jumping rope indoors, we wouldn’t sweat over the material of the rope. But take a good look at the grips and make sure they’ll be comfy even if your hands get sweaty.

Remember that jumping rope has mental benefits, too. Choose a rope and a pair of shoes that won’t distract you but allow you to relax into the rhythm. Then it becomes a type of active meditation to reduce your stress.

Conclusion

We hope our reviews helped you find the most comfortable shoes for jumping rope today. We applaud your dedication to fitness and wish you the best of health and happiness.

If you have other questions about choosing athletic gear or getting active, please leave us a comment below.

Source:

1. https://www.self.com/story/benefits-of-jumping-rope 10 Benefits of Jumping Rope for When You Need to Shake Up Your Cardio, by Jenny McCoy, March 9, 2021