Speed, lightness, precision — but not durability!
I bought the Rogue SR-1 jump rope in early May of 2022. It arrived quickly and exceeded expectations. I’d recently added jumping rope to my workout routine and now do it at least 5 days a week for 15-20 minutes. Even though I watched multiple YouTube videos so that I could master jumping with the boxer step (to allow for a longer cardio workout that’s easier on the ankles and knees), I was struggling to master it. I realized the equipment I was using might not be helping. I just couldn’t get it to spin as quickly and consistently as seemed to be necessary. The SR-1 was extremely well reviewed by Wirecutter. This is ironic since what let the rope down ultimately was the durability of the wire. Since I was not using a mat on my driveway, I realized that the plastic coating in the middle of the tooe would eventually wear off. So I was prepared for it when the part of the rope that often hits the ground was down to the wire (literally) in about 6 weeks of regular use (see above). What I did not expect was that the steel strand would shred. I noticed this when traveling with the rope in my suitcase. I reached in to the case and received a sharp pain to one of my fingers—one of the shreded strands happened to stick me. I survived but ultimately the rope did not. When I took it out to use it, I realized it was too dangerous to use (risking lacerations to the leg) so threw it away. I thought the product, being mid-range, was well made and reasonably priced. But beware: it will not stand up to even moderately heavy use unless you jump on a mat or other surface that’s less abrasive than asphalt or concrete. It was in the trash within 2 months, which was annoying.
Originally posted on roguefitness.com