Best Battle Ropes
The vision of oneself ripped as Hercules, with a battle rope in each hand, mastering the rise and fall of the weight as if driving a chariot pulled by Pegasus, is a grand one indeed. And when it comes to picking the best battle rope for yourself, there are a number of factors to keep in mind. The knock on battle ropes around weightlifting circles these many years has been a concern for shoulder injuries. But much like concerns about barbell squats and knees, the problem is typically either form, or picking the wrong size rope. Instruction and workout drills are available online, and the fact is, battle ropes are not only upper body cardio. They can be used for strength training, lower body drills, core work, fat-blasting, and power-training, among other things. Whether a large commercial gym for group training, or a garage gym for solo drills, knowing what makes the best battle rope for you is the first step toward achieving your vision of fitness.
Best battle ropes
Model
Rating
Length
Diameter
Weight
Material
Pricing
Reviews
AmazonBasics Battle Exercise Training Rope (30-foot x 1.5-inch)
30'
1.5"
16 Lbs
Polyester
Size Matters
In shopping for battle ropes, consider that shorter ropes aren’t as fluid as longer ones, but they require less space to move. Across the fitness industry, the popular battle rope length is 50 feet, followed by 40, and then 30 feet. That said, with home fitness booming and a more diverse populace getting into the action, the sub-30-foot models are worth a look. A 50-foot rope leaves about 25 feet per arm if halving it for a waving motion and that may just be too much weight and rope for athletes under 5’10. The fact that battle rope exercises are designed to be joint-friendly alternatives to the clanging and banging of barbells, one wants to make sure the activity is safe. Remember, bench press strength isn’t so much as an issue here as is stamina, flexibility, and range of motion. The other question involving rope length would be the number of people using it. One reason the 50-foot’er is so popular is that it can easily double as a tug-of-war piece, or be used in truck-pulling, sled-dragging, or other group exercises. If you’re shopping for a gym piece with multiple potential users, remember that variety is the spice of life.
Exercise Options
The options out there are actually unlimited. Most people are familiar with the popular “wave drills” where the user holds in each hand one end of the rope and creates waves and ripples. Other options include rotational work with the same idea, where a twisting of the torso is the cause of motion. Thruster-style movements where the athletes squats down to throw the rope bring the entire body into play, as do rope burpees, and weighted push-ups, or jumping jacks. To that extent, the ropes can used for bodyweight exercises much like resistance chains and bands for barbells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Father’s Day Amazon Basics Battle Rope Giveaway
We’re giving away one of our top picks, the Amazon Basics Training Battle rope to one of our lucky readers. Enter below!
Update: Congratulations to the winner of our giveaway, Isaac C. from Chicago, IL.!
1. Rogue Conditioning Rope 50’
With a total weight capacity of 500 pounds, the Rogue Conditioning Rope is 50 feet of fun. With a diameter of 1.5 inches, the 50-foot rope is made of a manila fiber, and weighs 26 pounds. The quarter-ton weight capacity means this rope can serve many purposes, from team-based tug-of-war, to climbing, and pulling trucks in strongman classics. The basic battle rope workouts are also very doable both indoors and outside, so long as an anchor is available. In spite of its substantive length, the rope can be coiled easily and carried about to different locations. With heat-sealed endings, the rope is designed to be protected against fraying after heavy use.
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2. AmazonBasics Battle Exercise Training Rope (30-foot x 1.5-inch)
A high-quality set of ropes made three-strands thick of a durable polyester blend, the AmazonBasics Bttle Exercise Training Rope actually comes in four different sizing options: 344-inches x 1.5-inches; 372 inches x 1.9 inches; 470 inches x 1.5 inches; and 490 inches x 1.9 inches. The 344-inch rope is approximately 30 feet long and weighs laid out nearly 16 pounds, a great weight and length for users of any stage or size. Even large athletes can earn the burn with ropes these size. The ropes are designed to roll up easily into a coil for easy transport. Backed by AmazonBasics limited one-year warranty, the ropes require an anchor of some sort at one end when using, be it a tree or squat rack.
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3. YZLSPORTS Heavy Weighted Rope (9.55’)
Specially designed for users under 5’10, the 9.5-foot battle rope has a weight of 5.2 pounds, and diameter of 1.5 inches. Made from a durable 1,200-denier polyester blend, three-stands thick, the rope has soft rubber handles for better grip. This shorter rope can be used by athletes of any size, not just for traditional battle rope waves and bursts, but for partner jump rope. Not really designed for climbing or pulling, the advantage here is storage and ease of use for smaller athletes so as to avoid shoulder injury. An anchor will be needed when battle roping, but multiple partners can use the rope of jumping, or skipping drills.
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4. Century 30’ Challenge Rope
A heavy-duty rope fitted with molded handles on either end for better grip control, the Century 30’ Challenge Rope is made from 1.5-inch thick nylon and includes a durable sleeve for rope protection as well as easy storage. The handles also feature foam padding for extra comfort and reduction of callous build-up. The rope itself weighs 14 pounds and is colored in a bright orange. The rope has a manufacturer’s warranty of 90 days and can be used either indoors or outside, depending on suitable conditions. Some form of anchoring is required for use, although the anchoring can be relatively simple, whether a squat rack or a tree.
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5. Hyper Rope Battle Rope
For tighter spaces where an anchor might not be available, the Hyper Rope Battle Rope comes into play. Just 20 feet long with a diameter of 1.25 inches, each rope weighs in at 15 pounds and features a weighted, flexible metal core, coated by a durable, braided, 100% polyester exterior. The rope comes with gripped handles and only takes up a 6-foot training space foot print, compared to the longer models. The bright blue fiber is to work well inside on floors, with or without partners. Given the shorter length, storage and transport are often a plus for this model. The manufacturer advises this rope should not be used with an anchor kit, nor is it designed as a climbing or pull rope as braided ropes can shrink and expand during use.
