Harness High Power Training With the Best Battle Ropes

These are not the ropes from gym class.

Designed for a unique take on conditioning workouts, battle ropes can help improve endurance, boost cardiovascular fitness and serve as one hell of a sweat session. You’ve probably seen these lengthy training accessories in CrossFit boxes, professional training facilities and MMA gyms. But which rope is best for snagging a killer workout? Before we jump into the list of best battle ropes for your home gym space, let’s get a little background on these woven workout wonders.

What are battle ropes?

One of the beauties of battle ropes lies in their simplicity. These fitness tools are essentially long, thick pieces of rope with handles at each end. While materials, thickness and length can differ between models, your basic battle rope will measure between 30–50 feet in length and feature some form of handle structure, most often heat-shrunk thermoplastic.

To use a battle rope, you anchor it around a solid structure, like a pole or secured hook, and take one end in each hand. Then, you whip the rope up and down to create waves, adding variety in terms of frequency, rhythm and pacing. Because the rope thickness adds resistance — and the variety of workouts is only limited by your imagination — battle ropes can be an effective at-home training tool, especially for those that don’t want a garage full of home fitness equipment.

Which rope length is best?

Before you decide on which rope length to choose, it’s important to remember how a battle rope works. Battle ropes are anchored at the center, meaning you’ll need roughly half of the rope’s listed length to use it properly. For example, if you’re using a 50-foot battle rope, you’ll need 25 feet of free space for an efficient training session. Having too little of space can make it difficult to maintain the created waves in the rope.

50-foot battle ropes are the most common on the market, including all those included in this roundup. This is for good reason, as the 25 feet of working space allows you to work with the rope, rather than against it. To create those gliding, efficient waves, your momentum and power need room to transfer through the rope. Too short and you might not have enough space to fling those aesthetically-pleasing frequencies. While both 40-foot and 30-foot ropes serve a purpose — not everyone has 25 feet of space available for training — it is helpful to know that your workouts may be a little choppier in this confined training environment.

Which rope diameter do I need?

Your battle rope’s diameter will influence two key factors during training: how heavy your rope is and how easy it is to grip. Similar to most barbells and dumbbells, 1.5 inches is a common thickness in battle ropes. This diameter allows for optimal grip strength, regardless of experience, and allows for a more standardized weight across the market.

If you’re looking to challenge yourself, you can opt for thicker battle ropes that feature 2-inch diameters. This can open your hand more, meaning you’ll need to work harder to maintain control through your sessions. Thicker ropes are also heavier, meaning you’ll need to generate more power behind each wave to create and maintain the workout rhythm. There are even, albeit uncommon, 3-inch thick battle ropes out there, for those who want to really hogtie their training with challenging regimens.

Courtesy

BEST OVERALL BATTLE ROPE

Living.Fit Canvas Battle Rope

• $90.00 at living.fit
  $160.00 (44% off)

With a canvas-coated exterior for added durability and a comfortable rubberized grip, I thoroughly enjoyed every training session with this battle rope offering from Living.Fit. I tested this battle rope with multiple anchor systems — a clothesline pole, drilled wall anchor, a heavy adjustable kettlebell — and this rope never felt compromised. Just note, though, that these ropes are only available in 50-foot lengths, so those tight on space may need to choke up or look elsewhere.

• Diameter Available: 1.5, 2, 3 inches
• Length Available: 50 feet

trx

BEST UPGRADE BATTLE ROPE

TRX Battle Rope

• $200.00 at trxtraining.com

If you really like the braided aesthetic — and don’t mind spending the extra coin — I recommend TRX’s battle ropes. The black and yellow colorway sets off any home gym, and I really admired how easy this rope was to grip, no matter the intensity levels. Plus, you can also get this rope at a 30-foot length, which is great for smaller training scenarios. This battle rope is stiffer out of the box than others, but otherwise an exceptional addition to any training regimen.

• Diameter Available: 1.5 inches
• Length Available: 30, 50 feet

Amazon

BEST BUDGET BATTLE ROPE

Yes4All Battle Exercise Training Rope

• $70.00 at Amazon
  $75.00 (7% off)

Battle ropes don’t need to put your finances in a stranglehold, and this offering from Yes4All provides plenty of conditioning power in a wallet-friendly profile. The extra-long rubberized grips allow for plenty of hand sizes to comfortably grab hold of their training, and the canvas covering gives this fitness accessory an added sense of durability. Just be sure to utilize the included anchor strap, however, as the canvas coating can be prone to wear and tear, especially over extended training sessions.

• Diameter Available: 1.5, 2 inches
• Length Available: 30, 40, 50 feet

Amazon

BEST CANVAS COVERED BATTLE ROPE

Rep Fitness Sleeve Battle Ropes

• $138.00 at Amazon

Rep Fitness is one of my personal go-to’s for affordable, quality fitness gear, and these canvas-sleeved battle ropes are no exception. I like the available 2-inch diameter for additional challenges, as well as the space-saving 30-foot rope offering, but really, the canvas coating takes the cake here. Exceptional durability and an added zest of personality thanks to the multiple colorways. The only component that may fail you down the road? The handle. The rubberized grip, according to some athletes, has been known to separate from the rope itself over time, which could call for a replacement or DIY repair.

• Diameter Available: 1.5, 2 inches
• Length Available: 30, 50 feet

Amazon

BEST BRAIDED BATTLE ROPE

SGT Knots Twisted Battle Rope

• $100.00 at Amazon

When you think of a rope, you expect that classic braided look. Well, this pick from SGT Knots gives that all-too-familiar vibe in an impressive Dacron Polyester frame. Available in lengths ranging from 20–50 feet and diameters 1–2 inches, this battle rope can conveniently fit in any home gym setup. Just note, however, that the exposed braids can be susceptible to fraying if you do most of your battle rope training outdoors on concrete. It may look great, but to maintain that silhouette, I recommend keeping this fitness tool on carpeted or synthetic flooring.

• Diameter Available: 1, 1.5, 2 inches
• Length Available: 20, 30, 40, 50 feet

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BEST MANILA BATTLE ROPE

RightRope Manila Battle Rope

• $110.00 at rightrope.com

Manila battle ropes take that classic braided aesthetic and crank it up to 11. The natural fibers make these fitness tools look as if they were pulled straight from your great grandfather’s barn, and there’s no better option than the natural fibers found in RightRope’s offering. The heat shrink handles provide excellent grip, and breaking in this rope is a breeze. Just don’t expect to perform a ton of outdoor workouts with this battle rope, however. Manila can be prone to rot, especially if exposed to rain. So, for the sake of your training, it’s best to keep this tool in the house.

• Diameter Available: 1–1.5 inches (not specified)
• Length Available: 30, 40, 50 feet

Courtesy

BEST WIDE-GRIP BATTLE ROPE

Titan Fitness Black Poly Dacron Battle Rope

• $120.00 at titan.fitness

As stated previously, thicker battle ropes can provide an excellent challenge through their heavier mass and more difficult grip structure. This option from Titan Fitness boasts three-strand-thick rope that’s comfortable yet durable thanks to the Poly Dacron construction. I appreciated the cozy PVC handles, as I was able to find efficient grip despite the thicker material during training. While the weight could be increased for even more of a challenge, you’re bound to see an uptick in sweat if you train with this girthy behemoth of a battle rope.

• Diameter Available: 1.5, 2 inches
• Length Available: 30, 40, 50 feet

Amazon

BEST BATTLE ROPE SUBSTITUTE

Gronk Fitness Inertia Wave Workout Ropes

• $120.00 at Amazon

Okay, battle ropes can be a little intimidating, especially for those that work out from the comforts of their humble apartment. Thankfully, there are other resistance-band-like options out there, including the Inertia Wave. Resembling a tubed resistance band, these rope alternatives provide a fast-paced conditioning workout that doesn’t require as much space as your traditional battle rope. These bands do promote a higher intensity, though, which could be viewed as a positive or negative, depending on your training goals.

• Diameter Available: N/A
• Length Available: N/A

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