– For all those fitness freaks out there
Jumping rope is a great way to ensure a quick workout, yet burn the desired calories. This is achieved without needing actually to invest in a lot of equipment. While the rope you buy is essential, you shouldn’t allow your shoe selection to take a back seat.
What are the best shoes for jumping rope? Why do we need good shoes? How to pick the best jump rope shoes?
All these are essential questions that I will try and answer in this article so that it can make your selection journey a bit easier.
1) Why do we need good shoes for jumping rope?
Choosing the right shoes is always very important for your fitness journey, to ensure no injuries and the best outcome. The wrong shoes can not only make it difficult to maintain a good jump rhythm, but can also lead to potential injuries like Shin Splints and other feet, legs, or back injuries. Lets look at why we need a pair of the best shoes for jumping rope.
It is essential when it comes to fitness, training, or exercising; your shoes should be able to do a few things:
- The main point is that it should be able to protect you and your feet from injuries during the jumping. Good stability can take you a long way.
- It should be able to ensure excellent shock absorption when your feet strike the ground.
- It should be able to provide you will good arch support, irrespective of whether or not you have flat feet or arched feet.
- Needs to ensure your feet are happy and comfortable during the exercise. Great all-over cushioning can be the answer here.
- It should be not only durable, but also be lightweight and breathable. It ensures your feet are kept cool and dry, which also helps improve your performance and longevity.
- It should not force you to change your biomechanics while exercising.
- Lastly, it should make you look stylish and impressive even while you work out or train.
2) How to decide which are the best shoes for jumping rope?
While looking for the best shoes for jumping rope, one must keep in mind that you need to find that particular shoe that works best for the needs of your feet and rope jumping. Below are a few points to keep in mind while deciding the best one for you.
This is what we should be looking for in the best shoes for jumping rope:
- It should offer great comfort and good stability.
- It should offer good arch support on the basis of your feet requirement.
- It should offer good ankle support.
- It should provide sufficiently good cushioning in the midsole area.
- It should not have deep enough grooves, a platform heel, or an elevated heel.
- It should be stylish and comfortable to ensure it makes you look and feel great.
The shoes you buy should be able to ensure protection to your feet during jumping and also should be able to provide a comfortable jump. During jumping, they need to take care of both Shock absorption and Rope whipping.
These are the criteria your shoes need to meet to ensure you find the perfect pair for yourself. However, don’t forget most shoes on the market are not going to meet all the above criteria, hence try and find the one which meets as many as possible.
The whole idea of this article is to provide you with a guide which will show you what to look for in the best shoes for jumping rope. This is crucial, as you will be putting yourself at risk for serious injury by wearing the wrong shoes for you
The Best Shoes for Jumping Rope Reviews
Let’s now look at our top 6 picks, of The Best Shoes for Jumping Rope.
Inov-8 F-Lite 235 V3 Cross Trainers Review
The Inov-8 Company has always been a brand that helps ensure the best products for committed of-road runners, fitness athletes, and adventure-seeking hikers who push boundaries and stretch their limits. They have been focused on developing and producing the most lightweight and flexible footwear in the market.
The F-Lites have been created to compliment the biomechanics and the natural motor functions of the human body. ADAPTERFIT technology helps provide a variable fit with elastic mesh liners so that you can get a great fit on the basis of your foot type.
For wide feet, they envelop and cradle the foot during hard lateral and medial movements. It also has a roomy toe box that allows the toes to splay comfortably, which is essential during jumping rope. For Narrow feet, the precision form is used, which is a closer fit that ensures minimal movement within the shoe during activity.
These shoes come with a sticky rubber outsole that is inspired by rock-climbing gear, thus helping us to be well planted before we take a jump. This rubber sole is not only very durable but also well-cushioned, to ensure a comfortable cushion when you come down from your jump, as well as bringing on some life and energy back to aid your next jump.
These F-Lites are designed to be super-fast and provide extra flexibility and mobility, along with an enhanced ground feeling.
The Meta-Flex groove in the forefoot of the outsole ensures your feet can move naturally while you push your limits. Most of the regular sneaker lines typically omit this. This groove acts as a natural flex-point at the bottom of the shoe. It is so well designed that just by looking at it, you will know precisely why it is just so perfect for jumping rope.
These stylish shoes feature a rope guard technology that extends onto the shoe uppers and a welded toe bumper for a shoe that can take on anything that comes it’s way, whether it is a rope climb or just jumping rope.
These very sleek and good-looking shoes are bare-feeling and unbelievably lightweight. These shoes are created for the most intense workouts that need stability, lateral support, cushioning, and power. They come in a wide range of color combinations for both men and women.
Isn’t all of the above exactly what you need to have been looking for, in your best pair of jumping rope shoes?
Nike Flyknits Review
Unlike a lot of brands, Nike is good at a lot of things: designing and manufacturing high-tech quality shoes is one of the main ones. But where the company truly excels is its marketing strategies. Nobody does branding and promotions like Nike. Of course, they should do so, as they have excellent products which the world should see.
Nike Flyknit was a new technology invention that debuted in February 2012. This engineering allows for a “second-skin” like the fit, maximum breathability, and minimum wastage.
So, what makes these pair of Nike’s different?
The first part is its very unique uppers. The super-soft material feels like a sock hugging your feet, leaving your feet feeling relaxed and comfortable. I cannot explain how comfortable these actually feel; you will have to try them to understand what I’m saying.
Flywire lacing helps ensure a great fit. It also has a very durable foam sole, which adds to its comfort factor. Its synthetic and lightweight body assists you in performing at your highest levels without feeling tired and run-down.
These cool flexible shoes use Dynamic Fit Technology to make sure they always fit you just perfectly. They come with a flexible and padded collar and tongue, which ensure both comfort and support during all your vigorous movements.
The outsole comes with a grippy texture that makes jumping and rebounding much more comfortable than it really is.
They also have a removable insole and built-in midsole, which are made of soft, responsive foam. The outsole is made very lightweight and durable to protect you from concrete and rough surfaces. This ensures excellent shock absorption and superior cushioning; you will love what these will do for the well-being of your feet and your game.
On top of all of the above, the rounded heel makes it easier for landing from stumbles or slips that would otherwise make you fall over, hence making them an excellent choice for jumping rope. This is a shoe with an over-all great design and functionality.
With tons of different color options and sizes available for both men and women, you should have no trouble getting the style and size that fits you best.
Nike Air Monarch IV Cross Trainers Review
Nike doesn’t seem to want only one place on our list. The air Monarch’s are very well-crafted shoes from Nike. They come with a well-padded cushioning that provides both great support and comfort. This covers your most important needs for a great pair of jumping rope shoes.
They come with a classy looking upper that is strictly leather, which means you have yourself a long-lasting and very durable pair of shoes. The rubber outsole helps with shock absorption from quick movements as well as high jumps.
AFoam Phylon midsole, along with Air-Sole unit cushions, ensures that you are well covered when it comes to great comfort, cushioning, and an overall very soft feeling.
This soft yet very supportive pair of shoes comes with a really soft and supportive lining. This prevents the shoe from digging into your ankles. The mesh tongue with extra padding helps ensure your feet feel comfortable and at home.
These shoes come with an outsole made of solid, durable rubber that works well on a wide range of surfaces by providing good friction control. The Monarch has it right where you need it the most and around the toe box. A great grip is achieved by a tight and wavy pattern on the outsole.
They have added a nice and interesting texture around the heel area, which is a vented pattern that helps ensure a proper balance is maintained. A rope jumping pair of shoes is never as amazing as it is supposed to be if it doesn’t come with great traction. For this, the Air Monarchs score 10/10.
These Air Monarchs area classy and retro-looking sneakers that fit the current decade. Despite their illusive bulky look, they are very lightweight and smooth.
The materials used and features inculcated in this pair of shoes come together so well to deliver one of the best shoes for jumping rope. It is a great pair for both beginners and pros.
These shoes come in only classy colors with a few variations, but at a great price point for a functional pair of Nike shoes.
PUMA Tazon 6 WN’s FM Review
PUMA is one of the leading sports brands across the globe. In the last decade, Puma has established itself as a creator of fast product designs for the fastest athletes on the planet. They have touched areas like football, running, training, golf, and motorsports with performance and sporty lifestyle products. Tazon’s are Puma’s best shoes for jumping rope.
Puma’s Tazons are very versatile shoes; if you need comfort and functionality along with style, Puma provides it in abundance. These Tazons come with great padding and lining, which ensures it takes good care of your ankles and feet. They also have EVA midsoles, to ensure you get that extra support for each and every jump you take.
Their outsoles provide just the right balance and stability, with their extra firm design. So jump away confidently, these shoes have your back. These well textures outsoles are designed to provide an excellent grip for both your toes and heels. This grip goes all the way and covers the base right up to the toe box; it actually ends at the arch and picks up where the heel starts.
Their uber-stylish uppers are made from leather and synthetic fabrics to ensure comfort and breathability. Training and usage is made fun, easy, and comfortable. They keep your feet dry and fresh through the most rigorous performances. Your feet will absolutely be thanking you for how they feel, both during and after your sessions.
This sleek and super attractive pair of shoes comes in combinations that are very eye-catching and fashion-forward. They also come in options and sizes for both men and women.
Reebok CROSSFIT Nano 8.0 Review
The Reebok Nano 8.0 shoe design and concept have been developed by insights directly from the CrossFit community. They are the most comfortable, functional, and dependable CrossFit shoes in the box. These beauties are Reebok’s best shoes for jumping rope.
These shoes are made of flexible material that has been designed to ensure stability and strength without compromising mobility. A range of different materials is used to provide the footwear with its lightweight, touch, and comfortable feel on your feet.
The flex grooves on the shoe allow it to bend more than our regular shoes. The brand uses breathable and durable materials to ensure this shoe meets the standard of the brand.
This stylish pair of shoes also comes with a well-cushioned rubber sole to ensure it protects the most delicate parts of your heel from any injuries or slips in case you don’t land back properly onto the ground.
Its shaft measures approximately low-top from arch.
The protected toe-area is well designed and durable to prevent any damage during high-intensity workouts. The outsole provides a brilliant grip and traction. Lastly, it has a low-cut design to ensure easy movement during your workouts.
The Nano 8 is much softer than its predecessors, making it the most fluid-feeling and flexible model to date. This is partly due to the plush “bootie” construction around the collar of the shoe.
Just the right combination of durability and flexibility make these sneakers an ideal option for jumping rope, especially if you’re planning on doing it on a concrete or hard surface. The longevity of these shoes is obtained by high-grade materials, specific to Reebok.
New Balance Wx608v4 Review
The New Balance Wx608v4 shoes, with all their amazing features, surely deserve their spot in this list of top shoes for jumping rope. While they may look quite bulky and simple, they are surprisingly quite lightweight, which ensures you can perform your best no matter what.
These shoes get a long length of life-line since they are made from 100% leather, thus providing you with a pair of shoes with great features and longevity.
Eva cushioning has been used to ensure a great jump; also, there is plenty of padding in all the right places. To add to the cushioning quotient, it has a removable EVA Foam footbed and superior ABZORB and EVA cushioning atop for added midfoot comfort.
Their rubber outsoles add to the value of a very well- designed and crafted pair of shoes, with their non-marking nature, great durability, and perfect traction.
The flexibility of these shoes is Top-Notch; they work to move your feet, giving them plenty of jumping range.
Another point which makes it great for jumping rope.
These shoes ensure a solid landing and rebounding with their very well designed and cushioned toe box. They allow you to push your limits and go the extra distance in every activity.
Despite being a little bulkier than the other New Balance options, they are rather lightweight and flexible and ensure it offers just the right balance of cushioning, support, and comfort to its user.
Leave all your worries behind as these New Balance shoes are Medicare-Approved, hence no need to stress out over the protection and security of your feet.
These shoes could be your new best shoes for jumping rope.
Conclusion
According to my research and understanding, my ranking is as follows,
- Premium pick: Inov-8 F-Lite 235 V3 Cross Trainers
- Best Functionality: Nike Flyknits
- Top Pick for men: Nike Air Monarch IV Cross Trainers
- Top Pick for women: PUMA Tazon 6 WN’s FM
- Best value for money: New Balance Wx608v4
Facts:
Is It Safe to Jump Rope Barefoot?
This is a simple answer; if you are advanced enough, you can do so. However, if you aren’t, then jumping rope barefoot could prove very dangerous.
It is very important to ensure the rope doesn’t come in contact with your feet; if so, it will cause a very painful sting. You need to ensure you are confident that you can land properly before you move to barefoot jumping.
What are the best surfaces for Jumping Rope?
The best surface is normally concrete, as it provides the best rebound from jumping. However, this is valid only if you are wearing the right shoes. If you intend to practice barefoot, you should use a cushioned mat, maybe like a gym or a yoga mat, to ensure you don’t hurt your feet.
We have covered all the features which need to be taken care of while buying a pair of shoes for jumping rope as well as plyometrics. We have given you a list of the best shoes in the market for the same.
Keep in mind one important point, regardless of the fact that the shoes meet your aesthetic needs, should always be able to fulfill your functional needs. I hope I was able to put your inquisitive and knowledge-seeking minds at ease.
Since you are into fitness you can also check our article on The Best Running Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis.
So all the very best, go out there and pick up your pair!
Please note that I have not been able to try and test all of these products. The information is purely research-based and feedback based.
Happy Feet, Happy Jumping, Happy Us…