How to Keep Your Jump Rope in Top Condition for Outdoor Use

For various reasons, such as lack of space at home, many of your jump rope sessions might take place outdoors. This often means jumping on hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt, paving, or tile. Naturally, you might wonder how to keep your jump rope in top condition for outdoor use.

Here's a comprehensive guide on how to maintain your jump rope and make it last longer.

Invest in a Good Mat

When jumping on hard surfaces, we recommend investing in a good jump rope mat. Our mat, made with 1/4" high-density foam, absorbs impact when jumping on concrete, brick, pavement, tile, and wood floors. It is designed to protect your joints by withstanding intense skipping, high knees, and quick movements.

Another significant benefit of using a mat is that it extends the lifespan of your jump rope. Jumping on hard surfaces can cause considerable wear and tear, but a mat helps prevent your rope from breaking or fraying prematurely.

Store Your Jump Rope Properly

While your jump ropes can withstand outdoor training sessions, they shouldn't be left piled outside. Consider the following aspects when storing your jump ropes:

• Avoid Sun Exposure: Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can degrade the material. Store your rope in a cool, dry place.
• Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Extreme heat or cold can weaken the material. Keep your rope indoors when not in use.
• Hang or Coil Neatly: Store your rope by hanging it up or coiling it neatly to avoid kinks and tangles.

For more tips on how to roll up your jump rope correctly, check out our blog post on the topic.

Wrap Your Jump Rope with Tape

This is a hack that became really popular in the fitness community and consists, basically, of wrapping duct tape around the part of the rope that is in contact with the ground with each rotation. This second layer of protection will wear out with use, so you will need to replace it from time to time.

Clean Your Rope Regularly

Many of us put our jump ropes away immediately after use, but this is a huge mistake! We should clean them before storing them to prevent the buildup of grime that can degrade the rope material.

Keeping them clean it’s super easy, and it takes just a few minutes. All you need to do is wipe down your jump rope with a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris after each use.

Adjust for Optimal Performance

This is a pro tip for beginners: with time and wherever possible, you should move down to shorter ropes. On the one hand, this will help you with your jump rope form. On the other hand, it will extend the durability of your rope. But why?

If your rope is too long, you will have a lot of extra rope. This will result in the rope striking the ground. Instead, if the rope length is short enough, the cable will simply brush against the surface. This brushing will wear the rope far less than impact.

Keeping your jump rope in top condition for outdoor use ensures you get the most out of your workouts and prolongs the lifespan of your equipment.

About the Author Devin Meek is the Director of Education for Elite Jumps. He's been a jump rope entertainer for over eighteen years and is a three-time world champion competitive jumper. Devin travels the country sharing his passion for the sport, giving jump rope workshops to schools, CrossFit gyms, and corporate wellness programs.