Battle ropes most commonly come in three lengths (30, 40 or 50 feet) and two thicknesses (1.5" and 2"). The size you should get depends on two main factors: your fitness goals, and the amount of space you have.
After all this testing and experimenting, here's what I've discovered matters with battle ropes:
- Material
- Length
- Thickness
Material:
I'd recommend good Poly Dacron: Poly Dacron rope is made from polypropylene and dacron plastic fibers. These synthetic fibers are twisted into strands, with the Dacron providing the strength in the outer braid. Polypropylene provides a lightweight core and additional strength. Using polypropylene for the core reduces weight and cost and makes the rope lighter.
The main benefit of poly dacron is that it doesn't shed. Manila ropes perform great if you're only using them outside, but they are a little more expensive and they shed little fibers every time you use them, which can be a pain to clean up if you're inside. Manila ropes are also 10% to 25% more expensive than comparable polydac ropes. I'd only recommend manila if you want a more organic product (manila is made from hemp plant fibers) or if you only plan to use these outside.
How to tell between cheap and good polydac? I hate to say it, but price is the easiest way, as most manufacturers won't discuss what blend level they use. Our ropes are 80% Dacron, 20% Polypropylene, which we've found to be the optimum blend for durability and fluidity. Anything greater than 30% Polypropylene has that more fibrous feel.
Thickness
Thick ropes carry more weight, while longer ropes allow for a more fluid motion.Thicker ropes require bigger hands and greater grip strength. If you're looking for high intensity, cardio blasting workouts, we recommend the 1.5" diameter battle rope. These ropes will allow you to go hard, maintain a solid grip, and will fit perfectly into a circuit training workout.
If it's muscles you’re after and you're prepared to perform a workout that feels more like a bench press than wind sprints the, 2.0" width battle rope is for you. These ropes are 35% larger than the 1.5" width ropes and require a larger hand and stronger grip to maintain control of the battle rope.
Length
Shorter ropes aren’t as fluid, but they allow for smaller spaces. Because your rope will essentially be folded in half at an anchor point, you need a straight line that is half the length of your rope. For a 50' rope you'll need 25 feet of clear space.
The most common length is 50 feet, followed by 40' and 30' respectively. A 50' battle rope leaves you with 25' in each arm, which is a great length for creating momentum-filled waves for a smooth, low-impact workout.We recommend: All things being equal, and if you’re unsure of which one to get, we recommend the 50 foot length and 1.5" width. The longer length will be the most fluid and versatile, and the 1.5” grip will be the easiest to hold and use.
Battle Rope Buyers Guide
