7 Best Shoes For Skipping Rope in 2024

When a shoe delivers a ground feel in the forefoot, impact protection in the heel, and a generally supportive structure, jumping becomes a lot easier and enjoyable. The Nano X3 from Reebok delivered all these benefits with much ease, so it gets its place on top of all others as the best jumping rope trainer on record.

Our HA durometer measurements in the lab revealed that the midsole is actually firm in the forefoot area. The device measured it to have a firmness score of 27.6 while the average is 26.6. The higher the number, the firmer the foam. The firmness of this part allowed us to have more control and leverage every time we jumped. We also felt some bounce in this part, helping us further with our verticals.

Aside from being 7.6 mm thicker than the forefoot, the heel is also a lot softer. Our HA durometer gave it a softness score of 20.5 while the forefoot was given 27.6. This much plushness absorbed the impact of our landings, keeping us free from pain all throughout the session.

We felt the lockdown provided by the heel counter and the tongue. The heel counter was so effective because it was quite rigid. In fact, we scored it a 4 out of 5 for stiffness when it easily resisted our manual pushes and squeezes in the lab. The tongue, for its part, is thicker than usual. It has 6.6 mm padding, a little thicker than the 5.8 mm average.

This shoe would have been even better if it were a little lighter. Currently, it’s 1.2 oz or 35g heavier than average.

Each jump with Nike’s Air Zoom TR 1 feels effortless, launching us back with explosive power with every toe-off. Among jumping rope shoes in the lab, we found it to have the best energy return as it sustained our momentum even for extended periods. As the cherry on top, a soft cushion supports us underneath for impact dampening.

While the midsole feels soft and bouncy, we were curious to see what causes its incredible responsiveness. As we sliced the shoe in half, an Air Zoom unit appeared, which explains the shoe’s limitless energy return. Saving our legs and joints from landing impact is a soft cushion, which our durometer confirms is 24.6% more velvet than average.

We found it easy to bend our feet while jumping since the midsole feels fluid. Our bend test confirms it’s 8.8% more flexible than average, explaining why it easily adapts to our movements.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t last long because the shoe felt hot and our feet almost instantly drenched in sweat. It scored a dismal 1/5 on our breathability test, which is bad news for athletes in tropical countries.

With its fantastic impact protection, amazing durability, and tremendous grip, the NOBULL Impact is our clear top cushioned jump rope shoe.

The cushioning on the NOBULL Impact is simply tremendous. Its heel and forefoot stack - 23.6 and 18.8 mm, respectively - are both around the average height for training shoes, but they provide excellent shock absorption on jump ropes. The midsole foam, which is 14.8% firmer than average, is so protective that our feet still feel fresh even after extended jump-rope sessions.

Meanwhile, the NOBULL Impact's durability is second to none. Its SuperFabric upper is as tough as they come, and the outsole is also built to last. The 4 mm thick outsole rubber is right in line with the average for training shoes, and it is also 1.3% harder than average.

The shoe provides excellent traction thanks to its herringbone pattern and aggressive lugs. Not once did we feel the grip to be lacking whether we were jumping on wooden or rubber flooring.

But the NOBULL Impact's poor breathability is a big downside, as we felt our feet get significantly sweaty after lengthy jump-rope workouts. After pumping smoke into the shoe in the lab, hardly any could pass through the upper, which is why we gave it the lowest score of 1 out of 5.

The Nike Free Metcon 5 offers forefoot flexibility and ankle support. It also adds a third key advantage: considerable ground feel. In fact, this shoe offered the best ground feel among all the jumping rope shoes that we tried and lab-tested!

Needing only 8.8N of force to bend at a 90-degree angle, the Free Metcon 5 is way more flexible than the average. A typical trainer needs 22.5N to bend based on the readings on our digital force gauge. This shoe’s flexible structure significantly reduced clunkiness and resistance during our jumps.

The collar is well padded, and the sidewalls at the rear part extend way beyond the midsole. These features cinched the back part of our feet snugly, effectively securing the ankle and heel. Because of this, each jump is totally worry-free.

The midsole tooling at the forefoot is measured to be 25.9 by our HA durometer. This site is indeed firmer than the heel, which registered only 17.4 on the device. When we talk in millimeters, the forefoot is also thinner than the heel (24.2 mm), measuring only 17.8. The stark differences in both cushion thickness and softness enhance the perception of firmness and eventual ground feel in the forefoot. 

Unfortunately, the upper is not the most durable. Our Dremel test left considerable damage on the toe box. Gym rats who want a shoe that lasts should look elsewhere.

The Nike Flex Control 4 is our top lightweight training shoe for jumping rope because of its fantastic combination of lightness, brilliant breathability, and reliable grip.

The Flex Control 4 is one of the lightest training shoes in our lab database at 9.77 oz (277g), which is 1.7 oz (49g) lighter than the average training shoe weight of 326g. And the shoe felt like a feather on our feet, almost as if we were jumping rope while barefoot.

The shoe's barely-there feeling is also due to its strong breathability as it keeps our feet feeling fresh and cool for long stretches. We pumped the shoe full of smoke in the lab, and it quickly escaped through the mesh upper, earning the shoe a solid score of 3 out of 5 for breathability. 

The Flex Control 4 also features terrific traction through the triangular treads on the outsole. These shoes did a sensational job of sticking to whatever surface we jumped rope on, whether it was indoor or outdoor.

However, the Flex Control 4's midsole cushioning is on the firm side. Our durometer measured it to be 18.5% firmer than the average training shoe, so those who want some softer cushioning while jumping rope should consider other options.

Jumping rope with cool and comfortable feet is an absolute breeze with the Nike Zoom Metcon Turbo 2, whose upper provides unbelievable air ventilation. And with its amazing bounce and fantastic flexibility, it is by far our best jump rope shoe in terms of breathability.

We simply didn’t feel the heat while doing jump rope workouts with the Metcon Turbo 2, as its immensely breathable upper kept our feet fresh and cool even after long sessions. Upon closer inspection in the lab, we gave the shoe a perfect 5 out of 5 for breathability as the smoke we pumped into the shoe passed through the porous mesh upper with ease.

Meanwhile, the embedded Zoom Air unit in the forefoot helps make our whole jump rope experience easier and much more enjoyable as it adds a bit more bounce in each jump. And the shoe's impressive flexibility gives a much more natural feeling to our jumps. After putting the shoe through our 90 degree bend test, we found it to be a whopping 32% more flexible than the average training shoe.

However, the Metcon Turbo 2 does fall a bit short in terms of forefoot cushioning. We measured its forefoot stack to be 3.4 mm lower than average.

Jumping rope outdoors was a lot easier because of the plushness that we felt in the midsole of the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure. Its softness helped cushion our jumps, allowing us to persist longer with the workout. We also appreciated the durability of the upper and the just-enough support that we got from the heel counter. Is this Reebok trainer the best for outdoor jumping rope? Definitely!

Our HA durometer measured the softness of the midsole to be 21.9, which is far lower (therefore softer) than the 27.2 average. Aside from providing comfort during our jumping rope sessions, we also loved how it made our walks and runs more bearable.

The upper is worthy armor for outdoor exercises. It was as durable as hell, and our twelve-second Dremel drilling was just a pretty laughable joke to it. We are sure that this shoe would last for a long time. We gave it a perfect 5 for durability.

The heel counter of the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure gave a perfectly balanced support to the back of our feet. It held the rearfoot securely in place but not to the point that it felt restrictive. Because of this experience, we gave the heel counter a 3 out of 5 for stiffness.

The durable upper seemed to have put ventilation at the backseat. We certainly felt warm while wearing this shoe, and we could only give it a 1 out of 5 for breathability.