Like everyone else, my New Year’s resolution was to exercise more. After moving to a new city, I fell out of my workout routine, and it didn’t help that the gym chain I belonged to was now 30 minutes away in Los Angeles traffic.
So I started looking for workouts that I could do at home. Jumping rope is fun and exciting Great cardio workout for the whole body it can also improve dexterity and coordination. So when I heard $199 Crossrope AMP Jump Rope Set would quantify the experience And help me incorporate strength training into my weighted rope program, I was intrigued.
After testing the kit for a month, I can confirm that few jump ropes are as well made as the Crossrope, and its training and community provide great value to jumping enthusiasts. However, at $199 plus a $12 monthly subscription, it’s only meant for those who are looking to jump constantly and not casual users.
crossroads The system, in existence since 2013, consists of interchangeable handles, ropes and ropeless jumping attachments ranging in weight from three ounces to five pounds. AMP set I tested came with a set of Bluetooth-connected handles, as well as quarter-pound, half-pound, and one-pound ropes.
The ropes and handles are made of durable materials and are connected with steel fasteners. They seem designed to last, but unlike most jump ropes, each jump rope is a fixed length—it can’t be adjusted. They come in six different lengths, but I tripped a few times despite using the Crossrope size recommended for my height. Although I stumbled less as I became a better jumper, when I reached out to the Crossrope community for help, several members admitted that they had the same problem.
AMP handles transform this expensive modular jump rope into an expensive modular system. smart jump rope system. The Bluetooth-enabled handles connect to iOS and Android devices, allowing you to track jumps, streaks, power output, speed and calories burned using a companion app. If you connect it to your Apple Watch, you can also import your heart rate data. It’s hard to judge how accurate these statistics were, but Crossrope counted my jumps correctly for the most part, and the rest of the numbers didn’t seem like exaggerations.
But this information comes at a cost: $11.99 per month. That’s right: in addition to forking over $199 for the set (or $99 for pens If you already have Crossrope ropes), you will also have to pay a monthly fee to benefit from the smart handles. Even the jump counter is paid. This fact annoyed me – and still does – and is the biggest flaw of the set.
However, you don’t just pay for performance. In addition to a helpful Facebook community of nearly 100,000 people, Crossrope includes an app with over 2,500 workouts created by personal trainers and on-demand classes taught by instructors popular in the jumping world. Obviously, the focus is on jumping rope, but the personal training also includes other exercises such as squats and dumbbell curls. There are also longer programs that target specific fitness goals, from burning fat in, say, six weeks to increasing endurance. If you don’t like either option, you can also create your own workout, which was helpful when I needed a slower pace.
I appreciated how well thought out the workouts were, with a timer included for each set and rest. Crossrope’s own programs even have Spotify playlists curated by BPM and tailored for different rope weights and speeds. Unlike, say, Apple Fitness Plus or Fitbit Premium workouts, Crossrope also displays a (weird) 3D avatar of the trainer performing the same exercise in real time, which helps improve your form. And unlike Apple and Fitbit, you can even ask Crossrope trainers questions for a more personalized experience.
But we have to deal with the elephant in the room: Crossrope AMP costs two hundred dollars plus $12 per month. It exists in a niche market with little direct competition, but it also exists in a world where there are many cheaper jump ropes. If we take an example almost at random, then Te-Rich Smart Weighted Jump Rope I found one on Amazon that costs $17 and has a built-in LCD display with a timer and jump counter, and YaoYao The app also tracks jumps and time and costs just $0.99 per month (or $10 to unlock). Both also estimate calories burned, and YaoYao also allows you to set the duration of workouts and rest sessions and compete with others via an on-board leader.
While YaoYao often overestimated my jumps, the Te-Rich Smart Weighted Jump Rope’s stats matched those of the Crossrope and sometimes even counted my jumps more accurately. The flimsy 9.8-foot PVC rope gets tangled easily, but at the price it’s forgivable, especially since the rope is adjustable. Te-Rich doesn’t have one-on-one training, on-demand video lessons, or a community, but you can find similar ones online. In fact, some Teachers of on-demand classes offer their own YouTube channels.Plus, You can always use the free or paid version of the Crossrope app without AMP handles if you need training and don’t mind losing the jump counter, personalized goals, tests and leaderboards.
The most effective workout is the one you stick to. If a smart jump rope with instructor-led workouts and an inspiring community make it easier for you to consistently train, Crossrope is worth it. It’s overpriced, but it’s smaller and cheaper than other home exercise equipment I’ve looked at, like treadmills. Crossrope’s 60-day return policy also means you can get your money back if you decide you’re not going to use it enough to justify the expense.
I enjoyed my time with Crossrope. It helped me bring back some of the fun in fitness. But I don’t think jumping will replace running and walking as my primary cardio workout (although it is a fun accessory), so I won’t be purchasing the Crossrope AMP once I send the unit back for review. Te-Rich didn’t include a ton of workout programs, a Facebook group, and didn’t track my heart rate, but it still gave me a rough idea of ​​my jumps and calories burned and didn’t cost $200.
