Is Crossrope the Best Travel Workout? | Review of the Popular Jump Rope System & App

If you’ve been searching for home fitnessequipment because you’re staying home, you likely have come across different fitnessprograms and items.

One that seems to get a lot of praise onlineis Crossrope, and it’s even been touted as a perfect workout for traveling.

But does it live up to the hype? Hey, it’s Ernest from Trip Astute.

In this video, we’re doing a gear reviewon Crossrope, a fitness set and app that might be perfect for your next trip or even whileyou’re stuck at home planning your next vacation.

It occurred to me the other day that workingout during the pandemic presents a lot of the same challenges that I face when I travel.

You’ve often presented with limited or noequipment, and you may not have the ability or confidence to run on the streets in certainplaces due to safety.

While I’m not worried about my securitywhen running outside now, I am a bit more self-conscious since it does get crowded andcan be difficult to maintain enough physical distancing.

There are a lot of articles that now recommenda distance of at least 15 feet when running or breathing heavily since you’re more likelyto discharge more droplets, which could be an issue if you’re an asymptomatic carrier.

I know people are still doing it, and someare even making it work with a mask.

However, I’m not an avid runner in the firstplace, so I’m less motivated to run around my neighborhood.

And while traveling, it can be hard to predictthe state or availability of equipment.

I’ve been to hotels where the gyms wereunder construction, or worse, were crowded so I couldn’t use the equipment.

In fact, when I used to travel for work almostweekly, I would pick hotels based on their gym facility since I wanted to stay active.

So what I learned through my experience isthat it’s always good to have a back-up plan if you want to stay active.

And what I mean by that is that you don’twant to rely on any of the hotel equipment, especially when you’re not sure what you’regoing to encounter.

So today, I thought I’d share a piece ofequipment that I’ve started to use recently, and will likely keep using once the pandemicsituation settles down.

It’s also something that I can see myselfpacking on my next trip, which might be useful for those of you looking for something newor different.

It’s called Crossrope.

It’s basically a set of interchangeablejump ropes of different weights that are meant to give you a more well-rounded workout.

I came across it one evening when lookingfor home fitness gear.

I was skeptical too.

I’ve did a fair amount of jump roping whenI used to do crossfit, so I was used to using cheap speed ropes that only cost $10.

Though the thought of a better jump rope withdifferent weighted ropes piqued my interest.

After doing more research, I decided to takethe plunge.

Also, I should probably clarify that I’mnot sponsored by them.

I purchased my own equipment and since I’vebeen using them a lot, I thought I would share my honest opinion on the equipment, especiallyfrom the perspective of a traveler.

In this review, I’m going to focus on fouraspects of the Crossope system.

I’ll be exploring the equipment, the app, the overall experience, and finally, the community.

Let’s start with the jump ropes itself.

Crossrope offers several ropes and handles, which can be purchased individually or as a kit.

The Get Lean kit includes their slim handles, a quarter-pound rope, and a half-pound rope.

The Get Strong kit includes the power handlesand a one-pound and two-pound rope.

There’s also the Get Fit bundle that includesboth sets.

I ended purchasing the Get Strong kit.

I also bought a half-pound rope, and eventually, I even bought a quarter-pound rope.

In retrospect, I probably should have purchasedthe Get Fit kit.

Though the reason I opted for the power handlesis because of the versatility.

You can use the lighter ropes on the powerhandles, but you can’t use the heavier ropes on the slim handles.

So, I went with the power handles in hopesthat I could use them on more ropes.

When looking at the handles itself, you’llnotice that they are extremely high quality.

The grips are a synthetic material with aplastic end cap.

The top of the handle has a steel bearingthat allows a smooth rotation of the rope when jumping.

You can see how smoothly the handles spinwhen rotated without the rope.

There’s also a steel connector that attachesto the rope.

The connector has to be pressed on both sidesto release the rope.

The ropes are also much better than I expected.

They are single strand steel that have a thickand durable plastic-like coating.

As I’ve been jumping, you can see that mostof the scuff marks on the rope seem to be from the mat, and not from the rope itself.

I also noticed that the ropes do not tanglelike other jump ropes that I’ve used.

I don’t know if it’s because of the sizeof the ropes, but even the thin quarter-pound rope doesn’t get tangled like other cheapropes that I’ve used in the past.

You could say that these jump ropes are over-engineered, but that’s not a bad thing.

If you’re serious about fitness or havebeen frustrated with jump roping in the past, you’ll appreciate the level of thought that’sgone into making these ropes.

The handles also come with a lifetime warranty, so you can expect them to perform over the long-term.

The next part of Crossrope is the app.

Of course, you don’t need the app to jumprope.

However, their free app does have a varietyof workouts to choose from.

Ten of their most recent daily workouts areavailable, and there are five different challenges that you can join.

The workouts feature different levels of fitnessand movements.

For example, some workouts are labeled asstrength, and will typically use the heavier ropes.

There are high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, workouts that feature segments where you’ll do bodyweight movements.

There are also endurance workouts that aremore focused more on jumping for longer intervals.

What I love about the app is that it guidesyou through the entire workout.

For example, the app shows you the ropes andmovements involved, then walks you through each section with audio queues.

There is also a premium option that unlocksadditional workouts, allows more filtering, and adds a jump counter.

I personally haven’t felt like I neededto upgrade yet, but I think I probably will once the jump counter is integrated into theworkouts.

As of this video, the jump counter is stilla standalone feature.

The app also integrates with Google Fit andApple Health.

This could be useful if you’re someone whois tracking your activity in those ecosystems.

I’ve read people refer to the Crossropeapp experience as the “poor man’s Peloton”.

While it’s certainly less expensive thanPeloton, I don’t think I would say it’s less effective.

In fact, I personally don’t feel the needto have real-time classes or workouts.

And I honestly prefer jumping over cycling, but of course, everyone is going to have a different preference.

In terms of the experience, I have to saythat I’ve been pleasantly surprised by it.

Jump roping used to be a boring cardio activitythat I would add to my HIIT workouts.

Though having the ability to swap out differentweighted ropes makes it interesting.

Plus, Crossrope encourages you to learn newtricks or jumping styles.

I find that when I am focusing on masteringa new jump roping skill, the workouts seem to fly by.

And since jump roping is considered a moreefficient workout than running, it’s been a great alternative for me.

I’m able to do it on our front porch withouthaving to worry about maintaining a physical distance with others on the street.

Ironically, I’ve also found that weightedropes are a lot easier to control than the thin speed ropes that I’ve used most ofmy life.

You can really feel the ropes when workingout, which gives you additional awareness of the rope’s rotation.

This allows you to learn different jumpingstyles and tricks faster.

Using the app has been fantastic too.

I usually design my own HIIT workouts, sobeing able to mix in jump roping into my routine has been fun.

But it’s been convenient using the app sinceI don’t have to design my own workout.

The workouts that I’ve completed have beenexactly what I needed.

For example, the other day I was looking topush myself, so I did an advanced endurance workout.

On the flip side, there was a day last weekwhen I didn’t sleep well, so I wanted to do a less intense workout.

I opted for a shorter beginner workout, whichwas exactly what I needed.

The app is free and doesn’t require Crossropesto use it.

It’s worth downloading and checking it out, even if you don’t have their ropes.

Though it definitely helps to have them asthe workouts are optimized and structured with their equipment in mind.

The last aspect of Crossrope is the community.

This is actually one of the reasons that Iended up getting it.

Crossrope has a very active Facebook groupwhere people share workouts, results, and advice.

I found their community to be very supportiveand helpful, as well as a wealth of knowledge on all things related to Crossropes and jumproping.

I’ve definitely been inspired by othersin the group.

In terms of travel, I haven’t had a chanceto take it with me on a trip.

That’s mostly because of the pandemic.

Though I’m convinced that when we do travelagain, I’m going to pack my Crossrope set with me.

Not only am I enjoying it, but I find it tobe a very efficient workout.

For me, it beats using a bike or treadmill.

And if I can get the same results in lesstime, that means I’ll be able to spend more time enjoying my travels while maintainingmy fitness.

The only negative aspect of Crossrope is thecost of the ropes, especially if you’re used to jump ropes being inexpensive and simpledevices.

Though I have to say that you are paying fora quality product, and really a fitness system.

And while paying $100 to $140 for a jump ropeset may seem steep, I feel like I get a lot of value from them.

Not just in terms of meeting my fitness goals, but also in the long-term savings of me working out from home and not at a gym.

As you can tell, I highly recommend Crossrope, not just for traveling but also as a general fitness system.

Though if you do decide to get it or evenstart jump roping with your own rope, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1.

Give your body time to adjust: When I gotthe ropes, I got a bit excited and ended up doing multiple consecutive days of jump roping.

After about five workouts, I noticed thatmy shins were starting to hurt.

If you have type-A tendencies like me, thenyou’ll want to make sure that you’re also stretching and giving your body enough timeto adapt to the exercise.

Just like with everything, your body needstime to adjust to the new exercises and routine.

On that note, 2.

Jump on a thick mat: Jumping on a mat notonly protects your joints for additional wear and tear, but also prolongs the life of yourropes.

Crossrope sells several mats that you canorder.

You can also find additional fitness matsonline.

It’s definitely worth getting one to protectyour investment … not just your ropes, but your body as well.

3.

Try different shoes: When I started jump roping, I was trying to figure out the best shoe for the activity.

The truth is that there isn’t a perfectshoe out there.

In the community, you’ll see that peopleare using running shoes to even some traditional high top shoes.

There are even shoes designed for jump roping.

For me, I’ve found that my crosstrainingshoes seem to work best.

Though just know that you might find thatyou prefer a shoe with more or less cushioning and support.

4.

Start with the lower weight ropes: I did theopposite and started with the heavier ropes.

Swinging the one-pound and two-pound ropeis a tough workout, and it’s doesn’t lend itself to creative jump roping.

If you’re just starting out or even tryingto learn new tricks, I think you’ll find the lower pound ropes to be more effecitve.

In fact, for me, I think the half-pound ropeseems to be my most used rope.

5.

Explore free jump rope content: There aresome incredible jump rope channels on YouTube that are worth checking out.

For example, Jump Rope Dudes is a great resourcefor those of you looking to get started.

They even have free workouts that you cancheck out.

I’ve been watching a lot of their contentas I’ve gotten more interested in jump roping as an activity.

Crossrope also has a lot of videos showingdifferent tricks and techniques, and they are worth watching to gain more knowledgeon jump roping.

Have any of you tried Crossrope or even jumproping as a travel or daily fitness activity? I’m curious what you all are doing to stayactive? Please let me know in the comment sectionbelow.

Hope you enjoyed this video and found it useful.

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It really does make a difference in growingour channel and community.

We hope you all are staying safe and healthy.

Until next time, travel safe and travel smart.

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