Battle ropes are a killer way to get in, well, killer shape. Read on for a full breakdown of the best battle ropes for every kind of athlete and gymgoer.
Want a more explosive upper body? Stronger core? Improved aerobic capacity? How about the satisfaction of slapping heavy stuff against the floor?
Then you need 870% more battle rope in your life.
Battle ropes are an upper body form of training that targets your core, shoulders, back, and arms.
Study after study has found that adding battle ropes to your workout routine boosts upper body power, core endurance, and cardiovascular endurance [1].
While the original ropes were surprisingly expensive, in recent years, as working out at home has become more popular (thanks, Covid!), battle ropes have come down in price and have never been more appealing for the home-based athlete.
Some key things to look for when choosing battle ropes:
Okay.
With all that good stuff behind us, let’s take a closer look at some of the best battle ropes on the market, including key features, dimensions, and pricing.
Let’s do this.
Iron Bull Strength Battle Ropes
Iron Bull Strength is a Canadian fitness gear and apparel company that makes outstanding gear for workout nerds. Their barbell pad for hip thrusts is my all-time favorite and I regularly use their elbow compression sleeves when doing heavy upper body lifts.
In terms of an all-in-one battle rope for a home gym, the Iron Bull Strength Battle Training Ropes are the best. They come with everything you need to blast away at your upper body.
Made with tough polydacron, and available in a variety of lengths (30’ to 50’) and thicknesses (1.5” to 2”) and Iron Bull ships these with a nylon sleeve (which you can slide over the rope to protect it from wear and tear). Iron
Bull also includes a pair of anchor straps to plant the rope against something sturdy, reducing the rag-dolling that happens with battle ropes when training.
In other words… it’s go time.
Fuel Performance Battle Rope
At two inches thick and 50-feet long, the Fuel Performance Battle Rope is made to absolutely kick ass.
Fuel Performance fabricated the three-strand rope with heavy-duty polypropylene with the ends heat shrunk for a sturdy grip. Ropes that are this big and this long are very challenging to work with, making them ideal for the strongest and most explosive athletes training at home.
While smaller ropes give more, making them easier to quickly lash against the floor, Fuel Performance’s upper body smasher has added stiffness which makes moving the ropes quickly very tough.
Not recommended for newbies or novice athletes. If you are well-trained and are looking for a way to take your upper body power and core endurance to the next level, the Fuel Performance Battle Rope will push you to the limit.
Power Guidance Battle Rope
Power Guidance ships these ropes in a full variety of sizes, accommodating athletes and home-based gym nuts of all abilities.
Made with the usual polydacron materials typical of battle ropes, they are also fully wrapped in a nylon sleeve to protect the rope from getting frayed.
The heat-treated handles are just over 7” long, Power Guidance backs the ropes 100%, and most importantly for those of you who have a dedicated place for your rope at home or in the garage, a wall anchor.
Rep Fitness V2 Battle Ropes
One of my favorite things about battle ropes is that it’s nearly a full body workout.
Although you are swinging away with your arms and bracing your core, your hips and legs are working overtime to provide stability, helping you build a solid foundation of strength and power.
The Rep Fitness V2 Battle Training Ropes take this highly functional training and make it look good with three different colored options.
Like most of the other ropes in this guide, they are made of polydacron, triple-braided, and have heat-treated handles so that you can stay focused on your workout instead of your grip.
Backed with a three-year warranty, Rep Fitness offers the V2 Battle Ropes in three different lengths and two thicknesses, which means there is a rope that is perfect for your fitness and training goals.
Geardo Battle Ropes
Geardo’s Battle Ropes are the ultimate in versatility and durability. Available in 30, 40 and 50-feet lengths, the ropes also come in either 1.5” or 2” diameter.
Geardo’s battle ropes are encased with nylon, which helps the dacros rope last far longer. For the athlete who sweats a lot (the author raises his hand), you will appreciate the heat-treated handles that help you maintain a secure grip on the ropes as you torch calories and increase your cardiovascular fitness.
Exceptionally well-reviewed on Amazon, with nearly 500 five-star reviews, the Geardo Battle Rope is one of our favorite ropes for working out at home.
Only downside? No anchor included, your wall or Velcro anchor needs to be purchased separately.
Amazon Basics Battle Training Rope
With more and more people training at home, fitness companies are rushing to produce affordable gear. Even companies that you wouldn’t traditionally think of as a fitness company are getting in on the rush, including Amazon.
The Amazon Basics Battle Training Rope comes in a variety of sizes and thicknesses, and they even *somehow* ended up as Amazon’s Choice for best battle rope. (Quelle surprise.)
The rope itself is a three-strand polyester blend that is surprisingly light and easy to unspool or store. Anchor sold separately.
