Product Review: BUDDY LEE AERO SPEED JUMPROPE

Over the last decade or so I have been training martial arts and working out on and off. In the time that I’ve been working out I have become quite fond of jumping rope, rather trying to get better at it, I believe it was in one of Bruce Lee’s books, where I read that, jumping rope for three minutes straight is the beginning of a good workout. It makes sense that he would incorporate it into his routine as he was an  a big fan of the boxing grind. Boxers are pros when it comes to jumping rope and make it look easy; but its by no means easy starting off.

When I first started jumping rope I could barely jump 30 seconds let alone a whole three minutes straight without stopping or getting snagged up; but I kept at it and sure enough with time I was able to do it. I’ve always had a fascination with looking cool like Rocky when he does it. It’s no wonder that I kept up with it. In the time that I have been jumping rope I’ve always wondered what type of jump rope is the best. I’ve tried all types. I believe my first rope was a leather one with wooden handles and I learned on that. Over time I’ve always wanted to become faster at it and more proficient in different techniques when jumping. This is why I’ve been on the search for a really good jump rope that would help me progress to the next level.

I’ve tried the new style of crossfit ropes too and didn’t find them appealing. The skinny cable that they use wasn’t enough for me to get some really good speed on them or at least use a variance in techniques. I did like the way the ropes were designed though; and immediately thought it would be great if there was a rope like these but high quality and maybe a different style bearing system. I liked the leather ropes feel; but the bearing system in the handle always kept failing me.

There are nylon ropes designed the same way the leather ones work, but the nylon seemed to be to light to manipulate the clumsy bearing design on the handles they were attached to.

That lead me to purchase the Buddy Lee Aero Speed Jump Rope. I found this rope to be a great combination of feel and speed. It utilizes a similar bearing as the wire crossfit ropes; but has a little more of a weighted feel like that of the old school nylon ropes.

With the combination of the nylon rope and bearing system on the BL Aero Speed Jump Rope I’ve been not only having more fun; but getting faster and more proficient at different techniques. I’d like to show you a few of the finer points of this rope and why I believe its worth the money. If you want to be better at jumping rope you owe it to your self to try this rope. The Aero Speed is the most expensive in the Buddy Lee line of jump ropes retailing on their site for $39.95. The cheapest one retails for 12 bucks. The main reason I love this rope is the design. The bearing system allows for the rope to turn efficiently and fast without getting snagged or twisted.

As you can see from the pics above the design allows for a nice even arch when you’re jumping. Instead of their being a slight bend in the rope on both ends near the handle like on an old school style rope where the bearings are inside the handle, on the Aero Speed the rope is allowed to hang freely perpendicular to the ground on both handles. This allows for very smooth action when jumping because the bearings are on the outside of the handles. Another positive feature of the design is how easy it is to adjust. Like any jump rope you’re going to want to dial in the length of the rope according to your height and skill level. This is again easily facilitated by the design. The nylon rope that comes included is over nine feet long so there is a good amount of slack to play around with. The rope itself screws into a clinching type link. – see picture below

Upon further investigation you can see that there is actually a small screw in the link that helps secure the rope in place not only by clinching it but by screwing into the core of the rope. This makes adjusting the rope a breeze and also super secure. I have stepped on the rope several times while working out and the rope itself has never come loose from the handles and I weigh just under 200 lbs.

Just like anything in life that is an investment a little maintenance makes it go a long way. That is why the Aero speed comes with extra bearings and hardware as well as wrench for the removal of the bearings.

This is the very best jumprope I have ever used and owned. I do not for see myself ever using another rope let alone purchasing another one. The only thing might be a replacement nylon rope when I wear down the one I have now, and if I do that I won’t be upset it will mean that this old boy has been putting in work. Hope this post helps in finding what your looking for. If you have any suggestions or comments please feel free. You can find the link to the Buddy Lee website here.