DIY Rope Bracelet

Battling ropes have made a huge appearance back into mainstream strength and conditioning workouts thanks to gentleman like John Brookfield and Anthony Dilugio. John Brookfield, also known as Mr. Hands due to his incredible grip strength, generally is seen as the modern "father" of battling ropes and his "Wave System" is probably the most widely used and duplicated out there. While these gentlemen have certainly brought ropes back into the mainstream, strongmen and longshoremen have long known the benefits of working with heavy rope.

Ropes provide a very unique cardio and a functional strength workout. It is low impact, can be done nearly anywhere and will seriously work your entire body. Due to the rising popularity of ropes I field a lot of questions on the type of rope, the thickness of rope and the length of the rope to use.

Length

The standard length for battling ropes is 50 feet. A 50′ rope wrapped around a post or anchored to something solid provides an effective working length of approximately 25 feet per hand. While advanced users may want a rope as long as 100′ and beginners may want something shorter. When being used in classes where you have two people using the same rope, in other words one person at each end, you may want to consider purchasing 30′ or 40′ ropes which will again give you a similar experience as using the 50′ doubled over. If you want to shorten a 50′ rope it is very easy to do by simply tying a knot in the center of the rope to shorten its length. By doing this you can the rope can be used by anyone from kids to advanced users.

Thickness

For most people and most uses the 1.5″ thick rope provides the best option. This size rope presents the most versatility and can be used by nearly anyone. The grip of even trained athletes will be challenged at this thickness but beginners can still use it as well. We highly recommend 1.5″ thick ropes and they are by far the most popular size. Of course if you are looking to really push your grip strength or your goals are strongman like strength then we would suggest going up to a 2″ thick rope. This size rope is not for the average user, but it will make you strong if you can tame it!

Type

Type of rope is probably the most challenging question. It used to be that a rope was a rope was a rope, but today their are many options available and it can be confusing. The three main options are nylon, poly, and manila. I will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each.

8 Strand Poly - Of all the options poly is the best bet. Our poly ropes have a nice smooth finish and are black in color. The poly ropes have the best life span and are perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. Poly rope does not absorb moisture and it floats. Use it at the beach, in the pool, in the rain, it doesn't matter. Mold and mildew resistant this rope will never let you down and never stink up your garage. Price wise poly rope is the most expensive rope.