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Even as a kid, I was never great at jumping rope. My friends on the playground would be happily skipping around inside their ropes, while I’d just keep thwacking myself in the shins. As an adult I’ve only gotten less coordinated and more self-conscious, so jumping rope hasn’t exactly been my go-to move when I want to get in some cardio.
But I know it’s a quick, effective way to get in a heart-pumping, full-body workout. “Jumping rope activates almost every muscle in your body which helps boost your heart rate quickly,” John Shackleton, MS, CSCS, Villanova men’s basketball head performance coach previously told Well+Good. It’s also a fantastic way to keep your bones strong. And as a runner, I know it can help me work plyometrics into my weekly routine to build my power and put some speed behind my stride.
TL;DR: I want to be the kind of person who can jump rope and actually like it enough to do it regularly. So when I heard about Crossrope, I was instantly intrigued. The high tech system lets you attach ropes of different weights to Bluetooth-connected handles that track your stats like jumps per minute, current streak, and max speed on the companion app, which comes with more than 2,000 different workouts to try.
These seemed like just the kind of features that would get me to actually pick up the rope more than once.
This set includes bluetooth-connected handles, three ropes—one-pound, 1/2-pound, and 1/4-pound—and a one-month free membership on the app ($12 per month). Crossrope also offers a ropeless set, several different bundles, and ropes or handles à la carte so you can build the exact at-home jump rope workout kit you want.
What I wasn’t expecting, and what I ended up loving the most, was the app’s whole section for beginners. Not only is there a series of “practice workouts” which slowly ramp you up, there are a number of tutorials, demonstrating exactly how to do all the jumps, as well as things like how to avoid shin splints, and how to make jumping rope a habit (yes, I feel seen).
The workouts themselves range anywhere from less than 10 minutes to more than 40, and are listed with one to three fire emojis so you know what kind of intensity you’re signing up for before you start. They mix up intervals of jumping and rest, and many include bodyweight exercises like squats and mountain climbers. Some workouts also use a kettlebell, while others are jump rope–only—a filtering system lets you search for exactly which option you want.
Once you start a workout, you see a looping video demonstrating each move as you do it, along with a countdown of how much time you have left, while a voiceover offers basic instructions. At first, I sometimes got nervous when it asked me to switch out my rope for one of a different weight, but the programs are designed to give you more than enough time, especially considering the quick release system that makes it super easy to unlatch one rope and stick on another.
Over the course of a month of testing it out, I definitely improved my form, particularly with the help of the tutorials (who knew you were supposed to keep your hands right near your hips?). Though I haven’t gotten quite good enough at it to nerd out over my stats, since I’m still just trying to make it through to the end, I do enjoy the workouts enough that I keep picking up the ropes up week after week. With the strength moves breaking up the jumping intervals, I feel less daunted than if I were just doing a free jump all by myself—I know I’m going to get breaks, and there will be some moments where I actually feel confident. And by the end, my heart is jumping out of my chest, my calves are on fire, and I’m a sweaty mess. It’s a cardio workout I can do right at home without needing to fit a massive exercise bike or treadmill into my living room. (Though you obviously do need a good amount of empty space for the workouts so you don’t, you know, thwack everything in your way.)
I can’t say that Crossrope has turned jumping rope into my favorite exercise, but it does make me enjoy it more than I ever have before. And I’m now a few steps closer to holding my own the next time you find me on a playground.
Learn the right way to jump rope:
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Get ready to move, groove, and sweat in Lululemon's latest Glow Up collection—designed to make every stretch, squat, and sprint feel like pure magic. Whether you’re powering through an intense HIIT workout, or just running errands in style, this collection has your back (literally). With sleek and smooth fabrics, sweat-wicking technology, and the kind of fit that hugs in all the right places, these pieces are made to move with you, not against you.
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The collection includes a sculpting tank, tights, and a onesie—and each item is built for performance without sacrificing style. And let’s be honest, nothing boosts motivation like a fresh new ‘fit.
So before your next workout, how about slipping into something that makes you feel strong, confident, and unstoppable? Because when you feel good in what you wear, you bring that same energy to everything you do. Ready, set, glow (up!).
The Glow Up Tank is ready to move when you are. It’s designed with a built-in shelf bra intended to provide medium support for a B/C cup. And it’s equally smooth and supportive for all sweat sessions.
“The inspiration for this collection first and foremost came from an unmet need, and we gathered insights from guests and ambassadors,” says Melanie Anayiotos, Lululemon’s VP of Women’s Performance Design.
“What they were telling us is— fitness and fitness trends are shifting, and you have a lot more women in the gym and strength training. There’s more focus on strength in fitness and with that comes different needs.”
Consider the Glow Up Tights your new gym bff. Made with high waistband technology, they feature bonded construction, minimal seaming and an internal mesh layer for a snug, waist-hugging fit and held-in feel.
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“We were hearing that people wanted more support in their leggings, and to minimize the belly and waist, while accentuating the glutes and not minimize the rest of it,” Anayiotos says.
They’re also designed with Ultralu fabric for a super sleek feel no matter how hard you’re training.
“The material is a bit thicker, but it’s really smooth and sleek, and offers a lot of support for a sports bra,” Anayiotos says. “So we took that and wanted to tweak that to get to a place where it’s right for your legs, and the movements you’d want to achieve in it.”
And finally, for the ultimate one piece moment—meet the Glow Up Onesie. It's a one-stop-shop for your workouts, errands, and every day-to-day moment in between.
The training onesie will have you feeling supported and sculpted in every session with its sleek fabric and built-in bra. And when your workout is over, we guarantee you won’t want to take it off.
“We aimed to design something that would transition well from the studio to, to the gym, to the street”, Anayiotos says.
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There’s something undeniably luxurious about having a spin bike parked in your living room—or, for some, squeezed into the corner of your bedroom. No commute to the gym, no fighting for a spot in a sweaty spin class, no excuse not to move your body. It’s convenience at its finest, and when it comes to health perks, the benefits are almost too good to list: low-impact cardio that’s easy on your joints, improved heart health, boosted endurance, and a solid way to shake off the stress of a long day.
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As someone who wants all those things, I jumped at the chance to test Aviron’s new stationary bike: the Aviron Fit Bike ($2,399). After testing (and loving) the brand’s Strong Series rowing machine a few years ago, I was eager to give the bike a spin… pun intended. From set-up to first ride, keep reading for my full review of the Aviron Fit Bike.
About the Aviron Fit Bike
The Aviron Fit Bike is a sleek, high-tech bike designed to make home workouts more entertaining and engaging. Aviron’s whole schtick is the gamification of working out; the same challenges and gameplay used to make its flagship rowing series more fun are carried over into the new bike.
Each bike comes equipped with a 21.5-inch HD touchscreen, built-in speakers, and adjustable resistance levels to suit everyone from beginners to serious cyclists. As for programs, the bike has plenty to offer. An Aviron membership (either $288/year or $24/month) unlocks thousands of classes, such as pre-filmed instructor-led rides, scenic routes, virtual games, and even competitive challenges where you race against other users or AI opponents. Not feeling a structured workout? You can stream your favorite music and shows on platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video directly from the screen. It’s essentially a stationary bike and an entertainment hub rolled into one. Without the subscription, users can still ride without a program and enjoy unlimited profiles, the ability to add and follow friends, earn achievements, use the metrics monitor, and use the MyAviron companion app.
As for the technology, each Aviron Fit Bike uses electromagnetic resistance to deliver resistance while you ride along. Unlike friction-based resistance, which relies on physical contact with the flywheel (often leading to wear and tear), EMS uses electromagnetic fields to create resistance, resulting in smoother transitions and a virtually silent ride. It also offers a greater range of resistance levels and instant adjustments, so you feel more fluid and efficient while you ride. Resistance can be controlled via the screen or done automatically depending on the program you’re riding in, so there’s no dealing with knobs while you’re working out.
Setting it up
My Aviron bike came pre-assembled, which is glorious for folks like me who have toiled tirelessly over Ikea furniture. I scheduled my delivery and it arrived totally assembled and ready to go. Unfortunately, the bike does require assembly on your own unless you pay extra for the white glove delivery service for select zip codes. I highly recommend choosing this option if you’re paying for the bike, it’ll make your life so much easier.
A pro tip: Know where you want to set up your bike before it gets delivered. We had to move our bike after it was delivered, and its heavy. Yes, there are built-in wheels that allow for easy maneuverability over flat surfaces, but even tilting it to get the wheels to engage is a two-person job. Keep this in mind when ordering your bike.
Photo: Author
And make sure that you have an outlet wherever you’re going to set it up. It plugs into your standard wall outlet, so to avoid having to traipse it around your house, scope out the right spot before you get it there.
Once it’s plugged, you just turn it on, sign in to your Aviron account, and get spinning.
Aviron Fit Bike review: My honest thoughts
What I love
It’s incredibly entertaining: I don’t work out because I enjoy it—I work out because it’s good for me. That said, this bike makes you want to ride (at least it did for me). Similar to the rowing machine, its built-in gaming features are ridiculously fun and are way more motivating than your average spin class. You can throw snowballs at yetis, race cars, or even take on other riders in head-to-head challenges. My favorite is a fishing game where you catch fish and have to pedal to land them in the boat—it’s so silly that you don’t even realize you’re breaking a sweat until you’re done playing. I found myself pushing harder, pedaling faster, and actually looking forward to my next ride just to see if I could beat my previous scores.
Photo: Author
I’m not a gamer at heart, but I do appreciate some variety in my workouts. On days when I just want to get a quick casual ride in, I’ll throw on one of the scenic rides and pedal through the virtual Norwegian Fjords. Or, when I want something more structured, I’ll ride along to one of the classes and push myself a little harder. All of this is done on the massive, crystal clear 21.5-inch HD screen (that is fully adjustable, FYI) for outstanding graphics—way better than having to squint at the TV at your local gym. Tl;dr: the membership unlocks something for every mood and is really worth the extra $24/month to keep traditional riding from getting boring.
Its feel: I wasn’t sure if the EMS-based resistance was legit or just a marketing gimmick, but after using it, I can say it’s legit. Adding or taking off resistance isn’t ever clunky—there’s no lag time, it just goes. Transitions are smooth and fluid which makes for a great user experience.
Its metrics: One of the most impressive things about the Aviron Fit Bike is how deeply it tracks your performance. The bike captures all the essentials—heart rate, calories burned, resistance levels—but it also gives you a full view of your workout history so you can see how far you’ve come (which is super satisfying and motivating!). You also earn badges for what feels like everything: Worked out three days in a row? Get a badge. Complete a class? Get a badge. Log two weeks’ worth of rides? Get a badge. Just another fun reason to keep pedaling on days when you’d rather do anything besides get on the bike. Also, while I personally don’t use it (just because I have way too many apps as is), it does connect and track your metrics via the MyAviron app.
Photo: Aviron
Its small size: I’m impressed by how small the footprint of the bike really is. Considering how big the brand’s rowing machine is—even when stood up to make room for more space—the Fit Bike is so much tinier and more sleek. Its footprint measures out at just 3.5 feet long and 2 feet wide, which is very convenient for folks who live in apartments or who are just tight on space. And it’s really not an eyesore. While I have mine in a home gym, I wouldn’t mind keeping it in, say, the corner of my bedroom or office. Bonus points for the built-in wheels, which make it relatively easy to move around if you need to switch up its location (although more on that below.)
What I don’t love
Adjusting the seat/handlebars: I’ve owned the Aviron Fit Bike for a solid two months now and I still can’t figure out how to smoothly adjust the seat and handlebars on the bike. Don’t get me wrong—it can be adjusted to fit your height and riding style, but the process isn’t as seamless as you’d hope. The knobs are a little stiff to pull out and getting the seat height just right takes more trial and error than it should. Plus, you have to be strong to fully tighten the knob back into place, otherwise, I’ve found it will rattle and not stay secure. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s one of those little annoyances that can be tricky to figure out, especially if you share the bike with other family members and plan on adjusting it a lot.
Its weight: Yes, the wheels help but this thing is sturdy. It only weighs 138 pounds but it feels so much heavier for some reason. If you do want to move it, be prepared to grab a friend to help you. This isn’t the kind of equipment you’ll want to move often, so make sure you’ve picked the perfect spot before setting it up.
The subscription requirement: Without the subscription, you’re basically left with a glorified manual mode that feels pretty lackluster compared to what the full experience offers. While the subscription content is undeniably great, it feels a little frustrating to pay a premium for the bike itself and then have to shell out for a monthly fee on top of that. It’s a commitment—financially and otherwise—and not everyone is going to love that. That said, Aviron is offering members six months free of the family membership with unlimited profiles with any purchase of a Fit Bike, Victory Treamill, or Strong Rower, which is a pretty sweet deal!
Final thoughts
With its gamified workouts, endless entertainment options, and sharp design, it’s a standout piece of equipment for anyone looking to make cardio a little less monotonous. It has some quirks, but if you’re someone who struggles to stay motivated or finds traditional workouts a chore, the Aviron Fit Bike delivers on its promise to make exercise genuinely fun. It’s an investment, yes, but for the right person, it’s one that could completely transform how you approach fitness. Just make sure you’ve got the space, the patience for setup, and the budget to go all in.
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