Walk into a sports store and you'll see 47 different ropes. Most of it is marketing. Here's what actually matters.

For Beginners: Go Beaded or PVC

Plastic segments on a cord. Slower, more forgiving, great feedback. You can hear and feel where the rope is. Perfect for learning.

Plastic-coated cable. Slightly faster than beaded, still controllable. The most common type.

Avoid for Now

Speed ropes - Thin cable, super fast. Zero forgiveness. When you mess up (and you will), it stings. Great later, frustrating now.

Weighted ropes - Heavy handles or thick cables. Good for conditioning once you have technique. Too early and you'll develop bad habits.

Cotton/cloth ropes - The nostalgic playground kind. Too light, tangle easily, wear out fast. Skip them.

Adjustable length - Essential. You'll need to size it to your height.
Comfortable handles - Foam or rubber grip. Smooth plastic gets slippery when you sweat.
Ball bearings - Smooth rotation in the handles. Cheap ropes skip and catch.

€10-20 gets you a solid beginner rope. €30-50 for quality that lasts years. Anything under €5 is garbage.

Coach Joaquín's recommendation: "Start cheap, learn the basics, then upgrade when you know what you want."

Don't overthink it. A basic beaded or PVC rope with adjustable length is all you need to get started. Upgrade later when you know your style.