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Rope Climb being performed with proper form
Rope Climb demonstration video — proper form for the full movement.

How to do a Rope Climb

Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology

About this exercise

Sets Logged
17,521
Popularity Rank
1009th
Difficulty
Advanced
Back Strength
62 mSCORE 56th
Equipment Required
  • Photo of Rope
    Rope

Workouts with Rope Climb

    Target muscles worked

    Primary Muscles
    Back
    Secondary Muscles
    Shoulders, Forearms, Biceps

    Instructions for Proper Form

    Rope Climb is a challenging, compound exercise that primarily targets the upper body muscles including back, biceps, and shoulders. It also requires substantial core engagement for stability and control. This exercise helps develop grip strength, coordination, and overall upper body strength. Ideal for those looking to enhance their climbing skills or add a full-body movement to their routine.

    1. Grab ahold of the rope tightly with your right arm over head.
    2. Jump up and grab the rope with your left arm at the highest point so that your right arm is in front of your chest and your left arm is overhead.
    3. Wrap the rope around your right foot and pinch the rope with both feet.
    4. Pull your left elbow down towards your side to raise your body as you simultaneously raise your right arm overhead and grip the rope and again pinch the rope with your feet.
    5. Continue alternating your arms until you’ve reached the top before returning to the floor.

    Sets & Reps Calculator

    Average Rope Climb standards by male, female, gender, weight, age and height

    Use this calculator to see Fitbod's possible first recommendations for you. This would be your starting line, based on more than 4.5 billion logged sets from 1.1 million users.

    • beginner
      3
      sets
      5
      reps
      1 Set Max
      6
      reps
    • intermediate
      4
      sets
      6
      reps
      7
      reps
    • advanced
      4
      sets
      7
      reps
      9
      reps

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    Alternatives & Variations to Rope Climb

    Filter By

    1. 1. Dumbbell Row

      Photo of Dumbbell Row being performed
      99.9 mSCORESWAPPED 24 TIMES

      This compound movement primarily targets the back, but also hits the shoulders and biceps, as well as requiring some core activation for stability. By bracing yourself on the flat bench, you can position your torso parallel to the ground, without needing specific equipment. This is a great exercise with or without limited equipment, and a staple in many back workouts.

    2. 2. Lat Pulldown

      Photo of Lat Pulldown being performed
      100 mSCORESWAPPED 24 TIMES

      This compound exercise primarily targets the back, but also hits the shoulders and biceps. The movement itself is based on a Pull Up, however, by locking your legs into place, you can add significantly more stability to the movement making it easier to complete a rep, as well as getting control over the resistance. This exercise can be easily adapted to meet your needs with different handles.

    3. 3. Renegade Row

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      33.7 mSCORESWAPPED 19 TIMES

      Renegade Row is a compound exercise that primarily targets your back, shoulders, and core. The movement involves holding a plank position with a dumbbell in each hand and performing a row on each side. This exercise adds instability from the plank, forcing you to engage your core for stability while performing the rows. It's great for developing overall strength and functional fitness.

    4. 4. Pull Up

      Photo of Pull Up being performed
      93.2 mSCORESWAPPED 18 TIMES

      Pull Ups are compound, bodyweight exercise that primarily target the back, but also hits the shoulders and biceps. While this exercise does have a decently high barrier to entry, it can be easily adapted to match your current conditioning with weighted or assisted variations. This is an excellent exercise for building functional strength and body control.

    5. 5. Dumbbell Bent Over Reverse Fly

      Photo of Dumbbell Bent Over Reverse Fly being performed
      81.9 mSCORESWAPPED 16 TIMES

      Dumbbell Bent Over Reverse Fly is an isolation exercise that primarily targets the posterior deltoids (back of the shoulder). The use of dumbbells helps prevent compensating for strength discrepancies between sides. Leaning forward during the exercise allows for better isolation of the targeted shoulder muscles while also recruiting some muscle activation in the upper back.

    6. 6. Bent Over Barbell Row

      Photo of Bent Over Barbell Row being performed
      97.1 mSCORESWAPPED 14 TIMES

      Bent Over Barbell row is a compound movement that primarily targets your back, but also hits your shoulders, traps, and biceps. The use of a barbell adds more stability to this movement compared to something like dumbbells which can help you focus on exerting strength rather than stabilizing the movement. It’s a great exercise for building strength, and can be a way to start learning more advanced exercises like Olympic Lifts.

    7. 7. Battle Ropes

      Photo of Battle Ropes being performed
      82.1 mSCORESWAPPED 13 TIMES

      Battle Ropes are a high intensity compound movement that target a wide range of muscle groups throughout the body, but primarily hit your shoulders, arms, and core. They are a fast paced, explosive exercise that can be used for cardio, building muscle, and developing power.

    8. 8. Rope Climb

      Photo of Rope Climb being performed
      67.4 mSCORESWAPPED 13 TIMES

      Rope Climb is a challenging, compound exercise that primarily targets the upper body muscles including back, biceps, and shoulders. It also requires substantial core engagement for stability and control. This exercise helps develop grip strength, coordination, and overall upper body strength. Ideal for those looking to enhance their climbing skills or add a full-body movement to their routine.

    9. 9. V-Bar Pulldown

      Photo of V-Bar Pulldown being performed
      90 mSCORESWAPPED 12 TIMES

      The V-Bar Pulldown is a compound exercise targeting the upper back, specifically the latissimus dorsi, with added emphasis on the middle back and biceps. Using a V-Bar allows for a neutral grip, which can reduce shoulder strain and increase the focus on the lats over the standard bar pulldown. This variation is particularly beneficial for those looking to enhance grip strength and provide a more comfortable wrist position, potentially allowing for heavier lifts and increased muscle engagement.

    10. 10. Gorilla Rows

      Photo of Gorilla Rows being performed
      80.1 mSCORESWAPPED 12 TIMES

      Gorilla Rows are a compound exercise that primarily targets the back, but also hits the shoulders, biceps, and traps. By alternating sides after each rep, you give your muscles a brief moment to recover in the middle of your set, while also allowing you to focus your attention on the side that’s performing the movement. The posture this exercise puts you in can help you develop functional strength outside of just the rowing movement as well.