Fitness Fad: Ropeless skipping rope

What is it? As the name suggests, it's a skipping rope minus the rope, with digital panels where the handles usually are.

How does it work? Hold your arms out as you would while skipping and jump. Just like the rope, you can use it for lunges and jumping. The digital panels keep track of the calories burnt, the number of jumps and the time period of your workout. Some digital panels even have an audio voice-over that exhorts you to jump or sounds that mimic the flicking of a rope.

Why use it? With a digital rope, there is no danger of tripping while exercising. A digital skip also monitors your overall vitals and is easily portable. Most of the brands, including JumpSnap and Portronics, are available at Rs 1,000 onwards at most online shopping stores.