These thick, heavy ropes, also known as exercise ropes or muscle ropes, aren’t just for the CrossFit-inclined. They’re a great way of getting some high intensity into your workouts.

“Battle ropes form a core part of conditioning exercises with the aim to strengthen your full body including your arms, core, back, glutes and shoulders,” says personal trainer Eni Adeyemo. “I add them into my workout to raise my heart rate and keep things exciting!”

“I personally love them too,” adds Ruth Stone, personal trainer and spokesperson for Sweatband.com. “They’re so versatile, allowing you to work the whole body as well as target specific muscle groups. Because they’re heavy, you can really build strength with them but, because they also need retained tension when you use them, they require speed as well as strength.”

Full-body workout: 4 best battle rope exercises for high-intensity workouts