Speed rope or weighted rope—which should I buy first?

Across specialist jump-rope subreddits, the consensus is that beginners benefit from a slightly heavier PVC cord (around 5–6mm) because the added feedback helps you feel the rope's position. A pure speed cable rewards good technique but punishes errors. Weighted ropes (1 lb and up) are better thought of as a shoulder/conditioning tool layered on top of a regular rope, not a replacement.