I was looking for a durable lightweight rope for the gym. While walking in the hardware store I found clothesline wire, 50 ft for $8. That's the price of a new jumping speed rope, and I can get six 8 ft ropes from this wire. Here's how.

Step 1: Materials and Tools

Clothesline wire
Two whiteboard markers
Two small wires 5 cm (2 in) each
A pair of pliers

Step 2: Preparing the Handles

Empty the whiteboard markers and remove the tips.

Step 3: Securing the Wire to the Handle

With the pliers cut the rope to the desired size, in my case 2.40 m (8 ft).
Insert the clothesline wire into the whiteboard market by the tip's hole.
Bent the clothesline wire forming a loop of about 5 cm long (2.5 in).
Secure the loop with a pice of wire.