WOD format · A long list, done once
CHIPPER WORKOUT
A long list of movements, usually with big rep counts, done once from top to bottom. You “chip away” at the list until it is gone.
- For time:
- 50 double-unders
- 40 wall balls
- 30 kettlebell swings
- 20 box jumps
- 10 burpees
Score: finish time, or the movement and rep you reached at the cap.
What a Chipper workout is
A chipper is a For Time workout with a twist: instead of rounds, you work through a long list exactly once. Each movement is a station, and you only move on when it is finished.
Chippers are long, often 20 to 40 minutes, and test pacing more than anything. Because you never come back to a movement, a bad start on the first station cannot be fixed later. Unless the workout says otherwise, you do the reps in order and do not partition them.
How to score and log Chipper
- Finished: record your time.
- Capped: write the movement and how many reps you got into it, for example “cap, 18 reps into the box jumps”. That makes the next attempt easy to compare.
- Splits: if you can, note the time when you finished each movement. It shows where you lose the most time.
The workout tracking guide compares the scoring of all WOD formats side by side.
Chipper strategy and tips
- Start slower than you want to. The first movement feels fresh, but going hard there costs you minutes later.
- Plan sets before you start. 50 reps are easier as 5 sets of 10 with short breaks than as one long fight to failure.
- Keep moving between stations. Walk, chalk, start. Long breaks at each station add up fast over 8 or 10 movements.
Chipper workout examples
- Filthy Fifty: 50 reps each of box jumps, jumping pull-ups, kettlebell swings, walking lunge steps, knees-to-elbows, push press, back extensions, wall balls, burpees and double-unders.
- Murph, unpartitioned: doing the 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups and 300 squats in order turns Murph into a true chipper.
- Short chipper: 40-30-20-10 of four movements, for example row calories, wall balls, kettlebell swings and burpees.
Frequently asked questions
What is a chipper workout?
A chipper is a workout with a long list of movements and high reps that you complete once, in order, for time. You chip away at the list from top to bottom.
What is the difference between a chipper and rounds for time?
In rounds for time you repeat the same short list several times. In a chipper every movement appears once, usually with a high number of reps.
Can you partition a chipper?
Usually not: a chipper is done in the order written. If a workout allows partitioning, like Murph, log how you split the reps so you can compare your times fairly.
Log your Chipper workouts in FreeWOD
FreeWOD is a free WOD tracker for iPhone and Android with Chipper built in as a workout format, next to the other common formats. Log your score with notes and RPE, save workouts as templates and compare repeat attempts. No account, no ads, your data stays on your device.