What Kind Of Kettlebell Is Best

Paul Gonzalez
• Thursday, 12 November, 2020
• 28 min read

Kettle bell training can be an excellent way to boost your strength considerably, conditioning as well as cardio fitness and just like an adjustable dumbbell, they don’t take up a lot of space, so they are the perfect piece of equipment for a home workout too. As with all things exercise related, start out with a sensible and measured approach and you can build from there as and when your body tells you it’s time to go heavier.

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Right now the most important thing is to start incorporating from kettle bell work into your current training program to fast track those fitness results. Choosing the right kettle bell for you though can be a bit daunting, and you don’t want to splash the cash on something that’s just not suitable weight wise for the results you are looking to achieve.

As little as ten years ago your options were reasonably limited when it came to purchasing kettle bells, but these days, plenty of companies do their own versions. So let’s take a look today at some Best Kettle Bells which will you swinging your way quickly to that honed and toned physique you’ve been struggling to acquire up till now.

They are constructed from a single cast without any welded parts, and each individual weight is color-coded with a ring at the base of each handle. They feature a flat-bottomed design which makes them perfect for a range of exercises including push-ups and renegade rows as well as being easy to store.

It has an ergonomic handle that is designed to fit most hands and it feels very similar in terms of resistance. This Tone Fitness Vinyl Coated Cement Filled Kettle bell Weight is a device that enables you to achieve flexibility, strength, endurance, and stability in your muscles as well as a lifetime of general physical well-being.

It is capable of taking on every part of your major body muscles to give you that agility, poise, energy and general fulfillment. Constructed from a cast-iron molded cement coated with vinyl, its flat bottom ensures stability and guarantees the user a firm grip.

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Its workout functions include applications in snatches, squats, get-ups and other fitness endurance muscle toning exercises. It comes in a variety of weights to Improve strength, stamina, and coordination whilst increasing the lung and heart capacity.

As a result, it helps enhance agility and speed and will improve significantly cardiovascular disorders, is the preferred choice in workouts to prevent such conditions as heart attack or strokes. With its wide range of weights, the Yes4All Powder Coated Kettle bells is a professional and amateur companion, to derive the maximum from your fitness exercise and training sessions.

This little piece of equipment will boost your power, stretch, strength, and endurance and is ideal for use in swings, squats, lifting, and dead lifts. The Kettle Grip itself weighs less than a pound so is the perfect lightweight solution to back in a bag.

It’s a portable, adaptable, and economical solution and a great option for a home gym or for anyone who frequently travels. Made from vinyl leather and filled with sand, it weighs an impressive 20lbs, which is enough to give you a serious workout.

Remember that the action of using a kettle bell is far more dynamic and creates a lot more velocity and movement than working with static dumbbells so even as a slighter framed woman, you’d be surprised at what you can manage to start with versus when you first started out lifting weights. If you do know that you are committed and will want to incorporate kettle bell training into your program long term then a set of three is a good option so that you have ongoing progression and regression if you ever need it too.

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Make sure that the seams are smooth as even if you are wearing weight training gloves, uneven handle edges can be a pain and will hinder your enjoyment which will affect your performance. There is a heap of benefits that come with kettle bell training which is why they’ve risen in popularity in gyms globally as well as in home setups.

Best of all, kettle bells deliver the complete package, and by that, we mean that they improve fitness, strength as well as flexibility. It’s a ballistic and totally effective way of exercising that sees results in record time.

They also require functional movement, the kind that replicates what your body carries out on an everyday basis so again, this makes them highly practical and hugely popular. The unique shape and design of kettle bell also affect their center of gravity so in order to really complete the exercises correctly you are absolutely required to engage your core and your glutes in stabilizing your body.

Because you are involved in mostly dynamic swinging actions, kettle bell training also requires you to be very mindful of what your body is doing. While we have mentioned progression and increasing your weights and also doubling up for some exercises, the beauty of starting out with kettle bell training is that you really only do need the one, so it’s a small investment overall.

For most other types of weighted exercises, you really do need to work out with pairs, for example, dumbbells in each hand or plates either end of a barbell. Find something you love, switch things up a bit and you just know that you are going to see, feel and experience results.

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Perhaps one of the biggest concerns that people have when started out kettle bell training is hot to ensure they do it safely without risk of unwanted injury. There’s no point steering away from the truth if you do perform your exercises incorrectly you could end up putting unnecessary strain on your lower back and shoulder and perhaps also your hips and knees as there are the most vulnerable areas.

The great news though is that by following a few essential tips, you can perfect your kettle bell form and have lots of fun safely working out. Don’t be tempted to stand with your legs too far apart thinking that this will create a more solid base as it will in fact put more strain on your lower back so get into a proper stance with your feet about hip width apart and make sure you start out with a sensible weight.

The trick is to build up your strength and endurance so don’t go too heavy to start, especially while you are still honing your technique. So engage that core, lift with your hips and ensure that your spine is a nice neutral position which again will significantly help to minimize unwanted injuries.

This unique design, as distinct to a dumbbell, means that the weight is not evenly distributed and this delivers instability, creating counterbalance and the need to really focus on your core while training with this piece of equipment. A: We highly recommend, as do my professional PT’s and athletes, that you do incorporate kettle bell training into your ongoing fitness program.

Incorporating some kettle bell based exercise into your workouts is seriously going to affect your body in nothing but good ways. They require your hips and legs to generate the force and momentum of the swing while your entire core including your abs, back, and shoulder girdle are called upon to stabilize your body and control your balance and posture.

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A: The great news here is that yes, you will definitely lose weight, body fat and increase muscle mass by working out with kettle bells. The kettle bell is ideal for weight loss as its low impact and can really help to torch the fat and accelerate your results and gains.

You’ll build solid lean muscle mass and strength while at the same time giving your body a proper cardiovascular workout. There’s little wonder then than kettle bell training is loved by so many and seen as a bit of a 1-stop-shop for increasing your fat loss results and delivering definition.

Ben Coleman is our resident sports and fitness product expert who offers a wide range of information in this field. Unlike a treadmill or elliptical, kettle bells probably aren’t going to become an eyesore in the corner of your bedroom and still provide a few heart-pounding workouts.

They’re more versatile than the same old hand weights, though, so you can create an exercise regime that’s tailored to your specific fitness goals. Buying a kettle bell probably doesn’t seem that difficult, but many factors actually affect how well this equipment fits into your workout routine.

Finding the right model means knowing what materials to look for, what type of handles best meet your needs, and the proper weight to give you the best workout. There’s good reason why they’ve become such a popular workout tool in recent years.

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When you swing them, you can elevate your heart rate quickly and burn up to 20 calories per minute, which is often more than you’d do in a cardio class at the gym. The workouts utilize smooth, swinging transitions so your shoulders, elbows, and knees don’t take as much of beating as they would with jump training.

Kettle bells can be worked into a variety of exercise forms, too, so you can use them with strength and power training, as well as with traditional cardio workouts such as running. You can easily stash your kettle bells in a closet or under the bed, and still get the same intense workout you’d get from a five-minute sprint.

When the iron is cast for the kettle bells, a seam is left across the center of the handle’s underside. Higher end brands will file down the seam to create a smooth, even surface.

Inexpensive kettle bells often don’t have this seam removed, which leaves a sharp edge that can cut your skin when you grip the handle. Some exercises may require placing both of your hands around the handle, so you don’t want the fit to be too tight or uncomfortable.

While most kettle bells are made of cast-iron or vinyl-coated cast-iron, their handles are available in several types of finishes, including bare iron, enamel, powder coating, and vinyl. Bare iron provides a good grip, so you don’t have to worry about the equipment flying out of your hands.

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Powder coating has an even rougher texture, so this type of finish is a good option if you find that your hands get very sweaty during workouts. Vinyl handles are best avoided because they don’t offer a good grip and have a tendency to crack and peel.

Once you’ve chosen a kettle bell with the material, construction, and handles that you prefer, the most important question to answer is what size to get. If you want an extremely well-made kettle bell that’s comfortable to grip and will stand up to intense workouts, opt for a model that’s approximately $25 to $28.

“Exercisers experience an average heart rate of 93% maximum during a kettle bell workout.” While kettle bells can provide effective aerobic exercise during a workout, they also cause a prolonged anaerobic burn after you’ve completed your routine.

A kettle bell workout usually burns approximately 20 calories per minute, which is the equivalent of running at a six-minute mile pace. For exercise, the Shaolin Monks in China lifted large padlocks that were very similar to modern kettle bells.

However, it’s a good idea to have kettle bells in a couple of different weights so you can scale your workout up or down, depending on your goals. From a weight training perspective, kettle bells can target most of the major muscle groups.

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Depending on your routine, you can work out your back, shoulders, arms, abs, hips, glutes, obliques, and/or legs. The frequency of your routine will depend on the intensity of your workout, so it’s a good idea to consult with a trainer or fitness expert for advice.

In general, working out every other day is a good average intensity program for beginners. Its wider handle makes it easier to grip with two hands (for the classic swing move), and its smoother finish is less likely to injure your skin over time.

Dragon Door was the first company to popularize kettle bells in America, which is why the most other brands simply copy that shape down to the millimeter. The Matrix Elite looks the same at first glance, but it features a slightly wider handle that won’t pinch your pinkies in two-handed positions.

Their unique shape and functionality give them many of the strength-building benefits of dumbbells while also providing users with the opportunity to do kettle bell -specific drills that involve a lot of movement, like the swing. The closed-loop handle of a kettle bell offers users a secure grip for movements with both hands.

Dumbbells are better suited to doing squats, curls, bench press, cleans, and other exercises that have less kinetic motion. That means you can fulfill all your workout needs with one simple tool that stows easily in a closet.

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One important caveat to this endorsement of kettle bell training is that proper technique makes all the difference between effective and beneficial use and potential injury. You can also consult credible online tutorials, and many trainers will set up a Skype arrangement where you can send videos to them for feedback and coaching.

Dragon Door has the most resources in terms of kettle bell books and DVDs (at least in the “hard style” approach that I use) available. Finally, Steve Cotter is a master practitioner/teacher of competition kettle bell lifting techniques.

While many people recommend women starting with an 8-kilogram bell (about 16 pounds), I think that the two-handed lifts like squats and swings aren’t very well-served by that low weight. If you want to start modestly, my suggestion would be to get the 13-pound version of our budget pick and then order a larger, higher quality bell once you feel comfortable.

With these three, all kinds of single and double kettle bell work is easily achievable and scalable. Both of these linked pieces reiterate my earlier point about seeking credible instruction before beginning an at-home regimen.

Then there is the question about which kind of kettle bell you should buy: cast iron, competition, or adjustable. Cast-iron bells are more comfortable for two-handed grip positions, which beginners should master before moving onto the more challenging one-handed exercises.

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As it turns out, there’s not a huge amount of difference between these things because most of them borrow their design from the Dragon Door ROC. Dragon Door was the first US company to run kettle bell instructor certifications (taught by famed instructor Pavel Tsatsouline) and have mass distribution in the US (Dragon Door started selling these bells in 2001).

Dragon Door bells achieved great acclaim, but their high price point (roughly $120 each after shipping and handling, the highest in our test) invited lots of competition from other companies. CAP is another popular fitness company that makes a good bell at a lower price point.

For example, this Yes4All bell is one of the most popular models on Amazon, but its large, flat face is hard on the wrists in one-handed positions. Although much more rare, some companies compete by distinguishing their offerings from Dragon Door’s with different designs.

Perform Better at one point implemented a screw-on rubber skid plate on the bottom of their bells, but later on scrapped it due to negative customer feedback. Vinyl-covered bells were created to protect floor spaces in commercial gyms and homes, but more often, the vinyl is there to smooth over the defects of a cheaply cast bell, and they often get criticized for very uneven handles that cause hand pain and tearing.

A poorly produced handle can rip callouses off the hands during snatching, and this test is where the bells differentiated themselves. In fact, I wouldn’t use the CAP or Rogue bells for high-rep snatching because they have coarse handles and some tackiness from the painted finish.

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If you order through the company’s website and have a problem, Kettle bells USA will “make it right, period!” by sending a replacement and taking care of return shipping fees. Photo: Mark Blythe Matrix Elite kettle bell has a slightly different handle dimension and more distance from the ball part of the bell to the handle to create a larger opening for more comfortable two-handed positions.

The Matrix bell clearly outclassed the competition for two-handed work, as the smooth, e-coated handle with a wider grip was consistently easy on the hands, even when doing high repetition sets of 20-plus kettle bell swings. Even when the user advances to the one-handed moves, both two-handed swings and goblet squats should remain essential parts of a kettle bell program.

Any flaws in a kettle bell will be exposed when you use just one hand, but the attention to detail in forging a smooth, seamless handle was clearly on display with this bell. Besides the handle shape, the Matrix Elite (right) looks almost identical to the Dragon Door ROC, which costs anywhere from $30 to $50 more.

Photo: Mark BixbyAnother thing that sets the Matrix Elite apart from other kettle bells (including Kettle bells USA's own “classic” line) is the fact that it’s designed to have the same “rack” position (where the round part rests on your forearm) regardless of weight and size. Most companies use standard molds repeatedly, and inevitably, residue from previous castings creates uneven surface textures like edges or gaps.

Finally, Kettle bells USA showed awesome customer service throughout my process of testing. If you're used to standard Dragon Door ROC kettle bells (or any of its many clones), the Matrix Elite's rack position might feel strange at first, since the ball part sits higher up on the forearm by comparison.

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If you see the bell offered at full price (with no discounted shipping), wait seven to 10 days, and you should find it available more cheaply. If the Matrix Elite is unavailable, or if you just want a standard-shaped bell without the wider handle, the Perform Better First Place Kettle bell feels the same in use as the high-end Dragon Door, but costs about 25 percent less.

Like the Dragon Door and Matrix Elite, the First Place has a smooth, seamless handle, few surface defects, and a high-quality finish. While Perform Better wouldn’t divulge what process it uses, I noticed that it’s somewhere between a matte powder coat and a glossy e-coat.

Reading user reviews (see here and here) that slam performs Better for having noticeable seams on the underside of the handle or other defects isn’t helpful considering the construction specs on their bells currently. The bell I received from them was really well-made, and it showed no signs of being defective in build or user experience.

I contacted Perform Better about this discrepancy, and company reps explained that among other small changes, they’d since switched to a gravity casting process, which creates a more uniform surface, as you recall. It’s also worth noting that Perform Better frequently has sales on its kettle bells, and while it’s usually cheaper to buy Perform Better bells directly from the company, it's worth checking Amazon and Strongest before buying to find the best deal.

If budget is your bottom line, then we’d recommend the CAP Cast Iron Competition Bell. But unless you really need to save a few bucks, it’s worth investing in our top pick, since these things last forever.

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In fact, none of the five baseball player panelists said they would pay extra for any of the other bells for the basic routines they were testing with. The powder-coated CAP (left) and Rogue (center) bells are rougher than the e-coated Dragon Door (right).

Photo: Mark Blythe CAP bell has a powder-coated matte finish and a slightly gritty (though it’s evenly dispersed grit) handle to provide a good grip (though a bit on the coarser end of those we tested) and a flat bottom so it doesn’t rock when used for push-ups or rowing moves. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Dragon Door ROC Kettle bell should feel pretty good about itself.

Unfortunately for Dragon Door, other companies have been able to duplicate its design at a comparable level of quality for a lot cheaper. Interestingly, the Rogue bell has a 4.9-star rating on its website, with more than 100 reviews at the time of this guide's publication.

Chad Settler, John Forward, Carl Foster, and Mark Andes, Kettle bells: Twice the Results in Half the Time?, ACE Fitness Matters They might look like heavy teapots without a spout but kettle bells are, in fact, a very powerful tool in the fight against flab.

These compact weights are small enough to fit into even the smallest rooms and the majority of workouts require just one kettle bell, meaning you could enjoy some fat-torching training time from the comfort of your own home for less than a tenner, as long as your home has literally enough room to swing a cat (NB: don't actually swing a cat in order to ascertain this). Those venturing out into the world of kettle bells for the first time should go easy on the weight, as the grueling sessions will prove impossible if you can't lift the bloody thing above your head.

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The neoprene sleeve over the cast iron body will help keeping the floors intact too. A small pointy bit on the handle can result in a bruised palm after a grueling kettle bell swing session.

They all sport flat, non-wobble bottoms, color coded handles and an engraved logo at the front of the kettle bell. The difference is mainly felt in your wallet: while you will have to pay the premium price Tax kettle bells, the Gym reapers variety will a bit of extra money in the pocket.

Signing up for stock alerts and visiting the Gym reapers website often is highly recommended. Admittedly the Bow flex Selected 840 Kettle bell looks more like an actual kettle than a home weight, but don't let the looks deceive you.

Reasons to avoid You may have noticed that a number of dumbbell manufacturers have started offering selectable systems that negate the need to fill your house with a spread of weights. Well, Växjö has taken this idea one step further with its electronically-adjustable kettle bell system, which offers a spread of 5 kg-19kg in a singly, albeit slightly bulky, unit.

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Plus, you'll have to invest in two of these if you want the ultimate kettle bell workout (squats, two-hand overhead press etc. The king of suspension weight training has long sounded the bell for kettle bells, as the lumps of iron make the perfect companion to spruce up any dangling Suspension Trainer workout.

It also results in that lovely, flat bottom, which makes it's easier to rest the kettle bell on the floor when switching hands during an arduous squat routine. Tax has added a splash of color to the handles, making it simple to spy the correct weight if swapping between kettle bells mid-workout.

I'd say the 16 kg unit is the one to go for if you're a bloke in reasonable shape, but there's a good spread of weights, making this one piece of fitness equipment that will likely outlast the fickle New Year's resolution to shed a few pounds. Wilkerson Fitness has harnessed its many years of experience in knitting out the UK National Kettle bell Teams when designing and producing its range of superior quality 'bells.

Modern casting methods means each bell is formed out of a single piece of metal, meaning no joins or welds, while a distinct lack of cheap plastic handles ensures they come with a lifetime guarantee. Don't fret, if these prove a little daunting to the introductory kettle bell lifter you can always check out the slightly less hardcore range, which is still brilliantly constructed.

The perfect antithesis to the digital delights of the aforementioned Växjö is a good, old-fashioned selection of kettle bells. Rebel kettle bells don't come cheap, but they are engineered to last, fashioned from premium-grade Iron Ore, not scrap iron (as with cheaper alternatives) and using a one-piece cast mold to ensure the kettle bells feel well-balanced in the hand and built to last.

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The powder coated finish means they won't flake, chip or rust when covered in sweat, too. We don't know many professional kettle bell athletes, but we are pretty sure they are very aware of Gorilla Sports and its range of competition-spec swingers.

With very strict regulations on dimensions and the aperture of the window (the handle, to you and me), these solid steel numbers are really only for the very serious enthusiasts out there. Each solid steel unit is individually priced, with the weedier 12 kg model costing around £50.

Reasons to avoid It's not always a good idea to go out and blow a large sum on workout equipment on a get-fit whim. If you're new to the whole kettle bell thing, this vinyl number from Opt is a real bargain, with a cheap but substantial finish proving enough for most novice swingers.

The 10 kg maximum mass could feel a little light in time, but for those starting out, or who don't require massive heft from their 'bells, this is great. The compact size makes it perfect for stashing away at home for the odd impromptu session.

Reasons to avoid The vinyl coating swaddling these cast iron weights is a handy addition for anyone worried about damaging their parquet, yet the unit remains robust and a much more long-term option than cheaper all-vinyl offerings. Body power also offers a very impressive range of weights, with the option to package them up into a small set of, say, 6 kg-12kg increments.

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That's not a huge maximum weight, obviously, but it allows lighter users to switch between high-resistance and low-resistance/high rep workouts with ease, for not much money. The vinyl coating may feel cheaper than the cast iron and steel suggestions on this list but all three of these will set you back half the price of a single kettle bell from some other brands.

It's simply a solid lump for lifting above your head while screaming like a hungry caveman. It's also one of the cheaper 16 kg weights on the market, making it very tempting to splash out on a couple to create a pretty awesome home gym set-up.

Four testers were chosen (two females and two males), all of whom had a good amount of experience in the use of kettle bells. We then tallied the scores from the three raters on each of the following categories: appearance, use for the swing, value, durability, and use for the snatch and clean.

Thus, there are some omissions such as Dragon Door’s kettle bells, which used to be known for excellent quality (I used older ones a few years which were great). We also omitted the cheap, no-name brand kettle bells that we had accumulated over time (and usually sat in the back corner as no one wants to use them).

They have a great surface that holds chalk for competition-style usage, but the handle also provides enough grip. The color stripe around the handle allows for quick identification of the weight.

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The Again Faster and Perform Better kettle bells were at the bottom of the appearance list as they look quite similar, except the rubber plate on the bottom of the Perform Better bell (these are the kettle bells Clark Kent would use; mild-mannered but effective). Many people just learning the kettle bell use it primarily for a two-handed swing movement or some sort of dead lift.

The Valery Federico is a competition-style kettle bell and has a handle made for one-handed movements. The Rogue kettle bell is a bit rougher and might be easier to keep a grip on when hands get sweaty.

It has a notch on the top where the forearm sits, which just calls for you to clean it when you take it out of the box. It was created for competition-style lifts where a person is performing many cleans or snatches, and as such it excels in this category.

The Perform Better and Again Faster kettle bells matte finish may feel good initially, but the smoothness can become almost sticky and lead to ripped callouses. The Perform Better kettle bells were a bit higher priced, but there are often better deals ($89.99 + $37.14 shipping for a 24KG).

The Valery Federico kettle bell ($221.00 with free shipping for a 24KG) is a high-end model and the cost reflects it. Again, if Bruce Wayne were equipping his garage with kettle bells, cost would not be an issue.

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The Valery Federico kettle bell is made to be sanded and painted. Summary : A competition style kettle bell with great looks and durability.

Cons : A competition style does not allow for two handed grip; expensive. Cons : Matte finish can be tough on grip, rubber plate on bottom can snag ground.

With the explosion of kettle bell training over the last 10 years there are now many shapes and sizes available to buy. Common kettle bell exercises involve swings, lifts, and presses, but unlike weightlifting or powerlifting, kettle bell training can be performed bilaterally and unilaterally in all planes.

The Single Arm Dead lift exercise can be performed with any type of kettle bell : As you can see from the competition kettle bell image above the handle is much smaller and is squarer in design.

The advantage of these types of kettle bells is that your hand doesn’t slide around due to the limited space plus you can get used to the size even when the weight changes. If you choose to go for the cast iron kettle bells then there is still a few more things that you need to know before you buy.

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Make sure you don’t buy a kettle bell with a handle that’s too thick. A kettle bell with a handle that is too thick is going to quickly tire out your forearms and finishing repetitions of an exercise can be very tough.

The bottom of the kettle bell should have a natural flat but it shouldn’t have an attached rubber or plastic base. Bases can be good for preventing marks on your floor but unfortunately they’re going to really dig into arm and into your body when you’re using the kettle bell.

The fourth thing is to make sure that there are no sharp edges on the kettle bell handle. Look out for kettle bells that have sharp bits of paint and also check where the handle meets the body that there are no small nicks that can cut into your hands.

Avoid a kettle bell that’s a round ball with a big, sharp handle stuck on the top There should be a nice smooth bit of continuity with the kettle bell from the body into the handle.

If the handle spacing is too small you’re going to find it really digs into your wrists when in the racked position or overhead. If it’s too big, then the kettle bell will lie too far down on the arm and it’s going to dig into your forearm.

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It seems to be trendy to coat kettle bells in vinyl or plastic to avoid marking floor etc. However, due to the huge rise in popularity there are now many weight sizes in-between the ones listed above.

At a later date more experienced kettle bell practitioners may work on overhead presses with the 32 kg plus may need to bridge the gap between the 16 kg and 24 kg with a 20 kg for single-handed exercises. I have to say that I’ve learned the hard way and bought lots of kettle bells that turned out to be completely useless.

Here are one brand that I have consistently used over the past few years without any problems, they are very reasonably priced and available on Amazon.com in the USA: For those based in the UK, head on over to Wilkerson Fitness and check out their black series of kettle bells.

Cast Iron kettle bells are the most diverse and excellent for beginners and almost anyone not interested in going in to competition. If you are more advanced and want to focus on purely single-handed exercises than the competition kettle bell may be for you.

I’ve also outlined above what size kettle bell women should use and also the recommend starting weights for men too. Tim Peterson, Chief Instructor for Titrant, has created a great post for us about selecting your kettle bell.

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Kettle bells are a great tool, that can be used for strength work, hypertrophy, conditioning, power, and endurance. Cast iron, competition/sport, steel, rubber coated, soft-sand filled, adjustable, medicine ball-like, and more.

All kettle bells are cast in a mold, what happens after can be different depending on the company. After you read about which type of kettle bell you need, we have a great post about determining which weight you need to train with HERE.

Depending on whom you ask, you will get different folk stories of what they originally were made from, and what they were used for, as well as which countries claim ownership. The competition kettle bell is the same size and dimension across the weight range, and is made out of steel.

The handle is flat across on top, and joins the body of the kettle bell vertically. Some brands are an 8 kilogram shell filled with fillers like sawdust and ball bearings to achieve the desired weights, this potentially can become loose and rattle over time or lose balance.

More durable competition bells are made from a single piece of steel, cast precisely to the specific weight. There are ballistics such as Swings, Cleans and Snatches, and grinds, such as Goblet and Double Front Squats, Presses, and Get-Ups.

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Once beyond the learning phase, the curved handle of the cast-iron kettle bell is the clear winner for swings. As a result, if the kettle bell ’s contact each other on the way up or down they will have a tendency to bounce off of each other like basketballs.

The last thing you want is for the kettle bells to bounce away from each other on the way down and hit the user on the legs. Another item to consider is that when hiking two large kettle bell ’s through the legs, regardless of weight, the stance used needs to be wide enough to allow room for them to pass.

After you read about which type of kettle bell you need, we have a great post about determining which weight you need to train with HERE. More importantly, and again something that affects beginners more than experienced lifters, is that the larger size body rests on the meat of the forearm rather than the bone protrusion of the wrist, which is right where the smaller body of a lighter kettle bell will sit.

Both of these surgeries led me to experiment with competition style kettle bells, which contacted my arm below these sensitive areas. After you read about which type of kettle bell you need, we have a great post about determining which weight you need to train with HERE.

If you are a gym, I would strongly recommend a full set of both cast-iron and competition style kettle bells. After you read about which type of kettle bell you need, we have a great post about determining which weight you need to train with HERE.

kettlebell beginner exercises workout weight
(Source: www.pinterest.com)

We recommend you read more about receiving a quick, free, dynamic kettle bell workout every week you can click below. Tim Peterson is the Chief Instructor and Director of Content and Curriculum for Titrant, a revolutionary fitness ranking system based on standardized strength and conditioning tests utilized currently in over 1,000 gyms worldwide in more than 25 countries.

Tim has a MS and BA in Kinesiology, and has taught High School Weightlifting for over a decade. He uses his experiences in and observations of the fitness industry as inspiration for his writing, which appears on the Titrant website, as well as guest posts for Dan John, Kettle bell Kings, and others.

For more of Tim’s writing as well as more information about Titrant, a unique challenge that is both standardized yet personal due to tests based upon gender, age, and body weight, visit www.fitranx.com. Kettle bell Kings creates new workout each week which you can receive in your email inbox.

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1 www.simplefitnesshub.com - https://www.simplefitnesshub.com/how-to-make-homemade-kettlebells/
2 gymperson.com - https://gymperson.com/make-diy-kettlebell/
3 www.endofthreefitness.com - https://www.endofthreefitness.com/how-to-build-a-kettlebell-in-36-seconds/