Kettlebells are a proven way to dominate your workouts. Here’s a breakdown of the best kettlebells for athletes and gymgoers. Read our list and get to swinging.
Kettlebells have become wildly popular in recent years.
They are also one of the best things you can add to your home gym. They are small in size, affordable, and require a minimal amount of workout space.
Kettlebells are endlessly versatile.
They work the whole body, improves core strength, and builds lean muscle. Athletes can use them for ballistic training, developing explosive hip power. Gymgoers can use it as strength conditioning and/or cardiovascular exercise.
Kettlebell swings are low-impact, making them an excellent alternative to traditional cardio exercises like running. Doing KB swings are also super affordable and don’t require a ton of space to set-up.
Don’t let the odd shape and old-school design fool you—the humble kettlebell is a powerful weapon for your home workouts.
Here are the best kettlebells for every kind of athlete. Read our list, match up the kettlebell to your home gym and workout goals and get to swinging.
KHTO Competition Kettle Bells
The KHTO Kettle Bells are competition-grade bells. Welded without seams, they are made with corrosion-resistant steel that has been baked to prevent rusting.
The inside of the bells are filled with cement and sand, and the bells are color-coded to designate weight.
The KHTO Kettle Bells are produced in weights from 10 to 50-pounds. The light ones are the same size as the heavy ones, with the bottom of the kettlebell wrapped with a vinyl coating to protect your floors.
Amazon Basics Cast Iron Kettlebells
Amazon has steadily infiltrated the fitness market with their own line of gear, marketed under the Amazon Basics moniker.
The Amazon Basics Cast Iron Kettlebell are a no-frills kettlebell made purely of indestructible cast iron. The surface of the KB’s are painted to give them a smooth and slip-free grip.
These kettlebells are well-priced (the 60-pound model pictured retails for just over $80) and exceptionally well-reviewed, with nearly nine thousand five-star reviews.
Available in a wide variety of weights (10 to 60-pounds) the Amazon Basics Cast Iron Kettlebell will work your entire body in the comfort of your home gym.
Nordic Lifting Kettlebell
Looking for the heaviest of the heavy-duty kettlebells? And also want something that is going to keep swingin’ year after year?
Welp, Nordic Lifting produces a series of extremely durable cast-iron kettlebells that go all the way up to 97-pounds in weight.
The exterior is painted with a powder-coated finish to keep the iron from rusting or corroding and they are cast in one-piece for maximum durability and are color-coded by weight options.
Everyday Essentials All-Purpose Kettlebell
Kettlebells need to securely gripped in your hands while also comfortable. This isn’t always the case, as some handles on KBs are too narrow, or the “window” between the handle and the bell too small.
The Everyday Essentials All-Purpose Kettlebell has a wide variety of weight options, from for 5 to 50 pounds, and the handle sits comfortably and securely in your hands through all of your swings and presses.
A flattened bottom keeps the kettlebell upright between rounds and workouts, while the vinyl cover lists the weight and improve the aesthetics of what can often be a dull-looking piece of gym equipment.
Sold in singles, Everyday Essentials backs their bells with a two-year warranty.
CAP Barbell Cast Iron Competition Kettlebell
Featuring a wide and thick handle for a secure and slip-free grip, the CAP Barbell Competition Kettlebells check all of the boxes for a superior kettlebell.
Welded seamlessly—seams on the handles are the worst—and made with cast iron, these kettlebells are made for functional training, whether you are working on improving your squat, mastering the pistol squat, or simply want to improve the power and strength in your posterior chain.
Weight options vary based on availability, but when fully stocked they run as high as 88-pounds, making it one of the few kettlebells on the market at that higher weight limit.
Body Glove Kettlebell Weights
The cast-iron kettlebell isn’t for everyone. Body Glove—yup, that body glove probably better known for surf and swim apparel—makes a kettlebell that is constructed of plastic.
There are some advantages to this.
For starters, they are a breeze to clean—simply wipe down the kettlebell when you are finished working out. And second, the plastic will never scuff or stain your floor, making the Body Glove Kettlebell perfect for beginner lifters who work out inside the home on carpet or hardwood.
This type of construction does have its limitations with weight, however, available in a range of 5 to 15-lb sizes.
TRX Training Kettlebell
TRX is a popular maker of fitness gym equipment. Their TRX straps have long been one of my home gym essentials and the TRX Slam Ball is one of my favorite pieces of workout gear for building speed and explosiveness.
Kettlebell swings are also an exercise that develops ballistic speed, and the TRX Training Kettlebell is perfectly designed for all of your KB training needs. Made with an extra-wide and thick handle, the slip-free cast-iron sits comfortably in your hands, even long into your workout.
A flat bottom makes storing between workouts simple, and TRX also includes a ton of educational training content with their products, giving you lots of ideas for implementing the kettlebell into your workouts.
Weight options start at 6kg (13.2-lbs) up to 40kg (88-lbs).
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