The 2 Best Types of Kettlebells You Should Buy

Weird looking piece of fitness equipment yet deliver fantastic efficiency with the incorporation of cardio and strength training – the kettlebell, is now in high demand. Thus, due to the variety in shapes and styles, choosing the perfect kettlebell is every gym lover’s top priority. So here is what to decide!

The kettlebell is inherently one of the most loved fitness tools of all time because of its compactness and the way it gives your body a great work-out. 

It can be said that the kettlebell is a perfect match for any gym setting, that’s why you can easily notice its presence at any gym, fitness center, and more specifically, personal home gyms. 

However, as the market grows, so does the creativity of a kettlebell’s construction. Among many different types and shapes, many people are now struggling to find a fit for their home space, physical condition, and budget. 

Hence, in this article, we’re going to equip you with some basic understanding of this dynamic free-weight and address the two excellent types of kettlebells that are best bought. 

What is a kettlebell anyways?

Originally from Russia since the 1700s, kettlebells are now have become a popular fitness tool over the last decade and deemed to be the trendiest equipment ever. Not only they’re versatile, efficient, but also cost-effective.

Popularized by a Russian physician Vladislav Kraevsky – the father of Olympic weight training. This equipment began to be used for leisure and competition strength athletics in Russia and Europe in the late 19^th century. Soon after that, they were taken to the U.S by a former Spetsnaz trainer, Pavel Tsatsouline, and gradually became prominent in the fitness world.  

The incredibly simple and deadly effective kettlebell has a simple structure, just a cannonball-with-a-handle which traditionally made out of the signature cast iron or steel material. 

However, due to the high demand and aspirations for the diversification of kettlebell products, not only the coatings but also the material and the shape of the Kettlebells are constantly changing. Apart from the classic cast iron, kettlebells are now also available in Vinyl Coated, Powder Coated, Rubber Coated Chrome Handle, Urethane, Cement Filled, etc.

Check the most popular kettlebell types here!

Does it belong to a home gym setting?

The reason why kettlebell is among the top-selling products and sweeping the global training community by storm is that it is ideally suited to almost any space and even takes up almost no space.

Another reason that convinces people to own a kettlebell set is because of its supremely low-cost. Compared to other gym machines or weights, you’d realize that there is no such thing as cheap that works as well as a kettlebell. 

Last but not least, a kettlebell set could be used as an addition to your current exercises or you could design your own routine with it. 

Moreover, quality constructed kettlebells made out of sturdy materials last a lifetime, which totally worth your investment. 

We would bet that you can not find an alternative that is of such high-quality and equally offers excellent value for money.

The best kettlebells to use at home

Let’s dive into the main point, so which kettlebell model should you go for?

People often say when you're facing hundreds of variations and confused about which one to choose, pick up the traditional - classic one. 

Why? 

It is because, through decades, the kettlebell has been approved and recommended by many professionals and fitness experts for its “true colors”. Any variation or addition will bring changes to the feeling of gripping and eventually the training experience. 

These can be either beneficial or detrimental for users, so when it feels too complicated, go-ahead for the long-established one would be a safe choice.

The two main types of kettlebells we recommend that work well for home fitness purposes are the classic “Russian” style made of cast iron and the “Girya” or competition style generally made of steel. Both offer exceptional efficiency and are bets on long-term durability.

View the best classic kettlebell model here!

1.      Advantages

These two models have contributed to the global reputation of the kettlebell. The greatest advantage of the classic cast iron kettlebell is its lower overall cost, which can be significantly favorable, while that of the competition is the consistent size.

What is the consistent size? 

As for the cast iron kettlebell, the heavier they are, the bigger they look. While the competition kettlebells are of the same size, regardless of weight. Consistent sizing helps the lifter to concentrate on strength development instead of having to adjust the technique to accommodate the size.

Read more about the difference between the classic kettlebell and competition kettlebell

2.      Kettlebell Features

Competition kettlebell

The out-standing and robust kettlebell features a standard shape and size regardless of the weight of the workout tool, a perfect tool for seamless single-arm movements.

Competition kettlebells are universally color-coded to signify the different weights for ease of use, so you can find easily identify the weight from a distance. Due to the unchanged size, the competition kettlebell will always rest on your forearm in the exact same position, no matter you are lifting the 10lbs or 80lbs one.  

Maintaining proper grip is an important element to succeeding at a sport. That’s the intention of the fairly wide window of the bell handle, which has more of a rectangular-shape to helps minimize grip fatigue. 

However, as the name suggests, this type of kettlebell is unlikely to perform by beginners because of the limited handle’s width. Instead, they would be better used by people who have developed their technique or advanced users and are suitable for highly technical movements.

Cast Iron Kettlebell

Want to build strength and power at a lower price? Cast Iron Kettlebell is what you need.

When it comes to the kettlebell phenomenon, everyone in the industry thinks of the signature - Cast Iron Kettlebell. 

This type of weight provides an excellent balance between durability and usability, and it is the one that you often see on commercial, gym clubs and is most likely to be chosen to equip with home gyms.

Besides, available in packages with a range of weights, the standard cast iron kettlebell is considered entry-level fitness tool in the field. With limited budgets, cast iron kettlebells would be the most valuable product you can find.

Featuring a single piece of solid metal (cast iron) constructed from a single mold with a wide V-shaped handle, the cast iron kettlebell is a durable and convenient piece of equipment to perform two-hand exercises. 

Furthermore, since this material can easily prone to rust, the majority of manufacturers are now adopting high-quality coatings for their cast iron kettlebell product lines with the goal of enhancing the product's durability, usability, and aesthetically appealing. 

One of the most prevailing coating technologies is the supreme powder coating, which economically gives the bell enough matte sand-paper-like texture to maintain a good grip with sweaty palms without needing chalk. Thus, boosting the bell's total performance, longevity, and ultimately, your training.

Read more How kettlebells are made!

Conclusion

The kettlebell is an investment for a lifetime. In the vast world of kettlebells, with different types and shapes, it can be quite daunting to choose the right item. Hope that we could help first-time kettlebell purchasers with the above outline of the two champions: Cast Iron and Competition Kettlebell.

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