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Are you wondering if adjustable kettlebells any good?
Adjustable kettlebells are perfect for home gyms with limited space or those who travel and want to take make their workouts mobile. It allows for a full body workout with only one piece of equipment, making it the ultimate minimalist workout. It's also a huge money saver compared to the alternative which is a full set of kettlebells.
Are there any cons to adjustable kettlebells?
Adjustable kettlebells do have some cons, for instance many adjustable kettlebells on the market have a fairly limited weight range. Meaning you may need to buy extra kettlebells after a certain level of progression. Also, many adjustable kettlebells are a little awkward or time consuming to change weights on and some are not standard shaped, making certain exercises difficult or impossible to perform.
However, in this article I'll show you how to avoid these common pitfalls and how to select the absolute best adjustable kettlebell for you.
The 3 Main kinds of Adjustable Kettlebells
The current adjustable kettlebells on the market today can be understood based on their overall shape. Here we'll go over the 3 main types and why you would or would not want to invest them based on your specific needs.
Competition Shaped Adjustable Kettlebells
Competition shaped bells are easily my favorite, due to the fact that they are all one standard size and shape. This means that the skills you learn at one weight will transfer identically to kettlebells of another brand or weight, as long as they are competition style.
In terms of competition adjustable kettlebells, it's been a long wait for some quality options to be available. Luckily the market is finally catching up to the demand and we're seeing some really well-designed adjustable kettlebells for the first time. However, there are two that currently stand out in my mind.
#1. The Wild Man Kettlebell from Bells of Steel
This kettlebell has more weight adjustments than any other kettlebell on the market that I'm aware of, with 41 different potential weights ranging from 26 lbs (12kg) to 70 lbs (32kg). Designed by Mark Wildman of Wildman Athletica , trainer of many Hollywood stars, to meet his training needs while traveling around the world. The result is probably the most versatile adjustable kettlebell on the planet.
Pros:
Most adjustable kettlebell on the market (18 different settings or 41 with 13kg expansion pack).
Very wide weight range (26-70lbs/12-32kg).
Adheres to competition shape standards.
Very mobile full body workout option
Smooth powder coat so hands won't get snags and kettlebell won't rust
Cons:
Kettlebell has to be opened up with provided Allen key in order to change weight and this can take 1-2 minutes each time.
Have to buy the 13 kg expansion pack to get the full versatility of the product.
Who is this kettlebell ideal for.
This is the kettlebell I would recommend to anyone who wants to progress long term with kettlebells but doesn't want to buy a whole set. I would also recommend this to anyone who finds themselves traveling a lot. If you're interested in this kettlebell, it can be found at the Bells of Steel site, click the button below to head straight to the product page.
#2. The Apollo Series Kettlebells from Pro Kettlebells
This kettlebell is probably the most innovative new kettlebell on the market. Prokettlebells.com has taken the traditional competition style shape and tweaked it slightly, adding a "nose" on the side of the kettlebell which creates a pocket for the arm to rest on either side. The reason for this is that kettlebells often have a steep learning curve and a common complaint is bruised wrists and forearms from using the wrong form. This kettlebell solves this by guiding the arm perfectly into place with the pockets on either side of the nose. It's literally fool proof and makes for the most comfortable kettlebell I've ever used.
They've also taken the bottom of the kettlebell out, revealing the hollow core so that magnetic weights can be placed inside and used to adjust the kettlebell. This allows you to adjust the kettlebell up to 4.4lbs higher. Meaning you can use this kettlebell for longer before needing to get a larger one as you progress.
Pros:
Most comfortable and ergonomic kettlebell on the market.
Adjustable magnetic weights are easy and quick to use.
Adheres to competition shape standards.
Very mobile workout option.
Smooth gloss steel finish is easy on hands.
Cons:
Magnetic weights only allow adjustments of up to 4.4lbs.
Have to buy the magnetic weight expansion separate.
Who is this kettlebell ideal for.
This is the kettlebell I would recommend for someone who is somewhat new to kettlebells, but serious about wanting to progress in them as this would make the learning curve much easier do to the ergonomic shape. Likewise, anyone who finds kettlebells a little painful on the wrists and forearms is likely to really enjoy the comfort of this product. If you're interested in this kettlebell, it can be found at the prokettlebell site, click the button below to head straight to the product page.
Hardstyle Shaped Adjustable Kettlebells
Hardstyle kettlebells are usually cast-iron kettlebells that do not adhere to a standard shape. The downside to this is that kettlebells can often sit against the wrist and forearm in improper positions, causing bruising. It also means that your form will have to adjust to a new shape and handle size every time you try a different kettlebell.
However, they are also the most common kettlebells and usually the cheapest. So, they make a great cost-effective option, especially if you don't plan to progress to some of the more advanced kettlebell skills. There are two kettlebells in this category I've found easy to use and fairly versatile, especially compared to the alternatives currently available on the market.
#1. The Rep Fitness Adjustable Kettlebell from rep fitness
This kettlebell is probably one of the easiest to adjust weights on that I've ever used, especially in the hardstyle category. You simply turn the knob on the top of the kettlebell to the desired weight and lift the kettlebell up. Though it's only adjustable from 20-40lbs.
It's also has a decent shape and feels pretty comfortable compared to a lot of the competitors. The powder coat over the handle is somewhat rough though. Some people like this because it provides extra grip, but it can also wear down the palms of your hands pretty quick if you're doing high reps.
Pros:
Very quick and simple weight adjustment.
Good shape and comfort.
Easily mobile.
Powder coated so it won't rust.
Cons:
Expensive compared to many other hardstyle options on the market.
Adjustment knob is plastic.
Only adjustable up to 40lbs.
Who is this kettlebell ideal for.
This kettlebell is for someone who really values their time and ease of use but doesn't need a heavy kettlebell. It has a decent enough shape to allow for most advanced kettlebell skills and would be great for a home gym. This kettlebell can be found on amazon, you can click the button below to go straight to the product page.
#2. The Heavy-Duty Adjustable Kettlebell from Apex
This was actually the first adjustable kettlebell I ever owned. It's not expensive at all, is adjustable up to 50 lbs and has a decent enough shape to allow for all the basic kettlebell lifts.
As a side note, because it works with standard sized weight plates you can actually put larger weights on it and take it past the 50lbs limit. However, this does make the plates stick out of the side of the kettlebell so it's really only good for things like kettlebell swings, where the plate won't get in your way.
Pros:
Most cost-effective option on list.
Decent shape and comfort.
Easily mobile.
Powder coated so it won't rust.
Can be loaded up to 50lbs and more for certain exercises.
Cons:
Adjusting the weight does take a few minutes.
Kettlebell is a little awkward for certain movements.
Handle is really wide, can make swings feel a little awkward.
Who is this kettlebell ideal for.
This kettlebell is for someone who is looking for a cost-effective option and needs the ability to go up to 50lbs. This kettlebell can often be found in store at Dick's sporting goods or online at amazon. Click the button below to be taken directly to the product page.
Alternative Shaped Adjustable Kettlebells
These are adjustable kettlebells that come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but don't adhere to the competition or hardstyle shapes. This is often due to the fact that by altering the shape you can make room for adjustable components you couldn't otherwise with the traditional shapes. The downside is that many of the traditional kettlebell lifts will be out of the question as they rely on the traditional shapes.
However, these kettlebells are often easily adjustable and will still work fine for simple exercises like swings and overhead presses. Below are two of the best kettlebells in this category on the market today.
#1. The SelectTech 840 Adjustable Kettlebell from Bowflex
This kettlebell comes from Bowflex, and while largely plastic, does seem to have a rather sturdy design. Its real strength is its ease of adjustment and its ability to adjust down to a low weight (8-40lbs).
It's long and awkward shape makes it difficult to use for many advanced kettlebell skills (clean and press, snatch) but it can still be used in many of the basic movements fairly comfortably (swings, front squats).
Pros:
Reputable brand.
Very easy and quick adjustment.
Easily mobile.
Wide range of weight adjustments (8-40lbs).
Can be loaded for smaller weights.
Cons:
Awkward shape makes it inappropriate for advanced movements.
Largely made of plastic.
Only loads up to 40lbs.
Who is this kettlebell ideal for.
This kettlebell would be ideal for women or someone who doesn't plan on using large weights and enjoys its ease of adjustment. However, because of the shape it would exclude those who want to learn more advanced exercises. This kettlebell can be found on the bowflex site and on amazon. Click the button below to be taken directly to the product page.
#2. The Powerblock Adjustable Kettlebell from Rogue Fitness
This kettlebell comes in two sizes, one that adjusts from 18-35lbs and a larger version which adjusts from 35-62lbs. These kettlebells are similar to the bowflex kettlebell in shape and come with the same drawbacks (difficult to use for more advanced exercises). It's fairly easy to adjust these, as all you have to do is pull a sliding pin and lift.
They are made of steel and seem to be pretty durable, plus they come with a 5 year warranty just in case something was to happen. However, it was a little odd that Rogue chose to put a simple sticker on the front, as it seems like it's likely to peel off at some point.
Pros:
5-year warranty
Easy and quick adjustment.
Easily mobile.
Adjusts up fairly heavy (62lbs)
Solid steel construction
Cons:
Awkward shape makes it inappropriate for advanced movements.
Requires 2 kettlebells to get the full range of weights
Who is this kettlebell ideal for.
The larger of these two kettlebells would make a good adjustable option for swings for most men, as it's in a good weight range for that exercise and it's shape wouldn't be an issue. The set of two could make a good home gym option for those who don't wish to progress to any advanced movements. This kettlebell can be found on the Rogue fitness site, click the button below to be taken directly to the product page.
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