How to Choose A Kettlebell for Your Home Gym

Kettlebells are an excellent addition to any home workout routine.

It’s one of the best pieces of equipment you can add to your home gym! 

It provides a full-body workout that can help you in building strength, improve cardiovascular endurance, and increase flexibility.

But how do you know which one is right for you when there are so many different kettlebell sizes and weights to choose from?

If you’re looking to get a kettlebell for your home gym and are overwhelmed by the options, here’s a quick overview of the different Bells of Steel kettlebells to help you select the best kettlebell for your home workout routine.

We’ll also discuss factors like weight, handle size, and material and provide key insights that could match different fitness goals.

Let’s dive into it!

Bells of Steel has three different types of kettlebells.

• Competition Style Kettlebells
• Powder Coated Kettlebells
• Adjustable Kettlebells

Competition kettlebells, also known as “Pro Grade Kettlebells,” are made of steel rather than iron, giving them a slight durability advantage over cast iron kettlebells.

It has a superior surface finish and excellent dimensional accuracy because it is gravity cast in one piece and does not have any welding.

The 10KG – 32KG and 48KG Competition Kettlebells have a 35mm diameter handle and a 60MM window, which is the required international size.

While the starter ones of 4, 6, and 8 kg have a 58 mm window and a 34 mm handle diameter to help beginners become acclimated to using the kettlebell before progressing on to competition sizes.

Since these derive from kettlebell competitions worldwide, the main thing about these is that they are the same size, regardless of weight and shape.

Instead of changing the technique to fit various kettlebell sizes, a lifter can concentrate on strength gainz – big props to consistent sizing. 😉

Powder-coated kettlebells are well-liked by athletes interested in general fitness because they come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and weights to accommodate a wide range of people and lifting preferences. 

Aside from the coating, the powder-coated kettlebell’s handle is color coded. They’re extremely helpful for quickly determining the weight from a distance.

The powder coating provides an improved texture that is perfect for maximizing our grip and holds chalk better than any other kettlebell style, which also helps to maintain a strong grip on the kettlebell.

The Adjustable Kettlebell is ergonomically identical to the Competition (Pro-grade) Kettlebell. This equipment allows you to adjust the weight from 12kg-32kg in 1 and 2kg increments. 

You can save money and space by using this excellent exercise equipment. Although it’s not the easiest to change, it’s very compact as you can easily progress depending on your kettlebell weight needs. 

You can also check out our blog post about How Adjustable Kettlebells Work.

For the most part, kettlebells are now mainstream fitness items, and the powder-coated kettlebell is used for various exercises. 

Kettlebell sport (also known as girevoy sport), on the other hand, is a type of kettlebell lifting that emphasizes strength and endurance. “Endurance weightlifting” is the best way to describe it.

Lifters who compete complete as many counted reps of a specific kettlebell lift as possible in a specified amount of time without setting the kettlebells down.

The traditional duration is 10 minutes; however, depending on the organization and competition, there are events with different lengths, such as 5-minute sprints, 10-minute sets, 30-minute half-marathons, and 60-minute marathon sets.

A kettlebell sport competition includes three traditional kettlebell lifts: jerk, snatch, and long cycle.

Not all kettlebells are built the same, and due to the popularity of kettlebells, there are numerous other buying considerations to keep in mind when picking the best kettlebell for yourself.

If you have large hands and plan to do a lot of kettlebell swings with two hands, a wider handle/window is a better option for you.

A wider handle is great for double-hand swings, but that’s about it; anything single-hand, which is really most exercises, makes the width of the handle very uncomfortable.

When pressing hefty weights overhead, a thicker handle provides a larger surface to distribute pressure within the palm, potentially making handle pressure less painful.

Competition kettlebell handles and windows are smaller because they are designed for one-handed exercises in kettlebell competitions.

The handle of a competition kettlebell is more rectangular in shape. In contrast, the powder-coated kettlebell has a V-shaped design. 

Although the V-shaped handle allows certain grips easier, the same exercises can be performed comfortably with different grips using the competition kettlebell.

All coatings are intended to provide a protective layer on the outside of the bell to help prevent chipping, scuffing, corrosion, and rusting.

Powder-coated kettlebells are the most durable and widespread fitness equipment in commercial gyms.

Vinyl coatings conceal flaws in surface quality and are aesthetically appealing. They are best known for their bright colors and eye-catching designs.

Paint is another option for kettlebell coating. Although it is aesthetically pleasing and can be customized for the user, the paint is prone to chipping over time, which leads to corrosion and rusting.

Many people like the kettlebell colors too.

Color coding kettlebells originated in competitive kettlebell lifting, where there are international standards for specific or different weights, but it is also an easy way to determine weight options.

• Black – 6kg
• Pink – 8kg
• Blue – 12kg
• Yellow – 16kg
• Purple 20kg
• Green – 24kg
• Orange -28kg
• Red – 32kg
• Gray – 36kg
• White – 40kg
• Silver – 44kg
• Gold – 48kg

If you run a gym, color coding your kettlebells is a great way to direct customers to the kettlebell they should pick without having them look through all the bells.

Colors provide an aesthetic feel too. It can be intimidating for some people to look at a black cannonball iron, but a colorful one is not so intimidating. 

All kettlebell exercises are based on full-body movements. 

Beginner women start their kettlebell journey with an 8 – or 12kg weight range. Once the body is accustomed to the weight, they can go right into 16 or 20kg.

As for men, they would start their kettlebell journey with a 12kg or 16kg or 20kg weight range, depending on their weight background. 

For those just starting out, it’s extremely important to concentrate on the mechanics of the exercises than the size of the kettlebells. Your entire body, especially your hips and legs, won’t be challenged by a light kettlebell. 

People with advanced-level kettlebell training experience have enormous strength and superb motor control. As a result, heavier kettlebell weights, such as 16 kg for women and 24 kg for men, can be used.

There is a perfect balance between being too light and heavy for all fitness levels. The kettlebell should be heavy enough to exert sufficient tension on your muscles but not so heavy that it forces you to overlook proper form.

Finally, choosing the right kettlebell for your home gym is an important decision that will impact your kettlebell workouts and overall fitness goals. You can choose a kettlebell that will last for years by considering factors such as weight, material, handle, and brand. 

A quality kettlebell (like the ones we have here at Bells of Steel) is a valuable addition to any home gym, whether you are new to kettlebell training or an experienced athlete.