Kettlebells have become an essential piece of fitness gear lately. Due to their versatile use, kettlebells have become a preferred choice of a majority of fitness trainers. On top of that, these bulky objects are less expensive than most other gym gear.

While it’s hard to spot differences when looking at a bunch of kettlebells, it is worth noticing that not all these bulky beings are created equal. For this reason, you have to make sure that you purchase only the most suitable kettlebells for your garage gym.

We have put together this guide to help you find answers to all your questions related to kettlebells, so continue reading till the end.

Types of Kettlebells Available

The two most common types of kettlebells available are classic kettlebells and competition kettlebells. Classic kettlebells are made of cast iron, while competition kettlebells consist of steel. The most interesting aspect of both these kettlebells is the relation between their size and weight. The size of a classic kettlebell depends on its weight: the heavier the kettlebell, the bigger it will be. On the other hand, the size of a competition kettlebell remains the same regardless of its weight.

You can use both types of kettlebells in your garage gym. The extra advantage of using classic kettlebells is that they are cost-effective. On the other hand, a competition kettlebell allows you to focus on your workout without paying much attention to accommodating the kettlebell size.

During your quest to buy a kettlebell, you may encounter some advertisements or listings selling some odd-shaped kettlebells with vinyl or plastic coating. These are usually the cheaper kettlebells from unknown vendors. There may even be some positive reviews suggesting the efficacy of these kettlebells as well. However, be sure not to fall for these tactics. The kettlebell you purchase should come from a reputable vendor only. This way, you will know that you are going to use equipment that complements your fitness training.

The Type of Kettlebell to Buy

The overall lower price makes a cast-iron kettlebell a preferred option among many fitness trainers working out in their home gyms. However, that is not to say that a competition kettlebell is entirely a bad choice in this regard. Although this kettlebell costs a bit higher compared to the classic version, it offers improved stability during the workout.

The style of your kettlebell training also dictates what you should purchase. The two most common kettlebell workout styles are the “hard style” training and “girevoy sport.”

The hard style training involves powerful body movements that you should perform in a shorter duration. Cast iron kettlebells are generally more suitable for this workout.

On the other hand, the girevoy sport necessitates movement efficiency over a long duration. This competition-style training requires competition kettlebells.

The Size of a Kettlebell

The size of a kettlebell tells about its weight. This weight ranges from 8kg to 48kg. When starting training with kettlebells, you have to make sure that you choose the right weight to learn your technique the proper way.

The kettlebell you first use should neither be too light nor too heavy. For this purpose, you have to identify your sweet spot. The weight you carry should be heavy enough to put the necessary amount of pressure on your muscles. However, it should not be too heavy to force you to let go of your workout technique.

An average man gets a 16kg kettlebell recommended, while women usually start with a 12kg bell. Yet, it is extremely crucial to determine your weight lifting threshold to find out what “average” is in your case.

For instance, you can go ahead with the average recommendation mentioned above if you are a healthy person under 40 years of age with no history of serious illnesses. You can even pick a heavier bell if you already have been performing endurance training.

How Many Kettlebells to Buy?

Initially, you will only need one kettlebell. However, it is recommended to buy two kettlebells at a time: one bell for single-hand workouts and one bell for dual-hand workouts.

As far as the bell size is concerned, please refer to the recommendation explained above for single-hand workouts. However, it is recommended to add 8kg of weight to the kettlebell to be used for dual-hand workouts. For instance, you will need to choose a 24kg kettlebell for a dual-hand exercise if you perform sing-hand workouts with a 16kg kettlebell.

If you cannot afford two kettlebells at the moment, you can buy just one. You will start to grow this stock until you have all sizes of kettlebells at your garage gym. On top of that, all kettlebells are usable in different ways, meaning that you will always find a unique way to train with your very first kettlebell.

Choosing a Kettlebell

There are a few criteria you must keep into your consideration when buying a kettlebell. These criteria define the quality of any given kettlebell.

The need to file or sand the surface of a kettlebell is usually indicative of its lower quality. Therefore, you have to make sure that the kettlebell you purchase doesn’t contain any artifacts from the manufacturing process. Any imperfection on the handle area can cause cuts and injuries. Moreover, the base of the kettlebell should be completely flat to allow for easy placing of your kettlebell.

The coating is an essential step towards preventing damage and rust to your kettlebell. Kettlebells made of cast iron have a coarse surface, which is smoothened with coating. Even so, this coating must not eliminate the necessary traction to promote better gripping. At the same time, the bell’s handle should rotate inside your palm without causing any injury.

The competition kettlebell’s handle size is the same across all kettlebells. This uniform size is good and bad at the same time; good in the sense that you will know what hand size you have to deal with. And bad in the sense that you can’t do anything if your hands are too short for this handle size. For all these reasons, a cast-iron or classic kettlebell is the best piece of equipment if you are not happy with the size of the competition kettlebell.

Where to Buy a Kettlebell?

As discussed above, buying a kettlebell can be a tricky process. There are a lot many fitness gear vendors out there making tall claims about their fitness equipment. Looking through a list of many vendors is daunting because you do not want to fall for any deception.

One of the best options to purchase your kettlebells and other fitness equipment is to search online. Most top-rated fitness equipment vendors run their online fronts to allow their customers to place online orders. Even so, it is critical to check if your selected vendor is a credible source.

If you want to purchase kettlebells online, you can choose ISF Fitness Equipment. The particular kettlebell worth buying in this regard is ISF Kettlebells Powder Coated, which comes with smooth handles and color-coding. Powder-coating ensures an overall smooth surface of the bell. Moreover, a well-crafted smooth base allows you to set this kettlebell on the floor. The weight of this kettlebell ranges from 4kh to 64kg, so you can choose the one that fits your requirements.