How to Choose a Kettlebell

A practical guide to types, materials and choosing the right weight

Read time: 8 minutes

If the kettlebell sits at the centre of dynamic strength training, the next question is simple: which one should you choose?

Why Kettlebell Choice Matters Less Than People Think

Here's the truth most articles won't tell you: for swings, goblet squats, deadlifts, and basic presses, almost any decent kettlebell will work. As long as the handle is secure, the weight is appropriate, and the design doesn't actively fight you, you'll get stronger.

The bigger wins are learning hinge mechanics, owning a few foundational drills, and progressing load over time — not agonising over minor differences in finish or brand.

That said, poor designs can make training uncomfortable enough that people avoid it. Plastic shells with tiny handles. Sharp seams that tear up hands. Bulky shapes that crowd your wrist during cleans. These are worth avoiding.

So the practical line is this: any decent kettlebell works, but let's match the style to your space, budget, and how seriously you plan to train.

Vinyl-Coated Kettlebells — Who They're For

Vinyl or plastic-coated kettlebells have a cement or iron core wrapped in a protective shell. The coating protects floors and dampens noise on impact.

Best for:

- Home users on hard floors who want to avoid chips, dents, and noise
- Beginners who prefer softer contact on the forearms and a friendlier look than raw iron
- Studios and classes where floor protection and quieter sessions matter

Trade-offs:

- Coatings can feel slick with sweat compared to textured powder-coated handles
- For a given weight, coated kettlebells are often bulkier than bare cast iron — this can crowd the wrist in cleans or limit clearance in swings
- Cheaper vinyl can crack or peel over time, especially with heavy use

The verdict: A great all-rounder for home and casual use. Not the top choice if you're chasing heavy snatches, high-volume cleans, or building a long-term iron collection.

Cast Iron Kettlebells — Durability and Trade-Offs

Classic one-piece cast iron kettlebells are the default choice for serious training. Simple, durable, and available in a wide range of weights. Powder-coated or enamel finishes help resist rust while giving some grip texture.

Best for:

- General strength training and hardstyle programming
- Lifters who care more about performance than aesthetics
- Budget-conscious buyers — often cheaper per kilo than competition kettlebells

Advantages:

- Very durable and usually more compact for a given weight than vinyl-coated options
- Flat bases and wide handles on better models make them stable for push-ups, rows, and two-hand grips
- A good cast iron kettlebell will outlast almost everything else in your home gym

Trade-offs:

- Raw or lightly coated cast iron can chip floors and make noise on hard surfaces — mats help
- Cheap cast iron kettlebells can have sharp flashing on the handle or poor balance, which feels awful in the rack and chews up hands
- In a damp garage or shed, unprotected cast iron can rust without occasional maintenance

The verdict: If you care more about performance than noise, a good cast iron kettlebell is the workhorse that will last for years.

Soft Kettlebells — Niche, but Useful

Soft kettlebells are fillable bags you load with sand or water. They reduce impact on both your body and your floor, which matters when you're learning cleans or training around kids, pets, or fragile surfaces.

Best for:

- Beginners who bruise easily or worry about banging their forearm
- Home trainers on hard floors who want minimal noise and no damage risk
- Travellers — empty for packing, fill on arrival

Advantages:

- Floor- and wrist-friendly for high-rep swings and overhead work
- Adjustable loading from one implement
- Safer learning tool for nervous beginners or older adults

Trade-offs:

- Often limited top-end weights, which caps long-term strength progression
- The shifting fill feels different to solid kettlebells — not ideal if you eventually want precise hardstyle or sport technique
- Less stable for push-ups or renegade rows if the base is very soft

The verdict: Smart for safety-sensitive contexts — beginners at home, rehab, mixed-ability classes, and travel. Not the forever solution for heavy strength work.

Adjustable Kettlebells — Space-Saving Convenience

Adjustable kettlebells let you change weight by adding or removing plates, turning a dial, or swapping shells. One unit covers a range that might otherwise need four or five separate bells.

Best for:

- Home trainers with very limited storage space
- People who want weight variety in a single footprint
- Renters or those who move frequently

Advantages:

- Significant space savings — one kettlebell instead of several
- Good for steady progression without cluttering your home
- Convenient if you genuinely can't store multiple bells

Trade-offs:

- Often bulkier than single-weight kettlebells, which can affect clearance in swings and comfort in the rack
- The adjustment mechanism adds complexity — plates can shift mid-set on cheaper models
- Handle shape and balance may feel different to traditional bells
- Less durable long-term than solid cast iron or steel
- Not ideal for high-impact work like drops or outdoor training

Worth noting: Adjustable kettlebells are often marketed as cost-effective, but the maths doesn't always stack up. A quality adjustable steel kettlebell can cost more than four separate vinyl-coated bells — and as we've covered, kettlebell type matters less than consistent training.

The verdict: A practical choice if space is genuinely tight. For most home trainers, a small collection of dedicated kettlebells offers better value and feel.

Competition Kettlebells — When They Actually Make Sense

Competition (or "sport") kettlebells are steel shells with uniform dimensions at every weight. An 8kg bell is the same size as a 32kg bell — weight is added or removed internally.

Best for:

- Kettlebell sport athletes (long-cycle, biathlon, snatch)
- High-volume single-arm work where consistent geometry matters
- Lifters who want a premium feel and predictable forearm contact across weights

Advantages:

- Same size at every weight means consistent rack position and technique as you progress
- Taller, more vertical handle window suits smaller lifters and narrower frames
- Very durable steel construction

Trade-offs:

- Higher cost than basic cast iron, especially if buying multiple weights
- The larger, boxy shell can feel awkward for two-hand swings or goblet squats if you're used to smaller cast iron bells
- Overkill for people who mainly do basic swings and squats a few times a week

The verdict: Worth it if you're training seriously and specifically with kettlebells. Not a prerequisite for great results.

How Heavy Should Your First Kettlebell Be?

Most practical guidelines converge on roughly 8–12kg for women and 12–16kg for men as a starting range, adjusted for strength background and intended exercises.

A simple test: Can you strict press the kettlebell overhead for 5–8 controlled reps? If yes, it's likely a good all-rounder weight for learning.

One thing to watch: men tend to overestimate how heavy they should start. If you're used to barbell training, a 12kg kettlebell might look too light — but kettlebell movements depend on core and grip strength in ways that limit what you can control well. Women often underestimate, not realising that full-body movements like swings and goblet squats let you handle more than isolation exercises would suggest.

If you're mainly using it for swings and lower-body work, go slightly heavier. If you're focused on overhead pressing or shoulder rehab, go slightly lighter. When in doubt, err on the lighter side for learning — you can always progress.

When to Add a Second (or Third)

A single kettlebell can cover a surprising amount of training. But progression and variety become easier once you own at least two distinct loads.

When to add a heavier kettlebell:
You can slow-press your current weight overhead for 5 clean reps, set after set, and your swings and squats no longer challenge you cardiovascularly.

When to add a lighter kettlebell:
You want to learn or expand overhead and high-skill work — snatches, Turkish get-ups, complexes — without grinding every rep.

The long-term goal:
A simple trio covers most needs: light for warm-ups and overhead work (6–8kg), medium for presses and squats (12–16kg), and heavy for swings and pulls (20–24kg for many people).

Start with one bell that covers 80% of your sessions. Once you hit its limits on either strength or skill, add the next logical neighbour up or down.

The best kettlebell is the one you'll actually use. Start simple, train consistently, and add variety when you've earned it.