Best Kettlebells 2024: Which Ones Do Trainers Recommend?

That’s why we tested the best kettlebells on the market and came up with our top five choices for overall performance, beginners, strength training, cardio, and functional fitness.

This guide covers all the essential features to consider when comparing kettlebells, including weight, price, coating, handle style, and balance. I provide detailed reviews and comparisons and my tips on building the perfect kettlebell routine.

Best Kettlebell for Every Goal

Kettlebells have gained popularity due to the rise of CrossFit as well as the Functional Fitness movement. They’re a fantastic training tool for home gyms in particular because they are compact, durable, and can be used for various strength and conditioning styles.

Best Overall Kettlebell: Onnit Kettlebells

Best for Beginners: REP Kettlebells

Best for Strength Training: Kettlebell Kings

Best for Functional Training & CrossFit: Rogue Kettlebells

Best for Cardio Workouts: Bells of Steel Kettlebells

How to Choose a Kettlebell

When purchasing a kettlebell, there are a few things you need to consider beyond the weight range and price choices.

First and foremost, do you want a competition or non-competition kettlebell? Most commercial gyms have non-competition bells, which are cast iron and have a handle wider than the bell body. 

Competition kettlebells look much different with smaller handles and a regulated design, so every bell, no matter the weight, has the same dimensions.

These bells look and feel very different, so test out a few at a gym before purchasing.

Weight Range

If you only plan on purchasing one kettlebell, you must pick a weight that will be challenging but not impossible.

While we know there are huge strength and performance variations within, between, and outside genders, experts estimate the following weights are a good starting point for men and women.

Men new to KB training: Start with a kettlebell 30 to 35 lb

Women new to KB training: Start with a kettlebell between 15 to 26 lb

Price

The price of your kettlebell will depend directly on its weight as they are sold by cost per pound. Sorry, strong friends!

The kettlebells on this list range from $15 to $595. The good news is that kettlebell training is maximally efficient, so you can get an excellent total body workout plan with one adequately heavy bell.

Shipping Options

One sneaky cost of purchasing kettlebells that’s easy to forget about is the shipping cost. Some companies have generous shipping policies, while others come with hefty shipping fees, so research before buying.

Coating

One of the hotly debated topics in the kettlebell training world is which coating is best. There are die-hard fans in all camps and companies innovating with new options all the time, but which you prefer is a personal choice.

Many kettlebells are cast iron and come coated in paint, powder, or a new option called e-coating. Each type of coating has a different feel, grip, and durability.

E-coating is the newest variation and is more durable than powder and paint and lasts much longer. However, it provides a more slick grip with sweaty hands, so many prefer powder coating for its superior grip.

As with any piece of strength equipment, your mileage will vary for how rough you want the coating to feel in your hands, so try them out if possible.

Handle Style

Another kettlebell feature to consider is handle style. Traditional cast-iron handles are pretty thick and can leave your pinkies feeling crushed when you grip it for a conventional kettlebell swing. Competition kettlebells have a smaller diameter handle, which is easier to grip with small hands.

Balance

Kettlebells are inherently unbalanced as the ball is heavy and the handle is light. That said, kettlebell balances can vary between styles, with competition bells being the most balanced.

An unbalanced kettlebell is not necessarily bad, though, and can lead to a more challenging workout, so just one more feature to consider.

Achieving My Fitness Goals: How Kettlebells Became My Secret Weapon

Back in my college days, I was a competitive powerlifter, personal trainer, and exercise science student. My life revolved around fitness, and I had a blast.

I had endless time to work out and trained 5 to 6 days per week. I was jacked. Life was great.

But then, a tale as old as time, life happened, and I was blown off course. A whole career, a second degree, and life stresses piled on, and I no longer worked out… for years.

How could this happen? I had all the knowledge! I knew all the things!

It turns out that what I was missing was not knowledge– it was a program that fit my current life, not the life of a college student.

Whenever I would try to get back in the gym, I’d attempt to follow my lengthy powerlifting routine, and I was just too stressed and pressed for time to stick with it. This led to a cycle of starting a routine with the best intentions, only for me to feel like a failure when I couldn’t stick with it.

I needed a new type of strength training that was highly efficient but still fun. That’s when I discovered kettlebells. Suddenly, lifting was fun again, and I could get in a great strength session–plus some cardio conditioning–in half the time.

I particularly love kettlebell training when I have to lift during peak gym hours, and I don’t want to wait in line for coveted equipment like the squat rack or leg press.

Instead, I can get a killer leg day with high-volume goblet squats, RDLs, and lunges using kettlebells.

If you’re pressed for time and want maximum efficiency without compromising effectiveness, try kettlebell training.

Each kettlebell was selected based on affordability, weight range, standout features, finish, and handle style. I also evaluate each kettlebell based on my personal experiences, company reputation, and details from customer reviews and industry experts.