UPDATE: Check out my new complete kettlebell review, where I showcase some of the best kettlebells from all of the top brands: 14 Kettlebells Compared: The Complete Kettlebell Review.
Adjustable kettlebells seem like a clever idea, but I doubt that anyone on earth would actually enjoy using such an awful invention after my experience with them. Kettlebell handles certainly fill a niche need, but there are definitely some disadvantages that should not go overlooked.
Several years ago, a friend of mine gave me one of his Kettlestack adjustable kettlebell handles. He had just invested in some standard kettlebells of his own, and was happy to get rid of that old, clanky kettlebell handle. It was his loss and my gain, or something like that, and I appreciated the gift. Although, over the next few months, I learned exactly why he was so eager to get rid of it.
In a word, adjustable kettlebells are simply awkward. In two words, they’re awkward and cheap – not to mention flimsy, inefficient, uncomfortable and even dangerous to an extent. For the most part, I don’t recommend adjustable kettlebells or any type of kettlebell handle at all, and I hope you never have to use one for weeks or months like I did. That said, it’s important to be fair and offer both the advantages and disadvantages of each training tool. So, I put together this product review to explain exactly why I don’t like adjustable kettlebells, and why you probably wouldn’t either. If you’ve been thinking about getting an adjustable kettlebell, you might think twice after you see this review.
Adjustable Kettlebells VS Standard Kettlebells – Video Review
*Please note: the adjustable kettlebell featured in the above video is not actually an authentic Kettlestack – it is a replicated version.
Even though, both standard grade (iron) kettlebells and pro-grade (steel) kettlebells are lightyears ahead of any type of adjustable kettlebell, I only fully endorse and recommend professional-grade kettlebells. If you’d like to know why these are the best type of kettlebell, then please read my First Time Kettlebell Buyer’s Guide below.
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Most of us would like to get the highest quality products at the lowest price possible, and that’s why I created…
*Right Click Image and Select “Save Link As” to Download the PDF Special Report (400 kb)
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DESCRIPTION: This is an exhaustive guide in PDF special report format that will answer all of your kettlebell buying questions. Also included is a chart of all the price points from several of the leading kettlebell distributors. I show the price of each kettlebell and the price of shipping, along with the total price – all in an easy-to-read spreadsheet. This is from personal research I did when trying to find the best deals on kettlebells for sale.
By the time you’re done reading through this kettlebell PDF special report, you’ll be an educated buyer and ready to make the wisest investment with your money. You’ll also know exactly where you can buy the highest quality, yet least expensive kettlebells online. If you do some snooping, you can even find out who marks up their products the highest, too!
This PDF report is free because I want everyone to know where to find the best deals on kettlebells for sale. I’d also like to get it into as many people’s hands as possible because I receive a small commission on any purchases that are made through my links in the PDF. Rest assured that I only recommend products that I’ve tested and used myself. I’ve been using various types of kettlebells since 2004 and am also a certified Kettlebell Specialist through RMAX International.
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The Bottom Line
Adjustable kettlebells seem like a great way to save money, but this is the grand deception. While it might not cost that much money, you’ll be paying for it with endless frustration every time you use them. I seriously can’t imagine anyone using this tool for any length of time. Heck, I bet the inventors’ themselves don’t even use them outside of promotional purposes (speculation, I know). Regardless, the next time you think about buying an adjustable kettlebell, do yourself a favor and don’t.
Honestly, you’d be much better served with a single, well-chosen kettlebell. If you do some market research of your own before you make your decision, you can select a weight that will last a lifetime (challenging enough right now, but a weight that you’ll never truly outgrow). It can save you a little bit of money in the short term, and a lot of frustration down the road. You can get a big head start in your research by downloading and reading my kettlebell buyers guide (100% free).
Download The Definitive Guide For Buying Kettlebells
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.jpg "John Sifferman")
Circular Strength Training Instructor
CST Kettlebell Specialist
Fitness Professional
P.S. Click here to find out why I only recommend and fully endorse pro-grade (steel) kettlebells instead of standard-grade (iron) kettlebells.
Which kettlebells do I recommend?
Good question! My top two choices are the competition kettlebells from Kettlebells USA and Kettlebell Kings. Both companies offer excellent choices at great prices. But there are a lot of other good options out there, too. So, feel free to check out my new complete kettlebell review, where I showcase some of the best kettlebells from all of the top brands: 14 Kettlebells Compared: The Complete Kettlebell Review.
what brand is the handle in the photo?? i have one but need another.
thank you.
David Larkan
I have both solid and adjustable Kettlebells. The criticism of the adjustable Kettlebell in this article is too broad, since it actually only applies to one kind of adjustable handle, and even then, you admit it is a replica.
I have an adjustable Kettlebell that is almost indistinguishable from a normal, solid, bell except that it is a bit bigger and the handle depth is greater. This is because it comes as a sphere of two halves. The lower half contains a threaded loading pin which fits through a hole in the upper surface of the upper half and is secured by a hexagonal nut. The upper hemisphere fits over the inner lugs of the lower half and the result is a visually perfect sphere. Hypothetically, the lower half exerts quite a force on the relatively thin metal of the upper segment and it could, eventually, break. However, it comes with a recommended maximum load (23 kg) and has been used regularly by me, for over ten years. I have even dropped it, although only a short distance. This Kettlebell was made by Stan Pike, a British Kettlebell athlete who is also a Blacksmith and it is solid. With reasonable care and the proper sized plates there is no reason why this won’t last for decades. The spherical design does mean you might need to think about plate order if you want to fit in any large plates, but I have loaded it to near max using only 2.5 kg plates that were not especially wide. Granted there will always be advantages to solid Kettlebells, but only if they are well made and of an appropriate size. Some very light Kettlebells are also very small and as such, are more likely to dig into your forearm due to the smaller area and sharper curve. I know the solution is a set of bells that are all a standard size, but not everyone has the money or the space for a full set of competition standard Kettlebells.
If you have little space or little money, an adjustable Kettlebell has its advantages. Mine takes a fairly short time to open and it only takes a short while to change the weights. If you are in a rush, just turn it upside down and let the weights unload themselves. To change the perspective for a moment, Kettlebells were used in Britain and America, esp. before the first world war, they are not solely a Russian implement. They were used as an alternative to Dumbbells at a time when Dumbbells and Barbells were either fixed weight or filled with shot. Then, weight plates came along with loadable bars for both dumbbell and barbell exercises. These very quickly became the standard and few, if any, argued against the new adjustable bars. The advantages were obvious. If we accept that loadable bars (from basic home kits to beautiful precision Olympic and Powerlifting sets) are the gold standard, why do we still insist that only a solid kettlebell will do? Weight sets can be finely adjusted for record attempts (and can be even more finely loaded with microplates, etc.) whereas Kettlebells have huge jumps between them. (I accept the reasoning that bigger jumps may be more effective, but what is a big jump for Pavel Tsatsouline or a Russian Master of Sport Girevik may be an impossible jump for me. However, the adjustable bell allows me to progress appropriately for my strength. Indeed, I increased my 1 rep max one arm Kettlebell clean and press by around 18-19% in 14 weeks using washers as micro-plates and training daily.)
I get that some types of adjustable bell may be uncomfortable or even dangerous, but please don’t damn all possible adjustable bells just because of a bad experience with one type.