When getting started with kettlebell training, one of the first questions I get is “What size kettlebell should I buy?” Here are my recommendations for the average person:
Recommended Kettlebell Size For Women
(Click the pictures for price and ordering info.)
Good
Better
Best
Weight Conversions
- 8kg = ~18lbs
- 12kg = ~26lbs
- 16kg = ~35lbs
Recommended Kettlebell Size for Men
(Click the pictures for price and ordering info.)
Good
Better
Best
Weight Conversions
- 12kg = ~26lbs
- 16kg = ~35lbs
- 20kg = ~44lbs
How Many Kettlebells Do I Really Need?!
I know that some of you are freaked out by the idea of buying more than one kettlebell, let alone three.
Here’s the deal: When it comes to kettlebell training, you need significant weight for some exercises and lighter weights for others.
For example, trying to learn and perform a great kettlebell swing with a weight that’s too light makes it really tough to get the groove of the hip hinge and explosive hip snap until you’ve accumulate some experience. I feel like I can own a swing with anywhere from an 8kg to a 60kg, or even double 32kg kettlebells… but I’ve also got a ton of repetitions under my belt! When I was learning to swing, a 16kg was my absolute favorite bell.
On the other hand, trying to do a Turkish Get-Up with a kettlebell that is too heavy turns this fantastic exercise into a struggle for survival.
I recommend everyone get at least a light and a medium/heavy bell. However, if you really only want to buy a single kettlebell, you can still get some amazing workouts – just be prepared to have to scale or modify some exercises.
A light or medium kettlebell is great for finding your groove when it comes to exercises like the Turkish Get-Up, presses, cleans, and snatches. Once you lay the foundation of good technique and strength, you can build on it and start to challenge it.
But once you’ve mastered the lighter weight, your light bell is basically useless, right? No way! Turn it upside down for bottoms-up work or buy another of the same weight for the fantastic challenge of double kettlebell workouts.
Medium/heavy bells are perfect for learning how to deadlift, and once you know how to deadlift with a kettlebell, you know what that means, right? Time for swings! Goblet squats are another of the basic movements that seem best when learned with some significant weight. With some work, it doesn’t take long before your medium/heavy kettlebell magically transforms into your light/medium kettlebell.
Where to Buy Your Kettlebells
You’ll notice that all of those product links send you to Kettlebells USA. Eureka Kettlebell, my studio, uses mostly Kettlebells USA bells (as evidenced by the fact that I had plenty to act as models for this post!). The design and finish on these kettlebells is superb, and consistent. You won’t find ridges, bumps, or lumps on these bells. Also, the price point is nearly impossible to beat when you consider their free shipping, which can be killer when ordering exercise equipment!