The Ultimate Kettlebell Comparison Review – 2019 Edition

Everything you ever wanted to know about kettlebells, all in one place. Updated for 2019!

I love kettlebells. Kettlebells are easy to store, relatively inexpensive, and provide an efficient way to work nearly every part of the body in a short period of time.

They’re also great for supplementing movement rehabilitation work on a path toward injury recovery or performance improvement.

I’ve used many major brand of kettlebells, including experimenting with a homemade kettlebell made out of plumbing parts. My goal is to have the most comprehensive kettlebell review available online, so if you’ve been looking for real-world feedback on cast-iron kettlebells in general or a specific brand in particular then this article is for you.

Warning – this is a ridiculously long article, so I’ve structured the content to list the best kettlebell options first, followed by the full reviews. If you’d like to read more about the testing criteria, rating scale, test plan, or individual kettlebell reviews, use the table of contents below to navigate the various sections. 

Rating scale

I use a simple five point rating scale to score each kettlebell:

Best kettlebells for home use

I’ve tested multiple kettlebells, but to keep things simple I’m only listing the options that earned at least three stars and up. The rest can be found further below in the Reviews section.

Best Overall Kettlebell – Kettlebell Kings Powder Coat Kettlebell

The Kettlebell Kings Powder Coat kettlebell is a high quality kettlebell that provides an excellent balance between durability and usability.

The finish on these kettlebells is extremely smooth with no seams or burrs anywhere on the handles or bodies, with a coating that feels like chalk to the touch.

Full Review

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Most Durable Kettlebell – Kettlebells USA Metrixx Elite Precision

Kettlebells USA gets kudos for raising the bar by improving the classic kettlebell design. The Metrixx Elite Precision kettlebell is a very comfortable kettlebell to work with, especially if you’re able to use a small amount of chalk.

This is also the most durable kettlebell you’re likely to find anywhere. Quite simply, the Metrixx Elite Precision is the best E-coat kettlebell you can buy.

Full Review

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Minimalist Kettlebell – Christian’s Fitness Factory K2 Kettlebell

I’m very impressed with the CFF K2 kettlebell. Simple and efficient yet durable and versatile. The overall impression it leaves me with is minimalist but refined.

I’ll grant that’s an odd way to describe a kettlebell but that’s how the K2 comes across.  It’s clear to me a lot of thought went into the creation of the K2 and it shows in every aspect of the design and packaging.

Full Review

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Best Priced Kettlebell – Rep Fitness Powder Coat Kettlebells

Rep Fitness Cast Iron Kettlebell are great kettlebells with a very clean finish and one of the nicest powder coat options available.

Rep Fitness doesn’t bundle shipping into the costs of their products, and their base pricing is very reasonable. These kettlebells are a great value for the price, especially if you live close to Colorado to save on shipping costs.

Full Review

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Best Kettlebell for CrossFit – American Barbell Powder Coat Kettlebells

American Barbell powder coat kettlebells are a great all around kettlebell with a clean finish and a nice coat that is gritty without being abrasive. Great for CrossFit or just general fitness.

These kettlebells are a great deal if you live in the western United States, but the cost of shipping makes them less competitive price-wise if you live elsewhere.

Full Review

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Old-School Design Kettebell – Kettlebells USA Metrixx Classic Kettlebells

The Metrixx Classic E-Coat Kettlebell is as old school as it gets as far as kettlebells go. It’s a Russian-style cast-iron kettlebell similar to Dragon Door RKC kettlebells, but higher quality and lower cost.

This is an excellent e-coat kettlebell with practically bomb-proof durability, surpassed only by its redesigned younger sibling Metrixx Elite Precision.

Full Review

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Rogue Fitness Powder Coat Kettlebells

Rogue Fitness Powder Coat kettlebells are decent, but not standouts. They are a pretty good deal if you live close to Ohio, otherwise the cost of shipping makes them much less appealing.

If you have small or medium hands, look elsewhere. If you have large hands and prefer an aggressive grip, Rogue powder coat kettlebells could be the right option for you.

Full Review

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Fringe Sport Prime Kettlebells

Fringe Sport Prime Kettlebells are a nice option for CrossFit or kettlebell WODs. Fringe Sport makes good equipment and these kettlebells are no exception. However, they don’t really stand out enough to differentiate them from the rest of the color-coded powder coat kettlebells I’ve tested.

The handles do run fairly thick though, so these are a great option for people with large hands.Fringe Sport runs frequent sales, so if you’re patient you could score a pretty good deal on these.

Full Review

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Perform Better First Place Kettlebells

Perform Better kettlebells are a good option if you catch them on sale. I like working with them, but they aren’t my first choice. There are better options in terms of grip and finish, and the non-standard colors they use for weights drive me nuts.

Bottom line, don’t pay full price for Perform Better kettlebells. They go on sale often and there are better options at the same non-sale price point.

Full Review

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CAP Powder Coat Kettlebells

The CAP powder coat kettlebells are a big step up from CAP’s enamel coated version, but still just okay. The finish is good but the coating texture is rougher than it needs to be for good grip.

I realize grip preference is subjective, so if you prefer a rougher grip the CAP powder coat kettlebell is definitely a contender.

Full Review

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There were many other kettlebells tested that didn’t earn at least three stars, and one that was so bad it forced me to add a rating of zero stars 😱

If you want more details on any particular kettlebell, including lots of pictures, read on for a more in-depth look at each kettlebell and how I reviewed them.

My review criteria is primarily centered on kettlebells I can use at home and at work with minimal need for chalk. If you’re interested in diving deeper I’ve written a kettlebell buyer’s guide that answers every question I had when I first started.

It also goes into detail on the criteria I look for, but the short version is a clean finish, a durable coating, and a properly sized handle.

Alternatives to cast-iron kettlebells

Cast-iron kettlebells are widely available at many different price points, which I consider to be a very good thing. However, the lack of any kind of standards in their construction can make for a frustrating buying experience, especially if you’re not able to try before you buy.

Furthermore, the different sizing between weights and brands make it necessary to adjust and sometimes relearn your technique when moving between weights.

There are a couple of companies making steel competition-style kettlebells aimed at the home fitness market, which offer the benefit of consistently sized kettlebells without incurring the usual steel competition cost.

I’ve reviewed two options, one from Vulcan Strength and one from Kettlebell Kings, take a look at the reviews via the links below:

Vulcan Strength Absolute Training Kettlebell

Vulcan Strength Absolute Training Kettlebell

Kettlebell Kings Fitness Edition Kettlebell

Kettlebell Kings Fitness Edition Kettlebell

Kettlebell workouts

I’ve been running a kettlebell club at work for the past few years, which meets twice weekly for a 30-40 minute exercise session with kettlebells. The club consists of roughly 10 members, with men and women of different ages and fitness levels. There are 4-10 participants on any given day.

All of the kettlebells I test get used in the kettlebell club, which allows me to solicit feedback from many different people people at different levels of fitness. As a result, I get a more rounded assessment of each brand of kettlebells.

I’ve developed several kettlebell workouts for the club, ranging in intensity from beginner to high-level intermediate. All of my workouts are documented on their own page and I plan to add to the list as time goes on. The goal of the routines I put together is to get a total body workout in 40 minutes or less.

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Reviews

Do-It-Yourself Kettlebell Review

My introduction to kettlebells came via Tim Ferriss’ book The Four Hour Body. He describes an experiment performed using a do-it-yourself kettlebell made from parts found in the plumbing section at Home Depot.

I’m all about DIY when I can, especially if it means I get to build a cool new toy. According to Tim Ferris the parts are supposed to cost under $10, not counting the weight plates. However, inflation has taken its toll because I paid closer to $18 after tax. That doesn’t include the price of the plastic clamp I already owned.

The DIY kettlebell has two big advantages. First, it  takes the guesswork out of deciding what size kettlebell to buy for two hand work. I was able to experiment with different weights to find a starting point I was comfortable with, eventually settling on 20kg (44lbs).

Second, it allowed me to establish proper swing form with a lower weight before moving up to a real working weight. Proper form is important, because improper swing form can cause back injury.

If you don’t already have a background lifting weights or being active, or if you are out of shape, consider working with a certified kettlebell trainer to get instructed in proper technique.

A DIY kettlebell also has two major disadvantages. First, usefulness is limited to two-hand work.

Second, there are upper limits to the weight that can be applied to the bar and how long the bar will last. Plumbing parts weren’t designed to sustain a dynamic load swinging in an arc.  This puts stress on the metal that will eventually lead to fatigue and fracture. If you decide to pursue a regular regimen of kettlebell work, invest in real kettlebells or plan on replacing your T-bar parts at least once every four to six months.

Rating

The DIY approach is a great way to experiment with basic kettlebell work without committing to an expensive purchase, provided you have some weight plates to work with.

Kettlebell Kings Powder Coat Kettlebells Review

Kettlebell Kings are a vendor local to Austin that specializes in…wait for it…kettlebells. I bet you saw that coming, didn’t you?

I currently own several Kettlebell Kings powder coat kettlebells, including 6kg, 10kg, 12kg, 16kg, 20kg, and 24kg sizes.

The finish on these kettlebells is extremely smooth with no seams or burrs anywhere on the handles or bodies, with a coating that feels like chalk to the touch.

The powder coat on the Kettlebell Kings kettlebells provides a smooth yet ‘grippy’ finish that is very easy to use without chalk.

The smooth finish means no pinching of skin and the low friction powder coat makes it easy to maintain grip during high-rep sets.

For a powder coat, the durability of this coating is impressive. The Kettlebell Kings kettlebells have withstood several hard blows without chipping.

I did manage to chip the coat, but only after dropping another kettlebell directly on top of it.

Incidentally, I don’t recommend trying this at home!

The current trend with branding of cast iron kettlebells is to emblazon one side with a huge indented logo, which looks great but can also leave a partial logo impression on your forearm.

Kettlebell Kings is moving away from the indented logo to a recessed logo design, which makes the kettlebell just a bit more functional than the competition.

Handle dimensions:

16kg – 33.0mm

12kg – 33.3mm

6kg – 29.9mm

Rating

The Kettlebell Kings Powder Coat kettlebell is a high quality kettlebell that provides an excellent balance between durability and usability. At the time of this writeup, Kettlebell Kings is the only company offering the option to build your own set, with an increased discount applied for every kettlebell added.

Kettlebell Kings Cerakote Kettlebells Review

Kettlebell Kings is the first company I’ve seen to offer a Cerakote coating option for their kettlebells.

If you’re unfamiliar with Cerakote, it’s an extremely durable thin-film ceramic coating developed primarily for use as a protective finish for firearms. Cerakote is extremely resistant to abrasion, corrosion and chemicals, and looks pretty cool at the same time.

In recent years a few fitness equipment companies have started offering cerakote as a coating option for barbells. Kettlebell Kings is taking the next step by offering cerakote coatings on their kettlebells.

The cerakote coating will cost a little extra, but the added durability means that kettlebell will last practically forever.

Additionally, the cerakote option allows for a nearly infinite amount of customization and personalization.

Everything I wrote about the Kettlebell Kings powder coat kettlebells still applies, with the added benefit of increased grip and durability from the Cerakote.

I have several Cerakote kettlebells from Kettlebell Kings (one cast iron and two competition kettlebells) and they’ve all seen a lot of use over the last year. Each one still looks as good as it did when I first got it.

The grip provided by the standard powder coat version was already good, but the grip on the Cerakote kettlebell is phenomenal. I never need chalk when using the cast iron kettlebell, which is a huge plus for me.

There’s simply nothing else out there that compares right now, this is hands down the best option currently available.

Handle dimensions:

16kg – 33.0mm

12kg – 33.3mm

6kg – 29.9mm

Rating

Kettlebell Kings Cerakote kettlebells take an already high quality kettlebell and make it even better. Cerakote is an extremely durable coating that improves durability and provides a phenomenal grip. At the time of this writeup, Kettlebell Kings is the only company offering a kettlebell with a cerakote coating option, and I would not be surprised to see other companies follow their lead.

Onnit Labs Kettlebells Review

UPDATE – Onnit has stopped selling this model and has moved to a powder coat version that has not yet been reviewed. 

Onnit Labs offers a line of basic kettlebells at the lower end of the kettlebell price spectrum. Since they’re local to Austin I visited the Onnit Academy Gym in person to buy a kettlebell to evaluate.

The kettlebell was packed in a very sturdy shipping box. It looks like it could take a decent amount of abuse from a careless shipper, but the lack of reinforcement straps around the box could be an issue if the kettlebell has to travel a long distance.

The finish on the Onnit kettlebell is clean, although the textured coating is thick enough to potentially mask small imperfections. I don’t know if that’s by design, but it works.

Aesthetically, there are spots on the kettlebell where I can see how the coating application ran down the handle and dried, similar to how spray paint drips when applied too thickly.

However, this doesn’t affect the use of the kettlebell in any way.

As for durability, although the coat is described as chip-resistant, in practice it isn’t very hard to chip. I only had to carry it to my backyard along with another kettlebell to knock the first chip out of it. The two kettlebells accidentally banged together and a piece of the Onnit kettlebell coating came flying off.

I thought maybe this was a fluke, so I intentionally banged the kettlebells together again with medium force and another chip flaked off. The coating chipped several more times during the testing period through normal use, mainly from getting bumped against other kettlebells.

I get that “chip-resistant” doesn’t mean “chip-proof”, but it really doesn’t take much to damage the coat on the Onnit kettlebell. I don’t see this kettlebell holding up over the long term when compared to some of its more hardy kettlebell brethren.

The Onnit kettlebell handle window is thinner than most of the others and taller as well – the window is roughly one centimeter larger than average, very similar to the Mettrixx Elite Precision kettlebell.

It’s a small difference, but enough to force an adjustment of technique for exercises like the overhead snatch. The nice part about this taller window is that the body of the kettlebell sits lower on the forearm, which makes holding heavy kettlebells in a rack position a little easier.

Getting back to the grip – the finish is smooth enough to rotate smoothly in my hand without catching skin during transitions, but the coating generates just a touch too much friction for my preference. A light dusting of chalk takes care of that problem, and I keep a climbing chalk ball handy for just such an occasion.

Rating

Onnit Labs kettlebells are a good budget option, but not the most durable of the bunch. If you do buy these, take extra good care of them because the finish is prone to chipping.

Kettlebells USA Metrixx Elite Kettlebells Review

Kettlebells USA have been around for over a decade, and although they now offer a variety of fitness equipment their core business has always been kettlebells. Their Metrixx line of cast iron kettlebells are offered in two styles – a “Classic” line that is roughly equivalent in size and coating to Dragon Door kettlebells, and a newer “Elite Precision” line that has a different formulation of e-coat and a redesigned handle. This review will focus on the “Elite” version. The “Classic” line is reviewed separately.

The Metrixx Elite Precision kettlebell is marketed as an improvement on the classic kettlebell design, including modifications to the handle and a reformulated e-coat. I purchased one of the Elite Precision 12kg kettlebells and it was shipped out the next day. The packaging was solid double-walled cardboard and the kettlebell well packed. They even included a sticker!

The finish on the kettlebell is very clean, and although the casting seams are slightly visible on the body due to how thin an e-coating is, they are not prevalent on the handle at all. The handle is very smooth and well rounded.

The Metrixx Elite Precision line of kettlebells have a reformulated e-coat intended to increase grip over a traditional e-coating. It’s also the most durable coating I’ve seen on any kettlebell. I tried damaging the coating by banging it against another kettlebell, and the Metrixx  Elite just laughed. I tried dropping another kettlebell on it from waist-height, and the finish did scratch but did not chip.

This coating is bomb-proof. It will likely outlast you, your children, and your children’s children.

The most unique aspect of Metrixx Precision Elite kettlebell is the redesigned handle. With traditional cast iron kettlebells, the thickness of the handle typically increases as the weight of the kettlebell increases. This can be problematic for people with hands too small to close around the handle, or hands to large to fit both comfortably within the gap.

The redesigned handle of the Metrixx kettlebell is noticeably thinner than most cast-iron kettlebells and is very easy to hold. This is the most comfortable kettlebell in the review group for two-hand swings.

The handle window is also taller than most classic kettlebell designs. The increased height means the kettlebell will sit just a bit lower on the forearm rather than resting right on the wrist bones, which is more comfortable for some people.

The reformulated e-coat is stickier than the e-coats on the Dragon Door and even the Metrixx Classic line. This definitely helps improve grip, but it also creates some friction. The friction is alleviated with light chalk use though, which is a small tradeoff for the durability and comfort the Metrixx Elite Precision kettlebell provides.

Handle dimensions:

12kg – 32.0mm

Rating

Kettlebells USA gets kudos for raising the bar by improving the classic kettlebell design. The Metrixx Elite Precision kettlebell is a very comfortable kettlebell to work with, especially if you’re able to use a small amount of chalk. This is also the most durable kettlebell you’re likely to find anywhere. Quite simply, the Metrixx Elite Precision is the best E-coat kettlebell you can buy.

Kettlebells USA Metrixx Classic Kettlebells Review

Kettlebells USA have been around for over a decade, and although they now offer a variety of fitness equipment their core business has always been kettlebells. Their Metrixx line of cast iron kettlebells are offered in two styles – a “Classic” line that is roughly equivalent in size and coating to Dragon Door kettlebells, and a newer “Elite Precision” line that has a different style of e-coat and redesigned handle. This review will focus on the “Classic” version. The “Elite” line is reviewed separately.

The Metrixx Classic E-Coat Kettlebell came packaged in a double-walled box with foam inserts around the handle to keep the kettlebell from moving during shipping. Like the Metrixx Elite, the Classic has a very clean finish. There are no noticeable seams on the handle or body.

An e-coat is the most durable coating available on a kettlebell, and this coating does not disappoint. The coat has remained intact even after extensive use and intentional attempts to damage it for the sake of this review. If you intend to store your kettlebells in the garage or subject them to extreme abuse, the Classic line is for you. I get the impression this thing would survive a nuclear apocalypse, although I wouldn’t want to be around to find out.

The handle on the Metrixx Classic is slightly thicker than other similarly sized kettlebells, and much thicker than the handle on the Metrixx Elite. The thickness of the handle reduces the available space in the handle window, which makes it harder to use these for two-hand swings than some of the other options tests. This is especially true for people with large hands.

The coating is sticky, which helps with grip but also adds friction. Like the Metrixx Elite, the Classic is best used with a light amount of chalk.

Handle dimensions:

20kg – 39.1mm

Rating

The Metrixx Classic E-Coat Kettlebell is as old school as it gets as far as kettlebells go. It’s a Russian-style cast-iron kettlebell similar to Dragon Door RKC kettlebells, but higher quality and lower cost. This is an excellent e-coat kettlebell with practically bomb-proof durability, surpassed only by its redesigned younger sibling Metrixx® Elite Precision.

Rogue Fitness Powder Coat Kettlebells Review

Rogue Fitness has an insane amount of brand recognition through their affiliation with Crossfit, and I’ll bet that anyone with a garage gym probably owns at least one piece of Rogue equipment. I own a set of their Hi-Temp bumper plates, and I get a ton of use out of them.

Needless to say, I had high expectations for their kettlebells.

I ordered a kettlebell from Rogue last year, and it arrived damaged due to flimsy packaging. The replacement they sent me arrived damaged as well, for the same reason.

This year, I’m happy to say they’ve improved the packaging because I had no problem with my order this time around ?

The finish on the Rogue kettlebell is good, although I can feel a few small flecks of excess metal on the handle when I run my hand over it.

The powder coat on the Rogue kettlebells is textured, with a feel of fine grit sandpaper. The coating seems intentionally designed to hold lots of chalk, but without chalk it can be just a bit uncomfortable to use for high-rep snatch or clean sessions.

However, texture and grip are a matter of preference, and there are some that will like this style over a smoother handle.

The handles of the Rogue kettlebells are among the thickest of the test group, making them more suitable for people with large hands.

Frankly, these aren’t my favorite kettlebells to use, but they ain’t bad. The price is good too, especially if you live close to Ohio and can take advantage of a lower shipping cost.

Handle dimensions:

16kg – 37.5mm

Rating

Rogue powder coat kettlebells are decent, but not standouts. They are a pretty good deal if you live close to Ohio, otherwise the cost of shipping makes them much less appealing. If you have small or medium hands, look elsewhere. If you have large hands and prefer an aggressive grip, Rogue powder coat kettlebells could be the right option for you.

Christian’s Fitness Factory K2 Powder Coat Kettlebells Review

Christian’s Fitness Factory was founded in 2005 with a mission to make quality fitness equipment available and affordable to everyone. CFF offers a full line of athletic equipment, including kettlebells.

The CFF K2 kettlebell is not fancy. It has no color coding bars or an elaborate logo etched into the body. I keep my K2 on a cart with other kettlebells for use in my office kettlebell club, and it doesn’t stand out in any way. However, there’s a lot going on under the humble exterior.  Much thought has clearly gone into making a kettlebell that can be used by nearly anyone, with or without chalk.

I received a 16kg K2, which was bagged, packed in it’s own form-fitting foam, and double-boxed. This is by far the most well-packed cast-iron kettlebell I’ve seen. The form-fitting foam is an extra level of protection that’s typically only used for shipping more costly competition steel kettlebells.

The finish of the CFF K2 is extremely clean. There are no visible seams or burrs, and the bottom is ground completely flat.  The coating has a slightly aggressive texture, which works very well for maintaining grip without needing chalk.

It’s also one of the most durable powder coatings I’ve seen on a cast-iron kettlebell. I’ve used this kettlebell extensively and even intentionally banged it against other kettlebells to test the durability. I’ve yet to see a chip in the coat.

The combination of finish and textured coating will hold a lot of chalk if needed.

Handle dimensions:

16kg – 34.5mm

Rating

I’m very impressed with the CFF K2 kettlebell. Simple and efficient yet durable and versatile. The overall impression it leaves me with is minimalist but refined. I’ll grant that’s an odd way to describe a kettlebell but that’s how the K2 comes across.  It’s clear to me a lot of thought went into the creation of the K2 and it shows in every aspect of the design and packaging.

Rep Fitness Powder Coat Kettlebells Review

Rep Fitness was started in Colorado in 2012 by two brothers with a passion for fitness. Their stated goal is to provide fitness equipment that meets the quality standards they themselves would look for when purchasing fitness gear.

I included Rep Fitness kettlebells in last year’s review and they garnered four stars during testing. Not content with that, the folks at Rep Fitness have upped their game by improving on the issues I noted in the previous review.

In addition to the 16kg and 20kg kettlebells I already own, I now have 8kg, 10kg, and 14kg kettlebells to add to the mix.

The Rep Fitness kettlebells came well packed, with plenty of foam inserts and even bubble wrap on the 20kg. The outside of the 20kg box was completely wrapped in shipping plastic, which helps strengthen the integrity of the box.

When the kettlebells were sent to me I was told by Shane (one of the co-founders of Rep Fitness) that it’s standard practice to replace kettlebells that are damaged in any way during shipping.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to take him up on this but it’s nice to see this kind of focus on customer service.

The finish of the Rep Fitness kettlebells is very good. I can’t see or feel any seams or casting defects on the handle or on the body of the kettlebells.

The powder coating has a very smooth chalk-like texture that provides a decent amount of grip without the need for chalk.

The coating is also really durable, these kettlebells have withstood several hard blows without chipping. These kettlebells get used extensively in our office kettlebell club and they are well liked.

The handle dimensions on average are smaller than similarly sized kettlebells from other vendors, making these very friend for people with smaller hands.

Handle dimensions:

20kg – 37.5

16kg – 32.8mm

14kg – 31.5mm

10kg – 32.4mm

8kg – 32.2mm

Rating

Rep Fitness Cast Iron Kettlebell are great kettlebells with a very clean finish and one of the nicest powder coat options available. They offer an excellent value for the price, especially if you live close to Colorado and you can save on shipping.

Fringe Sport Prime Kettlebells Review

Fringe Sport is a strength & conditioning equipment company based in Austin Texas. Since they’re local, I paid them a visit to pick up a few of their Prime Kettlebells to review.

Every Prime Kettlebell comes packaged in a form-fitting cardboard box and wrapped with reinforcement straps. Since I picked them up locally I can’t evaluate the shipping materials, but I believe these boxed kettlebells are placed within a secondary box for transport by a shipper.

The finish on the Prime Kettlebells is clean and the bottoms are ground completely flat. The powder coat kettlebell is evenly applied and provides a decent amount of grip.

The grip the is on par with the majority of powder coat kettlebells I’ve tested, providing a smooth yet “grippy” texture.

I own two Fringe Sport Prime Kettlebells – one 12kg and one 16kg. When I first got them, I was surprised at how much larger the handle diameters were when compared to similarly sized kettlebells from other vendors.

The handles on these kettlebells are thicker than most of the other options I’ve tested, on par with the Rogue Fitness kettlebells for having the thickest handles.

I’m not a tall guy (5’8”) and many of the people I work with in my kettlebell club are even shorter than I am, both men and women.

Shorter height typically means smaller hands, and I find that smaller diameter handle sizes work better for us folks who are, umm… vertically challenged. 

Measuring 37.6mm in diameter, the handle on the 16kg is the thickest of all the 16kg kettlebells I tested.

The 12kg handle is also pretty thick, measuring 36mm in width.

These kettlebells are great for people with large hands, just not necessarily for me.

Handle dimensions:

16kg – 37.6mm

12kg – 36mm

Rating

Fringe Sport Prime Kettlebells are a nice option for CrossFit or kettlebell WODs. Fringe Sport makes good equipment and these kettlebells are no exception, although they don’t really stand out enough to differentiate them from the rest of the color-coded powder coat kettlebells I’ve tested. The handles do run fairly thick though, so these are a great option for people with large hands. Fringe Sport runs frequent sales, so if you’re patient you could score a pretty good deal on these.

American Barbell Kettlebell Review

American Barbell is a strength & conditioning equipment company based in San Diego California. Their barbells have a solid reputation in the home gym community, and they’ve somewhat recently added kettlebells to their product lineup.

I’ve got two for review purposes, a 16kg and a 12kg. Both came packaged in double-walled cardboard with protective reinforcement straps.

American Barbell kettlebells have a very clean finish and a slightly textured coat. The texture adds grip without having to resort to chalk.

The bottoms are ground flat and wider than most of the other options, making them a very stable base for exercises like renegade rows.

The handle dimensions overall are on the thinner side of the spectrum, making these kettlebells very comfortable for use by people with smaller hands. I’ve used these extensively and the experience has always been positive.

Price-wise, American Barbell powder coats are super-cheap, but that savings is offset by the cost of pricing. However, if you live on or near the west coast you may be able to get a great kettlebell at a great price.

Handle dimensions:

16kg – 32.4mm

12kg – 31.7mm

Rating

American Barbell powder coat kettlebells are a great all around kettlebell with a clean finish and a nice coat that is gritty without being abrasive. A great deal if you live on the west coast, but the cost of shipping makes them less competitive price-wise if you live elsewhere.

Titan Fitness Kettlebell Review

Titan Fitness is a strength & conditioning equipment company based in Collierville, Tennessee with a mixed reputation in the home fitness community.

Known for offering lower-cost versions of equipment made by other companies with more brand recognition, the lower cost also often comes at a lower quality. Not always, but often enough to be a common theme on the reddit homegym forum.

In this particular case, unfortunately Titan lived up to their infamy. I ordered a 16kg Titan Fitness kettlebell off Amazon, and I was shocked at how bad it was.

For starters, the Titan Fitness kettlebell shipped in a single cardboard box with no padding or reinforcement whatsoever. The box and the plastic were worn away, and some damage had been done to the coating of the kettlebell as a result.

The lack of care in packaging extends to the finish and coating. The Titan kettlebell is the absolute worst I’ve seen so far in terms of how bad the finish was.

There are visible casting flaws all over, and huge seams on the handle and body.

The bottom doesn’t appear to be ground down at all.

In fact, it’s actually rounded and the kettlebell wobbles like a drunken sailor because of it.

I really don’t understand how a big-name fitness company could even think about putting their brand on a product like this.

Frankly, I’m surprised this one ever got past QA testing.

 

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I didn’t even try using this kettlebell. After contacting Titan customer service about a replacement and being told I wouldn’t be able to get one for two months, I simply sent it back.

Rating

The Titan Fitness kettlebell is the absolute worst kettlebell I’ve seen so far, even considering the budget price. It’s so bad it has the dubious honor of forcing me to create a ‘zero stars’ rating, because it’s completely unusable. I’ve had much better luck with some of Titan’s other gear, but I wouldn’t recommend their kettlebells.

Yes4All Kettlebell Review

Yes4All Kettlebells are a popular choice on Amazon, which is why I’m including them. The big draw is the price, I picked up a 35lb cast-iron kettlebell for $40 shipped, which is amazingly cheap.

Considering my experience with another kettlebell in this price range, I didn’t have very high expectations. However, while it’s not the best kettlebell I’ve ever seen, it’s not as bad as I feared.

The shipping was nothing special, just a box within a box. No padding. However, the kettlebell arrived undamaged, which is more than I can say for other kettlebells that cost twice as much.

I’ll just get this out of the way up front – the Yes4All is a cheaply made kettlebell. The bottom is not ground completely flat and the coating is just a glossy black paint.

Having said that, for $40 it’s hard to find a better deal.

The glossy paint coat is very tacky to the touch, e.g. sticky. I tried using it without any chalk and found that the tackiness made it more difficult for me to do snatches and cleans. However, a light dusting of chalk on the handle fixed that right up.

Aside from the bottom not being flat, the finish is good with no casting seams or burrs.

The handle diameter is on the larger side of the options tested, although I no longer have it available to measure.

Rating

The Yes4all kettlebell is cheaply made, but also budget priced.  If you’re serious about kettlebell work or plan to adopt kettlebells as your primary exercise tools, consider saving up to buy one of the higher quality options listed in the recommendations section. On the other hand, if saving money is your primary concern and you’re willing to sacrifice some quality, the Yes4All is hard to beat.

AmazonBasics Kettlebell Review

Kettlebells are now mainstream enough to have attracted Amazon’s attention. I know this because they’ve started selling their own brand of Amazon Basics Kettlebells.

And I’m sure they sell well, because they show up as one of the first results whenever I search for “kettlebells” on Amazon. But are they any good?

Spoiler alert – they aren’t great. These kettlebells are essentially the same as the Yes4All kettlebells I reviewed above.

The only difference between them is that the AmazonBasics kettlebell has no branding whatsoever, only the weight stamped on both sides. I would not be surprised at all if the same manufacturer in China was producing both brands of kettlebells.

The big draw for the Amazon Basics kettlebell is the low price. A 35lb cast-iron kettlebell is currently selling for $41 with Prime shipping, which is a really good deal for a cast-iron kettlebell.

Just don’t expect much for your money, since the Amazon Basics kettlebell is a cheaply made product. The bottom is not ground completely flat and the coating is just a glossy black paint.

Having said that, it’s still perfectly usable for swings, snatches, cleans, etc and I’d be hard pressed to find a cheaper option for someone that doesn’t want to spend much on a kettlebell.

The glossy paint coat is very tacky to the touch, e.g. sticky. The tackiness of the paint makes it more difficult to do snatches and cleans with this kettlebell, but that’s nothing a light dusting of chalk on the handle can’t fix.

Aside from the bottom not being flat, the finish is good with no casting seams or burrs.

The handle diameter is on the larger side of the options tested, measurements will be added later.

Rating

The Amazon Basics kettlebell is cheaply made, but also budget priced.  If you’re serious about kettlebell work or plan to adopt kettlebells as your primary exercise tools then you may want to consider saving up to buy one of the higher quality options listed in the recommendations section. If saving money is your primary concern and you’re willing to sacrifice some quality, the Amazon Basics kettlebell is a decent option.

CAP Powder Coat Kettlebell Review

CAP introduced a new powder coat kettlebell into their product lineup sometime within the last couple of years, and I’m including it in the roundup for 2019.

The finish on the CAP kettlebell is good, although I can feel a few small flecks of excess metal on the handle when I run my hand over it.

The powder coat on the CAP kettlebell is textured, with a feel of fine grit sandpaper. The coating seems intentionally designed to hold lots of chalk, but without chalk it can be just a bit uncomfortable to use for high-rep snatch or clean sessions.

However, texture and grip are a matter of preference, and there are some that will like this style over a smoother handle.

The handles of the CAP powder coat kettlebells are among the thickest of the test group, making them more suitable for people with large hands.

Frankly, these aren’t my favorite kettlebells to use, but they ain’t bad.

If you’re getting a sense of deja vu right now, don’t worry, you’re not crazy.

I wrote the exact same review for the Rogue Fitness kettlebells, because these are exactly the same kettlebells. They are identical in every way, with only the logo stamping to tell them apart.

Rating

The CAP powder coat kettlebells are a big step up from the enamel coated version, but still just okay. The finish is good but the coating texture is rougher than it needs to be for good grip. I realize grip preference is subjective, so if you prefer a rougher grip the CAP powder coat kettlebell is definitely a contender.

CAP Enamel Coated Kettlebell Review

CAP has been in business a long time as a provider of low-cost fitness equipment. When I first became interested in kettlebells, I naively thought all kettlebells were the same. I mean, it’s a cannonball with a handle, how hard can it be to mess that up, right? Wrong!

My first kettlebells were a couple of CAP kettlebells I found on Craigslist for fifty bucks. One was a 16kg enamel coat bell, and the other was a 9kg cast iron bell with a rust-resistant coating.

The 9kg bell had a very rough finish with several burrs on the handle. I was learning how to perform the kettlebell snatch at the time I owned these, and the burrs kept digging into my palms during the transitions. I toughed it out as long as I could but eventually used a metal file to smooth down the handle and make the bell a little more usable.

I said it before but it’s worth repeating – if you have to file down the handle of your kettlebell to eliminate casting imperfections, you’ve bought a low quality kettlebell. 

Ironically, the body of the bell with the rust-resistant coating was badly rusted. I painted it with Rustoleum to try and stem further rust damage, which is why the kettlebell is colored brown in pictures.

The coating on the 16kg bell was chipped in several places but luckily there were no chips on the handle. I used the small kettlebell for one hand work and the larger kettlebell for two-hand swings. The enamel finish on the large bell was extremely smooth and hard to hold once I broke a sweat. It also generated heat on my palms through friction.

After working with these kettlebells for less than a week I knew I’d be replacing them.

Rating

I don’t recommend CAP enamel coated or plain “cast iron” kettlebells for your home gym. In fact, I actively recommend you stay away from them entirely because you will inevitably rue the day you purchased them. The enamel coated kettlebell chips easily and provides a lousy grip, while the finish quality of the cast iron kettlebell is one of the worst I’ve seen.

Dragon Door RKC Kettlebells Review

Dragon Door was among the first companies, if not the first company, to reintroduce kettlebells to the US mass market in 2001. As a result, they have a large amount of brand recognition in the kettlebell community. The recognition is reflected in the price because Dragon Door kettlebells are the most expensive option included in this review.

I was able to score a find of Dragon Door kettlebells on Craigslist, and by now I had done some research and read many reviews singing the praises of Dragon Door kettlebells. I jumped on that offer and managed to score a 12kg, a 16kg, and a 24kg for $100 total. At the time I thought I was getting a great deal.

The previous owner told me they were about three years old when I bought them. The coating on each has worn off in places and given way to rust, especially on the 16kg bell.

They don’t look great, but the coat on all of them is in okay shape considering they were stored year-round in a garage subject to three years of humid central Texas summers.

The RKC kettlebells all have prevalent seams left over from the casting process on the handles. These seams often pinched the skin of my palms, indicating a poor finishing and grinding process.

Speaking of grinding, none of the bottoms of the Dragon Door kettlebells are ground completely flat – they all wobble when on flat ground.

The Dragon Door kettlebells have one of the lowest quality finishes of all the kettlebells tested, which is notable because the cost difference Dragon Door and every other brand is huge.

That extra money is clearly not being invested back into quality control at Dragon Door.

To be fair, I’m evaluating old kettlebells. There’s always a chance Dragon Door has upped their game since these bells were originally made. I reached out to customer service again to tell them about my experience and asked if my RKC kettlebells are representative of the quality of newly made Dragon Door kettlebells. Here is the relevant portion of their response:

“While we have not made significant changes to molds for our kettlebells, our coating process has only been getting better over the years. Without knowing exactly what your current kettlebells look/feel like, I can tell you that things such as seams could indeed have been a problem exclusive to a batch or perhaps they were kettelbells that made it past inspection.”

The rep went on to say this:

“My advice to you would be to give our latest kettlebells a try on your own and if you are dissatisfied you can of course return them. We have a 1 year, 100% money back guarantee.”

I give props to Dragon Door for offering a 1 year 100% money back guarantee, this is one of the best warranties offered by any of the kettlebell brands included in this review. In fact, several of the companies offer no guarantee whatsoever and will not accept a return at all unless your purchase is defective.

I’m willing to give Dragon Door the benefit of the doubt and assume their newer kettlebells have a higher quality finish than what I currently own. However, since the guarantee doesn’t cover the cost of shipping to me and back, and shipping heavy hunks of iron is expensive, I don’t plan on taking them up on that offer.

Rating

The best things Dragon Door RKC kettlebells offer is a 1 year satisfaction guarantee and a durable coating. However, given the quality of the competition these factors aren’t enough to offset their substantially higher cost. There may have been a time when there was no other option and the high cost could be justified for the not-so-great quality, but these days there are much better options available at a much lower cost.

Perform Better First Place Kettlebells Review

Back when I got serious about kettlebell training I asked my employer to add kettlebells to our work gym, and they agreed.

They purchased six “Performance First Place”  kettlebells of different sizes and a storage rack from Perform Better.

The handles of all six are well rounded with no prevalent seams, although there are a few small metal burrs on the underside of some of the handles.

Perform Better customer service told me the coating is a powder coat, but up close it looks much more like an e-coat to me. Whatever it is, the coat provides just enough grip with low friction to allow for high rep work without needing chalk.

These are nice kettlebells to work with overall, despite the small metal burrs on the handles of some of the kettlebells. The burrs only exist on the smaller kettlebells that I don’t use as much, which might be why they haven’t been an issue for me.

One minor nit to pick is with the quality of the paint job on the faces of the kettlebells. It looks sloppy, as if someone was in a hurry to get the job done.

This is a purely cosmetic issue that doesn’t take away from the usability of the kettlebells at all, but it does detract from the overall perception of quality.

Handle dimensions:

20kg – 39.2mm

14kg – 31.5mm

Rating

Perform Better kettlebells are a good option if you catch them on sale. I like working with them, but they aren’t my first choice. Don’t pay full price for Perform Better kettlebells. They go on sale often and there are better options at the same non-sale price point.

How Kettlebells are Made

An interesting and amusing video showing how kettlebells are made. The guy narrating the video, Pavel Tstatsouline, was affiliated with Dragon Door when the video was filmed so the process likely shows how Dragon Door kettlebells were made back in the day.

“When we say kettlebell…we mean strength. When we say strength…we mean…kettlebell.”