User Review
( votes)If you want to elevate your home gym workouts, kettlebells improve overall strength, flexibility, core stability, fat burning, and muscle building. We’ve compiled a list of the best kettlebells in 2021. Whether you’re looking for a high-end product or a budget buy, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve created our list of the best kettlebells based on pricing, the weight range offered, the processes and materials used to manufacture each kettlebell, their paint coatings, and their overall form factor. From pure function to awesome fun, we’ve got something for everyone.
UPDATE: Check out our Best Kettlebells for a home gym list for a more inclusive list of options.
Top Pick: Kettlebell Kings Powder Coat Kettlebells
There is plenty to love about the powder coat kettlebells from Kettlebell Kings. First, the powder coat is among the best in the industry. These kettlebells were designed for commercial gyms so they need to stand up to a beating and reviewers have proved on many occasions that they are built to last.
The grip on this Kettlebell Kings product is one of the best in the industry in terms of holding chalk. Without chalk, the bells are grippy thanks to a nicely textured handle but with chalk added they are some of the best we’ve had the pleasure of using. If you’ve used their bells in the past, you’ll be incredibly impressed with their newly textured handles and improved powder coating.
The biggest reason, though, for our top rating, is the single cast that is used to create the bells along with a lifetime warranty.
Just keep in mind that even with free shipping, these are some of the more expensive kettlebells on the market.
You can learn more about the Kettlebell King products here.
Budget Buy Winner: Rep Kettlebells (Powder Coat)
The Rep Fitness Kettlebells are a mainstay in our garage gym testing facility. Rep Fitness has made a reputation by providing high-quality gym products for commercial and garage gym use. Everyone from Crossfitters to Powerlifters turn to Rep Fitness when quality and price are both a big consideration.
Starting at just $11 for 5-pound kettlebells, Rep Fitness offers weights up to 90 pounds.
These bells offer a really solid texture on their handles, which makes gripping the bells a breeze while still offering a comfortable grip in the hand. The powder coat, along with that texture, allows for a great chalk hold that will get you through even your sweatiest exercises without any issues. I use Rogue Chalk on my Rep Fitness Kettlebells, and that combo hasn’t let me down yet.
The color coating on the Rep Fitness Kettlebells is easy to spot while grabbing weights, and I like the embossed weight markers and Rep logo on each kettlebell.
You can learn more about the Rep Fitness Kettlebells here.
Best Made In America Kettlebell: Rogue Kettlebell E-Coat
We reviewed the Rogue Kettlebell E-Coat when they first debuted and we love that they are 100% made in the United States. The kettlebells are forged at a foundry in northern Michgian by Cadillac Casting, Inc.
Forgue chose a ductile iron for its e-coat Kettlebells. Ductile iron is stronger than scrap iron, allowing for a very sturdy bell.
The lineup is offered in KBs with 12 weight increments ranging from 9 LB to 88 LB. While these kettlebells don’t have color-coding included, their debossed weight indications are easy to read. The weights are also displayed in LB and KG which is a nice touch to go along with the Rogue branding.
E-Coat is nice because it more evenly covers a product’s surface but it’s a thinner coating which does bring into question the longevity of the product’s coating.
Because they’re made in the United States, these E-Coat kettlebells are a little more expensive, starting at $25 for a 9-pound bell and then jumping up to $125 for a single 88-pound kettlebell.
You can learn more about these Rogue E-Coat Kettlebells here.
Best Creativite Choice: Onnit Primal Kettlebells
I know that the Onnit primal kettlebells look like nothing more than a gimmick. While that statement might be partially true based on the form factor, they are also some seriously strong bells.
Onnit uses a gravity casting process to build its kettlebells. This is one of the oldest methods and also one of the most precise when it comes to creating a solid one-piece product. This process also creates a very accurate weight for each kettlebell, ensuring less chance of receiving two kettlebells that are weighted slightly differently.
Every single kettlebell from Onnit is powder coated to perfection. They offer a nice textured grip that is a bit wider than the average kettlebell, making for a great option if you are working on grip strength. When added, chalk sticks really well to the textured grip, providing a solid hold even at the highest of weights and hardest of swings.
If you’re curious about the different primate options, each piece of equipment features a different animal starting with the 18-pound Howler and ended with the 90-pound Bigfoot. Just keep in mind, you’ll pay $42.95 for a single 18-pound bell compared to $29 for a Rep Fitness Kettlebell of the same weight. If you’re going to purchase a set of kettlebells these can very quickly get expensive.
Just one quick note about these kettlebells, a few people have said they bruised up their forearms because of the form factor. I can see this being an issue during certain kettlebell exercises, specifically with overhead movements.
You can learn more about these cool and well-made Onnit Kettlebells here.
The Best Competition Kettlebells: Kettlebell Kings
The Kettlebell Kings Competition Kettlebells are among the highest-quality options on the market. The core of each kettlebell is hallowed out to ensure there is no weight shift caused during the production of each kettlebell.
These kettlebells range from 18 to 106 pounds and range in price from $79.99 (18 pounds) to $299.99 (106 pounds).
Competition kettlebells are a great buy if you perform exercises in the overhead and rack positions since the handles have less curvature and are smaller in size.
To ensure a more even distribution of weight Kettlebell Kings hallows out the inside of each bell with only the 40kg option featuring a small amount of fillers.
The grip on these kettlebells, much like their cheaper alternative, is second to none while providing a nice chalk hold. Kettlebell Kings claims their product is used at more sporting events than any other kettlebell and it’s easy to see why once you’ve used their product.
As a bonus, these kettlebells are brightly painted, offering a nice splash of color to our home or garage gym.
You can learn more about the Kettlebell Kings competition kettlebells here.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of really good kettlebells on the market. In the end, the best kettlebells for your needs will come down to what feels comfortable in your own hands. At their core, the best options offer a grippy handle, a flat base, a solid protective coating, and a single cast build-factor that can withstand the test of time.
For me, the Rep Fitness Kettlebell is the best option and my go-to kettlebell. I’d love to hear what option you like the most.
