The 2 Best Kettlebells of 2026 | Reviews by Wirecutter

Kettlebells can be intimidating. When you watch professionals swinging these hunks of iron above their heads or jerking their bodies violently while gripping a bell with one hand, it can seem like a far cry from the controlled movements we often think of as “lifting weights.”

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Kettlebells are traditionally associated most closely with those looking to build muscle mass and crush their core workouts. Thought to have originated in Russia in the s, kettlebells have been a staple of home gyms for decades. But even if you’re not looking to build muscle, kettlebells can be a tool for improving balance and grip strength. To ease some of the fear over using kettlebells, experts recommend that you first familiarize yourself with how the weight of a bell moves, before attempting overhead exercises.

“The best advice is to experiment to find the best fit,” said Jared Coburn, PhD, a kinesiology professor at California State University, Fullerton. “This also applies to handle width and diameter. If it is too thick, it may be difficult for some people to hold on to.”

Because most kettlebell exercises are performed in a standing position, using the whole body (sometimes unilaterally), they can challenge balance and coordination. And that may be helpful not only for sports performance but also fall prevention, Coburn said.

If you’ve never used kettlebells before, it may be beneficial to consult a trainer who has Russian Kettlebell Certification (RKC). An RKC-certified trainer can demonstrate good form, technique, and safety, said Nicholas Beltz, director of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Exercise Physiology Lab.

Gym owner Jahkeen Washington has observed that with two to three days of practice a week (for 20 to 30 minutes each session), a newcomer can pick up proper kettlebell form in about a month. And proper form is important, since you run a higher risk of injuring yourself (or possibly someone else nearby) without it. Proper form makes it possible to progress to heavier weights.

We looked for kettlebells that first-timers would find easy to use but that would also please goblet-squat masters. With that in mind, we did simple grip tests (holding a kettlebell with one or two hands for a minute, to see how comfortable it felt and whether it slipped), and we did more-advanced grip-strength exercises, such as one-handed swings. We also did goblet squats, biceps curls, and carries, to test the overall design of the bells.

We’ve been reviewing kettlebells since . And in late and early , we tested and retested 11 different 12-kilogram bells, considering these parameters:

Handle size: Since many beginners start by using two hands on a kettlebell, we prioritized bells with handles that could comfortably fit two hands — without fingers being pinched against the side of the handle. We preferred handles shaped like an upside-down trapezoid (they leave more space at the top of the handle), as opposed to square handles.

Finish and grip: Kettlebells usually come with a powder-coated finish or an e-coated one. E-coating creates a smoother finish that’s conducive for one-handed work, but it’s also usually more expensive. Powder coating is cheaper and can be rougher on the hands, particularly during one-handed exercises, though using powder, gloves, or chalk can help. A majority of the bells we tested were powder-coated, yet some felt smoother than others. We preferred grip handles that were smoother, as opposed to coarse grip handles, since the smoother ones were easier on our hands. A bell with a smoother finish is less likely to injure your skin.

Weight options: Experts told us that 16 kilograms (about 35 pounds) is a good starting kettlebell weight for men, and 8 or 10 kilograms (about 17 to 22 pounds) is typically the recommended starting weight for women. While we did test some 10-, 14-, and 16-kilogram bells, we found 12 kilograms to be an ideal middle ground for testers of varying builds and athletic abilities. Plus, 12-kilogram kettlebells are widely available across brands. Some brands, including our pick, go up to well over 100 pounds. We preferred bells that were color-coded to reveal their weight at a glance, as well as those that had numerical weights clearly printed on the bell.

Durability: No matter which coating you select, most kettlebells will outlast the people lifting them, Coburn said. We observed whether any of the bells incurred rusting during our testing, and we checked online reviews for customer reports of rusting or paint chipping over time. To protect against damage, consider the flooring on which you’ll be performing exercises — a protective mat is usually a wise investment.

Price: For this review we focused on cast-iron kettlebells, which can cost anywhere from $15 to $150. They are more versatile than competition bells, which are often made of steel and used for specific kettlebell sports exercises.

Cast-iron kettlebells are more comfortable for two-handed grip positions, which beginners should start with before advancing to more-challenging one-handed exercises. A cast-iron kettlebell usually has more-rounded handles, whereas competition bells have squared-off handles that can pinch pinkies during a two-handed grip.

Experts we consulted generally advised against adjustable kettlebells, so we chose not to test any for this guide.

Top pick

This kettlebell features color-coded weights, offers more than a dozen weight options, and has a wide handle that doesn’t slip in your grip. And it’s as good as kettlebells that are double the price.

The powder-coated Rep Fitness Kettlebell is the most comfortable and versatile 12-kilogram kettlebell we tested, with a color-coded handle that won’t pinch most pinkies. It also showed no signs of wear during our testing.

It has roomy handles. If you’re just starting out with kettlebells, you’ll want to first practice swinging them with two hands. With the Rep Fitness Kettlebells, there should be enough room that your pinkies won’t pinch against the inside of the handle — even one tester with “chubby” fingers said they felt like they had enough room to fit both hands comfortably around the handle. When they were doing squats, our testers also had ample space to place their hands vertically on the side of the handle. The handle becomes proportionately shorter and thicker at heavier weights, though, so you might consider other options if you’re looking to create a complete set of kettlebells at home.

It’s a kettlebell you can grow with. One of our testers was a kettlebell exercise rookie, and after trying two-handed exercises for a few weeks, they progressed to one-handed swings. They said the thick grip made this kettlebell feel stable in their hands, which didn’t slip while they were swinging. We haven’t experienced any rusting or worn paint, though a few Amazon users reported some rusting after several months of using this kettlebell. We’ll keep an eye on this issue during long-term testing.

The textured coating of the kettlebell works well with chalked or bare hands, and it’s intended to prevent rusting. The smooth handle of the bell felt gentle on our palms, whereas other bells we tested had grainier, coarser handles. Gripping this handle didn’t lead to calluses, which we could feel developing when testing bells with tighter handle spaces.

The Rep Fitness Kettlebells are also easily identifiable, thanks to a color-coding system and clear print indicating the weight on the bell in metric and imperial measurements.

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Flaws but not dealbreakers

When we tried the 16-kilogram (about 35 pounds) version of this bell, we noticed more pinching of our pinkies against the handle. In our measurement, on the inside the handle was ¼ inch smaller in width than on the 12-kilogram version.

For someone who prefers e-coating, the Rep Fitness Kettlebell may feel less smooth. One long-term tester reported some minor flaking of this bell’s coating after a few months of use.

Rep Fitness Kettlebells have a lifetime warranty, but only for people living in Canada or the 48 contiguous US states. Also, if they are purchased through the company website, there is a return shipping fee. (Amazon offers free returns.)

Also great

This roomy kettlebell has a long handle, so it’s particularly good for novices, but it has limited weight options.

The powder-coated Again Faster Team Kettlebell is a great bell for first-timers. Of the 12-kilogram bells we tested in and , this one had the longest interior handle (measuring 5½ inches), and it provided the most room for two-handed exercises. When you’re buying your first kettlebell, a key thing to consider is how comfortable the equipment is to hold. With this bell’s handle, you don’t have to worry about pinching your fingers.

However, the handle is slightly thinner than that of our top pick, and this could be a hindrance for people with larger hands. “Someone with smaller hands will have trouble with a thicker handle and prefer smaller, whereas someone with larger hands can manage the larger diameter. Also, if an individual wants to train grip strength, they may also choose a thicker handle to have that added challenge,” Jahkeen Washington said.

Like our top-pick kettlebell, the Again Faster kettlebell felt comfortable during one-handed and two-handed exercises, and it did not slip from our hands during any movements. These kettlebells are also color-coded and have weights clearly printed on the bell.

If you’re planning on advancing to heavier weights, though, Again Faster kettlebells have limitations, since they go up to only 32 kilograms (about 71 pounds). That’s well below the maximum weight of kettlebells from some other companies (Rep Fitness, the maker of our top pick, offers kettlebells as heavy as 48 kilograms, or about 106 pounds).

Again Faster kettlebells have a 30-day return window and a one-year warranty.

American Barbell’s powder-coated kettlebells have a handle that feels thin, and this may be a drawback for people with bigger hands who like the feel of a nice, thick grip. Our fingers pinched slightly when we did two-handed squats, and when we held our hands vertically to do biceps curls, there was some abrasion between the top of the handle and our index fingers.

The weight on a powder-coated Bells of Steel kettlebell is listed in kilograms and pounds, but the engravings aren’t painted in, so they can be difficult to read. This model’s handle felt a bit slick compared to our picks’ (and my hands were pinched when holding the 12 kg kettlebell with two hands).

The CAP Barbell powder-coated cast-iron kettlebell, previously a budget pick in this guide, has a comfortable, thick handle, but it has limited space for two-handed exercises. Our fingers pressed up against the handle a lot with this model, and when our hands were sweaty, it was a bit slippery to hold the bell to perform squats.

Dragon Door was the first US company to start producing kettlebells, in . It was also the first US company to offer the highly acclaimed Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) Instructor Certification Program, taught by kettlebell guru Pavel Tsatsouline. Most cast-iron kettlebells sold in the US are based on the Dragon Door RKC Kettlebell design. Dragon Door’s e-coated bells are expensive (and they rarely go on sale).

Garage Fit’s powder-coated kettlebells have a small handle, which caused noticeable finger-pinching and are not color-coded. They also seem to be regularly out of stock.

Kettlebell Kings powder-coated bells are more expensive than other models we tested, and they are regularly sold out on the company website. They have a good reputation for quality (perhaps a reason for their low stock), a lifetime warranty, and a thicker handle than most models we tested. However, the handle space is smaller than on our picks, leading to some finger-pinching. These might be better for more-advanced kettlebell users.

The Nike Rubber Coated Kettlebell has a sleek design, with heavy-duty rubber wrapped around a cast iron core (meant for drop protection). I dropped it on a few surfaces and there weren’t any noticeable nicks on the ground or the coating. But the coating felt a bit slippery when we held onto the belly of the kettlebell for certain exercises. The kettlebell has big, easy to read numbers and lettering and a thick handle. My hands felt a bit pinched when holding the 12 kg kettlebell with two hands.

The Perform Better First Place powder-coated kettlebell has more of a square-shaped handle, whereas most other models’ handles eventually slant down into the bell, like an inverted trapezoid. This created some additional space for two-handed swings. Yet it also took away space for our hands when we were holding just the bell portion for some exercises, like diamond push-ups. These bells are not color-coded, but they have large print in white paint to identify different weights.

The Rogue Kettlebell has a powder-coated finish and a color-coded handle for easy weight identification. The Rogue bell’s handle finish feels tacky, and it irritated our hands on one-handed moves. Rogue bells are sold in roughly 4-kilogram (about 8.8-pound) increments.

Titan Fitness KG Cast Iron Kettlebells have one of the smallest handle spaces of the 12-kilogram models we tested; this led to some testers’ pinkies getting smushed against the side of the handle. These powder-coated bells have a rough finish, which we didn’t mind, and they have a nice, thick handle. However, they aren’t color-coded, which is something to keep in mind if you’re looking to eventually build a set of kettlebells.

This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.

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