Even if you’re new to the world of fitness and working out, it probably didn’t take long for you to hear the buzz about kettlebells. The hype is well warranted. They offer your workouts quite a bit and can be used for building muscle, losing weight, improving cardio, and building balance.
Like most products though, there are quite a lot of options on the market. Therefore, finding the best kettlebells for beginners can be a bit daunting. So, let’s take a look at some of the best kettlebells for beginners, as well as some features to look for and some frequently asked questions.
- Best Overall: Yes4All Vinyl Coated Kettlebell 60lbs Set
- Runner Up: Amazon Basics Vinyl Coated Cast Iron Kettlebell Weight
- Best Value: Yes4All Powder Coated Kettlebell Set of 30lbs (5lbs, 10lbs, 15lbs)
- Best Adjustable: Powerblock Adjustable Kettlebell, Black, 35 lb
Best Overall
The Yes4All 60lbs set includes three high-quality vinyl covered kettlebells. They are built to last and simple and comfortable to use.
- Extremely durable – Cast iron body covered in vinyl finish
- Three wight set – Gives the versatility for a comprehensive workout
- Flat bottom – allows for renegade rows, handstands, mounted pistol squats, and upright storage
- Textured handle – Smooth texture is highly comfortable and secure
- Clearly labeled weight – Colored vinyl makes numbers stand out
- None
Overview
If you checked out my other kettlebell articles, you are already familiar with Yes4All kettlebells. Their 60lbs set of three kettlebells is my overall top pick for the best kettlebells for beginners. This particular combination of weights gives you a great starting size kettlebell and a few slightly higher weights you can grow into.
This is perfect for beginners, however, it’s also something you will find useful years from now. Furthermore, the high-quality vinyl cover and the cast iron body ensure that your kettlebells will still be in great shape years down the line.
Yes4All offers everything you need to start exercising with kettlebells. They’re simple, they’re high quality and the weight options give you the versatility to start wherever you’re comfortable. Pair this with the fact that the set won’t break the bank of those looking to test the waters and you have my number 1 pick for the overall best kettlebells for beginners.
The set contains one of each of the following:
- 15lb kettlebell
- 20lb kettlebell
- 25lb kettlebell
Runner Up
A very simple, very easy-to-use, sturdy kettlebell that checks all the boxes for a beginner kettlebell user. The 25lb option is a good starting point for most able-bodied users.
- Solid Construction – Kettlebells are solid cast iron with no welds or seams
- Built to last - The body is covered in vinyl finish that prevents chipping
- Flat Bottom – Allows for upright storage and exercises requiring a flat bottom
- Budget-Friendly
- Doesn't come in sets
Overview
The downsides for the Amazon Basics Vinyl Kettlebells won’t be issues for everybody. For example, many beginners may be looking for only a single kettlebell of lower weight.
The design is simple and checks all the boxes of the higher-priced kettlebells out there. For beginners, I have chosen the vinyl-covered version of the Amazon Basic instead of the straight iron version. This is due strictly to the handle.
While the non-vinyl version is plenty secure, it tends to not be as polished as some. As a result, it can be a bit rough on the hands. This won’t be a deal-breaker for everybody. However, I wouldn’t want someone just starting out to have a sub-par experience due to discomfort and walk away from kettlebells. So, the vinyl-covered version gets the nod here.
If you are looking for one single kettlebell to experiment with look no farther than the runner-up. There are other weight options available but I feel that 25lbs is a great medium when buying a single weight. Get it and try it and you won’t be disappointed.
Best Value
This set is a little on the light side as far as weight options. However, Yes4All offers these solid, well-built kettlebells at a fraction of the price of other sets.
- Solid Construction – Kettlebells are solid cast iron with no welds or seams
- Flat Bottom – Allows for upright storage and exercises requiring a flat bottom
- Solid Handle – Textured handle is secure and comfortable
- Budget-Friendly – The 30lb set is particularly cheap
- Black paint finish may chip over time
Overview
If you’re looking for cheap kettlebells as a beginner you can’t do much better than the Yes4All Powder Coated Kettlebell Set. They have much the same qualifies as substantially higher-priced kettlebell sets for a fraction of the price.
Their solid iron construction is simple but durable. The flat bottom allows for a variety of exercises like renegade rows, handstands, mounted pistol squats, and easy upright storage.
Furthermore, Yes4All offers a nice selection of weight options from 25lbs sets to 105lbs sets. The 30lbs set is particularly cheap and is my top pick for the best value in kettlebells for beginners. The 30lbs set comes with:
- 5lb kettlebell
- 10lb kettlebell
- 15lb kettlebell
Best Adjustable
The Powerblock Adjustable Kettlebell has solid construction, three different weight options (22lbs, 26lbs, and 25lbs) and features a single, easy to use pin to adjust weight.
- Overall build quality – Extremely durable w/high-quality finish
- Quality handle – Textured for superior grip but also highly comfortable
- Smooth surfaces – All welds and joints are smooth, ensuring complete comfort
- Easily adjustable – Single pin design makes for quick, easy, and secure changes
- Size And shape -Adjusting weight does not alter the overall size of the product
- Higher price – Price reflects quality however not the most budget-friendly option
Overview
Adjustable kettlebells have a few big upsides for beginners. First, they offer several different weights in one unit. This takes much of the guesswork away about what size weight you should buy first.
The Powerblock Adjustable kettlebell truly offers a four-in-one adjustable setup with virtually none of the downside of other adjustable kettlebells. The body, handle and selection pin are of 100% steel construction.
Yet, the finish on the welds and handle makes everything very smooth and comfortable. The magnetic weight selection pin is simple to use and extremely secure.
The use of a pin instead of removable plates means the kettlebell won’t change shape or size at all, no matter how much weight you have selected. This unit truly offers a four-in-one adjustable setup with virtually none of the downside of other adjustable kettlebells.
If you are looking to get your hands on the best adjustable kettlebells out there, this is the product for you. Each weight has the following settings:
- 20lb set with the following settings:
- 5lb
- 7.5lb
- 10lb
- 12.5lb
- 15lb
- 17.5lb
- 20lb
- 40lb set with the following settings:
- 7.7lb
- 12.3lb
- 17.8lb
- 23.7lb
- 29.7lb
- 35.2lb
- 40lb
Features To Look For In Kettlebells For Beginners
Quality Handles
Comfort is always an important quality for workout equipment, regardless of experience level. However, it can be especially important for those who are just beginning.
As a beginner, there may be countless mental or physical hurdles to starting to work out or exercise. You do not want to add discomfort due to sub-par equipment to this list.
Therefore, you should make sure your kettlebells have quality handles that are comfortable. This usually means having a smooth finish with no rough edges around the joints.
Furthermore, you’ll want to take into consideration the size of your hands and if you’ll want to do two-handed kettlebell exercises and get a kettlebell with an appropriate-sized handle for your needs.
For example, too small of a handle can cause your hands to be very cramped and make two-handed exercises impossible. While having a very large handle isn’t as big of a deal in most cases, if your hands are very small it can cause problems having a secure grip.
Correct Weight
So, what is the correct weight for a kettlebell beginner? If you are generally able-bodied, I recommend you start with 25lbs. This may seem like too little or too much, depending on how fit you are.
However, if you’re not used to specifically kettlebells, start here and go from there. Almost everyone regardless of gender or experience level can get a great full-body workout with a 25lbs kettlebell.
Affordability
If you are just starting with kettlebells, you may not want to invest in a large, expensive set from the start. Unless you have tons of disposable income, it’s best to start small. That way you can gauge if kettlebells are your thing without spending too much.
However, ideally, you do want something that will be of use to you for a long time, if you do stick with kettlebells. The easiest way to do this is to honestly evaluate your interest in kettlebells and then your spending budget.
Next, try and buy a kettlebell in the medium (15lbs-30lbs) range. That way it’ll be usable on day one but still have its place even years down the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Kettlebell To Start With?
In general, the best kettlebell to start with will check all of the following boxes: First, you’ll want a comfortable handle without rough welds or joints. Next, your first kettlebell should be around 25lbs.
You can read more about starting weight here. This medium is usually good for beginners but is still usable once you progress as well.
Lastly, you’ll want to consider your budget and how much space you have to store weights. With that said, all of the kettlebells listed above are great options for beginners looking to get into kettlebells.
Should Beginners Use Kettlebells?
If you are interested in kettlebells at all you should absolutely use them, even if you are a beginner. Kettlebells offer a dynamic and effective workout that is also quite exciting compared to other free weights.
All of these things can do wonders for someone just starting their weightlifting journey. Just be sure to start with the basics and listen to your body, as well as use proper form to avoid injury.
How Many Kettlebells Does A Beginner Need?
You can get started using kettlebells as a beginner with a single weight. With that said, I think a set of three kettlebells is ideal for beginners. Having three separate weights gives you flexibility for your workouts and ensures you can “grow into” your weights and still find them useful.
Furthermore, some kettlebell exercises are a lot harder than others. So again, having a few different weights to choose from means you can adjust depending on what you’re doing.
What Kettlebell Weight Is Best For Beginners?
Choosing the correct initial weight can be very important for the future of your workout regimen.
Too heavy of a kettlebell can be hard to use and can stunt your progress before you really start. After all, you’ve got to be able to lift your equipment to use it. While too light of a kettlebell may never be useless, you won’t be getting the full potential of your workouts and may get bored. Let’s break this down a little bit.
First, when it comes to specifically kettlebells, you can probably lift more weight than you think, even starting out. This is because kettlebell workouts often use many muscle groups at once.
So, when compared to say, a dumbbell, which isolates a few specific muscles, it’s easier to lift higher weights with a kettlebell. Again, simply because you’re using more muscles to complete the actions.
However, using multiple muscle groups actually works both ways. Let me elaborate. People who use other free weights may overestimate the amount of weight they could do with a kettlebell.
This is again due to the number of muscles used. The muscles you use for bench presses or dumbbell curls may be accustomed to heavy weight. However, some of the small, obscure muscles you’ll use in kettlebell exercises won’t be conditioned for that same amount of weight.
Lastly, as a beginner, choosing a good weight for your first kettle means you won’t have to buy several weights as you grow. Ideally, you’ll choose a weight light enough to comfortably use on day one but heavy enough to still be useful later down the road too.
Finding that sweet spot can save you money in the long run. Therefore, if you are generally able-bodied, I recommend you start with 25lbs.
Do I Need Two Kettlebells?
The general answer here is, no. The majority of kettlebell exercises are done with a single kettlebell. Using a single weight instead of one on each side has a lot of benefits as well. Having one side of your body loaded with weight causes the muscles on the opposite side to compensate to keep your body straight.
This asymmetry causes you to use a lot more muscles while exercising. It also can go quite a long way in improving your balance.
So, while some exercises may require a set of matching kettlebells, the majority do not. Therefore, you can certainly get a comprehensive full-body workout with a single kettlebell.
How do I choose a kettlebell?
Most of the products on the market will tell you they are the best. So weeding out the good from the bad or the ok from the best can be difficult. First and foremost it’s important to know the overall qualities you should be looking for.
Here’s a quick rundown of important features:
- A comfortable quality handle
- A medium weight that you can use early and grow with
- Something that fits within your budget
Reading reviews online can be a good way to find quality products as well. With that said, you can find all our top picks for the best kettlebells for beginners above. They are all high quality, comfortable and affordable for those looking to start getting fit using kettlebells.
Is It Ok To Use Kettlebells Every Day?
This is a somewhat hard question to answer. The short answer is yes, you can use kettlebells every day and it is ok. However, there are quite a few variables to consider. Let’s break this down some.
First, it is recommended and beneficial to take days off from working out every so often to allow your muscles to recover.
This is especially true if you work out really hard or experience severe soreness after a workout. Always listen to your body and take recovery days when you need.
Secondly, your body becomes accustomed to the workouts you do pretty quickly. Once your body gets used to the exercises, weight, and reps you’re doing you won’t see as many results from it. So, if you do use kettlebells every day be sure to mix up your exercises to keep your body guessing.
This brings me to my last point which is to hit different parts of the body if one area needs a break. This allows you to exercise every day while still giving your body time to heal.
Conclusion
Working out and staying active is something everyone should do. While we won’t all be bodybuilders or even lift weights, staying fit is very important for a good quality of life. With that said, kettlebells are a great tool for doing so, regardless of experience level.
So, if you’re contemplating picking up some kettlebells, please do. I hope this guide has been of some use to you in finding which of the best kettlebells for beginners is right for you. So, get out there and get strong my friends.