6 Best Kettlebells (original) (raw)
The 6 Very Best Kettlebells
For almost a decade — all throughout my college running career and recently in place of buying a gym membership — a single kettlebell has been my favorite workout companion and my main form of strength training. If I had to pick only one item to use for at-home workouts, I would choose a kettlebell, simply because of the variety of workouts and exercises you can do with it.
While kettlebells may seem like some of the most straightforward pieces of gym equipment, they have a few key features that can set apart the solid, long-term investments from the cheap ones. My colleague Jeremy Rellosa and I tested a handful of the below sets (and more at various gyms) — including ones from Rogue, Get RXd, and Onnit, the best-known brands in the space — to determine which are the ones to get. Plus, we spoke to physical therapists, strength and conditioning coaches, Olympic weight-lifting coaches, and home-gym-equipment experts to get their kettlebell recommendations for every type of user and workout.
Updated on March 9, 2026
Our favorite kettlebells have been updated with the latest pricing and availability. I’ve also added the Bells of Steel as our new best adjustable kettlebell pick.
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Coating is the clearest indicator of a kettlebell’s quality.When I asked certified Olympic weight-lifting coach Paolo Galang what he looks for in a good kettlebell, he said how durable the kettlebell is, and that starts with the coating. “The coating has to provide grip, with or without chalk, regardless of the use — whether you’re slinging them around all crazy during a workout or not.” Kettlebells are meant to be picked up, lifted, and swung more than any other free weight. That’s why the exterior coating has to offer grip but be comfortable enough against the skin throughout multiple sessions.
Much like the grip on a barbell or dumbbell, the coating type comes down to personal preference, but the highest quality kettlebells are made of iron or steel and are powder coated. This provides a smooth finish while offering grip and serving as a barrier against rust, which is important if you plan to use them outdoors. “I don’t want them to get rusty after tons of use and cleaning,” Galang says. Some kettlebells come in a softer enamel, vinyl, or epoxy coating (most often on the round part, though some are coated throughout), which feels soft or rubbery and will generally dampen the noise when the kettlebells are set down on hard surfaces.
Like dumbbells, kettlebells are offered in a range of different weights, which is helpful to know whether you’re looking to build a home gym or just to have the right increments of weight for your workouts. I have a set of four (18, 26, 35, and 53 pounds), but I use the 18- and 26-pound kettlebells the most. If you’ve never used kettlebells before, I’d recommend starting with one or two first to get a feel for them before investing in a full set.
Some kettlebells are adjustable, meaning they can accommodate different weight ranges with a single casing, base, or handle. (This is the same principle behind adjustable dumbbells.) Most of the kettlebells below have a color-coding system that corresponds with their weight.
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Coating type: Powder-coated ductile iron | Weight range: 9 to 203 lbs. | Features: Color-coded
The Rogue Fitness kettlebells are our top recommendation because of their soft powder coating (which makes them easier to hold) and overall durability. Rellosa says these were the first (and only) set he bought in 2019, and he still uses them about twice a week for at-home strength workouts. “My palms get a little sweaty when I lift, and Rogue’s soft powder coating provides a great balance of grip and smoothness, which is crucial when you’re doing swinging exercises,” he notes. “I like to make sure the kettlebell can move and swing forward in my hand while I’m gripping it; I don’t prefer vinyl-coated kettlebells because they stick to my palms.” In terms of durability, Rellosa stores them inside his apartment (and on one occasion, for a few weeks outside on the back patio), and they have yet to show any sign of rust or wear.
Rogue Fitness kettlebells are some of the most popular sets on the market, and they continue to be a favorite because of their feel and construction. Both Galang and Dr. Clinton Lee, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and former StrongFirst Level I kettlebell instructor, recommend these kettlebells. “Many consider Rogue Fitness to be the best brand of fitness equipment in the country,” Lee says. Galang agrees: “You usually can’t go wrong with their products.” (Rogue also makes my top weight bench recommendation.) Galang calls these kettlebells the best kettlebells for the money because of their durable powder coating. It helps that they look sleek in any gym setting, he says.
Writer Jeremy Rellosa using a Rogue Fitness kettlebell.Photo: Jeremy Rellosa
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Photo: Get RXd
Coating type: Powder-coated cast iron | Weight range: 9 to 106 lbs. | Features: Color-coded
If you’re stocking up on a full set of kettlebells, and if Rogue’s best-of-the-best reputation doesn’t matter to you, we recommend this set from Get RXd, which is comparable to Rogue’s in terms of quality but at a slightly more affordable price per kettlebell and as a set overall. (A 9-, 13-, and 18-pound set of Rogue kettlebells will cost 130,whilethesamethreeGetRXdkettlebellscost130, while the same three Get RXd kettlebells cost 130,whilethesamethreeGetRXdkettlebellscost96.) Rellosa has used these kettlebells at a few gyms and found their powder coating to be comfortable and grippy. Although Lee recommends the Rogue Fitness kettlebells for folks shopping for a new set, he prefers Get RXd kettlebells for his own workouts and attests to their quality. “I’ve been using Get RXd kettlebells for the past five years and have pairs ranging from 9 pounds through 70 pounds. Excellent quality, feels great in my hands and on my wrists,” he says. “As a former certified kettlebell instructor, having high-quality, durable kettlebells was (and is still) important to me. Get RXd certainly fit the bill.”
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Coating type: Neoprene-coated cast iron (2.4 lbs constructed of neoprene-coated aluminum) | Weight range: 2.4 to 26 lbs. (YBell Pro offers 10 to 44 lbs.) | Features: Stackable, multiple grip options
If you are looking for a non-traditional kettlebell that can do it all, consider the YBell from TRX. The ergonomic design allows you to hold it like a traditional kettlebell as well as a dumbbell, a medicine ball, and even as push-up bars or handles. I’ve been testing it only for the past few weeks, but I’m so impressed with how versatile the YBells are that I’m already considering ordering more. To give you a bit of background, I often use weights for HIIT, yoga, or mat Pilates workouts in my living room (not exactly intense power lifting in the garage), so the weight is always between ten and 30 pounds. I love that I can grip the YBells in a variety of ways depending on my workout. For example, it works for exercises such as a bear crawl with a kettlebell drag, a one-arm overhead press, Russian twists, and triceps curls. In my testing, the YBells also proved effective for more common kettlebell exercises, including swings, cleans, and farmers’ carries. I know that kettlebells are already a pretty versatile piece of equipment. Still, I’d recommend considering YBells if you’re looking for something with more grip options or are just feeling intimidated by the concept of kettlebells in general.
Note: The YBell Neo is made with a nonslip neoprene coating, which makes it comfortable to hold but means it may not be as rugged as a powder-coated kettlebell, such as our best overall Rogue Fitness. While it’s too early to say on the durability front, I love that the neoprene prevents the grips from getting too slippery. TRX also sells the YBell Pro, which is designed for avid lifters and features powder-coated cast iron. It comes in heavier options if you prefer a heavier load.
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Coating type: Powder-coated steel | Weight range: 12 to 30 kilograms (3, 2, 1, and 0.5 kilogram increment plates) or 26.5 to 70.5 pounds | Features: Screw-on, includes wrench and nut for adjusting the weight
This Bells of Steel adjustable kettlebell comes recommended by senior editor Winnie Yang, who received it as a gift from her husband. After testing this kettlebell regularly for the past several months, Yang says that the Bells of Steel is similar to traditional, nonadjustable kettlebells she’s used in physical therapy thanks to the standard silver handle and rugged, powder-coated shell. Plus it’s not unwieldy to handle: “As someone who is petite, I don’t find it hard to do all the usual kettlebell exercises,” Yang says. She also loves the pebbly handle: “I’ve used them with slightly damp hands and took note of how it did not feel like it was slipping, even when I was doing swings,” she told me.
Compared to a kettlebell with a selection dial, like the BowFlex below, the Bells of Steel will be a bit more time-consuming to adjust. As Yang notes, “You have to take it apart with a wrench, put the plates in, and put it back together.” But the tradeoff is the Bells of Steel should feel more like a standard kettlebell, plus it has an excellent weight range with weight increments as small as 0.5 kilograms up to three kilograms. When fully loaded it has a weight of 32 kilograms (70.5 pounds) compared to the BowFlex’s 40-pound max. Yang also told me she was pleased to discover that Bells of Steel offers a plastic bottom for even lighter kettlebell exercises.
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Coating type: Rubber-coated steel | Weight range: 8 to 40 lbs. | Features: Selection dial, six weights in one system
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly pick that’s adjustable, this BowFlex is under $150 and saves you space by nesting a variety of weights into one system. It has a selection dial that allows you to pick your desired weight while the kettlebell is in the casing; once the weight is selected, you can lift it from its base. It effectively replaces six kettlebells with one system.
In testing the SelectTech, Rellosa found the nesting system straightforward and easy to use. “I didn’t like the kettlebell’s rubber-coated grip, however, which felt a little too sticky in my palm when doing swings and clean and presses,” says Rellosa, adding that he prefers powder-coated grips. Personal grip preferences aside, the SelectTech is still our top recommendation for users who use one kettlebell at a time — and who want to save on space and money. It’s also a favorite of home-gym-equipment expert Hayden Carpenter, who uses the SelectTech frequently for hangboarding, a type of training exercise for rock climbing.
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Coating type: Enamel-coated cast iron | Weight range: 10 to 40 lbs. | Features: No color coding
This simple, no-frills kettlebell doesn’t have a powder-coated finish or color coding, but I think this is a great option if you’re a beginner weight lifter who’s looking to give kettlebell exercises a try, or if you’re not sure about investing in a full set of multiple kettlebells. Its enamel-coated grip is smooth and easy on the hands, and it’s half the price of some of the top picks on this list, so its value is hard to beat.
• Hayden Carpenter, freelance writer and home-gym equipment expert
• Paolo Galang, certified Olympic weight-lifting coach
• Dr. Clinton Lee, physical therapist, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and former StrongFirst Level I kettlebell instructor
• Winnie Yang, Strategist senior editor
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