Discussion
Yes, sort of. You can get competition KBs which are all the same size, but weigh differently.
Cast Iron will be fine for someone who's just getting into them, it's what I use and I'd consider myself an intermediate.
Don't get the cheap vinyl covered ones, they're crap and not worth the money.
Try Wolverson or Saber Fitness. I've got Kbs from both of these. The wolverson black series are great.
Cast Iron will be fine for someone who's just getting into them, it's what I use and I'd consider myself an intermediate.
Don't get the cheap vinyl covered ones, they're crap and not worth the money.
Try Wolverson or Saber Fitness. I've got Kbs from both of these. The wolverson black series are great.
I have an unbranded cast-iron 16Kg and a cast-iron Men's Health 24Kg -quite a good combination for high and low reps. I'd suggest starting with 12 or 16Kg depending on your conditioning, but learn technique properly. My wife has an 8Kg which would be good to learn with.
The 16Kg has a smooth, fairly standard diameter handle. The 24Kg has a fatter, quite rough, handle. The fatter handle makes for more challenge to the grip.
I'm not sure that brand is important.
Avoid the plastic-coated concrete ones.
Another option, which I really rate, is the mace:
https://www.setforset.com/blogs/news/16-best-steel...
for a cheaper alternative to a lighter mace you can start with a sledgehammer-various sizes of hammer are available
The 16Kg has a smooth, fairly standard diameter handle. The 24Kg has a fatter, quite rough, handle. The fatter handle makes for more challenge to the grip.
I'm not sure that brand is important.
Avoid the plastic-coated concrete ones.
Another option, which I really rate, is the mace:
https://www.setforset.com/blogs/news/16-best-steel...
for a cheaper alternative to a lighter mace you can start with a sledgehammer-various sizes of hammer are available
Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 3rd March 11:13
I have a Men's Health cast-iron 16kg.
Now I've actually started using it - rather than it being an ornament in the corner of the bedroom for about a year! - it seems fine. I've had to start wearing old mountain-bike gloves as I got a blister inside one palm from the handle. Not sure if a coated handle would have helped against that.
My wife tells me 16kg is too heavy for me and I have to concede it was a bit of a shock when I had to carry it out of Argos! But I think it's actually fine. I'm noticing myself get more used to it and I'm not sure something lower would have given me the workout I was after.
Now I've actually started using it - rather than it being an ornament in the corner of the bedroom for about a year! - it seems fine. I've had to start wearing old mountain-bike gloves as I got a blister inside one palm from the handle. Not sure if a coated handle would have helped against that.
My wife tells me 16kg is too heavy for me and I have to concede it was a bit of a shock when I had to carry it out of Argos! But I think it's actually fine. I'm noticing myself get more used to it and I'm not sure something lower would have given me the workout I was after.
PistonBroker said:
I have a Men's Health cast-iron 16kg.
Now I've actually started using it - rather than it being an ornament in the corner of the bedroom for about a year! - it seems fine. I've had to start wearing old mountain-bike gloves as I got a blister inside one palm from the handle. Not sure if a coated handle would have helped against that.
My wife tells me 16kg is too heavy for me and I have to concede it was a bit of a shock when I had to carry it out of Argos! But I think it's actually fine. I'm noticing myself get more used to it and I'm not sure something lower would have given me the workout I was after.
What exercises are you doing? Swings (one hand when you get the form right), cleans and high pulls are all good with a kettlebell.Now I've actually started using it - rather than it being an ornament in the corner of the bedroom for about a year! - it seems fine. I've had to start wearing old mountain-bike gloves as I got a blister inside one palm from the handle. Not sure if a coated handle would have helped against that.
My wife tells me 16kg is too heavy for me and I have to concede it was a bit of a shock when I had to carry it out of Argos! But I think it's actually fine. I'm noticing myself get more used to it and I'm not sure something lower would have given me the workout I was after.
Your hands will toughen up. I have long had calluses on my hands so I've not had issues.
Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 2nd March 15:07
I'm trying to decide whether to admit I'm a wuss and get a 12 kgs KB to start, or man up and go for 16 kgs.
Most online advice suggests men 16-24kgs and women 8-12kgs - but I'm assuming they're referring to fit young types rather than on-again/off-again 58 year old blokes.
I think I'll swallow my pride and start with a 12.
Most online advice suggests men 16-24kgs and women 8-12kgs - but I'm assuming they're referring to fit young types rather than on-again/off-again 58 year old blokes.
I think I'll swallow my pride and start with a 12.
LordGrover said:
I'm trying to decide whether to admit I'm a wuss and get a 12 kgs KB to start, or man up and go for 16 kgs.
Most online advice suggests men 16-24kgs and women 8-12kgs - but I'm assuming they're referring to fit young types rather than on-again/off-again 58 year old blokes.
I think I'll swallow my pride and start with a 12.
Get the 12Kg, get used to the movements and go for reps. Swing with the glutes, not the back muscles. Watch Youtube videos or get tuition.Most online advice suggests men 16-24kgs and women 8-12kgs - but I'm assuming they're referring to fit young types rather than on-again/off-again 58 year old blokes.
I think I'll swallow my pride and start with a 12.
Keep it somewhere you can see it and use it regularly -it doesn't need to be a "training session".
Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 2nd March 15:39
didelydoo said:
16 or a 24 is best for most- lighter ones become very easy very fast imo!
This is my concern. I suspect I may outgrow the 12 pretty quickly - despite what I said above, although I'm fairly out of touch right now I expect to regain my strength fairly quickly as I have quite a lot of weightlifting experience - though never a 'proper' strongman.
I think it's probably best I start with the 12 to get familiar, then increase as I get better/stronger.
LordGrover said:
This is my concern.
I suspect I may outgrow the 12 pretty quickly - despite what I said above, despite being fairly out of touch right now I expect to regain my strength fairly quickly as I have quite a lot of experience - though never a 'proper' strongman.
I think it's probably best I start with the 12 to get familiar, then increase as I get better/stronger.
Even if you get stronger, you can still use the lighter one to warm up/for mobility/ more difficult exercises. I sometimes use my wife's 8Kg just to do some movement. I suspect I may outgrow the 12 pretty quickly - despite what I said above, despite being fairly out of touch right now I expect to regain my strength fairly quickly as I have quite a lot of experience - though never a 'proper' strongman.
I think it's probably best I start with the 12 to get familiar, then increase as I get better/stronger.
LordGrover said:
This is my concern.
I suspect I may outgrow the 12 pretty quickly - despite what I said above, although I'm fairly out of touch right now I expect to regain my strength fairly quickly as I have quite a lot of weightlifting experience - though never a 'proper' strongman.
I think it's probably best I start with the 12 to get familiar, then increase as I get better/stronger.
I bought an adjustable one which I am happy with. It is the bowflex one, which is hideously expensive in the UK from what I recall, but there are others. The bowflex one goes from 3.5 to 18kg. I suspect I may outgrow the 12 pretty quickly - despite what I said above, although I'm fairly out of touch right now I expect to regain my strength fairly quickly as I have quite a lot of weightlifting experience - though never a 'proper' strongman.
I think it's probably best I start with the 12 to get familiar, then increase as I get better/stronger.
Now I'm struggling to find any of the feckers in stock. 
Quite like the look of these, though they're at the upper end price wise.
' Original Kettlebell
Quite like the look of these, though they're at the upper end price wise.
' Original Kettlebell
Just get the Mens Health ones from argos that some posters reference.
Time under load is better than overall weight. But 12kg will get easy fast, I suggest 16kg and if its a struggle supplement with unweighted squats, tricep dips etc to build the strength to use it effectively.
Obviously, I use 24kg due to my powerful build.
Time under load is better than overall weight. But 12kg will get easy fast, I suggest 16kg and if its a struggle supplement with unweighted squats, tricep dips etc to build the strength to use it effectively.
Obviously, I use 24kg due to my powerful build.
I'd agree with getting a 12kg... I use a pair of 16s and a 20... I do wish I had a 12kg to do things like warm up and just change the stimulus a bit.
Plus, even if you did 'grow' out of a 12 into 16/20 you'll always use the lighter ones like I say as a warm up and things like Turkish Get ups.
If you're on Instagram, there are tonnes of really good, down to earth KB trainers who post great videos. Marcus Filey and Bill Esch are two I follow.
Either way, they're very versatile and great tools!
Plus, even if you did 'grow' out of a 12 into 16/20 you'll always use the lighter ones like I say as a warm up and things like Turkish Get ups.
If you're on Instagram, there are tonnes of really good, down to earth KB trainers who post great videos. Marcus Filey and Bill Esch are two I follow.
Either way, they're very versatile and great tools!
01WE01 said:
Obviously, I use 24kg due to my powerful build.
Pah. You should try this 1 Tonne one
(a photo from the www, but I did try picking it up when I went there. I've no idea why somebody decided to put it there. I assume that is fastened to the ground to prevent it being tipped over)
LordGrover said:
This is my concern.
I suspect I may outgrow the 12 pretty quickly - despite what I said above, although I'm fairly out of touch right now I expect to regain my strength fairly quickly as I have quite a lot of weightlifting experience - though never a 'proper' strongman.
I think it's probably best I start with the 12 to get familiar, then increase as I get better/stronger.
Just tape things to it to make it heavier I suspect I may outgrow the 12 pretty quickly - despite what I said above, although I'm fairly out of touch right now I expect to regain my strength fairly quickly as I have quite a lot of weightlifting experience - though never a 'proper' strongman.
I think it's probably best I start with the 12 to get familiar, then increase as I get better/stronger.
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