Kettlebells

[MC Bodge]

didelydoo said:

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 (that’s what I do)

I've done that too...

[anonymous-user]

LordGrover said:

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.

You may well outgrow the 12 quickly but that isn’t the point - using something that you’re able to move without having to heft will help you isolate the muscles you’re actually trying to work. Basically: your form is important when lifting things and starting with something too heavy will mean you never properly nail good form.

[TwistingMyMelon]

I've got some cheap vinyl 12, 16 and 20 kgs ones

They've lasted well , id prefer cast iron but mine do the job

As said already I barely use the 12s but they are handy for trying new routines and warming up

Generally I do a bit of warm up on the 16 and then go on to the 20 , but only if I've been doing them routinely, if I have a break I stick to the 16 for a few sessions

Its easy to do some damage to yourself and use poor form, so don't knock the lighter ones, watch out for the next day DOMS or piles!!

Anyone recommend any routines, as been doing mine to death?

Maybe my 20kgs is only 18 thinking about it, either way its a good workout as I try and keep good form and everything nice and steady

[LordGrover]

Struggling to find any in stock anywhere. Even those showing in-stock as Argos aren't available for delivery or collection locally. Helpfully, the website says I can collect from Argos Rugby, which is 100 miles away.

I've placed an order elsewhere for a 16 KG KB which should be here in a couple of weeks. If I can find a reasonably priced 12 KG I'll get one of those too.

[MC Bodge]

LordGrover said:

Struggling to find any in stock anywhere. Even those showing in-stock as Argos aren't available for delivery or collection locally. Helpfully, the website says I can collect from Argos Rugby, which is 100 miles away.

I've placed an order elsewhere for a 16 KG KB which should be here in a couple of weeks. If I can find a reasonably priced 12 KG I'll get one of those too.

You can use a dumbell (or a DIY kettlebell) for many of the one arm exercises.

I have a dry-bag travel kettlebell -take on holiday and fill with sand or water.

[TheJimi]

Vinyl / plastic coated KB's are fking awful things.

I would also agree that anything below 20kg will quickly be useless, although I do suppose that depends on your strength and conditioning to start with.

Another thing you could do is to buy 2 x 12kg or 2 x 16kg, and that will allow you to scale up to double KB movements.

Edited by TheJimi on Thursday 4th March 13:49

[MC Bodge]

TheJimi said:

I would also agree that anything below 20kg will quickly be useless, although I do suppose that depends on your strength and conditioning to start with.

This being PH, we all clean & press and snatch 60Kg kettlebells for sets of 30, of course

[TheJimi]

MC Bodge said:

TheJimi said:

I would also agree that anything below 20kg will quickly be useless, although I do suppose that depends on your strength and conditioning to start with.

This being PH, we all clean & press and snatch 60Kg kettlebells for sets of 30, of course

What part of my caveat "although I do suppose that depends on your strength and conditioning to start with." - did you miss? Maybe you were in such a rush with your sarky comment that you glossed over that?

Edited by TheJimi on Thursday 4th March 14:26

[MC Bodge]

TheJimi said:

MC Bodge said:

TheJimi said:

I would also agree that anything below 20kg will quickly be useless, although I do suppose that depends on your strength and conditioning to start with.

This being PH, we all clean & press and snatch 60Kg kettlebells for sets of 30, of course

What part of my caveat "although I do suppose that depends on your strength and conditioning to start with." - did you miss?

I didnt, I was just clarifying. Any self-respecting PHer is obviously a strength monster. As you say, "anything less than 20Kg will quickly be useless" for such an Übermensch .

[TheJimi]

MC Bodge said:

TheJimi said:

MC Bodge said:

TheJimi said:

I would also agree that anything below 20kg will quickly be useless, although I do suppose that depends on your strength and conditioning to start with.

This being PH, we all clean & press and snatch 60Kg kettlebells for sets of 30, of course

What part of my caveat "although I do suppose that depends on your strength and conditioning to start with." - did you miss?

I didnt, I was just clarifying. Any self-respecting PHer is obviously a strength monster. As you say, "anything less than 20Kg will quickly be useless" for such an Übermensch .

fk me. Yes, I said that, along with the clearly articulated caveat!

ps off and pick an argument somewhere else.

[MC Bodge]

TheJimi said:

fk me. Yes, I said that, along with the clearly articulated caveat!

ps off and pick an argument somewhere else.

Not at all.

You could have said, "I would also agree that anything below 20kg may quickly be useless", but that's not what some people do is it?

As various people have said above, it wouldn't be "useless" even if he is fairly well conditioned.

[Hoofy]

It also depends on what you're doing with them. Swings? Go heavy. Rehab for shoulders? Go light. High reps for sport-specific endurance? Go even lighter.

I've been told these things are handy ('scuse the pun) if you can't pick up (again, 'scuse the pun) the right weight of KB you want: https://amzn.to/3riJ4Gj

[MC Bodge]

LordGrover said:

Struggling to find any in stock anywhere. Even those showing in-stock as Argos aren't available for delivery or collection locally. Helpfully, the website says I can collect from Argos Rugby, which is 100 miles away.

I've placed an order elsewhere for a 16 KG KB which should be here in a couple of weeks. If I can find a reasonably priced 12 KG I'll get one of those too.

I mentioned a useful alternative/complementary piece of kit further up the thread.


https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-carbon-steel-...

https://www.trainingroomonline.com/15-minute-sledg...

360 swings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgWuA84lhLM&ab...

Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 4th March 15:01

[Chicken_Satay]

For what reasons would a gentleman buy a kettlebell set?

I'd assume dumbbells are far more versatile. Is it a fashion thing or are kettlebells for people who already have a very comprehensive gym setup but need to refine it somehow?

[LordGrover]

See here:

[TheJimi]

Chicken_Satay said:

For what reasons would a gentleman buy a kettlebell set?

I'd assume dumbbells are far more versatile. Is it a fashion thing or are kettlebells for people who already have a very comprehensive gym setup but need to refine it somehow?

Fashion? No.

Dumbbells more versatile? I'd suggest the opposite is true.

Just before the March '20 lockdown kicked in, I bought a load of gym stuff, and I chose KBs exactly because I can do more with them than DBs.

Kettlebells offer a much wider range of dynamic and explosive training *and* they can replicate most DB movements as well and if you don't have weight plates, it's easier to do weighted dips and weighted pullups using a dipping belt and KBs, than it is faffing about wrapping the chain around dumbbells.

Edited by TheJimi on Thursday 4th March 15:55

[Louis Balfour]

LordGrover said:

Is a kettlebell a kettlebell, or does make/style matter?

They seem to range in price e.g. 16kg @ £35 - £75 each.
Size and shape of handle seems to be the main differentiator, plus plain, painted or coated finish.
Any recommendations?

Not used them before but fancy giving them a go.

Be careful of the ones with vinyl covered handles that places like Powehouse sell. They can be positively dangerous with sweaty hands.

[Chicken_Satay]

TheJimi said:

Dumbbells more versatile? I'd suggest the opposite is true.

Edited by TheJimi on Thursday 4th March 15:55

The reason I thought dumbbells were more versatile is that you can easily adjust them to many different weight combinations (assuming you are using weight plates). Where as kettlebells are just a fixed weight.

[TheJimi]

Ah right, guess I can see your logic there.

I haven't used those kind of dumbbells since the 90's

[PistonBroker]

MC Bodge said:

What exercises are you doing? Swings (one hand when you get the form right), cleans and high pulls are all good with a kettlebell.


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 was doing just swings and goblet squats, but then I decided I needed to do a bit more so jumped on YT.

So far I've done Caroline Girvan's 15-minute and 30-minute workouts a few times - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCcar3MA07w - and then I found this chap and have tried this a couple of times - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVA4Z_Zxlkk

I prefer Caroline's for obvious aesthetic reasons, but also because she previews the next exercise. I lose 10 seconds or so watching what the chap does at the start of each exercise. But his I think is better for what I'm after - I run 2 x 5k and 1 x 10-12k a week, so I'm not too worried about my lower body. It's my upper Dad-bod I'd like to get shot of!