The Best Kettlebells for Getting Shredded at Home

In case you hadn’t noticed, “functional fitness” has popped off in recent years, and if you’re looking to get in on some of those gains at home, the best kettlebells are a great place to start. Pop into any gym worth its salt, and you’re bound to see a rack full of heavy iron orbs ranging from a manageable 9 pounds all the way to—in some heavy-duty gyms—a whopping 203 pounds. (Though they tend to have weights listed in “kilograms,” whatever those are.)

If you’ve never picked a kettlebell up, don’t sweat—they’re easy to use, and great for beginners and experts alike. Whether your workouts have been feeling stale, or you’ve just been spinning your wheels shuffling from the incline bench to the dumbbell rack to the lat pull-down and back, the best kettlebells are a great way to spice up your training—and secure some major gains while you’re at it. Below, we pulled five of our favorite kettlebells for full-body workouts that build strength, stability, and cardio. (Don’t worry, bro: You can still make time for curls.)

The Best Kettlebells, at a Glance:

The Best Kettlebell Overall: Rep Fitness Kettlebell

If you want the purest embodiment of what a kettlebell should be, look no further than the REP Kettlebell. REP uses a gravity die-cast process which gives you a kettlebell that is precise in weight and guaranteed to be balanced, with a flat and stable base. I tested the 20kg option and liked that the handle was sufficiently wide to fit both hands, great for movements like kettlebell swings. Kettlebells with more narrow handles fail in this regard, pinching your fingers and making the overall experience a hassle. The REP Kettlebell might not have some of the fancy design or innovations of other kettlebells on this list, but as the old adage goes—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. REP’s kettlebell is a classic: It doesn’t need anything fancy, just solid craftsmanship and a guarantee to (with hard, consistent work) get you jacked.

The Best Kettlebell for Travel: GoRuck Sand Kettlebell

Goruck leads the pack in the rucking space and makes some of the highest-quality gear on the market for lugging heavy packs on long, intense treks. (Rucking was even named the workout of the year by an incredibly reputable publication in 2024.) They also offer a really cool sand kettlebell—our pick for the best travel kettlebell—which is essentially a nearly-indestructible bag made of 1,000 denier Cordura nylon with a large handle. It has a zip-top which exposes the velcro closure of the sand compartment, which you can fill with (you guessed it) sand to catch workouts on the go. When empty, you can pack it down and toss it in a carry-on—perfect for adding some much-needed gains to your next beach vacation.

I tested the 44-pound option, and although it’s somewhat bulkier than a cast-iron kettlebell of the same weight, the sand filling is much more forgiving than a hard metal ball. Whether you’re an advanced kettlebell user or just getting started, a sand kettlebell is far less likely to cause injury while swinging or dropping on an unprotected toe, in my opinion. Unfortunately, the nylon handle means that upside down handle presses are out of the question—but that’s a small price to pay for a kettlebell that can go anywhere. Plus, Goruck’s Scars Lifetime Guarantee means that if you do miraculously manage to break this thing, they’ll fix or replace it, free of charge.

The Best Adjustable Kettlebell: Bowflex SelectTech 840

Some kettlebell obsessives are opposed, in principle, to the idea of an adjustable kettlebell. The argument is that a kettlebell’s singular solid construction is what makes it so useful for a variety of movement patterns. I understand their point, but if you’re tight on space and want multiple weight options for a fraction of the price, the adjustable kettlebell solves that problem.

While many brands offer adjustable kettlebells, the Bowflex Select Tech 840 is my favorite. Most other offerings require a separate tool and some manner of disassembly to adjust the weight. The SelectTech 840 has a convenient selection wheel that allows you to choose your desired weight (8 to 40 pounds) and easily pick it up from the detachable base. It is obviously not a solid piece of metal, but it still feels stable and performs well in most standard movements. Considering a single kettlebell can run you upwards of $100, the SelectTech 840’s six weight options for $149 is a steal.

The Best Looking Kettlebell: Onnit Primal Kettlebell

When it comes to the quintessential cast-iron kettlebell, there isn’t a whole lot of variation between brands. Some have larger handles than others and each is adorned with their respective logo—but that’s about it. Enter: Onnit’s Primal Bell, where each kettlebell is molded in the shape of a different primate’s head. Current stock ranges from the 36 lb “Chimp” to the 90lb “Bigfoot.” Aside from helping to channel your inner beast, as it were, these are guaranteed to make grueling thrusters, goblet squats, and suitcase carries a little more fun. The world is heavy, so keep your kettlebells light (metaphorically speaking, of course).

The Best Kettlebell Attachment: Kettlebell Kings Kettlebell Wrap Floor Protector

Kettlebells are meant to be picked up and put down—often with quite a bit of force. If you live in an apartment and still want to get a workout in while at least maintaining the facade of a friendly relationship with your neighbors, I recommend you check out Kettlebell Kings—specifically, their Kettlebell Wrap Floor Protector, which is a 3mm-thick neoprene sleeve designed to envelope the kettlebell. The base of the wrap has a built in rubber pad, and it secures with Velcro on top, and helps dampen the noise of putting it down and protect your floors. I would still advise caution (a.k.a. don’t slam the kettlebell on the ground) but it’s a good investment for working out at home. Pair it with a sweet rug and you might even beat the Upstairs Neighbor allegations. After all, a returned security deposit means more money to spend on workout ‘fits.

What to Look for in a Kettlebell

Kettlebells consist of a solid metal base (usually cast iron) with a rounded handle on top. The best kettlebells are cast from a single mold so that the handle and body are wholly joined and more durable—they’re also often sprayed with a coating to provide a better grip and limit rust and abrasion. Adjustable kettlebells allow you to change the weight of the kettlebell either manually or through some kind of selection wheel, while loadable kettlebells are essentially empty vessels that can be filled either with water or sand to add weight—the latter being perfect for travel. Which kettlebell you pick should be based on your training environment, but for most people, we recommend investing in a solid cast-iron model like the REP Kettlebell.

How to Use Kettlebells

The main draw of kettlebells is that their spherical construction and large handles allow for a more balanced weight distribution and allow them to be used for a variety of exercises. You can row or curl, holding from the handle. You can hold both sides of the handle for movements like goblet squats or halos. You could even hold the ball itself for balance-work and overhead presses. A more advanced kettlebell user might grab it by the handle and clean it into a racked position, gripping the handle, with the body of the weight resting against your wrist. Holding the weight upside down by the handle for stability-focused overhead carries is also a popular movement—the point is, the options are endless, going far beyond what is possible with a dumbbell. (We’ve got a guide to full-body kettlebell workouts for your sweating pleasure.) While there is a learning curve, the important thing is to start slow, with a weight you can manage. As with all fitness pursuits—be consistent, and you’ll be swinging them around like a functional wizard in no time.

How We Tested

For this article, we scoured the market and tested a grip of the best kettlebells in the game, highlighting the top options for a variety of skill levels and needs. We swung, pressed, and squatted on your behalf to compile a list with something for everyone. We also consulted personal trainers, competitive grapplers, and our network of gym rats.