A kettlebell is an often recommended piece of workout equipment but do you really need one and how many do you need? Here’s what you need to know.
Even a single kettlebell can provide a full-body workout that increases cardiovascular health, strength, and muscle size. It can be a standalone piece of equipment but is also a good addition to a fully equipped gym.
What are kettlebells good for and who needs them? Keep reading below to find out.
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Do You Need Kettlebells?
A kettlebell is a metal ball of a certain weight with a metal handle attached. The metal handle is suitable to hold with two hands. The bottom of a kettlebell is usually flat so it doesn’t tip over when set down. The outside of a kettlebell can be bare iron or have a layer of rubber/vinyl.
People who don’t have any gym equipment and want to get started training their whole body, a kettlebell is a great choice. You’ll get a single piece of equipment that can improve your cardio, muscle size and strength.
Wondering which kettlebells are any good? Click here to find the best options.
While kettlebells aren’t a necessity for a home gym, they are a very efficient piece of equipment that could be used to build a complete physique, strength, and cardio. They also take up very little space and aren’t very expensive. That means what you get in a kettlebell has a lot of benefits without too many downsides.
If you’ve got other gym equipment like dumbbells, you don’t absolutely need kettlebells. However, they are a good addition to a home gym since they are used for different exercises.
Kettlebells can be used to build muscle with both compound and isolation exercises. Click here to find an example kettlebell workout.
How can kettlebells help you reach your goals?
A home gym and gym equipment are usually bought because you want to reach a certain goal. Let’s look at a few common goals and if kettlebells are the right choice for reaching this goal.
As you can see, kettlebells are useful for all goals most people have in their home gym. Of course, all these things can also be done with other equipment as well but, a kettlebell is a single piece of equipment that does it all. If you want other equipment, you’ll usually get equipment that’s more specific and bulkier.
By the way: If you’re not 100% sure if you should buy kettlebells or dumbbells, click here to find an in-depth article comparing the two.
Are Kettlebells Alone Enough For a Home Gym?
If you just have a set of kettlebells, would that be enough to get in shape?
A kettlebell is a good addition to an existing home gym for extra exercise variety or a standalone solution for people who want a super compact and cheap way to do full-body workouts at home.
Is a kettlebell alone enough for a complete workout? Yes, a kettlebell can provide a complete workout as long as you get a bit creative. People who are highly trained might think that a single piece of equipment can’t provide enough of a training impulse. Well, to solve that you can use a heavier one of course.
Kettlebells are a very flexible piece of workout equipment that can be used to accomplish many different training goals. If you have a selection of suitably weighted kettlebells, you can find a workout that will fit your fitness targets.
If you’re training to deadlift 700 lbs., a kettlebell is probably not going to cut it. However, that falls under training for a specific purpose. For most people who are just looking for general health combined with some muscle and strength gains, kettlebells are great.
Compared to a set of dumbbells or a power rack + barbell + weight plates, kettlebells are very cheap, take up very little space, and are just as flexible or maybe even a little more flexible in the ways you can use them. If you’ve already got all the other equipment, adding a set of kettlebells won’t add too much but adds some good exercise variety.
