Adjustable Competition Kettlebells - Which One is Right for You?

Posted by Alex on August 30th, 2021

When I first began lifting weights back in the 90\'s, I had no idea what competition kettlebells were, or even how to tell the difference between a set of kettlebells that I was handling incorrectly and one that was being used properly. I didn\'t even have a clue about which lifts I should be using to build muscle, and how I was supposed to get stronger. There are lots of resources out there to help people get started with strength training, but most of the information is scattered and doesn\'t make a lot of sense. I want to take a minute and talk about kettlebells, and what they can do for you, when it comes to your overall fitness levels, as well as your level of competition.

First of all, if you are looking for the best kettlebells for competition style lifts, you have got to understand the distinction between a free-style, and a cast iron kettlebell. When you lift free weights, you are free to do pretty much whatever you\'d like. That means that you don\'t always need to use the best technique, or use the most weight that you can handle safely and effectively. This is why lots of amateur and advanced lifters use free weights.

However, when you lift in a competition style, you are using two main lifts: A swing and a clean. The swing is when you swing the weight around between your legs, while the clean is when you push the weight up through the air. While you can use a three weight swing or a five weight swing, generally you\'re going to lean heavily on the cast-iron kettlebell for the higher weights. This allows you to use more strength, but it also makes for less control and therefore less risk of injury.

Kettlebells are designed to fuse high strength with incredible control. Because of this, they enable athletes to do things that would be next to impossible if they were using conventional weights. Take for example a long, distance runner. If you had to actually pick up and carry a long, heavy runner, you could probably do it, but it would take you forever. But when you use kettlebells, you can simply grab the handles, lift, and run!

Also, kettlebells have a handle that\'s referred to as a grip. They are designed with an oil coating, so that the weights don\'t rust. But unlike regular weights, you don\'t have to worry about gripping the handles all the way down (which you wouldn\'t if you were using traditional weights) because the handles are encased in cast-iron. This not only prevents rust, but it also ensures that your grip stays strong, even after hundreds of swings.

Kettlebells are an awesome tool for any serious gym or home gym. However, they are also just one of the many different weight options available. For example, there are two different handles: cast-iron and coated. The cast-iron handles are extremely strong but are much heavier than the coated handles. For a more affordable alternative, I recommend checking out some of the many different adjustable competition kettlebell sets that are available!