OMG Kettlebells

Pearlstrand said:
I had an idea to save our wrists during kettlebell workouts. What about using our leg-warmers (left over from the '80s)?
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If you have them, it's worth a try.
I think, though, that they would easily slip down the arm (legs are bigger than forearms!) and they aren't as thick as the thicker arm bands. (I bought a pair of tennis wrist bands (longer ones) at Walmart and they work very well.
 
Thanks for the recommendations Kathryn. It was a toss up between GoFit and Perform Better. I went with Perform Better since their shipping was the cheapest I could find. They seem like good quality kettlebells. I ordered a 8kg and a 12 kg.

Thanks again!
Jacque
 
jacqued said:
Thanks for the recommendations Kathryn. It was a toss up between GoFit and Perform Better. I went with Perform Better since their shipping was the cheapest I could find. They seem like good quality kettlebells. I ordered a 8kg and a 12 kg.
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I have a couple of KB's from Perform Better as well(I bought them during their 20%-off sale, and like you say, the shipping is a great deal). I definitely don't like them as much as the GoFit (the handles are thicker, and they just don't move quite as smoothly--of course, their being my heaviest bells may contribute to that!)
 
Kathryn...

What KBs do you have (weight, I mean)? And is it that you like/dislike about the various brands or styles. Since I'm new to KB, it's hard to judge. Some have wider handles (like triangles); others have smaller, round handles. Some appear to have very thick handles; others thin.

Thanks for your help!

(From the other Kathryn.)
 
The difference is whether they are competition grade or normal grade. I was told by my trainer, the competition grade (pro grade) is much better because of the distribution of weight and etc. It was described as : Competition style features square handles and a full body which sits lower on the forearms in the "rack" position thus allowing the user to focus their workout on building strength progressively without having to modify their technique (& thus minimizing callouses)

Attached is a picture of the two different types: The yellow bell is pro grade and it is colour coded (i.e. pink is for 8 Kg, yellow for 16 kg) to denote the weight since the sizes are the same for all weights.
 

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Thank you!

Shelly,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! As I'm new to kettlebells, I am concerned about spending a bunch of money (they're expensive!) and then discovering that I should have gotten something else.

I feel that way about our exercise bike. Spent a lot of time looking at them, then ended up with something that suits neither me nor DH. How did that happen? (Hint: it wasn't me!) So now it is rarely used. Wait, I do use it: I store my weighted vests on it! :D
 
I'm going to hop in here with a quick question...can you use DBs instead of KBs? I ask b/c I am scared to death of splitting my head open, or breaking a wrist, or smacking a cat...the KBs just scare me. I asked a guy at a fitness store that sells KBs if DBs could be sustituted and he said indeed, and I figure he sells the darned things so it must be somewhat true, but want to ask the pros here.
 
This is one of the reasons I hate this forum! :mad: I get sucked into all the new and awesome workouts and equipment!!! :p Kettleballs are sounding better and better all the time.
 
Ok, now I am definitely going to buy one this weekend and order my DVDs, however, I have been trying to follow all of the kettlebell threads but I don't see too much talk about Cathe's kettlebells/fitness balls. Sorry if I missed them. Any comments? Buy don't buy or should I just buy the GoFit Kettlebells?
 
meowracer said:
I'm going to hop in here with a quick question...can you use DBs instead of KBs? I ask b/c I am scared to death of splitting my head open, or breaking a wrist, or smacking a cat...the KBs just scare me. I asked a guy at a fitness store that sells KBs if DBs could be sustituted and he said indeed, and I figure he sells the darned things so it must be somewhat true, but want to ask the pros here.
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Hey Shana,

You can do the workouts with a dumbbell, but I don't think that it's really recommended. When you use an actual kettlebell, part of the intensity and uniqueness of the workout lies in the way that the KB itself swings/moves, and a DB can't replicate that movement.

Hope this helps! :)
 
jlsahli said:
Ok, now I am definitely going to buy one this weekend and order my DVDs, however, I have been trying to follow all of the kettlebell threads but I don't see too much talk about Cathe's kettlebells/fitness balls. Sorry if I missed them. Any comments? Buy don't buy or should I just buy the GoFit Kettlebells?
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I'd recommend getting a Go Fit KB instead of the ones from Cathe's line. The Go Fit kettlebells are heavier, and you want something with a bit of heft to it. :)
 
Pearlstrand said:
What KBs do you have (weight, I mean)? And is it that you like/dislike about the various brands or styles. Since I'm new to KB, it's hard to judge. Some have wider handles (like triangles); others have smaller, round handles. Some appear to have very thick handles; others thin.

Thanks for your help!

(From the other Kathryn.)
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Hi, Kathryn (nice name, by the way;))

I have picked up quite a few KB's along the way. As of now, I have:
7# (to use with the Firm workout, which comes with a 5# bell, which I'm not counting, because it's just good for a doorstop!)
15# (the size I started with)
20#
25#
30# (on order)
35#
45#

all but the two heaviest are GoFit. The two heaviest are Perform Better.

I like the handles on the GoFIt (but they vary, so it's good to be able to find them in a store to check out the handles. I lucked out in getting a smooth handle from the first one I ordered, but when I picked the others up in a store, there were both smooth and rough-handled ones.

The handles on the GoFit are a bit smaller in diameter than those on the Perform Better bells, and are smoother (both "less lumpy" and "more slippery" in a good way).

The handles on the Go Fits (even the 7#) are wide enough to comfortably hold with two hands (the 5# Firm 'not-really a KB" has a too-narrow handle that makes it uncomfortable).

I just read that a good size KB handle is one that lets you wrap your thumb over the nail of your index finger (for safe grip).

The GoFIt bells handles have a shape kind of in-between squared off and rounded (I've seen some more square, and some more round), and I think it's very comfortable. Dragon Door kettlebells (which I used in a workshop) are also comfortable.

I've seen some cheaply-made KBs that have almost lumpy handles (that almost look like they are molded from clay, and not well) that look uncomfortable (the ones in Walmart, for example). The Perform Better ones are almost like that in places (they were on sale, with a great shipping cost, but I guess sometimes you do get what you pay for).

On recommendations from others, I just ordered an Ader KB (I also felt like I needed a size between the 25# and 35# bell for some moves). I'll see how that one is soon.

HTH!
 
jlsahli said:
I don't see too much talk about Cathe's kettlebells/fitness balls. Sorry if I missed them. Any comments? Buy don't buy or should I just buy the GoFit Kettlebells?
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I really don't consider Cathe's to be kettlebells. Just medicine balls with handles. They are too light for many moves, and because they are filled with air and are not metal like real KB's, I imagine they would be huge compared to a similar weight KB.

Buy the GoFIt, they are REAL kettebells.
 
Does anyone have the re-loadable Bulldog kettlebell that AOS sells?

I'm considering making the investment but not sure if it would be more beneficial to have one kb that you can make any weight or a variety of kb's that you can just easily grab when you need a specific weight.

Does that make sense? :eek:

ETA: I second Kathryn's Go-FIt recommendation!!!!
 
Hey Melissa!

I'd thought about buying a re-loadable KB, too, but decided not to for the same reason you mention: I think it would be too hard to switch during an actual workout. I usually use both my 15# and my 20# during one workout, so it seems like it would make changing weights really problematic.

Maybe someone who has a re-loadable one can chime in . . . .
 
I bought the Perform Better brand, currently have the 8kg, and the 12 is on backorder, it seems fine, but I don't have anything to compare it too.

I saw the loadable ones on the AOS site, and they don't appeal to me, first, I would find it odd for the buckshot or whatever is in it to move around while swinging the bell. And I'm definitely a convenience person, so if anything is too time consuming or annoying to deal with, I won't use it, so for me, I just want a few different sizes to grab and go! :D

The 8kg (about 18 lbs) is more than enough for me right now for any over head moves, and as mentioned I'm waiting on the 12kg for the squats and swings. Then I'll evaluate the next weight I need from there.
 
LeanneM said:
Hey Melissa!

I'd thought about buying a re-loadable KB, too, but decided not to for the same reason you mention: I think it would be too hard to switch during an actual workout. I usually use both my 15# and my 20# during one workout, so it seems like it would make changing weights really problematic.

Maybe someone who has a re-loadable one can chime in . . . .
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Hi Leanne!

Thanks, I think you are right. What a pain it would be to have to stop to take out x-amount of whatever you have in there (shot or sand), weigh it, then get back to the workout?!?!

Right now I'm using a 20# and will need a 25# very soon. The only reason the re-loadable one appeals to me is I'm wondering how many of these am I going to have to buy? They get more and more expensive the heavier they are.

I tried ordering a 25# GoFIt one from Target.com today and the bell was $59.99, the shipping was $30.00! :eek::eek::eek::(

ETA: Thanks Dela! It would be kind of annoying have to change the weight all the time. I appreciate your input!
 
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