This Adjustable Kettlebell Is $100 Off Today
An adjustable competition weight is one of the best purchases you can make for your home gym . Heck, if you have no other equipment, a quality adjustable kettlebell can be your home gym staple. And lately, Kettlebell Kings has been making a habit of offering adjustable kettlebells ranging from 12 to 32 kilograms (26 to 70 pounds) at a huge discount. Today, that $300 kettlebell costs $199.
I first became aware of this deal during an earlier price drop when the r/giri forum on Reddit was shocked by the news that it was $99 (!!!!). Otherwise, it would be unheard of to get a good adjustable kettlebell at this price. Over the past year, it briefly held at $111 and $200. All these prices are crazy for a high quality bell that usually costs three hundred smokes.
Conveniently, repeat sales meant that Reddit users were purchasing bells and then posting follow-up messages detailing the condition of the bells and their customer service experiences. Most of them pass without incident, like this guy who happily held up his pair of Walmart bells as soon as they arrived. One customer received a failed delivery and a defective call, but was able to easily return it to the store and received a $15 gift card for their troubles. Some kettlebells arrived with cosmetic problems such as rust on the handle , which is unlikely to be a serious problem in use since sanding the handles is normal anyway and the kettlebells do rattle during training. Others appeared in excellent condition .
What is a good price for an adjustable kettlebell?
I’d say the typical non-sale price for a good adjustable unit is around $300, but manufacturers know people expect these big discounts, so it’s not uncommon to see a sale price of around $250, which is a pretty solid buy. My rule is: if you see something for under $200, it’s worth buying. Not to be outdone, Titan is also currently offering kettlebells ranging from 12 to 32 kilograms for $192 .
Kettlebell Kings lists the price at $389.99 for the 12kg to 32kg adjustable model , but even on their own website it sells for $300. It’s the same call (at least on paper) as a clearance sale at Walmart. Reddit users have speculated that they are sending Walmart shoppers lower quality bells, but it is unclear if this is actually true.
Bells of Steel is adjustable from 12 to 20.5 kilograms for $249.99, which I think would be a good price if it went up to 32 kilograms, but it seems pretty steep as it is. (Bells of Steel also has an adjustable bell from 6 to 12kg for $149.99, which is actually very good if you want lighter bells for kids, juggling, or light exercise. It can be hard to find competition bells in these smaller sizes , and if you’re working with smaller sizes, you’ll need small spacing between them.)
What to look for when choosing an adjustable kettlebell?
The best adjustable kettlebells are what are called competition kettlebells. As for the non-adjustable bell, I’d say both hardstyle and competition styles would work. ( More on the differences between the two here .) But when it comes to adjustments, the only ones I’ve seen that are worth buying are the competition models.
All competition weights are the same size (similar to a bowling ball), regardless of their weight. This allows kettlebell lifters to improve their technique without having to change everything when switching from one weight to another in training. Competition bells have smooth metal handles that can be lightly sanded to improve the texture. (They should be grippy, but not rough.) It is common, but not necessary, to coat the handles with chalk.
When it comes to adjustments, you want competition style because the small weight plates are loaded inside the bell, and the outside retains its smooth, comfortable shape whether the inside is empty, full, or somewhere in between.
Other styles of adjustable pieces tend to change shape and size as you add and remove plates, and often have edges and awkward angles that can dig into your hands or hit your wrists even with good technique. They will trap the hair on your arms between the plates. And for some reason, they all try to be clever in their design, which always results in something that’s nearly impossible to clean, press, or grab comfortably.
I’ll say it without hesitation, but with love: Powerblock sucks. Bowflex sucks. This Yes4All one sucks and this other, completely different Yes4All also sucks (in different ways). Those handles that can hold a dumbbell ? They’re somehow even worse. And on the rare occasion you might find a smooth shaped adjustable piece that you can actually use, it’s $170 for 30 pounds or something equally overpriced. Save your money and/or wait until you can buy a good adjustable competition style model.