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Want to spice up your home workouts? Give these expert tested weights a whirl Tire Flip Flops
Looking to get in a killer workout from the comfort of your own home? It’s time to add the humble kettlebell to your home gym arsenal.
According to Gympass PT Katrin Schlee, it’s the most efficient and versatile piece of kit going. 'It provides the benefits of both resistance and cardio training, works multiple muscle groups and can help improve balance, flexibility, core stability and grip strength’ she explains. It’s no wonder so many celebs, including the likes of Jen An and Vanessa Hudgens, are fans.
If you don’t have the space or funds to invest in a whole rack, an adjustable kettlebell is the perfect solution. You get numerous weights in one compact package, it won’t take over your entire living room and you can choose the right load for every squat, lunge and press.
Whether you’re after a budget ‘bell or you fancy shelling out on a next-gen model, our expert testers donned their favourite leggings and set about finding the best adjustable kettlebells on the market. Here are our winners at a glance:
Wondering why you should invest in an adjustable kettlebell over a fixed weight design? We’re glad you asked. Here are some of the benefits.
Great for gains: One major plus is that adjustable kettlebells – just like adjustable dumbbells – are adaptable to your strength and fitness levels. ‘They allow you to keep challenging yourself and progress with heavier weights as you get stronger,’ says Schlee. No need to stick to the same 5kg kettlebell for every single move...
Versatile: Whether you need a challenging weight for an at-home leg day or you’re in the mood for a sweat-inducing HIIT sesh with some light resistance, it’s all possible with a single adjustable kettlebell.
Space-saving: Let’s be honest, who has the room for a whole set of KBs or weight plates cluttering up their home gym/ lounge? Handily, an adjustable kettle will take up next to no space and can be stored away discretely.
Portable: Calling all park-workout lovers! If you fancy taking your session outdoors, transporting one kettlebell is a whole lot easier than lugging a load of separate weights around with you.
There’s no getting around it – adjustable kettlebells can be seriously spenny on the face of it, but they tend to work out cheaper in the long run.
With a regular kettlebell, you’ll have to keep forking out each and every time you’re ready to lift heavier. There’s no such problem with our best adjustable kettlebells – just push a button, twist a dial or slide in some extra plates to up the ante. Plus, if you’re on a budget, there are some top quality affordable models out there now.
Case in point: this sturdy FunctionalFitness KB, which comes in at under £85, and the beginner-friendly Yanzhi, which will set you back less than £30.
Yes, so long as you know how to use them correctly. Here, Schlee and Haylene Ryan Causer, founder of Volonte Energy Studio, share their top tips to ensure your form is on point.
Choose the right KB: Go too heavy and you’re at risk of injury. Get comfortable with an exercise and perfect your technique before upping the weight.
Grip: It’s crucial to have a firm grip on your ‘bell – it shouldn’t be sliding around or moving in your hand.
Posture: Brace your core, maintain a neutral spine and keep your feet planted on the floor.
Use your hips: Keep your back as straight as possible and allow your hips to do most of the work as the hinge joint.
Watch your breath: Proper breathwork is essential to minimise the amount of force you exert on your spine. You can do this by contracting your abdominal muscles and your glutes, which should cause your lower back muscles to contract, too.
Need some kettlebell workout inspo? Check out our guide to the best kettlebell exercises, complete with demos and instructions.
The Women's Health Lab tested a variety of market-leading adjustable kettlebells to find our ultimate home workout heroes.
Our pros put a total of 10 weights through their paces during high- and low-impact workouts, trying out all manner of moves from swings, squats and snatches to rows, curls and even the good ol’ Turkish get-up.
‘Bells were judged on the practicality of their design, how easy they were to manoeuvre, and whether changing the weight was a smooth, faff-free process. Our top performers felt sturdy and secure, were comfy to grip and there was minimal shaking or rattling when in use.
Let’s spice up that home workout, shall we?
This snazzy connected kettlebell lets you swap between six different weight settings – rising from 5.5kg to a respectable 19kg – with the touch of a button. Yes, really! It also links to a handy app where you can track weight, reps, sets and power, plus there’s a host of video tutorials to follow. The design is on the chunkier side but the plates that aren’t being used remain in an orderly pile on the dock, so you can get in a solid session even if you’re tight on space.
The WH Lab verdict: For those partial to a good gadget and wanting to chart their progress, the JaxJox is a hot contender. It’s great for all your swings, RDLs and high pulls although our expert found it a touch unwieldy for moves like snatches, windmills and halos. Oh, and remember to charge it up before training.
CBA to faff around manually adding and removing plates mid-sweat sesh? No problem. Changing the resistance couldn’t be simpler with this 'bell – just pop it in the tray, twist the dial and you can go from 3.5 to 18kg in a matter of seconds. The weights are housed within a plastic shell, which makes this Bowflex a tad bulky, but our tester said it was a top-notch workout companion, nonetheless. It was a breeze to manoeuvre during all the exercises we tried, save goblet squats and high pulls, and the ergonomic handle was comfy to grip, even with sticky palms.
The WH Lab verdict: Okay, it doesn’t come cheap but if you’re a fan of super sets and circuits that require speedy weight changes, this is the kettlebell for you. No irritating rattling sounds were reported, and the slick design will look neat’n’tidy next to the sofa.
If you don’t want to drop over a ton on your new fitness buddy, look to this compact cast iron KB. It will take a lil’ bit longer to change the load than with our pricier dial and digital weights, as you have to do it manually, but our tester was impressed with how smoothly the plates could be switched in and out. We appreciated the safety lock feature for worry-free lifting and the rubber base allayed our fears of scratching the floor.
The WH Lab verdict: One of the sturdiest designs we tested, this is a good shout if you’re after that classic kettlebell look and feel. Our only niggle is the lack of labelling on the plates, which makes it tricky to keep track of what you’re lifting.
Another robust cast iron offering, the weights are clearly labelled in both pounds and kilograms, and each plate is numbered so you can quickly slot them back in the correct order. According to our tester, changing the load was a pain-free endeavour – simply twist the mechanism to unlock and add or remove plates as required. The ‘bell felt comfy for most classic moves, including goblet squats, curls and halos, and thanks to the wide, grippy handle, it won’t slip from your hands, even during KB swings.
The WH Lab verdict: This no-bells-and-whistles piece of kit will do the job nicely for spicy HIIT sessions and heavier resistance workouts alike. Just note, the plates rattled a bit during dynamic exercises and the tough outer shell dug into our forearms during overhead lifts.
Coming in at under £30, this Yanzhi model is a sweet starter option if you’re just getting into training. Adjusting the load between the four available configurations was a doddle (it’s a simple unlock and twist job) and the ergonomic handle allowed for a secure and comfy grip. Not only will it stow away easily, its lightweight and compact enough to take to the garden, park or even chuck in the boot for your next staycay.
The WH Lab verdict: If you want to keep your workouts light and simple, this mini kettlebell is for you. The weights are labelled in pounds rather than kilograms, which was a smidge irritating but hardly a dealbreaker.
This entry-level kettlebell maxes out at 5.5kg, so it’s not a gym replacer, but it’s ideal if you’re a newbie or looking to add a little resistance to your mobility work (mobility every day keeps the doctor away, and all that). Our tester rated the smooth, easy-grip handle and flat, wobble-free base, which means it sits well on the floor. You can also easily hide it away in the corner or use it as a doorstop, if you fancy.
The WH Lab verdict: Adjusting the plates mid-session proved no problem thanks to the quick lock/unlock system and it never felt too cumbersome, whatever exercise we tackled. If only it came with more weight options...
If you’re on a budget and don’t need to make lightning-quick weight adjustments in your workouts, this cost-effective Hygym design could be a winner. You get seven weights in one, ranging from 3.6kg to 18kg – more than enough to see you through both sweaty circuits and pump sessions. The detailed set-up instructions and diagrams helped us get to grips with the model in no time, and it earned a thumbs up for its lack of rattling.
The WH Lab verdict: Yes, you do have to slide the weights manually in and out of the shell but once you’re selected plates are in place, this nifty KB a pleasure to work out with. It’s secure, a breeze to manoeuvre and the handle lets you to stay in control at all times.
These are the best kettlebell moves to try right now, as recommended by Milen Milushev, head trainer at F45 Chiswick Park.
Kettlebell single arm bent over row
Single arm strict shoulder press
Find more kettlebell exercises, with demos and instructions, here.
Yanar was our former Fitness Group Testing Manager. She managed health and fitness product testing across all the magazines, overseeing all testing processes and ensuring our lab and panel tests are conducted to the highest standards. Yanar spent 15 years as a health and wellness content editor and writer for national titles such as Runner’s World, Men’s Health and Women’s Health. Yanar is a Level 3 qualified PT, trained yoga teacher and a registered yoga therapist. She has been into fitness and wellness her whole life. After many years running races and marathons, she now trains and competes in CrossFit and Olympic lifting. She passionately advocates strength training for women to build a stronger mind and body for life.
Jodie is our Health and Fitness product tester. She runs tests on a wide variety of products, including gym leggings, walking boots, fitness trackers and more. Jodie has managed the testing for 577 products to date, including working with over 600 panellists.
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