Which Kettlebell Brand is the Best?

by Ken
(Maryland)

If you're looking for the “perfect” exercise equipment, have you considered the kettlebell? From my experience, kettlebells provide more value than all other types of exercise equipment.

They're affordable. They're portable. They're versatile, providing excellent strength training and cardio training. The next question is: which brand of kettlebells should you choose? While several different brands are available on the market, here are the pros and cons of some of the most popular ones I've tried:

Dragon Door

Dragon Door is definitely one of the leaders in the kettlebell industry. Yes, the cost of their products is somewhat higher than many other brands on the market. Are they worth it? Many users of Dragon Door kettlebells have observed that the general “feel” of the products is superior to other kettlebell brands.

The extra cost is certainly worthwhile if it means that you'll be able to enjoy a better workout. Another benefit of Dragon Door is that it also offers products such as books and DVDs, which will help to improve the effectiveness of your kettlebell workouts.

Kaizen

Kaizen is another leader in the kettlebell industry. The word “Kaizen” means “continuous improvement” in Japanese, and was popularized by the Toyota Motor Corporation.

Many users of Kaizen kettlebells have praised the equipment for their thicker handles and smooth finish. And I think both features are certainly a plus when you need to do tons of reps.

That's not all! While the quality of Kaizen kettlebells is top-notch, the price is somewhat lower than kettlebells from comparable brands.

Kettlebell Concepts

These kettlebells are arguably a wise alternative option to the priciest brands on the markets. The handles are somewhat thicker than “standard” kettlebells. One of the drawbacks of Kettlebell Concepts is that the finish isn't as smooth as other brands'. However, Ketttlebell Concepts' products are reasonably priced, making them a practical alternative to the Rolls-Royce's of kettlebells on the market.

Kettlebell, Inc.

When choosing a kettlebell brand you couldn't go wrong with a name that includes “kettlebell” and “incorporated” in its name, right? ;-) Some of the benefits of kettlebells from this company include lengthier and thicker handles. Many users of products of Kettlebell, Inc. like that these features improve the overall comfort of the kettlebells.

Lifeline

Can Lifeline kettlebells be the lifeline of your workouts? The company's kettlebells are fairly comparable to what the industry generally considers to be top-of-the-line brands, such as Dragon Door. The first models from Lifeline included two pieces. However, since then the company has upgraded to one-piece kettlebells. So you won't have to worry about you or your kettlebells flying off the handle!

Perform Better

The company's name implies that its kettlebells will help to improve your workouts—but will they? One of the big pluses of Perform Better's products are that each kettlebell's size and diameter are uniform—regardless of their weight! This is a major advantage for those who are preparing for kettlebell competitions.

An added benefit is that the kettlebells have a cookie-cutter appearance. Another benefit is that Perform Better kettlebells are color-coded by weight, so you can instantly choose the right kettlebell for your workout. If there's one drawback of Perform Better kettlebells, it's that their maximum weight is 32 kilograms.