Kettlebell swings are one of my favorite workouts for high-intensity interval training. But if you’ve seen as many poor-quality kettlebells as I have over the years, then you know that it’s very easy to pick up a bad set.
From ones that start to rust to ones where the coating on the handle comes off, I’ve had all the frustration but also plenty of experience in finding the right ones.
So, our team got together with a few clients to research and test out over 40 different kettlebells.
Here is our list of the best kettlebells for home gym use.
Our Top Kettlebell For Home Gym (September 2023)
1 - Rogue Fitness Rubber Coated Kettlebells (Editor's Choice)
This Rogue Fitness kettlebell set comes from a company that normally supplies commercial gyms, but is also great for anyone looking to build muscle at home.
In my experience, they are the most durable I have ever found, and I have been using them for my own kettlebell workouts for over a year without even a slight mark on them.
The cast iron core and handle are one single piece, and the handle has a very comfortable powder coat finish that makes gripping it easier.
They are by far the best rubber-coated kettlebell set you’ll find to give you the most flexibility for training to improve your strength and endurance [1].
“Kettlebells are known to improve overall strength, core power, balance, flexibility, and coordination while also melting fat and sculpting healthy and lean muscles.”
- Amanda Lindsey, RN at Lifehack.com
Quick Facts:
- Material : Rubber-Coated Iron
- Weight : 26 - 70 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.5”
- Durable rubber coating reduces the impact of chips and scuffs
- Great weight range for intense kettlebell exercises
- Very comfortable grip diameter will also suit people with larger hands
- Comes with color-coded handles to make picking the right one easier
- Currently not available in lower weight ranges
2 - Rogue Fitness Monster Kettlebells
These Rogue competition kettlebells are more suitable for strongman weight training and bodybuilding as they start at 97 pounds.
But if that’s the kind of training you’re doing, then Rogue Fitness is the company to focus on.
One thing our team agreed on based on our test results is that the powder-coated kettlebell handle was very grippy and comfortable, even for two large hands to hold on to.
I just wish that these Rogue powder-coated kettlebells also had some rubber coating for protection.
Quick Facts:
- Material : Solid Iron
- Weight : 97 - 203 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.58”
- High weight ranges are suitable for elite athletes and bodybuilders
- Large handle makes it very easy and comfortable to grip with two hands
- Single-piece cast iron design for a smooth finish
- They can get scratched and chipped as these ones are not rubber-coated
3 - Kettlebell Kings
These Kettlebell Kings powder-coated options are ideal for people starting out with this kind of strength training, especially women.
Starting at just 9 pounds per kettlebell, these are ideal even for people who are exercising to overcome injuries.
The powder coating is very good quality, and even after knocking them around a bit during training, there didn’t seem to be any damage.
The main downside with the Kettlebell Kings, based on our testing experience, is that they might not be best suited for people with larger hands as they only have a 1.3-inch diameter.
I personally prefer handles of about 1.5 inches or more.
Quick Facts:
- Material : Powder Coated Kettlebells
- Weight : 9 - 106 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.3”
- Great weight range for more diverse kettlebell swing training
- Good quality powder coating to reduce the chance of chipping
- Kettlebell Kings also offers free workouts to help beginners get started
- The handle diameter might be a bit small for larger hands
4 - CAP Barbell
I’ve used other CAP Barbell weights before, and I was pleased to see that this competition kettlebell set lived up to the quality I have seen with their other products.
The powder coating is quite thick, and that means there are fewer chances of chips and scratches.
The main downside is that they have quite a small, flat bottom.
I like mixing my kettlebell training with push-ups using the kettlebells to increase my range of motion, and they don’t feel as stable as others.
Quick Facts:
- Material : Powder Coated Kettlebell
- Weight : 9 - 88 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.5”
- Good quality powder coat finish keeps these looking new
- Uses bright colors to indicate the different weights
- Great range of weights available, all with the same size handle
- Some people prefer a larger flat bottom than you get with these
5 - Rogue Fitness Kettle Gryp
Rogue Fitness has created this cheap and simple solution for people who already own a set of dumbbells. What you do is simply unclip the handle and open it up.
Then insert your dumbbell, and then close the handle again.
Once you have it set up, it feels very similar to using a regular kettlebell.
But you do need to keep in mind that your dumbbells need to have handles that are at least 1.5 inches in diameter and 4.5 inches long.
Based on my experience as a personal trainer, I wouldn’t recommend trying to force anything smaller for safety reasons.
Quick Facts:
- Material : Plastic
- Weight : 5 - 100 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.15”
- Cheap solution for people that own a dumbbell set
- Securely grips a 1.5” dumbbell handle with a simple clip mechanism
- The large handle makes two-hand grips comfortable
- Clipping and unclipping dumbbells can slow down your training
6 - Rogue Fitness Kettlebell - E Coat
If you want a top-quality kettlebell from Rogue Fitness with a more affordable price tag, then these e-coated ones might be exactly what you’re looking for.
They might not be as durable as the rubber and powder-coated options above, but that might not be something you need at home.
And they also have the same non-welded cast iron design as the more expensive ones.
Also, the weights start low, which would probably be suitable for beginners, especially doing arm exercises with kettlebells.
Quick Facts:
- Material : Ductile Iron
- Weight : 9 - 88 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.2” - 1.5”
- Comes in great weight increments to suit your training
- Very affordable and high-quality set of dumbbells
- Applied e-coat finish seems to protect the weights from scratches
- Some of the lower-weight kettlebells have quite a slim handle
7 - Lifeline
Lifeline has created a set of weights that are ideal for newcomers to kettlebell training.
The weights start at just 9 lbs., and they go up in ideal increments to help you gradually build up your set.
I liked the large handles, and our testing team also did some competitive training sets and found that they worked very well.
The only negative feedback we got was that the surface on the handle is a bit smoother than other kettlebells, so you might want to use some chalk.
Quick Facts:
- Material : Cast Iron
- Weight : 9 - 97 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.42”
- Large handle makes it easy and comfortable to grip with two hands
- Has a large wobble-free flat surface bottom
- Great range of weight available to gradually build up a set
- Some people find that the handle is a bit too smooth
8 - Yes4All
The Yes4All option is ideal for people just starting with kettlebell exercise sessions, and it’s available in a wide range of different weights with good increments.
I also like the thicker-than-average handle at 1.6 inches, which, in my experience, is ideal for athletes with large hands.
You’ll also notice that placing them on the ground during your kettlebell workout won’t make that loud metal noise due to the thick PVC finish on them.
Quick Facts:
- Material : Cast Iron
- Weight : 5 - 50 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.6”
- Thicker than average handle is ideal for people with large hands
- PVC coating can help protect your floors from damage and reduce noise
- A good-sized flat bottom provides stability for different workout uses
- The handle could be a bit wider on the heavier kettlebells
9 - Amazon Basics Cast Iron Kettlebell
Here is another budget kettlebell that will suit most people starting out.
They have a basic design with no welding and feel just like some of the more expensive ones available.
They also have a large, flat base that allows you to use them for an extended range of motion during push-ups.
The downside is that the enamel finish can chip if you knock them off each other, and that can cause the iron to rust if you’re not careful.
Quick Facts:
- Material : Cast Iron
- Weight : 15 - 35 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.3”
- Very comfortable textured grip prevents it from slipping
- A nice large flat base gives it great stability
- The shiny black enamel finish makes them easy to keep clean
- The enamel can chip, exposing the iron to moisture and potential rust
10 - Bionic Body
And the final recommendation for the best kettlebell for home use is this Bionic Body option, which is very different from all others. It’s essentially a bit like a slam ball in that it’s a vinyl bag with a handle.
The advantage of this soft design is that it makes less noise and won’t damage your flooring.
The downside is that the handle is very smooth, and you could lose grip if you sweat a lot.
Quick Facts:
- Material : Vinyl
- Weight : 10 - 40 lbs
- Handle Diameter : 1.4”
- Soft kettlebell is ideal for reducing the noise impact of a kettlebell snatch
- Also reduces the risks of scratching wood floors and tiles
- Long handle makes it easy to grab hold of with two hands
- The handle is very smooth and becomes slippery when you sweat
Essential Buyer's Guide for Kettlebells
Here are a few things to keep in mind while narrowing down your choices to what would suit you best.
Who Should Buy Kettlebells For Home Use?
Anyone who regularly does cardio and strength training at home should consider buying Rogue kettlebells.
While they are competition kettlebells, they're the type of quality that you invest in to do decades of training without replacing them.
They are ideal for everything from goblet squats to plain and simple kettlebell swings, and I even use mine for squeezing in the odd set of biceps curls or triceps kickbacks.
It’s the kind of fitness equipment that you start using and then wonder how you ever did without it.
“Kettlebell swings work your entire posterior chain in one fell swoop. This series of large muscles runs from your neck to your heels on the back of your body.”
- Jennifer Mathe, MS, CSCS, NATA-BOC at Greatist.com
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Who Shouldn’t Buy Kettlebells For Home Use?
Anyone who doesn’t regularly do a mix of strength and cardio training to burn fat faster should probably not buy kettlebells.
Also, if you don’t have the space to store a set of these larger free weights, then you might need to think of another option.
One thing that might then work better for you is looking into the best adjustable kettlebell set.
These are a lot more compact and affordable than buying a set of 10 or 20 kettlebells.
Alternatively, you might want to look into doing more traditional isolation training with dumbbells and barbells.
Kettlebell Weight
If you look at some of the Rogue Monster kettlebells above, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the people who buy them must be a bit crazy.
And while most people don’t need a 200-pound kettlebell, you do have to pay attention to the available weights.
First of all, take a look at the minimum and maximum weights on offer. It’s nice to eventually have a complete set of the same brand, and you want to make sure that you have all the weights covered for your kettlebell exercises.
Also, check the weight increments. Some companies have a wide range but then go up in very large increments that might not be suitable for a lot of people.
Handle Quality And Thickness
The best kettlebells that I’ve used at home and in commercial gyms have always stood out because of the quality of the handle.
First of all, what you want to see is a handle that, ideally, is slightly rough with the natural indentations of the metal casting.
A completely smooth surface will become slippery, and you want to make sure you avoid common injuries that can happen with kettlebells [2].
The other thing you want to look at is the thickness of the handle.
A good average thickness that suits small and large hands is about 1.4 inches. My personal preference is 1.5 inches, as I have larger-than-average hands.
Durability
If you want to spend your money on something that will last for decades, then you shouldn’t consider anything other than cast iron kettlebells.
Cast iron is a highly durable material, and manufacturers pour the molten metal into a mold to get a seamless and non-welded shape [3].
Given the amount of punishment your kettlebells might get and how often they might bang off each other, you don’t want a weld to break.
You’ll also find other options, like plastic filled with water or sand. But I have yet to find one of these that will stand up to the strain they should get during training.
Coating
One of my favorite options is a rubber-coated kettlebell set, and the ones I have at home from Rogue Fitness have a nice protective rugger layer.
The first advantage this has is that it protects the iron core from moisture and potential rusting.
More importantly, it makes them less noisy when you drop them a few inches.
And the rubber also helps you avoid damaging any tile or wooden floors.
Another common option is a powder coat finish. This is a very high-quality process that “melts” paint on the surface, creating a much more durable bond than simply spraying it on [4].
Material
The best kettlebells I’ve used are all made of cast iron.
The reason this is ideal is that it allows you to buy heavy kettlebells without worrying about their massive size.
You simply couldn’t achieve the same weight ranges with water or sand-filled weights.
The one exception that I have added to the above list is mainly for beginners and people who are working out at home and need to keep the noise to a minimum.
A vinyl bag filled with sand can be an ideal solution. You probably know vinyl as a cheap and hard-wearing flooring option, and the same material can be used for gym equipment [5].
Cost
When it comes to the price tag, it’s always important to know that you get what you pay for.
Rogue Fitness kettlebells might be the most expensive ones, but you’ll likely still be using them in 30 years' time.
If you’re on a strict budget, then I would still recommend getting ones with an iron core.
It’s usually the coating material and process that make them more expensive, but that won’t really impact your workouts.
Just keep in mind that by saving a little bit now, you might end up having to replace them a lot sooner.
Warranty
This is tied to the cost to a certain degree. Basically, the more money you spend on kettlebells, the more likely you are to get a lifetime warranty.
That kind of warranty gives you a lot of confidence in the quality of the iron's casting process.
If a company uses high-grade iron ore and a quality pouring and cooling process, then there will be fewer risks of encountering cracks due to heavy use and regular knocking.
What generally won’t be covered under warranty are chips in the enamel, paint, or powder coating.
That can happen, and you’ll just have to live with it. But it’s also why I recommend the more durable rubber and powder-coated options.
FAQs
Are Kettlebells Good For Home Gyms?
Yes, kettlebells are good for home gyms, as they offer a wide range of strength exercises with limited equipment. With just a few kettlebells, you could be in a position to work on everything from your legs to your core and your chest to your shoulders.
How Many Kettlebells Do You Need For A Home Gym?
You probably need at least three kettlebells for a home gym. The reason is that there is a wide range of workouts you can do beyond the simple swings and snatches. If you don’t have the budget for a full set of six or more, then you could consider an adjustable kettlebell.
What Are Some Disadvantages Of Using Kettlebells?
Some disadvantages of using kettlebells are that bad technique and the wrong weights can quickly lead to injuries. And there is a lot of evidence that home exercises are leading to a lot more injuries than ever before.
Are Cheap Kettlebells Worth It?
No, cheap kettlebells are not worth it. They might work fine for a short while, but you’ll quickly find that they need replacing. Some cheap options I have seen are water or sand-filled, and the plastic on these can easily crack with normal use.
Which Product Should You Buy For Home Kettlebell Training?
During our research into the best kettlebells for use in a home gym, there was one option that stood out the most. The Rogue Fitness Rubber Coated Kettlebells provide commercial-grade durability and design at a much more affordable price.
These are the kind of kettlebells that you’ll probably still be using in 30 years' time without them looking completely scratched and chipped.
I’ve had a set for a year now, and having compared them to dozens of other products, the grip is still the best I’ve used.
Our #1 Recommendation
Rogue Fitness Rubber Coated Kettlebells
- Durable rubber coating reduces the impact of chips and scuffs
- Great weight range for intense kettlebell exercises
- Very comfortable grip diameter will also suit people with larger hands
- Comes with color-coded handles to make picking the right one easier
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of September
- Currently not available in lower weight ranges
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