What’s the Best Size Kettlebell to Start With?
Before you get started, understanding the basics and laying out your goals are important. Martinez says, “You want to make sure that you can get into each position safely, so before you add speed, you want a ‘bell that you can control in all positions.” For most people, one light- and one moderate-weight kettlebell should provide everything they need for a full-body workout. If you can only pick one, opt for a lighter ‘bell, then just add in heavier dumbbells to the mix for movements that aren’t kettlebell-specific (e.g., squats, rows, and presses).
For Martinez’s female clients, he recommends a lighter kettlebell of around 8 to 26.5 pounds (4 kg to 12 kg) and 26.5 to 45 pounds (12 kg to 20 kg) for their heavier ‘bell. Lighter is great for more technical exercises, while the heavier ‘bell is for deadlifts and, eventually, two-hand swings. For his male clients, one lighter ‘bell weighing 26.5 to 45 pounds (12 kg to 20 kg) and one heavier, about 45 to 70 pounds (20 kg to 32 kg), is usually perfect.
For brand-new kettlebell users, opting for the lighter bell in each category is the way to go. Stronger and well-trained users should go with a heavier bell. “Even my moderately strong athletes were able to use the heavier bell for explosive deadlifts and two-hand swings pretty quickly,” says Martinez.
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