Competition Kettlebell vs Traditional Kettlebell - Which one is best?

Competition Kettlebell vs Traditional Kettlebell - Which one is best?
How to pick the best kettlebell for your needs.
Both Competition and Traditional kettlebells are great for training. They are similar in that they can be used for the same exercises, often have the same color markings for weight, and are very durable.
Competition kettlebells are usually the same size, regardless of weight. Meaning a 10kg kettlebell will be the same size and diameter as a 48kg.
Traditional kettlebells are representative of size and weight.
I use both in my practice and business. I have gone through IKFF as well as StrongFirst and have found that each style bell has its benefits. I hope this video shows you the similarities and differences and helps you find which one is best for you.
Thank you to ‪@KettlebellKingsAustin‬ for providing these 28kg kettlebells. They are the best kettlebells I have used over the last 12+ years.
Grab your kettlebells here -
Traditional Kettlebell - snp.link/237cea04
Competition Kettlebell - snp.link/663ab60c
#kettlebells #kettlebellkings #fitness

[@Henricus.]

Great video thank you my friend

[@Engearment]

Thank you for the nice note! 💪🙌

[@bedbath9056]

As the weight goes up I found that cast iron kettle bell is easier to grab for the exercise that requires both hands. But for the higher repetition I like competition kettlebell. I have both

[@3runjosh]

nice video, I have both and I couldn't say which I prefer, just whatever mood I am in haha

[@Engearment]

Heck yes! 💪🤘

[@wadsworth2351]

A bit late for this one Sean, but i'll go anyway: as you know, i am in the market for a good shall we say "starter set" of kettlebells (so i guess a 16 - 20 - 24 kg set) and i really want the best money can buy. I tend to gravitate towards the competition style kbt, but here's what: i've noticed that the handle on those is a bit narrower, a little straighter too - can you still perform double-handed swings comfortably with the comp. style? Lastly: what do you think of the Ziva signature series kettlebells? I've read that they were designed in collaboration with Steve Cotter - that should be a good thing. I was thinking either those, the Eleiko or the Ader kettlebells. Which company would you recommend? Thanks man ;-)

[@blockaderunner]

Have you ever used the Weider kettlebells? That's all I've acquired a 25, 35, 40, and 45. There seems to be plenty of clearance of the wrist to not land on the joint of your hand, which is a gripe of most hardstyle kettlebells. I have to return them often to get it right cause when shipped it's always damaged/repaired (not new).

[@vladshults5395]

thank you for the review. Greeting from Lakewood, CO ;) Few questions: have you tried "kettlebells usa" by chance, I heard good things about them too. Besides competition bells being consistent with the size/shape regardless of the weight, do they have any other advantages? What other reasons besides the size to go with competition (considering the almost double the price). Also I am very new to kettlebells, which ones makes sense to start with, I don't mind investing for the long run. What are your thoughts onnit traditional bells ? Thanks a lot for any advise

[@Engearment]

Hello neighboor! Thank you for the great question. I have not tried either Onnit or Kettlebells USA brands. I will do a brand by brand review in the next video though. Some might say that the handle on competition bells is nicer. I would recommend going with traditional when starting out. You could get more bells for the money. You can always mix and match as well. If you have access to a gyn to try them out, I would recommend that. Also, if you are starting out, I would recommend finding a StrongFirst and/or IKFF certified instructor to safely learn the basics. You can find them listed on the respective sighs. Since you are in Denver area, I can always refer you to some trusted friends as well!

[@vladshults5395]

@@Engearment thanks a lot Neighboor. Please, if you could give me couple gym names and a few certified instructors - would greatly appreciate it! Thank you for your time and reply 🙌🏻

[@redwhiteandblueblood]

Rejoined gym 6-7 weeks ago after training at home for over 2 years, tried the group personal training area competition kettlebells like 3 weeks ago for the first time on a quiet night when there were no PTs on, they felt so much better for me for more dynamic/explosive movements compared to the smaller cast ones in the main functional fitness room (I also have Ironmaster adjustable kbs at home which I like for body-building movements like rows and shrugs, but as I'm a big guy not the greatest for swings, find them a little difficult to swing between the legs due to being smaller, so I have to alter my stance a little) Really want like 8, 10, 12, 16, 20 and 24kg competition bells for my home gym now (seems to be the weight range I use most for swings and presses) and to improve my hand eye coordination with them and really master that craft before I'd consider 28s or 32s or something, had a good full body session last Thursday night primarily using the competition bells and boy I was sore over the weekend.

[@Engearment]

Nice! I bet that was a really great transition from home to the gym. Kudos on your consistency too. If you did want to get some competition KBs, you could go with 10, 16 and 24kg and save for the 28 or 32 down the road. Might sound kind of crazy to jump in weight so drastically, but it a path that many of us took before being able to get the other bells. Keep up the strong work my friend!

[@redwhiteandblueblood]

@@Engearment I've trained at commercial gyms since 2004 (I'm mid 30s), but had to buy into the home gym boom in 2020 with what happened, but yeah potentially when I first bought a home gym having a few kettlebells lying around and a few kb routines could've saved me a few dollars and made me more patient to wait on better equipment (bought anything I could get my hands on, then ended up selling it at a loss to get something better later down the line, my old squat rack and plates examples of this) Definitely prefer the home gym for convenience, but space and budget are my main constraints in regards to having a complete enough training experience, shoulders, legs and cardio are the main areas I prefer the commercial gym for as there's more variety with more machines and specialty barbells and I can OHP out of a rack at gym, whereas I have to deadlift/hang clean outside if I do that at home as the rafters are a bit under 8 feet in the garage at home. Though going back to commercial gym I've became more efficient in my workouts for sure, even when busy and my priority options are taken, always something to fall back on.

[@redwhiteandblueblood]

@@Engearment I'd probably go 8, 12, 16, 20 initially if budget was a thing as my Ironmasters are just over 10kg base weight, then 10s and 24s at a later date, maybe 4s or 6s too even if I see some benefit in having lighter ones. I can get 8s, 12s, 16s and 20s for about $310 AUD (so maybe $225 US?)

[@Engearment]

@@redwhiteandblueblood I am with you. I run two gyms, but closed them during the beginning of 2020, like most facilities. So having a good home set up was helpful. If you have those 8ft rafters, a TRX would be a nice addition too! That is one of my favorite tools to train others and myself with (aside from kettlebells of course!)

[@Engearment]

@@redwhiteandblueblood That is a heck of a good deal, I would jump on that. Sounds like you know what you want and have a good plan. Take care! :)

[@TonyNovation]

What about rust?

[@blockaderunner]

I've noticed that I am getting these butterfly abs under my lats like the dagestani wrestlers have. I always wondered how they got those. I've been using my kettlebells for only 2-3 months. I also fast and am on a carnivore diet.

[@TheStimuli]

The funny thing is that the Competition Kettlebell is the Traditional Kettlebell. These Hardstyle bells were not used in Russia.

[@Engearment]

Can you offer some more insight into that?

[@TheStimuli]

@@Engearment Denis Vasilev Mentions that in The Breakthrough Podcast Episode #58. He is I believe an 11 time World Champion in Long Cycle from Russia.

[@Engearment]

@@TheStimuli Yes, Denis is the MAN! A living legend for sure. I know that episode as well. Fun fact, I was on that podcast last summer and had Chris and Mike on the Engearment Podcast as well. Great guys, great podcast. Regarding the history of kettlebells, there is some history that kettlebells have been around for a lot longer than we think. On that same Breakthrough Secrets podcast episode 152 with Jamie Lewis, they talk about it. I think you would enjoy the episode! podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMDY2NjM5LnJzcw/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC04OTUxODM5?hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwjJtbCp5v32AhUHZc0KHftEAmgQjrkEegQIDxAL&ep=6

[@Charliemmafan]

Dude the black big Iron kettlebells were the ones used in Russia for the last 300 years or so not the steel bright colored competition ones, those are extremely new in comparison.

[@chubbytamelcoe]

@@TheStimuli 0

[@MJ-fo8sc]

Hi. If someone is planning to use kettlebells for Biceps Curls, Renegade Rows, etc., which type is better suited? Thank you.

[@Engearment]

Either will work for that. Love renegade rows. I would say the completion bells will provide a more stable base for that.

[@MJ-fo8sc]

@@Engearment Thank you much.

[@battlefox8460]

Would the competition kettlebell be better for less pain on the outer forearm, i had recently gotten a kettlebell from Walmart by athletic works (50lbs( amd i noticed alot of pain directly on my outer forearm, like the weight doesn't feel distributed at all. So would a competition kettlebell be better than? Right now i can only do up to 5 reps before the pain becomes too much, but the weight itself doesn't bother cause i can single arm over head press a 50lb dumbbell just fine

[@Engearment]

100%. That is a major benefit to the larger diameter. Thanks for asking! The larger the bell (in traditional bells) the more surface area and the better it feels. Though it will be heavier LOL. You can also try cutting up a think pair of socks and forearm guards. Nothing wrong with that! Hope the presses go well :)

[@battlefox8460]

@@Engearment awesome thank you for replying back and that is a really good idea 💡 thank you

[@andrewtanczyk4009]

Titan competition kettlebells are $100.00 les expensive as kettlebell kings. I think I’ll stick with Titan competition kettlebells instead.

[@Engearment]

I had never heard of Titan until this comment. I checked out the site and I am very interested to see how they stack up to KK. I have used KK bells for almost 10 years without a single incident. In a commercial gym of StrongFirst coaches and 100 members. I would be happy to put Titan to the same test. Thanks for the heads up!

[@andrewtanczyk4009]

@@Engearment if I had the money I would most definitely get the kettlebell kings. However now I’m tight on money. Just saw them pop up on my feed so I looked it up on KZbin and seems like a good competition kettlebell for a very inexpensive price.

[@sampejke]

It is not "traditional" Competition style is close to traditional form, kettlebells always looked like this Crossfit kettlebells(u call them traditional) is something new

[@Engearment]

Not sure on that. Can you provide more information?

[@sampejke]

@@Engearment just search "советская гиря", look at the pics.. Sorry I wrote a long comment a few times but it won't get published for some reason

[@sampejke]

@@Engearment kettlebell lifting is a russian traditional sport. From the childhood every russian knows that a kettlebell is, how it looks. Even my great grandfather had one. They look like competition kettlebells. That's why competition kettlebells look how they look, because they copy traditional design with a few adjustments. What u call "traditional" kettlebell came to russia from america through crossfit a decade ago. And americans first heard about kettlebells only 20 years ago

[@hallohalo8569]

Traditional hirts af

[@Engearment]

Some people do experience discomfort in the forearms when in the rack position. Usually with smaller traditional bells.

[@Charliemmafan]

36 kg's are black and the 40 kg's are white.

[@Engearment]

Perhaps the ones you use. What brand are you using and what country are you in?

[@bobdole7292]

It would be more appropriate to ask which ones you use that aren’t black at 32 and white at 40 Those are the standards. 16kg is yellow, etc. it is standardized.

[@Engearment]

@@bobdole7292 Hello Bob! Are you replying to me, or Charlie? From my experience, 32kg is a red handle, and 40kg is blue. Agree on yellow at 16kg.

[@bobdole7292]

I miswrote. You are correct on yellow and red. 36 is black. 40 is white. See kettlebell kings, or any other prominent manufacturer

[@Engearment]

@@bobdole7292 I see. Looks like we are on the same page. Kettlebell Kings uses those colors for 36 and 40. Correct. The Rep ones we use at our gym are reversed on those colors. I had not used the KK 36 and 40kg, but have used the Rep 36 and 40kg daily. Learned something new today :) Take care!