Intro
When selecting a kettlebell for your home gym, durability, coating, and price are three critical factors to consider. Your ideal kettlebell should be able to withstand various conditions for many years, offer a comfortable grip, and come at a reasonable cost.
After years of bringing in numerous kettlebells through my home gym, I am confident in saying that the Rogue E Coat Kettlebells are the best for myself & most people.
It is obviously important to keep in mind your goals when choosing kettlebells for the home gym, and certain people may require a specific type of kettlebell for their workouts (like a competition kettlebell), but these will certainly get the job done for even high-level athletes and CrossFit workouts.
Now, let me give you a little bit more information about the Rogue E Coat Kettlebells.
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Durability is Their Biggest Strength
If you’ve owned kettlebells coated with powder coat, you know that they will likely start rusting relatively quickly unless you obsess over maintenance, which I don’t usually do.
In addition, they can get scratched up relatively easily. Even my kettlebells from Kettlebell Kings, who are noted for having the toughest powder coat have dings on them.
However, Rogue E Coat Kettlebells are likely to still look the same years later. You will not have to deal with chips & they will ultimately keep their resale value high over the years (especially with the Rogue brand).
This factor is especially important for those working out in their garages. It may not be quite as big of a deal if you’re using them within a room in your home like a basement.
Solid Grip
The grip is good, not great. It’s not quite as “grippy” as a typical Powder Coat Kettlebell, although it is still easy to grip and does pair well with chalk.
I don’t mind and don’t think most people would either.
Reasonable Price
As with most products, these aren’t necessarily the cheapest, but these “Made in America Kettlebells” are not too much more expensive than import options. For example, a 24kg REP Powdercoat is $99 with free shipping vs. $75 + Shipping from Rogue. If you buy enough, they may actually be cheaper than buying the same amount through someone like REP.
These E Coat Kettlebells are also cheaper than the Made in USA Powdercoat options.
Considering they are likely to last forever, the overall value is extremely high.
I recently sold some kettlebells coated in powder coat (around three years old) that did not hold up great. I ended up selling them for less than a dollar a pound.
I know these kettlebells coated in e-coat would have gone for a higher price.
Other Notes
- For this write-up, I did not consider adjustable kettlebells. If you are short on space and not looking for that “specific kettlebell feel,” they may be an option for you to consider. These could very well be the best option for most people who don’t actually prioritize kettlebell training and are short on space.
- I highly suggest avoiding vinyl-coated kettlebells if you do high-intensity workouts. These have a slippery grip. The coating on the e-coat is much easier to grip than vinyl-coated options when heavier weight or high intensity is involved.
- There are benefits to competition kettlebells, like handle size and more accurate weight, but the price discrepancy is pretty high, and the benefits do not outweigh the cost for most. Thus, many should consider them and why they weren’t really mentioned above.
- I’ve subtly mentioned it in this article, but it’s an added benefit that these kettlebells are created in the USA.
Conclusion
With all that being said, if I were looking to add more kettlebells to my home gym or start the build again, I would go with the e-coat kettlebells from Rogue.
It’s also important to note that to me, the “durability factor” was slightly more important than the actual grip of the kettlebells. While the grip is still an essential factor, it’s more noteworthy that the e-coat still looks about the same as it did three years ago.
Remember, I recently sold some beaten-up powder coat kettlebells for less-than-ideal money.
That, in combination with the minimal grip difference, makes it a no-brainer for me.
If you disagree or have another opinion, please let me know in the comments below!