Survey Results
In a recent poll, we asked whether people would prefer adjustable or traditional kettlebells for their home gym, with space and budget in mind.
Traditional kettlebells were the clear winner, with 48.5% of the votes, compared to 31.6% for adjustable ones. 7.1% also voted for competition kettlebells, with 12.8% voting not sure.
My Take and Prediction for the Future
I personally enjoy the compact nature of adjustable kettlebells, and I think as these options continue to improve, we’ll see opinions start to shift. I own the Bells of Steel adjustable kettlebell, and it has done the job well. It offers a wide range of adjustments, but changing the weight does take some time, which is something many people don’t want to deal with during a workout.
Personally, I primarily use kettlebells for swings and goblet squats, not many of the more advanced kettlebell movements, so the adjustable design works just fine in my setup.
That said, Freak Athlete recently launched a really solid option that includes quicker adjustment mechanisms. Titan also offers budget-adjustable kettlebells that are attractive on price, giving people another entry point if they want the space savings without spending a ton.
As more companies begin producing adjustable kettlebells with faster, easier weight changes, I think we’ll start to see the pros outweigh the cons for more people.
For now, traditional kettlebells remain the preferred choice for most. They require no weight changes, don’t rattle, and generally move a bit more naturally.
Similar to adjustable dumbbells, though, there will always be a place for both depending on how someone trains. Over the next few years, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the balance shift as adjustable options continue to improve.