What’s wrong with cheap kettlebells

Kettlebells are designed for weightlifting workouts, which means they are inevitably subject to strong impacts. Therefore, their entire construction must be of top-notch standards, with excellent sturdiness and excellent resistance to rust, chipping, and breaking. These desirable characteristics can be achieved through the use of high-quality metals and finishes, but this may affect the cost of the product. Therefore, low-cost kettlebells will not be able to guarantee these qualities and withstand long-term circulation.

• Low-quality handles

The handle is crucial because it directly affects how the user holds the kettlebell. A well-designed, well-made handle can benefit any exercise routine; a poor-quality handle can cause skin irritation, an uncomfortable grip, and can even lead to adverse injuries.

Not only that, but cheap kettlebells are not made from a solid, one-piece casting. Instead, the body and handle are cast separately and then welded together. This welding can lead to a poor connection and ridges where the handle joins the body. Especially as you lift heavier weights, a broken handle can be very dangerous, not only to you but also to your floor, when doing exercises like kettlebell swings. Besides, scratches and sharp edges on the handles of kettlebells can also cut your hands.

In addition, cheap kettlebells often do not strictly adhere to the regulations on handle size and the size between the handle and the kettlebell. This will cause the kettlebell you buy to have problems such as the handle being too thick, the handle width being too narrow, and the handle spacing being too narrow.

• Incorrect weights and uneven weight distribution

Since cheap kettlebells are primarily made of a certain amount of sand or cement, their weight may not match the weight stated by the manufacturer on the label. Your muscles may not receive enough tension, or it may lead to a false judgment of the trainee’s ability.

• Surface coating may not be perfect

Since their prices are much lower than other manufacturers on the market, cheap kettlebells are unlikely to use excellent coatings, especially powder coatings; this low-quality coating may cause defects such as peeling, mottled, and faded, which will cause the appearance and durability of the kettlebell to deteriorate rapidly. Therefore, don’t have too high expectations on the coating quality of cheap kettlebell products, you are likely to be disappointed.

Final Thoughts

Kettlebells are one of the few pieces of fitness equipment that are worth the hype. While money is a limited resource for most of us, kettlebells or any other fitness product are worth a long-term investment and are not recommended for cheap purchases.