Four kinds of kettlebell sit in this range, and they are not four grades of the same thing. Each construction exists for a reason, and the reason decides which one you should own. Sort that out first, then pick the weight.
The four constructions
Classic cast-iron bells are one solid piece, powder coated, with a smooth surface and a body that grows with the weight. The range runs from 4kg to 48kg in the usual steps. This is the general-purpose bell for swings, cleans, presses, get-ups and carries, and the cheapest way into any given weight.
Vinyl-coated bells have the same cast-iron core under a vinyl coating, with a rubber base and a wide handle. The coating and the base are for the floor and for noise. They run from 4kg to 24kg. Pick these for a room with a floor you care about.
Competition bells are cast steel with a flat base and a wide, smooth handle, and the body is the same size at every weight from 8kg to 32kg. That uniform body is the point. Your grip, your rack position and the way the bell sits on your forearm stay the same as the weight goes up, which is what kettlebell sport needs and what anyone doing high-rep snatches and long cycle will notice. The Girevoy Sport Australia competition rules set the specification if you need to match it.
Soft bells are PVC with a cushioned, impact-resistant base and an extra-wide, non-slip handle, in 6kg, 8kg and 10kg. They are for indoor floors that cannot take iron, for group sessions, and for anyone who wants a bell that can be set down without a thought.
Picking a weight
Start with a bell you can swing for sets of ten with a straight back and a clean hinge, then buy the next size when that gets easy. Presses need a lighter bell than swings, and get-ups lighter again, so one bell rarely covers everything. That is why the range sells packages: the 8kg, 12kg and 16kg cast-iron package, the 16kg, 20kg and 24kg package, the 16kg and 24kg competition pair and others cover a working spread in one order. A package is cheaper than the same bells bought one at a time and arrives as one freight quote.
Handle and base
The handle is where the bell is felt. Classic bells have a smooth handle sized to the body. Vinyl and soft bells have a wide handle that suits two-handed swings. Competition bells have a wide, smooth handle that stays the same size across the range. The base decides how the bell sits for renegade rows and push-ups: flat on the competition bells, rubber on the vinyl bells, cushioned on the soft bells.
What to check on the product page
- Whether the listing is a single bell or a package, and what sizes the package holds.
- Material and finish. Cast iron, cast steel, vinyl over iron, or PVC.
- Base type, if the bell will be used on the floor or on a timber floor.
- For competition work, compare the listing with the GSAA specification.
The RooFitness kettlebells compared
| Family | Sizes | Material | Base | Handle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic cast iron | 4kg to 48kg | Solid cast iron, powder coated | Cast | Smooth, sized to the body |
| Vinyl coated | 4kg to 24kg | Cast iron core, vinyl coat | Rubber | Wide |
| Competition | 8kg to 32kg | Solid cast steel | Flat | Wide and smooth, same size at every weight |
| Soft | 6kg, 8kg, 10kg | PVC | Cushioned, impact resistant | Extra-wide, non-slip |
Packages: 4kg, 8kg, 12kg and 16kg cast iron, 8kg, 12kg and 16kg cast iron, 16kg, 20kg and 24kg cast iron, 16kg to 28kg cast iron, 4kg, 6kg and 10kg vinyl, 16kg, 20kg and 24kg vinyl, 8kg and 12kg competition, 16kg and 24kg competition, 16kg, 20kg and 24kg competition.
Related
All kettlebells · Kettlebell racks · Dumbbells · Gym flooring
