Olympic barbells are made for serious weight – and they are heavy – weighing 20 kilos or 45 lbs – usually. © 2021 reddit inc. All rights reserved. Bells of Steel belt squat. My tried and true inventory management system of using spreadsheets can no longer keep up with the business and for the last 3 months, I've been diligently working at implementing a more sophisticated inventory management system as well as turning off back ordering for a lot of our products. This is a review of the Rep Fitness AB-5200, a commercial-grade, adjustable ladder bench with not only all the standard features you’d expect from a commercial bench, but … [–]MadDuck- 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (1 child). Incidentally, if you’re interested in learning how kettlebells are made. Have you looked into the StrongFirst kettlebells? I’ll get into the details shortly, but I first want to comment on the excellent packaging they use to ship their kettlebells. I originally went with Bells of Steel because they were Canadian, from a different province (so I didn’t have to pay additional 7% local tax - I'm in BC), and based on reviews it was good value for the money. The coating has a slightly aggressive texture, which works very well for maintaining grip without needing chalk. This puts stress on the metal that will eventually lead to fatigue and fracture. I requested a refund. Considering my experience with another kettlebell in this price range, I didn’t have very high expectations. It’s a small difference, but enough to force an adjustment of technique for exercises like the overhead snatch. Welded Farmers Carry I-Beams. I really don’t understand how a big-name fitness company could even think about putting their brand on a product like this. They purchased six “Performance First Place”  kettlebells of different sizes and a storage rack from Perform Better. KK gave great customer service – very nice people. The two kettlebells accidentally banged together and a piece of the Onnit kettlebell coating came flying off. The end result is a very durable finish with a textured coating that will hold plenty of chalk if needed. There are no visible seams or burrs, and the bottom is ground completely flat. The coating on each has worn off in places and given way to rust, especially on the 16kg bell. Very reasonable pricing on those. I also didn’t like how they took the full payment immediately. I just used white hockey tape to mark where my jcups and safeties go for squat, bench and OHP and wrote the names of each lift with a sharpie on the tape. USA-Iron has stepped into the breach producing high quality kettlebells to make sure we can keep on swinging, and I’m very glad they did. Hi Mark, I was able to get one, the review has been added. Proper form is important, because improper swing form can cause back injury. The bottom doesn’t appear to be ground down at all. Their Metrixx line of cast iron kettlebells are offered in two styles- a “Classic” line that is roughly equivalent in size and coating to Dragon Door kettlebells, and a newer “Elite Precision” line that has a different formulation of e-coat and a redesigned handle. Bells of Steel … The e-coat is supposed to be extremely durable, but unfortunately it could not hold up to being (mis)handled by UPS. I taped the mats together, built a deadlift platform(still need the ply), and hung up a picture of of my old mate and gym boss, Rocky. The finish of the CFF K2 is extremely clean. I am a complete rookie looking to buy my first kettlebell. Top row – Metrixx Elite vs Dragon Door RKC. Forged? sticky. They sent the wrong amount of plates, so I ended up with a couple extra 10lbs which was a positive, but was missing the 2.5lb weights, so took longer to get. I can reach out to them to see if they’d like to participate. Hey! Thanks for pointing these out to me. These were just poorly made. Textured grip, durable finish, and cleaner color bands. The coating is also really durable, these kettlebells have withstood several hard blows without chipping. The Amazon Basics kettlebell is cheaply made, but also budget priced. Crucible?? The shipping was nothing special, just a box within a box. Both came packaged in double-walled cardboard with protective reinforcement straps. It’s also the most durable coating I’ve seen on any kettlebell. Just getting started with a fitness program or looking to do lightweight benching, squatting or deadlifting? The combination of finish and textured coating will hold a lot of chalk if needed. Here’s an example of kettlebell long cycle done by a world champion in the sport. Titan Fitness is a strength & conditioning equipment company based in Collierville, Tennessee with a mixed reputation in the home fitness community. I emailed them, apparently the pads were back ordered, and I asked if they could ship out the bar and I'll wait for the pads. Some guy delivered it in a normal suv, but forgot to deliver a bunch of the stuff, so that took another week or so to sort out. [–]Jmelho[] 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (1 child). Best fitness … [–]refotsirkStrongman 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (4 children). A DIY kettlebell also has two major disadvantages. It isn’t pretty but it works well enough if I’m careful. The owner of USA-Iron reached out to me in the comments of this article and was kind enough to send me a set of 25lb and 35lb kettlebells to evaluate and review. Back when I got serious about kettlebell training I asked my employer to add kettlebells to our work gym, and they agreed. The RKC kettlebells all have prevalent seams left over from the casting process on the handles. USA-Iron is one of the few companies I’m aware of that adds a separate wash step to the manufacturing process to clean dust off the kettlebell before the powder coat is applied. The finish of the Rep Fitness kettlebells is very good. I mean, it’s a cannonball with a handle, how hard can it be to mess that up, right? However, texture and grip are a matter of preference, and there are some that will like this style over a smoother handle. The CFF K2 kettlebell is not fancy. If you decide to pursue a regular regimen of kettlebell work, invest in real kettlebells or plan on replacing your T-bar parts at least once every four to six months. If you're looking for a multi-purpose barbell, you may have come across some of the more well-known bars like the Rogue Ohio Bar, the American Barbell California Bar, the Fringe Sport Wonder Bar, The Rep Fitness … I’ve used nearly every major brand of kettlebells, including experimenting with a homemade kettlebell made out of plumbing parts. 5. Aside from the fact that it was made in Michigan rather than a factory in China, it doesn’t stand out in any way. I have an old 40# kettlebell that looks like the Dragon Door ones profiled above, a random 24kg one with rubber-coating, and a 20kg and 32kg powder coat from Kettlebell Kings. FringeSport, Bells of Steel, and Valor Fitness are three of the only companies to pad the inner lip of their J-hooks, or at least on some models. Hi Laura, the handle on the 20kg measures approximately 37.5mm in diameter. The boxes were in decent condition except the lat pulldown one. The Kettlebell Kings Powder Coat kettlebell is a high quality kettlebell that provides an excellent balance between durability and usability. I’ve yet to see a chip in the coat. The finish on the CAP kettlebell is good, although I can feel a few small flecks of excess metal on the handle when I run my hand over it. In fact, several of the companies offer no guarantee whatsoever and will not accept a return at all unless your purchase is defective. This is by far the most well-packed cast-iron kettlebell I’ve seen. Like Rep Fitness, Titan target the budget-conscious segment of the home fitness equipment market, and are currently the major player in this segment. There’s always a chance Dragon Door has upped their game since these bells were originally made. However, the kettlebell arrived undamaged, which is more than I can say for other kettlebells that cost twice as much. I'm still waiting on my silencer pads, though. The login page will open in a new tab. This was the perfect storm for a massive run on fitness equipment, and several months later most companies are still having trouble keeping products in stock. It basically had no updates until the item was delivered. On the other hand, if saving money is your primary concern and you’re willing to sacrifice some quality, the Yes4All is hard to beat. We have a 1 year, 100% money back guarantee.”. [–]supersillybuffalo 2 points3 points4 points 1 year ago* (0 children). Kettlebells are easy to store, relatively inexpensive, and provide an efficient way to work nearly every part of the body in a short period of time. Another point worth mentioning is the completely flat level bottom of the Kettlebell Kings powder coat kettlebell. Second, there are upper limits to the weight that can be applied to the bar and how long the bar will last. These seams often pinched the skin of my palms, indicating a poor finishing and grinding process. The Titan Fitness kettlebell is the absolute worst kettlebell I’ve seen so far, even considering the budget price. Just as a tip, I found a white crayola crayon to be pretty long lasting on a black powdercoating - that's what I've used for marking over the last 3-4 months and it works well and doesn't really hurt the asthetics imo as I've just got them marked on the inside edges. Two stars – Not recommended but has redeeming qualities. The Olympic Barbell is the primary tool of strength training – and Olympic lifting. Hi Mario, Love your reviews. I took the partial refund because, well, I dont really care for having pristine kit, its gonna get banged up anyways. The finish on these kettlebells is extremely grippy with no seams or burrs anywhere on the handles or bodies, with a coating that feels like chalk to the touch. Aside from the bottom not being flat, the finish is good with no casting seams or burrs. Fringe Sport Prime Kettlebells are a nice option for CrossFit or kettlebell WODs. Being an asshole is an easy way to be permanently banned. Hi Ferreus, unfortunately no, I have no experience with this particular brand of kettlebells. As far as one-hand vs two hand, low reps vs high reps go, I’ve found that all three are fairly equivalent. Lots of that dust settles on the surface of the bells while they sit patiently waiting for paint. At the time of this writeup, Kettlebell Kings is the only company offering the option to build your own set, with an increased discount applied for every kettlebell added. In this particular case, unfortunately Titan lived up to their infamy. My goal is to have the most comprehensive kettlebell review available online, so if you’ve been looking for real-world feedback on cast-iron kettlebells in general or a specific brand in particular then this article is for you. I had a similar experience with bells of steel. I believe bells of steel and gorila fitness do that but at least gorila fitness has quality stuff just pricey. The tracking number they gave me wasn’t very clear. Hey Mario! Quite simply, the Metrixx Elite Precision is the best E-coat kettlebell you can buy. They have no color coding bars or an elaborate logo etched into the body, just a simple logo on one side that also lists the kettlebell weight. Hi Stuart, I’ve not personally used the KBX bells from Body Solid. Are they the only company that does so? I’ll just get this out of the way up front – the Yes4All is a cheaply made kettlebell. They are pretty good about things if you remind them. They are a pretty good deal if you live close to Ohio, otherwise the cost of shipping makes them much less appealing. The coating seems intentionally designed to hold lots of chalk, but without chalk it can be just a bit uncomfortable to use for high-rep snatch or clean sessions. I own two Fringe Sport Prime Kettlebells – one 12kg and one 16kg. Frankly, these aren’t my favorite kettlebells to use, but they ain’t bad. The K2 will hold the most chalk. Great review! If you have small or medium hands, look elsewhere. The glossy paint coat is very tacky to the touch, e.g. Much thought has clearly gone into making a kettlebell that can be used by nearly anyone, with or without chalk. Rep Fitness Urethane Dumbbells. This is an important step because the factories where kettlebells are made are dirty, dusty places. Any experience with the Premium bells from GetRx’d? I am in the process of buying some Kettle Bells and was down to Kettlebell Kings, Perform Better, TRX and Rogue. If you want a top quality kettlebell, there’s really no comparison. I tried dropping another kettlebell on it from waist-height, and the finish did scratch but did not chip. If you’re getting a sense of deja vu right now, don’t worry, you’re not crazy. There were things missing from my order, they gave me too many 10lb plates, and the items I did receive seemed to be out of alignment in so many areas (the squat rack hooks are very loose and unbalanced, and the FID bench has about a 5 degree decline when set up to be flat). Simple and efficient yet durable and versatile. TLDR: took about 3 months from taking payment to fully completing the transaction (including a partial refund). The box and the plastic were worn away, and some damage had been done to the coating of the kettlebell as a result. Vulcan Strength Absolute Training Kettlebell Review. A 35lb cast-iron kettlebell is currently selling for $41 with Prime shipping, which is a really good deal for a cast-iron kettlebell. Joe Wuebben is a veteran health and fitness writer who has contributed to major fitness publications and websites for nearly 20 years. The Onnit kettlebell handle window is thinner than most of the others and taller as well – the window is roughly one centimeter larger than average, very similar to the Mettrixx Elite Precision kettlebell. I asked them about it on March 4 and was told March 15. The coating seems intentionally designed to hold lots of chalk, but without chalk it can be just a bit uncomfortable to use for high-rep snatch or clean sessions. The DIY kettlebell has two big advantages. The wobbly plate and the j hook defect weren't a big issue and since I ended up with extra 10lb plates I felt like I could live with it. Having said that, it’s still perfectly usable for swings, snatches, cleans, etc and I’d be hard pressed to find a cheaper option for someone that doesn’t want to spend much on a kettlebell. For example, I can’t find anything else in the market that would fit the 2.3x2.3 post size. Hi Brian, thanks for your comment. For the money, Rep Fitness … Everything was listed as in stock on the website except the landmine and when I had contacted them prior they said anything in stock would take about 2 weeks to arrive. The highest quality style of fixed-weight (non-adjustable) dumbbells is debatable. You can see the hole in the box from the previous picture, and also how that hole translated to damage of the kettlebell finish in the picture above. The lack of care in packaging extends to the finish and coating. This is also the most durable kettlebell you’re likely to find anywhere. Prohibited behavior includes (but is not limited to) racist, misogynistic, misandric, sexist, political and overtly offensive comments that have nothing to do with homegyms. The big draw is the price, I picked up a 35lb cast-iron kettlebell for $40 shipped, which is amazingly cheap. Spoiler alert – they aren’t great. Please be aware that any discussions or comments regarding flags that do not follow rule #1 will be removed and additional actions may be taken if necessary including a permanent ban. Kettlebells are now mainstream enough to have attracted Amazon’s attention. These kettlebells aren’t scratched, just sloppily painted. Kettlebells USA have been around for over a decade, and although they now offer a variety of fitness equipment their core business has always been kettlebells. It looks sloppy, as if someone was in a hurry to get the job done. This is a far cry from other vendors like Rogue Fitness, who typically just throw the bell in a box with some cardboard shims and hope for the best ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. However, based on the shape of the handle I’m guessing they are very similar if not exactly the same as the kettlebells sold by Rogue and CAP. Thanks. No padding. Ironically, the body of the bell with the rust-resistant coating was badly rusted. I never got the spring clips or the two sets of lock jaw collars that I was charged $86 for. Speaking of grinding, none of the bottoms of the Dragon Door kettlebells are ground completely flat – they all wobble when on flat ground. These are nice kettlebells to work with overall, despite the small metal burrs on the handles of some of the kettlebells. I use a simple five point rating scale to score each kettlebell: Five stars – Excellent all around kettlebell. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Do you have any thoughts on the Body Solid KBX kettlebells. I can’t see or feel any seams or casting defects on the handle or on the body of the kettlebells. The handles of all six are well rounded with no prevalent seams, although there are a few small metal burrs on the underside of some of the handles. The handle dimensions on average are smaller than similarly sized kettlebells from other vendors, making these very friend for people with smaller hands. [–]MadDuck- 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (0 children). I see your gym dog/cat and raise you one gym pig. This is an important point because the factories where kettlebells are made are dirty, dusty places. The team over at Kettlebell Kings also tell me they’ve added a separate wash step to the manufacturing process to clean dust off the kettlebell before the powder coat is applied. I’m very impressed with the CFF K2 kettlebell. That extra money is clearly not being invested back into quality control at Dragon Door. Have you ever tried TRX Kettlebells? Wrong! [–][deleted] 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (1 child). I reached out to customer service again to tell them about my experience and asked if my RKC kettlebells are representative of the quality of newly made Dragon Door kettlebells. Since 2010 Bells of Steel has been providing quality, affordable, fitness equipment for home gyms. USA-Iron also has a great writeup on their website that covers the entire kettlebell manufacturing process. Thanks Kevin, I’ll look into them for the upcoming 2018 revision of the review. This is a purely cosmetic issue that doesn’t take away from the usability of the kettlebells at all, but it does detract from the overall perception of quality. Ordered the Weightlifting bar and had it shipped to a nearby depot for free. The Metrixx Elite Precision line of kettlebells have a reformulated e-coat intended to increase grip over a traditional e-coating. One thing that really bothers me about B.o.S is that they will charge your credit card immediately after you place your order, even though items aren't in stock. The 5.1 light commercial power rack looks really good for its price since it comes with safety straps, rollers, and sandwich cups. Just wanted to address your issues, and do a little blurb of where we're at and where we're going: Over the last year, Bells of Steel doubled in growth, and we're on track to double again this year with our US expansion. Updated for 2021! I hope this helps! Excellent customer service and fast, free shipping from Indianapolis Click now to learn more. [–]pangosaurus[S] 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (0 children). The only real nit I can pick with them are the handle sizes. The handle diameter is on the larger side of the options tested, measurements will be added later. The Dragon Door kettlebells have one of the lowest quality finishes of all the kettlebells tested, which is notable because the cost difference Dragon Door and every other brand is huge. - Eric Keely, Co-Owner of CrossFit Grail. USA-Iron is making high quality kettlebells right here in the USA. It took 4 business days to get a shipping label and shipping itself took 1 day. Kettlebell Kings are a vendor local to Austin that specializes in…wait for it…kettlebells! However, inflation has taken its toll because I paid closer to $18 after tax. It was split into 2 pieces around the middle. Lots of information and very helpful. Smooth flat bottom, but the e-coat could not stand up to UPS delivery. However, they don’t really stand out enough to differentiate them from the rest of the color-coded powder coat kettlebells I’ve tested. FYI – the lighting I used to take the pictures for this review makes the kettlebell look brown, but the coating is actually black. The e-coat can get a little slippery as my hands start to sweat, so the texture is useful. It also generated heat on my palms through friction. One minor nit to pick is with the quality of the paint job on the faces of the kettlebells. That doesn’t include the price of the plastic clamp I already owned. If you’re unfamiliar with Cerakote, it’s an extremely durable thin-film ceramic coating developed primarily for use as a protective finish for firearms. [–]MadDuck- 4 points5 points6 points 1 year ago (4 children). I've also heard of folks using a whiteout pen or white paint for numbering. I’ve not tried or even seen the Gopher Performance kettlebells in person, so I don’t have an opinion on them I can share unfortunately. I wasn’t home so I asked them to leave the items in my driveway. They are cheaper and much better quality than most of my bells. on July 10, 2020 {12 comments} ... REP's new wide pad for the AB … So if I order the dip attachment now I’d have to pay $29 shipping on a $100 item. They might exist. Bare steel bars offer an amazing grip and look awesome, but they need more maintenance than your standard chrome or Zinc barbell. I've seen those things around before but I never knew their purpose. Rep Fitness kettlebells are extremely durable and gravity casted to ensure a much more consistent kettlebell with no rough edges and a nice flat bottom. REP urethane dumbbell sets feature solid steel dumbbells with an extremely durable urethane coating. There are a couple of companies making steel competition-style kettlebells aimed at the home fitness market, which offer the benefit of consistently sized kettlebells without incurring the usual steel competition cost. The Rep Fitness kettlebells came well packed, with plenty of foam inserts and even bubble wrap on the 20kg. I used the small kettlebell for one hand work and the larger kettlebell for two-hand swings. As I’ve stated before in reviews of other kettlebells, texture and grip are a matter of preference and there are some that will likely prefer a smoother handle. Not content with that, the folks at Rep Fitness have upped their game by improving on the issues I noted in the previous review. Every cast iron kettlebell is packed in styrofoam to protect the bell during shipping, which I appreciate because the kettlebell arrives undamaged. The Metrixx Elite Precision kettlebell is a very comfortable kettlebell to work with, especially if you’re able to use a small amount of chalk. It looks like it could take a decent amount of abuse from a careless shipper, but the lack of reinforcement straps around the box could be an issue if the kettlebell has to travel a long distance. I never need chalk when using the cast iron kettlebell, which is a huge plus for me. It’s also one of the most durable powder coatings I’ve seen on a cast-iron kettlebell. R.I.P. Broke out the measuring tape and sure enough all the knurling including the centre knurling. I hope that helps, let me know if you have other questions. They go on sale often and there are better options at the same non-sale price point. Cast iron kettlebells with cerakote coatings from Kettlebell Kings. I would also recommend trying the powder coated kettlebells from Christians Fitness Factory if you do another review. I should add another thing I just noticed that I wish I hadn't because I know it's going to bug me even though it's not massive. They even included a sticker! Mid-range: Barbells longer than six feet that have a tensile strength between 150,000 and 200,000 psi and a bare steel, black oxide, or zinc finish usually cost between $75 and $210. FREE shipping in the continental USA from Indianapolis The finish on the Onnit kettlebell is clean, although the textured coating is thick enough to potentially mask small imperfections. I used grease pencils or otherwise called china markers. I’m not a tall guy (5’8”) and many of the people I work with in my kettlebell club are even shorter than I am, both men and women.