| Kettlebells are a relatively new craze that's spreading | | | | weight, is difficult if not impossible with fixed-weight |
| through the fitness and training community like | | | | kettlebells. With adjustable dumbbells, it is as simple |
| wildfire. Although kettlebell enthusiasts claim to be the | | | | as adding another weight plate. This is by far the |
| beneficiaries of little-known, but time-tested training | | | | main advantage that adjustable dumbbells have over |
| methods handed down over the generations in exotic | | | | kettlebells. |
| locales, the fact is that the vast majority of the | | | | Grip strength is often the limiting factor in pulling |
| kettlebell hype originated in the fertile mind of a | | | | exercises like snatches, cleans, or swings. The thick, |
| marketing guru in various advertising agencies. Truth | | | | ungainly kettlebell handles tax the grip and |
| be told: most kettlebell experts jumped on the | | | | fundamentally alter the workout from one consisting |
| bandwagon recently. | | | | of full-body compound movements to one filled with |
| So, just because kettlebells are not really the secret | | | | grip-specific isolation exercises. While grip work is |
| training tool of yesterday's ubermenchen doesn't | | | | undoubtedly important, it should not take precedence |
| mean they're completely worthless, does it? No it | | | | over full-body fitness. Using an adjustable dumbbell, |
| doesnt. They have their uses and they can serve a | | | | on the other hand, allows you to perform swings, |
| role in any fitness program. But there's a catch. The | | | | cleans, snatches, and other pulls with a comfortable, |
| catch is: kettlebells underperform their more familiar | | | | ergonomic handle that won't draw attention to itself |
| cousin the dumbbell, and they underperform by a | | | | by limiting your performance and injuring the skin on |
| significant margin, despite costing much, much more. | | | | your palms. |
| Kettlebells versus Dumbbells | | | | Kettlebells are inferior to adjustable Dumbbells |
| The expense and lack of versatility inherent in | | | | Kettlebells are intentionally minimalist. Dumbbells |
| fixed-weight kettlebells far outstrips their usefulness | | | | have evolved over the years to serve as wide a |
| for warming up and conditioning. Furthermore, there is | | | | range of purposes as possible, while maintaining the |
| no good reason to perform these common tasks | | | | simple design elements that set them apart as one |
| with a kettlebell when a dumbbell serves just as well. | | | | of the most useful fitness tools around. Don't fall for |
| Virtually anything that can be done with a kettlebell is | | | | the kettlebell hype, stick to dumbbells and replace |
| possible with a dumbbell, and dumbbells are safer, | | | | hype with progress. |
| cheaper, and easily adjustable with regards to weight. | | | | For a more in-depth comparison of kettlebells and |
| Exercise progression, from light to medium to heavy | | | | dumbbells, check out Kettlebells versus Dumbbells. |