How Heavy Should My Kettlebell Be?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The recommended kettlebell sizes for adult falls between

24-35lbs (11-16kg) for men

, while the recommended size for women falls between 13-18lbs (6-8kg).

How heavy should my kettlebell be for swings?

Choosing the Right Kettlebell Weight

And because most kettlebell movements are dynamic, you can stand to pick up something heavier than you would with a dumbbell. According to Daily Burn kettlebell expert, Cody Storey,

women might want to start with 8 kg (18 lbs) or 12 kg (26 lbs), and men with 16 kg (35 lbs)

.

How do I know if my kettlebells are too heavy?

A kettlebell is too heavy for us

if we cannot perform at least 5 repetitions of stronger movements like the squat, deadlift, and the 2 arm kettlebell swing

. If we cannot use a kettlebell for foundational movements, we will not be able to use it for more complex movements like the snatch, clean, or jerk.

How heavy should a kettlebell be for a woman?

An average, active women should start with a kettlebell

between 6 kg – 13 lb and 8 kg – 18 lb

. An athletic woman should start with a kettlebell between 8 kg – 18 lb and 12 kg – 26 lb and out of shape, inactive women should try a bell between 4 kg – 9 lb and 6 kg – 13 lb.

Is a 4 kg kettlebell too light?

You’ll be throwing around a 4-kg (9 lb.) kettlebell like nothing. If you do this, you will never perfect your form, you will never progress to heavier weights, and you will not achieve the real benefits that kettlebells have to offer.

Don’t go too light!

Is a 15 lb kettlebell too light?

In general,

Lopez recommends going anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds lighter on a kettlebell than you would a dumbbell

. But resistance is assistance, so going too light or too heavy can compromise technique—not to mention increase your risk of injury with the added momentum of most moves, Brown adds.

Is it OK to do kettlebell swings everyday?

The kettlebell swing normally targets your core and upper body muscles, including your hamstrings, glutes, and shoulders. Kettlebell swings will help you burn more calories, improve your endurance, scorch fat, reduce low back pains, and enhance your body posture.

You can do them every day to achieve the best results

.

Is 10 lb kettlebell too light?

The 10 pounder has been a bookend for a year or so. And I’m not an advanced exerciser. Unless you are planning to do kettlenetics/kettlebell concepts style workouts

I would not recommend starting with less than 15 pounds

. 20-25 pounds is probably best for most people.

Why does a kettlebell feel heavier?

The reason a kettlebell does this is because

the load is displaced

. Think about lifting a barbell or dumbbell. With both you have an equal load placed on both sides of the weight. With a kettlebell, your load is displaced; it’s heavier at the bottom than where you’re holding.

Should kettlebells be heavy?

The kettlebell size for ballistic exercise can be more massive than the size you will use for grind exercises. The recommended kettlebell size for this type of training should be between the following weight ranges:

35lbs (16kg) and 53lbs (24kg) kettlebells for men. 18lbs (8kg) and 35lbs (16kg) kettlebells for women

.

Is 16kg kettlebell enough?

What weight kettlebell should a man use?

Men should begin with a 12kg (25lbs) or 16kg (35lbs) for those with weight training experience

. Later you will progress to a 20kg or 24kg (53lbs). I have trained men using kettlebells above 24kg (53lbs) but for the majority of your basics this is as heavy as you will need to go.

How do I know if my kettlebell is too light?

According to trainer Roxie Jones, there are three common mistakes that people make in their kettlebell racking that serve as clear indications that they need to go lighter: They need to use their other hand to assist in lifting it, their elbow is sticking way out to the side to support the weight, or the bell is …

Will kettlebell swings burn belly fat?

A young woman is swinging a kettlebell. Kettlebell exercises are great for an intense full-body workout to build strength and muscle tone,

burn calories and lose weight, including belly fat

.

Do kettlebells build muscle?


Kettlebells are a versatile tool for building muscle

, increasing power, and shedding body fat. Like most training programs, building muscle with kettlebells is highly dependent on: load/intensity. overall training volume.

How many kettlebell swings a day?


100 kettlebell swings

is an excellent start, but every good workout should be at least 20 minutes long. Once you’ve become acclimated to kettlebell swings, aim for 300 to 400, if they will be your only movement in the workout.

Is 16kg kettlebell too heavy?

The 8kg will not make you stronger or make you gain muscle.

The 16kg not much better

. If you can only get one kettlebell, get a 24kg and practice deadlifts with it until you can do 2H swings with it.

What dumbbell weight should I use kg?

We would recommend a

5lb (2.5kg) or 10lb (4 or 5kg)

as the lightest weight (depends on your strength level, some people are naturally stronger) and then from there pairs of 15lb (8kg), 20lb (10kg), 30lb (14kg), and 40lb (18kg) or 50lb (24kg) dumbbells as your top weight.

What weight kettlebell should I use for squats?

In turn, it helps you to burn lots of calories and helps to grow your lean muscle tissues.

For average active men doing Basic Goblet Squats, the best kettlebell size is 40LBS. For average active women doing Basic Squats, the best kettlebell squats size is 25LBS

.

Do I need 2 kettlebells?

Unlike dumbbells,

you only need one kettlebell of each size

. This is because kettlebell training is functional exercise at its best. In fact, working only one side of your body at a time allows you to work more muscle groups.

Can you build muscle with 15 pound kettlebell?

You’ll be doing various repetitions and sets of numerous kettlebell exercises over the span of 10, 20, 30 minutes or more. That

15 lb. kettlebell will tire you out until your body and muscles have adjusted

. That’s not a bad thing, after all, becoming fit is a journey and not an overnight transformation.

How do I get a six pack with a kettlebell?

Are kettlebells good for toning arms?


Kettlebells are great to use for your arms

because it’s challenging, helps you build muscle and burns fat. It’s also a great alternative to using dumbbells, especially during high-demand times at the gym, when they’re all being used.

How long does it take to see results from kettlebells?

How quickly do you see results from kettlebells? With a good diet and a sensible kettlebell training program you will start to see cardio, strength, muscle and fat loss improvements within

30 days

.

What pound kettlebell should I start with?

How Much Weight Should You Start With? Murdock and Masiello suggest

women start with 8kg (or 18lb) kettlebells, and Masiello suggests men start with 16 kg or 33 lb ones

. Murdock also notes that kettlebells generally come in kilograms and not pounds (1 kg lb is 2.2 lbs), so make sure to pay attention to the numbers.

Can I use a dumbbell instead of a kettlebell?



Dumbbells can easily be interchangeable with kettlebells in most cases

, although historically, kettlebells have been used for more swinging-type exercises,” says Jake Harcoff, CSCS, a certified kinesiologist and owner of AIM Athletic.

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.