KETTLEBELLS THE HOME GYM ESSENTIAL

A single 12kg kettlebell was the first piece of equipment I bought for my home gym — and three years later it’s still the one I use most.

📅 March 30, 2026⏱ 6 min read🏷 Gear Review

WHY KETTLEBELLS ARE DIFFERENT

Kettlebells aren’t just odd-shaped dumbbells. The offset centre of gravity creates a completely different training stimulus — one that builds functional strength, power, and conditioning simultaneously.

→Swings — the best posterior chain exercise you can do at home. Builds glutes, hamstrings and lower back simultaneously.
→Turkish Get-Up — full body stability and strength in one movement. Brilliant for injury prevention.
→Goblet Squat — easier to learn than barbell squat, great for building quad strength and mobility.
→Clean & Press — combines pulling and pressing in one fluid movement. Excellent conditioning tool.
→Farmer Carry — builds grip strength, core stability and conditioning. Underrated exercise.
→Halo — shoulder mobility and stability. Great as a warm-up or accessory movement.

WHICH WEIGHT TO START WITH

Choosing the right starting weight is the most important decision when buying your first kettlebell.

→Women beginners — start with 8kg or 12kg. 12kg is my recommendation if you already lift.
→Men beginners — start with 16kg. 20kg if you’re already training regularly.
→Intermediate women — 16kg for swings, 12kg for Turkish Get-Ups.
→Intermediate men — 24kg for swings, 20kg for presses.
→Most useful weights to own — 12kg and 20kg covers 90% of exercises for most people.

BEST KETTLEBELLS TO BUY

UK Options

Mirafit Cast Iron Kettlebell

~£20–£60

Solid cast iron kettlebell with a comfortable handle and good balance. Reliable quality at a fair price.

PROS

✓ Good value
✓ Comfortable handle
✓ Wide range of weights
✓ Reliable quality

CONS

✗ Cast iron can chip if dropped
✗ Basic finish

Verdict: My first choice for most home gym lifters. Reliable, affordable and available in all the weights you need.

Onnit Primal Bells

~£80–£150

Premium kettlebells with exceptional balance and handle finish. Hard to justify the price for most home gym lifters.

PROS

✓ Exceptional handle finish
✓ Perfect balance
✓ Unique design

CONS

✗ Very expensive
✗ Overkill for most users

Verdict: Beautiful kettlebells but the price is hard to justify unless you’re a serious practitioner.

Amazon Basics Kettlebell

~£15–£40

Does what it says. Not the best finish but perfectly functional for home gym use on a tight budget.

PROS

✓ Very affordable
✓ Functional
✓ Easy to find

CONS

✗ Lower quality finish
✗ Handle can be uncomfortable

Verdict: Fine as a starter kettlebell but upgrade as soon as you can.

MY RECOMMENDATION

WHAT I’D BUY TODAY

Start with a Mirafit 12kg Cast Iron Kettlebell — it’s the most versatile size and the quality is genuinely good for the price. Once you’re comfortable with the movements, add a 20kg for swings and lower body work.

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