Kettle Bells: A Fitness Icon

The Kettle Bell appears to be surging in popularity right now; there is a reason we’ve integrated it into our logo.  When people see one of these they instantly think of the gym.  However, surprisingly, they were actually invented to be used as counter weights when measuring the mass of industrial objects on scales at factories and on farms. Kettle Bells have been around for a long time, and we’re going to uncover why we believe this piece of industrial equipment has become a fitness icon.

We believe there are two reasons:

1. The Versatility of this equipment.
2. The Ruggedness of this equipment.

Versatility

Whatever exercise movements you can do with a dumbbell you can do with a Kettle Bell. This list is rather extensive, but here are a few of our favorites that you can find on our free workout generator that will give your whole body a workout:

1. Goblet Squat
2. Standing Military Press
3. Bent Over Rows
4. Front Raises
5. Dead Lifts
6. Single Leg Stiff Legged Dead Lift

Ruggedness

When you look at a traditional Kettle Bell, it’s usually made from some form of cast iron. Kettle Bells are tough, yet forgiving. The placement of the handle can make it very difficult to hold on to, the handle is not in a place of balance when performing certain exercise movements. You can be rough with Kettle Bells and they will always be forgiving; you can drop them, leave them out in the rain, throw them, get chalk on them, etc. The visceral nature of this equipment just makes you feel like you’re doing something more than working out, you’re actually lifting weights!

Traditional gyms have all signed on to the formula of: Barbells, Dumbbells, Machines; and Kettle Bells are an expense that can be substituted with the dumbbell…and dumbbells can be made with rubber so it’s “safer”. CrossFit has certainly brought Kettle Bells back to the spotlight but that is only because this equipment is manageable and can be used outside.  Since CrossFit has exploded in popularity, gyms now need to keep up with the competition by offering the same sort of amenities that one would find in a CrossFit “Box”…capitalism!

So, that’s our take on this fitness icon. Fads come and go, and the next piece of gym equipment can promise to work out all of your muscles from one machine but there is a reason why the Kettle Bell has been around for over a century now.  A Kettle Bell is much more than a piece of gym equipment, it was an industrial tool that man said “I feel like throwing this thing around”, and isn’t that the true spirit of weightlifting?

The visceral nature of this equipment just makes you feel like you’re doing something more than working out.