Getting started with kettlebells

[fallstoclimb]

I took a couple kettlebells classes, read/skimmed most of Pavel's Simple and Sinister, and I'm ready to start swinging at home.

But I feel like a total novice here.  First, it seems like there are a lot of crummy kettlebells out there.  I've got $185 set aside to build a kettlebell stable, with a little flexibility to go higher.  Amazon doesn't seem to carry anything decent, Dragon Door is crazy expensive, so I'm eyeing up the Rogue kettlebells but are there other recommendations?  Pavel says I should start with 8, 12 and 16 kg as a lady - on Rogue that will cost me $120, which seems reasonable, although there's another $40 for shipping which I hate. 

My other question is if its a terrible idea to do this in my finished basement?  Is it worth getting some rubber mats for the garage and doing in there instead?  (At least when it isn't freezing cold).  Mats are pricey but I guess fixing a hole in my wall is pricier!  Seems unlikely, though?  Our basement is carpeted but I'm pretty sure it's just concrete (or maybe asbestos) under there. 

[vhalros]

Regarding mats, horse stall mats are usually the cheapest option; these are literally the mats they use in horse stalls, but they work great as an impact resistant exercise surface. They seem to last forever, so probably worth it; the bell is occasionally going to come down a bit roughly.

I'm not sure if you are joking, but I would avoid training any where there is asbestos, since you will be breathing a lot and have some possibility of disturbing the stuff.

Regarding brands, I've found Troy Kettlebells to be pretty good; about the cheapest ones that will not chew up your hand due to crappy handles. Ader kettlebells are also nice, but somewhat more expensive (still not as expensive as Dragon Door). Avoid the Contour Kettlebells, apparently made by some one who never bothered to learn how to hold one.

Also, if you are primarily interested in swings, the cheapest option is to just build your own swing handle, and demonstrated here: http://rosstraining.com/blog/2008/12/31/homemade-t-handle-demonstration/. You can also use the plates for other stuff. The downside is that it is only really useful for swings.


Edit: If you make your own handle, you will want to make it a little smaller than that for it to go comfortably between your legs. Probably the handles should be made of 3 inch nipples instead of 4.

[fallstoclimb]

I was mostly joking.  It might be 9x9 asbestos tiles -- that's what we have in the unfinished part of the basement -- but it's covered up by the wall to wall carpeting, it's fine.  People always point to those horse mats but they are still expensive! 

So, swing in finished basement or get rubber mats and do it in garage?

[vhalros]

If you have space in the basement that is clear of fragile objects it is probably fine to do it there.  There is a small but non-zero chance of loosing control of the bell and it flying into a wall (for this reason you want to make sure your "line of fire" is clear of people), but this is really pretty rare (has never happened to me).

[marty998]

Ah so you wouldn't just do them in front of the TV then?

Don't really understand why you need a separate space to hide away in the basement while doing it...

[fallstoclimb]

Yeah, this is what I was getting at, if a rubber mat and secured area are actually necessary for safety/home protection reasons.  In kettlebells class I certainly never let one fly, and we were all close enough that it would have been pretty bad if someone had.  I read somewhere that someone said it was dumb to not do it on a rubber mat so I was trying to figure out if that was really protocol or not...

[misschedda]

I do my kettlebell swings in an open area of the carpeted bedroom. I guess I don't really swing violently enough that I'm worried about the kettlebell flying out of my hands.

[Cromacster]

I've never seen anyone accidentally throw a kettlebell.  I have seem people drop kettlebells.  Which might be an issue with the tile under the carpet.  Asbestos aside, it could crack/dent the tile, which may create a low spot in the carpet.  At my crossfit gym, the owner doesn't let us drop the kettlebells as it can (and has) crack/damage the concrete.  The gym uses horse stall mats.

Overall, I'd say you are fine doing it on the carpet.  Just pause a second if you need to regrip.  Use chalk. Don't drop it.

[Candace]

Like another poster, I just use my kettlebell in an open area of my carpeted bedroom. If I were working out by myself, I'd be in front of the TV on an area rug with a pad over a wood floor.

I've taken lots of kettlebell classes and worked out with one by myself. I use mine four days a week now. It's some of the best money I ever spent. I don't see why you would need more than one at a time, but I suppose it depends on what exercises you want to do. I started with a 10 lb. kettlebell and now I use a 15 lb. one. If I were younger or more serious (I'm 48) I'd probably have a heavier one by now.

Target sells kettlebells that are just fine in my book for something like $20 - $40 each. I don't see why you'd need to spend more than that at one time. You can order them online for delivery to the store if they don't have the one in-store that you want.

When I was taking classes, they were really crowded. No one ever let one go in a way that it traveled. Those things are heavy (duh). If you let it go at the fastest part of a swing, I doubt it would go more than two feet away from where it started before dropping like, well, a lead weight (hee). And I never saw anyone do that. Occasionally someone would drop one, but never during a swing. No one ever got hurt. I hit myself in the leg once. Not fun, but not horrible either.

Good luck and have fun! Kettlebells are a fantastic workout.

[vhalros]

The quality usually comes down to the handle. The cheaper ones often have burrs, ridges, or other wise weird unevenness on the handle, which is really annoying if you are going to be doing 50 rep snatches or something.

I did say they can go flying, but it is rare for that to happen. I'd be more concerned about the floor, since after a hard set they may sometimes get put down roughly.

[DLJ154]

I would suggest not buying the lighter kettlebells if you already feel comfortable with those weights as you will progress past them quickly and end up never using them again. I bought 2x16 kg, 2x24 kg, and 1x32 kg for my wife and me and we rarely even touch the 16's unless one of us is using both at the same time. The horse stall mats are great in the garage, and it's awesome to have a dedicated workout space that is always set up the way you like it if you are serious about it. Also once you get heavier it gets more and more difficult to set them down lightly.

Rogue has shipping deals every year between thanksgiving and Christmas if you're willing to wait. Also don't let anyone tell you that you can't fit four stall mats in a corolla. There is an art to it, but I made it work by folding them. The people at tractor supply are very good about helping you load them.

[anks]

Try checking your local area for a Crossfit gym that is closing. There was a huge boom in these gyms opening and now there seems to be a bunch going out of business as the market saturated in certain areas. I found in my area that closed and was able to pick up some used KBs for a steep discount + a bunch of other goodies. Plus, since it was local, I didn't get gouged on the ridiculous shipping costs.

Another option.. when I was a broke college student I used to use a cinder block I found out behind my apartment. Stand it up on its end and grab the top of it and swing away! Not sure how much they weigh, but it got the job done for me. At the very least, it could hold you over until you wait for the right deal to come around. Good luck!

[IamDavin]

I have a set of Rogue kettlebells. But only use 2-3 of them 80% of the time (80/20 rule in effect).  Just get whatever you can and get swinging! As you go you will learn what's needed and modify as you go. Most important though is to get just start doing it. :)