Top 5 compared
The best kettlebells
One weight, a hundred exercises: swings, squats and presses at home, with no gym needed.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How this works
The top 5 at a glance
A kettlebell is a cast-iron weight with a handle on top, and one bell covers a whole-body workout: swings, goblet squats, presses, rows and carries. Iron with an enamel or hammertone finish is the classic; a vinyl or neoprene coat makes a bell quieter to set down. Adjustable kettlebells, which dial between weights, are a different kind of equipment and aren’t compared here.
Each bell here comes in many weights, so the table compares them at 15 lb (Marcy’s at 20 lb), and the price shown is for that weight. Whatever the finish, owners report an occasional chip, crack or scuff, so a mat underneath is worth having. Some makers give each size its own color, which helps once there’s more than one bell.
What matters
- Solid one-piece cast iron, with no welded handle to work loose.
- A handle wide enough for both hands on two-handed swings.
- A flat base, for upright storage and floor exercises.
- Heavier sizes from the same maker, for stepping up later.
#1Amazon Basics Cast Iron Kettlebell (15 lb)
$20–$30
Solid cast iron with a wide, textured handle that takes one hand or two, in a smooth black finish. It comes in weights up to 45 lb, so a second, heavier bell can follow once swings at 15 lb feel easy.
What owners say: Owners compare its solid build to high-end bells and like the smooth finish, though that same smoothness turns slippery with sweaty hands for some. A few have seen the coating chip.
Heads up: Amazon Basics warns that the coating can chip if the bell is dropped on a hard floor or knocked against other weights, so train on a mat and store it apart.
A closer look: A little chalk or a towel within reach helps if the handle turns slippery mid-set. Start with two-handed swings, driving the bell up with the hips rather than lifting it with the arms, before moving on to one hand.
- One- or two-handed grip
Best for: A first kettlebell
- Weight
- 15 lb
- Finish
- Smooth-coated cast iron
- Weights available
- Up to 45 lb
- Handle
- Wide, textured
#2Yes4All Vinyl-Coated Kettlebell (15 lb)
$10–$20
Solid one-piece cast iron under a vinyl coat that softens the knock on the floor and wipes clean, with a flat bottom that keeps it upright for renegade rows and tidy storage. Yes4All makes it from 5 lb all the way to 100 lb, so it can grow with you.
What owners say: Comfortable in the hand and steady on the floor, it could pass for gym equipment, owners say. The handle isn’t perfectly smooth all over, and the vinyl has cracked for a few.
A closer look: Let it air out for a day if the coating smells when it’s first unpacked, and keep it indoors, as the maker advises, to look after the finish. Yes4All puts 5 to 35 lb in its beginner range, and each bell is made to within 3% of its marked weight.
- Within 3% of marked weight
- Flat bottom stands upright
- One-piece cast iron
- 1-year warranty
Best for: Home workouts with renegade rows
- Weight
- 15 lb
- Finish
- Vinyl-coated cast iron
- Weights available
- 5–100 lb
- Handle
- Wide, smoothly textured
#3Amazon Basics Vinyl Kettlebell (15 lb)
$20–$30
Cast iron in a vinyl coat that protects floors, cuts the noise and keeps rust at bay, with a textured, curved handle for one hand or two. The weight is printed on both sides and each one has its own color, so a set built up over time stays easy to sort.
What owners say: Owners starting out find it a good size for squats and lunges, with a grip that feels secure rather than slippery and a finish that matches the pictures. Opinion on the vinyl itself is split: tough for many, easily scuffed for others.
A closer look: Mixing colors makes it easy to run a workout with two weights: a lighter bell for presses and a heavier one for goblet squats and deadlifts. Between sets it stands steady on its flat base, and it tucks neatly into a corner when the session is done.
- Weight printed on both sides
- Vinyl coat resists rust
- Stands steady on flat base
Best for: Building a color-coded set
- Weight
- 15 lb
- Finish
- Vinyl-coated cast iron
- Weights available
- From 10 lb
- Handle
- Wide, textured, curved
#4Marcy Hammertone Kettlebell (20 lb)
$20–$30
Cast iron with Marcy’s textured hammertone finish over a rust-resistant coat, and a sturdy handle made for a secure grip. It comes in ten weights from 10 to 55 lb, each cast to a precise weight, with a two-year warranty.
What owners say: That satisfying hammered look gets a mention from owners, along with a grip that holds even when hands are sweaty. Durability is where they differ, with the finish chipping on some bells.
A closer look: Twenty pounds makes a natural step up for swings and goblet squats once a lighter first bell feels easy. Wipe off the sweat after a session, and set it down on a rubber mat or a rug rather than bare concrete to keep the hammertone finish from chipping.
- Rust-resistant enamel coat
- Cast to a precise weight
- 2-year limited warranty
Best for: A classic look with a sure grip
- Weight
- 20 lb
- Finish
- Hammertone cast iron
- Weights available
- 10–55 lb
- Handle
- Sturdy, 1.25 in
#5Yes4All Neoprene-Coated Kettlebell (15 lb)
$20–$30
Iron cast in one piece, with no seams or welds, under a neoprene coat that’s quieter when set down and kinder to floors. Each weight has its own color, so the right bell is easy to grab, and the wide handle is smooth enough for high reps without chalk.
What owners say: Owners grab the right weight by its color and find it well made for a home gym. Two things divide them: the neoprene coat has split on some, and a few doubt the weight is exact.
A closer look: Upstairs rooms and apartments suit it best, where a dropped iron bell would be heard below, and the flat bottom stores it upright. Wipe the neoprene with a damp cloth after a sweaty session and keep it away from sharp-edged weights.
- No seams or welds
- Color-coded by weight
- Flat bottom stores upright
- 1-year warranty
Best for: Apartments and quiet floors
- Weight
- 15 lb
- Finish
- Neoprene-coated cast iron
- Weights available
- 5–65 lb
- Handle
- Wide, smooth
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Amazon Basics 15 lb | #2Yes4All vinyl 15 lb | #3Amazon Basics vinyl 15 lb | #4Marcy Hammertone 20 lb | #5Yes4All neoprene 15 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | ||||
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Price | $20–$30 | $10–$20 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 |
| Weight | 15 lb | 15 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb | 15 lb |
| Finish | Smooth-coated cast iron | Vinyl-coated cast iron | Vinyl-coated cast iron | Hammertone cast iron | Neoprene-coated cast iron |
| Weights available | Up to 45 lb | 5–100 lb | From 10 lb | 10–55 lb | 5–65 lb |
| Handle | Wide, textured | Wide, smoothly textured | Wide, textured, curved | Sturdy, 1.25 in | Wide, smooth |
| Best for | A first kettlebell | Home workouts with renegade rows | Building a color-coded set | A classic look with a sure grip | Apartments and quiet floors |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
