22 Sep What’s right for you: dumbbells or kettlebells?

To the novice or uniformed, dumbbells and kettlebells may seem similar. They’re both used to gain strength and can help one improve their overall workout, but there are a lot of differences between using the two.

Dumbbells are much more common and easier to use. They follow a start-stop motion, such as bringing the weight up and down for a biceps curl. They are especially good for isolating a certain body part, such as the aforementioned biceps, or a triceps kickback.

In general, dumbbells are easier to use for beginning weight lifters, but that’s not to say highly experienced strongmen or women wouldn’t fund them useful, too.

Kettlebells are becoming more and more popular in the U.S., but they also take a good deal more training and research to use properly. Don’t make the mistake of trying to work out with kettlebells as if they were dumbbells.

Traditional dumbbells have a handle directly in line with the wrist and work on one plane of motion and rely on leverage and fixed positions, but kettlebells are very unstable and consequently from the second you pick them up involve a full-body motion.

Kettlebells trigger instability as one has to balance them and use all muscle groups to perform lifts.

As a result of the full-body motion involved with lifting kettlebells, a person can get a much better aerobic workout with them than dumbbells.

Kettlebells will produce overall muscle that is dense and strong, whereas dumbbells could allow for certain muscles to become bulkier.

One obstacle to using kettle bells is learning their more complex movements, but their are training videos and books available. You may even be able to find a qualified trainer with expertise in kettlebells.