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Ready To Buy A Kettlebell?
The Good, The Bad, And The Ideal

In my 9+ years of working out with kettlebells, I've used the products of a number of different vendors. Yes, Dragon Door's bells are still the "gold standard." And no one has done more to turn people in the U.S.--including this guy--on to kettlebells than Pavel, and for that I'm eternally grateful. But DD's bells also some of the most expensive on the market, and you have no choice but to have them delivered via UPS, which adds considerably to your overall cash outlay. You'll also incur the wrath of your poor UPS person come delivery time....

On the far other end of the spectrum are kettlebells by Apollo. These are readily available on eBay and other brick-and-mortar sporting goods stores. But the adage "you get what you pay for" applies here, too. The molds Apollo's manufacturers uses are inconsistent. My advice to anyone thinking about buying a kettlebell from Apollo is that you must buy it in person. Their handles in particular are often poorly shaped; frequently they're not well rounded and can even be "bladed," which makes executing a number of kettlebell drills difficult--especially on your hands.

The Ideal...

The best companies never rest on their laurels; they’re always looking for ways to build a better mousetrap. I offer Apple as exhibit A. And when a company combines innovation with top-of-the-line customer service, well that’s just lighting in a bottle. Not to be hyperbolic, but Christian's Fitness Factory is just that kind of outfit…

I’ve been using their products for several years now and have always been impressed. And I was delighted when Noah of Christian’s Fitness told me they were rolling out new kettlebells. I picked one up pronto. Only, when it arrived, it was obvious that it had been damaged in shipment (nothing catastrophic—just some scratches to the bells). Now it IS a kettlebell, after all, so it’s capable of withstanding a beating, and this bell was still 100% usable. But you should be able to savor a few minutes of your new kettlebell in pristine condition, you know? So I contacted Noah and gave him the scoop. He asked that I take a couple of pictures of the damage, which I did and then sent him by e-mail. He e-mailed me back a couple of minutes later and said they’d already packaged up a new bell. 3 days later, voila!

That, my friends, is what I call customer service. It’s amazing what a rare find this basic thing is these days. In sum—and I’ve been in the fitness business for almost 10 years: I have never worked with a more industrious, solicitous, solid group of fitness pros as the gang at CFF.

There is, of course, the matter of the product. I love the finish on these bells: there’s just a bit of tooth on the handles, which, by the way, are slightly larger in diameter than the CAP bells they previously carried. The handle widths are comparable to the Dragon Door bells. Where there is no comparison, though, is the price. CFF’s bells will set you back a whole $52 or so for a 16-kg—and that price INCLUDES delivery within the CONUS. Compare that to Dragon Door’s whopping $126 (shipped) for a one-pood bell. CFF also ships USPS, which means it’ll arrive to you in about ½ the time it takes for FEDEX or UPS delivery. In short, I love these guys, I love their customer service, and I love their products. Need I say more?

Of course, if you must comparison shop, I also heartily endorse MuscleDriver Gray Series kettlebells. First, the array of sizes they're available in is as good as you'll find. They come with a non-skid rubber base--great if you're stashing your bells on a wood floor; the rubber base can easily be removed with an allen wrench if you're so inclined.

Muscle Driver has also recently begun carrying pro-series competition bells. I first used competition kettlebells while in Kyrgyzstan, on my way to and from my deployment to Afghanistan in 2010-2011. Competition bells are all the same size, though the weights, of course, vary. I loved working out with these bells, and resolved to get some when I returned to the States.

They're pricier, to be sure, but they're a lot of fun. The handles on the MD competition bells are noticeably thinner than DD and CFF bells. But I really love the feel and the finish of these things. And you definitely communicate an "I-know-what-I'm-doing" vibe when you're rocking these things around. You won't find these on the bottom shelves at Sports Authority or Dicks, to be sure! Serious KBers should give these color-coded competition KBs a whirl. You won't regret it.

MuscleDriver also allows you your choice of shipping: USPS if you prefer, but also FedEx Ground, which will ship your 16-kg bell in few days for under $20. Save a trip to the sporting goods store (they're going to be more expensive), save on sales tax, and order yourself a kettlebell from MuscleDriver instead!