SAVED BY THE BELL

We've rounded up five of our favourite kettlebells to row, twist, swing and squat your way to full-body, functional fitness at home

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If you’re looking to get fit and build full-body strength at home, the versatile, space-saving kettlebell should be high on your list. It’s a relatively cheap piece of kit that’s good for everything from smashing leg day and building upper-body strength, to heart-pumping HIIT sessions and even recovery and mobility work. 

Swing to win

When it comes to home workouts, kettlebells bring big benefits. They are versatile, space-efficient and great for building full-body fitness. They are ideal for swings, cleans and snatches, too – where they’re more comfortable to use than dumbbells and safer than barbells.

Because you’ll often use them unilaterally, in ways that involve holding them at odd angles to your body, they are also excellent for teaching your body to ‘resist’ force, building the anti-rotational strength that is key to long-term health. Finally, because they’re suited to very high reps, kettlebells are excellent for torching through calories and ultimately burning body fat.

If that sounds like something you want to invest in, then there are a few things you’ll want to consider when you’re looking for the best kettlebells to buy…

What to look for

The handle is critical: it should be wide enough to comfortably grip with two hands, with a smooth, comfortable texture that won’t irritate your hands after dozens of reps. Ideally, you’ll also want a kettlebell that sits comfortably against your forearm during swings or snatches – big and round is the key, but also look for a flat bottom so it stands easily.