You searched for kettlebell - MensFitness https://mensfitness.co.uk/ Just another WordPress site Wed, 24 May 2023 13:58:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.3 https://mensfitness.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/MF-desktop_favicon_32-1.png?w=32 You searched for kettlebell - MensFitness https://mensfitness.co.uk/ 32 32 MF Tests: Bowflex SelectTech 840 https://mensfitness.co.uk/gear/bowflex-selecttech-840-review/ Tue, 23 May 2023 07:11:34 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=16645 Bowflex's adjustable kettlebell is great if you want a range of weights without taking up too much space

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Bowflex SelectTech 840 review: Bowflex’s adjustable kettlebell provides a useful weight range in a compact package…

For a full roundup check out the best kettlebells for home workouts

Bowflex SelectTech 840

BUY IT NOW:

$149.99 / £179.99, global.bowflex.com

Pros:

  • Saves space
  • Good range of weights

Cons:

  • Weights rattle
  • Bulky for some lifts

Grip: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Weight range: 3.5/5
OVERALL: 5/5

These are the best dumbbell sets for home workouts

If your square meterage is squeezed but you still want a full range of kettlebell weights, the Bowflex Selecttech 840 is a great option. Like selectable dumbbells, the biggest USP here is the space-saving design that lets you use up to six separate weights on one slick kettlebell – and stow it easily afterwards. Its footprint is still bigger than most regular kettlebells. but there’s no need for multiple bells scattered all over the house.

Bowflex Selecttech 840 features

The Bowflex’s plastic casing houses a group of different cast iron weight plates inside. It boasts a weight range that includes 3.5, 5.5, 9, 11, 16 and 18kg – that’s more than enough for a broad range of exercises. A dial on top allows you to adjust the weight. It can be a touch stiff, but generally moving from one weight and exercise to the next is dead simple, making your kettlebell workout as efficient as possible. 

Check out this full-body dumbbell workout

The SeletTech 840’s ergonomic handle not only makes it easy on the hand, it also offers comfort for a longer-lasting workout no matter the weight you’re lifting. Though for some, the larger size of the whole kettlebell makes it a little harder to perform single-handed exercises. And it’s sometimes harder to work out with than your regular cast-iron alternatives.

These are the best dumbbell exercises

While the hard plastic outer shell makes the Bowflex SelectTech 840 feel pretty robust, it won’t take as much beating as more conventional kettlebells and needs to be used with a little more care.  

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Best Bodyweight Exercises https://mensfitness.co.uk/workouts/best-bodyweight-exercises/ Wed, 17 May 2023 07:39:03 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=9332 You can build muscle and burn fat with just your bodyweight

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These are some of the best bodyweight exercises to build muscle and burn fat…

Lifting weights isn’t the only way to build strength. You can get ripped with a selection of the best bodyweight exercises – and you can do them virtually anywhere.

Here’s how to do the essential bodyweight moves, with pro tips and the reason why each is so essential to helping you move better, get stronger and be as functionally fit as possible.

Discover the best exercise mats for your bodyweight workout

Try the Sundried Jute Yoga Mat 

BUY IT NOW: 

$33 / £27, sundried.com

Related content:

  1. How to lose belly fat
  2. Best low-calorie beers
  3. 15-minute workout to burn fat, fast

Best Bodyweight Exercises

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Press-Up

“The basic bodyweight move everyone knows should be an essential part of your exercise arsenal,” says Andy McKenzie, also known as ‘Ironmac’ – one of Britain’s top strength and conditioning coaches.

“Done correctly, the press-up will build your chest and shoulders, while strengthening your core.”

How to do a press-up:

  • Start with your hands shoulder-width apart, thumbs underneath your shoulders and body straight from head to heels.
  • Tighten your abs, then your glutes to create tension in your core.
  • Lower yourself until your elbows reach 90°, pause, and then explosively press back up.

Pro tip: “Keep your core tensed but relax your shoulders,” says McKenzie. “It will work your abs more, reduce shoulder fatigue and make explosive reps easier.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Explosive Press-Up

“The split-second strength required to lift yourself off the ground builds your explosive power and turns the press-up into a move that also builds cardio endurance,” says McKenzie.  

How to do an explosive press-up:

  • Start in a normal press-up position.
  • Lower yourself until your elbows reach 90°, pause, then press back up with enough force to bring your hands off the floor.
  • Keeping your body in a straight line and thumbs under your shoulders, land with your hands in the starting position and lower yourself under control.

Pro tip: “To build endurance and develop the fast-twitch muscle fibres needed for the explosive movement, do ten seconds of explosive press-ups with 45 seconds’ rest for as long as you can.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Air Squat

“Deep bending of the knees is vital for good mobility. It’s intrinsic to many real-life movements and should be done on a daily basis,” says McKenzie. “Think of it as flossing for the lower body.”

How to do an air squat:

  • Stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart, with your weight spread equally between them.
  • Hold your arms straight out in front of you for balance.
  • Squat, concentrating on keeping your hips back, your chest out and your eyes looking straight ahead.
  • Keep going until your hip crease is just lower than your knees, pause, then stand to return to the start.

Pro tip: “Use ‘triangle feet’ to distribute the load,” says McKenzie. “Ensure your big toe, little toe and heel are all in contact with the floor, sharing the pressure evenly between them.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Lunge

“An effective exercise in itself, the lunge also complements other leg moves to maximise gains in leg strength,” says McKenzie. “It will also improve the flexibility and movement range of your hip flexors to help keep you injury free.”

How to do a lunge:

  • From a standing start, lunge forwards twice the distance of a normal step, or until the heel of your rear foot leaves the floor.
  • Keep your core tight as you lower under control and try to avoid your rear knee touching the floor.
  • Bring the opposite arm up to maintain balance. Squeeze your quads and glutes on the leading leg as you return to standing.

Pro tip: “If you want to work your glutes even harder and get true buns of steel, do a reverse lunge afterwards by lunging backwards instead of forwards. Focus on dropping your hips back and keeping your weight on the heel of your front leg.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Box Pistol Squat

“Making an exercise easier while maintaining the movement pattern is key to progression,” says McKenzie. “Using a box to balance on when you reach the bottom position is a great way to learn how to lower your body under control. Once you’ve got that mastered, take the box away and focus on maintaining balance at the bottom, too.”

How to do a box pistol squat:

  • Find a box that’s as low as you can comfortably go. Stand 15cm in front of it in the starting position for the pistol.
  • Lower yourself as slowly as you can to build your balance as much as possible and avoid reaching for the box.
  • When you reach the box, let it take some of your weight and hold the position for a few seconds.
  • Drive through the heel of your supporting leg to return to standing, keeping your leading leg extended.

Pro tip: “Once you’re comfortable, allow a gap between your bum and the box big enough to slide an envelope through,” says McKenzie. “Once you can do that, start using a slightly lower box. Rinse and repeat.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Supported Pistol Squat

“While the box pistol helps you work on balance, this variation develops the strength and range of motion needed to do a pistol correctly,” says McKenzie.  

How to do a supported pistol squat:

  • Stand in the starting position for the pistol holding a gymnastic ring or suspension trainer handle in the hand opposite your leading leg. Keep the grip light to avoid leaning back too much.
  • Perform a pistol squat, slowing the move down as much as possible and using the ring for support as little as you can.
  • Hold the bottom position for a few seconds before driving through your supporting heel to stand.
  • Keep your leading leg as straight as possible.

Pro tip: “Switching legs in the bottom position and holding each for a few seconds is a great way to work on mobility and the strength needed to support the body with only one leg,” says McKenzie.

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Pistol Squat

“There’s no cheating with form on this one and it requires perseverance to get it right, but the benefits make it well worth the effort.”

How to do a pistol squat:

  • Stand with one foot off the ground in front of you with your toes pointing to the ceiling. Stretch your arms out.
  • Keep your upper body leaning forwards and use your hands as a counterbalance as you slowly lower yourself, keeping your leg outstretched throughout.
  • Aim for your stomach to come in contact with your upper thigh.
  • Control the descent until the hamstring of your supporting leg rests on top of the calf.
  • Rise slowly while keeping tension in your legs.

Pro tip: “Push the heel of your leading foot out as you start to come up from the bottom position,” says McKenzie. “It will help you to maintain balance and good form.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Bulgarian Split Squat

“We spend a lifetime moving from one foot to the other,” says McKenzie. “It makes perfect sense to ensure that left equals right in terms of control, strength and balance. The Bulgarian split squat is the perfect tool for training all three aspects.”

How to do a Bulgarian split squat:

  • Stand facing away from a knee-high box or bar and rest one foot on it.
  • Lower your body until your hips are in line with the box or bar.
  • Maintain a straight line from your hips to your head. Puffing your chest out and looking straight ahead will help.
  • Drive through the heel of your supporting foot to return to standing.

Pro tip: “Relax your back leg as much as possible,” says McKenzie. “This move is supposed to build single-leg strength and tensing your back leg will only make the motion more difficult.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Pull-Up

“The pull-up is one of the most challenging bodyweight moves,” says McKenzie. “If someone tells you bodyweight exercises aren’t strength training, ask them to do ten clean reps and watch the smirk dissolve from their face.”

How to do a pull-up:

  • Hold the bar with your hands in line with your shoulders.
  • Bring your chest towards the bar by forcing your elbows down while holding the bar so tight it’s as if you want to crush it. Maintain tension in your core and glutes throughout the move, and keep your legs crossed behind you to avoid the temptation to swing and use momentum to cheat.
  • Once your chin is over the bar, slowly lower yourself back to the start.

Pro tip: “Always start from a dead hang with your arms locked out,” says McKenzie. “There’s no point in cheating. If you’re really struggling to get through a set, jump to the top position and slowly lower yourself rather than quitting entirely.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK 19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK 19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Burpee

“Like the press-up, this move can be done absolutely anywhere,” says McKenzie. “Unlike the press-up, it’s a total-body move that builds killer cardio endurance and is one of the best fat-burning exercises.”

How to do a burpee:

  • From a standing start, lower into a deep squat and place your hands on the floor.
  • Force both legs back, putting you in a press-up position.
  • Lower your body until your chest and hips touch the floor at the same time to keep your body in line.
  • Drive up through your hips, jumping your feet back in towards your hands.
  • Stand up and jump just high enough for your feet to leave the floor.

Pro tip: “Each time you shoot your  legs back, you must keep your gut and butt tight to reduce the force going through the lumbar spine,” says McKenzie.

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Box Jump

“This is a brilliant way to build the kind of lower-body explosiveness that has all sorts of practical applications, from sprinting to Olympic weightlifting,” says McKenzie.

How to do a box jump:

  • Stand in front of a box with your feet hip-width apart and a slight bend in your knees.
  • Spring up through the balls of your feet, push your hips forwards and drive your arms upwards.
  • Land softly by distributing your weight through your ankles, knees and hips before standing up and dropping back down.

Pro tip: “Choose a box height you are confident you can make at first,” says McKenzie. “If you want up the stakes, use a soft box so you don’t bash your shins. You’ll usually find you can jump higher with soft boxes too because any shred of fear is eliminated.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Single-Leg Box Jump

“Developing single-leg power is one of the best ways to transfer what you do in the gym to sports such as football or any running-based activity,” says McKenzie.

How to do a single-leg box jump:

  • Choose a box lower than one you would use for a box jump.
  • Stand on one leg in front of the box and swing your raised leg out behind you.
  • As you swing it forwards, keep your chin and chest up and explode on to the box using your back leg’s momentum.
  • Hold your landing position for a few seconds before stepping back down.

Pro tip: “If you’re finding balance an issue, make sure you keep your eyes focused on one spot ahead of you the whole time,” says McKenzie. “It works like a charm.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK 19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Depth Jump

“This was developed by the Russian military. The shock created by the landing engages your muscles more than just jumping off flat ground to help build better explosive strength,” says McKenzie.

How to do a depth jump:

  • Stand on a box with your toes hanging over the edge. Step off (don’t jump – the momentum will shift your body forwards) and drop straight down.
  • Bend at the knees to absorb the impact and launch straight into a vertical jump using the force created by your landing.

Pro tip: “Keep your core tight and hold your breath as you land, even more so during take off,” says McKenzie. “Timing is also key – make sure the landing and upwards spring are all one motion.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Skipping

“Skipping isn’t just for playing double Dutch,” says McKenzie. “It improves mental focus as well as coordination, lower-limb strength, cardio fitness and timing.”

How to skip:

  • Start with the rope behind your heels and keep your elbows as close to your sides as you possible to help maintain the length of the rope as you skip.
  • Movement comes from the wrist, not the whole arm.
  • As the rope moves overhead, time your jump. You only need to clear the floor by a few centimetres.

Pro tip: “Relax and you’ll find a rhythm. Tense up and you’ll probably end up whipping your feet,” says McKenzie. “If you’re finding it tough at first, swing the rope to one side so you can get the rhythm down.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Ring Dip

“The dip is like a squat for your upper body because it engages so many different muscles,” says David Jackson, a UK Strength & Conditioning Association accredited coach.”Doing it on rings gives the stabiliser muscles in your shoulders an extra workout, which can help with some of your lifts.”

How to do a ring dip:

  • Adjust the rings so they’re just above hip height and grip them with your knuckles facing away from your body. 
  • Jump up and straighten your arms to support your weight, taking care to keep the rings close to your body.
  • Lower yourself to below parallel or as low as your shoulders will allow.
  • Pause briefly before extending powerfully to go back up to the start.

Pro tip: “Go as low as you can at first, but as your strength develops concentrate on increasing you range of motion,” says Jackson. “It’ll help massively if you want to move on to more advanced moves such as human flags.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Toes to Bar

“Hanging exercises help to injury-proof your shoulders because gripping a bar engages the shoulder stabilisers,” says Jackson. “Toes to bar can also help to build a solid six-pack as it places a lot of pressure on your lower abdominals.”

How to do toes to bar:

  • Hang from a bar with an overhand grip. Lean back slightly and draw your shoulder blades together while lifting your legs towards the bar.
  • Straighten your legs to touch the bar with your toes.
  • Lower with control back to a hanging position.

Pro tip: “Always lower with control to maximise the strength development of the core,” says Jackson. “To create adaptation we need tension, so being lazy and just letting your legs fall won’t help you to get the most from this exercise.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK 19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Muscle-Up

“You can also do this on the rings. The straight bar muscle-up removes the instability rings provide, but that doesn’t make it easier,” says Jackson. “In fact it’s harder because you have to pull yourself up and around the bar to get above it.”

How to do a muscle-up:

  • Jump up and grab the bar with an overhand grip around shoulder-width apart.
  • Allow your body to swing forwards and backwards very gently. 
  • At the end of a forwards swing, just as you’re beginning to swing back, pull yourself up as aggressively as possible. The slight swing combined with the pull will give you the correct angle for going around the bar.
  • Pull your chest towards the bar. At the peak of the pull-up, lean forwards and try to catch yourself in the bottom of a dip. Push up until your arms are fully extended.
  • Reverse the actions to return to the start.

Pro tip: “Timing is crucial,” says Jackson. “Practise with your feet in a resistance band tied to the bar to take some of the load. This will help you train the mechanics and timing of the movement.”

Related: How To Use Resistance Bands

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK 19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Handstand Press-Up

“This is a great way to develop shoulder strength and stability,” says Jackson. “And if you develop the balance to do it without a wall, you’ll look also like a total legend.”

How to do a handstand press-up:

  • Place your hands about 30cm from a wall and kick your legs over your head and rest them against it.
  • If you’re struggling, lead with one leg and progressively kick harder until you feel the wall, then bring your other foot up to meet it. 
  • Brace your core and lower your head towards the floor. Take a progressive approach with this and only go as far as you feel you can control.
  • As you get stronger, you’ll be able to move your head closer to the ground.
  • At the bottom of the press-up, tense your core again and push down hard, straightening your elbows until you’ve returned to the start.

Pro tip: “Once you feel confident, try to rest as little weight as possible on the wall through your legs,” says Jackson. “It’s too easy to think you’re doing a decent rep when really you’re just cheating your way through it.”

19 Best Bodyweight Exercises To Power Your Home Workouts | Men's Fitness UK

Handstand Walk

“This is a good move for developing strength and stability in your shoulders while enhancing the coordination of your shoulder joints with the rest of your body,” says Jackson. “It’s also useful if your legs ever get too tired to walk!”

How to do a handstand walk:

  • Place both hands on the ground with your index fingers facing forwards. Spread your fingers to give you a wider base. 
  • Kick up powerfully with one leg and allow the other to follow, aligning your wrists, elbows and shoulders.
  • Practise on a soft, stable surface first so you can roll out of the handstand safely if necessary.
  • Let your knees bend a little to take more weight past your head and tip you in the direction you want to go.
  • Walk with your hands using small, light ‘steps’.

Pro tip: “Dangling your legs forwards is the equivalent of an accelerator,” says Jackson. “Have a friend on standby to catch and reset your legs if you get overeager.”

RELATED CONTENT:

  1. Bodyweight supersets workout for functional strength and fat loss
  2. Build muscle at home with this bodyweight workout 
  3. Kettlebell HIIT workout: fat burning 40/20 circuit

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Kettlebell HIIT Workout: Fat Burning 40/20 Circuit https://mensfitness.co.uk/workouts/fat-burning-kettlebell-hiit-workout/ Fri, 12 May 2023 14:01:52 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=7752 Rev up your heart rate, incinerate body fat and ensure a full-body pump

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Riding High https://mensfitness.co.uk/fitness/how-kriss-kyle-prepared-for-dont-look-down/ Thu, 04 May 2023 09:41:59 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=16973 Red Bull athlete Kriss Kyle’s daydream of riding his BMX in the sky turned into an epic odyssey of engineering, conditioning and trepidation

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Red Bull athlete Kriss Kyle’s daydream of riding his BMX in the clouds turned into an epic odyssey of carbon-fibre engineering, unique fitness conditioning and a touch of trepidation…

“I was so scared that the whole thing would tip over and we’d all die.”

By rights it should never have flown. The mini-BMX bowl suspended below one of the biggest balloons ever built in the UK weighed two tonnes, and swung around so violently when hung from a crane that rider Kriss Kyle doubted it would ever get off the ground. If it did, he feared the consequences.

Kyle’s whimsical, lockdown-inspired vision of riding his bike through fluffy clouds quickly turned into a gut-churning fever dream. Riding the bowl on the ground merely sowed the seeds of doubt in his own abilities, as he battled to even breathe under the pressure of the bowl’s leg-shreddingly tight quarters and the weight of an 8kg parachute.

An interminable wait for a weather window gave these doubts time to slowly curdle his nerves. No one had ever done this before – but there was a reason for that. This is the story of what committing 100% actually means when you dream big enough to break things…

Related content:

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Kriss Kyle: ‘Don’t Look Down’ – watch the video below

When a dream collides with reality

Kriss Kyle is known for both freestyle BMX and mountain biking, and his previous stunts include dropping out of a helicopter onto a heli-pad in Dubai. He’s on a mission to bring BMX to a wider audience, but it’s not just for clicks. “I’m just quite a creative person,” he says. “I’m always thinking outside the box, and instead of doing a normal riding video, I want to take it to the next level and beyond, and do something completely opposite each time.”

This drive led him to daydream about riding a BMX bowl in the sky. “But you need to be careful what you say at Red Bull!” he adds.

Before Kyle knew it, the engineers crafting Red Bull’s F1 success had been drafted in to build the world’s only carbon-fibre BMX bowl, and a UK company had been commissioned to hand-stitch a hot air balloon, gargantuan enough to lift the 2.5-tonne rig.

MF was there to witness Kyle riding the bowl for the first time, on the ground in a Red Bull racing hanger. It was much smaller than the usual BMX bowl, and the sound of his wheels on the carbon was unexpectedly violent as he fired his bike off the ramps to execute tricks high above the bowl.

It was a baptism of burning legs. “The bowl itself is so tight,” says Kyle. “It’s just like ‘pump, pump, pump’ and you never get a second in there like to breathe. It’s so hard on your legs, because you go straight into the next transitions and into the next trick.”

A humbling realisation

It’s fair to say that Kriss Kyle pushes the boundaries of what’s possible on two wheels, but his physical preparation for previous stunts had been relatively simple: go and ride your bike. For this stunt, however, he would have to ride wearing a self-opening, 8kg parachute, because the balloon would be at base jump height. That’s essentially like strapping another BMX to your back.

“It takes out your legs instantly,” he says, “and when you’re doing flips and spins and stuff, you need to pull so much harder for it to come around. It feels like someone is holding you back the whole time.”

And, because the bowl is suspended, moves. In fact, Kyle’s drone pilot would later report that, during the flight, the balloon was randomly rising and dropping up to four metres in an instant, making it impossible for him to fly his drone under the bowl’s rails.

All of this movement meant Kyle had to push his body even harder to compensate. During training ahead of the flight, he realised that, for the first time ever, he wasn’t fit enough to meet the challenge.

“I was doing loads of cardio on my mountain bike and working out with a weighted vest,” he says. But then he rode the bowl with the parachute – and it didn’t look good: “I felt so weak, like I had tiny legs on me, I just couldn’t do it. Even just pumping into the skatepark, I was knackered.”

Kriss Kyle was so humbled that he went back to Red Bull and told them he didn’t think riding with the parachute was going to work. “They simply told me, ‘You have to, otherwise it’s not going to happen.’”

Kriss Kyle poses with his BMX in front of the hot air balloon that's about to take him in to the sky

Kriss Kyle poses in front of the hot air balloon that’s about to take him – and his bike – thousands of feet into the sky

Working outside the box

“This is the biggest project I had ever done,” says Kyle. “It was solely my idea and my objective, and I realised that any obstacle that was put in front of me, I’d have to try to smash through myself – I had to turn this into reality.”

He had owned the dream, but now he had to embrace the painful reality of using his body to smash the barrier to his ambitions – and find a solution in an alien world of exercise equipment and protein shakes.

Riding freestyle BMX in a skatepark bowl relies less on pedal power and more on pump power. That means using arms and legs to drive the bikes up and down the ramped surfaces, to launch into the air past the coping of the bowl, or onto a rail – there’s no time to pedal your bike up to speed.

It’s a technique that relies on full-body strength and a high anaerobic capacity. The smaller and tighter the bowl, the more force has to be absorbed in landings to be channelled into the next trick, in a continual flow that requires core strength for days.

By adding an 8kg parachute, Kyle was asking more of his body than any BMX rider before, without a playbook on how to build the fitness and strength. “I never normally physically train for a project,” he says, “because I think that time on the bike is more important than anything – but for this one I just had to.”

The answer came when he discovered that he could use a WattBike to replicate riding in that agonising crucible of a BMX bowl at 2,500ft, being swung around by ropes and buffeted by winds.

“It felt exactly how it would when I was in the bowl,” he says. “You’re completely puffed out and your legs are burning, and it’s just horrible. So I started smashing the life out of it! Without the WattBike I don’t even think I would have been able to jump my bike out past the edge of the bowl.”

You only get one shot at stupid

Flying a balloon across UK airspace over a patchwork of fields, while a BMXer jumps out of a skatepark strung underneath it, is as sketchy as it sounds. The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority is only ever going to allow you to do this once; one shot, one chance, one 35-minute flight to decide success or failure.

Kyle knew that if he bottled it, or if he couldn’t perform well enough to make a video, or if he bailed over the side as soon as he dropped in, then the whole thing would have been a colossal waste of everyone’s time, money and patience.

The balloon flight required a five-day forecast of still, sunny conditions, so even when all the preparations had been made, Kyle was forced into a long, nervy wait for the weather gods to give the nod.

Adding to Kyle’s anxiety was the fact that no balloon pilot, even the hugely experienced Pete Dalby, had ever flown with such a load hung from the balloon. “Pete had never even flown it or landed it before,” says Kyle, “so how was it going to react? I was terrified that the bowl was going to dig in when we landed, and it’s still two and a half tonnes – if it flipped we would be dead.”

Finally, the crew got the nod that the flight would happen, and Kyle’s fears crystallised into a knot of apprehension: “I was pretty nervous. I believe this project might be the hardest I ever do, just from the sheer movement of that bowl in the air.”

The balloon took off one cold, crisp December morning, and rose to 2,500ft, at the mercy of the wind, which gradually pushed it through the sky above a patchwork of fields, bathed in golden light.

It looked idyllic, but it was -12°C up there and Kyle had no opportunity to warm up. He had to commit and drop into the bowl – which, to reiterate, was in constant motion, swinging from side to side and rising and dropping.

“Sometimes when you pump,” he adds, “the bowl is pushing away – going away from you – then then other times it’s coming back towards you. So you can’t guarantee if you’re going to land a trick, or case it [crash the bike frame into the edge]. You cannot guarantee where your wheels are going to land. One of the tricks I was doing was on the back rail. And if you miss that rail, you’re going over the edge.”

But as the balloon burned fuel fighting to maintain height, Kyle knew that it was now or never: “You can’t be messing around up there – even if you’re not ready to send something, you’ve just got to bite the bullet and give it a go anyway.”

The power of vision

Kyle is a big believer in the power of visualisation, and he always visualises his projects ahead of executing his tricks. This time he had a whole year to mentally prepare due to the weather. “I didn’t know what to be like up there, but I did visualise over and over,” he says, “thinking what it would be like and, to be honest, it was kind of spot on to what I visualised in my head.”

Watching the film edit from the flight shows that, in the end, Kyle’s painstaking preparations led to him achieving his ambition and landing all the tricks he set out to do in that BMX bowl in the sky.

And when Pete Dalby brought the balloon into land, he managed to avoid disaster, settling the swinging bowl without tipping it over. When MF caught up with Kyle after the flight, he said the experience had changed him:

“There’s no better feeling than looking at something, then you land it and you’re going ‘Oh my god I can’t believe that we’ve done that.’ Before this, I’d be scared and hesitant, and dither around for a bit, but now, even though I’m still scared, I just send it.”

Kyle thinks he may have tapped into a universal truth that we can all apply to our own goals and scary ambitions.

“After this project I feel I can do anything I want, and it’s the same for everyone. As with everything in life, just commit to the bloody thing!”

The post Riding High appeared first on MensFitness.

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Best Kettlebells For Home Workouts https://mensfitness.co.uk/gear/best-kettlebells/ Tue, 02 May 2023 08:13:13 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=16642 Get into the swing of things and add a new dimension to your workouts by adding a kettlebell or two to your home gym set-up

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We’ve picked the best kettlebells to row, twist, swing and squat your way to full-body, functional fitness at home…

If you’re looking to get fit and build full-body strength at home, the versatile, space-saving kettlebell should be high on your kit list. It’s a relatively cheap piece of gear 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.

But not all kettlebells are created equal. That’s why we’ve swung into action, to bring you our tried and tested picks of the best kettlebells to buy in 2023.

RELATED CONTENT:

  1. Best dumbbell sets for home workouts
  2. Full-body dumbbell workout
  3. Best dumbbell exercises

Benefits of using a kettlebell

When it comes to home workouts, kettlebells bring big benefits. They’re versatile, space-efficient and great for full-body fitness. 

They’re ideal for swings, cleans and snatches – where they’re more comfortable to use than dumbbells and less technical than barbells – making kettlebells excellent for building power.

Looking for a range of weights? These are the best adjustable dumbbells

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

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

What to look for in the best kettlebells

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. 

Kettlebells can be made of cast iron, steel or even plastic. Cast iron kettlebells are the most durable and provide the best grip. Steel kettlebells are often coated in vinyl or rubber, which can help protect floors and reduce noise. Plastic kettlebells tend to be cheaper, but can also be the least durable. There are also softer water or sand-filled options, like the Reax Fluikettle

Get your fitness fix with this 30-minute dumbbell workout

Competition-style kettlebells are popular. They’re all the same size, regardless of the weight. That makes it easier to maintain consistency as you progress up the weights. They also tend to have smaller handles to avoid sliding, and they’re a joy to swing.

When it comes to choosing weights, it’s important to consider your fitness level and goals. If you’re a beginner, start with a lighter weight, around 8-12kg. If you’re more advanced, you may want to go heavier – up to 32kg (mainly for lower-body movements) or more.

As an all-round option, 16kg is probably the best bet. You might find it a bit light when you get used to swings and squats, but it’ll also let you do a load of pressing variations and high-rep snatches.

If you’re getting a second bell, consider going slightly heavier – say 20kg or 24kg. The latter is heavy enough for almost any move you’ll want to do. Finally, you might want to invest in one smaller weight for mobility drills.

The other option is a selectable kettlebell – like the JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 or the Bowflex Selecttech 840 – which offers multiple weights in a convenient, compact format.

These are the best kettlebells for home workouts

  1. Best overall – Wolverson Competition Kettlebell (from £74.99, not available in the US)
  2. Best for grip – TRX Rubber Coated Kettlebell (from $69.95 / £49.95)
  3. Best for tight budgets – Mirafit Soft-Touch Cast-Iron Kettlebell (from £19.95, not available in the US)
  4. Best for outdoor workouts – Reax Fluikettle (from $57.95 / £50)
  5. Best for adjustability – JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 ($249.99 / £250 plus subscription)

Product shot of yellow Wolverson Competition Kettlebell
BEST OVERALL

Wolverson Competition Kettlebell

BUY IT NOW:

From £74.99 (not currently available in the US), wolverson-fitness.co.uk

Grip: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5
Weight range: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5

Weight range: 4kg to 32kg | Number of weights: 11 | Features: Consistent size across the range / calibrated for competition / lifetime casting warranty

Competition kettlebells are ideal if you want a consistent size and feel across a range of weights and Wolverson’s high-end offerings swing and handle beautifully. Their retro boxing-gym styling is instantly appealing, too.

Weight distribution is even thanks to their solid one-piece casting and wide, grippy handles have a subtle texture that’s easy on the hands. There’s plenty of room here for two-handed drills, too, as well as a wide weight range with a useful top end of 32kg.

Read our full Wolverson Competition Kettlebell review

Product shot of TRX rubber coated kettlebells
BEST FOR GRIP

TRX Rubber-Coated Kettlebell

BUY IT NOW:

From $69.95 / £49.95, trxtraining.com

Grip: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Weight range: 4.5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5

Weight range: 4kg to 28kg | Number of weights: 8 | Features: Rubber-coated bell / powder-coated handle / colour-coded weight rings

With rubber-coated bells and powder-coated handles, TRX’s kettlebells are as rugged as its popular suspension training systems. Featuring eight bells from 4kg up to 28kg, the range has enough options for all but the most powerful of lifters.

Each kettlebell is colour-coded, too, making weights easier to identify when you’re building up a collection. The size of the handles changes as you move up the weight range with bigger windows and larger diameters.  And with a nicely balanced feel and reliable grip, they’re easy to use for the likes of swings, presses, squats, snatches and other drills.

Read our full TRX Rubber-Coated Kettlebell review

A selection of black and orange Mirafit kettlebells
BEST FOR TIGHT BUDGETS

Mirafit Soft-Touch Cast-Iron Kettlebells

BUY IT NOW:

From £19.95 (not currently available in the US), mirafit.com

Grip: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Weight range: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5

Weight range: 6kg to 32kg | Number of weights: 9 | Features: Weld-free cast-iron construction / full set available with storage rack

Mirafit’s powder-coated cast iron bells are well worth considering if you’re looking to build a collection on a budget. Starting at under £20, the range is one of the most expansive too, with nine kettlebells weighing between 6kg and a whopping 36kg. You can also buy them in a set for added savings. 

Underneath that protective coating, there’s a durable single cast, weld-free cast-iron bell. The handle is powder-coated too, for a smooth and soft grip. Despite their modest price, the Mirafit kettlebells are well balanced, comfortable to hold and suitable for all major kettlebell drills.

Read our full Mirafit Soft-Touch Cast-Iron review

Product shot of Reax Kettle
BEST FOR OUTDOOR WORKOUTS

Reax Fluikettle

BUY IT NOW:

From $57.95 / £50, reaxxer.com

Grip: 3/5
Comfort: 4/5
Weight range: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5

Weight range: 2kg to 20kg | Number of weights: 9 | Features: Soft Shock elastic exterior / steel ball and fluid interior

Reax is shaking up the kettlebell world with its unique Fluikettle. With a malleable plastic exterior and moving steel-ball and fluid interior, it adds instability and unpredictability to your workouts. That might not sound ideal, but in practice this constantly shifting weight makes kettlebell sessions more challenging and therefore more productive.

The nine bell range tops out at 20kg, which might be limiting for some, but the Fluikettle’s ability to enhance strength workouts more than makes up for that. The soft, flexible outer rests comfortably against the skin and soaks up impacts against floors and limbs alike.

Read our full Reax Fluikettle review

Product shot of Jaxjox Kettlebell Connect 2.0
BEST FOR ADJUSTABILITY

JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0

BUY IT NOW:

$249.99 / £250 (subscription $24.99 / £24.99 per month), jaxjox.co.uk

Grip: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Weight range: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5

Weight range: 5.5kg to 19kg | Number of weights: 6 | Features: JaxJox app integration / motion sensors track reps, sets, weight, power, average volume and time / fast-charging USB-C connection

If you like to track your drills or prefer more immersive workouts, you might want to check out the JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0. Likewise if you don’t have the floor space for a collection of kettlebells. That’s because the JaxJox is a smart adjustable kettlebell that can internally select six weights between 5.5kg and 19kg, and packs motion sensors that track reps, sets and power.

You can also follow complete drill-by-drill workouts on your smartphone, or join on-demand coach-led classes, tracking stats as you go. However, you’ll have to pay a Peloton-style premium to access these features. Although you need power for the selection and smart training features, you’ll get around 14 hours of training time on a single charge.

Read our full JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 review

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MF Tests: Decathlon Corength Soft Bag Kettlebell https://mensfitness.co.uk/gear/corength-soft-bag-kettlebell-review/ Tue, 02 May 2023 07:08:46 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=16663 Soft bags like the Corength are great for helping new kettlebell users build confidence swinging large weights around their heads…

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Corength Soft Bag Kettlebell review: If you’re new to this type of training or are precious about your wooden floors, these softer kettlebells just might be your bag…

For a full roundup check out the best kettlebells for home workouts

Corength Soft Bag Kettlebell

BUY IT NOW:

£24.99 (not currently available in the US), decathlon.co.uk 

Pros:

  • Soft so doesn’t damage floors
  • Four handles for added versatility on 10kg bag

Cons:

  • The weight can be unstable during some drills
  • Only two weights in the range

Grip: 3/5
Comfort: 3/5
Weight range: 2/5
OVERALL: 3/5

If you find swinging massive hunks of iron around your head and body a little daunting, or you’re just worried about cast iron doing damage to your lovely wood floors, this Decathlon soft bag kettlebell could be a friendlier solution.  

Corength Soft Bag Kettlebell features

The sand-filled bag comes in two sizes: 5kg and 10kg. The 10kg bag has four handles: one on the top, one on the bottom and one on each side. The 5kg has just two: top and bottom. Having multiple handles is great for changing your holds, adding versatility and variety to the range of movements you can do. However, despite being slightly padded, the handles can roll up and create uncomfortable pressure, particularly if you’re doing lots of reps. 

These are the best dumbbell sets for home workouts

The polyester bag is soft and durable, so you can sling it about and drop it from heights without worrying too much about potential damage to yourself or your floor. It can also double as a medicine ball and it’s useful for exercises like Russian twists, hip thrusts and even slams. However, when it comes to some drills like regular kettlebell swings, the weight inside the bag can sometimes shift. So it’s not the most stable option. 

Check out this full-body dumbbell workout

There’s also a velcro-sealed compartment on top of the bag. It’s not entirely clear what that’s for but if you wanted to increase the weight, you could add your own bags of sand here. It’s a shame you can’t access the main sand compartment to reduce it as well.

These are the best dumbbell exercises

If you need help putting together a workout, there’s a QR code on the side of each soft bag that unlocks the Decathlon Coach app where you can access video workouts and drill demos. However, there’s no specific kettlebell workout section and it’s not the most intuitive to use. 

Try this quick kettlebell, dumbbell and band workout

The post MF Tests: Decathlon Corength Soft Bag Kettlebell appeared first on MensFitness.

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MF Tests: Wolverson Competition Kettlebells https://mensfitness.co.uk/gear/wolverson-competition-kettlebell-review/ Tue, 02 May 2023 07:06:08 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=16679 If you want excellent weight distribution and feel, look no further than Wolverson's gold-standard kettlebells

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Wolverson Competition Kettlebells review: Offering excellent balance, feel and control, these are the gold standard in kettlebell construction…

For a full roundup check out the best kettlebells for home workouts

Wolverson Competition Kettlebells

BUY IT NOW:

From £74.99 (not currently available in the US), wolverson-fitness.co.uk

Pros:

  • Good weight control
  • Excellent grip and handling

Cons:

  • You’ll want a whole set

Grip: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5
Weight range: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5

Some kettlebells simply swing and handle with better control, better balance and a feeling that makes you want to pick them up and get working. These Wolverson Competition kettlebells fit that bill. They don’t just look good, thanks to their retro boxing gym style, they’re also some of the best movers in the business. 

Wolverson Competition Kettlebell features

Wolverson Competition Kettlebells are made from high-grade iron using solid one-piece casting techniques, with no welding and a hollow core. So what you get is expert weight distribution that won’t change over time (like some cheaper sand-filled alternatives) and class-leading tolerance in a solid and durable package. 

These are the best dumbbell sets for home workouts

The non-corrosive 34mm diameter handles have substantial girth and are easily grippable, with a subtle texture that’s easy on the hands. They offer good width and clearance, with plenty of room for two-handed drills. And they’re legal for all National Federations.

Check out this full-body dumbbell workout

There are eleven weights in the range, going from 4kg up to 32kg, in 2kg then 4kg increments. Because they’re competition-style bells you get consistent sizing across the weight range.

That’s also ideal if you’re working on consistent form and technique as you move up the weight range. Plus, all of them have a stand-flat base for easy set-down and storage. 

Find out how to get more from your kettlebell workouts 

The post MF Tests: Wolverson Competition Kettlebells appeared first on MensFitness.

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MF Tests: JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 https://mensfitness.co.uk/gear/jaxjox-kettlebellconnect-2-0-review/ Tue, 02 May 2023 07:04:54 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=16653 The KettlebellConnect 2.0 may seem pricey but remember you're getting an adjustable kettlebell and a coach

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JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 review: Paired with its companion app, JaxJox’s smart kettlebell offers coaching smarts as well as interchangeable weights…

For a full roundup check out the best kettlebells for home workouts

JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0

BUY IT NOW:

$249.99 / £250 (subscription $24.99 / £24.99 per month), jaxjox.co.uk

Pros:

  • Decent top weight
  • Counts reps, sets and weight 

Cons:

  • Bulky with a big footprint
  • Hardware and premium app are pricey

Grip: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Weight range: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5

Another space-saving selectable kettlebell that’s great if you’re tight on room, the JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 works much the same as the Bowflex Selecttech 840, with a hard plastic shell that houses a set of interchangeable weight plates. But unlike most cast-iron kettlebells, this one also has a brain that brings your swing training to life. So it’s a kettlebell and a coach.   

JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 features

The JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 packs motion sensors inside that not only track reps, sets and power, but let you follow complete drill-by-drill workouts on your smartphone, or join on-demand coach-led classes, tracking stats as you go. You’ll have to pay a Peloton-style premium to access all of them, though.

It will also spit out a FitnessIQ score, which is essentially just a number that goes up the more you train. However, it’s a good way to benchmark your weekly progress and incentivise your workouts. 

These are the best dumbbell sets for home workouts

The weight options are slightly heavier than the Bowflex across the range. They shift up initially in 3kg and then 2.5kg increments and include six weights: 5.5, 8.5, 11, 13.5, 16.5 and 19kg. The automatic switching at the press of a button is a shade easier than the Bowflex, too. 

Check out this full-body dumbbell workout

Like the Bowflex, the JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 is notably bulky. That means it’s sometimes more awkward to use and doesn’t feel as natural as your regular kettlebell alternatives. That may be a trade-off worth making for the connected smarts and space-saving gains, but if you’re a beginner the heft and shape might work against you. On the plus side, the handle is wide enough for double-handed drills and offers a good non-slip grip. 

These are the best dumbbell exercises

The other thing to note is that the JaxJox needs power for the selection and smart training features, so you need to stow it near a plug. You will get around 14 hours of training time on a single charge, though. 

Find out how to get more from your kettlebell workouts 

The post MF Tests: JaxJox KettlebellConnect 2.0 appeared first on MensFitness.

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MF Tests: Mirafit Soft-Touch Cast-Iron Kettlebells https://mensfitness.co.uk/gear/mirafit-soft-touch-cast-iron-kettlebells-review/ Tue, 02 May 2023 07:00:35 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=16670 Mirafit's extensive range of powder-coated kettlebells offer real bang for your buck…

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Mirafit Soft-Touch Cast-Iron Kettlebells review: If you’re looking to build a kettlebell collection on a budget, these powder-coated Mirafit weights will fit the bill…

For a full roundup check out the best kettlebells for home workouts

Mirafit Soft-Touch Cast-Iron Kettlebells

BUY IT NOW:

From £19.95 (not currently available in the US), mirafit.com

Pros:

  • Flat, wobble-free base
  • Reliable soft grip

Cons:

  • Not as protective as rubber-coated

Grip: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Weight range: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5

A chunk cheaper than their TRX Rubber Coated Kettlebell rivals, Mirafit’s powder-coated cast-iron kettlebells offer excellent bang for your buck. 

These are the best dumbbell sets for home workouts

The sleek kettlebells come in a nine-weight range that jumps up in decent increments from 6kg to 36kg. So there’s an option for pretty much all strengths and drills. They’re good value individually but you can also buy them in a set for added savings. 

Mirafit Soft-Touch Cast-Iron Kettlebells features

Coated bells are the best option for anyone who wants extra protection for their flooring. While rubber coated are your best bet, the soft-touch coating on these still helps to soften any impacts. (Though you still need to take care.) The added outer protection also boosts the kettlebells’ durability. 

Underneath that protective coating, there’s a single-cast, weld-free cast-iron kettlebell – another tick in the durability box. And the Mirafit’s flat-base also offers wobble-free set-down and storage.  

Check out this full-body dumbbell workout

When it comes to grip and control, the handle has a powder-coated matte finish that offers a smooth and soft grip. These bells are nicely balanced, very comfortable to hold and ideal for all the major kettlebell drills. 

These are the best dumbbell exercises

The handles and windows also increase in size with the weight and while some of the larger options may be a shade fat for smaller hands, those larger weights’ windows also easily accommodate a two-hand grip.

If you want standard sizes, handles and windows, Mirafit also has a competition kettlebell range from 8-32kg – though these are a fair bit pricier. 

Find out how to get more from your kettlebell workouts

The post MF Tests: Mirafit Soft-Touch Cast-Iron Kettlebells appeared first on MensFitness.

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MF Tests: Reax Fluikettle https://mensfitness.co.uk/gear/reax-fluikettle-review/ Tue, 02 May 2023 07:00:25 +0000 https://mensfitness.co.uk/?p=16676 Make your workouts more challenging and unpredictable with the innovative Fluikettle

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Reax Fluikettle review: An innovative take on the kettlebell, the flexible Fluikettle adds a little instability to make workouts more challenging…

For a full roundup check out the best kettlebells for home workouts

Reax Fluikettle

BUY IT NOW:

From $57.95 / £50, reaxxer.com

Pros:

  • Shock and impact absorbing
  • Good for outdoor use

Cons:

  • Not the most comfortable grip

Grip: 3/5
Comfort: 4/5
Weight range: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5

If you’re looking for a stable weight and reliable kettlebell to swing, the Reax Fluikettle fluid-filled kettlebell won’t be for you. This innovative take on the kettlebell is deliberately designed to make the load – and your exercises – more unpredictable. So your workouts are more challenging for mind and muscles. 

Reax Fluikettle features

This is the only kettlebell with a mix of fluid and steel balls inside that move with you during every drill. The constantly shifting weight of the water and those balls creates an unpredictable load that keeps you on your toes, and tests your strength, balance and movement in ways other predictable kettlebells can’t.

It’s an easy way to enhance any strength workout and it certainly makes things more interesting. It’s particularly good if you want to incorporate throws and catches into your regime. 

These are the best dumbbell sets for home workouts

The Reax Fluikettle range features nine weights from 2kg to 20kg in 2kg increments (though there’s no 18kg). They also have a soft, flexible outer that soaks up shocks and protects floors and limbs from any impact. The slightly squishy sensation also means they rest comfortable against your arms during drills. 

Check out this full-body dumbbell workout

Unlike regular kettlebells, the Fluikettle can also be thrown, lifted and slammed to the ground – from as high as 10m – and it’s much more suitable for outdoor training. The slightly angular grip isn’t the comfiest and takes a bit of getting used to. 

These are the best dumbbell exercises

They’re also slightly bulkier than standard bells so you’ll need to take storage space into consideration. Fortunately, stubbing your toe on one of these is a much less painful experience than bashing it into a brutal cast-iron bell. 

Find out how to get more from your kettlebell workouts

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