Which type suits you?
Kettlebells differ above all in how they are built. Cast iron bells are cast in one piece and get bigger with every kilo. Competition bells are made of steel and filled so that they have the same dimensions at every weight.
The hollow versions have the same dimensions but are cast hollow from a single piece of steel. The adjustable bell has weight plates inside that you change yourself.
That decides how the bell sits in your hand, whether handle and bell stay the same when you change weight, and what it costs. Further down, each type is explained on its own.
The types compared
| Type | Dimensions | Strength | Weights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | 21 cm bell, 3.5 cm handle — identical at every weight | snatch, clean, get up, everything single-arm | 8–32 kg |
| Hollow competition | same dimensions as competition, cast hollow | the same handling, but further up the range | 8–48 kg |
| ECO hollow competition | same dimensions as competition, cast hollow | competition handling at a smaller price | 8–48 kg |
| Cast iron, powder coated | grows with the weight, slightly rough surface | swings, squats, deadlifts — cheapest way in | 4–32 kg |
| Adjustable | 19 settings in one bell | little space, one bell instead of six | 12–32 kg |
| Monster | a markedly larger bell | when 32 kg has become too light | 36–92 kg |
Competition: the same dimensions at every weight
A competition kettlebell measures 21 cm across and has a 3.5 cm handle — at 8 kg just as at 32 kg. Only the filling changes, not the shape. Going from 16 to 20 kg changes the load, not your grip and not the position against your forearm. The handle stays at 35 mm at every weight — on cast iron it is 38 mm from 12 kg. Over long sets that spares your forearms.
For everything that goes overhead single-arm — snatch, clean, Turkish get up — that is the difference between practising and relearning every time. Which is why it is the standard in boxes, even though it costs more.
Hollow and ECO hollow: same dimensions, more weight
The hollow versions are competition kettlebells too: 21 cm bell, 3.5 cm handle, identical at every weight. The difference is in the manufacturing — they are cast hollow instead of filled solid. For you, one consequence matters most: they go up to 48 kg, while the classic competition bell ends at 32 kg.
Once you go beyond 32 kg, this is the only range that keeps the same dimensions instead of forcing you onto a larger bell.
The ECO version offers the same handling at a smaller price.
Cast iron: grows with the weight
The powder coated cast iron kettlebell gets bigger with every kilo: the 32 is noticeably bulkier than the 8, and the handle gets thicker. In the swing you hardly notice; pressing overhead you do — the thick handle sits differently in the hand.
The slightly rough surface takes chalk well, which helps through long sets. For swings, squats and deadlifts it is entirely enough — and the cheapest way into the training.
Adjustable: one bell instead of six
The adjustable competition kettlebell covers 12 to 32 kg — 19 settings in one tool: 12 kg, 14 to 30 kg in 1 kg steps, and 32 kg. For a flat where no shelf full of bells is going to happen, that solves a real problem.
Two things are the price for it. First, it starts at 12 kg — for the Turkish get up, the press and learning technique that is too heavy. Second, you have to rebuild it between sets. If you switch weights quickly in training — in complexes or during a WOD — two fixed bells serve you better.
Unsure which of them fits you?
The finder asks about your training and your space — and tells you which type and which weights go with it.