Kettlebells: The Next Thing in Strength Training
Kettlebells are all the rage right now. People are going out and buying these weighted balls like gangbusters. The unique looking fitness tools are not a new phenomenon, only new to the western world of exercise. In fact, kettlebells have been used for decades in weightlifting competitions and training around the world.
In the United States, common kettlebells are made with a soft plastic exterior, while traditional kettlebells maintain the classic iron cannon like appearance. The reason they are in demand is because people are convinced they work more muscles than traditional strength training. While lifting and moving with the kettlebells, everything from the arms and shoulders, through the core muscles are engaged.
Another reason kettlebells are appealing: they are relatively new to home fitness and mainstream training programs. The fitness world is plagued with gimmicks and fads. Kettlebells are likely very effective when used in a regular fitness program. They offer a new route to strength training and this unique approach is appealing.
Although kettlebells are unique and quite popular, we contend that resistance bands offer many of the same benefits in a more convenient package. As you would see from the P90X workouts or the Turbo Jam routines, resistance bands provide adjustable levels of resistance training that, like kettlebells, require you to engage muscles throughout the entire range of motion.
The major difference between kettlebells and resistance bands, however, is convenience. Similar to dumbbells, kettlebells take up a lot of room and are quite costly. While you may be able to get away with only owning a few pairs initially, as your strength grows so must your collection of equipment, causing you to continually spend in order to consistently make improvements.
Like dumbbells, kettllebells are far from portable. If you move to a new apartment, of course, moving your kettlebells isn’t a big deal, relatively. However, if you are going on vacation or want to take your workouts on your next business trip, nothing beats the portability of resistance bands. Resistance bands easily fit in a suitcase and stash away in your home when not in use.
There is no question that kettlebells provide a good strength training workout. Weighing your options and the benefits of each type of resistance training requires that you not get caught up in the hype. Resistance bands can also give you an excellent workout at a fraction of the price and with much more convenience.
