The appeal of kettlebells is largely marketing created. In all honesty, they offer little more than dumbbells, being a simple weight used in strength training. They are effective, however, so the purchasing decision is entirely yours. When comparing them with resistance bands, we see several reasons why the bands are preferred.

Simply stated, kettlebells are cumbersome. “Duh” you might say, but hear me out. Although dumbbells and kettlebells are effective for strength training, they are far from convenient and portable. While one pair of kettlebells may be appropriate for bicep curls, you will likely need a different weight for your tricep kickbacks and your lateral raises. In other words, one pair won’t be enough. Add to that the need for heavier bells as your progress and you may end up with a collection big enough to fill a closet. If you have the extra closet space, this may not be an issue. But, why use something inconvenient simply because it’s a “hot” product on the market?

Resistance bands, on the other hand, are highly adjustable and very convenient. You can purchase a complete set of high quality resistance bands for around $100 and stow them all away in a small duffle bag or on a shelf. To increase resistance between exercises you can simply tighten the band, or move up to the next resistance level.

Kettlebells may be the newest hot item in home gym equipment, but advertizing presence and fads aren’t always a good indicator of the best products. For strength training results with convenience and portability, look into some resistance bands options.

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.