What Size Kettlebell Do I Use?

The first question you'll need to answer when beginning a kettlebell training program is "What size kettlebell do I use?" Kettlebells come in a range of sizes designed for both men and women at various stages of physical fitness, so choosing the correct size is very important.

When beginning your training program, you'll want to choose a size that's comfortable but still provides enough resistance to make the exercise challenging.

For women, this will usually mean starting with a kettlebell in the range of 18 to 26 pounds. Men in average condition should start at 35 pounds and progress to a 53 pound kettlebell. As conditioning improves, some athletic men may choose to progress to weights over 70 pounds. But these large kettlebells are typically reserved for competitive events.

After selecting an appropriately sized kettlebell, you will want to purchase a kettlebell workout video to help you get started. If you're uncomfortable selecting the size of kettlebell to use, you may choose to purchase a video for more information prior to making that investment.