Are Kettlebells Better Than Dumbbells?

I love kettlebells.

They're my jam. So I think kettlebells are better than dumbbells.

I'll tell you why I think this... but as I was making this video and blog post I started thinking...

Kettlebells may be better... but dumbbells are pretty awesome too!

When Do I Prefer Dumbbells?

Here's a list of the exercises when I prefer to use dumbbells over kettlebells.

Burpee Snatches

Kindal getting down into the tuck position of the burpee snatch. Notice her hand is on the dumbbell and it will stay there.

Kindal jumps back into the top of the pushup position getting ready to go down into the pushup.

Kindal at the bottom of the pushup and she is keeping her hand on the dumbbell the entire time.

Kindal completes the pushup and jumps back in and gets ready for the snatch part of the burpee.

Kindal snatching the dumbbell and notice her elbow is staying closer to her body so she can get the dumbbell up and over her head.

Kindal fully extending the dumbbell over her head and still maintaining good balance through her feet.

During burpee snathces... you're supposed to keep your hands on the weight as you do the pushup. You don't have to... it must makes the rep faster.

Plus typically when we do burpee snatches in Fit Women's Weekly... we do single weighted.

In this case doing a pushup with only one kettlebell is a pain in the butt.

The kettlebell handle is way too high for a good pushup
If you don't do you pushup on the weight... you have to move off to the side
Coming back down from the snatch to a pushup can be very unstable and tough

Burpee snatches are a lot faster and more fun with dumbbells.

Bent Over Rows

Kindal starting the dumbbell row and letting the dumbbell fully hand down. This is one of the major benefits of using dumbbells for rows.

Kindal doing a full pull for the row and keeping her spine nice and straight.

In Fit Women's Weekly we do bent over rows from our legs. Not everybody has access to a box or bench.

Doing bent over rows from your legs limits the amount of space you have from the floor to the top of the row.

A kettlebell is too tall and limits this range of motion even more.

Dumbbells give you a full range of motion so you can get the most our of bent over rows.

Chalk another one up for dumbbells in this case.

Renegade Rows

Kindal in the top of pushup position with both hands on the dumbbells and her abs are fully engaged ready for the hard pull of the row.

Kindal keeping her legs tight and her abs tight and on top of that giving the dumbbell a really good pull for a full row.

I love renegade rows. They're versatile... tough... and another fun way to get a pull exercise into the mix.

However... if you're using a kettlebell... renegade rows are nearly impossible to do. The kettlebell is way too tall and you have nearly zero range of motion for the row.

Plus if you add in a pushup... you have barely any range of motion for the pushup.

I barely ever do renegade rows with kettlebells anymore.

Dumbbells are perfect for renegade rows.

Plank And Pushup Pull-Throughs

Kindal with tight legs and reaching under so she can grab the dumbbell and pull it through.

Kindal with a very engaged body and she is mid pull through trying to move it as far as she can past her body.

Kindal trying to hold her body straight and gently placing the dumbbell on the ground to complete the pull through.

Here's how to do this exercise... you may not know yet...

Step 1

Get in a top of pushup plank next to your weight. The weight is in line with your arms... but outside your body.

Step 2

If you're adding in a pushup... knock out a great pushup. Read my pushup program post or the floor pushup post in the Exercise Database for help on pushups.

For the pull through part... you'll grab the weight with the arm opposite of the weight.

For example... if the weight is outside your right side... grab the weight with your left hand.

Pull the weight across so it's outside your left side.

Step 3

Do your pushup if that's required for the workout.

Or just grab the weight with the other arm and pull it back.

Pull-throughs work best with heavy weights. As you're pulling... you'll feel your:

Arms engage...

Your core really engages and fights the rotation force which is good...

Plus your legs will brace up for total body stability...

It's a great exercise.

I enjoy using dumbbells more for pull-throughs because it's just easier to drag the dumbbell.

Kettlebells are not bad for pull-throughs... just a little more cumbersome because they are so tall.

Floor Snatches

Kindal pre-engaging her legs, core, and spine as she loads up ready to pull this dumbbell up to the sky.

Kindal using her hips and pulling the dumbbell up as hard as possible.

Kindal mid thrust and push up over her head but notice how her legs are fully straight using all the energy possible to get the weight up and over.

Kindal squeezing her butt and fully extending the dumbbell all the way over her head. She is fully locked out at the top.

I actually prefer kettlebells for floor snatches but I'm including them because if you're new to kettlebells... floor snatches are HARD.

The punch through transition to the top is technical and it takes a lot of practice to make it smooth.

If you're working out with me in a FWW LIVE workout or doing one of my Habit programs...

Using a dumbbell will help you move faster and get more from the workout.

Dumbbells Are Great... I Prefer Kettlebells If I Had To Choose

Kettlebells are:

Faster
Easier to transition with
Able to make every exercise tougher
Fun and make you feel like a badass

If you ever do a kettlebell workout with me... you'll see how fast... technical... and smoother kettlebell workouts are be.

Plus, you can pass them around your body and between exercises without ever putting the kettlebell down... for this reason I'm choosing kettlebells.

Do You Want To Learn Dumbbells And Kettlebells?

If you love strength training and you want to get better at using dumbbells and kettlebells...

Join Fit Women's Weekly LIVE .

This is my private - small group - training program. Only 300 women are allowed to be active members at any given time.

Why only 300?

Because I know my members and give them the personal attention they need to succeed.

This attention and training includes:

3 LIVE streamed workouts everyday
Every workout is recorded
A LIVE coaching session to help you learn and workout smarter
Access to me any time in our private Facebook Group
Plus access to the most incredible group of fit, strong women

But like I said... membership is very limited. So if you're interested, go checkout the pricing and sign up for free trial to make sure the group is right for you.

Go follow me on my social accounts and DM with any questions you have.