Have
you wanted to try out Kettlebell training
but been stopped by the high
prices of buying a set? This unique piece
of equipment will help you
make your own for a fraction of the price!
The Kettlebell is one the oldest and newest
pieces of strength training equipment
that you'll come across in weight training
these days.
What
do I mean by that?
The
Kettlebell has been around for a LONG
time (the first mention of the Kettlebell
in history is in a Russian dictionary
in 1704!).
But
the Kettlebell is also one of the "newest"
pieces of training equipment as it's been
rediscovered by trainers looking not only
for a competitive edge, but for unique
ways to build strength and fitness.
What is a Kettlebell?
For
those not familiar with Kettlebells, it
is basically a cast-iron weight shaped
very much like a kettle. The weight is
on the bottom with the handle on top.
This makes the application of resistance
FAR different than that of the standard
dumbell.
Kettlebell
training can provide an excellent total-body
workout using movements that cannot be
duplicated with standard dumbells or barbells,
though you can perform many of the common
dumbell and barbell exercises with the
Kettlebell. At the end of this review,
I will include links to some excellent
Kettlebell-related sites if you're interested
in more information on Kettlebell training.
What is the "KettleStack?"
In
a nutshell, the "KettleStack"
is a "do-it-yourself" Kettlebell.
Like "do-it-yourself" dumbells
of the same idea, you can add and remove
your own weights to build your own Kettlebells.
The "KettleStack" is, at its
simplest, a thick plastic handle with
a steel center post to place your weight
plates on. It's an elegant design and
simple to use!
The
"KettleStack" is also built
SOLID. You won't have any problems with
breakdown or deforming parts with this
equipment. It's well built and will last
a lifetime!
What Are The Advantages Over Regular
Kettlebells?
The
main advantage to this piece of equipment
over a regular Kettlebell (which is a
single, solid piece of cast-iron) is price.
For the price of a small, single, standard
Kettlebell (especially if you have to
order online and pay shipping), you can
get a "KettleStack" and make
a far wider range of Kettlebell weights.
The
next advantage is storage. In the same
space you could store two regular Kettlebells
(or dumbells), you can store the "KettleStack." This makes it ideal for space-limited
settings. In fact, the "KettleStack"
offers a further advantage in that its
much lighter weight means you can store
it almost anywhere!
The
third major advantage lies in your ability
to change weights with it. For example,
you can use it with as little weight as
you want (even 5 to 10 pounds) or as much
weight as you can fit on it. Plus, the
excellent design of the "KettleStack"
means you can not only add weights in
the center of the central post but on
the outside as well - you can also shape
the weights to make round bells! This
makes it far more versatile than the standard,
one-weight Kettlebell.
What Are The Disadvantages Compared
To Regular Kettlebells?
The
"KettleStack," while being extremely
cost-effective and adaptable, does have
its disadvantages.
As
with adjustable dumbells, it takes time
to change the weights to make your Kettlebells.
This process is made simple and reasonably
quick with an Allen wrench (included)
but, generally speaking, you'll probably
want to stick with the same weight for
most of the sets of the particular exercise
you're using them with.
The
second thing you'll need to be aware of
is that you'll need to have your own Standard
(small holes in the center) weight plates
in order to use the "KettleStacks."
This shouldn't be a big problem as weight
plates can be found relatively cheaply
at most sporting goods stores or even
garage sales.
Is the "KettleStack" an Effective
Alternative To Regular Kettlebell Training?
In
order to fully gauge the effectiveness
of the "KettleStack" compared
to regular Kettlebells, I made a "KettleStack" with 25 pounds and held it
in one hand. In the other hand, I used
a regular, solid 25 pound Kettlebell.
This allowed me to make a direct "hand-to-hand"
comparison while doing a number of Kettlebell
exercises. The weight and balance were
exactly the same, allowing for a very
direct comparison.
When
doing single-arm exercises, I did one
set with the "KettleStack" then
one set with the regular Kettlebell.
Here's
what I found:
The
"KettleStack" performed very
well and very comparably on the majority
of the Kettlebell exercises that I did.
With few exceptions, I found I couldn't
feel any significant difference in the
quality or effectiveness of the exercises.
I
did notice a difference when doing exercises
where the Kettlebell comes in contact
with your body during the exercise (for
example, the overhead Kettlebell press
for the shoulder). The difference in the
construction did change the mechanics
of the exercise somewhat but not enough
to make it uncomfortable or ineffective
- it still performed quite well. This
difference in feel becomes more apparent
as you use larger weight plates with the
"KettleStack."
It's
interesting to note that there were actually
exercises where the "KettleStack"
performed BETTER than the standard Kettlebell!
The prime example of this was the Kettlebell
curl. When curling a regular Kettlebell
(performed essentially like a regular
dumbell curl), the ball section hangs
down until, at the top, it rests against
your forearm.
When
using the "KettleStack" (I used
four 10-lb plates in this test), the greater
size of the plates contacted my forearm
earlier in the up phase of the movement,
adding excellent leverage/resistance to
the top half of the curl that can't be
duplicated with the dumbell or regular
Kettlebell.
This
extra resistance resulted in tremendous,
continuous tension on the bicep through
the full range of motion of the curl.
So is the "KettleStack" an effective
alternative to regular Kettlebells?
The
answer to that question is a qualified
"yes." It's a very effective
alternative though it does have a few
characteristics that may change the way
you work with the "KettleStacks"
compared to regular Kettlebells.
Conclusion:
If
you're interested in giving Kettlebell
training a try, the "KettleStack"
is a very cost-effective, space-saving
alternative to solid Kettlebells. You
will be able to perform a wide variety
of Kettlebell exercises without any problem.
All
in all, the "KettleStack" is
a very good piece of equipment for what
it sets out to do and would be a valuable
addition to a home gym or simply for someone
looking for some basic, versatile equipment
to work with at home. It's not really
a piece I would recommend for a commercial
gym due to the requirements of Allen wrench
plates changes, but it could certainly
be made available if your gym members
want Kettlebells and you don't have the
budget to get solid ones.
Bottom
line: it's good equipment and well worth
the price!
If
you're interested in more detailed information
on Kettlebell training, I highly recommend
the following sites:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=Kettlebells
http://www.dragondoor.com/articler/mode2/Kettlebells
http://www.mikemahler.com/articles.html
To
learn more about the KettleStack kettlebells
and to get a pair for yourself, please
click here.
Definitely
check out the manufacturers website to
see how the "KettleStacks"
work and the kind of exercises you can
do with them!
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