Kettlebells
16kg Kettlebell
Fitness
What Size Kettlebell Should I Invest In? 
Traditionally, kettlebells only
came in 3 weights: 16 kg (36 lbs), 24 kg (52 lbs), and 32 kg (70
lbs). Now days they start out a lot lighter and there are
many weights in between. All this choice of different
kettlebell sizes can be perplexing.
First off, don't think of
kettlebells like dumbbells. You do not need a bunch of them
in 5 lb increments. One kettlebell, if chosen properly, can
last you a long time. I took a 24 kg (52 lb) kettlebell with
me to Afghanistan for a year and it served my fitness needs well.
For an average female with not a
lot of fitness experience, it is recommended to start off with an 8 kg
(17 lb) kettlebell. Stronger than average women can start off
with a 12 kg (26 lb) kettlebell. Don't go lighter than the 17
lb one unless you have some specific physical issues that would mandate
a lighter kettlebell. Most kettlebell lifting is done using a
large number of muscle groups, so you can make use of the heavier
weight. You won't be doing bicep curls with it.
For men, most should start with a
16kg kettlebell. If you are a bit stronger than
average, start out with a 20 kg (44 lb) kettlebell. If you
are a lot stronger than average, start with a 24 kg (52 lb)
kettlebell. Same advice applies to men regarding starting out
with a kettlebell lighter than 36 lbs. I don't see the need
outside of an unusual circumstance.
Once you have all the basic moves
down and are really comfortable working with your kettlebell, consider
buying the next heavier size, and/or adding a second kettlebell of the
same weight in order to do kettlebell exercises involving both at the
same time.
