Best Home Kettlebell Alternatives
Many of us are adjusting to exercising at home right now, which can be tough if you are used to working out in a gym. But you can do a lot of great workouts with kettlebells which work a whole range of different muscle groups. Unfortunately, home gym equipment, like kettlebells, are a lot more expensive than people realize. There is a shortage right now as well because so many people are buying them so they can work out at home.
If you can’t get hold of kettlebells, that doesn’t mean that you can’t do some great workouts because there are plenty of simple household items that work just as well. In many cases, there is no need to buy expensive kettlebells if you can make do with the alternatives. It is important that you buy good quality workout gear, like a wrist wrap, some weightlifting gloves, and a good workout shirt, but when it comes to the actual kettlebells themselves, you can use these great alternatives instead.
1. Detergent Jugs
There are some great detergent jugs that have thick handles, which are comfortable to hold. Comfort is important when finding kettlebell alternatives, so detergent jugs are ideal. The handles may not be big enough for two hands, so you can only do one arm workouts, but there are still plenty of great exercises you can do, like one arm swings, push press, snatches, and lunges. Plus, if you buy large bottles of detergent in bulk they’re cheaper, so you’re saving money and getting some makeshift kettlebells at the same time.
2. Milk And Water Jugs
Milk and water jugs are the ideal kettlebell alternative because they are a good shape and have nicely shaped handles. It is also very easy to adjust the weight, so as you improve and start to build muscle, you can increase the weight and continue to see results. If you fill them with water, that gives you a great starting weight, but as you progress, you can try filling them with rice and beans for a medium weight. If that is still not heavy enough for you, try filling the jug with coins for a heavyweight.
3. Backpacks
Certain exercises like curls, for example, require you to hold a kettlebell in your hand. However, a lot of exercises, like lunges and squats, simply require you to add weight for increased resistance. In that case, backpacks are a great alternative. They are great for things like squats and lunges because you don’t have to worry about holding kettlebells, and you can adjust the weight easily. You can fill the backpack with anything from tins to bottles of water, books, or even bricks. You have complete freedom over the weight because you can mix and match with anything that you like.
4. Tea Kettles
Tea kettles, particularly camping ones, are a great alternative to kettlebells because they have a convenient handle and they are easy to fill up. If you like doing exercises like kettlebell swings, for example, tea kettles are perfect. They’re easily filled with water or rice, just like milk and water jugs. However, if you start filling them with rice, it can get stuck in the spout so it may be best to stick to liquids. Tea kettles are a fine alternative for lower weights, but they may not be the best option if you want a heavier weight.
5. Paint Cans
If you are looking for heavier weights, paint cans are great. They are larger than a lot of the other alternatives on this list, and they are easy to fill up with whatever you like. Rice and beans work great, but you could even fill them with rocks from the garden if you like. Just make sure that you clean them out thoroughly before you start using them. You can use paint cans for most of the normal kettlebell exercises that you do, but the handles are not always that comfortable, so it’s important that you wear a wrist wrap and some weightlifting gloves for extra comfort.
Paint cans are also one of the most versatile pieces of makeshift home gym equipment because you can get a broom handle and put one on each end to make your very own barbell.
6. Gym Bags
You don’t need your gym bag if you are working out at home, so why not empty out your workout shirt and your running shoes and turn it into a kettlebell instead? The handles on a gym bag are designed for comfort, and they are adjustable as well, so you can change the length depending on the different exercises that you are doing. Just like backpacks, you can easily fill your gym bags with anything you like, including tins, books, bricks, or whatever else you can find around the home.
7. Your Own Bodyweight
Although lifting kettlebells is a great way to increase resistance and build muscle, you can still see some great results with bodyweight exercises. Simple exercises, like press-up and squats, will still help you to build a lot of muscle, and they are often a lot more effective than lifting weights of any kind. Bodyweight exercises help you to improve stability, posture, and flexibility, and it is easier to maintain good form when using your own body weight instead of kettlebells. Although kettlebells are incredibly effective and you should try out some of these great makeshift alternatives, you should also consider replacing some exercises with simple bodyweight exercises.
If you are struggling to get hold of kettlebells or you can only find expensive ones, you can use any of these great alternatives instead. If you use an activity tracker, you will be able to see that your workouts are just as effective as they would be if you were using a set of expensive kettlebells. However, it may be more difficult to maintain the correct form with these alternatives, so it’s important that you wear a wrist wrap on each arm and a pair of good quality weightlifting gloves.
