The CAP Barbell Kettlebell is going for a smooth finish, and is winning over fans left and right. But do these work as well as an ordinary kettlebell, or are you sacrificing anything by going with the added features these have? We compare them to standard kettlebells and see if they’re really worth the extra price.
Overview
When you’re talking about a kettlebell you’re basically talking about a cannonball with a handle, and some of the cheaper ones look like they’re just that. It’s as if someone welded a handle to a metal ball. With the CAP line up, they’ve sanded everything down smooth, and rounded everything off so there’s not any rough spots or corners of any kind. Other than just plain looking better – a coat of paint helps with that – this provides the added benefit of being easier on the hands, and safer in case you ever brush up with the bell.
The Claim
The CAP Barbell Kettlebell collection is attempting to add sophistication to an otherwise oafish invention. Their polished kettlebells are sleek and promise that you won’t rough up your hands on unfinished metal, or seams where the metal connects. The vinyl collection tries to add some cute to the mix by making them in pastel colors, we’re guessing for the ladies, and the vinyl coating makes them last longer, supposedly.
The Hype
The hype comes from everyone getting into kettlebell workouts these days. It’s something that has been around for decades, but is just recently getting into the mainstream. A lot of fitness companies have jumped in to capitalize on its popularity and ride the trend.
The Cost
CAP Barbell Kettlebell ranges in price by the size weight you want. When you are looking at ordinary kettlebells they usually sell by the pound, and the average price is about $1 a pound. With CAP you can expect to pay a premium, but you are also getting a premium weight, and not just something that looks like it was made in a metal workshop.
The Commitment
When using kettlebells you need to be commited as this is going to be tougher than many of the workouts you’ve done in the past. They combine getting your heart rate up with weight lifting for a one-two punch that puts a lot of people on their backsides the first time they try them. However, if you can persevere and keep up with them, the results speak for themselves.
When using the CAP line of kettlebells, you should have an easier time compared to using a plain old metal ones. They’re a little less intimidating and are easier to hold and swing around.
Evaluation
They are definitely trying to reinvent the kettlebell here, and if you get a CAP Barbell Kettlebell it will feel like you’re using the Cadillac of kettlebells because it will either be polished and shiny, or coated with vinyl and looking sleek. People really love these, and they are one of the best-reviewed kettlebells on the market. It’s pretty easy to see that they don’t mind paying the extra price for the extra features, and it makes a kettlebell workout a little easier, since it’s already a grueling thing to do.
Final CAP Barbell Kettlebell Review
A CAP Barbell Kettlebell is a good choice if you’re going for style points, but at the end of the day, a weight is a weight, and so these definitely work for any sort of kettlebell exercises you have in mind. If you’re the kind of person that finds any excuse not to work out – and trust us, we speak from experience – using an old-fashioned ugly iron kettlebell is reason enough to pass. But if you have a sleek weight like the CAP brand, you feel like you’re actually working out with real weights. On some level it adds some validity to what you’re doing.
Our Recommendation
You can use these to upgrade your Kettlenetics kettlebell workout program as it only comes with one kettlebell and eventually you’ll need a heavier one. These are also similar to the fancy kettlebells made by Kettleworx, so be sure to see our full review on those before deciding on which one to go with.
Also, be sure to try out kettlebells before you invest in one. They aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and ambition might lead you to purchase something you won’t end up using.
These are great looking, fairly priced kettle bells. You’re going to be swinging them around and they need to move through your hands easily and the smooth finish is a real bonus. A lot of kettle bells have a handle that joins to the body of the weight, and over time, with high repetitions, this can cause chaffing. Not so with the cap-barbell. The only disadvantage is going to be for those people who don’t know what to do with them. Bit for those, I recommend you just do a little research and you will be able to find all kinds of workouts and techniques for free on Youtube. It’s important you know what you’re doing, because you would be surprised how easy it is to injure yourself with such a little weight.