Dumbbells Vs Kettlebells: Which is the right tool to build muscle?

Gyms are packed with different types of strength training equipment, providing you with ample opportunity to experiment with them. But if you plan to get weights at home for days you cannot hit the gym, it can be difficult to choose between dumbbells and kettlebells. Both are exceptional pieces of equipment for training complex muscle groups and giving you that perfectly toned body that you have always dreamed about. They have been used to build muscles for age and have their own set of pros and cons. Let’s find out which one out of the two is beneficial for you.

Advantage of dumbbells

If you just want to target the basic muscles of the body, dumbbells are your best pick. It is easy to hold and perform almost all kinds of exercises like a chest press, shoulder press, bicep curls and others. Some of the benefits of using dumbbells include:

Great for bilateral training: The greatest benefit of using dumbbells is that they let you train both your limbs at the same time. In the case of a kettlebell, you can only train one side at a time like when you are performing exercises like overhead press or bicep curls. Then have to repeat the same on the other side. This can be very time taking.

Easy to hold: Holding dumbbells for performing any kind of exercise is really easy as compared to a kettlebell. Except for the exercises where you have to swing the kettlebell, performing exercises with it can be tricky and you will have to struggle to move the weight without losing balance and injuring yourself.

Advantages of kettlebells

Getting a kettlebell is a better choice if you want to target complex muscle groups. It can help you work on the muscle that is hard to reach with a dumbbell and barbell. Besides, is the best choice for exercises like kettlebell swings and goblet squats.

Better for a cardio workout: If you are looking to up your heart rate when performing strength training exercises to reap the benefits of cardio as well, the kettlebell is the king of all. The extra movement involved in the standard exercises helps you burn some additional calories.

Improve functional strength: Working with a kettlebell can help you build functional strength that can be beneficial in performing everyday tasks like carrying groceries, lifting heavyweights. Besides, exercising with a kettlebell changes your centre of gravity. It means your core muscles will have to work constantly to stabilise you, which can give you a full-body workout.

What is better for beginners?

So, both dumbbells and a kettlebell are great for strength training purposes. You can choose depending on the type of exercises you want to perform and the muscles you want to target. However, if you are a beginner, we would suggest you go for dumbbells.

Dumbbells are easier to hold, which means the risk of injury would be less. Additionally, the weight is more balanced in dumbbells as compared to a kettlebell. Dumbbells are also excellent for performing basic weight lifting exercises, while kettlebell is for more complex moves.