Competition kettlebells have the same standard dimensions, regardless of weight.
The dimensions of cast iron kettlebells get bigger as the weight gets heavier (bell, window, and handle).

You might choose a competition kettlebell – also known as a Sport style kettlebell – if you’re practicing a specific skill that requires a lot of technical nuance, such as Turkish Get Ups or Kettlebell Sport lifts.

Most competition kettlebells are hollow cast, meaning they have a hole in the bottom and most of the weight is concentrated towards the top of the kettlebell. This makes them feel lighter and more balanced.

I recommend competition kettlebells if you’re using a light weight kettlebell, as the 4-8kg cast iron kettlebells have very small windows and handles, which makes them difficult and impractical to use for many exercises.

Cast iron kettlebells – sometimes called “powder coat” kettlebells – are the kettlebell of choice for hardstyle kettlebell lifting.

You might choose a cast iron kettlebell over a competition kettlebell if you’re going to be doing exercises where you need to swing one or two kettlebells between your legs, as the bell is smaller and less likely to hit your legs.

Do you have any questions for me about competition vs. cast iron kettlebells? Drop them in the comments and I’ll get back to you.

Do you prefer competition or cast iron kettlebells? Let me know in the comments.