The 7 Best Soft Kettlebells For Safer Workouts

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Soft kettlebells can make your workouts less scary, less painful, safer, more comfortable, and give you the courage to learn those complicated or simply new kettlebell moves.

Best soft kettlebells top picks

  1. Bionic Body Soft Kettlebell
  2. Valor Fitness SKB Soft Kettlebell
  3. Hyperwear Adjustable Kettlebell Handle with Soft Weight Plates
  4. Ludus Imperium Adjustable Kettlebell Sandbag
  5. Meister Elite Portable Sand Kettlebell
  6. Exerbell Foldable and Adjustable Kettlebell
  7. OlKar Kettlebell Adjustable Sandbag

The first three soft kettlebells have a static weight but they are packed more firmly. After that, the models are basically fillable workout sandbags in the shape of a kettlebell.

Because of these different styles, personal preferences, training goals, and budgets, it is not possible to create one perfect ranking for everyone. Sometimes picks lower on the list will be better for you personally.

How we selected our top picks

Our fitness experts spent a lot of time looking at and comparing all the different important factors of soft kettlebells. Some of the things that were taken into consideration when making our selection include:

  • Material, weight capacity, adjustability, firmness, etc.
  • User reviews
  • Anecdotal reviews from fitness experts
  • Price
  • Brand trustability

If a pick seems interesting click it to see the online prices.

7 Best soft kettlebells reviewed in depth

You can use the list of top picks to make a quick decision. Another option is looking at the more in depth reviews of each of the best soft kettlebells to confirm you are making the right choice.

1. Bionic Body Soft Kettlebell

Our top pick for the best soft kettlebells is the Bionic Body Soft Kettlebell. If you are looking for a static weight, firm kettlebell, your decision is relatively straightforward.

First of all, the Bionic Body Soft Kettlebells are soft enough so that they won’t hurt and won’t damage things like the floor if you drop the kettlebells on them.

At the same time, customers mention that they are still firm enough to do kettlebell exercises from a pushup position. Of course not to the same extent as an iron-cast kettlebell but this is still a plus.

Next, this option is also part of the list of the best cheap kettlebells due to its relatively low price per pound when it comes to soft kettlebells.

Pros

  • Available in weights from 10 to 40 pounds (4.5 to 18.1 kg)
  • Budget-friendly price per pound
  • A lot of happy customers
  • Very positive ratio of customer reviews
  • 2-year manufacturer’s warranty

Cons

  • From time to time the weight is slightly different from the stated number

You can get these soft kettlebells in a variety of weights ranging from 10 to 40 pounds (4.5 to 18.1 kg).

Individuals more experienced with resistance training workouts may find the 40 pounds just a bit too easy for certain exercises but most people will be able to find a model suited for their skill level.

One thing to note is that the weight of the kettlebells is not always 100% accurate. A few customers mention their models were off by a few pounds.

That being said, there are a lot of happy customers who tend to be really happy. In combination with the great features, this makes the soft kettlebells from Bionic Body our top pick.

2. Valor Fitness SKB Soft Kettlebell

The Valor Fitness SKB Soft Kettlebells have the same general concept as the previous option but they are slightly different when it comes to things like design and price.

One customer mentions that he/she finds his/her soft kettlebell just a bit too firm. However, there are also more customers that find their Valor Fitness SKB Soft Kettlebell more than soft enough.

While this firmness is somewhat subjective, there are a few specific details where the previous option is a better choice over the Valor Fitness model.

First of all, this option is available in weights ranging from 10 to 35 pounds (4.5 to 15.9 kg). This is just a bit less choice.

Pros

  • Available in weights from 10 to 35 pounds (4.5 to 15.9 kg)
  • Very positive ratio of customer reviews
  • 1-year warranty

Cons

  • One customer finds his/her 35-pound model a bit too firm

Next, the warranty is 1-year instead of 2 years like the previous option. At the time of writing, Bionic Body also wins the budget-friendly battle.

All in all, the Valor Fitness SKB Soft Kettlebells are great soft kettlebells on their own but unless you stumble upon any good deals, the previous option from Bionic Bodu is likely a better choice.

3. Hyperwear Adjustable Kettlebell Handle with Soft Weight Plates

This next option is still a soft kettlebell but it is different from the previous models in an important way. The Hyperwear Adjustable Kettlebell Handle is basically a handle that you can attach multiple round sandbags to.

On the hand, this adds the benefit of having the ability to do kettlebell exercises at different weights with one investment. Additionally, this soft kettlebell is compact to store.

On the other hand, the design from Hyperwear is not entirely perfect. First of all, the weight distribution will definitely not be the same as a regular kettlebell.

Especially once you remove one or more of the soft weight sandbags. When you do this, the remaining sandbags can even move around.

Pros

  • Available in maximum weights from 7 to 30 pounds (3.2 to 13.6 kg)
  • Weights are somewhat adjustable
  • Compact storage
  • 30-day money-back guarantee and 1-year limited warranty

Cons

  • Adjusting the weight can take a minute or two
  • Weights can move around a bit
  • Some people find the handle too big

Something that is a bit more dependent on personal preference is that the handles of the Hyperwear Adjustable Kettlebell Handles may feel a bit too big.

Besides design downsides, the maximum weight option of 30 pounds (13.6 kg) can also be too easy for a variety of individuals and exercises.

There are a variety of advantages and disadvantages to the Hyperwear Adjustable Kettlebell Handles.

Whether they are worth it depends on things like your budget, how much you value the specific benefits of this model, and how much you mind the downsides.

4. Ludus Imperium Adjustable Kettlebell Sandbag

The Ludus Imperium Adjustable Kettlebell Sandbag is the first model where you have to fill up the soft kettlebell yourself, typically with sand. This has a few consequences.

Some of the benefits include that you can easily adjust the weight of the kettlebell and that it is very compact when empty. This last benefit makes these types of soft kettlebells good for travel and compact storage.

There are also downsides to a design like this. First of all, you have to get sand or similar filler material and fill the kettlebell yourself. Next, if you don’t fill the bag up entirely, the weight can move around.

The handles are also nowhere near the same as regular kettlebells. They can’t twist around in your hand palms and the connection with the weight part is a cord, not a static material. This will involve more swinging.

Pros

  • Fits up to 45 pounds (20.4 kg) of sand
  • Weight is adjustable
  • Has filler bag with additional lock mechanisms to make sure there are no leaks
  • Compact storage when empty
  • 90 days money-back guarantee

Cons

  • You have to fill the soft kettlebell with sand yourself
  • At lower weights the sand can move around
  • Handle is not ideal for certain typical kettlebell exercises
  • A bit bulky, especially at higher weights
  • Not suited for throwing
  • Some people find the handle a bit long

When it comes to the Ludus Imperium model specifically, it can be a bit bulky. Especially if you fill it up to its 45-pound (20.4 kg) weight limit.

A few customers also note that this soft kettlebell will break soon if you use it for throwing. Something else is that a few people find the cords of the handle a bit too long.

That being said, when it comes to these types of soft kettlebells, the Ludus Imperium model is one of the best options.

Besides the high weight limit, it also has a filler bag with additional lock mechanisms to make sure there are no sand leaks. The 90 days money-back guarantee is another nice addition.

5. Meister Elite Portable Sand Kettlebell

The Meister Elite Portable Sand Kettlebell is the same concept as the previous option but with lower weight limits, a somewhat different storage design, and a lower price.

This time you have the choice between soft kettlebells with max loads ranging from 10 to 20 pounds (4.5 to 9.1 kg). Since you can choose how much sand you put in them, they can also be described as adjustable.

Something to keep in mind is that challenging yourself enough is an important principle when it comes to workouts.

Individuals more experienced with resistance training may find 20 pounds too easy, especially for kettlebell exercises that work the big and strong muscle groups.

Pros

  • Different models available with max loads from 10 to 20 pounds (4.5 to 9.1 kg) of sand
  • Drybag seal to avoid sand leakage
  • Weight is adjustable
  • Compact storage when empty
  • A lot of happy customers
  • Budget-friendly

Cons

  • You have to fill the soft kettlebell with sand yourself
  • At lower weights the sand can move around
  • Handle is not ideal for certain typical kettlebell exercises
  • The bigger models can get a bit bulky
  • Some people find the handle uncomfortable

Besides the general upsides and downsides of this type of soft kettlebell, some customers find that the handle of the Meister Elite model is uncomfortable.

That being said, there are also many customers that don’t have any issues with this.

If the weight capacities of the soft kettlebells available are enough to challenge you in the exercises of your workout plan, you can definitely consider these options.

6. Exerbell Foldable and Adjustable Kettlebell

The first that stands out in the Exerbell Foldable and Adjustable Kettlebell is that you can fill it with both sand and water. Most people need to go to the store and back for sand but water is easily available to most individuals.

Another positive point is that the weights move around less than similar options due to the design of the bag. You can roll down the top of the bag until it fits the filling.

This can be a lot more convenient and more similar to kettlebell workouts with steel models.

Pros

  • Can be filled with both sand and water
  • Weight adjustable up to 22 pounds (10 kg) with water and 30 pounds (14kg) with sand
  • Weights move around less due to bag design
  • Compact storage when empty
  • Very positive ratio of customer reviews

Cons

  • Pricier than similar soft kettlebells
  • You have to fill the soft kettlebell yourself
  • Handle is not ideal for certain typical kettlebell exercises
  • Can get bulky with a lot of filling

Lastly, while the number of customers is not that high, the individuals that did give this soft kettlebell a try are generally very happy with their investment.

Something to note is that the Exerbell Foldable and Adjustable Kettlebell is a bit pricier than similar models. These other models can typically not be filled with water but the price is something to keep in mind.

Additionally, the soft kettlebell from Exerbell can get bulky with a lot of filling. This can make certain kettlebell exercises inconvenient or out of reach completely.

If you like the ability to fill your soft kettlebell with water and don’t like your filling moving around, this option could definitely be worth the slightly higher initial investment.

7. OlKar Kettlebell Adjustable Sandbag

Pros

  • Different models available with max loads from 11 to 30 pounds (5 to 13.6 kg) of sand
  • Weight is adjustable
  • Compact storage when empty

Cons

  • You have to fill the soft kettlebell with sand yourself
  • At lower weights the sand can move around
  • Handle is not ideal for certain typical kettlebell exercises
  • The bigger models can get a bit bulky

This next soft kettlebell from OlKar works similar to the two previous options. You simply choose the weight capacity you want and fill it up with sand or similar material.

The max loads are described as from 11 to 30 pounds (5 to 13.6 kg) but the seller notes that you could go a bit higher than this if you use denser material. This does likely decrease how long the soft kettlebells will last.

Besides that, this option is a solid pick but with a price that is slightly above average. If you like the design and handle texture more than the previous options you could consider the OlKar Kettlebell Adjustable Sandbag.

FAQ

What is a soft kettlebell?

As the name implies, soft kettlebells are made with different, softer materials. This makes bumping into objects (and yourself) less damaging and painful. In turn, this could give you more peace of mind and comfort during your kettlebell workouts and cause less damage if you do bump into something.

What are the differences between classic kettlebells and soft kettlebells?

The main intended difference is the material used but the classic kettlebell could also have a slightly different weight distribution. Additionally, classic kettlebells are more stable which makes them better for kettlebell exercises in a pushup position. The soft kettlebells can be less painful, put your mind more at ease, and cause less damage when bumping into things.

What’s the best weight kettlebell to start with?

The best weight kettlebell to start with varies a lot from individual to individual and the exercises he/she intends to do. Ideally, you would try out different weights of kettlebells in exercises you intend to do a lot in a place like your local gym. If this is not an option you could use similar objects of different weights to get a better idea of what weight would be challenging enough but not too challenging.

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Author:

Matt Claes founded Weight Loss Made Practical to help people get in shape and stay there after losing 37 pounds and learning the best of the best about weight loss, health, and longevity for over 4 years. Over these years he has become an expert in nutrition, exercise, and other physical health aspects.