Best adjustable kettlebells for runners UK 2023: JaxJox, Bowflex & more tested

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Take your home workouts to the next level with these versatile weights

There are countless studies out there that show the benefits of strength training for runners. It can help improve endurance, power, aerobic capacity, core strength and even balance to name just a few.

Omar Mansour, running coach for audio-led fitness app WithU, suggests incorporating at least two strength and conditioning sessions into your training routine if you’re looking to become a speedier, more efficient and less injury-prone runner.

But if you’re logging significant miles every week, finding the time to fit additional workouts around your already hectic schedule can seem near impossible. That's where the best adjustable kettlebells come in.

Arguably the most versatile piece of kit going, you can get in an effective, full-body workout with a single kettlebell and 30 minutes to spare, says Mansour. Plus, today's next-gen models won't take up heaps of space, whether you’re training in the garage or a corner of your living room.

Ready to build stronger muscles and unleash your full running potential? The Runner's World Lab put a range of market-leading ‘bells to the test to pick out our top six contenders. At a glance, here at the ones that are worth their weight. For a more detailed review of each, keep scrolling.

Anthony Fletcher, biomechanics coach and founder of Onetrack Run Club, points out that unlike fixed weights, adjustable designs allow you to progressively overload your muscles without having to buy a new kettlebell each time you’re ready to add more load.

Tip: When the weight of your kettlebell starts to feel too light for double leg exercises, Fletcher suggests switching to single leg exercises to increase the mechanical load, ensuring your body keeps adapting and you continue making strength gains. ‘For instance, swap a squat for a lunge or a double leg calf raise for a single one. You’ll likely have to reduce the weight and so the progressive overload journey starts again,’ he explains.

They also allow you to be more specific with the weights you use for different moves – you can go lighter for upper body exercises and increase the load for your squats, swings and deadlifts. Not to mention, you can use them for weightlifting, sweaty HIIT workouts and mobility sessions alike.

The kettlebell lends itself particularly well to speed and power training, says Fletcher. ‘Movements like swings, cleans and snatches really target a muscle's ability to decelerate strongly and then accelerate a load again,’ he explains.

‘This is incredibly important for runners as it's specific to what our muscles are doing when we run. ‘It's advisable to work on your rate of force development if you want to run faster.’

According to Mansour, using your kettlebell for explosive movements is also a great way of stimulating the abdominal muscles.

‘These intense movements require core contraction and coordinated breathing, which can lead to serious improvements in core strength, helping you with your posture and form when running,’ he says.

Another key benefit of kettlebell training for runners is injury prevention. ‘Using a kettlebell to build stronger muscles and joints can prepare the body to resist overuse injuries that are common among runners, stemming from tight or weak hips, glutes and core muscles,’ Mansour explains.

Working on your hip strength can help prevent dreaded IT band syndrome, and strengthening your ankles can protect against Achilles tendon injuries.

No need for a whole rack of weights, all you need is one adjustable ‘bell and enough room to swing it. It won't take over your entire living room and can be stored away easily and discreetly.

Both adjustable kettlebells and adjustable dumbbells have their merits, says Mansour, but according to him, kettlebells have the edge.

‘Thanks to the rounded shape of a kettlebell, they make you work harder to stabilise the weight and, as such, can improve your stability, balance and core strength – all of which are vital for runners,’ he says.

They can be more challenging to use, however, so if your stability is particularly limited, it may be worth opting for one of our best adjustable dumbbells instead.

Mansour and Fletcher share their favourite moves for your at-home strength sessions.

1) Stand with your feet a little wider than hip distance apart and bring the kettlebell underneath your chin, holding it by the sides of the handle.

2) Stand tall, take a deep breath and brace your core (imagine someone is pushing their fingers into your tummy and you’re resisting them).

3) Unlock the knees and hips and lower yourself into a squat, without rounding your back and staying as upright as possible.

4) Drive back up through your knees and repeat.

Tip: Before adding load, do a couple of squats in the mirror to make sure your form is on point and check when your hips start to tuck. Going a little wider than hip distance can help you find more range of motion.

1) Stand up tall with your core braced and your knees slightly bent, holding a kettlebell in your right hand.

2) Hinge at the hips, lift your right leg and lower the kettlebell down towards the floor.

3) Keep the muscles of your elevated leg engaged by squeezing the quad and flexing your foot. Make sure your back is flat and your knee is slightly bent.

4) Once you tap your kettlebell on the floor (or however far down you can you while maintaining a straight, flat back), drive the hips back up to standing position with control, making sure your right hamstring and glute are engaged. 5) Repeat on the other side.

Tip: If you find yourself wobbling around a lot, squeezing your glutes can help with balance.

1) Start in a lunge position with your right leg back and grasp the kettlebell by its handle with your right hand.

2) Retract your shoulder blade and put the kettlebell up until your elbow passes the body. Keep your elbow in throughout the movement.

3) Lower the kettlebell back down, release the shoulder blade at the bottom.

4) Repeat on the other side.

Tip: Before loading, do a couple of reps in the mirror to check your shoulder blade is going back as well as your elbow. Start a little lighter to focus on the movement before adding more load.

Every adjustable kettlebell featured below has been tested by our experts at the Runner's World Lab.

They put the ‘bells through a variety of high and low impact sessions – incorporating strength training staples, including goblet squats, deadlifts and bicep curls – before awarding each one a score for its design, ease of use and, crucially, performance.

The best adjustable kettlebells were quick and effortless to load, easy to manoeuvre, felt sturdy and secure and didn't obstruct any movement patterns. They had a good variety of weight options, felt comfortable to grip and didn't rattle or shake too much when in use.

From budget buys to fully specced-out styles, here are our top picks.

We’re big fans of JaxJox's adjustable dumbbell, so we had high hopes when the brand's connected kettlebell arrived on our doorstep and, fortunately, it didn't disappoint.

Our tester was impressed with the clever design, which allows you swap between the six weight settings (ranging from 5.5kg up to 19kg) at the touch of a button on the digital holding dock – no fumbling around manually switching plates required. Once their desired weights were attached, the kettlebell felt secure and the handle was comfortable to grip, even with sweaty palms. Though larger than many of the other weights we tested, the rounded shape meant it was easy to wield for most exercises and didn't dig in when training.

If you’re into your stats, you’ll appreciate the accompanying app, where you can track your workouts and keep a record of weights lifted, sets, reps and power. It also uses a machine-learning algorithm based on your data to calculate a Fitness IQ score. Clever, huh? For beginners, there are a host of follow-along workouts available within the app, too.

Though brimming with techy features, the JaxJox was refreshingly simple to set up, with detailed instructions and diagrams to help you feel confident using it. If we had to find fault, we found it a tad too bulky for shoulder press, halos and windmills, but it was a dream to use for most other exercises including snatches, swings and deadlifts. Just make sure you remember to charge it before use.

If you don't fancy investing in a digital design, but speedy weight changes are still priority, consider this top-quality Bowflex offering. You can change the resistance in a matter of seconds – simply twist the dial and the required plates will automatically attach, while any that are surplus to requirements will be left neatly behind in the dock. Our pro said it was great for circuits that required a variety of weights and allowed them to squeeze in effective full-body sessions in their lunch breaks.

Like the JaxJox, the Bowflex is on the chunkier side as the weight plates are housed within a plastic shell. Still, it proved comfortable for most static and dynamic movements, save goblet squats and high pulls, and the ergonomic handle helped our tester stay in control. Plus, the sleek design won't look out of place in your living room.

The in-depth instruction manual includes descriptions of some of the exercises you can do, and the kettlebell comes with free 12-month JRNY app subscription, which lets you take advantage of trainer-led classes spanning strength training, core workouts, yoga and Pilates.

Don't want to shell out over £100 for your new workout companion? Let us introduce you to this reliable cast iron ‘bell from HyGYM, which offers seven weight settings, from a beginner-friendly 3.6kg to a respectable 18kg.

Sure, adjusting the load wasn't as effortless as the pricier models above, but our expert found the process surprisingly smooth thanks to the rapid release mechanism – just turn the safety lock and slide the plates in and out as required. The KB felt solid and secure as they pushed it overhead, with no unwanted shaking or rattling.

The plates are numbered and clearly labelled in both pounds and kilograms to help you keep track of what you’re lifting and slot them back in the correct order quickly. As there's no holding dock for the plates, however, they may end up scattered all over your floor by the end of your session, which may or may not bother you.

If your goal is to improve your mobility and sidestep injury, opting for a lighter KB, like this petite Yanzhi design, is a good idea. It provides four different weights ranging from 2.3kg to 5.4kg, allowing you to add some resistance to your favourite mobility moves, from lateral lunges to Turkish get-ups.

Our tester found changing the load a breeze (it's a quick unlock and twist effort), the compact 'bell proved easy to manoeuvre and felt comfortable and sufficiently grippy in their hands for all the exercises they tried.

Another major plus with the Yanzhi is that it's lightweight and super portable so you can easily take it outdoors if the sun is shining and you fancy an alfresco session in the garden or at the park.

It's not one for experienced lifters looking to progressively overload, but this mini kettlebell is a reliable workout buddy for beginners and those who want to focus on their mobility.

Yet another cast iron model, this one earned our expert's nod of approval thanks to its wide, grippy handle, robust design and efficient locking system. The dial was ultra smooth and easy to twist, letting our tester slide the plates in and out without interrupting their flow, and they appreciated the safety lock for worry-free lifting.

One of the sturdiest designs we tried, this is a good shout if you’re after that classic kettlebell look and feel. The weight of each plate is labelled in lbs and kgs to help you keep track of your lifts and comes with a handy workout tracker, which those just getting started will appreciate.

It did rattle slightly during dynamic movements, but our expert said this wasn't too distracting. Our only other niggle is the absence of a weights holder to keep our workout space neat and tidy, but you can't win ‘em all.

This pocket-friendly model maxes out at 5.5kg, making it a great choice if you’re new to kettlebell training or recovering from an injury and want to keep things light. Like the Yanzhi, it's a solid option for mobility work and it ticks the box in terms of portability – kettlebell class in the park, anyone?

You get three weights in one compact package, which can be easily changed by twisting the mechanism to unlock it and sliding the plates in and out.

Our tester rated the non-wobble base, which sits safely on the ground without falling over, and appreciated the large, ergonomic handle that felt comfortable and secure throughout their sessions. In fact, they liked using this ‘bell so much, they only wished it offered more weight options...

Jodie is our Health and Fitness product tester. She runs tests on a wide variety of products, including gym leggings, walking boots, fitness trackers and more. Jodie has managed the testing for 577 products to date, including working with over 600 panellists.

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