Kettlebells VS Haltères : Quels équipements choisir ? | Charlie Tango Fitness

Kettlebells VS Dumbbells: Which equipment to choose?

What are the differences between dumbbells and kettlebells?

Dumbbells and kettlebells offer benefits for your cross-training workout , but not necessarily the same...

They work your muscles differently, and exercises with kettlebells add a greater aerobic quality to your workout than dumbbells.

It is not necessary to substitute one type of weight for the other. By adding both to your training program, you can get a plan
intelligent and balanced training to progress and improve your performance.

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The advantages and disadvantages of dumbbells and kettlebells


One difference between dumbbells and kettlebells that you can spot immediately is their appearance. Kettlebells look like small cannonballs with attached handles, and dumbbells have a center bar with weights on either side.

Dumbbells allow you to quickly change weights for your workouts. With dumbbells with free weight loading, it is enough to slide another weight plate at each end or remove one, for example.

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On the other hand, you must grab a more or less heavy kettlebell each time you need to change weight. This can limit your training program if your cross-training box doesn't have the kettlebell you need, someone uses it, or you don't want to have to buy a dozen different kettlebells for your gym. sports at home.

Some dumbbells also have fixed weights at the ends. This is the format
that can be found in the weight room or on dumbbells weighing less than 10 kilos!

Dumbbells offer more balance than kettlebells

The dumbbells are balanced. With equal weight on each side, the grip is easy and allows you to perform exercises that you could perform at the bar. This provides stability in your workout , allowing you to perform one-handed exercises while enjoying more motion control than kettlebells.


Conversely, kettlebells are weighted off-center : the handle is light on one side, while the ball is heavy on the other. When performing exercises, the kettlebell tends to want to keep moving in the original direction, pulled by centrifugal force on the ball section.

More muscle groups are needed to wield a kettlebell movement than a dumbbell. Without taking into account that the kettlebell can
spinning in the hand , since the ball containing the weight is pulled towards the ground with gravity.

movements and exercises

Because it is an unbalanced weight, the kettlebell lends itself well to aerobic-style exercise while providing significant resistance to build muscle.

For example, the kettlebell swing (the exercise in which you squat with the kettlebell between your legs and stand up, using the strength of your hips to help propel the kettlebell past your chest) works your shoulder muscles. , your abs, hips, and thighs , adding an aerobic element as you repeatedly squat and stand up.

You can perform the movement with one or two hands on the kettlebell. A typical dumbbell exercise is a bicep curl, where you hold a dumbbell from the side and bend your elbow to lift it toward your shoulder. This isolation exercise targets only one muscle group: the biceps.

If you're trying a biceps curl with a kettlebell , you're going to need extra muscle to stabilize the movement. The heavy part of
kettlebell tends towards the ground throughout the movement.

At the end of the movement, the heavy ball even ends up resting on your forearm. This changes the position of the weight and requires more power in the wrist and forearm to control it.

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Different purposes between dumbbells and kettlebells


Let your goals dictate the types of weights you choose to help you achieve your goals. Dumbbells generally allow you to use heavier weights with more controlled motion, resulting in bigger muscles.

This equipment is more used by bodybuilders and athletes looking for hypertrophy (muscle gain).

Kettlebells still allow you to build strength , but the fluidity of movement and the inability to isolate just one muscle group gives you a better chance of creating definition and tone than volume.

If you're trying to lose weight rather than build muscle, kettlebells offer a variety of exercises to combine cardio and resistance training in a way that dumbbells can't.

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