In-depth review
Kettlebell Kings Adjustable Kettlebell Review (2027): The Program Runner's 40
Full research review of the Kettlebell Kings adjustable kettlebell: steel shell and window, seven even settings, plate change routine, and its place in the 40 lb class.
Kettlebell Kings Adjustable Kettlebell (10-40 lb)
A steel shell that fills with plates to 40 lb, from a kettlebell specialist brand.
- 10-40 lb
- Weight range
- 5 lb steps, 7 settings (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 lb)
- Increments
- Open steel shell, plates added or removed and locked inside
- Mechanism
Our verdict
The Kings adjustable is what the 40 lb class looks like when a kettlebell company, rather than a mechanism company, designs it. A steel shell with traditional proportions, a window two hands recognize, and seven settings on the exact 5 lb ladder that pound-based programs are written in. The cost of that correctness is change speed: loading plates inside a shell is a between-workouts task, not a between-exercises one. For a lifter who trains one or two weights per session, which is most kettlebell training, that trade is nearly free, and what remains is the best-feeling full-class adjustable in this guide.
What we like
- Steel shell keeps a traditional profile and window at every setting
- Seven even 5 lb settings match pound-based programs exactly
- Specialist brand with kettlebell-specific design choices throughout
What to watch out for
- Plate changes take longer than dial or pin systems
- 40 lb ceiling, shared with most of the class
- Price sits at the premium end of the 40 lb class
Who it is for
Program-driven kettlebell lifters training in the 10 to 40 lb band who set a weight and work, rather than changing mid-circuit.
Shell and window, from a specialist
Kettlebell Kings sells bells to people who compete and coach, and the adjustable inherits the house standards: a steel shell whose size and handle window stay in traditional proportion, so grip position, two-hand clearance, and forearm contact in the rack all match fixed-bell technique. Nothing about a session needs relearning when you move between this bell and gym iron.
Seven settings, no asterisks
Ten, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 lb. Read the rival charts in this guide and the value of that plain sentence grows: no gaps at program weights, no metric rounding, no rep math to compensate. For coached and written programs, this ladder is the product, and the shell is its delivery system.
The plate change, timed honestly
Open the shell, set the plates, close and lock. Owners describe a routine measured in tens of seconds to a minute, done at the start of a session or between training days. Circuit formats that change weight every round will feel it; straight kettlebell sessions, which set one or two weights and work, will not. Match the bell to the format you actually train.
Sound and security at settings
Internal plate systems live or die on how quiet and solid the loaded bell feels at speed. Owner feedback places the Kings at the good end of its family, with occasional faint plate sound reported at mid settings by a minority. The pre-swing check in our troubleshooting guide applies here as everywhere: locked, quiet, then swing.
Key specifications
- Weight range
- 10-40 lb
- Increments
- 5 lb steps, 7 settings (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 lb)
- Mechanism
- Open steel shell, plates added or removed and locked inside
- Handle
- Steel handle, traditional window proportions
- Shell
- Steel shell, cast-bell profile
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Swings and cleans feel right, the recurring verdict
- Even steps make programming simple
- Shell finish and window earn trust at heavier settings
Common complaints
- Change time breaks circuit flow
- Internal plates can be heard at some settings by some owners
- Heavier bell needs mean a second system, not an expansion
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Kettlebell Kings adjustable kettlebell documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Also consider
BowFlexBowFlex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell
The dial kettlebell: six weights from 8 to 40 lb in one molded shell.
- Weight range: 8-40 lb, 6 settings
- Increments: 8, 12, 20, 25, 35, 40 lb (uneven steps)
Sources: BowFlex SelectTech 840 product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartChoose the BowFlex 840 if your training changes weight mid-session constantly; its dial is built for exactly that, at the cost of steps and shell feel. Read our BowFlex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell review
REP Fitness REP Adjustable Kettlebell (16 kg)
A cast iron style shell with push-button internal plates and honest 2 kg steps.
- Weight range: 8-16 kg (about 17.5-35 lb) on the 16 kg version
- Increments: 2 kg steps, 5 settings
Sources: REP Fitness adjustable kettlebell documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartChoose the REP if your programs run in kilograms and the classic 2 kg ladder fits them, inside its lighter ceiling. Read our REP Fitness REP Adjustable Kettlebell (16 kg) review
Research-based assessment: manufacturer specifications and documentation, cross-checked against retailer listings and recurring themes in published owner feedback. We do not claim hands-on testing we have not performed.
FAQ
Questions, answered straight
Can the Kings adjustable be used for double-bell work?
Only as one of a matched pair, which means buying two, as with any kettlebell. Most owners pair it with a fixed bell at their most-used weight instead, and use the adjustable to cover the rest of the range.
Is the shell the same size at every weight?
The shell's external profile is fixed by design, so technique and grip stay constant across settings; the internal plate load is what changes. That consistency is the core of the design's appeal to technique-focused lifters.