Ironmind kettlebell

Roy Williams · 01-11-2007, 08:38 PM

Hello Crossfit.

I'm considering ordering the ironmind kb handles for swings and possibly around the body passes. Im planning to mainly use it at 1.5 pood but may take it up in time.

Whats the heaviest anyone's loaded them up to and has anyone had a collar failure with this item? I have a 1 pood and am hoping that the ironmind can substitute for the 1.5 and 2 pood. If it can go even heavier than that then it's a bonus.

I realise that solid bells are the optimum choice, however cost, ability to scale and the convenience of using the standard plates I already own rather than having to store more heavy equipment appeals to me.

I've searched the forums but have had no luck with finding this particular information. If someone knows of an established thread with this information it would be much appreciated.

Thank you all.

Keith Wittenstein · 01-12-2007, 09:30 AM

I think most people will agree that ironmind makes a lot of great products but the kb handles aren't among them. I'm sure they work fantasticly and will last forever, but the design leaves a lot to be desired. Get a real 1 or 1.5 pood KB from Dragondoor, Kettlebellconcepts or K2Fitness. Learn how to do all your KB moves with that. The scalability isn't the real issue. Do less or more reps. If you can't do the moves with your kettlebell, then use a light dumbbell to learn the move, then when you're strong enough grab the bell.

Bruce Kocher · 01-15-2007, 08:06 AM

I am a long time Ironmind customer and I second Keith's opinion. The Kettlebells are a definite pass. I bought a pair years ago and they have seen little use while I am an avid Girevik. The grip portion is too thin and the loading section is too long. You are also taking your life in your hands if you lift them over your head. I have a set of Ironwoody loading KBs and they work very well. The plastic molding seam on the Ironwoody handles needed some attention from a file but otherwise they've been great. Solid KBs are still the best, imho. I only have the DD brand but other less expensive brands have been well reviewed on this board.

Richard Gonzalez · 01-15-2007, 03:32 PM

New to the kettlebell world, I recently picked up a couple of pairs of Apollo Kettlebells at a store in the northern san diego area. The odd thing though, they have a flat rubber bottom. I wonder if this will affect any of the juggling or crazy tosses. Does anyone have any experience with these kettlebells, are they any good?..

I guess I was really excited to find them in a store rather than trying to buy them online.

Roy Williams · 01-16-2007, 05:30 PM

Thank you for your replies everyone,

I Olympic lift 3 days a week and feel that I get enough overhead exercise from that. I have a 1pood and enjoy working with it for swings but don’t feel that I have much more need for it. If I was to move away from this area and couldn't train oly anymore I would probably change over to KB's and buy the cast bells. I plan to be here for the next four years of university and as I only need something for swings (i.e. Helen) I can't justify the solid bells on my student's budget.

It would cost me approx 4 times the cost of an adjustable kb to buy a 1.5pood - to eventually upgrade to a 2 pood would take it to a total of approx 8-9 times the cost of ordering 1xhandle (which as I mentioned would be able to use equipment I already own)

Thank you especially Bruce for the recommendation of the iron woody product. It looks to be a better buy & unlike ironmind they tell you how much weight it can actually be loaded to.

Does anyone know of a particularly good adjustable dumbbell for swings? I've only handled a few types and find the handles too short for two hand work - and I dont know how to determine wether a particular dumbell can take the stress of balistic exercise.

Roger Smith · 01-16-2007, 06:04 PM

If your looking to mainly do swings, I'd look into Dan John's idea in his newsletter. It works great.

links to a safe pdf...

http://danjohn.org/II7.pdf

Michael Lynn · 01-17-2007, 08:35 AM

Those Kettle Grips from Ironwoody really caught my eye.

How important is it to have a kettlebell you can throw?

Thanks,
-Mike

Bruce Kocher · 01-17-2007, 06:50 PM

Throwing a heavy KB is not necessarily an activity to untake lightly. Dropping a heavy KB is common in my experience. I've launced the Ironwoody handles a few times onto the hard packed dirt of my backyard. No problems that a few turns with the hex-key didn't fix. I think that I would rather beat up a less expensive Ironwoody set than bust a handle on an expensive cast KB. Access to soft dirt or sand alievates most of these concerns.

Michael Angelica · 01-17-2007, 08:19 PM

Iron woody has some very inexpensive new cast iron kettlebells that I will look into soon. Cheap shipping. You can get them in pairs for free shipping at decent prices at renegadetraining.com as well. There is a link at the front page to the sales. Just putting in my two cents.

Michael Angelica · 01-17-2007, 08:26 PM

You should also check out www.uskettlebells.com. They have an adjustable kettlebell that really looks amazing. More expensive than iron woody kettlegrips but they are very well made and are scaleable for a very good price compared to traditional.

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01-11-2007, 08:38 PM	#1
Roy Williams Member Profile: Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Darwin Northern Territory Posts: 6	Hello Crossfit. I'm considering ordering the ironmind kb handles for swings and possibly around the body passes. Im planning to mainly use it at 1.5 pood but may take it up in time. Whats the heaviest anyone's loaded them up to and has anyone had a collar failure with this item? I have a 1 pood and am hoping that the ironmind can substitute for the 1.5 and 2 pood. If it can go even heavier than that then it's a bonus. I realise that solid bells are the optimum choice, however cost, ability to scale and the convenience of using the standard plates I already own rather than having to store more heavy equipment appeals to me. I've searched the forums but have had no luck with finding this particular information. If someone knows of an established thread with this information it would be much appreciated. Thank you all.

01-12-2007, 09:30 AM	#2
Keith Wittenstein Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New York New York Posts: 945	I think most people will agree that ironmind makes a lot of great products but the kb handles aren't among them. I'm sure they work fantasticly and will last forever, but the design leaves a lot to be desired. Get a real 1 or 1.5 pood KB from Dragondoor, Kettlebellconcepts or K2Fitness. Learn how to do all your KB moves with that. The scalability isn't the real issue. Do less or more reps. If you can't do the moves with your kettlebell, then use a light dumbbell to learn the move, then when you're strong enough grab the bell.

01-15-2007, 08:06 AM	#3
Bruce Kocher Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Philly PA Posts: 92	I am a long time Ironmind customer and I second Keith's opinion. The Kettlebells are a definite pass. I bought a pair years ago and they have seen little use while I am an avid Girevik. The grip portion is too thin and the loading section is too long. You are also taking your life in your hands if you lift them over your head. I have a set of Ironwoody loading KBs and they work very well. The plastic molding seam on the Ironwoody handles needed some attention from a file but otherwise they've been great. Solid KBs are still the best, imho. I only have the DD brand but other less expensive brands have been well reviewed on this board.

01-15-2007, 03:32 PM	#4
Richard Gonzalez Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oceanside CA Posts: 68	New to the kettlebell world, I recently picked up a couple of pairs of Apollo Kettlebells at a store in the northern san diego area. The odd thing though, they have a flat rubber bottom. I wonder if this will affect any of the juggling or crazy tosses. Does anyone have any experience with these kettlebells, are they any good?.. I guess I was really excited to find them in a store rather than trying to buy them online.

01-16-2007, 05:30 PM	#5
Roy Williams Member Profile: Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Darwin Northern Territory Posts: 6	Thank you for your replies everyone, I Olympic lift 3 days a week and feel that I get enough overhead exercise from that. I have a 1pood and enjoy working with it for swings but don’t feel that I have much more need for it. If I was to move away from this area and couldn't train oly anymore I would probably change over to KB's and buy the cast bells. I plan to be here for the next four years of university and as I only need something for swings (i.e. Helen) I can't justify the solid bells on my student's budget. It would cost me approx 4 times the cost of an adjustable kb to buy a 1.5pood - to eventually upgrade to a 2 pood would take it to a total of approx 8-9 times the cost of ordering 1xhandle (which as I mentioned would be able to use equipment I already own) Thank you especially Bruce for the recommendation of the iron woody product. It looks to be a better buy & unlike ironmind they tell you how much weight it can actually be loaded to. Does anyone know of a particularly good adjustable dumbbell for swings? I've only handled a few types and find the handles too short for two hand work - and I dont know how to determine wether a particular dumbell can take the stress of balistic exercise.

01-16-2007, 06:04 PM	#6
Roger Smith Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 392	If your looking to mainly do swings, I'd look into Dan John's idea in his newsletter. It works great. links to a safe pdf... http://danjohn.org/II7.pdf

01-17-2007, 08:35 AM	#7
Michael Lynn Member Profile: Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston MA Posts: 111	Those Kettle Grips from Ironwoody really caught my eye. How important is it to have a kettlebell you can throw? Thanks, -Mike

01-17-2007, 06:50 PM	#8
Bruce Kocher Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Philly PA Posts: 92	Throwing a heavy KB is not necessarily an activity to untake lightly. Dropping a heavy KB is common in my experience. I've launced the Ironwoody handles a few times onto the hard packed dirt of my backyard. No problems that a few turns with the hex-key didn't fix. I think that I would rather beat up a less expensive Ironwoody set than bust a handle on an expensive cast KB. Access to soft dirt or sand alievates most of these concerns.

01-17-2007, 08:19 PM	#9
Michael Angelica Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: dallas texas Posts: 4	Iron woody has some very inexpensive new cast iron kettlebells that I will look into soon. Cheap shipping. You can get them in pairs for free shipping at decent prices at renegadetraining.com as well. There is a link at the front page to the sales. Just putting in my two cents.

01-17-2007, 08:26 PM	#10
Michael Angelica Member Profile: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: dallas texas Posts: 4	You should also check out www.uskettlebells.com. They have an adjustable kettlebell that really looks amazing. More expensive than iron woody kettlegrips but they are very well made and are scaleable for a very good price compared to traditional.