They're okay, depending on what your goals are. But they aren't the be-all, end-all by a long shot.
I guess I would say that they're good for certain kinds of 'functional' fitness (altho, to be clear, all fitness improves function), but if your goals are hypertrophy or power, they're not going to get you there.
FWIW I was RKC ceertified (although my certification has lapsed).
Yes, my goals are mostly functional fitness, not hypertrophy nor power
Kettlebells are great for those with limited storage space and budget, to extend beyond what you can do with bodyweight exercise alone.
If you want to get as fit as you can and don't have any equipment, simply adding a pull up bar to a doorway and having a kettlebell in the house can really open up a lot of options for building more strength and doing stronger cardio routines.
But if you have the space for it, traditional strength equipment (barbell and weights, rack, bench) is probably better for strength.
I liken it to a cast iron skillet: if forced to limit myself to one thing, it would probably be this thing, but in a well-equipped setting it would rarely be my first choice to actually use.
Thank you!
You can do a lot of different exercises with a kettlebell, but you will still need different weights. Not only because you need different weights for different exercises, but you will also need heavier bells as you get stronger.
Indeed, but that would be a good problem to have later ha ha
I don't see much utility in them. Too light to build leg strength and dumbbells are better/more versatile for upper body exercises.
They're redundant. It's just a differently shaped dumbbell. Not necessary at all, if dumbbells are available. If dumbbells aren't available, kettlebells are a poor substitute for dumbbells, whereas if kettlebells aren't available and dumbbells are, dumbbells are an OK substitute for kettlebells.
"But what about kettlebell swings?"
NO. Just no.
Kettlebells are focused on compound exercises. I don't know where you came up with this:
If dumbbells aren't available, kettlebells are a poor substitute for dumbbells, whereas if kettlebells aren't available and dumbbells are, dumbbells are an OK substitute for kettlebells.
I can't think of any dumbbell exercises that couldn't use a kettlebell if it's all you had, but dumbbells are not well suited at all to kettlebell exercises.
And I don't know why you hate swings, they're a fantastic way to build squat form.