Thanks to their incredible combination of simplicity and versatility, kettlebells are hugely popular. But who said you had to spend an arm and a leg to bring them into your home gym? I connected with fitness pros across the country in search of DIY solutions and homemade hacks that can mimic kettlebells in a pinch. The best part: most Americans probably have at least one of these items already — if not all seven.
1. Detergent Jugs
“There are quite a few large load laundry detergents with nice thick handles,” says Lynn Montoya, ACE, a hardstyle kettlebell-certified instructor.
“You would probably only be able to do one-armed kettlebell exercises, but you could still put together a kickass workout, such as one-armed swings, push press, clean & press, snatches, lunges and one-leg deadlifts.”
2. Milk or Water Jugs
“For the beginner, water is a decent weight,” says Bay Area trainer Jonathan Jordan, NASM-CPT, a Kettlebell Athletics L1 coach. “For the novice, we fill up with rice or dry beans. And for heavy we fill up with loose change.” Jordan created a 12-move milk jug workout, with videos showing all the moves.
3. Backpacks
“A weighted backpack is a great swap,” says Ryan Palermo, manager, head coach and trainer at New Jersey’s CrossFit Turbocharged. “You can add weight by using water bottles, canned goods — or for a little more weight, small bricks or even textbooks. Cushion with a towel or t-shirts so your household items don’t move around.” Palermo has demonstrated a backpack kettlebell workout on Instagram.
4. Tea Kettles
“Outdoor home and gardening items tend to be closer in weight to a kettlebell,” says trainer Robert Lemus, who runs Simple Fitness Hub. “Planter pots made from cement, ceramic, or stucco are great, especially when doing squats or Russian twists. If you want to do kettlebell swings, it’s best to use something that has a handle you can firmly grip, such as a tea kettle.”
5. Jerry Cans
“Jerry cans usually hold five gallons, and with water weighing eight pounds a gallon, can be quite effective,” says Robert Herbst, a world champion powerlifter and personal trainer. “When partially filled, the water sloshes around so there is an uneven load, so your muscles do more work. They also have a handle at the top so you can hold them like kettlebells.”
6. Paint Cans
Dan Jonhenry, director of fitness at Retro Fitness has not only used water jugs as kettlebells but also incorporates paint cans into his “Parents’ Basement” workout. While he typically suspends a pair of cans from a broomstick to mimic a barbell, they can double as kettlebells for basic lifts. Just go easy on the swings, cowboy.
7. Gym Bags
“A sturdy gym bag loaded with canned goods, books or magazines offers a great piece of homemade exercise equipment,” says personal trainer Jim Frith, founder of TopFitPros. “For anything that requires good control of the swing of the bag, hold by its ends or around the middle. The handles can be used for curls, rows and flies.”
