Kettlebell
One implement covering swings, carries and presses in a small space
Swings for hip power and conditioning, get-ups for stability, carries for grip and trunk: one cast-iron weight supports a surprisingly complete home training program. The two-handed swing in particular gets cited as a very high return-per-minute exercise. One or two bells and a few square feet is the entire setup.
People on record
Sorted by strength of stance
Does it: documented as part of their own routine. Recommends: explicitly advises other people to do it. Discusses: covered it substantively without clear personal adoption; this can include criticism or disagreement.
- Jocko WillinkDoes it
Retired Navy SEAL officer · Jocko Podcast
Kettlebells live in his home gym for swings, carries and presses; he favors equipment that works anywhere.
Source: The Tim Ferriss Show #107 transcript - Oprah WinfreyDoes it
Talk show host and producer · The Oprah Winfrey Show
By her own account she avoided kettlebell swings for at least a year after watching other people do them well, and only got the hang of them with her trainer beside her correcting the movement.
Source: TODAY: Oprah Winfrey, 72, Finally Nailed This 1 Fitness Move After Setting a Goal to Master It 2 Years Ago - Tim FerrissDoes it
Author · The Tim Ferriss Show
75 swings in one set, twice a week; he calls the two-handed kettlebell swing the king of exercises.
Source: tim.blog: the two-handed kettlebell swing - Pavel TsatsoulineRecommends
Strength coach · StrongFirst
Asked for the 80/20 method for strength and overall fitness, he answered with correct kettlebell training, arguing that one implement develops strength, endurance, flexibility and power without the usual compromises. He calls the carryover to untrained feats the what-the-hell effect and points at Soviet studies from the 1980s.
Source: The Tim Ferriss Show: Pavel Tsatsouline transcript“The answer is, without any doubt, correct kettlebell training. When one tries to develop all fitness components, strength, endurance, flexibility, power, using the same modality, usually, he ends up with a whole lot of compromises. But the kettlebell, when used correctly, for some reason, allows you to avoid this problem and develop all these components to a high level.”
The Tim Ferriss Show: Pavel Tsatsouline transcript (opens in a new tab) - Stacy SimsRecommends
Exercise physiologist · Women Are Not Small Men
There is more than one way in, on her account, because liking or disliking resistance training is largely intuitive. Her second route is kettlebells in the garage, or dumbbells light enough to move fast, doing thrusters or hang cleans. That gives a beginner the feel of momentum, which she treats as a learning curve of its own.
Source: Huberman Lab: Female-Specific Exercise & Nutrition for Health, Performance & Longevity - Chris HemsworthDiscusses
Actor · Limitless and Centr
Kettlebell swings, snatches and carries. Centr credits those three with the agility work he took on for the Extraction sequel. He also filmed a kettlebell circuit on the deck of a naval ship to make the point: no gym required.
Source: Centr: Chris Hemsworth Gym Workout, Exercises He Swears By
Aimed at the same thing
Other entries filed under fitness.
- Gear$$$Expensive: Several hundred dollars and up.
Home gym
A private training space at home, from a garage rack to a fully equipped room
On record from 7 of 62 tracked people: 5 do it, 2 recommend it - Gear$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Resistance bands
Loop and tube bands for activation work, mobility drills and travel training
On record from 6 of 62 tracked people: 4 do it, 1 recommends it, 1 has discussed it - Gear$$$Mid: Roughly $50 to $500, or up to $50/month.
WHOOP
Screenless wrist strap tracking strain, recovery and sleep
On record from 6 of 62 tracked people: 4 do it, 1 recommends it, 1 has discussed it - Gear$$$Expensive: Several hundred dollars and up.
Cold plunge tub
Chilled tub that holds cold water ready, instead of hauling bags of ice
On record from 4 of 62 tracked people: 4 do it - Gear$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Heart rate monitor
Chest strap or watch that logs heart rate and estimates calories burned
On record from 4 of 62 tracked people: 2 do it, 2 recommend it - Gear$$$Expensive: Several hundred dollars and up.
Leg press machine
Loaded sled you press away with your feet, seated or on an angle
On record from 3 of 62 tracked people: 3 do it
Gear entry · notes paraphrased from cited sources, quoted excerpts copied from the transcript they link to. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.