Onnit Primal kettlebells
Editor’s Conclusion
Kettlebells are something that has not changed much over the years. They’re round, they’re made of iron, and they boast a wide grip. The end.
That is until Onnit kettlebells came along and decided to shake things up a bit. I took one look at these Onnit Kettlebells and was immediately intrigued. This set comes in 5 different weighed options, and as you travel up through heavier weights, the primates carved into the iron become more and more intimidating.
Don’t worry - the carved primate faces in these kettlebells aren’t just a gimmick. Performance-wise, this set performs just as well as your boring old rounded options. The weight distribution of these bells is even and balanced, which means that they perform exactly the same as standard designs.
What I also love about this design is that the handles are slightly thicker than other options out there on the market. This means that as you train, you are also working to increase your grip strength as well.
If you are on the hunt for new kettlebells and want something that is unique and different without sacrificing performance, the Onnit Kettlebells are worth checking out!
That is until Onnit kettlebells came along and decided to shake things up a bit. I took one look at these Onnit Kettlebells and was immediately intrigued. This set comes in 5 different weighed options, and as you travel up through heavier weights, the primates carved into the iron become more and more intimidating.
Don’t worry - the carved primate faces in these kettlebells aren’t just a gimmick. Performance-wise, this set performs just as well as your boring old rounded options. The weight distribution of these bells is even and balanced, which means that they perform exactly the same as standard designs.
What I also love about this design is that the handles are slightly thicker than other options out there on the market. This means that as you train, you are also working to increase your grip strength as well.
If you are on the hunt for new kettlebells and want something that is unique and different without sacrificing performance, the Onnit Kettlebells are worth checking out!
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Wide grip is great for building hand strength
Unique primate-inspired design
Slightly more affordable than Rogue
Perfectly balanced; great for single-arm upside-down exercises
Onnit will replace your kettlebell if it arrives chipped
Made from heavy-duty iron
Cons
Chimp design has sharp edges that can catch on your legs
Matte finish is prone to chipping over time
Key Features
PERFORMANCE
I know what you’re thinking - aren’t these kettlebells a little gimmicky? How could carved iron perform in the same way as a simple round bell? I’m not quite sure how Onnit achieved it, but these carved kettlebells are perfectly balanced.
You can engage in tricky lifts such as upside-down single-arm kettlebell presses while feeling perfectly balanced. It’s important to note, however, that some of the lower weights, such as the 36-pound chimp primal kettlebell are a little more cumbersome.
This option has large ears with sharp edges that stick out from the sides, and can potentially clip your legs when doing swings.
I found that the heavier weights have smoother edges and are more rounded than the lighter options.
Overall, users will be able to engage in the same styles of kettlebell workouts with this set as any other kettlebell set out there on the market. They are perfect for kettlebell swings, clean and presses (my very favorite!), squats, and plenty of overhead drills.
Onnit even provides complete kettlebell workouts with instructional videos that range from beginner workouts all the way to advanced workouts to get the most out of your killer new workout equipment!
WEIGHT
The primal kettlebells come in 5 different weight options that include 18, 36, 54, 72, and 90. When they were first released, they were only offered in 4 different weight opinions that included the howler, chimp, orangutan, and gorilla options.
While it has the weight technically listed on the back of the bell, the faces carved into the iron make it easy to tell the difference from the different options at a glance. The howler and the chimp are obviously the lighter options, and the orangutan and gorilla are the heavier options.
As this kettlebell set grew in popularity, Onnit rolled out an even heavier design, weighing in at 90 pounds. This 90 pound beast of a kettlebell has Bigfoot carved into the iron, making it the heaviest (and most intimidating) kettlebell in the entire set.
If they release a 100-pound kettlebell, I’m not quite sure what they could possibly carve into the iron that is more threatening than Bigfoot. It’s likely that the Bigfoot design is the end of the line.
While the weight is technically carved into the back of each bell, this weight is measured in poods. I’ll be honest - I’ve been powerlifting for years and never came across weights measured in poods.
Upon a little investigating, I discovered that poods are only used in kettlebells as a call back to their Russian lineage. Once the USSR was abolished, so was the pood. However, it still stuck around only to confuse kettlebell lifters on how much weight they are tackling.
With the unique primates carved into the iron, you won’t need to dig out that old Russian weight conversion chart every time you want to lift!
GRIP
I couldn’t find any hard measurements on the width of the grip on these kettlebells. However, Onnit describes their grip as being slightly wider than your average design, and previous users can all agree that the grip is quite wide.
While a wide grip may seem like a problem, it helps to increase your overall grip strength, which will help you grip the barbell when engaging in lifts such as deadlifts or bench presses.
Personally, I hate taking the time to engage in grip work, and my deadlifts suffer because of it. With these kettlebells, I can work on my grip while simultaneously building muscle and burning fat.
What I also love about the grip of these bells is that they don’t have that dreaded seam line on the inside of the grip that can really tear up your hands. Even when knocking out multiple reps with a heavier weight, there are no points in the grip that will rub your hands raw.
Overall, the grip is great, and using these kettlebells a few times a week not only helps you to build strength in your body but helps build strength in your hands as well which is something that your standard kettlebell simply cannot do.
MATERIALS
The Onnit kettlebells are composed of perfectly balanced iron that is classified as chip-resistance. However, I have noticed that some users that are hard on their gym equipment manage to chip the matte paint off of the surface of their bells.
This is just a very minor cosmetic flat that will in no way affect the performance of your gear. In fact, I feel that a few chips here and there make these intimidating kettlebells look even more intense.
These iron bells boast a matte black finish that not only looks sharp, but they are also super easy to wipe down as needed.
I noticed that there were some users that did not like their kettlebells to chip, and Onnit was more than happy to send them a replacement kettlebell. However, Onnit will not replace your kettlebells if they start to chip over time.
PRICE
I did a little back-to-back comparison with Onnit’s Primal kettlebells compared to Rogue kettlebells. Overall, I expected the Primal option to cost quite a bit more than Rogue since it boasts a sleek design that looks like some type of modern art installation.
Surprisingly, the Onnit Kettlebells were slightly less expensive than their Rogue counterparts. The 90-pound Bigfoot design is around 50 bucks less expensive than the Rogue Competition Kettlebell.
If you are in the market for a set of killer kettlebells that look unique and interesting, the Onnit design is the overall better value.
The downside of these kettlebells is that they are not offered in a set. You can opt to buy each design individually, but you are unable to save a few bucks by buying all 5 in a complete set.
It’s also important to note that Onnit has a hard time keeping some of these kettlebells in stock due to their popularity.
Their most popular design is the 72-pound Gorilla design. If you find that it is in stock, I suggest snatching it up before it’s gone!
While Onnit offers a money-back guarantee for many of its supplements, this doesn’t apply to your workout equipment. If it arrives damaged, they will happily replace it. If it breaks over time, there is no warranty in place to get your money back.
However, I have combed through hundreds of reviews and found no instances where these kettlebells have broken down on any customers.
I know what you’re thinking - aren’t these kettlebells a little gimmicky? How could carved iron perform in the same way as a simple round bell? I’m not quite sure how Onnit achieved it, but these carved kettlebells are perfectly balanced.
You can engage in tricky lifts such as upside-down single-arm kettlebell presses while feeling perfectly balanced. It’s important to note, however, that some of the lower weights, such as the 36-pound chimp primal kettlebell are a little more cumbersome.
This option has large ears with sharp edges that stick out from the sides, and can potentially clip your legs when doing swings.
I found that the heavier weights have smoother edges and are more rounded than the lighter options.
Overall, users will be able to engage in the same styles of kettlebell workouts with this set as any other kettlebell set out there on the market. They are perfect for kettlebell swings, clean and presses (my very favorite!), squats, and plenty of overhead drills.
Onnit even provides complete kettlebell workouts with instructional videos that range from beginner workouts all the way to advanced workouts to get the most out of your killer new workout equipment!
WEIGHT
The primal kettlebells come in 5 different weight options that include 18, 36, 54, 72, and 90. When they were first released, they were only offered in 4 different weight opinions that included the howler, chimp, orangutan, and gorilla options.
While it has the weight technically listed on the back of the bell, the faces carved into the iron make it easy to tell the difference from the different options at a glance. The howler and the chimp are obviously the lighter options, and the orangutan and gorilla are the heavier options.
As this kettlebell set grew in popularity, Onnit rolled out an even heavier design, weighing in at 90 pounds. This 90 pound beast of a kettlebell has Bigfoot carved into the iron, making it the heaviest (and most intimidating) kettlebell in the entire set.
If they release a 100-pound kettlebell, I’m not quite sure what they could possibly carve into the iron that is more threatening than Bigfoot. It’s likely that the Bigfoot design is the end of the line.
While the weight is technically carved into the back of each bell, this weight is measured in poods. I’ll be honest - I’ve been powerlifting for years and never came across weights measured in poods.
Upon a little investigating, I discovered that poods are only used in kettlebells as a call back to their Russian lineage. Once the USSR was abolished, so was the pood. However, it still stuck around only to confuse kettlebell lifters on how much weight they are tackling.
With the unique primates carved into the iron, you won’t need to dig out that old Russian weight conversion chart every time you want to lift!
GRIP
I couldn’t find any hard measurements on the width of the grip on these kettlebells. However, Onnit describes their grip as being slightly wider than your average design, and previous users can all agree that the grip is quite wide.
While a wide grip may seem like a problem, it helps to increase your overall grip strength, which will help you grip the barbell when engaging in lifts such as deadlifts or bench presses.
Personally, I hate taking the time to engage in grip work, and my deadlifts suffer because of it. With these kettlebells, I can work on my grip while simultaneously building muscle and burning fat.
What I also love about the grip of these bells is that they don’t have that dreaded seam line on the inside of the grip that can really tear up your hands. Even when knocking out multiple reps with a heavier weight, there are no points in the grip that will rub your hands raw.
Overall, the grip is great, and using these kettlebells a few times a week not only helps you to build strength in your body but helps build strength in your hands as well which is something that your standard kettlebell simply cannot do.
MATERIALS
The Onnit kettlebells are composed of perfectly balanced iron that is classified as chip-resistance. However, I have noticed that some users that are hard on their gym equipment manage to chip the matte paint off of the surface of their bells.
This is just a very minor cosmetic flat that will in no way affect the performance of your gear. In fact, I feel that a few chips here and there make these intimidating kettlebells look even more intense.
These iron bells boast a matte black finish that not only looks sharp, but they are also super easy to wipe down as needed.
I noticed that there were some users that did not like their kettlebells to chip, and Onnit was more than happy to send them a replacement kettlebell. However, Onnit will not replace your kettlebells if they start to chip over time.
PRICE
I did a little back-to-back comparison with Onnit’s Primal kettlebells compared to Rogue kettlebells. Overall, I expected the Primal option to cost quite a bit more than Rogue since it boasts a sleek design that looks like some type of modern art installation.
Surprisingly, the Onnit Kettlebells were slightly less expensive than their Rogue counterparts. The 90-pound Bigfoot design is around 50 bucks less expensive than the Rogue Competition Kettlebell.
If you are in the market for a set of killer kettlebells that look unique and interesting, the Onnit design is the overall better value.
The downside of these kettlebells is that they are not offered in a set. You can opt to buy each design individually, but you are unable to save a few bucks by buying all 5 in a complete set.
It’s also important to note that Onnit has a hard time keeping some of these kettlebells in stock due to their popularity.
Their most popular design is the 72-pound Gorilla design. If you find that it is in stock, I suggest snatching it up before it’s gone!
While Onnit offers a money-back guarantee for many of its supplements, this doesn’t apply to your workout equipment. If it arrives damaged, they will happily replace it. If it breaks over time, there is no warranty in place to get your money back.
However, I have combed through hundreds of reviews and found no instances where these kettlebells have broken down on any customers.
Verdict
It’s hard not to be drawn in by the really cool design of these kettlebells. While they may look a little gimmicky, these bells perform just as well as their boring and round competitions that don’t have primate faces carved into their iron.
They are offered in 5 different weighted options that are great for beginners all the way up to experts and are built as tough as the primates they were inspired by.
An added bonus of this design is that the grip is slightly wider than your standard kettlebell, which means you can fit in a little grip work as you knock out a few reps of clean and presses or squats. I’ve even seen the super-heavy designs used for farmer’s walks as well!
If you are in the market for a killer pair of kettlebells to get you pumped for your next workouts, the Onnit kettlebells are worth checking out. While they aren’t the most affordable design out there on the market, they are far from the most expensive option that money can buy.
In fact, when compared to Rogue kettlebells, the Onnit design earns a slight edge in affordability. If your workout space is a little bland and boring, these kettlebells will definitely spice things up!
They are offered in 5 different weighted options that are great for beginners all the way up to experts and are built as tough as the primates they were inspired by.
An added bonus of this design is that the grip is slightly wider than your standard kettlebell, which means you can fit in a little grip work as you knock out a few reps of clean and presses or squats. I’ve even seen the super-heavy designs used for farmer’s walks as well!
If you are in the market for a killer pair of kettlebells to get you pumped for your next workouts, the Onnit kettlebells are worth checking out. While they aren’t the most affordable design out there on the market, they are far from the most expensive option that money can buy.
In fact, when compared to Rogue kettlebells, the Onnit design earns a slight edge in affordability. If your workout space is a little bland and boring, these kettlebells will definitely spice things up!
