I’ve been lifting weights for about 10 years and I always come back to the same basic tool: the humble kettlebell. These versatile tools are (in my opinion) superior to the overly simplistic dumbbell, because their off-center weight challenges your balance and opens the door to fun moves like the kettlebell swing.

I specifically like these 45lb kettlebells (currently reduced to less than $30) from Amazon’s basic range, because the handles are small enough for my hands, so there’s no risk of dropping them when I perform an exercise.

In my opinion, there is little worse than a kettlebell with massive handles that slip out of my grip even when I’m wearing good-quality fitness gloves (I use these from ATERCEL, now reduced 30%.) 

The Amazon Basics aren’t quite of the quality of competition-standard kettlebells, but they are much better than some of the plastic-coated options available, and even the heavier ones remain compact due to their cast-iron construction.

If this weight is too heavy for you, there is still 18%-20% off all the other kettlebells in the Amazon basics range , though the 45lb option carries the biggest saving we’ve seen. 

I use this kettlebell to add extra resistance to my squats. I do goblet squats and squat thrusters holding the kettlebell, and then shift to a lighter weight for some of my other exercises. I also like to add it to my glute bridges, holding it over my hips to increase the difficulty of the exercise. In my opinion, the cast-iron and enamel coating make these some of the best kettlebells you can buy on a budget.

The great thing about kettlebells is that they’re versatile: as well as a range of lower-body kettlebell workouts, the ergonomic design means you can add them to a standard exercise to make it weighted.