Onnit Chimpanzee Kettlebell

Name: Onnit Chimpanzee Kettlebell
Brand: Onnit
Rating: 3.78 (3 reviews)

The Onnit Chimpanzee Kettlebell (model OPBC1) is a 36 lb (1 pood) cast-iron kettlebell from Onnit’s now-discontinued Primal Bells line, distinguished by a sculpted chimpanzee face cast into one side of the bell. It’s built from gravity-cast, chip-resistant iron with an enlarged handle sized for grip strength during swings, cleans, and snatches, and owners consistently praise the handle thickness and coating durability. The sculpted face is a genuine functional trade-off, not just a cosmetic one: multiple independent owners report it has to be oriented away from the forearm during cleans, presses, and snatches or it digs in uncomfortably, which limits the bell mostly to swings, carries, and goblet-style movements. Onnit no longer sells the Primal Bells line – the Chimp is now a discontinued item, with no current manufacturer or retailer listing.

Buying guide

Best Kettlebell for Your Home Gym — July 2026

Design	sculpted chimpanzee face on one side; traditional kettlebell profile on the reverse
Handle	enlarged handle for grip strength
Status	discontinued -- Onnit's Primal Bells line (Howler, Chimp, Orangutan, Gorilla, Bigfoot) is no longer sold new
Weight	36 lb (1 pood)
Material	gravity-cast, chip-resistant iron

What is a Kettlebell?

What kettlebells are

A kettlebell is a cast-iron (or steel) ball with a handle, built for swings, cleans, snatches, presses, and carries — ballistic, full-body work a dumbbell doesn’t do as well. One or two bells cover a lot of conditioning and strength.

What actually matters

Cast iron vs. competition. One-piece cast iron is the durable, affordable default. Competition (“comp”) bells are steel and share the SAME dimensions across every weight, so your technique doesn’t change as you go heavier — worth it for dedicated technique/girevoy work.
Handle width & finish. Handle diameter and width decide grip comfort for two-hand swings vs. cleans; a smooth handle takes chalk well and won’t tear hands the way an overly rough powder coat can.
Coating. Powder coat grips well but varies in roughness; e-coat is smooth and rust-resistant; bare handles need chalk.
Single vs. adjustable. An adjustable kettlebell saves space and money if you want a range, but adds bulk and can feel less balanced than a fixed bell.
What to buy first. Common starting points are ~16 kg (35 lb) for many men and ~8-12 kg for many women — then add a heavier and a lighter bell as you progress.

Who it’s for

Anyone who wants conditioning, posterior-chain power, and loaded carries without a rack. Start with one well-sized cast-iron bell; add weights or a competition set as your training demands.

How it compares

	Onnit Chimpanzee Kettlebell	BowFlex SelectTech 840 Adjustable Kettlebell	Adjustable Kettlebells	Onnit Star Wars Kettlebells
GymRadar rating	3.78/5	3.75/5	3.67/5	3.58/5
Price		$149.00	$149.99
Design	sculpted chimpanzee face on one side; traditional kettlebell profile on the reverse			custom-sculpted Star Wars character heads (Boba Fett, Imperial Stormtrooper, Darth Vader)
Handle	enlarged handle for grip strength		smooth
Status	discontinued -- Onnit's Primal Bells line (Howler, Chimp, Orangutan, Gorilla, Bigfoot) is no longer sold new
Weight	36 lb (1 pood)
Material	gravity-cast, chip-resistant iron		cast iron (adjustable)	cast iron (chip-resistant coating)

3.8/5 · 3 GymRadar reviews

Reviews by source

Expert	3.78/5	3 reviews
Youtube	4.5/5	3 reviews
Reddit	3.0/5	2 reviews

Owners consistently praise the Chimp’s build — a thick, secure handle and chip-resistant cast-iron coating that multiple reviewers report holding up for years — but its sculpted primate-face design is a genuine functional trade-off, not just a cosmetic quirk. Build quality is the standout dimension: GymRadar owners rate it a perfect 5.00/5, and independent aggregator ShopSavvy scores construction and finish 9/10. Functionality is the weakest: GymRadar’s own Performance subscore is a middling 2.67/5, and several r/kettlebell threads independently converge on the same complaint — the chimp face has to be oriented away from your forearm during cleans, presses, and snatches or it digs in uncomfortably, which limits it mostly to swings and carries. Worth knowing before you shop: Onnit has discontinued the Primal Bells line, so this exact bell is no longer sold new and now trades on the secondary/collector market well above its original $84.95 price.

+Build quality: near-universal praise for the thick cast handle and chip-resistant coating — GymRadar owners rate build quality a perfect 5.00/5, and ShopSavvy scores construction/finish 9/10
+Functionality: handles its core lifts — swings, carries, goblet squats — well, with a grip reviewers say stays secure even without chalk (YouTube: Onnit OPBC1 Primal Bell - Chimp Quick Review; r/kettlebell owner comments)
+Durability: multiple long-term owners report years of regular use with no coating chips, handle wear, or texture issues (YouTube: Onnit Labs Primal Chimp Bell Review; r/kettlebell)
+Design: the sculpted chimp face is a genuine motivator and conversation piece, not just marketing — called out positively by GymRadar's product description, ShopSavvy, and multiple Reddit owners ('badass,' 'cool')

−Functionality: the sculpted face must be oriented away from the forearm during cleans, presses, and snatches or it digs in uncomfortably — named independently across multiple r/kettlebell threads and consistent with GymRadar's weak 2.67/5 Performance subscore
−Versatility: several long-term owners describe it as really only good for swings, becoming awkward for presses and get-ups, which limits its use as a single all-purpose bell (r/kettlebell)
−Value: Onnit has discontinued the Primal Bells line — this exact SKU is no longer sold new, and secondary-market listings now run roughly $280-$325 versus the original $84.95 MSRP
−Value: even at the original MSRP, some owners consider it overpriced relative to a plain kettlebell of the same weight (r/kettlebell)