Power Systems Competition Kettlebell

Name: Power Systems Competition Kettlebell
Brand: Power Systems
Rating: 4.11 (3 reviews)

The Power Systems Competition Kettlebell is a classic solid-steel competition-style bell: every weight from 8 kg to 48 kg shares the exact same physical size and shape, so technique stays consistent as lifters move up in weight rather than fighting a bigger, bulkier casting at each step. The handle is bare, sanded steel rather than painted or coated, chosen for chalk grip and smooth rotation during swings, snatches, and cleans; each weight is color-coded via a painted band on the handle and has its weight etched into the bell body. Power Systems has since discontinued this exact line in favor of the ProElite Competition Kettlebell (matte black powder coat, contoured grip areas), so it’s no longer available direct from the manufacturer – what stock remains is at third-party retailers like Alpha Dog Sports, often at clearance pricing. GymRadar’s small sample of owners (3 reviews, 4.11/5 average) likes the balance and value but flags real unit-to-unit inconsistency, including one buyer who received a different, powder-coated casting than pictured and another reporting a rattling internal weight – expect some casting/QC variance on remaining inventory.

Buying guide

Best Kettlebell for Your Home Gym — July 2026

Handle	bare, sanded steel (unpainted) -- regulation size, 33 mm diameter per the design shared with the ProElite successor
Status	discontinued at the manufacturer; superseded by the Power Systems ProElite Competition Kettlebell
Material	solid steel
Color coding	painted handle band per weight (e.g. 8 kg pink, 16 kg yellow, 24 kg green, 32 kg red, 48 kg gold); weight also etched into the bell
Weight range	8 kg to 48 kg, sold individually
Bell dimensions	same physical size and shape across all weights (5.5" W x 11.1" H per the shared ProElite spec sheet), so form stays consistent as weight increases

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

	Power Systems Competition Kettlebell	Skull Kettlebell	Onnit Iron Man Kettlebell	Quick-Lock Adjustable Kettlebell Handle 22.5
GymRadar rating	4.11/5	4.11/5	4.11/5	4.0/5
Price	$39.01	$84.37		$89.00
Handle	bare, sanded steel (unpainted) -- regulation size, 33 mm diameter per the design shared with the ProElite successor	wide, smooth handle sized for one- and two-handed grip
Status	discontinued at the manufacturer; superseded by the Power Systems ProElite Competition Kettlebell
Material	solid steel	single-piece cast iron	cast iron	powder-coated cast iron
Color coding	painted handle band per weight (e.g. 8 kg pink, 16 kg yellow, 24 kg green, 32 kg red, 48 kg gold); weight also etched into the bell
Weight range	8 kg to 48 kg, sold individually
Bell dimensions	same physical size and shape across all weights (5.5" W x 11.1" H per the shared ProElite spec sheet), so form stays consistent as weight increases

4.1/5 · 3 GymRadar reviews

Reviews by source

Expert

4.11/5

3 reviews

Power Systems’ original Competition Kettlebell earns decent marks from the handful of owners who’ve reviewed it, but the line is a case study in why a self-hosted rating alone isn’t proof of quality: Power Systems has since discontinued it in favor of the ProElite Competition Kettlebell, and the uniform-size, bare-steel-handle design promised on the old spec sheet doesn’t always show up in the box — one owner received a completely different powder-coated, contoured casting than pictured, and another reports a loose internal weight that rattles every rep. Functionality is the standout dimension: same bell size across the whole weight range and a sanded, chalk-friendly handle genuinely help keep technique consistent as you go up in weight. Build quality is the weakest: unit-to-unit casting inconsistency and at least one rattling defect are real complaints, not one-off gripes.

+Functionality: same bell size and shape across the entire weight range keeps swing/press/snatch technique consistent as you progress to heavier bells (manufacturer)
+Functionality: bare, sanded steel handle takes chalk well and stays balanced in the hand, per a multi-year owner (GymRadar — REX Peckinpaugh, 5.00/5)
+Value: clearance pricing from remaining retailers (from $39.01 at Alpha Dog Sports, down from $54.95) undercuts most competition-style bells still in production
+Durability: at least one owner reports several years of trouble-free use with no balance or handle issues (GymRadar — REX Peckinpaugh)

−Build quality: unit-to-unit casting inconsistency — one buyer's 36kg pair arrived as a VF/divot-style bell with a powder-coated handle instead of the standard bare-steel casting pictured (GymRadar — Grayson McNees, 4.33/5)
−Build quality: at least one unit has a loose internal weight that produces an audible 'ting' every rep (GymRadar — Keith Honeycutt, 3.00/5)
−Versatility: discontinued at the manufacturer and folded into the ProElite Competition Kettlebell, so future availability and consistent stock depend entirely on remaining retailer inventory (Power Systems, via Wayback Machine)
−Durability: independent long-term data is thin — all signal is 3 short owner reviews on GymRadar, no editorial teardown or stress test

$39.01

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