OT: Have you ever used a Kettle Gryp?

[Louis]

Has anyone out there ever used a Kettle Gryp thingy to convert a dumbbell to a "kettlebell?" What did you think?

I'd just buy some and try them out, but they aren't cheap (~$30 per, so ~$60 for a pair) and I'm not sure how they'll work out.

https://kettlegryp.com/

The Fitness Center I use at work (although they're temporarily closed for C-19) only has KB in 10, 20, 30 and 40 lbs, and IMO the jump from 20 to 30 is a bit tough for some movements. (Plus, my body really doesn't like big changes like that, and I'm concerned that I risk some soft-tissue damage.) The gym does have a huge assortment of DBs, and I've twice asked them to get 25 lb KBs with no response. I'll try again, but if they refuse my options are:

1) Get a Gryp (ha, ha)
2) Harden-up and go from a pretty high number of reps with the 20 lbs to a very low number with the 30 lbs
3) Buy some 25 lbs KBs (when they become available - right now just about everyone's out of stock or insanely expensive) and donate them to the gym.
4) Use 25 lb DBs instead of KBs (not ideal)

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2421/9467/files/2_home_345x_crop_top@2x.jpg?v=1508162576

[reuben]

Has anyone out there ever used a Kettle Gryp thingy to convert a dumbbell to a "kettlebell?" What did you think?

I'd just buy some and try them out, but they aren't cheap (~$30 per, so ~$60 for a pair) and I'm not sure how they'll work out.

https://kettlegryp.com/

The Fitness Center I use at work (although they're temporarily closed for C-19) only has KB in 10, 20, 30 and 40 lbs, and IMO the jump from 20 to 30 is a bit tough for some movements. (Plus, my body really doesn't like big changes like that, and I'm concerned that I risk some soft-tissue damage.) The gym does have a huge assortment of DBs, and I've twice asked them to get 25 lb KBs with no response. I'll try again, but if they refuse my options are:

1) Get a Gryp (ha, ha)
2) Harden-up and go from a pretty high number of reps with the 20 lbs to a very low number with the 30 lbs
3) Buy some 25 lbs KBs (when they become available - right now just about everyone's out of stock or insanely expensive) and donate them to the gym.
4) Use 25 lb DBs instead of KBs (not ideal)

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2421/9467/files/2_home_345x_crop_top@2x.jpg?v=1508162576
If you do something like the typical swing you may find that the extra width of the dumbbell hits your knees, or you may have similar problems with other movements. I've never tried them.

[teleguy57]

The Fitness Center I use at work (although they're temporarily closed for C-19) only has KB in 10, 20, 30 and 40 lbs, and IMO the jump from 20 to 30 is a bit tough for some movements. (Plus, my body really doesn't like big changes like that, and I'm concerned that I risk some soft-tissue damage.) The gym does have a huge assortment of DBs, and I've twice asked them to get 25 lb KBs with no response. I'll try again, but if they refuse my options are:

1) Get a Gryp (ha, ha)
2) Harden-up and go from a pretty high number of reps with the 20 lbs to a very low number with the 30 lbs
3) Buy some 25 lbs KBs (when they become available - right now just about everyone's out of stock or insanely expensive) and donate them to the gym.
4) Use 25 lb DBs instead of KBs (not ideal)

Pavel Tsatsouline and Dan John would say #2, and give the rationale for large increases. (https://www.strongfirst.com/a-leap-of-faith-between-kettlebell-sizes/) I have a bit of the "oh, crap, what am I doing?" When going from 16kg to 24kg (see, I avoided poods:)) on Turkish Get Ups. After a few days I'm -- ok, this is good and I haven't died from stupidity.

Another DIY option is the t-handle (https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/tim-ferriss-superhuman-kettlebell.htm), although sourcing plates can be an issues these days. I have one I still use, although now that I have a couple 'real' KBs I prefer them to the t-handle.

Oh, and I would wonder about the width of heavier DBs with the grip device.

Finally, I'm pretty sure the gym and I are done for good. I'll spend a bit more on finishing out my home gym, plus the heavier lower body stuff I love (trap bar deads in particular) are probably history after my upcoming knee replacement...

[daker13]

Pavel Tsatsouline and Dan John would say #2, and give the rationale for large increases. (https://www.strongfirst.com/a-leap-of-faith-between-kettlebell-sizes/) I have a bit of the "oh, crap, what am I doing?" When going from 16kg to 24kg (see, I avoided poods:)) on Turkish Get Ups. After a few days I'm -- ok, this is good and I haven't died from stupidity.

I agree, as long as we're talking about slower movements like the get up. If Louis is doing elaborate coordinated movements, a heavier kb could definitely cause an injury. But yeah, it does feel good to do a get up with a heavier weight!

[Louis]

OK, with the excuse up-front that I'm a wimpy cyclist (thankfully not as bad as Michael Rasmussen) I'm talking about a standing bicep curl & press using KB's (both L and R at the same time) which is a pretty simple movement.

Right now I'm at 3 x 14 with 20 lbs. If I pushed I know I could do at least 3 x 16, because I'm not spent at the end of the last set, but as I said, I typically increase fairly gradually and don't try to go too hard. There's no rush. I'll probably go another week or two at 3 x 14 then I'll move up to 3 x 16 (or 15, if 16 is too much).

I can do a few at 30 lbs (never tried to see exactly how many, just did a few fooling around to see how it felt) but boy that extra 10 pounds feels like a lot, and my shoulders feel the difference. Therefore, I'm thinking that going to 25 lbs would be smarter. It's better IMO to do these with KBs, but it isn't that hard to do them with DBs, so one solution is to just use the 25 lb DBs for a while (no Gryps) until I feel comfortable jumping up to 30 lbs with KBs.

[crownjewelwl]

Part of what makes a kettlebell useful is the concentrated weight distribution...those grips seem to defeat the point

[Louis]

Part of what makes a kettlebell useful is the concentrated weight distribution...those grips seem to defeat the point

True, the yaw and roll mass moments of inertia (in my coordinate system) are larger than a similar weight (mass) KB, but it does provide (kind of) what I think is the key feature of a KB, which is to allow the weight to pivot as you hold it and go through the various movements.

I agree it isn't great, and mostly a temporary solution (for example if you're on travel and only have access to hotel gym dumbbells).

Conclusion: I've thought about it some more and decided that I can live without it.