GORUCK Sand Kettlebell

Kettlebell training has definitely experienced some piqued interest (especially during lockdowns), but most would still consider it to be a rather niche style of training.

If you’re willing to accept that premise, then you’ll probably agree that sandbag kettlebell training is really niche. Taking a quick look on Amazon (maybe Temu would be better…) and your options are pretty well limited for these “train with sand” implements.

Despite most of these options being…not…great, for those who have been dying to throw sand around in something smaller than a “Strongman”-style or cylinder sandbag and that is actually of good quality, GORUCK has come to the rescue.

Enter the GORUCK Sand Kettlebell

If you’ve entrenched yourself to any degree in the GORUCK ecosystem, you’re probably already aware of the different “sand” gear the company offers. Sand kettlebells are probably further down on the list than other items, but they do provide a degree of intrigue, especially for those already a fan of “standard” kettlebells.

Before you get too excited, I have some news for you: training with sand kettlebells ain’t the same as using other kettlebells. If you’re expecting to knock out high-rep sets of kettlebell snatches down at PCB before hitting up La Vela (RIP)…well…the experience is probably going to play out a bit different in reality (especially the La Vela part; that place actually sucked).

On the other hand, if you’re looking for the official ‘bells to practice with as you train for an official GORUCK event (or if you’d rather use company gear for your Tribe ‘n Training workouts) or if you just want a sand kettlebell that’s actually good, you’ve come to the right review…

Functionality

I know that this lower-than-ideal score is probably a little alarming. However, some of the components we include here should help to provide some better context. Let’s briefly discuss these items before getting into the meat of this section:

• For just about every other section, we make “apples to apples” comparisons. In this case, that means “sand kettlebells vs. sand kettlebells”. However, with a relatively small number of comparable products, (and because we want to lay out some important item characteristics) we’re comparing these to all kettlebells.
• We include the process of adding and removing sand from the kettlebells in this section (which, as we’ll discuss, isn’t as easy as you might think).

These items aside, let’s get to it!

The GORUCK Sand Kettlebell is marketed as being an alternative to traditional kettlebells that provides more transportability, safety, and overall functionality than others. In many ways this is true, although those who are interested in doing more than, maybe, Russian swings and Turkish getups might be a little underwhelmed.

The size of these kettlebells is comparable to what you’re likely used to if you’ve ever swung around a steel kettlebell. This is important as the swinging form is only minimally impacted. Additionally, the way that sand is packed into each kettlebell creates an overall weight distribution that is comparable to other kettlebells.

In some ways, I would argue that the handles are actually easier to hang on to, especially during bigger sets of swings, than fatter, thicker, steel kettlebell handles. The thin, material handles also invite less chance of blistering (I probably got the worst blisters of my life from an overly narrow and thick kettlebell handle!)

However, I have found that most of the other Sand Kettlebell characteristics are a bit of a downgrade from steel kettlebells.

One of the biggest issues I have with these is that they pretty much always take on the whole “kettlebell falling against the wrists” movement that is arguably the biggest safety fault, especially with kettlebell snatches.

These may not look too bad here, but if you compare them to how steel kettlebell snatches look, there is much less “snap” and ability to rapidly/fully extend the arm

Because of the overly narrow handle and general structure of the GORUCK Sand Kettlebell, I can’t rapidly “snap” my wrist on these. What ends up happening is the kettlebell is momentarily suspended upside down over my wrist before crashing down onto it.

To be fair, this doesn’t hurt nearly as much as it does with steel kettlebell, but it’s not a movement you want to get used to. The same thing happens during American kettlebell swings (and for pretty much every movement that doesn’t start with the kettlebell overhead, but ends with it overhead) although in this case, it just flops back over the backs of my wrists.

Regarding the process of filling the sand kettlebells themselves, in order to get the exact weight in there, it takes a lot of effort and moving and manipulating the sand. The good news is that once you’ve completed this part, the weight is pretty solidly in place (which we’ll discuss more of in a later section).

However, for those who want to constantly add or take a few pounds out to create different levels of resistance, you’ll probably find that the effort really isn’t worth the extra effort.

Regarding portability, if you do want to travel with these, they are “easy” enough to empty and refill with sand in your new location (assuming, ya know, you have access to sand in that place). That being said, I don’t know if the extra effort of emptying and refilling twice (once on vacation, once when you get home) is worth it, especially for a relatively common exercise item (it’s not hard to find kettlebells, even in hotels).

Finally, the “safety” qualities are kind of a mixed bag. While I do think you’re less likely to injure yourself with a smaller (~50 pounds) sand implement than a comparably-sized barbell, bag, etc., these create more potential for injury due to how they distort overhead movements (especially American swings and snatches).

If you’re most likely to use your GORUCK kettlebells at home (or in a place where you won’t ever have to empty them) and will mostly be doing Russian swings, getups or less technical movements (ex. upright rows, pull-throughs, deadlifts), you should be okay…but…you (almost) may as well just get some normal kettlebells…

Functionality: 80

Durability

One of the most fun things about training with sand kettlebells is getting to take them outside and let things rip. Unlike steel kettlebells where (if you have half a brain) you’ll gently set your ‘bell down when you finish a set, being mindful not to be too rough with it (nobody wants to damage the kettlebell…or the floor), with a “good” sand kettlebell, you have a bit more discretion.

…and the GORUCK kettlebells are “good”, particularly in this context.

Right off the bat, if you’ve filled your sand kettlebell up to the brim, you’ve created a tough, compact little cannonball. Dropping (hell, even throwing) these onto the ground does little more than get them a bit muddy. These things barely register abrasions, yet alone tears/rips.

On the flip side, when I have dropped these on my gym floor, the sand composition barely registers a blip. Additionally, when they hit the ground, they pretty much hit and “die”…no worrying about a bounce back or them rolling aggressively into something (or someone…)

Now, in my personal experience, they can aggressively roll and cause pretty significant damage…but only if you (accidently!) roll them down a hill.

On the bright side, the kettlebell came out completely unscathed…definitely an example of a “shoulda seen the other guy…” situation.

Looking more closely at the sand kettlebells themselves, the combination of the double-stitching, 1000D Cordura, and double-velcro enclosure (plus the zippered exterior securing area) makes for a truly durable piece of equipment.

Speaking more to the enclosure mechanisms, I have yet to experience any sand leaks (like, any); the ‘bells are just that secure.

(You know all of that struggling you had (or will have) with getting all of that sand in there and actually getting the kettlebell zippered shut? This is where it pays off!)

Looking at other options on the market (albeit, the very few alternatives that exist) nothing really comes anywhere close to the durability of the GORUCK Sand Kettlebells. Even if I haven’t tried all of these, I can guarantee you that single-stitched, clipped(!) enclosure, neoprene sand kettlebells aren’t built for the long haul.

Durability: 100

Load Capacity

GORUCK kettlebells come in a decent range of sizes, as small as 13 pounds (the uncommon 6-kilogram kettlebells) to 53 pounds (the much more common 24-kilogram kettlebell). There aren’t too many sand kettlebells on the market that can accommodate this much sand (assuming you opt for one of the bigger sand kettlebells).

Additionally, the larger capacity sand kettlebells (one of which is in our “alternatives” section below) is an “adjustable” weight sand kettlebell…which have their own advantages…and disadvantages. You’ll be hard pressed to find another non-adjustable sand kettlebell with a load capacity larger than 53 pounds.

Load Capacity: 90

Materials & Construction

As we briefly alluded to in a previous section, the GORUCK Sand Kettlebells are almost completely comprised of 1000D Cordura (if you’re at all familiar with the brand, this should not come as much of a surprise!) Amongst some of the ‘bells other resilient qualities, this tough ballistic nylon variant is the main contributor to their unmatched durability.

If you want to get technical, the handles are actually neoprene (which is pretty easy to notice; these don’t feel nearly as robust as the rest of the bells) which is a bit more pliable.

Overall, these aren’t overly special materials, but they are hard to come by in sand kettlebells. Definitely approved and appreciated!

Materials & Construction: 95

Price

In the “Materials” section above, we mentioned how the 1000D Cordura really sets the GORUCK kettlebells apart from its competitors. Unlike many competing rucks that are comprised of good, but not as good of materials, the materials of the competing sand kettlebells are generally pretty…not great.

The downside to this? You’re gonna pay for those quality materials.

You’re not going to pay as much (likely not even close to as much) for the GORUCK Sand Kettlebells as you would for regular, steel kettlebells…but you’ll pay more (pound for pound) than you will for just about any other sand kettlebell.

As much as it stings to have to pay more, in this case, you definitely are paying for a higher-quality product as opposed to simply paying more for the “name”.

(Also, to be fair, you’re also paying for what is essentially your only option for sand kettlebells engineered and designed to hold a specific amount of weight, as opposed to just some random amount (i.e. “adjustable”)).

Price: 65

Customer Reviews

For being more of a niche product, the GORUCK Sand Kettlebells have actually amassed a rather large number of reviews. This is probably because the company makes a point to feature them a lot, especially in any of their “train with sand” promotions.

It’s also a pretty well-known fact that if you participate in a GORUCK event, these are going to be used, likely pretty extensively. As such, those who eventually want to take on a Light, Basic, Tough, or Heavy get their hands on these in preparation.

…and, as with just about all of GORUCK’s products, the collective review score is really high; a solid 96 out of 100 (or 4.8 out of 5…I can do fractions!)

What’s more impressive is that there are only 8 total reviews (out of the current 255) that are 3 stars or fewer. Looking closer at these, some don’t even talk about the products themselves…although a couple appear to echo a few of the comments I made in the “Functionality” section…

(I don’t know how that guy only got ~2/3 of the weight in the kettlebell, though; with a little work, I’ve been able to fill mine up to the correct loads).

One thing to keep in mind is that it’s pretty difficult to find reviews for the sand kettlebells in any place other than the GORUCK main page. There are a couple on Rogue (2 5-star reviews), but nothing on Amazon or places like that. As such, you’re just gonna have to go with what GORUCK.com’s customers (and me!) have to say.

Customer Reviews: 96

Customer Service

Sometimes I like to think that my words/questions make an impact. GORUCK didn’t always have 53-pound/24-kilogram sand kettlebells.

A few months back, GORUCK profiled “The Mogadishu Mile” Hero WOD. It looks a little something like this:

If you look closely, the guy in the video is using what appears to be a 35-pound/16-kilogram GORUCK kettlebell for the workout.

Looking at the Rx weight for the workout, I inquired about the availability of 53-pound (aka 1.5 “pood”) GORUCK Sand Kettlebells. I was assured that these existed, even if they couldn’t be found on the website at the time.

…could it have been my inquiry that prompted GORUCK to stock the big(ger) fellas…?

Even if you take this somewhat niche encounter away, I have generally had good experiences with having items shipped (mainly internationally) from GORUCK, discussing returns, refunds, and order changes with customer service reps, and even getting some “in-person” organization information (all standard, above board stuff) from cadres during events.

There have been a few slight hiccups with slightly overly complicated order adjustment procedures, but overall, I appreciate the company (I’m pretty sure I’ve yet to deal with an AI agent…pretty sure!) and have always had issues amicably and more than fairly resolved.

Customer Service: 95

Who are GORUCK Sand Kettlebells really for?

Interestingly enough, if we take out the “Functionality” portion of this review (which is undoubtedly the most important area…), the sand kettlebells score pretty high. Let’s see which people can best mitigate some of those downsides, ultimately being the target audience.

Those who train outdoors

Doesn’t matter if you have high-quality stainless-steel kettlebells; if you bring them outside, they’re not going to stay nice for very long…especially if you’re dropping them (or worse).

If you’re going to be doing the majority of your training outside, you’re better off with material (preferably ballistic nylon like these bad boys) kettlebells over iron, steel, etc.

Those who aren’t looking to constantly add or empty sand

Getting the sand into the GORUCK kettlebells is annoying, but if you have to do it once ever, it really ain’t so bad. I know that “portability” and being able to add and remove sand when on the go is a major selling point with these, but I think it’s much better if that process can be avoided.

If you’re cool with getting this filled to where they need to be and…I don’t know…driving these where they need to go, you’ll be much less likely to pull your hair out when you (inevitably) experience the frustration of filling them up again.

Not for serious kettlebell enthusiasts

If you’ve used kettlebells for anything more than Russian swings, deadlifts, and suitcase carries, you’ve likely quickly realized that there are a number of movements where the ‘bell snaps back (or has the potential to) against the body, normally the upper lower arms and wrists.

Nothing is more terrifying than walking into a CrossFit on “let’s learn to kettlebell snatch!” day and waiting for a wrist to break.

While you don’t have as much serious injury potential with the GORUCK kettlebells (or most sand kettlebells, in general) as you do with steel kettlebells, the “spongy”, pliable handles make it almost impossible to perform quick, snappy, extensions at the top of American swings, snatches and other movements. As such, you’re either left heavily compromising on appropriate form (not recommended) or avoiding the movements altogether.

If you’re mainly looking to do less complicated lifts, you should be okay, but if you’re hoping to do some RKC assessment prep with your sand kettlebell, don’t expect it to go anything like this:

How we reviewed the GORUCK Kettlebells

To be completely honest, I don’t use my GORUCK sand kettlebells as much as I anticipated I would. Not being able to snatch with the ‘bells (at least not in the manner I’m accustomed to) and only having 35-pound bells (which are generally not programmed for men during workouts) hasn’t presented as many opportunities for using these as I would have liked.

However, during the summer when I just want to throw down outside, I have enjoyed working these into less structured workouts…even if they’ve gotten away from me and rolled down that hill a time or two…

GORUCK Sand Kettlebell Alternatives

I’m gonna put these here, but if you really want sand kettlebells, just go with the GORUCK Sand Kettlebells. Just trust me, here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a plan to “train with sand”? We’ll try to answer any questions you might have!

GORUCK Kettlebells…by ruckers, for ruckers…

In developing my review of the GORUCK Sand Kettlebells, I’ll admit that I mainly approached it from the perspective of someone who is experienced with CrossFit and kettlebells, separately and as they are jointly used together in workouts. As such, not being able to seamlessly perform things like American swings and snatches bothers me more than it probably does most people…

…especially if your training/kettlebell training looks more like this:

If this is you (and you can be bothered to fill/unfill your ‘bell when you want to fly with it), you can probably go back and skip over, like, half of the “Functionality” section and base your decision on all of the sections after it. A lot of the gripes I discussed don’t really apply to you.

If, however, you’re expecting these sand kettlebells (or any sand kettlebells, really) to be more pliable versions of the little cannonballs we all love to hate…well…don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Ultimately, a sandbag is never going to replace a barbell and a sand kettlebell isn’t going to replace a steel kettlebell. If you’re cool with that, you have my blessing!