You've got an adjustable kettlebell, or you're about to buy one, and you've got questions. How far will 20.5 kg take you? Can you add weight later? Will extra plates throw off the balance?
Here are straight answers to the questions lifters ask most about the 12-20.5 kg Adjustable Competition Kettlebell and the 12-32 kg Expansion Pack.
What Comes in Each Version
Pick up the standard bell empty and you're holding a 12 kg steel shell. With it, you'll find 8.5 kg of iron plates waiting to go in:
- One 0.5 kg plate
- One 1 kg plate
- Two 2 kg plates
- One 3 kg plate
Stack every one of them inside and your bell weighs 20.5 kg.
Go for the 12-32 kg version and you get all of that, plus four bigger plates that add 13 kg:
- One 2 kg plate
- One 3 kg plate
- Two 4 kg plates
You can also buy those four plates on their own as the 12-32 KG Expansion Pack. So if you start with the standard bell, you can upgrade it later instead of buying a second one.
Is 20.5 kg Enough to Start With?
For most people, yes. Brand new to kettlebells? You'll have plenty to work with before you need more.
The real advantage is all the stops between 12 and 20.5 kg, including 0.5kg micro jumps. You don't have to pick one fixed weight and hope it suits every exercise or try to make 4kg jumps every time you're ready to level up. Start light, nail your form, and build up one small step at a time as each movement gets easier.
How Long Until You Outgrow It?
That comes down to how often you train.
Hit your kettlebell three or four times a week and you'll likely move up fairly quickly. Train once or twice a week and you'll stay inside the 20.5 kg range a good while longer.
You'll also notice you don't progress evenly. Your swings might race ahead while your presses take their time. That's normal.
Adding weight should usually be the last thing you change. You've got other ways to make a set harder first:
- Do more reps
- Add another set
- Slow down each rep
Run out of those options on a lift and you're ready to load the bell heavier.
Can You Buy the Expansion Pack Later?
Yes. The Expansion Pack ships separately, you don't need to decide on day one. Start with the 12-20.5 kg bell, train until it stops challenging you, then grab the extra plates.
Once you add them, you get every half-kilo step from 21 kg up to 32 kg. That's 23 new weight settings, all from the bell you already own.
Which Kettlebells Does It Fit?
The Expansion Pack fits the B.o.S. 12-20.5 kg Adjustable Kettlebell. It also fits the Mark Wildman Adjustable Kettlebell, the collab bell B.o.S. made with Mark Wildman of Wildman Athletica.
B.o.S. only guarantees the fit on those two bells. Own an adjustable from another brand? B.o.S. can't promise the plates will fit it.
Will the Bell Stay Balanced With Fewer Plates?
Yes. Two nuts hold the plates in place, and they keep the whole stack centered in the middle of the bell. That works the same way whether you've loaded one plate or all of them.
Why does that matter? Your bell swings the same at 13 kg as it does at 20.5 kg, so your cleans and presses don't change feel every time you change the load.
Plenty of dial-style adjustable systems can't promise that. Depending on the setting, they can end up heavier at the top or the bottom. This bell keeps the weight where it belongs at every load.
Does Half a Kilo Really Make a Difference?
On some lifts, a big one. It depends on how hard the movement is.
Take a Turkish get-up or a shoulder-to-overhead. You'll feel an extra 0.5 kg on those. On easier movements, you might barely notice it.
Small jumps help most when you're newer to lifting and building strength and muscle.
Fixed competition kettlebells usually go up 4 kg at a time. Between 21 and 32 kg, you typically only get 24, 28, and 32 kg. A jump that size is a lot to absorb, and it's a common reason lifters stall.
Half-kilo steps let you keep moving forward without hitting a wall.
Should You Get One Kettlebell or Two?
Start with one. A single bell covers a huge range of functional movements, so you won't run short on exercises.
Working with two bells takes more coordination. Get comfortable with one first, then think about adding a second for double-bell work. If you go that route, buying a pair of adjustable bells saves you 10%.
There's no rush, though. A second bell will still be an option once you're ready for it.
Who the Expansion Pack Is For
The Expansion Pack makes sense if you:
- Own a 12-20.5 kg B.o.S. or Mark Wildman adjustable kettlebell
- Want to train past 20.5 kg without buying another bell
- Like small, steady jumps instead of big 4 kg leaps
- Train at home and don't have room for a full rack of fixed kettlebells
Not sure which setup suits you? Browse the full kettlebell lineup, or reach out to the B.o.S. support team and they'll help you pick the right bell and plates.
