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Kettlebell S&S - Next KB to buy after 32kg?

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Nacho

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I`m soon to progress to 32kg from 26kg, so it will take a while until I need a next one. However, it looks like 32+kg bells have quite long delivery time estimates in Finland (talking about months), so I`m thinking of ordering the next one now.

I`m not sure yet if my goal is to meet the Sinister standards, but I feel like working at least for some buffer after reaching Simple.

Is it common strategy to go straight for the 40kg, or have a 36kg in the middle? If the goal is to just have a little buffer to Simple, would 36kg or 38kg make any sense?
 
After owning the 32 kg bell I found TGU's and swings, not particularly easy but doable with the 40 kg bell. The relative change of weight from 26 kg to 32 kg is, by the way, about the same as it is from 32 kg to 40 kg. So, I would (and did) go straight from 32 kg to 40 kg - and I don't feel that I would have that much use for a single 36 kg bell. In fact, I think my next purchase will most likely be a second 32 kg bell.
 
I have no direct experience with this, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I think "it depends", somewhat on your base level of strength. For instance, one may not have accomplished S&S yet because they don't own the movements and mastered the concepts of tension and shored up the chinks in their armor.

For me, I've got the technique down solid and the chinks in my armor are lessening, but it's the actual strength that has me still on the path to Simple. I was largely sedentary before picking up kettlebells. I started with 16kg for swings and 8kg for TGUs (no joke!). It's possibly a mental battle as well. I would probably end up doing a 36kg. but that's particular to my situation.

I think it also depends on your goals. Are you going to do anything like Plan Strong pressing programs after Simple? You might be hard "pressed" :) to make the jump from 32kg to 36kg.

Probably the 40kg is the way to go, but I thought I'd express a different opinion. Personally, I don't think you can go wrong either way!
 
I got both after avhieving simple. My experience is that my 1 hand swings were not as crisp with the 40 and my grip didn’t hold. It took 2-3 swings to feel good and I was bailing at 5-6 because I found myself unable to keep from rotating.

I found that I could do a TGU with the 40, but it was nearly a max effort that I wasn’t up for most nights. The 36 felt more controlled and was still quite a challenge.

Personally, I benefit from working with the 36.
 
Depends, I've never seen a 26K. I have a 28K that I bought more for snatching than for S&S. After an injury I was glad to have it when working my way back.

To me it all depends on whether you think you are getting close to your max or not. If not then go for the 40K. But if you're not sure if you'll progress past the 40K then I'd go with a 36K.

Those 8K jumps are fine at lower weights but as you start getting heavier it's a big step. Particularly in the get up.
 
I personally dont see the point in owning a kettlebell I can only use for swings and TGU. For those two exercises, its easy to attach weights to a 32.
My heavier bell is a 32, and I´m not planning on buying heavier than that until I can snatch it or press it for reps. For snatches and cleans, attaching weights is not easy, because the bell flips during the exercise. But for TGU and swings the bell doesnt flip, so you can tie or strap barbell plates or ankle weights to it and it works perfectly.
 
I vote 40kg. After hitting Simple I stacked a 20lb kb on the 32kg KB and it was doable -- both swings and TGUs. I am hoping for a 40kg for Christmas.
 
Thanks for your opinions everyone. Seems like 40kg is the way to go if I want to continue the program, no matter what is the final goal.
 
After a month of considering, I ordered the 40kg. Looks like I will spend quite awhile with S&S and Im so excited! :) Love the program more and more every day!
 
Depends, I've never seen a 26K. I have a 28K that I bought more for snatching than for S&S. After an injury I was glad to have it when working my way back.

To me it all depends on whether you think you are getting close to your max or not. If not then go for the 40K. But if you're not sure if you'll progress past the 40K then I'd go with a 36K.

Those 8K jumps are fine at lower weights but as you start getting heavier it's a big step. Particularly in the get up.
Wouldn’t it be more of a step at lower weights? Going from a 16 to 24 adds 50% weight. Adding 8kg to 32 adds 33% of the weight. Jumping to 40 adds 25% of the weight. Am I missing something?
 
Wouldn’t it be more of a step at lower weights? Going from a 16 to 24 adds 50% weight. Adding 8kg to 32 adds 33% of the weight. Jumping to 40 adds 25% of the weight. Am I missing something?
Well, absolute weight matters, too. The jump from 4 kg to 12 kg would be a 300% increase and yet be easily doable. And once you get closer to your genetic potential each step becomes more difficult.
 
Wouldn’t it be more of a step at lower weights? Going from a 16 to 24 adds 50% weight. Adding 8kg to 32 adds 33% of the weight. Jumping to 40 adds 25% of the weight. Am I missing something?

Well, if lifting was "linear" like that then I guess we'd never quit making gains. Unfortunately that's not the way it works.
 
Well, absolute weight matters, too. The jump from 4 kg to 12 kg would be a 300% increase and yet be easily doable. And once you get closer to your genetic potential each step becomes more difficult.
Good point.
 
I've been doing S&S with the 32 for swings and the 40 for getups for 3 years now. This combination suits me just fine. I can do the swings with the 40 if I'm determined to, but the 32 does the trick of keeping me in perfectly decent condition. Actually, the 32 is good enough for getups, but I do prefer the 40 as it's of course just simply heavier and better for me, given that I am able to manipulate it safely. I weigh 220lbs, by the way.

I honestly 100% believe the book that getting to "Simple" is as far as anyone needs to go. There would actually be advantages for me to just stick with the 32 for getups and hold pauses at stages of the getup, have very compressed rest times in between reps, etc...

In sum, going heavier has its benefits, but compressing rest times, doing S&S more often, these also have their benefits. It's maybe like the old saying "6 of one, half a dozen of the other."
 
My vote goes to 40. Make sure you stay a bit longer at 32 to really, really own it. If you run into trouble incorporating 40, tag me on the forum and I will give you some tips.
 
I personally prefer smaller, progressive jumps in weight (I know I am the minority here). But truth be told, you can be successful either way as long as you plan it properly and execute properly.

The other big advantage to skipping the 36kg is that you save cash!!!!
 
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