The Portable Kettlebell (PKB) blends two time-tested modalities in strength and conditioning: kettlebell and sandbag training. It is what happens when you blend the versatility and effectiveness of the iron kettbell with the efficiency AND versatility of sandbag training. It's like versatility, effectiveness and efficiency SQUARED!
The Portable Kettlebell has been used and reviewed by some of the baddest athletes, military trainers, everyday fitness aficionados and people interested in taking their fitness wherever they go.
I found sandbag training very useful, but still preferred the size and versatility of my iron kettlebell. The only problem was: I was traveling for days at a time for work and could not pack the "bell" with me.
Out of necessity, I merged the two weight training concepts into one and developed the Portable Kettlebell, or what I referred to at the time as the kettlebell sandbag.
It could be filled-up to 40 pounds for weight training, then easily emptied and packed for travel. And when traveling by car, I could leave it on the floorboard and not worry about it sliding around and becoming a projectile during traffic stops!
With the Portable Kettlebell, I learned and eventually could practice cleans, presses, squats, snatches, windmills and deadlifts ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.
It allowed me to do more than just body-weight exercises, and easily add or subtract weight. Of course it helps if you have sand or other similar fillers readily available, like pea gravel, dirt, rocks, etc. But if at home or at a hotel room, you can use the TANK Water Bladder and train with water!
The PKB was also softer on my forearm and floors, and most importantly I was able to train using an unstable load.
In other words, not only does the sand inside the PKB shift slightly but so does the bag itself due to the webbing-handle construction. Unstable load training makes certain muscles (stabilizers) work harder and more efficiently to stabilize the weight – giving you more bang for your buck with less weight when compared to iron.