Today we are going to be reviewing and comparing two of the most popular adjustable kettlebells: the Bowflex SelectTech 840 and the JAXJOX Kettlebell Connect 2.0. Let’s find out which of these two adjustable kettlebells are best for your home gym!
Table of contents
Bowflex vs JAXJOX video Comparison
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Price difference
Now there are two primary reasons why you may want to choose an adjustable kettlebell over a set of traditional kettlebells. The first reason is that they are much more cost effective.
The price difference between these the Bowflex and JAXJOX kettlebells is pretty significant, with the Boxflex generally being about half of the cost:
- Bowflex: $119
- JAXJOX: $249
However, both options will save you a lot of money when compared to purchasing a set of kettlebells from a quality brand like Rogue Fitness. A comparable set of Rogue kettlebells costs $305 (not including shipping, which brings the cost up to $481).
Size and weight difference
The second reason you may prefer to go with an adjustable kettlebell for your home is that they simply take up much less space. Most of us have a fairly limited workout area, so being space efficient can be pretty important.
The JAXJOX kettlebell is definitely a bit bigger and has a bigger base which it sits into.
- Bowflex 840: 8.8″ L x 7″ W
- JAXJOX: 14.8″ W x 17″ W
While there is a slight difference in size, the difference in weights that can be adjusted to is pretty comparable:
- Bowflex 840: 8lbs, 12lbs, 20lbs, 25lbs, 35lbs, 40lbs
- JAXJOX: 12lbs, 18lbs, 24lbs, 30lbs, 36lbs, 42lbs
I tested these weights on a scale as well to assess their accuracy. While the weights for the Bowflex were pretty much dead on, the JAXJOX was usually between a half to a full pound lighter than what it says. For example, the heavier 42lb is actually 41.1.
Physical vs digital weight adjustment
Both kettlebells use a plate locking system that enables them to switch between six different weights. The Bowflex 840 uses a physical dial, and the JAXJOX Kettlebell Connect 2.0 uses a digital system.
Unfortunately for JAXJOX, this is an example of how sometimes more tech can actually make a product worse.
With the Bowflex kettlebell, you are able to put the kettlebell down and adjust the weight in about a second.
With JAXJOX, you have to wait about five seconds when you put the kettlebell down for the base to turn on. Then, after pressing a button to change the weight, you will have to wait another few seconds for it to finally adjust.
While having to wait 6-10 seconds may not seem like an overly long time, it can hinder certain workouts. Because of this, I often found myself wanting to use the Boxflex kettlebell instead.
Handle and bell shape
One thing that I do like better about the JAXJOX kettlebell is the handle and bell shape. The hand on the JAXJOX is a fair bit wider and slightly easier to grip, especially for men who have larger hands.
The bell on the JAXJOX is also bigger, which means there is a larger surface area when it sits on your forearms. This makes holding the kettlebell a lot more comfortable for movements like presses, cleans, or snatches.
JAXJOX app
The big selling point of the JAXJOX kettlebell is that it is supposed to be able to track your weights, sets, and reps within the app.
While that sounds great, it does not seem to actually work. Even just trying to connect the kettlebell to the JAXJOX app is super finicky. Most of the time I had to unpair, or uninstall and reinstall the app for it to finally work.
Once paired, the rep tracking has still yet to work. I’ve reached out to their support several times during their available hours, but no one has answered or got back to any messages. So unless things change, I can only assume that it doe not work. Or if it does, it is very limited in what it can do.
There is one good thing about JAXJOXs app: the classes.
The app is actually the best that I have seen so far in terms of the quality and quantity of kettlebell classes available. There are tons of classes with a variety of time frames to choose from. While the app costs $12.99 per month, I think it could be worth it for someone who really likes kettlebell workouts as long as they continue to provide new classes on a regular basis.
Final thoughts
I just do not think the JAXJOX Kettlebell Connect 2.0 is worth it with it given the much more expensive price. If you want to take the JAXJOX kettlebell classes (which I do suggest), consider buying the Boxflex 840 kettlebell and taking the classes with that.
Even if JAXJOX lowered the cost to match the Bowflex kettlebell, I would probably still suggest Bowflex since the physical dial is a lot quicker and more convenient to use.
Buy Bowflex 840 Kettlebell
Buy JAXJOX Kettlebell Connect 2.0
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