8kg (18 lb) kettlebells are stepping stones, for sure, but instead of looking like little paper weights, these are the real deal. I can tell you that this is important to a guy. We pay serious attention to how our toys look. We gladly accept mini versions of sports equipment as we go through the turnstyle at a ballgame, but these are for making noise or whacking an opposing fan, not for serious use.
When it comes to sports toys, we want them to look and feel like the real thing, even if we can't make them do what they were intended for. Given a choice, a 40 something guy trying to rehab a bum shoulder will pick up a kettlebell first by how it looks, and second by selecting a reasonable weight. And it is not just 40 somethings who feel this way. We start young and follow this creed until we croak. For the 50% of human population who say that is evidence that our brains need rehab as much as shoulders, I have but one word: shoes.
So thank you AKC, on behalf of all guys, young, old and in between, who might someday think about picking up a kettlebell for the first time.
Oh, by the way, pink is not on the list of "real" colors. Please consider my paint scheme alteration as a possible option in the future.
