Standard kettlebell swings are a great lower body move with a side of cardio. Adding another hunk of metal turns it up a notch. “Kettlebell skier swings increase power output,” says C.J. McFarland, head strength and conditioning coach at Onnit Sports in Austin. “The weights move faster to achieve movement, which helps develop tremendous hip, glute, and hamstring strength.”
The move also homes in on the upper body. Since each arm maintains a weight—rather than controlling the same one—muscles in the shoulders, chest, and upper back contend with momentum on both sides, forcing them to make small adjustments to stay in sync. It also works grip strength since fingers aren’t sharing a handle. The move keeps you honest about imbalances, as the stronger arm can’t mask weakness on the nondominant side.