Anyone train at home with just a dumbbell or kettle bell?

I'm finding it hard to get to the gym so am thinking of getting a weight to use at home.  
 
I don't have much space so want as little amount of equipment as possible so was thinking of one dumbbell or one kettle bell.
 
What will give me the most versatility allowing me to train the most muscle?
 
I was thinking of using it just for arms, shoulders and chest and then do legs and back in the gym.
 
Or is there anything else out there like resistance bands?
 
Thanks.

When am at sea i use kettlebells. There so many things you can do with them you dont even realise its defo worth having a look at. i have a whole body workout i use everyother day hits everything i started on a 15kg KB and worked up. Really good bit of kit if your struggling for space. Have a look on YouTube at Kettlebell workouts some are brutal lol

Have a look on www.mikemahler.com or in my journal for some kb training stuff :)

A kettlebell would be best.

 I'd go with a Kettlebell everytime.. Start with a 16kg and work up..

Olympic dumbells and two kettlebells are pretty much all I use now to train with. They're excellent for training at home and suit my needs perfectly.

Sounds good guys.
 
Think I will try and get a kettle bell.  Can you train chest without a bench with kettle bells?

Suspirio

Olympic dumbells and two kettlebells are pretty much all I use now to train with. They're excellent for training at home and suit my needs perfectly.

Likewise. Though I use only 1 kettlebell and also a bar too for highrep, low-weight squats.

@ faux real - yeah you can bud, would be similar to a floor press.

Faux Real


Sounds good guys.

Think I will try and get a kettle bell.  Can you train chest without a bench with kettle bells?

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjOh2KdZRI

dempsey

Faux Real


Sounds good guys.

Think I will try and get a kettle bell.  Can you train chest without a bench with kettle bells?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjOh2KdZRI

 
I would have thought that would be a bit easy, unless you have a pretty heavy KB. Or are KBs much harder to press than equivalent DBs? I would do clap press ups.
 
If you are home training, I would also thoroughly recommend fitting a pull up bar somewhere. You could also hang rings off it for dips. Fitting a pull up bar in my house was one of the best moves I've ever made fitness-wise.

I used to. I don't there's anything wrong with it as long as you vary your workout. I don't use mine as much now as i have a gym quite near to home.

Faux Real

Sounds good guys.

Think I will try and get a kettle bell.  Can you train chest without a bench with kettle bells?

Not really.  I'd suggest you'd be looking for various dip/push exercises for that.
 
For main question, it really depends on what you want out of it.  For a full training solution, your going to need a range of sizes and ideally in pairs.  A pair like this would be ideal,
 
http://www.kettlebells.com.au/store/32kg-adjustable-kettlebell-pair.html?&cat=98
 
Of course, they are not cheap.  Add in some other bits like somewhere to dip, perhaps a weighted vest etc and you can get a lot done with compact kit.
 
If you just want to supplment your training when you can't make the gym, a couple of single KB's together with some cheaper tools like a jump rope/ab wheel/chin bar etc would give you a lot of bang for your buck.

Yeah I think I just want something to supplement my training for those days when I don't make the gym and can at least do something at home rather than not training at all that day.
 
I will see what I can get locally. 
 
Does anyone know about those band contraptions that you can do moves on?  They are more than just a resistance band and can be used for shoulder work as well as other things.
 
Thanks for the help

With a KB and a single heavy dumbell you could do
 
Swings
Snatches
Clean & Press /Push Press
Goblet Squats
Rows
Jerks
One Arm overhead KB Squats
Floor Presses
Turkish Get Ups
 
Add in some press ups (harder variations like single arm or feet elevated) and chins ups / pull ups and you're set. Have a look on the forum below
 
http://www.davedraper.com.../showforum.php?fid/73/
 
A lot of guys there only using kettlebells
 

If you get competition K'Bells, they are the same size but with different weight. So it enables you to do balancing exercises like deep press ups on them or renegade rows...
 
The exercises are endless - space dependant...  If you can get a Pull Up Bar that slots on top of the door frame too.
 
 

Our doors are pretty low so not sure I can get a bar in here. 
 
Will see what is available though.
 
Thanks.