Bells Of Steel Review: Smart Home Gym Gear For Real-World Lifting
Bells Of Steel sits in a sweet spot in the home gym world. The brand focuses on serious strength equipment but keeps the tone playful and approachable. The whole vibe feels like a friend who loves lifting, loves value, and hates overpaying for gear that never gets used.
The company started in 2010 after founder Kaevon struggled to find competition grade kettlebells that did not cost a fortune. He began sourcing small batches for himself and friends. That side project grew into a full line of strength equipment that now serves tens of thousands of lifters across Canada and the United States.
Bells Of Steel talks a lot about building high quality, multi purpose equipment at a fair price. That shows up in the catalog. The brand offers racks, cable machines, barbells, plates, kettlebells, benches, specialty machines, cardio, and storage. The goal is simple. Help people build a real strength setup at home without draining every dollar in the bank account.
The tone on the site feels casual and fun. Some product copy cracks jokes about quad pumps and curling in the rack. Yet the technical details still show up. Capacity ratings, gauge of steel, hole sizes, and compatibility notes all appear for lifters who care about specs.
Bells Of Steel leans heavily into the home gym audience. Many products fit in garages, basements, or spare rooms. At the same time, some racks and machines also work for smaller commercial spaces that want good value for money. The brand promotes its gear as “best value” rather than “luxury at any cost,” which lines up with the pricing structure and frequent sales.
If the dream is a solid home gym that feels legit but still budget conscious, Bells Of Steel lands right in that lane.
Who Bells Of Steel Really Suits: Garage Lifters And Value Hunters
Before loading a cart with steel and cable, it helps to know if this brand actually fits the training style and space. Bells Of Steel targets a few clear groups.
The first group is garage lifters and basement gym builders. Think people who love barbell work, want a rack, bar, and plates, and care more about function than flashy logos. For this crowd, Bells Of Steel offers a ton of options. Compact racks, full four post setups, all in one trainers, and cable towers all show up in the catalog. Many products have footprints that work in low ceilings or tight corners.
The second group is hybrid athletes. People who like powerlifting one day, conditioning the next, and accessory work with cables and kettlebells in between. The brand leans into versatility. A cable tower can handle rows, curls, triceps, and pull throughs. An all in one trainer lets someone squat, bench, and hit cable moves on the same footprint. Adjustable kettlebells make it easy to move from light technical work to heavy swings using the same handle.
The third group is budget conscious buyers who still care about quality. Bells Of Steel does not position itself as bargain basement gear. Instead the focus stays on “best quality to price ratio.” Racks use proper gauge steel. Barbells have serious knurl and solid sleeves. Cable machines run on weight stacks, not flimsy bands. Yet prices often sit under some of the big American premium brands. Frequent promotions and bundle savings help even more.
Bells Of Steel also works well for people who like to tinker with setups. Systems like the Hydra and Manticore racks use standard 3 inch uprights and common hole spacing, which opens up a world of attachments and customization. Reviews often highlight how modular these racks feel inside a home gym.
On the other hand, someone who wants ultra polished showpiece gear with fancy finishes and brand bragging rights might lean toward higher price competitors. Bells Of Steel cares more about performance and value than that luxury look.
If the goal is a strong, flexible training setup that stretches a budget as far as possible, this brand sits very high on the shortlist.
Bestsellers In Focus: The Workhorse Pieces People Actually Use
Bells Of Steel has a big catalog, but a few products show up over and over in reviews and best seller lists. These pieces give a good snapshot of how the brand thinks about design and value.
The Cable Tower ranks as one of the main best sellers. It delivers a full cable stack in a relatively small footprint. The tower offers adjustable pulleys that move up and down for rows, curls, face pulls, and a long list of accessory moves. Paired with a bench, it becomes a surprisingly complete training station.
People like that the tower feels stable for heavy work but still fits in home spaces. It also integrates with racks and attachments in many setups. For lifters who want cable work but cannot commit to a massive commercial crossover machine, this becomes a very strong option.
The All In One Trainer combines a power rack, dual adjustable cables, and a pull up bar in a single footprint. It supports barbell squats, bench press, pull ups, rows, pulldowns, and more. Think of it as a compact version of those big functional trainer stations at commercial gyms, tuned for home use.
The key benefit is consolidation. Instead of buying a rack, a separate cable machine, and a stack of attachments, this single unit handles many roles. Reviews often highlight the smoothness of the pulleys, the solid feel of the rack portion, and the way it allows full body training without constant equipment swaps.
Bells Of Steel started with kettlebells, so it makes sense that the Adjustable Competition Kettlebell remains a top seller. Each unit uses a competition style shell with a smooth handle and stacked internal plates. Adjusting weight involves swapping plates rather than grabbing an entirely new bell.
For small spaces, this matters a lot. One adjustable bell can cover warm up weights, technical drills, and heavy swings. The design keeps the size constant, which helps with technique and control. Color options and a clean logo add some visual fun.
Training Experience And Build Quality: How The Gear Feels
Looking at specs is helpful, but the real test is how Bells Of Steel gear feels under load and in day to day use.
On racks and machines, the company uses proper gauge steel and wide bases. That choice keeps wobble under control during heavy squats or rack pulls. Many models use flat foot designs that do not require bolting to the floor, which appeals to renters or people lifting over finished surfaces. Users often mention that even the more affordable racks feel stable once set up and weighted.
The hole spacing and numbering on the uprights usually make life easier. West side style spacing near bench height lets lifters fine tune J cup position for press work. Clear markings reduce the “which hole was that again” dance. For shared spaces or quick superset sessions, that small detail makes a real difference.
Barbells from Bells Of Steel lean toward the value side of the market but still bring strong performance for most lifters. Power bars and multipurpose bars use knurl profiles that grab the hand without shredding it. Sleeves spin reliably. Coatings like black zinc, cerakote, and hard chrome show up across the range, so buyers can balance feel, look, and price.
Cable machines and the All In One Trainer tend to get positive feedback for pulley smoothness. Weight stacks move along guides without a lot of sticking or grinding when set up correctly. The brand uses straightforward selector pins and standard handles, so there is not much of a learning curve for people used to commercial machines.
The Belt Squat Machine highlights how Bells Of Steel thinks about biomechanics. The hips carry the load, not the spine. That design gives lifters with cranky backs a way to push leg strength hard again. The brand adds band pegs and optional loading positions, which turns a simple squat station into a very flexible lower body tool.
Are there tradeoffs at this price point. Yes. Welds and finishes may not always match the most premium brands in the industry. Some smaller components feel more utilitarian than luxe. Yet the core structure tends to arrive solid, functional, and very capable of handling the loads that most home lifters will ever touch.
Overall, the training experience lines up with the promise. Gear feels sturdy, versatile, and friendly to real homes, not just huge commercial spaces.
Pros And Cons Of Bells Of Steel
No brand nails every category. Here is how the main strengths and weaknesses shake out for Bells Of Steel.
Pros
Bells Of Steel designs equipment to hit a strong quality to price ratio. Racks, bars, and machines often cost less than similar pieces from larger American competitors while still using legit steel, real capacities, and thoughtful features. Frequent sales and bundle options sweeten the deal.
Many pieces, from the Cable Tower to the All In One Trainer, focus on compact footprints and multiple functions. The brand knows most customers do not have endless space, so it packs a lot of training variety into each unit. That matters for garages, basements, and spare rooms.
Systems like the Hydra and Manticore racks embrace a modular approach. Upright dimensions and hole patterns support a wide range of attachments and configurations. That gives home gym owners room to grow instead of starting from scratch with each new training phase.
From belt squats to powerlifting bars and calibrated plates, the catalog serves people who care about serious lifting. The brand leans less into gimmicks and more into pieces that help build strength, power, and muscle.
The company produces guides and blog posts on topics like home powerlifting essentials and gym building tips. The tone stays relaxed yet helpful. That content supports newer lifters who feel overwhelmed by equipment choices.
Cons
At this price, some welds, powder coat details, or logos may lack the ultra polished finish of higher end brands. For many buyers that tradeoff feels worth it. Yet perfectionists who obsess over flawless surfaces might notice small cosmetic quirks.
Because demand spikes during big sales and seasonal events, certain best sellers sometimes run low or sell out. That can mean waiting for restocks or switching to alternate configurations.
The catalog is broad. Racks, trainers, towers, and bar options pile up quickly. Without guidance, a beginner can feel lost. The brand offers content and customer support, but some shoppers may still want a more curated lineup.
Bells Of Steel sells online first. That keeps prices lean but also means many customers cannot touch or test equipment in person before buying. Some buyers prefer to see and feel a rack or bar before committing.
For most home gym builders, the pros land heavy. The brand delivers a lot of performance for the cost, especially for people who value function and smart design over fancy finishes.
Pricing, Bundles, And How To Actually Save
Pricing is one of the big reasons Bells Of Steel stands out. The brand builds around mid market costs that still bring serious quality. Buyers can then stack savings in a few ways.
First, the everyday prices on racks, bars, and machines already target value. For example, the Cable Tower, All In One Trainer, and Adjustable Competition Kettlebell often sit below similar options from premium competitors while still delivering strong capacities and smart features.
Second, the Home Gym Builder and other bundle tools let shoppers pick core pieces together and receive a discount for buying as a package. That type of bundle often combines a rack, bench, bar, and plates or similar setups. Reviews from strength coaches and serious lifters highlight how these bundles stack up well against far more expensive gear.
Third, regular promotions show up throughout the year. Black Friday, seasonal sales, and special events often knock significant percentages off best selling barbells, power racks, and strength machines. The site banner usually highlights current deals, so checking during major sale periods can bring big wins.
To layer even more savings, shoppers can:
- Sign up for the email list to receive welcome discounts, promo codes, and early sale alerts
- Watch social channels and brand newsletters for flash deals and limited time coupon codes
- Use browser extensions that surface discount codes at checkout when available
Shipping costs depend on location and product size. Heavy items like racks and machines can increase freight charges, but the brand often runs shipping promotions. That is worth checking before placing a large order, since a free or discounted freight promo can save a lot on big pieces.
For people building a full home gym, planning purchases around big sale windows and bundles makes a big difference. The end result is a serious training space at a total price that feels surprisingly manageable.
Final Thoughts: Is Bells Of Steel Worth Building A Home Gym Around
Bells Of Steel brings together many of the things home lifters want most. The equipment focuses on real training needs rather than gimmicks. Racks feel sturdy and modular. Cable towers and all in one trainers deliver genuine versatility in home friendly footprints. Kettlebells, barbells, and plates round out the basics in a way that supports progressive training over many years.
The brand story also lines up with the gear. A lifter frustrated by high prices builds a company that aims at best value rather than luxury gloss. That mindset shows through in the product mix, the copy, and the overall positioning
.
Bells Of Steel makes the most sense for people who want:
- A serious home gym that can handle heavy lifting
- Multi purpose pieces that stretch limited space
- Strong value for money with room to expand over time
- A brand that talks like real lifters, not a corporate brochure
It might not be the first pick for buyers chasing prestige or ultra fancy finishes. It may not satisfy someone who wants a tiny, minimalist setup with just a few adjustable dumbbells and a yoga mat. Yet for garage lifters, home strength fans, and hybrid athletes who love barbells, cables, and machines, Bells Of Steel hits a very compelling balance.
With smart planning, a few bundles, and a stack of promo codes and sale prices, it becomes possible to outfit an entire garage gym that feels like a real training space rather than a compromise. For many lifters, that combination of quality, versatility, and value makes Bells Of Steel a brand that can anchor an entire home gym journey for years.