The best piece of exercise equipment is the one the owner enjoys the most and therefore will use the most. Of course, individual fitness or athletic goals play an important part in what types of exercises a person does; and chances are you're smart enough to know that no single piece of equipment holds all the answers.

So the question we're addressing is, "if I have $200 bucks to spend, should I buy a pair of kettlebells or the TRX suspension training system?"

The range of exercises which can be done with either choice is extensive. Let's assume a purchase of the recommended 35 lb. kettlebells for men and 18 or 24 for women, and that the TRX is used at increasingly difficult angles. Both tools can cause a significant metabolic response; both can be used in a manner that stimulates continued adaptation in the body for a long time. So let's take an easy comparison, portability.

Unless you're driving to your destination, the TRX wins this one hands down. Seriously, how many of you are going to pay the extra charges to have the airline load your 40 to 70 pounds of iron? By contrast, you probably won't notice the extra two or three contributed by the TRX. As suspension training can easily be executed in a hotel room or stairwell, it makes this decision a no-brainer.

Convenience. If you're workout area is the 3'x5' space between the bed and the bedroom wall, you have plenty of room for a couple of kettlebells and ample space to workout. These things can be brutally effective if you have to stand in a two foot square closet to workout for that matter. Bottom line? Kettlebells are pick-up and go, no set-up (just a warm-up) required.

The TRX is convenient once you have it set up. You can use their X-mount to have a permanent anchor point in your chosen workout area or mount it using the door anchor. I personally prefer the X-mount in the garage to the door anchor. Not too many doors I would trust with my weight in this house.

Once set-up, you can go into an easy warm-up and stretch, then quickly progress to harder exercises. The TRX is nice that way. If your body isn't up to lifting the weight of your kettlebells there is little to do besides work with a single bell or modify the movement.

Both tools present an unusual challenge. Specifically, the kettlebell is an unbalanced load, and the TRX requires your unbalanced load to stabilize or suffer the consequences; each works with unique movements.

The kettlebell swing is first. It is mainly a hamstring exercise, but doing it at a steady pace for several minutes sends your heart rate through the roof. A comparable TRX move would be the 'suspended hip bridge' and/or leg curls. Both work similar muscles, and both require control of the core throughout the movement.

Next is the high-pull versus the snatch. The TRX high pull is a great upper back and rear deltoid exercise. The snatch is a breath-catching nightmare that also works the upper back among other things. The difference is the high pull is generally used to build strength and muscle, and therefore reps will be relatively low.

A heavy kettlebell snatch can build strength and muscle, but a moderate weight can be snatched for several minutes, increasing cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance.

For the upper body, take a pair of kettlebells and perform standing presses, then the windmill with a pick-up, followed by Renegade rows and finished with the Turkish get-up. Do 5-8 repetitions each and try to survive three rounds non-stop.

With the TRX, start out with the lowest body rows you can handle, switch to suspended dips (tough), then lower the straps six inches off the ground and perform a superset of suspended push-ups followed by chest flyes. On second thought, you'll probably have to perform the flyes standing up, unless you're already a gymnast. Again, a tough workout.

So where should you spend your money? With its easy portability, sport specific workout crossover and unobtrusive nature, you will probably take the TRX everywhere you go. For traveling it's a must-have.

But if you like the feel of wrapping your hand around the cold iron and heaving a weight that isn't you, a good pair of kettlebells can't be beat. Let's face it, there's room in your life for both, but either investment will give you hours of entertainment while kicking your butt; and isn't that what it's all about?

For more information, please visit:

http://www.dragondoor.com/?apid=mosladder to purchase kettlebells

[http://www.fitnessanywhere.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&AFFIL=y5tybUv8] to shop the TRX