Core · Kettlebell
Kettlebell Suitcase Hold
How to do the kettlebell suitcase hold, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Kettlebell
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- time
- Movement
- Carry
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall holding a single kettlebell at your side like a suitcase, with your arm straight. Brace hard so the weight does not pull you to one side, keeping your shoulders and hips level. Hold for time, then switch hands and repeat on the other side.
- 1Your opposite-side obliques fighting to keep you upright
- 2A crushing grip on the kettlebell handle
- 3Level shoulders and hips with no lean toward the weight
Common mistakes
- Leaning or bending toward the loaded side
- Shrugging the loaded shoulder up toward your ear
- Letting your hips shift out to one side
Muscles worked
The kettlebell suitcase hold mainly works the forearms and obliques, with the upper traps, lower abs, lower back, upper abs, and glutes assisting.
- ForearmsPrimary
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper TrapsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Lower BackSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- GlutesSupport
- LatsMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- CalvesMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the kettlebell suitcase hold for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.