Equipment setup
Training with a barbell only
A barbell, plates and a rack is the most efficient setup for raw strength. Every classic strength program in our library runs natively on this kit.
Squat, bench, deadlift, overhead press, row — the five lifts that drive most strength programs all live here.
With a barbell in your inventory, the generator draws from the full barbell catalogue and skips anything needing machines or cables you haven't ticked.
On loading, be clear about the limit: RepRoute does not read your plate sizes and will not round a prescription to your nearest loadable weight. What it does do is progress by the weight increment you choose in Settings → Preferences, and give you a plate calculator so you can see what to put on the bar. Rounding to what's actually on your rack stays your call.
All eight library programs run on a barbell-only setup, with accessories filtered down to what your kit supports.
Sample 3-day week
| Day | Focus | Exercises |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (A) | Squat focus |
|
| Day 2 (B) | Pull focus |
|
| Day 3 (A) | Repeat A |
|
Example exercises
Barbell Squat
quadriceps
Barbell Bench Press - Medium Grip
chest
Barbell Deadlift
lower back
Barbell Shoulder Press
shoulders
Barbell Row
middle back
Romanian Deadlift
hamstrings
Front Squat
quadriceps
Push Press
shoulders
Common questions
Strongly recommended for squats and bench. Tick it (or leave it unticked) in your equipment and the generator adjusts which lifts it will program accordingly.
Required for bench work — if you don't tick "bench", RepRoute won't program bench pressing. Floor presses cover a lot of that ground instead.
No. It doesn't know which plates you own — only that you own plates. Progression moves in the increment you set in Preferences, and the built-in plate calculator helps you work out the loading. Rounding to what's actually on your rack is your call.
Generate your plan
Free plan, no credit card. Tell RepRoute what you own and the plan adapts immediately.