About Bar Is Loaded 2 – Gym Math
I’ve been lifting for a few years, and my biggest gym annoyance wasn’t the heavy weights—it was the mental arithmetic. I’d stand there, barbell in hand, trying to remember if two 45s and a 25 on each side added up to 225 or 245. It broke my focus. I downloaded Bar Is Loaded 2 by developer dongledan hoping it would just do the math for me, and it’s become a staple on my phone that I open before every single workout.
Features & Highlights
The core feature is brilliantly simple: you tell it your bar weight (I use a standard 45lb Olympic bar) and then tap on the plates you’re putting on. It instantly shows the total weight. No more counting on my fingers. I love the visual bar that fills up with plates—it helps me double-check my setup before I load the real bar. The plate management is smart; I can set my gym’s available plates (we’re missing a few 10s, for example), and it will only suggest combinations using what I actually have. The workout history is basic but effective. I log my top sets for main lifts, and seeing that simple list grow over weeks is a solid motivator. The unit conversion is a tap away, which is handy when my buddy from Canada visits and we have to figure out his kilos.
User Experience
Using this app feels like having a quick spotter for your brain. Last Tuesday, I was planning a 275lb deadlift. Instead of puzzling over plates, I opened the app, tapped the 45lb bar, then added two 45s and a 10 per side. It showed 275 instantly. I looked at the visual, loaded my bar exactly as shown, and got to work. That’s the real win—it cuts out 30 seconds of doubt and lets me stay in the zone. The interface is clean and no-nonsense; big buttons are easy to hit even when my hands are a bit chalky. I don’t use it for complex programming, but for the simple “what plates do I need?” question, it’s perfect.
Pricing
The app costs a flat $1.99 with no subscriptions or in-app purchases. For a lifter who goes to the gym 3-4 times a week, that’s a no-brainer. I’ve spent more on a mediocre pre-workout drink. Considering it eliminates a genuine daily frustration, it’s absolutely worth the price. You pay once and own it for life, which is refreshing in a world of monthly fees.
Updates & Support
Dongledan seems like a solo developer, and updates aren’t super frequent, but they are meaningful. A few months ago, an update added Kg/Lb locking per barbell type, which I didn’t know I needed but now use all the time. I had one minor bug where the app reset after my phone updated its OS. I emailed the support address listed in the app store, and the developer got back to me in about 36 hours with a clear fix. It wasn’t instant, but it was helpful and resolved my issue.
Security & Privacy
I downloaded the app directly from the official Apple App Store. The app doesn’t require an account or any personal info—I didn’t even give it my name. All my workout history is stored locally on my device. There are zero ads, which is fantastic for focus, and I’ve seen no indication of any tracking. It’s a very “offline” tool, which I appreciate for both privacy and usability when my gym’s Wi-Fi is spotty.
How does Bar Is Loaded 2 calculate the total weight on the barbell?
You simply set your bar weight (like a standard 45lb Olympic bar) and then tap the plates you are loading on each side. The app instantly shows the total weight and a visual bar graphic so you can double-check your setup before you lift.
Can I customize the app to match the plates available at my gym?
Yes, the app includes a smart plate management feature. You can tell it which plates your gym has (for example, if you're missing certain 10lb plates), and it will only suggest combinations using what you actually have available.
Why does the app sometimes show a weight that doesn't match my barbell?
This usually happens if the bar weight is set incorrectly. Check that you've selected the correct bar weight (e.g., 45lb for a standard Olympic bar, 20kg for a metric bar) before adding plates. The unit conversion is also just a tap away if you need to switch between pounds and kilos.
I can't find a plate combination for my target weight. What should I do?
First, make sure your available plate list is accurate in the app's settings. If you're still stuck, try using a different bar weight (like a 35lb or 55lb bar) or consider that your target weight might require a fractional plate. The app is designed to show only possible combinations with what you have.
How does Bar Is Loaded 2 compare to other plate calculator apps like StrongLifts or PlateMate?
Bar Is Loaded 2 focuses purely on quick plate math with a visual bar, while apps like StrongLifts bundle it with full workout programming. For just figuring out what plates to load, this app is faster and more intuitive, and it costs a flat $1.99 with no subscriptions.
