Gym Rest Timer

Really Simple Apps

Contains adsIn-app purchases

About this app

Simple one click timer for the six most common weight training rest breaks - 30 secs, 60 secs, 90 secs, 2 mins, 3 mins, 5 mins. (And also 2 user defined timers if needed.)

When you are weight lifting/weight training, or doing any high intensity workout you need timed rest intervals between your work sets. The length of the rest break is important, too short and you will not recover enough to do the next set, too long and you could reduce the training benefit, cool down or waste time.

Gym Rest Timer makes timing your rest breaks easy. It includes big buttons (for shaky hands) for all the main rest break periods. You could just use your phone clock, a stopwatch, a countdown timer or any other type of timer (even old school manual), but Gym Rest Timer makes it simple, a single click, in fact. No typing in the number of seconds, or scrolling to get your rest length. Finish your set, click a (big) button, rest, when it beeps do your next set.

Gym Rest Timer is mainly aimed at people following a resistance training programme. The resistance could be weights, machines, cables, bands, body weight or something else. If you work hard, you then need to rest so you can work hard again.

Whether you are weight lifting for strength, size or endurance you need the right amount of rest to maximise your gains. If you are body building, doing lots of sets the new automatic set counter feature may help you keep track. Even on 5x5 it's possible to lose track (I've done it on 3x5!).

For endurance work rest breaks tend to be shorter, for strength training a bit longer.

Recommended use:
During warm up sets, just take the time needed to load the bar, or adjust the machine
During work sets: if the set was easy take 30 seconds, if ok take 60, if tough but bearable take 90 seconds. If you only just made the last rep take 2 or 3 minutes, if you failed, or badly lost form on the last rep, take the full 5 minutes.
What to do in your rest? some people just sit, some keep moving, some gently stretch the worked muscles.

If you are new to weight training make sure someone competent checks your lifting form, lifting big weights badly can cause proper injuries. Also to get the most benefit from your efforts be sure to follow a recognised, proven program with progressive overload, and a preference for compound movements.

Have fun, be strong, let us know any comments or suggestions (we added custom timers and the set counter from suggestions).

Ratings and reviews

Perfect timer for rest periods, stretches, and lifting as many reps as you can in a period of time. It's main feature is it's simplicity. One tap to choose the time and start it, and no need to stop the alarm, it just keeps once without gaining the attention of everyone in the gym.

As a powerlifter, this is the only rest timer app that satisfies my needs without any additional and unneeded features. Time my rests by pushing a button, counting sets. Perfect.

Does exactly what I needed, simple timer to hit at the start of a rest period when you can't see straight and don't want to fumble around. Would be good if it kept counting after zero to keep track of extra rest.

What's new

New features (pro version only):
Custom timers - set your own rest period
Set counter - keep track of how many sets

You can now use 2 additional buttons to add your own rest timers (enable in settings)
Each time you click a rest button the set counter is incremented, you can reset it when you change exercise (enable in settings)

Also re-enabled AdMob adverts for people who prefer to support development that way.
Other additional minor bug fixes, stability and usability improvements