25 kg for 5 reps
Estimated one-rep max: about 29 kg. The five formulas span 28–30 kg, so treat it as a range.
Estimated one-rep max
29 kg
Mean of five published formulas. Range 28–30 kg.
| Formula | 1RM | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Epley | 29.2 | Epley, 1985 |
| Brzycki | 28.1 | Brzycki, 1993 |
| Lombardi | 29.4 | Lombardi, 1989 |
| O'Conner | 28.1 | O'Conner et al., 1989 |
| Mayhew | 29.8 | Mayhew et al., 1992 |
So is 29 kg a good bench press?
If that lift is a bench press, 29 kg puts a man at 82.5–87.5 kg bodyweight at the 1st percentile of 29,914 judged competition benches — novice.
Percentages of that max
| % of 1RM | Weight |
|---|---|
| 95% | 27.5 |
| 90% | 26.0 |
| 85% | 24.6 |
| 80% | 23.1 |
| 75% | 21.7 |
| 70% | 20.2 |
| 65% | 18.8 |
| 60% | 17.3 |
| 55% | 15.9 |
| 50% | 14.5 |
A sensible warm-up to it
| Step | Weight | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| 40% | 11.6 | 5 |
| 55% | 15.9 | 5 |
| 70% | 20.2 | 3 |
| 80% | 23.1 | 2 |
| 90% | 26.0 | 1 |
| Working | 28.9 | 1 |
A conventional ramp, not the ramp. Add or remove steps to taste — the point is to arrive warm and not tired.