Review of the Best Paper Workout Journals for Powerlifters

I am a bit old school and I find that using an app on my phone during my workout is way too distracting. I always end up checking my messages or scrolling through social media between sets. I want to go back to a physical paper journal to track my lifts and my goals.

I am looking for something durable that can handle being thrown in a gym bag and has enough space for tracking percentages and RPE. I have looked at the Rogue Fitness journals and some options on Amazon UK, but I am not sure which one has the best layout for a powerlifting program.

Does anyone else still use pen and paper? I find that the act of physically writing down a new personal record feels much more rewarding than just typing it into a screen. If you have a specific brand that you love, please let me know. I need something that will last a full year of training.

I'm with you, YorkshireLad. I tried using a popular tracking app last summer, but I kept getting Slack notifications from work while resting between sets of squats. It totally ruins the mindset. I’ve been looking for a solid paper log that can survive being tossed around a dusty garage gym.

I’ve been using the 'Rogue Logbook' for about six months now. It’s basic, but the spiral binding is sturdy and it lays flat on the floor, which is a must. The only downside is it doesn't have much room for tracking things like RPE or specific warm-up sets if you like a lot of detail.

LondonLad, I found the Rogue one a bit too cramped for my liking too. I switched to the 'Gymreapers' journal. It has more dedicated space for notes on 'colour' and feel of the lift, plus a section for PR tracking in the back which is great for powerlifters.

Has anyone tried the 'Ironmaster' logs? I see them mentioned on Canadian forums a lot. I'm currently just using a cheap spiral notebook from the supermarket, but the pages keep ripping out when I sweaty-palm them.

I actually use a 'Moleskine' dotted journal and draw my own grids. It takes about 5 minutes to set up for the week on a Sunday evening, but it means I get exactly the columns I want for bench, squat, and deadlift. Plus, the paper quality is top-notch—no ink bleed-through even with my fountain pens.

Drawing your own grids? Man, that’s way too much work for me lol. I just want to open the book and write. I’ve been using the 'WOD Log'—even though I don't do CrossFit, the daily layout is actually pretty decent for heavy strength training blocks.

TXguy99, does that WOD log have enough rows for accessory work? I usually do my main lift and then 4-5 accessories. Some of these journals only give you like 5 lines total.

It's a bit tight, Mike. You might have to write small if you're doing high-volume accessory blocks. If you're doing a lot of 'bro-split' stuff after your main lift, it might not be the one for you.

NorthernLass, the Moleskine idea is tempting but I’m far too lazy for that! I need something that’s already structured. I've heard the 'Fitlo' journals are quite popular in the States—anyone here in the UK ordered one?

I looked at Fitlo but the shipping to London was nearly as much as the book itself! Not worth it when you can find decent alternatives on Amazon UK.

I’m using a journal called 'The Lift Log' right now. It was designed specifically by a powerlifter. It has a spot to track your body weight, sleep, and even your mood for the day. Really helps you see why you hit a plateau when you can look back and see you were only sleeping 5 hours a night for a month.

'The Lift Log' sounds perfect. Is the cover waterproof? My gym bag usually has a leaky water bottle or a half-finished protein shake in it at some point during the week.

It's got a sort of faux-leather, semi-waterproof cover. It’s held up well against my spilled coffee so far!

Totally agree with the mood tracking. I think paper journals are better for that 'mindset' aspect of the subforum. Apps feel like data entry, but writing in a book feels like a ritual.

Exactly Dave. There’s something visceral about seeing your deadlift numbers increase in your own handwriting over the year. It’s much more motivating than a digital graph.

Does anyone worry about losing the book though? If I lose my phone, my data is in the cloud. If I leave my journal at the gym in Ohio, that year of progress is just gone.

I take a photo of the page with my phone once a week, Mike. Best of both worlds—I don't use the phone during the session, but I have a backup in case the dog decides it’s a chew toy.

Clever! I might start doing that. I lost a logbook once back in '22 and I almost quit lifting for a month because I was so frustrated.

Has anyone tried the 'SaltWrap' daily fitness planner? It looks very comprehensive, but maybe a bit too bulky for a gym bag?