"Both myself and my wife Lucinda have been wearing Accapi Nexus pro products for the last 5 months. We have both found that we have recovered quicker than we would normally and have slept better when wearing it. We have both definitely been able to increase our training intensity and volume whilst using the Nexus pro products."

Will Fletcher, a lightweight rower with Durham University has been using Accapi Nexus Pro and Action suits for some time now so we caught up with him to get his thoughts, this is what he had to say:

"When using Accapi, I feel much more on top of my sport. I do believe I get the most benefit in my recovery because usually, after a heavy weights or ergo session I feel tired and I ache, however when I am wearing Nexus I find that the next day I feel refreshed and ready for another session.

Will then went on to describe the specific benefits he has noticed:

"During weights training in particular, I have found that I am not only able to lift heavier weights, but I can recover much faster between the sets which which has meant I have made a noticeable improvement in my weights so far this year. Also during the GB rowing trials, I wore my Nexus gear throughout and even when racing at my maximum output I was able to sustain speed easily and could perform for longer."

Finally, Will concluded:

"On the whole I've only been using Accapi Nexus for around half a year but I love it. It provides you with everything you need as an athlete to perform at a high level."

Top ranking female boxer, Lucy O’Connor, has noticed significant improvement in her recovery rates since she started wearing the Nexus Action T shirt and leggings at the beginning of the season.

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" Over the past few weeks I have been ‘testing’ (wearing) the trousers and long sleeve top. During training I have been wearing the trousers as a base layer and wearing the top as recovery. What I have found interesting is that due to the nature of my sport (triathlon) its my legs that take most of the hammer and need the most recovery. Subconsciously, I have been using the trousers more than any other item that I possess (except club kit which is mandatory) for training on the bike. Also they have become the first thing I want to wear after runs sessions when muscle damage has occurred.

In Summary:
For recovery the trousers are now what my body craves. This is rather like my craving for a protein drink after hard training. Furthermore I always ask two questions when purchasing products...

Will it make me go faster?
Does it make me look better? (we laugh at the club about this- but we all admit it’s true).

The answer to both with Nexus is ‘yes’. Recovery seems better, and faster than using compression (or nothing at all) and I do think the products look good to wear!"

In September last year Barry Jameson, 2008 World Champion Triathlete ruptured his achilles. After scan results predicted he would never compete at that level again he tried the Nexus Pro Ankle Guard and remarkably, just 2-3 weeks later he was able to re-commence light training. Since then Barry has become an ambassador for the Nexus range but the story doesn't end there.

On the 14th February 2010, Barry was involved in a cycling accident which left him with a broken Femur (the Femur is the longest and largest bone in the human body which forms part of the hip and part of the knee)  He was rushed to hospital and operated on at around 9.30am on Monday 15th.

Following Barry's operation he was advised he would have to use a wheelchair and crutches for anything up to 16 weeks and full mobility could take longer. He began using crutches immediately and did so for roughly 2 weeks until the operating wound had healed over. At this point he adapted a Nexus® Back Support from the Bodyguard range into a recovery aid by strapping it around the top of his left leg and hip.

By the end of week 3 following the operation; determined as ever, Barry returned to the gym to try some light exercise. Over the next 2 weeks he continued with this, gradually progressing each day.

In week 5, Barry had an appointment with his surgeon who was looking to assess his recovery, this involved having another X-Ray. When the results arrived the surgeon called for a colleague to have a look as he was simply amazed! The break had healed completely and at at 57 years old, Barry had defied all odds. He had healed at the rate that would be expected of a fit and healthy youth. The surgeon suggested Barry should try and wean himself off crutches completely and advised he would not need to see him again until the end of August.

8 weeks later, incredibly, Barry was able to swim, cycle, run and train in the gym so we caught up with him to get his thoughts and see what he's up to now:
"Currently, I am back to training everyday and I am still using the back guard for recovery as it is dramatically improving the recovery of soft tissue damage around the injury. I am an avid fan of the Nexus® range from Accapi and truly believe it has had a large impact on the astonishing recovery I have made to date."

Accapi UK have revcently received the latest scientific document translation from Italy. This study looks at the emission of infrared rays at a range of temperatures with Nexus ES fabric, Non Nexus PE fabric and as a control measure, cotton. To see the full report, click here

Accapi UK have recently enlisted 2 additional elite climbers to trial the kit - Stevie Haston and Kevin Shields. Both are highly respected in their disciplines and will be providing blog updates for our website regarding their individual experiences with Nexus.

Stevie is a veteran climbing athlete, who's standards in some disciplines are extremely high. Climbing since a child he has seen techniques and training increase and suprisingly has kept pace. This has all been done with a lucky combination of hard training and living as free a life as he can manage. He has snowboarded mountains in the Himalayas as well as putting up rock climbs in many countries. He has soloed up to 80 routes in the Alps including a remarkable free winter solo of the Walker Spur, and has pushed the level of ice and mixed climbing for many years. He is described as one of the best all-rounders in the world. He currently lives in the French Pyrenees where the road ends and the mountain starts. He enjoys mountain running, caving, ice climbing and deep snow on his snowboard. He has written many articles about training, climbing and his motivation to constantly strive for higher achievements. At 52 years old he has just done a 9a and there is still more to come!!

 Kevin Shields undoubtedly has one of the most indomitable spirits in climbing. Born in 1978 in Ayrshire, Scotland he discovered the outdoors on routine Sunday hillwalks with his father. He soon got into doing munroes with one of his father's friends. His life changed when they went up the Curved Ridge on BuachailleEtiveMor because it was at this point that the sense of climbing became possible to him. Just before Kevin turned 21 he became epileptic which put him out for around a year. Undefeated, he returned to climbing by himself in the Mountains of Arran and ever since has simply become more obsessed with climbing and the outdoors in general. His 'gung-ho' attitude embodies many of the qualities of the true spirit of climbing which has earned him fame and high respect  within his disciplines.

Lucy is a GB Amateur Female Boxing Champion who has been wearing Accapi Nexus Action leggings and top for some time now. She is a big fan of the product range as the garments have significantly reduced the symptoms of DOMS; something which she is hugely grateful for! In Lucy's first blog we mentioned she was hoping to represent her country at the 2012 Olympic Games following the announcement that female Boxing would be included.

Accapi keep in contact with Lucy, following her progress and we are delighted that she has been selected as one of the seven women who have the chance to make history by competing at the 2012 Olympic Games in London - the first to feature women's boxing when there will be 3 different categories at 51Kg, 60Kg and 75Kg. 

Lucy, 31 falls under the 51Kg, Flyweight category alongside Nicola Adams and Nina Smith. There are 4 women in the 60Kg category and just one in the 75Kg. The squad will be rationalised to three in the build up to 2012. All seven will train at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield under GB Boxing's Performance Director, Rob McCracken and his coaching team. He commented 'All seven have done brilliantly to be selected from such a strong pool of talent but the challenge now is to improve and move on to the next level."

Lucy began boxing four years ago and has undoubtedly made some incredible achievements in this time and with her goal of making the Olympics now closer than ever, she said: "It is a dream come true to be selected for the squad but it is now when the hard work really starts. This will be the only chance I ever get to compete at the Olympic Games so I am going  to train hard, learn from the coaches and do everything I can to be part of the team for 2012."  

Accapi UK are very proud to be associated with Lucy and we are confident she will make it all the way to the Games.

 Alan Hinkes is the first Briton to climb the world's highest mountains. These are the 14 x 8000m peaks, all of which are in the 'death zone' where human survival rate is measured in hours. They are the most dangerous mountains on the planet. Alan is part of an exclusive club of only 12 people alive who have achieved this feat, which is also, astonishingly the same number of people who have stood on the moon. Many have perished attempting this challenge.

Alan began his mountaineering career whilst at Northallerton Grammar School, North Yorkshire. He progressed to the alps with the ascents of many difficult mountains, including the notorious North Face of the Eiger, eventually graduating to the Himalaya.

He currently works as an outdoor equipment technical consultant, writes for magazines such as Trail and lectures on his exploits. He is an accomplished cameraman (filming 11 documentaries), photographer, motivational speaker, environmentalist and mountain guide. Recently Alan visited Accapi UK's head office as he was in the North East to lecture at the Newcastle Climbing Centre in Byker. He was certainly impressed and enthused about what Accapi Nexus has to offer and has ordered 'action' and 'pro' apparel alongside several bodyguard pieces (he has been suffering with an ankle injury recently) and a pair of Trekking socks.
                                                                            
Alan has agreed to keep us up to date on his experience with the full range of Nexus products and will be providing feedback for our blog page in the not too distant future. Given Alan's exceptional biography and respected status, we are very excited and are eagerly anticipating what he has to say.

27 year old Stuart Campbell is an experienced climber both inside and out with font 8a boulder problems under his belt and has competion experience at both national and international level including a World Cup event. Stuart is an experienced coach with years coaching of climbers of various ages and abilities. He is registered with REPS (Register of Exercise Professionals) as a Level 3 Sports coach and also holds several climbing and sport science/therapy qualifications.

Stuart coaches at Climb Newcastle and following his recent use of Accapi Nexus products has sent us the following testimony: