My APT Apex review

[Brian C]

So today I finally got to try my new single ply Apex. At first look the chest plate is very small making me a little nervous. I attempted to put it on myself as I heard a lot of feedback of how easy it is to put on, but I still had a little trouble. The sleeves slid on suprisingly easy and I got the shirt over my head and down, but I still needed help setting as I couldnt get my sleeves pulled up far enough. A few tugs and I was good. The shirt is pretty comfortable and doesnt constrict your breathing. The sleeves seemed a little loose at the elbows which also was concerning about how much support they will give. I warmed up before putting the shirt on to 355 and decided to to start with my raw 1 rm of 385. As soon as I took the bar, I could feel the support of the sleeves hooking up around my tris. I found the groove pretty quickly which is higher on the chest than my Rage X which was a little weird, but not to bad(more like a raw bench). I got the bar down to about a 4 board and couldnt get it any further. It shot up like nothing. I then wet it down pretty good and tried 415. It seemed to dip a little lower this time, closer to a 3 board, and again it shot up. This shirt has pretty good pop in midrange. A little more water and I threw on 455. I really tried to create an even bigger arch and moved my grip out to index on the rings hoping to get the bar down. This time I got to about a 2 board and got it up without much trouble. I think because the groove is higher up, I really have to concentrate on a bigger arch. I was still feeling good so I put on 475. I took the bar a tiny bit down further on the chest and was still about a 2 board. Again, it went up fairly well. I called it a day. Im really happy with the shirt as it has outstanding support even though its very deceiving at first. The stretchy material on the back makes it a lot easier to get on, but some help is still needed. A little more time getting used to the higher groove and getting it to touch and im sure ill be hiting 500+ in no time. I just hope that it gets approved this year for some upcoming meets. Anyway, thanks for reading and get stronger.

[chris mason]

Good stuff! Thanks for the review.

[Brian Hopper]

Nice review! When do you plan on wearing the shirt again?

[Eric Downey]

I'd like to try one. Just don't have the extra cash to buy a new shirt I may or may not like. And I don't need one.

[Brian C]

Nice review! When do you plan on wearing the shirt again?

Ill probably get into it again Sunday. I want to break it in, but I have a meet on May 23, and until its approved by USAPL and WABDL, I dont want to stray too far from my Rage X. Hopefully its approved soon.

[Travis Bell]

I'm always really curious when a new shirt comes out. Very interesting to me

The one thing I have noticed is nobody I have seen has touched in one yet. I'm sure the shirt needs to be out a little longer and people will figure it out.

[Brian C]

The one thing I have noticed is nobody I have seen has touched in one yet. I'm sure the shirt needs to be out a little longer and people will figure it out.

Only touch ive seen so far

Video

[Brian C]

Hmm, no vid. Heres the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv9qY...layer_embedded

[=Travis=]

Seems there was a link on that video Brian C posted to a review http://www.criticalbench.com/APEX-bench-press-shirt.htm where I guess one dude cut the back and touched. I couldn't tell from the review if the other guy used the cut open shirt or not.

[scott rowe]

my 2 cents on that video is he touch over 100 pounds less then he maxed out with. is theshirt to loose on him? sleeves looked short, is that by design?

[Brian C]

my 2 cents on that video is he touch over 100 pounds less then he maxed out with. is theshirt to loose on him? sleeves looked short, is that by design?

The back is cut on his shirt, but with the type of material used on the back,its very stretchy and I dont believe it would make too much of a difference either way.

[Travis Bell]

my 2 cents on that video is he touch over 100 pounds less then he maxed out with. is theshirt to loose on him? sleeves looked short, is that by design?

Might just be the material. I can touch 675 in my SDP and have benched 770 in the gym, 835 off a 2brd so it really more depends on technique and the given shirt.

I did notice the sleeve length though. That is certainly much shorter. I noticed he really slowed bout halfway, yet still locked it out. I know I do that sometimes though even with my longer sleeves

Good video though! Be interesting to see what other ones come out.

[Brian C]

I just got done talking with Alan from APT and he is going to send me a size bigger shirt, as long as I do a review for him. Pretty good trade off. They are still trying to get the sizing right since its a new shirt. So I will post another review soon hopefully with vid once I get the new one.

[Rob Luyando]

I have been back in the gyms and my stealth bench press shirt by haines is working rather well open back or closed I can touch real light weight and still lock it out.

[allan3]

i love my apt apex, the best shirt i have, and i have a few...

[robchris]

i love my apt apex, the best shirt i have, and i have a few...

Allen,

I'm considering buying a single-ply APEX... Whats the groove like in this shirt?

Also, whats the material like? Is it similar to a Katana(stiff) or more stretchy like a inzer phenom?

Thanks,
RC

[Clifford Gillmore]

Our 165 guy in the gym has one and the chest plate is rediculously small, he still gets into it in about a minute - but couldn't get 350 to touch.

[KarlMarx]

I have been back in the gyms and my stealth bench press shirt by haines is working rather well open back or closed I can touch real light weight and still lock it out.

LOL, everybody is going American Apparel for their bench shirts now! Haven't you heard!

[Brian C]

Allen,

I'm considering buying a single-ply APEX... Whats the groove like in this shirt?

Also, whats the material like? Is it similar to a Katana(stiff) or more stretchy like a inzer phenom?

Thanks,
RC

Groove is pretty wide. I've touched high around the nipple line and as low as my second ab. The chest plate is very small, and takes some weight to touch. I touch around 475.

[Brian C]

..and the material is very stiff

[robchris]

Brain,

Thanks man! I think I'm gonna give it a try... They are out of Va. so the turn around should only be 2-3 days via UPS.

[allan3]

Allen,

I'm considering buying a single-ply APEX... Whats the groove like in this shirt?

Also, whats the material like? Is it similar to a Katana(stiff) or more stretchy like a inzer phenom?

Thanks,
RC

it seems to have a bit of a higher groove, for example, my super katana requires me to touch in the upper ab area, the apt has me touching about 1.5 inches higher or so, but it maybe how i have it jacked...im 'new' to shirts, but have a collection already, and i must say the apt is better (imo) then my metal, fury, super k, and f6. the material is more like a super katana, the arms are looser(good for me) and the chest plate seems smaller--- the shirt gives me more pop then my 2 ply metal pro viking bencher...

[NickAus]

Sounds like an awesome single ply shirt.

[NickAus]

it seems to have a bit of a higher groove, for example, my super katana requires me to touch in the upper ab area, the apt has me touching about 1.5 inches higher or so, but it maybe how i have it jacked...im 'new' to shirts, but have a collection already, and i must say the apt is better (imo) then my metal, fury, super k, and f6. the material is more like a super katana, the arms are looser(good for me) and the chest plate seems smaller--- the shirt gives me more pop then my 2 ply metal pro viking bencher...

I found the Viking to have an easy groove but not much pop as you said.

[robchris]

Allan,

Very good info... I'm definitely gonna get me one.

BTW, do you know if they're IPF approved yet?

Thx. RC