Is Epic Extender Pro better than the APEX?
For actually running a routine, yes. The APEX frame is genuinely well made, one piece of electroplated high carbon steel, and we will say that plainly. What it does not do is tell you your tension, come with anything to attach it to, record a session, or show you what to do. The Epic Pro does all four. They are cheaper on the frame itself.
How do you measure tension on an APEX?
Straight from their own FAQ: tension is measured by measuring spring compression with the 3D printed spring system, or by measuring in millimetres and comparing to their APEX tension chart on Reddit. They also sell a $9 clip-on gauge that lines the spring up against printed marks, which their listing says is good to about a quarter of a pound if the top bar looks level. The Epic Pro puts the figure on a screen on the device.
Does the $155 APEX come with cups and sleeves?
No. Their page states that the device can be used with vacuum cups or compression hangers and that these are not included, but sold separately. On their own store a vac cup is $13, a silicone sleeve is $7 and a cup pump is $3.99, so a usable setup is closer to $180 before you add the $9 gauge. The Epic Pro kit arrives with five cup sizes, four sleeves, the pump handle, tape and the straps.
What about the APEX DIY Kit and the Full Metal APEX?
The DIY Kit is $110 and you build it yourself with a Philips screwdriver, on a 3D printed base at 80 percent infill. The Full Metal APEX is $185 as a preorder, all metal, and rated from 1 lb to over 40 lb. Both still leave out the cups and sleeves, and none of them measure tension for you.
The APEX pulls 20 lb and the Epic pulls 22. Is that the difference?
No, and we are not going to pretend two pounds matters. Almost nobody trains near either ceiling. Most men work between 2 and 10 lb, and our own reviewers describe pulling at 7.5 lb and 2.5 kg comfortably. Judge these two on the readout, what is in the box and the support, not on a number neither of you will use.
Can I return an APEX if it does not suit me?
You have 10 days from delivery, the item must be unused and in its original packaging, and you pay the return postage. If it arrives damaged they will replace it free. Buyers in the European Union get the statutory 14 day cooling off period. Epic comes with a 180-day money back guarantee.
Does anything on the Epic Pro wear out?
The silicone sleeves do. On a regular routine of an hour or more a day, expect to swap them about once a month, often longer, and replacements are cheap. Everything else, the cup, the rods, the base and the display, you keep.
Why is the Epic Pro more expensive?
$155 for their frame against $379 for the Pro, and the gap narrows once you add the cup, sleeve, pump and gauge you need to use theirs. The extra buys the digital tension display, the Bluetooth app and video course, and a kit that is complete on arrival. If you want the Epic build without the screen, the Epic Extender Full Set is $259, the Best Extender V5.0 is $256 and the All Day Stretcher is $199, and they carry the same cups, the same course, the same support and the same 180-day guarantee.
How long should I wear an extender each day?
Start at 30 minutes a day on low tension for the first week, then build gradually towards 1 to 4 hours. Stop immediately if you feel numbness, pain or a colour change. Traction works through consistency over months, not through pulling harder, which is exactly why knowing your real tension number matters so much.