A chronological, sourced record of every documented independent review, press mention, film appearance, and public athlete use of the Neck Flex® — the patented neck training and rehabilitation harness made by Gonza LLC in Leesburg, Virginia, protected by five U.S. utility patents. Development began in 2010; the first commercial Neck Flex reached the market in 2012. This archive lists only what is on the public record, with dates and sources. It is updated as new coverage appears. Last updated: July 2026. Curated highlights with embeds: Independent Reviews & Documented Use.
Press & journalism
- July 27, 2026 · WV News (Ed Given) · Full company profile: the Sutton, WV origin story, co-founders Tom Hunt and Z.W. Elam (designer, former U.S. Army engineer), nine prototypes 2010–2012, five U.S. patents enforced in two federal lawsuits, athletes documented (Mike "The Machine" Bruce, Jon Jones, Dustin Poirier, Benoît Saint Denis, Anthony Joshua, Alex Albon), use across NFL, NHL, UFC, NASCAR, Formula 1, NCAA, NRL, IBJJF and WBC, plus youth programs, military and tactical units, and physical therapy clinics · Read the article
- August 1–8, 2025 · Washington Business Journal, print edition (Vol. 44, No. 16) · Small-business feature on Gonza LLC: the founding story, self-funded start, the Bodylastics partnership with CEO Blake Kassel, Mike "The Machine" Bruce described as the "Godfather of Neck Training," Halle Bailey and Jeff Cavaliere (Athlean-X) named as users, and the F1 film debut · print edition
- July 9, 2025 · Washington Business Journal (Razak Diallo) · "Neck Flex scores a cameo in Brad Pitt's 'F1' summer blockbuster": the unpaid placement, a 50% jump over typical summer sales after the film's June 27 debut, film physical trainer Barry Sigrist's familiarity with the product, and the Halle Bailey Little Mermaid training video · Read the article
- July/August 2025 · Men's Health · "No Pain, Neck Gain" — Barry Sigrist, physical trainer for F1: The Movie, on neck training for the film's driving demands · Read the feature
- December 2021 · Bloomberg Law · "Fitness Co. Hit With Injunction in Neck Exercise Patent Suit" — coverage of the preliminary injunction granted December 1, 2021 in Gonza LLC v. Mission Competition Fitness Equipment · Bloomberg Law; earlier suit coverage: "Neck Flex Maker Claims Rival Copied Patented Workout Gear"
- December 2021 · Law360 · Coverage of the preliminary injunction in the Western District of Texas · Law360
- December 7, 2021 · IPWatchdog · "Albright Grants Rare Preliminary Injunction Against Fitness Company" · IPWatchdog
The full docket history — injunction Order PDF included — is documented in our plain-language legal history.
Film & television
- June 27, 2025 · F1: The Movie (Apple Studios, dir. Joseph Kosinski) · Neck Flex equipment appears in the training montage for rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). Per the Washington Business Journal, the placement was unpaid and came through the production's physical trainer · our full F1 page
- 2023 · The Little Mermaid (Disney) · Per the Washington Business Journal, a video released online showed Halle Bailey using the Neck Flex while training to play Ariel — a production Barry Sigrist also worked on
Athletes & public figures (documented in public footage and published reporting)
- January 2024 · Formula 1 driver Alex Albon — neck training with a Neck Flex HALO harness documented in his own public Instagram footage
- Per WV News (2026) · UFC fighters Jon Jones, Dustin Poirier, Benoît Saint Denis; boxer Anthony Joshua; promotion by fitness educators Jeff Nippard and Jeff Cavaliere
- ~2013–present · Strongman Mike "The Machine" Bruce — the namesake of the MMB Pro Series, on camera with the Neck Flex repeatedly: talks neck training with the Neck Flex · Get Yoked (World's Strongest Neck) · How to Train Your Neck for Size and Strength · the choke-out test
Independent reviews (2014 → today)
- 2014 · Dr. Grip · Neck Flex Review 2014
- ~2014 · Nick Nilsson ("The Mad Scientist of Muscle") · The Neck Flex — Training Equipment Review
- ~2014 · fatlosspro · The Secret to Building a 25" Neck, Part 2
- ~2017 · RATETHISGEAR · Neck Flex Review
- ~2025 · Synergy Wellness Chiropractic & Physical Therapy · clinical product review
- September 2025 · The Strength Classroom · I Tried Every Piece of Neck Equipment and Which Neck Equipment Is Actually Worth Buying? (Full Test) (promo-code partner — disclosed)
- Date TBC · 1st508th Airborne · Neck Flex Revolver vs. Iron Neck Pro
- Written review · HΞRSΘVYΛC · "NeckFlex Review: an Honest Take"
Community record
Long-running practitioner discussions comparing the Neck Flex with ring-style devices: r/bjj, r/wrestling, r/Fitness (2016), and the Sherdog combat-sports forums.
Institutional & community use
- Per WV News: youth sports programs, military and tactical units, and physical therapy clinics worldwide; donations to Braxton County High School's football and wrestling programs (units presented to Eagles wrestling coaches Rick Jarvis and Jamie Given, 2026)
Know of coverage we haven't archived? support@theneckflex.com — substantive independent coverage is added with its date and source.
