There’s nothing like a long climb on the Routeburn, a bluebird day on Craigieburn’s trails, or a hard push through the GODZONE training loop… until your calf suddenly decides it’s auditioning to be a rock-hard kumara. Muscle cramps are one of the most common (and most infuriating) visitors in the Kiwi outdoors. They show up uninvited, take over the party, and then leave you hobbling.
Luckily, there’s a pocket-sized piece of magic that’s become a staple in NZ trail vests and tramping packs: CrampFix by FIXX Nutrition. This cheeky little sports product asks cramps to leave politely and fast.
What is a cramp (and why does it always pick your calf?)
A cramp is a sudden, involuntary and often painful contraction of a muscle that won’t let go. They usually hit calves, hamstrings, quads and sometimes quirkier places like hands or feet. Traditional ideas blamed dehydration and lost electrolytes — and those things do matter — but current research points to a major role for altered neuromuscular control: basically, tired nerves sending confused signals that make the muscle lock up. This is why cramps often hit after hours of running or climbing, on steep descents, or right when you think you’re almost done.
Enter CrampFix
CrampFix was created on the same principle as these fast-acting remedies, but engineered specifically for sport. Instead of carrying a jar of pickles up Avalanche Peak, you have a tiny, measured, clean, and actually pleasant shot.
The story behind CrampFix - Born from cramps to defeat cramps
With over 25 years in the food industry, FIXX Nutrition owners Michelle and Jan Buchegger knew the power of natural ingredients. But when a leading sports scientist called them late one night in 2016, urgently seeking pickle juice for his athletes, they never imagined it would lead them to change sports nutrition forever.
“That late-night call sparked something in us. Why were professional athletes relying on ordinary pickle juice? We know that some people love it, but it certainly fits the bill of being an acquired taste. There had to be a better way.
So we began experimenting with a specially formulated, all-natural pickle juice concoction. Our testing ground? A team of professional rugby players who were fighting against muscle cramps that cut their performance short.”- Michelle and Jan Buchegger
Two years of rigorous testing, countless formulations, and endless feedback sessions later, CrampFix was born – the world's first specialised natural anti-cramping formula. While Michelle and Jan initially created CrampFix for professional athletes, something unexpected happened. They started receiving messages from people from all walks of life – marathon runners, weekend warriors, and even people suffering from nighttime leg cramps.
Touched by the stories, this initial foray into sports supplements opened a new door to pursue and combine their accumulated knowledge around creating nutritious and natural food products with their passion for sports. Now, Fixx Nutrition serves everyone who lives and breathes fitness - the amateur runner chasing a personal best, the cyclist tackling a new trail, and the professional athlete competing on the global stage.
Why the athletes love CrampFix
· It works fast: most athletes report relief in 30 seconds to 2 minutes. That speed makes it a lifesaver during races, long runs, multiday hikes, and events like Coast to Coast or Spring Challenge.
· It’s pack-and-go friendly: 20 ml shots are basically weightless and fit anywhere — trail vest pocket, cycle jersey, ski touring kit, or even the tiny, zipped pocket in your running shorts.
· It targets the actual mechanism: the acidic blend (vinegar-based, with salts and minerals) is designed to activate that oropharyngeal reflex that helps shut down the cramp at the nerve level. A quick swish in the mouth can make it even more effective.
· It’s simple, clean and trusted: minimal and all natural ingredients, sport-safe, widely used by endurance athletes, rugby players, adventure racers and outdoor nuts across Australasia.
How to use CrampFix
· Prevent: drink 1 x 20ml QuickFix SHOT or 10-20ml 5 minutes before exercise.
· Relieve: drink 15-20ml at first signs of cramping for rapid relief within 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
· Recover: drink 10ml after exercise to prevent post-exercise cramps and to reduce muscle tightness.
· Tip: drink one sachet every 40 to 60 minutes to prevent cramps from returning.
· Important: maximum daily intake 100ml (5 x QuickFix shots or 2 x 50ml Bottles).
Maintain usual hydration & energy
Tips to prevent cramps in the NZ outdoors
CrampFix is brilliant when things go south, but prevention is your best ally. Train specifically for the terrain you’ll tackle, because steep tracks, rooty trails and big elevation swings fatigue muscles fast, and strength work for your calves, hamstrings and glutes pays off. Dial in your hydration and electrolytes, since hot Canterbury nor’westers and humid bush tracks can ramp up sweat loss. Use electrolytes on long or hot days and drink consistently rather than reactively. Fuel properly, because low glycogen makes nerves tired and muscles twitchy, so eat early and enough on longer missions. And above all, listen to your body early — tightness, twinges, or that “my calf feels weird” feeling are cues to act, not ignore.
Why we love CrampFix
Because we’ve seen it work! Our athletes use it, our community swears by it, and the science behind it makes sense. It’s not a magic potion and it’s not a replacement for training, fueling and hydration — but it’s the most effective in-the-moment cramp rescue tools available.
Perfect for trail runners, mountain bikers, multisport athletes, trampers, paddlers, and anyone who knows that cramps love to strike just when you’re having the best time.
