Sometimes just getting started can be a challenge to get those intense workouts in, even for those that have been into fitness for a long time. That’s when knowing what is the best pre workout supplement on the market today can provide energy, focus, and nutrients to help you get going to have those intense, muscle building workouts that you’re after. But like most things, not all supplements are created equal. So to help you out, we have created a list of the top pre workout supplement products of 2017. And don’t worry ladies if you’re looking for the top pre workout for women we’ve got you covered in this article as well. Our goal is to save you time and money so that you can get to the hardwork of building more muscle. Just check out the guide below for our pre workout reviews.
Your Ultimate Guide To The Best Pre Workout Supplement
| Picture | Name | Servings | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picture | Name | Servings | Price | Rating |
 | 1. 4 Gauge
 | 20 | $$$ | 5.0 |
| MusclePharm Assault | 30 | $$ | 4.4 | |
| Pharmafreak Super Freak | 30 | $$ | 4.2 | |
| BPI Sports 1.M.R. Vortex | 30 | $ | 4.0 | |
| BSN N.O.-XPLODE | 60 | $$ | 3.8 |
What Makes A Great Pre Workout Supplement?
The top pre workout supplements are a fairly new addition to the supplement industry, gaining in popularity and demand close to 10 years ago. When they were first introduced they were just full of stimulants, basically extremely high amounts of caffeine and supplements that are now illegal. Over the years they have become more sophisticated in being more than just something that will get you all jittery with energy but products that not only give you energy for your workouts but also help you perform at peak performance.
With innovations in science, top pre workout supplements now contain ingredients that help you workout longer, lift more weight, get a better pump, recover quicker after workouts and also taste pretty amazing. They have truly come a long ways in a short amount of time, it’s a great time in the supplement industry indeed. Some typical ingredients you will find in top pre workout supplements are caffeine, beta alanine, bcaa’s, creatine and other supplements. The trick is to find a pre workout that does all these things well as many products may contain similar ingredients but they all have different formulas, some being better than others.
Advantages of Using The Top Pre Workout Supplements
- Energy – The best pre workout supplement should provide you with energy to get through those grueling workouts without leaving you feelings jittery for hours
- Stamina – They also allow for you to workout longer than you normally would be able to, allowing you to get more from your body during your workouts.
- Strength – With more energy and the ability to workout longer, you should also be able to lift more weight and gain more strength in the process
- Pumps – Most pre workouts have a formula that allows more bloodflow to get into the muscles, providing a pump for an amazing feeling during workouts.
- Performance – With a solid pre workout you will be able to perform at a higher level in the gym or even during sporting events if you are an athlete.
How Long Before A Workout Should I Take Pre Workout?
The true answer to this question is… it depends. That may not be the answer you’re looking for, but let me explain. If you tend to digest food quickly, then you can consume these supplements anywhere between 15-30 minutes before your workout. But if you are one that tends to digest food slower, then you would probably want to shoot for the 30-45 minute window. Experiment with this and see what time frame works best for you. Everyone is a little different.
As to the question of how to take one of these supplements, that also depends on how you digest food and how potent you want your energy surge to be. If you digest food quickly, then you could consume these supplements with a protein shake 30 minutes before your workout. Some people, though, experience a decreased level of energy from the supplements when it’s mixed with food. So if you want the maximum energy boost, then we suggest consuming these supplements on an empty stomach. Therefore, if you digest food slowly, we recommend having your pre-workout meal 45-60 minutes before exercise and then having your energy supplement 30 minutes before exercise.
These are just general guidelines. The best method is to try these different windows and variances out for yourself and see what works for your body. Remember also that different supplements digest at different rates, so a method you used with one supplement may not be the optimal way with a different supplement you try. Just be a student of your own body and you’ll be fine.
How We Conducted Our Best Preworkout Reviews
Just like any other industry there are good products and there are products that just aren’t good, but how do you tell what’s good and what’s not? If you went on advertisements then every single pre workout supplement out there would look like the greatest thing since sliced bread. Since most of these companies have multi million dollar advertising campaigns, athlete endorsements and product placements behind them we probably want to keep that from our grading criteria.
Don’t get sucked into thinking by taking a product that you will look like the guy endorsing it just because you took that product. Let’s be honest here, the guys endorsing these products built their bodies years before they ever got a supplement endorsement deal. So to think they got their body from the product they are pushing is just foolish thinking.
So how do we sift through all the nonsense to see the supplements for what they really are and come up with our pre workout reviews. Well what we did was sort of blind test of sorts. We had 3 people try out a supplement but they weren’t told what the supplement was, the only person who knew what supplement they were taking was the person in charge of the results.
The only thing the 3 guinea pigs knew was that:
- They were taking a pre workout and they were to go about their normal workouts and report their experiences. That was the only way we could think of to keep favoritism and any marketing from seeping it’s way into the opinions of our participants because let’s be honest, we all have favorites and it can make us feel better or worse about a product based on our predetermined basis’s.
- Each product was test for a whole week worth’s of workouts as to try and get a more solid review of each product. We did this because you could take a certain pre workout on a day you feel like a million bucks and you may think it worked better than it really did. As you could also take one on a day you don’ t feel so hot and it could make you feel worse about a product. Nothing is perfect but we felt this was the best way to get a real solid review of each supplement.
So when you see our best preworkout reviews you can rest assure that we were not bought by a supplement company to rank a product higher or lower, these are just our honest findings and personal experiences from using the products listed on this page. We even had a few ladies here at Shocking Strength test out the products so these products could also be known as the best pre workout for women as well, in fact we are going to talk about that next.
Best Pre Workout For Women?
Many times women are hesitant to take some of the best preworkout supplements because they think they are formulated just for men. They then find themselves asking what is the best pre workout for women? Are pre workouts even safe for women to take? Well you ladies can rest assure that the best preworkout supplements are formulated to be used by both men and women. Men may be from Mars and women may be from Venus, but when it comes to supplements our bodies process it all basically the same. With that said if you are a women and are considering using one of the top pre workout supplements, you should perhaps try taking half a serving if it’s your first time using a certain product.
The truth is if there was a “best preworkout for women” that was created, it wouldn’t look any different than anything that is already out there today. All it would have is a different marketing campaign attached to it and potentially cost more money since it would be targeting a smaller segment of the population. As a women you won’t have any issues with most of the best workout supplements out there but if you are weary of taking one of the top pre workout supplement offerings out there, start paying attention to the labels and see if there are any ingredients in them that you wouldn’t be comfortable with. Become educated in what your putting in your body and you won’t have any issues with these products.
Pre Workout Supplement Top 5 Review
BSN N.O.-XPLODE
Starting off our best preworkout review is none other than N.O. Xplode from BSN Nutrition. This product has been around for awhile now and for good reason. It just works. The formula has been tweaked over the years and is better than ever with version 2.0. It provides good energy, aides in getting “the pump,” and it really tastes great. Over the years, there have been newer products that have come out that are more powerful stimulants, but you really can’t go wrong with this old faithful of pre workout boosters. If your looking for something to give your workouts a boost but aren’t looking for anything crazy then this may be what your looking for. This would perhaps be a good pre workout for women that are new to these products.
BPI Sports 1.M.R. Vortex
There are two versions currently of 1 M.R. (short for one more rep). There is the regular version and then the 1 M.R. Vortex, which we have listed here on our review. The main difference being that vortex is a bit more of an amped up version and provides more of a boost for your workouts. If you’re someone who is sensitive to stimulants, then the regular 1 M.R. will work just fine for you. If you want a little extra then the Vortex will do the trick. It also provides a little more value since the Vortex has 50 servings compared to the regular version which has 28. Vortex also has a new energy matrix that provides more energy for a longer period of time, so no crash. In our testing, we could tell the energy difference as it seemed to last longer, yet wasn’t overwhelming.
Pharmafreak Super Freak
Making it’s first appearance in our best preworkout review is Super Freak which is a brand new supplement in the world of pre workout boosters, but like most things from Pharma Freak, it is nothing if not intense. In our tests, a full scoop was borderline too much, as 1/2 a scoop was more than enough to have a great workout. It provides energy no doubt, but where this product really delivers is the focus it provides. It’s almost like tunnel vision for your workouts. It also mixes very well and it has a great taste. Definitely the lead candidate for new product of the year for 2014.
MusclePharm Assault
Since Assault came out, it has won many supplement awards and been highly rated by many users. This is all for a good reason…the stuff just works! It provides mountains of energy and is used by many pro athletes as a performance booster before games/events. It will more than provide you with enough energy to blast through your workouts and it has vitamins and minerals to boot as well. It is also not only one of the best preworkouts around but it is arguably the best tasting pre workout ever. If you were to take a blind taste test, you may think you’re drinking Kool Aid. One warning: if you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to consume this with your meal before your workout as some have reported stomach irritability if consumed on an empty stomach. To learn even more about Assault click here.
1. 4 Gauge
As does tend to happen in the supplement industry, a brand new product has stormed onto the scene and has taken our top spot for the best pre workout of 2017 and that product is 4 Gauge. The reason we gave it the top spot is because everything you want a pre workout supplement to do, 4 Gauge does fantastically. It gives you a nice flow of energy but doesn’t leave you feeling jittery like so many other products can and it also provides sustained energy throughout even marathon workout sessions. It also provides a nice pump that you can feel after just a few sets into your workout as it uses L-Citrulline for the main ingredient for that. The full ingredient list you can find below:
- L-Citrulline DL-Malate – 6,000 mg
- Caffeine – 150 mg
- L-Theanine – 200 mg
- Rhodiola Rosea -100 mg
- Red Beet Extract – 300 mg
- Creatine Monohydrate
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine
- Coconut Water
As far as pre workouts go, that’s an all star lineup of ingredients and in terms of performance it just makes you feel at your absolute best in the gym. Even on days when you are lacking in sleep but what is really great are the days when mentally you are just not feeling it the mental sharpness that it provides helps you get focused and stay focused, which can be a life saver for those of us on the go and balancing a lot on our plates. Oh and in case you were wondering it tastes fantastic as well so you don’t have to chug it down quick just to get it over with. I actually enjoy sipping it before my workouts as I really enjoy the flavor, especially if you mix it with Scivation Xtend BCAAs.
If you enjoyed this review and you’re a lady then you should check out our review on the best pre workout supplements for women on the market today. We think you’ll love it!
