Pre Workout Reviews

Find the best pre-workout supplements reviewed for their potency and value. Pre workouts are highlighted for their strength, inclusion of special ingredients, and overall value. If you're tired of wasting money on ineffective pre workouts, check out our recommended pre workouts below.

Recommended Pre Workouts

Apollon Nutrition - Hooligan (Best overall strength with a clean ingredient list)
Apollon Nutrition - Assassin (Strongest pre workout, contains ingredients banned from many competitive sports)
Metabolic Nutrition - ESP Extreme Pre Workout (Best Value Pre Workout)

You can also check out our round up lists:

For the latest pre workout reviews, please see the posts below.

The 5 Best Pre Workout Supplements for Athletes

By Kyle Risley
Last updated June 20, 2022

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Are you an athlete looking to step up your training game BIG time?

The right pre-workout supplement will have you running faster, lifting heavier, pushing further, feeling less fatigued, and absolutely smashing your goals.

But not all pre-workouts are created equal, and there’s a very fine line between good pre-workouts and great pre-workouts.

Besides the host of benefits you can reap from taking pre-workout, it is possible to find an awesome pre-workout supplement that’s 100% compliant with tested sports federations, like WADA and NCAA (no positive drug test!).

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The 8 Best Pre-Workout Supplements with Creatine

By Kyle Risley
Last updated June 19, 2022

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

If you really want the best of both worlds, a pre-workout supplement with creatine will take you far in boosting your athletic performance and destroying your fitness goals – faster than ever before!

But, it seems to be a common problem that many creatine pre-workouts don’t contain nearly enough creatine (or other effective ingredients) to actually produce results.

Well, you can sit back and relax, because I’ve compiled a list of the very best pre-workout supplements with creatine to suit all of your needs – so you don’t have to.

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Alpha Neon Darkshred Pre-Workout Review

By Paul Tiller
Last updated June 19, 2022

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Darkshred is a fat burner supplement from Alpha Neon. Darkshred will give you the energy, focus, thermogenic, and diuretic effects for a strong cardio session after a cheat meal. It has an impressively loaded label listing 1.5 g Carnitine-Tartrate, 700 mg Dandelion Extract, 500 mg Horsetail Extract, 500 mg Cordyceps, 394 mg total caffeine (from anhydrous and guarana seed), 200 mg White Willow Bark, 200 mg Forkshiil Root Extract, 50 mg Grains of Paradise,

I would only recommend Darkshred for advanced users of pre-workouts or fat burners due to the intense thermogenic effects and energy.

I tried Darkshred three separate times, once with a pump product for a lifting day and twice for fasted cardio. Every time, the thermogenic and diuretic effects were strong along with the energy.

Read on for additional details of my experience, the best prices for the Darkshred fat burner, and a breakdown of its ingredient label.

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DECIM8 Pre-Workout Review

By Paul Tiller
Last updated June 12, 2022

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

DECIM8 is a pre-workout supplement from ELEV8 Supps. It contains 2 g L-Tyrosine, 600 mg Alpha GPC, 300 mg Theobromine, 325 mg total caffeine from three different sources, 200 mg DMHA, 200 mg Eria Jarensis, 100 mg Neurofactor, and 30 mg Noopept. DECIM8 provides the focus and energy needed for a long workout.

I would only recommend this product for advanced pre-workout users due to the included stims and for “stim-junkies” who want a great pre-workout without having to go too strong.

Read on for additional details of my experience, the best prices for the DECIM8 pre-workout, and a breakdown of its ingredient label.

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The 9 Best Pre-Workout Supplements for Cardio

By Kyle Risley
Last updated June 9, 2022

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Whether you’re an avid runner, swimmer, cyclist, or just someone who regularly trains cardio, a solid pre-workout supplement can take your performance to the NEXT LEVEL. (And no, pre-workouts aren’t just made for bodybuilders and powerlifters.)

Ready to maximize your training with boundless energy, immense focus, and endurance like never before?

In this guide, you’ll find the best pre-workout supplements for cardio, how to choose the right one for you, and why these sports supplements can help you to reach your fitness goals faster.

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Crack Reloaded Pre-Workout Review

By Kyle Risley
Last updated May 30, 2022

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Crack Reloaded is a high-stim pre-workout supplement from Dark Labs. Dark Labs is most known for creating Crack Pre-Workout, Flame Pre-Workout, Ripper Fat Burner, and Herolean Fat Burner, which all feature either DMAA or DMHA.

Crack Reloaded, notably, does not contain DMAA or DMHA.

The question on everyone’s mind is: does it still slap?

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Darkside Ultra Pre Xtreme Pre-Workout Review

By Kyle Risley
Last updated June 22, 2022

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Ultra Pre Xtreme is a high-stim pre-workout supplement made by Darkside. Boasting 425 mg of caffeine from two sources, 300 mg of eria jarensis, and 60 mg of hordenine, Ultra Pre Xtreme delivers a surprisingly smooth blend of energy, focus, and euphoria.

I strongly recommend this for anyone who wants to take a break from DMAA pre-workouts and DMHA pre-workouts while still experiencing a strong pre-workout. I’ll definitely be finishing my tub.

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The 6 Best Pre-Workout with 400 mg Caffeine

For a lot of fitness enthusiasts and gym rats, 400 mg of caffeine is the “big leagues” when it comes to pre-workout supplements.

And while that doesn’t mean 400 mg of caffeine is right for everyone, if you’ve been using pre-workouts for a few years and you’re looking for something stronger, the supplements on this list are absolutely worth a look.

We’ll cover pre-workouts with and without illicit stimulants, so if you’re a tested athlete or just conscious about what you put in your body, we recommend trying Pre-Kaged Elite or Loco. You could also check out our list of the best pre workouts for tested athletes.

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The 5 Best Pre-Workouts for MMA Fighters

By Kyle Risley
Last updated May 29, 2022

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

If you train in MMA, you’ll definitely agree that combat sports are amongst the most rigorous activities out there – and they certainly can be tough on your body and energy levels!

Want to maximize your MMA training sessions by having more energy and mental focus to perform at your best?

For mixed martial arts specifically, a solid pre-workout supplement might be just what you need to go from a good MMA fighter to an elite MMA fighter.

[Read more…]

Defib V2 Pre-Workout Review

By Paul Tiller
Last updated May 28, 2022

As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

Defib V2 is a pre-workout supplement from HR Labs. Its comprehensive formula contains 8 g Citrulline Malate, 2.5 g Betaine, and 2 g GylcerSize (™) for pumps, 3.2 g Beta-Alanine and 1 g PeakO2 (™) for endurance, 1 g Phosphatidylserine, 1 g ALCAR, 600 mg Alpha GPC for focus, 400 mg Caffeine, 300 mg EnExtra (™), and 200 mg Dyanmine (™) for energy. Defib V2 has everything you’d want in a pre-workout.

One time was needed to know that this product is legit. Providing pumps, focus, energy, Defib V2 has got it all.

I would easily recommend this product to beginners who can take 400 mg caffeine, as it’s well-dosed without any illicit or gray-market stims.

I would also recommend this for anyone seeking a well-rounded loaded pre-workout without gray-market stims and anyone who wants a productive, get-things-done kind of workout.

I wouldn’t recommend this for “stim-junkies” as the energy is smooth and not overpowering.

Read on for additional details of my experience, the best prices for the Defib V2 pre-workout, and a breakdown of its ingredient label.

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Pre Workout FAQs

Below you’ll find some of the most frequently asked questions about pre workout supplements.

Is pre workout bad for you?

Because the type of ingredients in pre workouts varies, it is impossible to provide a one size fits all answer. There are certainly safe pre workouts that are fine to take as recommended for most healthy individuals. Some of the more extreme pre workouts contain stimulants that can cause unwanted side effects and can build a tolerance if taken too frequently, which can result in negative withdrawal effects. However, just a little research from reading pre workout reviews can make it much easier to find a pre workout that is right for you.

What effects does pre workout achieve?

Pre workouts are usually taken to improve energy levels, increase blood flow, and enhance focus during a workout. The main difference between various pre workout supplements is how much they emphasize these effects. Some are mostly focused on blood flow (aka “the pump”) while others focus on boosting energy for long workouts. This is why doing some pre workout research before making a purchase is important.

Is pre workout right for me?

Pre workout may be worth considering after you have tracked your diet and sleep for several weeks and are still having issues with completing your workouts. At that point, some extra caffeine may be a good place to start when seeking supplementation. Lift Vault’s list of safe pre workouts is a good place to start if you’re a beginner.

What are the best pre workouts?

If you ask 10 people this question, you’ll likely get 10 different answers. It really is a personal decision that depends on what kind of effects an individual is seeking. With that said, Lift Vault has compiled a list of its favorite pre workouts for different occasions, including pre workouts without banned substances, pre workouts with banned substances, pre workouts with excellent value, and pre workouts without caffeine.