Dark Labs P.I.M.P. Stimulant-Free Pre Workout Review

The Dark Labs name is synonymous with potency. But a stimulant-free product made by them??! Wow, the next step they need to take is a sleep aid. Performance Intensity Monster Pump is what P.I.M.P. stands for, and that’s what you can expect here. 

I recommend this product to anyone looking to take their performance to the next level. Or if you want something to add onto a high-stimulant product that doesn’t quite meet your pump pre-workout needs.

Thank you, Supps Central, for sending this full product for review! 

Where to Buy P.I.M.P. By Dark Labs

You can buy P.I.M.P. from the following retailers:

• Supps Central
  • LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off
• Nutri Cartel
  • LIFTVAULT = 15% off

Experience

Since there aren’t any stimulants, nothing was noticeable until after 40 minutes when a little bit of a tingle hit my lips. This does not contain beta-alanine, as it is just for the pumps. Within the first set, a complete pump and vascularity crawled all over my muscles. With minimum effort, I had pumps with each and every set for each muscle group trained. I can’t imagine how people will feel if they start to develop ILD (invisible lat syndrome), as it will make even the beginners feel huge! 

The muscle contractions were intense, with increased strength and endurance. Rep after rep, I felt a solid mind-to-muscle connection. They say when someone loses sight, they begin to hear more, and since I didn’t have stimulants driving the focus, I could dig deeper inside and go back to the days of hard training. I felt great during the workouts, with a decent emphasis similar to 10 mg of Noopept or 500 mg of Alpha GPC. I kept going set after set with ease, with improved circulation and breathing. 

Since I utilize stimulant-free pre-workouts to keep my caffeine tolerance lower, this product kills multiple birds with one stone with benefits in endurance/pump/recovery/stamina/strength. A pump product can supply a lackluster pre or give an extra edge for muscle growth, so I recommend anyone serious about lifting to use one as necessary for their goals. You could also add your favorite fat burner to stack with pump products.

Sustained strength and endurance while having sick, solid pumps plus the vascularity to make others jealous, all while keeping focused, is what this product delivered for me. In addition, I felt DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) hit sooner, not that my training will always warrant soreness in this regard, as my muscles were just that pumped! 

Side Effects

I didn’t experience any effects that were negative while using this product.

Flavor

Green apple was the flavor I was sent for review, and it was disgusting. It had a slight green apple flavor. Rating flavors is very subjective, but I wasn’t a fan of this flavor. I made grimaced faces each time I tasted this product which left a sour and gritty taste in my mouth.

There isn’t a suggested amount of water, but 8-10 ounces seemed right. I most enjoyed it with around 10 ounces of water, as it is a bit gritty. Since it does contain glycerol, you will want to have plenty of water ingested or hydrated for the maximum volume of the pump.

Dose/Scoop Size

The serving size is 23.5 grams for a whole serving, which is a slightly rounded scoop. I shake my supplements before using them, especially the first time. This gave a slight fluffiness to the product, but it didn’t affect the measurement much, so my scoop level would be the same as anyone else.

I only used a whole serving each time, which hit precisely how I needed it for the review. Dark Labs gives 20 servings, the current market standard. It could be dosed as less, based on individual effectiveness, as the formulation is vast. The mixability was fair and about as expected, with a medium amount of sediment toward the end of the shaker, but a swirl and gulp took care of it. 

Ingredients

This is a unique solid pump formula but is also heavily clinically based and dosed. I am more than satisfied with it, and I don’t have any recommendations. It also has the added potassium plus a high dose of sodium to get things going.

Sodium (as Sea Salt) – 500 mg

Sodium is the most critical electrolyte since it is readily lost through sweating. Sodium dosage depends on which source you look at, but all electrolyte products contain various amounts ranging from 50mg to 1g (as seen in LMNT). The proper dosage depends on your unique needs, diet, exercise, and nutrition, which is affected by previous medical history (i.e., hypertension). Sodium affects the taste and isn’t desired by all users.

It also helps retain water, enabling you to achieve fuller muscle bellies during your workout. This can help prevent muscle spasms and allow for a good contraction.

500 mg is a large dosage for this ingredient; however, it is diet-dependent as not everyone will need higher amounts (for comparison, FSU Dyehard has 300 mg, and Hooligan Bare Knuckle has 250 mg).

It also contains essential electrolytes! More info can be found at Supplements in Review.

Potassium – 60 mg

Potassium is an essential mineral that regulates blood pressure and contractility of the heart tissues. It helps reduce muscle cramps and weakness in the muscle fibers. High potassium dosages aren’t typically found in supplements due to the effect on the body when ingested in large amounts. Potassium is generally found in fruits, some vegetables (bok choy, potatoes, beets, bananas, broccoli, avocados, and more), and cream of tartar powder.

L-Citrulline – 10 g

L-citrulline is one of the most common pre-workout ingredients. Extensive evidence supports its ability to increase nitric oxide production, power output, pumps, blood flow, and endurance. It is typical for this ingredient to contain malic acid mixed in a 2:1 ratio per the clinical studies. Malic acid has some benefits similar to beta-alanine, and these ingredients aren’t in a chemical bond. and some products may list malic acid as a separate ingredient. 

You want four to six grams of pure l-citrulline for proper clinical dosage, although multiple pump enhancers may make it unnecessary in higher dosages. If the ratio is on the label as 2:1, a 10-gram dose would contain close to 6.6 grams. Per the clinical trials, daily supplementation is required to obtain the full benefits.

HydroPrime 65% Glycerol Powder – 2.5 g

Glycerol provides enhanced performance, increased muscular pumps, and supports proper hydration levels. Most pump products work by increasing Nitric Oxide (NO) production, which then leads to increased vasodilation. Glycerol increases vascularity and pumps via raising the osmotic pressure within bodily fluids, which supports water movement throughout the body.

From PubMed, the hyperhydration effect of glycerol can be used to fight off heat exhaustion. 3-5 grams should be noticeable for pumps.

Nitrosigine – 1.5 g

Nitrosigine, or Nitrosyl Arginine Silicate (ASI), is a patented compound that combines arginine (an amino acid) with silicon. This unique fusion has the potential to enhance the production of nitric oxide and promote improved blood circulation. Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a vasodilator, effectively relaxing and expanding blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow. This physiological mechanism yields benefits for cardiovascular well-being, enhances exercise performance, and contributes to muscle pumps. 

Additionally, it may lead to muscle growth and heightened cognitive clarity (source). It is a non-stimulant component and is pivotal in elevating nitric oxide (NO) production, facilitating greater blood flow. Arginine silicate is prominently featured in various products that have earned recognition among the best pump supplements. 1,500 mg is at the upper end of the recommended range of 750 mg to 1,500 mg daily.

Agmatine Sulfate – 1 g

Agmatine is often included in pre-workout supplements as a pump ingredient, but more research is needed to understand how reliable these claims are. Theoretically, since agmatine can increase endothelial nitric oxide, it can help boost nitric oxide in the body and improve circulation. Improving circulation can help with more than achieving a pump; it helps the distribution and saturation of ingredients. This is especially important with high and hard stimulants. A comparable dose in similar product categories would be 750-1,000 mg.

VasoDrive-AP (Casein Hydrolysate) – 504 mg

This helps decrease blood pressure, increase nitric oxide production, increase blood flow, and enhance muscle pumps. Check out this article to learn more about VasoDrive-AP. This is the specific dosage recommended by the manufacturer. 

L-Novaline – 300 mg

L-Norvaline is a unique amino acid and a form of the BCAA valine. It is an arginase inhibitor, which helps prevent the breakdown of arginine in the body. This makes the nitric oxide production of citrulline more effective. Some sources suggest that a standard dose of L-norvaline is between 100 mg and 200 mg, or even up to 400 mg, but I need to find out how well-supported this claim is (Source). At 300 mg, this is within the typical range in other pre-workouts. 

AstraGin – 50 mg

Astragin is a patented ingredient that increases the bioavailability of nutritional supplements. In other words, it helps your body absorb more of the ingredients in the product, which allows the effectiveness of the ingredients. As the serving size increases, so does the need for a digestion aid.