Any gym-goer on the lookout for an effective pre-workout supplement will likely come across Pre-Kaged and C4.
They’re both extremely popular pre-workout supplements but are designed for two entirely different people. But when it comes down to Pre-Kaged vs C4, Kaged Muscle’s Pre-Kaged comes out on top as the better pre-workout formula.
Below, we break down everything you need to know about these two pre-workout supplements – from the key differences to the pros and cons.
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Winner
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4.5
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3.5
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Pros:
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Pros:
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- 100% transparent label
- Clinically dosed
- 3rd party tested
- Vegan
Key Differences Between Pre-Kaged and C4
Both Pre-Kaged and C4 Pre-Workout are popular pre-workouts in the fitness and sports industry but significantly differ in their key ingredients, dosage, scientific backing, and transparency.
Pre-Kaged is more of an “all in one” premium pre-workout with a well-rounded blend of ingredients, with most being clinically dosed. C4 falls short here by significantly underdosing key ingredients like citrulline malate, beta-alanine, and creatine nitrate.
C4 also uses a partial proprietary blend, so it’s clear that C4 achieves its popularity mainly through marketing, price point, and distribution.
While Kaged Muscle’s Pre-Kaged isn’t perfect, it delivers much better value than Cellucor’s C4.
Which pre-workout is better overall?
Pre-Kaged delivers a better overall experience, with more value for money in terms of key ingredients and dosages. It’s a higher-quality product in just about every way.
Which pre-workout is better for energy?
Pre-Kaged offers the most energy out of the two, with nearly 125 mg more caffeine.
Which pre-workout is better for pumps?
Pre-Kaged blows C4 out of the water in terms of pumps, with 6.5 g of pure L-citrulline.
Which pre-workout is better for beginners?
C4 is more beginner-friendly especially if you’re on a budget and are relatively sensitive to caffeine.
Product Overviews
Pre-Kaged Pre-Workout Overview
Pre-Kaged is one of the best "all-around" pre-workouts on the market today. When it comes to delivering proven ingredients at effective dosages, Kaged is a brand that delivers time and time again.
Pre-Kaged supplies pump, energy, and focus without any banned or shady ingredients, making it a great choice for tested athletes or anyone that cares what they put into their body.
Kaged Muscle has put out a good range of pre-workout supplements that promise to enhance workout performance, including Pre-Kaged.
This pre-workout supplement delivers a good dose of key ingredients – similar to what you’ll find in many pre-workout supplements. It has a hefty dose of L-citrulline (6.5 g) and betaine (2.5 g) to support increased blood flow and muscle mass. At 274 mg of caffeine, Pre-Kaged strikes a reasonable middle ground in terms of stimulation and energy.
Unfortunately, Pre-Kaged doesn’t maximize in the focus category, only delivering 1 gram of N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine – which is less bioavailable than pure L-Tyrosine.
It is an expensive workout at $44 a tub for only 20 servings. However, it still offers more value for money when compared with Cellucor C4.
Pros:
- Well-rounded blend of ingredients, most clinically dosed
- Nice dose of caffeine
- 3rd party tested by Informed Choice – certified banned substance free.
Cons:
- Only 20 servings
- BCAAs are at a 4:1:1 ratio instead of 2:1:1
- Uses less effective form of tyrosine (N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine is less effective than pure L-Tyrosine)
- Beta-Alanine amino acid is underdosed.
C4 Overview
C4 is the first pre-workout many people try. While this doesn't necessarily mean it's good, it does give it a popularity that is hard to ignore.
It's biggest advantages are that it is cheap and tastes good. Most ingredients are underdosed, but if you don't care about that then it's a fine starting point for beginners.
Cellucor C4 is an all-purpose pre-workout powder that, despite being marketed as a “foundational, explosive” pre-workout supplement, fails to deliver as a worthwhile pre-workout supplement.
Rather than maximizing key ingredients, C4 Pre-Workout includes a massive blend of vitamins. When it comes to pre-workout supplements, key ingredients like L-citrulline, beta-alanine, arginine and creatine nitrate are what you’re looking for. Cellucor C4 significantly underdoses each of these ingredients.
What’s more, it also uses a proprietary blend, “Explosive Energy Blend,” which only contains 150 mg of caffeine and an undisclosed amount of L-tyrosine, theacrine, and velvet bean seed extract.
Despite its popularity, Cellucor C4 doesn’t bring much to the table. The underdosing, lack of transparency, and use of artificial sweeteners and colors are major red flags that shouldn’t be ignored.
Pros:
- Pretty cheap on a per-serving basis (30 full servings)
- Tastes good
- Easy to find.
Cons:
- All ingredients are significantly underdosed (except for caffeine, which comes in at a respectable 150 mg – for beginners)
- Uses a partial proprietary blend.
Conclusion
Based on the ingredients used, dosage, and benefits to exercise performance, Pre-Kaged is the better pre-workout supplement.
While other pre-workout supplements could give you more bang for your buck, Pre-Kaged is the significantly better choice.
Use Pre-Kaged Pre-Workout if:
- You’re looking to enhance your exercise performance
- You want more energy in your workout with more caffeine.
Use C4 Pre-Workout if:
- You’re looking for a pre-workout that tastes great
- You’re new to using pre-workouts.
