Best Pre-Workout For Extra Pump

Barbell Pursuits tests and reviews fitness equipment and products to ensure quality for you. If you purchase something using one of our links, we may earn commission. Read our disclosures.


Benefits of pre-Workout

Pre-Workout supplements are specifically designed to help you get the most out of you performance wise. As the name implies, they should be taken before any sports activity or workout session in order to maximize your results.

The primary effect of pre-workout is to increase endurance and strength. To put it simply, these products will give you the capability to add more volume to your workout whether by increasing weight, repetitions or duration.

These products contain a variety of ingredients that vary from product to product that have particular desired effects.

Said effects can vary, some increase energy and focus while others can offer physical benefits such as increased pain tolerance or force production. The type of athlete you are will determine the type of pre-workout supplement you should be taking to get the most out of your workouts.


Best Popular Brand Pre-Workout - Cellucor C4 Ultimate

Price Per Serving

$1.57

Caffeine

300mg

Citrulline

6000mg

Creatine

1000mg

Beta-Alanine

3200mg

C4 Ultimate is one of the best pre-workouts around, hence why it's listed here as my pick for best overall pre-workout.

What makes it so good? It's an all-encompassing pre-workout that contains all of the necessary ingredients and they're up front about what you're consuming with a detailed label outlining the nutritional value and ingredient list.

It truly lives up to its name, "Ultimate". Your certainly getting what you paid for with this. with its high levels of citruline and beta-alinine its sure to drastically increase endurance, and give you an insane pump aswell! with a more then adequate amount of caffeine and even 1g of taurine thrown in to increase mental focus. Their is nothing I can say this protein is missing. If you want to squeeze every drop of performance out of yourself possible, this is the product for you.

Pros

  • Ingredient Dose Amounts More than Generous
  • $1.57 per (20)serving

Cons

  • Low serving count compared to most

Best Budget Pre-Workout - Cellucor C4 Original

Price Per Serving

$0.69

Caffeine

150mg

Citrulline

1000mg

Creatine

1000mg

Beta-Alanine

1600mg

Cellucor C4 Original is not as effective as the Ultimate version, but if your on a tight budget and you want a decent kick, It may be the right option for you.

C4 has been one of the most popular pre-workout supplements for a long time, and it's not just because it tastes so great. Its only real flaw is its low level citruline, an ingredient that widens blood vessels and increases blood flow and pump.

Other then that one flaw however it has a modest amount of caffiene and beta-alanine, which improves force production and muscle endurance. Usefull ingredients for both anaerobic or aerobic exercise.

If your on a budget or don't feel your training requires a high performance pre-workout, this is a great choice.

Pros

  • $0.69 per (30)serving
  • Great taste

Cons

  • Clumps can form in the powder quicker then other brands

Best Performance Pre-Workout Bucked Up Woke AF Pre-Workout

Price Per Serving

$1.83

Caffeine

333mg

Citrulline-Malate

6000mg

Creatine

N/A

Beta-Alanine

3200mg

Bucked Up were not playing when they introduced their Woke AF line of pre-workout. They came with their guns loaded, and boy did they deliver.

With every ingredient you could want, this high stim pre-workout will have you absolutely hooked. It comes in 10 different awesome flavours, packed with a more then sufficient amount of citrulline for that improved blood flow and better pump, aswell as a generous amount of caffeine for improved force production, and beta-alanine to boost muscle endurance.

You get all that for the modest price of $1.83 a serving. more then worth it in my opinion, this pre-workout is a clear winner for cheapest high performance pre-workout.

Pros

  • Packed with everything you need
  • $1.83 per (30)serving
  • Generous high performance blend

Cons

  • Some report effects are short lasting

Best Pre-Workout BCAA's Blend - Jym Pre-Jym

Price Per Serving

$1.83

Caffeine

300mg

Citrulline-Malate

6000mg

Creatine

N/A

Beta-Alanine

2000mg

Pre-Jym is a pre-workout that has a combination of your regular stimulant and endurance based ingredients blended with a hearty dose of BCAA's.

To be a true all-in-one all this supplement is missing is creatine. With a above standard dose of caffeine and a perfect amount of citrulline this pre-workout only falls short on beta-alanine with most competitor brands reach about 3200mg a serving compared to this products 2000mg.


Where it lacks in beta-alanine however, it makes up for by adding 6000mg of BCAA's. So you can drink water during your workout and still enjoy the benefits that come with the amino acids. You may also want to take into account that this product has 80 calories per serving, so those with certain diets may not be able to take this supplement as desired.

Pros

  • BCAA Pre-workout combination
  • $1.83 per (30)serving for 2 in 1 product
  • 80 Calories of extra fuel

Cons

  • 80 Calories may not be suitable for certain diets

Best Pre-Workout for Pump - Ghost Pump V2

Price Per Serving

$1.00

Caffeine

N/A

Citrulline

3000mg

Creatine

N/A

Beta-Alanine

N/A

Ghost Pump is a great option for those who workout late at night and dont want stimulants negatively impacting their sleep.

At $1.00 a serving with 40 servings, Ghost Pump is an affordable and usefull asset for those who want to avoid stimulants.

With a moderate amount of citrulline and taurine, this product will help you achieve great pumps with elevated mental cognition to really focus on each set and get the most out of your mind-muscle connection.

If your someone who struggles with sleep or you want to take a step back on daily caffeine intake this may be the perfect product to try. It doesn't quite hold up against stimulant pre-workouts but if it fits your lifestyle it is definetly an improvement over training with no supplements.

Pros

  • No stimulants for late workouts
  • $1.00 per (40)serving
  • 0 calories

Cons

  • Underpowered
  • Not as good for general workouts as others

What is Pre-Workout?

Pre-workout supplements are a variety of nutritional products taken before exercise to improve performance, endurance, and energy levels. It's difficult to give your all each and every single workout, that's where pre-workout comes into the picture.

On those days when you feel you could use a helping hand to boost your energy, pre-workout can help you crush it.

Pre-Workouts typically contain a variety of ingredients such as caffeine, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. The goal is to give you an extra edge in your workout performance, so you can get the most out of it.

While these products will not provide an immediate gain in muscle or strength, they do have the capacity to help you stay consistent, especially on difficult days which will ultimately lead to a healthier and stronger you!

when do i take Pre-Workout?

The best time to take your pre-workout is approximately 30-60 minutes before you start your physical activity. This will allow the ingredients sufficient time to be absorbed and reach peak performance levels in your body. Avoid taking your pre-workout supplement right before you enter the gym; this will only delay its effects until after you have already commenced exercising, rendering it useless.

should i use Pre-Workout?

In our opinion, Pre-Workout is a product more geared towards the hardcore and goal-driven individuals hitting the gym.

Newer gym goers can find the effects to be drastic and detrimental to a safe and productive gym experience, however, finding the right pre-workout with the right dosage of stimulants can be an effective way to jump-start your fitness journey.

Ultimately though, If you’re looking for a way to optimize your performance, pre-workout supplements may be the answer to your fatigue problems.

The proper use of pre-workout supplements can help you reach your fitness goals faster and more effectively. However, it’s important to do your research and speak to a qualified professional before taking any supplement, especially one with various stimulants.

Conclusion

If you want to optimize your training, implementing a pre-workout supplement is a must. There are many scientific studies that back up the ingredients that are found in these products that provide a substantial boost in performance.

How you ultimately use this supplement is up to you. Taking it every workout isn't a requirement. Using it only on the days where your program calls for a strenuous training session may be all you want it for, and that's perfectly fine.

Their is plenty of flexibility in these products and as long as your keeping your caffeine intake to safe levels and diluting this product in water, you can only benefit from this amazing supplement.

Denver Matheson
 

Passionate about fitness, I dedicate substantial time to both the gym and the kitchen, nourishing my body for optimal repair and growth. However, there's another crucial space that every athlete values—the research zone. That's precisely why I'm here—to share the knowledge I've acquired over the years, inspired by the generosity of others who guided me on my fitness journey. Join me as I offer valuable insights and information to help you pursue your own barbell pursuits.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 0 comments

Leave a Reply: