What Is Pre-Workout and Should You Be Using It?
Jessica Cortez Jump to:
- Best Pre-Workout
- What Does Pre-Workout Do?
- What's in My Pre-Workout and Is It Safe?
- What Pre-Workout Ingredients Should I Look Out For?
- What Pre-Workout Ingredients Should I Avoid?
- Is Pre-Workout Dangerous?
- How Long Does Pre-Workout Take To Kick In?
- When Should I Take Pre-Workout?
- Should I Take Pre-Workout Every Day?
- Can I Use Coffee as a Pre-Workout?
- The Pros and Cons of Taking Pre-Workout
- Men's Health Lab Approved
- The Best Pre-Workout Supplements
- Your One-Stop Supplement Guide
- Natural Pre-Workouts
You can't expect to turn up to every workout feeling 100%. Sometimes, you'll go to the gym feeling tired, lethargic and unmotivated, and if that sounds familiar, finding the best pre-workout supplement may be all that's needed to get you out of your training lull.
Don't believe in the power of pre-workout? Well, a study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition reported that combining pre-workout with HIIT sessions resulted in significant increases in VO2 max, training volume and lean body mass, while also speeding up the rate at which moderately trained recreational athletes lost body fat.
Still, if you decide to get in on the pre-workout action yourself, you'll want to know how to do it safely and smartly. That's why we've created a one-stop guide, which includes insight from a professional sports nutritionist, as well as pros and cons of supplementing your nutrition with every lifter's favourite pick-me-up.
You'll also find a guide to the products that can give you a natural pre-workout boost, plus the best pre-workout supplements money can buy, as tested by the Men’s Health Lab.
Consider this article your pre pre-workout.
Best Pre-Workout
Here's a quick snapshot of the best pre-workout supplements to buy in 2024. For a more detailed breakdown of each, including the best pre-workout tablets and gels, keep scrolling.
BEST FOR EVENINGS
MyVitamins Pre-Workout Gummies: Blueberry
£15 at myvitamins.com£15 at myvitamins.comRead moreBest for on the go
Warrior Warrior Rage Pre-Workout Energy Shot: Tropical Sourz
£15 at Amazon£15 at AmazonRead moreBEST FOR TOUGH WORKOUTS
PHD Charge Pre-Workout Powder: Sherbert Lemon
£15 at Amazon£15 at AmazonRead moreBest for flavour
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout Shot: Mixed Berry
£19 at Amazon£19 at AmazonRead moreBEST FOR CARDIO
Protein Works Raze Extreme: Blue Raspberry
£24 at theproteinworks.com£24 at theproteinworks.comRead more
What Does Pre-Workout Do?
If you don't fuel yourself properly before exercises or hard workouts, you'll be less energised, weaker and will tire faster than normal. That's a fact. Pre-workout is designed to help fight this and keep you going harder, for longer. While the supplement can be taken in a variety of formats — from meals to shakes to pills and more — they're all designed to boost energy levels and increase focus.
For many, pre-workout supplements are usually mixed with a drink and taken around 30 minutes before the beginning of a workout. By giving your body extra carbohydrates, it helps raise blood sugar levels and supply additional energy during exercise. In short, they're much more energising than a banana or a black coffee.
What's in My Pre-Workout and Is It Safe?
As a pre-workout is designed to help you cruise through a particularly tough workout, it shouldn't be a surprise to learn that they supply your system with sugar, caffeine and other energy-boosting stimulants.
And it pays to read the ingredients label before you invest in a fresh pot of pre-workout. Caffeine is the key ingredient to look out for as the content can vary from mild to way too much, and in extreme cases, high levels of caffeine can cause some pretty serious health issues such as anxiety, insomnia and high blood pressure.
For most men, pre-workout is a safe supplement to take, but even at the safe end of the spectrum, its side effects can still cause jitters, itching and interrupted sleep, which are harmless but still uncomfortable. Our advice: if you're new to pre-workout, go for half doses to begin with and see how your body reacts.
What Pre-Workout Ingredients Should I Look Out For?
Creatine Monohydrate: A popular supplement among gym-goers, creatine is included in many pre-workouts due to its potential to increase muscle power and performance during training.
BCAAs: Branch chain amino acids have been found to improve endurance during a workout and increase strength by maintaining cellular energy and supporting protein synthesis.
Taurine: Found in various animal meats, taurine is a sulfonic acid that contributes to the metabolism of fats and fights oxidative stress during workouts.
B-vitamins: Vitamins B1, B2 B5, and B6 all play important roles in energy production and efficiency, while vitamin B12 supports blood production and vitamin B3 boosts DNA repair and promotes healthier skin.
NO2-boosters (ex. Arginine, Citrulline): Arginine, for example, is a nitrogen dioxide booster and an amino acid that acts as a 'vasodilator'. Essentially, arginine (and other similar nitrogen dioxide supplements) expands your veins and arteries, making it easier for blood to flow around your body, delivering nutrients quicker and more efficiently.
What Pre-Workout Ingredients Should I Avoid?
Research published in Food and Chemical Toxicology cited that 400mg of caffeine a day is the upper limit for adults. What does this mean to you? One cup of instant coffee contains 60-80mg of caffeine, but high street flat whites contain anything between 65mg at Pret A Manger and 160mg at Starbucks.
Some pre-workout brands spill over the recommended daily dose. ProSupps Mr Hyde NitroX pre-workout, for example, houses an uncomfortable 410mg of caffeine in a 7.5g scoop.
As sports nutritionist Matt Lovell points out, there are definitely some pre-workout products you should actively avoid. 'I would say any speed cousins, amphetamine cousins. Some pre-workouts basically contain ecstasy. Or close to it,’ he says.
Is Pre-Workout Dangerous?
Broadly speaking, pre-workout supplements — such as the products we've listed below — are safe to take on a regular basis when following the manufacturer's instructions. Of course, when it comes to ingesting caffeine, we all have different thresholds and with some brands tipping over a sensible limit of caffeine content, it can become a risky game.
Bear in mind that figure from the Food and Chemical Toxicology journal: 400mg a day – that's around two to three cups of coffee — is the upper limit for adults, so be sure to check the per-serving caffeine content of your supplement during your next top-up.
How Long Does Pre-Workout Take To Kick In?
When you start exercising, you want to hit the ground running. You don't want to be waiting around for your pre-workout to kick in, so it's important to find the sweet spot. For most people, the ideal time is around 30 minutes to one hour before your workout — this should give the supplement enough time to hit your bloodstream and amp you up ahead of your session.
Something to consider, however, is the 'half life' of caffeine. Generally, caffeine has a half-life of around three to seven hours after ingestion. If you're used to training in the evenings, you want to take half the recommended dose or swap it out for a pre-workout alternative. We've listed a few below.
When Should I Take Pre-Workout?
Like we've mentioned above, most people take pre-workout around 30 minutes to one hour before they work out, but just because it's called pre-workout that doesn't necessarily mean you have to take it prior to your workout. 'For longer sessions, you could delay until an hour into the session,' suggests Lovell. Always refer to the label of your pre-workout for specifics.
Should I Take Pre-Workout Every Day?
If you continue to take pre-workout on a regular basis, your body can build up a tolerance to its effects, which is why Lovell advises cycling the supplement, or coming off it for six to eight weeks at a time to give your body a chance to reset. 'Cycling is the way forwards,' he says. ‘Also get some stimulant-free ones [that] you can use most days or just some plain old tyrosine, which is a very good budget pre-workout.'
Can I Use Coffee as a Pre-Workout?
As we've mentioned, coffee and pre-workout share a common primary ingredient: caffeine. Found to have an effect on improving athletic performance, coffee also doesn't contain the additives and additional ingredients that other pre-workout supplements may have. Studies have shown that caffeine concentration peaks at about 45 minutes after ingestion, with effects lessening thereafter.
Simply put — yes, you can use coffee as a pre-workout.
The Pros and Cons of Taking Pre-Workout
Pros
- Improved performance: Research published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition concluded that pre-workout supplements 'have promise as an ergogenic aid for active individuals.' Or, in other words, they enhance the performance of people who already exhaust the gym.
- Increased concentration and focus: Pre-workout is packed with caffeine, which is know to enhance cognition. As research published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found, caffeine works to boost people's arousal, mood and concentration, so if you want to be focused on a workout, pre-workout is the supp for you.
- The University of Córdoba found the citrulline added to pre-workout could add up to 53% more bench press reps in a workout.
- In another study, pre-workout containing citrulline was found to give cyclists a 12% longer ride before hitting exhaustion.
Cons
- Negative side effects caused by overstimulation: if the jitters and interrupted sleep we mentioned earlier don't sound like fun, perhaps give pre-workout a miss.
- You can build up a tolerance with overuse: if taken excessively, your body can become immune to pre-workout's effects. To avoid this, it's probably best to save pre-workout for those sessions where it's 'go hard or go home' or try cycling the supplement once in a while.
- It can cause digestion problems: ingredients such as sodium bicarbonate, magnesium, creatine and caffeine can all cause digestion problems. Avoid this by trying different pre-workout supplements until you find one that works for you.
- Scientists have previously linked the original class of energy drinks to diabetes, mental health problems and kidney damage.
Men's Health Lab Approved
To help you find the best pre-workout supplements — whether you’re looking for a powerful energy kick or a gentle caffeine-free boost — we enlisted a panel of sports nutritionists to put a range of market-leading products to the test as part of our 2024 Men's Health Sports Nutrition Awards.
They assessed each pre-workout based on the quality of ingredients, nutritional make-up and formulation. Judging was extremely stringent and only the ones that really impressed were put forward for further testing in the MH Lab.
Our panel of fitness fanatics, editors and food testers then rated each pre-workout on flavour, texture, aroma and ease of use. They also tested them over a period of a few weeks to see how they impacted athletic performance.
After all that, feedback was analysed, and final scores were awarded. The products below with the esteemed Sports Nutrition Awards logo are our winners and have passed our rigorous assessments.
Our editors have also handpicked some pre-workouts that have helped kept them energised on those days when motivation was lacking.
These are our top picks.
The Best Pre-Workout Supplements
BEST FOR EVENINGSMyVitamins Pre-Workout Gummies: Blueberry
MyVitamins Pre-Workout Gummies: Blueberry
Now 32% Off£15 at myvitamins.comMyVitamins Pre-Workout Gummies
If you aren’t a fan of guzzling gallons of pre-workout before a session, these juicy sweets, which taste just like fruit pastilles, are a solid choice. One recommended serving (four gummies) provides a gentle 20mg-caffeine punch – ideal for PM workouts and those sensitive to caffeine – along with L-citrulline to help increase endurance and B vitamins to delay fatigue.
The tabs were almost too easy to gobble, and testers liked that you could ration them out as you train – instead of having to smash them down in one go.
Best for on the go
Warrior Warrior Rage Pre-Workout Energy Shot: Tropical Sourz
Warrior Warrior Rage Pre-Workout Energy Shot: Tropical Sourz
£15 at AmazonWarrior Rage Pre-Workout Energy Shot
No time to scoop, stir and shake en route to the gym? No problem. Swig one of these convenient shots to get you ready to smash that elusive PB. The punchy tropical flavour and smooth consistency made it easy to knock back in a hurry, and the 200mg caffeine dosage was spot on, helping our lifters kick-start their sessions, without causing jitters or itchy breakouts. The shot also contains the usual recovery-enhancing suspects: beta-alanine and vitamins B6 and B12.
BEST FOR TOUGH WORKOUTS
PHD Charge Pre-Workout Powder: Sherbert Lemon
PHD Charge Pre-Workout Powder: Sherbert Lemon
Now 25% Off£15 at AmazonPHD Charge Pre-Workout Powder
This potent pre-workout contains an impressive list of active ingredients that have been scientifically proven to aid performance. We’re talking 200mg of caffeine for an explosive hit of energy, plus beta-alanine, BCAAs and creatine to increase focus, buffer soreness and promote muscle growth. Sure enough, it kept our testers pushing hard, even during their most demanding sets, and they raved about the zingy lemon flavour, which was a treat to chug as they hyped themselves up ahead of training.
Best for flavour
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout Shot: Mixed Berry
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout Shot: Mixed Berry
£19 at AmazonOptimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout Shot
Another ultra-convenient option, ON’s gold standard shot got the golden seal of approval from our nutritionist and our panel. It’s filled with a whole lot of good stuff – 175mg of caffeine, vits B6 and B12 and beta-alanine – to help you power through your sessions, even when you're feeling sluggish.
Sure enough, our testers felt it helped them sustain their energy levels and they loved the strong, sharp flavour, which they likened to Haribo Tangfastics. Down one half an hour before training and prepare to smash some PBs.
BEST FOR CARDIO
Protein Works Raze Extreme: Blue Raspberry
Protein Works Raze Extreme: Blue Raspberry
Now 40% Off£24 at theproteinworks.comProtein Works Raze Extreme
We’re huge fans of Protein Works here at MH, so it’s no surprise that the brand’s pre-workout passed our tests with flying colours. It’s easy to use – simply mix with water – and contains a punchy 200mg of caffeine, 3.5g of creatine (to help avoid injury), 1.5g of beta-alanine (to protect against lactic acid build up and delay muscle fatigue) and EnXtra® (to intensify the effects of the caffeine). It also features a blend of vitamins C, B6, B9 and B12 to combat tiredness.
The impact on our panel's performance was impressive, facilitating faster runs and successful weights sessions. It’s probably best suited to experienced pre-workout users, however, as one tester said it made them feel quite jittery.
Though on the artificial side, everyone enjoyed the sweet blue raspberry flavour. Beast mode, incoming...
Best for beginners
Foodspring Energy Aminos: Blackberry and Blackcurrant
Foodspring Energy Aminos: Blackberry and Blackcurrant
£30 at foodspring.co.ukFoodspring Energy Aminos
Give your AM reps a fighting chance with Foodspring’s top quality pre-workout formula. Fruity and sweet, its strong mix of ingredients includes an optimal dose of vitamins C, B3 and B12 along with plant-based BCAAs to see off those sluggish mornings. It also contains piperine (a compound found in black pepper), which is linked to enhanced strength and endurance.
The 171mg caffeine hit gave our testers a noticeable energy boost and they found the light berry flavour enjoyable and refreshing, but not overwhelming.
If you’re new to the world of pre-workout supps, this is a good one to go for – our testers reported ‘a nice clean buzz’, with no unpleasant side effects.
Best for mixability
MyPRO The Pre-workout: Orange Mango Passionfruit
MyPRO The Pre-workout: Orange Mango Passionfruit
£32 at MyProteinMyPRO The Pre-workout
Don’t let the luminous yellow colour of this pre-workout put you off. With 200mg of caffeine, plus creatine, L-glutamine and vitamin B6, it contains a host of energy-boosting ingredients designed to fight of fatigue and get you in gear for your workout.
It made a big impression on our testers, who said it delivered a surge of energy before their sessions and helped with post-workout DOMS. It also scored top points for its mixability and texture, which made it quick and easy to gulp down. The Berocca-esque orange mango and passionfruit flavour is one for those with a sweet tooth, while grape is a popular choice too.
Best pre-workout for high-energy activities
Cellucor C4 Original Pre-workout
Cellucor C4 Original Pre-workout
£41 at AmazonCellucor C4 Original Pre-Workout
Backed by man-mountain and three-time CrossFit Games champion Mat Fraser, Cellucor's C4 pre-workout is America's #1 pre-workout. Cellucor uses an in-house product development team alongside athlete feedback to create its C4 pre-workout.
Best caffeine-free pre-workout
Bulk Pre-Workout Caffeine Free
Bulk Pre-Workout Caffeine Free
Now 34% Off£16 at bulk.comBulk Pre-Workout, Caffeine-Free
If you're concerned about the caffeine content of your pre-workout, Bulk's caffeine-free option is a safer bet. Offering similar benefits to conventional pre-workout supplements, it contains 5g BCAAs and 3g of creatine monohydrate.
Best pre-workout for flavour
50 Calibre Pre-Workout Berry Blast
50 Calibre Pre-Workout Berry Blast
£17 at AmazonGrenade 50 Calibre Pre-Workout
Explosive! Energy! During! Workouts! Grenade's 50 Calibre Pre-workout, with its battle-hardened style, is another favourite among lifters. With a goal to feature every possible natural component that aids performance — including theobroma and beet extract — it comes in berry, cola and lemon flavours.
Pre-Workout Gels and Tablets
Finding the right pre-workout isn't always about finding the powder that suits you. There are plenty of alternative options you can take before your next training session. For example, there are pre-workout gels, pre-workout pills, pre-workout capsules and pre-workout drinks. We've put a few below:
Myprotein Pre-Workout Gel [Option: Box of 12; Flavour: Tropical Storm]
£18 at MyProteinIf you don't want to be guzzling another fitness-centric drink from a protein shaker, pre-workout gel could be the fix you're after.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout Shot
£19 at AmazonPrefer your pre-workout in shot form? Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard pre-workout shot is the best we've tasted in a while.
Grenade Black Ops 100 Capsules
Now 14% Off£30 at Holland and BarrettWhile not strictly a pre-workout capsule, Grenade's Black Ops capsules use caffeine for focus and green tea extract for fat-loss support. Ideal if you're in a calorie deficit.
The Protein Works Red-Cell
Now 18% Off£33 at AmazonMade with green coffee extract, caffeine, Vitamin B6 and cayenne extract, Red-Cell is ideal as a pre-workout or as part of a weight loss programme.
Your One-Stop Supplement Guide
- Espresso or Pre-Workout: Which is The Best Performance Boosting Shot?
- The Best Vegan Protein Powders
- The Best Whey Protein Powders
- Casein Protein Powder: Everything You Need to Know
- 8 of the Most Common Protein Shake Mistakes
- Want to Lose Weight? 5 of the Best Weight Loss Shakes
- This Supplement Gives You More Energy, Burns Fat and Transforms Your Sex Life
- Everything You Need to Know About Fat-burning Supplements
- How To Time Your Pre-Workout Coffee for Maximum Benefit
Natural Pre-Workouts
Coffee: A cup of black coffee (with or without sugar) before your workout is a great way to up your energy levels.
Bananas: Rich in starchy carbohydrates, one banana will contain around 14g of sugar, made of glucose and fructose – two sugar types that are ideal for athletic performance. Bananas are also rich in potassium and magnesium, providing electrolytes to your body that — when lost — will cause muscle cramps and fatigue, so it's best to keep your levels topped-up. Each banana will contain around 20-27g of carbohydrates, fuelling your muscles before strenuous exercise.
Vita Coco Natural Coconut Water
Vita Coco Natural Coconut Water
Now 21% Off£13 at AmazonCoconut Water: Like bananas, coconut water is naturally full of electrolytes. With an improper electrolyte balance leading to muscle cramps, stiffness, nausea, headaches and fatigue, drinking coconut water will help top up your body's electrolyte supply. You'll want to ditch your energy drink too, because coconut water contains more nutrients per serving and up to 25% fewer calories when compared to market-leading sports drinks.
