9 best pre-workout supplements to give yourself a boost

Innermost’s award-winning pre-workout supplement – the energy booster – was developed to help you make the most out of your workout. It’s filled with a whole lot of good stuff from branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), citrulline malate, maca, beta alanine, guarana, caffeine and vitamin B complex. All these ingredients combined aim to reduce fatigue, physical and mental stress, as well as increase energy, alertness, aid performance and boost cognitive function.

Each 300g bag serves 30 servings – which works out as less than £1 per shake. Vegan, low sugar, and gluten-free – this pre-workout ticks a lot of boxes. Plus, it tastes good too. The pineapple flavour is pretty sweet, so we actually added a little bit more water than recommended to water down the taste slightly. Our only question is, Innermost, when are you bringing out additional flavours?

Most pre-workout supplements are filled to the brim with caffeine to help get you in gear for your workout. But not this one. The pump – named after that sought-after “muscle pump” gym bunnies and fitness fanatics strive for – is Myprotein’s caffeine-free pre-workout. And it’s ideal for those who prefer to workout in the evening, and don’t want to be overstimulated before bed – or those who simply don’t like that jittering feeling caffeine so often comes hand-in-hand with.

It is filled with vitamin C, taurine, VASO and beta-alanine – a mixture of ingredients that between them aim to reduce fatigue, support the immune system, protect cells from exercise-induced oxidative stress, increase oxygen transport in the body and reduce lactic acid build-up.

The 320g pot includes 20 servings – so a little more expensive per shake than Innermost, but you can get up to 45 per cent off using code MORE. There’s two different flavours; orange mango and rainbow candy. The orange and mango flavour is quite sharp and strong – so do add a little more water if you need – otherwise, it’s surprisingly delicious, and refreshing.

It is currently out of stock, but add it to your wishlist on the site and you’ll be emailed as soon as it comes back in.

Grenade’s pre-workout supplement – .50 calibre – is packed with high-quality, effective ingredients. Notably, citrulline malate to help improve aerobic and anaerobic performance during prolonged exercise, beta alanine to enhance high-intensity exercise performance, and caffeine for boosting mental and physical performance. There’s also creatine which increases your body’s ability to produce energy quickly.

The 50 Calibre ammo ultimate orange box includes 50 servings, but there are three different flavours to choose from – including berry blast and killa cola – if citrus isn’t your favourite. We found it dissolved well and kept us energised throughout our workout.

Myprotein’s pre-workout+ is arguably their most powerful pre-workout. What sets it apart from the rest? The combination of innovative ingredients and a hit of 300mg of caffeine per serving. It includes VASO6 which helps boost metabolism, endurance, and VO2 max in elite athletes, as well as Alpha-GPC which has the potential to boost your power and strength during workouts. There’s also Huperzine A which supports focus and memory.

The 360g tub offers 20 servings – so at nearly £2 a shake, this is one of the more expensive choices on the market – and the price reflects the strength. (Note: we actually recommend starting with just half a scoop to begin with as this stuff is seriously strong).

Another one that’s currently out of stock, so add it your wishlist to be emailed once it comes back in.

Lemon, apple or passion fruit? It’s hard to know which flavour of Foodspring’s energy aminos to choose. Packed with 171mg of caffeine per serving, piperine, plant-based BCAAs, vitamin C, vitamins B3 and B12, it’s ​​formulated to both increase your energy and enhance your performance.

The 400g tubs include 20 servings, which works out at around £1.50 per drink. We tried the lemon flavour which was a little bitter and peppery and left a bit of a lingering aftertaste. The mixability was good, although there were some surprise granules, so do give it a real good shake (until the powder has completely dissolved) and off you go. Squat ready.

For those who really just can’t be bothered with the faff of measuring powder and mixing with water, then you ought to try the “Red Bull of sports drinks”, NOCCO. Sugar-free, these 330ml carbonated cans are filled with 180mg caffeine and 3,000mg BCAA’s, and they taste a lot better than most supplements.

Ideal for those who like fizzy drinks, there’s a whole host of flavours – blood orange, caribbean, limon, miami strawberry, the list goes on. They even have a zero caffeine range with apple and citrus and elderflower flavours.

At £24.99 for 12 cans, these are much more expensive than any of the powdered supplements – so you really are paying for the ease. Holland and Barrett and Ocado sell them by the can, so it’s worth maybe trying one, to see if you like the taste, before committing to a 12-pack.

Similar to Nocco – minus the fizz – Upbeat protein drinks are an energy drink, rather than a powered supplement (so they’re not specifically formulated to be used as pre-workout). This means that while they do contain a moderate amount of protein (10g-15g), some may choose to use Upbeat as more of a post-workout refresh.

Available in three different flavours – mixed berry, zesty orange, and tropical – each flavour offers a unique taste and nutritional profile. The mixed berry was by far our favourite (think: Ribena meets Lucozade Sport raspberry) and is designed to keep you fully hydrated. With 10g of clear whey isolate protein, vitamin B complex, 3,000mg BCAA and no sugar, it’s a great fruity option for those looking for a low-fat, low-calorie protein source.

Alternatively, the zesty orange flavour offers a fresh and citrusy taste with a touch of sweetness and is also designed to keep you hydrated – featuring 10g of clear whey protein per bottle. But while the tropical flavour was our least favourite (we actually watered it down a little as we found the pineapple flavour quite sharp), this flavour does include a little more protein. It has 15g of clear whey isolate protein per bottle and also offers a bit of a caffeine hit with 180mg of caffeine and 4,000mg of BCAA, too, so if you’re choosing between the different Upbeat drinks, this is the one you’d want to use as a pre-workout.

From the gluten-free, soy-free brand, Natural Sports – this pre-workout, in the sweet and tangy blue raspberry flavour is a vegan-friendly formula that contains citrulline and caffeine to help enhance endurance and performance capacity. Packed with beta-alanine, AAKG, taurine, enxtra, and added vitamin-B to help fight off fatigue and tiredness, Natural Sports pre-workout also includes pantothenic acid, tyrosine and ashwagandha to help you feel alert and focussed.

The 500g tub includes 20 servings – which means each shake costs around £1.20 – so fairly average in terms of the market. Remember, caffeine takes around 30 minutes to enter your bloodstream and kick in. So ideally, you should aim to take your pre-workout around 30 – 60 minutes before you actually workout in order to appreciate all the benefits. Otherwise, you may just find your energy levels peaking when you’re back in the shower.

With only 57kcal per serving we thought this pre-workout drink tasted great, and helped with sustaining energy levels. Plus, it was super easy to mix, too.

Crazy Nutrition Intensive pre-train is a popular pre-workout supplement marketed more towards athletes and hardcore fitness enthusiasts (think: CrossFit and weightlifting). The product claims to help enhance physical performance, improve focus and alertness, and delay fatigue during exercise.

Most of the ingredients in Crazy Nutrition Intensive pre-train – such as caffeine and beta-alanine – are super common components of many pre-workout supplements (although it is worth noting that there’s no caffeine in the green apple flavour). So there’s nothing particularly surprising on the ingredients list. However, the price point of this pre-workout is noticeably higher.

At £49.99 for 500g, or 20 servings, it works out at nearly £2.50 per drink, which makes this the most expensive pre-workout on the list. Perhaps that’s due to the brand’s quality of the natural ingredients, or the research and development gone into testing – either way, it’s worth remembering that a higher price does not always mean a better product.

In terms of flavour, Crazy Nutrition Intensive pre-train is available in fruit punch, blue raspberry, and green apple. Not 100 per cent happy? They have a 60-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not a fan, then you can ask for your money back.