Jump to:
- What To Know Before Buying Pre-Workout
- How We Test Pre-Workout Supplements
- The 7 Best Pre-Workout Supplements
- The Pros and Cons of Taking Pre-Workout
- How To Take Pre-Workout
- FAQs: Pre-Workout Supplements
- Natural Pre-Workouts
You can't expect to turn up to every workout feeling 100%. Sometimes, you'll arrive at 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.
Best Pre-Workout Supplements
Best pre-workout gummies
Myprotein Pre-Workout Gummies (60 Gummies)
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Best pre workout for intense workouts
PhD Charge Pre-Workout Powder
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Best pre workout for on-the-go
Warrior Rage Pre-Workout Energy Shot
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Best pre workout for cardio
Protein Works Raze Extreme
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Best pre workout for beginners
Foodspring Energy Aminos
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Best mixability and texture
Myprotein THE Pre-Workout
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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 complete guide to the best pre-workout supplements, which includes insight from a professional sports nutritionist, as well as the pros and cons of supplementing your nutrition with every lifter's favourite pick-me-up.
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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 – including powders, gels, capsules and drinks – as tested by Men’s Health. Consider this guide your pre pre-workout.
What To Know Before Buying Pre-Workout
How We Test Pre-Workout Supplements
To help you find the best pre-workout for energy, endurance, and strength, we enlisted a panel of sports nutritionists to put a range of market-leading products to the test as part of our 2024 Sports Nutrition Awards and 2025 Sports Nutrition Awards.
They assessed each pre-workout supplement based on the quality of ingredients, nutritional make-up and formulation. Judging was extremely stringent and only the top-rated pre-workouts that really impressed were put forward for further testing back at Men's Health HQ.
Our panel of fitness fanatics, editors and food testers then rated each best pre-workout on flavour, texture, aroma and ease of use. We 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 above with the esteemed Sports Nutrition Awards logo are our winners and have passed our rigorous assessments.
The 7 Best Pre-Workout Supplements
If you're not 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.
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 pre workout for on-the-go
Warrior 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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
The Pros and Cons of Taking Pre-Workout
How To Take Pre-Workout
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.
FAQs: Pre-Workout Supplements
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.
Coconut 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.
More Supplement Guides
- The Best Protein Powders
- 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 Meal Replacement Shakes
Priyankaa Joshi
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges.
She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.
Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Tested byYanar Alkayat
Former Fitness Group Testing Manager
Yanar was our former health and wellness tester.
Reviewed byThe Editors of Men's Health
The editors of Men's Health are your personal conduit to the top experts in the world on all things important to men: health, fitness, style, sex, and more.
