9 best pre-workout supplements to give you a boost

This was the best-tasting supplement we tried and should be the most palatable for everyone, from fans of bootcamp classes to those who need an energy kick before an early morning gym session. The fruit punch flavour we tried was comfortable to consume before exercise and, while it has a smaller dose of caffeine per serving compared with some other supplements, it was no less effective in getting us in the zone for both short and longer endurance-fuelled workouts. It’s a nice bonus that it’s also providing an intake of vitamins (including B1 and B12), and while it’s not the cheapest option available, the effects and the taste made it a standout supplement to drink for all types of training.

Warrior’s supplement is one of the cheapest available but gives you a sizable amount of servings (45) from one small tub, and the caffeine kick it gave us was very noticeable, helping us get through tiring cardio sessions and strength workouts. This powder is a good match for harder, more explosive sessions as well, leaving us feeling as though we could power through for longer. The “savage strawberry” flavour we tested is one of nine available and it goes down easily, just 20 minutes before a workout. Paying less doesn’t always get you a less effective pre-workout powder, as this one really had us better primed for training.

This vegan-friendly supplement is a great option if you’re short on time, as you can drink it in a shaker bottle 15 minutes before it’s time to sweat. The “grape candy” flavour wasn’t overly sweet, and it didn’t take long before we started to feel the effects – helping us become more focused for shorter, sharper cardio workouts such as interval rowing and indoor cycling.

Along with a hefty 200mg of caffeine per serving, you’re getting 3,000mg of BCAAs and 2,000mg of beta-alanine, for an added energy boost and to help battle tiredness during tougher sessions. We definitely didn’t feel as beat up during stretching and recovering after big, lung-busting sessions in the gym.

This powder takes a bit more work than others to break down in water, ready to consume around 30 minutes before a workout, but its effects kick in quickly, helping you feel more focused and energised. It provided a noticeable energy surge during tougher bodyweight workouts and weights-based strength sessions. It was also a welcome addition when getting prepped for harder running sessions such as interval and more up-tempo runs.

Along with a generous serving of caffeine to help wake up the body and mind, you’ll get 2,000mg of energy-boosting beta-alanine and 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate, to aid muscle growth and recovery from harder training sessions. There were no worrying side effects post-workout and, while the RRP may be a little on the expensive side, it feels like the ideal pre-workout supplement pick for those trying them out for the first time.

This supplement comes in a range of sweet-shop-inspired flavours that really do mirror the taste of chewing on a Refresher or biting down on a Love Heart. Sweet taste aside, this pre-workout supplement was one of the quickest at getting us alert and focused, ready to train, particularly for high-intensity workouts in the gym and at home. It perked up our mood for early morning workouts, though it is a little too potent for late evening sessions. It didn’t cause any stomach issues and does feel like you’re drinking a supplement made from quality ingredients, with each serving including a mix of creatine, caffeine, taurine, beta-alanine and B3 and B12 vitamins.

This is a strong choice if you do a lot of your tougher workouts in the evening. Despite lacking the caffeine that most pre-workout powders rely on to give you that kick, we still found it had us staying alert for longer, helping us push through tougher runs or and when heading to the gym for more punishing and explosive workouts. It stood out for having a good taste, though it does need to be mixed with more water than other powders. It’s going to appeal if you like the idea of a pre-workout supplement that contains a lot of natural ingredients – such as tomato concentrate, coconut water powder and spirulina powder – to make it kinder on your body during and after your workout. Note, it also includes sweeteners, to make it easier to stomach.

This supplement took a little longer to feel like it was doing its work and wasn’t our favourite-tasting powder. Its effectiveness is more noticeable in the stamina department, rather than making you feel perky. That might have something to do with the smaller amount of caffeine per serving, as Innermost opts for more natural sources to give you an energy kick. There’s mood-boosting maca and guarana to bolster the caffeine-fuelled alertness. Plus, there are plenty of B vitamins, to boost core body functions. It’s even one we found suitable to drink during workouts (rather than before exercise), as we were still able to reap the benefits.

Grenade is better known for its protein bars but its pre-workout powder is pretty effective in getting you focused without any sugar – although, it does include some sweeteners. We found the strawberry and blueberry flavoured powder had a surprisingly sweet taste, making it easy to sink quickly. It did the trick of perking us up before early morning runs and HIIT-style rowing and cycling workouts. It quickly kicks into gear to offer a noticeable focus and energy surge and feels like a strong fit for frequent gym-goers who are opting for big lifting over time on the cardio machines, as it also packs in a lot of muscle-building ingredients to give it bulking appeal.