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In the world of fitness supplements, pre-workout formulas are some of the most popular products on the market. They come with all sorts of ingredients, promising increases in energy, focus, strength, power, and muscle growth.
However, with so many formulations and ingredients to choose from, finding the right pre-workout is challenging. Maybe you like a heavy dose of stimulants, or maybe you prefer something that’s a bit more subtle—there are options for everyone.
In this Naked Energy Pre Workout review, I’m going to explain the formulation, effects, cost, and everything else you need to know about this natural pre-workout supplement to decide if this is the right product to add to your supplement stack.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Unbiased Testing from Supplement Experts
The GGR testing team is obsessed with finding the best supplements we can get our hands on, and we’ve tested 70 different pre-workout supplements so far. Our testers include registered dietitians, nutrition coaches, certified personal trainers, and Olympic athletes, and we only review products we’ve spent time testing.
When it comes to pre-workout formulas, we test each product according to our supplement testing methodology, which focuses on specific aspects like:
- Formulation
- Taste
- Side effects
- Price
- Third-party testing
Naked Nutrition Naked Energy Pre-Workout
Naked Nutrition Naked Energy Pre-Workout
Product Highlights
- Naked Energy is a vegan pre-workout supplement formulated with just 10 ingredients and nothing artificial.
- Three flavors are available: Fruit Punch, Citrus, and Unflavored.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Formulated with just 10 ingredients
- Affordable at less than $1 per serving
- Available in unflavored option
- Vegan
Cons
- Small dose of creatine
- No nitric oxide boosters, so don’t expect a muscle pump
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a vegan pre-workout supplement, Naked Energy may be a good choice. Made with just 10 ingredients and nothing artificial, it was designed to support increased energy without the fillers.
A Quick Look at Naked Energy Pre Workout
Naked Nutrition was founded in 2014 when founder Stephen Zieminski grew tired of seeing supplements full of overpriced, unnecessary ingredients. He started the company to create simple, clean, minimalist supplements that boost athletic performance, using the highest quality ingredients, and the first product was a simple protein powder. At the time of writing, Naked Nutrition sells over 50 products, most of which contain three ingredients or less.
Naked Energy Pre Workout is a vegan, gluten-free supplement, carefully formulated with non-GMO ingredients, and no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors.
Now, the main driver in Naked Energy is the caffeine. There are small doses of other ingredients, like beta-alanine and creatine, but the most prominent ingredient is caffeine, so you’ll get a nice energy boost from this formula. There are no BCAAs or stimulants beyond caffeine.
This isn’t the strongest pre-workout powder we’ve tested, but if you’re looking for clean ingredients with honest labeling from a brand you can trust, Naked Energy is a great choice, and the price is very affordable for most budgets.
RELATED: Best Cheap Pre-Workout
Before You Buy
- Naked Energy is a vegan formula with non-GMO ingredients and a fully transparent label, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
- The main ingredient is caffeine, and while there are other ingredients added to boost your performance, they’re underdosed.
- This is one of the most affordable pre-workout supplements we’ve tested, which is a pleasant surprise given the quality of the ingredients.
Is Naked Energy Pre Workout Worth It?
While Naked Energy is one of the more affordable pre-workouts we’ve tried, the minimal ingredient list may be perfect for some but underdosed for others. Before you order a tub, you’ll want to make sure this is the best pre-workout to help you reach your goals.
Great for:
- Those looking for a moderately dosed pre-workout supplement
- Anyone who wants energy without the tingles from beta-alanine
- People who want to use a vegan product with clean ingredients
Not recommended for:
- Those looking for a strong supplement with high doses of active ingredients
- Anyone looking for a pre-workout that contains an adequate dose of creatine
Naked Energy Pre Workout Specs
| Price per serving | $0.90 |
| Serving size | 2 scoops (4.8 g) |
| Flavors | Unflavored, Fruit Punch, Citrus, Stim Free |
| Caffeine dosage | 200 mg from organic green coffee beans (none in Stim Free flavor) |
| Beta-alanine dosage | 2 g |
| L-arginine dosage | 1 g (500 mg in Stim Free flavor) |
| Creatine dosage | 1 g (none in Stim Free flavor) |
| Other notable ingredients | Vitamin C, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, cane sugar, natural plant-based flavors, citric acid, sodium gluconate, fermented cane sugar, monk fruit extract, vegetable juice |
| Third-party tested? | Yes, though the testing company isn’t disclosed |
Experience Using Naked Energy Pre Workout
For this review, GGR’s head of content, Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, tested the unflavored formula. Amanda Capritto, a former GGR writer and product tester, tried the citrus version.
Nicole didn’t notice any strong side effects, just a nice boost from the caffeine. This is likely because the added beta-alanine is in a very low dose, so you’re unlikely to feel the tingles that typically come with higher doses of beta-alanine.
RELATED: What Is Beta-Alanine?
In addition to the low dose of beta-alanine, each serving also contains l-arginine and creatine, both of which are also in very small doses. They aren’t useless in these doses, but it’s probably not enough to make much of a difference, so you can expect this vegan-friendly supplement to feel like a strong cup of coffee.
Price Per Serving
Cost is always important to consider when choosing a supplement, and for price per serving, Naked Energy earns a very strong 5-out-of-5 rating.
Each tub costs $44.99 if you pay full price, and you get 50 servings, bringing the per-serving cost down to $0.90. If you order from Naked, you can also set up a subscribe-and-save option, which brings the price down to $35.99 for a per-serving cost of $0.72.
Formulation
Now, when it comes to formulation, Naked Energy only scores a 2 out of 5.
Caffeine is included in the research-backed dose of 200 miligrams, but everything else is underdosed, so it’s not going to be very useful. For example, creatine monohydrate is typically dosed at 5 grams per day, though pre-workouts generally contain around 3 grams, a smaller but still effective dose—Naked Energy only contains 1 gram per serving.
RELATED: Does Creatine Build Muscle?
We look for at least 3 grams of beta-alanine, the clinically proven dose, but Naked Energy only has 2 grams. Naked Energy also contains 1 gram of l-arginine, which is typically dosed at 3 to 5 grams in pre-workout supplements, and one study1 even used 1.5 grams for every 10 kilograms of body weight before exercise, so this is a very low dose.
Naked Energy is also available in a stim-free option with no caffeine, but the arginine is dosed even lower at 500 milligrams, the beta-alanine dose is the same, and the creatine has been swapped for 1 gram of citrulline, far less than the 6 grams we typically look for.
The flavors come from added sugar in the form of cane sugar to avoid artificial sweeteners, so there are 45 calories in the Citrus and Fruit Punch flavors. There are no added amino acids, nootropics, or other additives.
Taste and Solubility
For both taste and solubility, Naked Energy earns a 5-out-of-5-star rating. Nicole tried the unflavored version and said that mixed with plain water it had a bitter taste but would have tasted good mixed in a sports drink. Another tester, Amanda Capritto, tried the citrus flavor and enjoyed it, particularly noting that it wasn’t too sweet.
As for solubility, Nicole said the unflavored version mixed completely clear with no floaters.
Side Effects
With any supplement, it’s important to watch out for any pre-workout side effects. The most common side effect is tingles from beta-alanine, a harmless side effect that tends to be either loved or hated, but this product is very low in beta-alanine.
Nicole says, “Nice little pick me up! This feels equivalent to drinking a sizable amount of coffee for me, but I don’t get the tingles, probably because it’s low in beta-alanine. Best of both worlds!”
For side effects, Nicole gave this a 4-out-of-5-star rating.
Third-Party Testing
Naked Nutrition claims that each formula is independently third-party tested, but they don’t disclose the company that does the testing. Third-party testing is a great way to make sure your product is free of banned ingredients and contains the doses it claims, so while it’s great that Naked Nutrition claims to test everything, we wish they’d share the results or testing company.
For third-party testing, Naked Energy earns a 4-out-of-5-star score.
Naked Energy Pre Workout vs Transparent Labs LEAN
Transparent Labs LEAN
Transparent Labs LEAN Pre-Workout
Product Highlights
- Formulated for those looking to lose weight but maintain muscle mass
- 14 grams of evidence-based ingredients
- Naturally flavored and sweetened with Stevia
- Available in 9 different flavors
- Backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Includes vitamins/micronutrients to support thyroid production
- High levels of citrulline to increase oxygen delivery to muscles
- No artificial sweeteners
- No artificial colors
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Bitter and unpleasant taste for some consumers
- Several reports of receiving wrong item
Bottom Line
Transparent Labs’ LEAN pre-workout supplement promises to deliver better endurance, power, alertness, and focus. The fat loss component is less of a guarantee with few reports of an actual change in body composition.
If you’re looking for another minimalist pre-workout with moderate dosing, you may want to consider Transparent Labs LEAN. While it’s marketed as a pre-workout for weight loss, we’re mostly looking at the ingredient list, which is similar in many ways to Naked Energy.
The most notable difference is that Transparent Labs LEAN does not contain any l-arginine or creatine, but to be fair, they are underdosed in Naked Energy anyway. LEAN also has less caffeine but comes in more flavors, has stricter third-party testing, and contains 6 grams of L-citrulline, the proven clinical dose2.
L-citrulline is similar to l-arginine, in that it’s meant to increase nitric oxide production and improve blood flow, but in LEAN, it’s clinically dosed.
Overall, Naked Energy is best for those who want a bit more caffeine and aren’t worried about the other ingredients, or want to save money. Transparent Labs LEAN is better for those who don’t mind spending a little extra for more flavors, stricter testing, and a clinical dose of L-citrulline.
To read more, check out our complete Transparent Labs LEAN Review.
| Naked Energy Pre Workout | Transparent Labs LEAN | |
| Price per serving | $0.90 | $1.67 |
| Serving size | 2 scoops (4.8 g) | 1 scoop (14.2 g) |
| Flavors | Unflavored, Fruit Punch, Citrus, Stim Free | Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Sour Grape, Sour Peach, Cherry Splash, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Orange, Tropical Punch |
| Caffeine dosage | 200 mg (none in Stim Free flavor) | 180 mg |
| Beta-alanine dosage | 2 g | 2 g |
| L-arginine dosage | 1 g (500 mg in Stim Free flavor) | None |
| L-citrulline dosage | None | 6 g |
| Creatine dosage | 1 g (none in Stim Free flavor) | None |
| Other notable ingredients | Vitamin C, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, cane sugar, natural plant-based flavors, citric acid, sodium gluconate, fermented cane sugar, monk fruit extract, vegetable juice | Betaine Anhydrous (Betapure), Choline Birtartrate, L-Theanine, Theobromine, Bioperine (black pepper extract) |
| Third-party tested? | Yes, though the testing company isn’t disclosed | Yes, Informed Choice |
Customer Experience
Naked Nutrition offers a 14-day return policy on unopened ingredients, which means you’re unable to try the formula and return it if you don’t like it.
To initiate a return, you’ll need to get a label from the customer support team, which can be reached via chat, phone, or email at questions@nakednutrition.com.
Ordering Naked Energy Pre Workout
Naked Energy offers free shipping on orders over $99, as well as an auto-ship subscription option that allows you to save 20% on your first order and 10% on all recurring orders.
At the time of writing, Naked Energy is also sold directly on Amazon with free Prime shipping.
Customer Reviews
Naked Energy has an average rating of 4.5 with over 750 reviews on the Naked Nutrition website and an Amazon rating of 4.1 with over 2,700 reviews.
Most reviews say they enjoy the clean ingredients and feeling, although many dislike the flavors. With unflavored, that’s to be expected as nothing is there to mask the taste of the ingredients, but even the flavored versions have some negative reviews. Amanda really enjoyed the citrus, and of course, taste is subjective, but it’s worth noting that many say the taste isn’t the best.
Final Verdict of Our Naked Energy Pre Workout Review
Overall, Naked Energy is a great choice for those who want a clean source of caffeine with high-quality ingredients and transparent labeling, without excessive jitters, tingling, or unpleasant side effects.
The other ingredients are a bit underdosed, and the flavors may be hit or miss, but the ingredient quality is high, and the product is very affordable. If you’re looking for a clean pre-workout formula, and you prefer ingredient quality over flavor, Naked Energy is certainly worth a try.
- Good dose of caffeine, with underdosed beta-alanine, creatine, and l-arginine.
- This is a very affordable formula, although with minimal ingredients and no artificial flavors, the taste may not be very good.
- Our testers enjoyed the feeling, especially since it didn’t cause the beta-alanine tingling sensation.
Full Rating
Naked Energy Pre Workout
Naked Energy Pre Workout
Product Brand: Naked Nutrition
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 44.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.19
Naked Energy Pre Workout: FAQs
Is it OK to take a pre-workout for energy?
Yes, pre-workouts are usually designed to increase energy levels and improve performance, unless you’re choosing a stim-free option. As long as you don’t have any medical reasons to avoid caffeine, pre-workouts are a great source of energy.
Is pre-workout legit?
Yes, as long as the ingredients are clinically dosed. There are many ingredients used in pre-workout formulas that provide benefits like improved energy, improved blood flow, delayed fatigue, and more. It’s always worth checking your label to make sure the ingredients are properly dosed, and if they are, you should benefit from the pre-workout.
What is a healthier choice, pre-workout or energy drink?
This will depend on your goals and individual products. Many energy drinks have high amounts of sugar, which may not be beneficial for health, though some are sugar-free. Pre-workout formulas are often low in calories and may contain other ingredients to support physical training and provide benefits like increased blood flow. Overall, sugar-free energy drinks are a good choice if you’re not working out, while pre-workouts are better for the gym.
Do pre-workouts have side effects?
Those sensitive to stimulants may experience stomach discomfort from excess caffeine, and beta-alanine can cause paresthesia, a harmless sensation of tingling and itchy skin. Aside from that, individual ingredients may cause further side effects if improperly dosed, but it depends on what product you’re using.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Yavuz HU, Turnagol H, Demirel AH. Pre-exercise arginine supplementation increases time to exhaustion in elite male wrestlers. Biol Sport. 2014;31(3):187-191. doi:10.5604/20831862.1111436
- Gough LA, Sparks SA, McNaughton LR, et al. A critical review of citrulline malate supplementation and exercise performance. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021;121(12):3283-3295. doi:10.1007/s00421-021-04774-6
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