Strongest Pre-Workout (2024): Take Heed of These 9 High-Stim Options

If you’re reading this, you likely either intentionally searched for the strongest pre-workout supplements or accidentally stumbled across our list in your search for the best pre-workout and your interest was piqued. 

Whichever camp you fall into, we want to preface with this: High-stimulant pre-workouts might sound like a good time, but we can’t stress the importance of safe consumption enough. They also give much truth to the notion, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” 

At GGR, we’re the first to admit that most of us have tried these products first-hand and genuinely do enjoy them. We’re also the first to admit that we are brutally honest in our reviews—exhibit A: our Woke AF Pre-Workout Review. 

All of this said, we want to help you navigate how to select and use the strongest pre-workout as carefully as possible. So, without further delay, let’s take heed of our top picks formulated to take your workout to the next level (or a few)!

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.

Strongest Pre-Workouts

• Strongest Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs BULK Black
• Strongest Pre-Workout on a Budget: Nutricost Pre-X
• Strongest Natural Pre-Workout: Legion Pulse
• Strongest Pre-Workout for a Pump: Jacked Factory Wick Mode
• Strongest Pre-Workout With Best Taste: Onnit Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout
• Strongest Pre-Workout for Strength and Power: Nutrition Cartel El Jefe
• Strongest Pre-Workout for Focus: JYM Supplements Pre-JYM
• Strongest Pre-Workout With Creatine: Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
• Strongest High-Stim Pre-Workout: Huge Supplements Wrecked Enraged

Strongest Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs BULK Black 

Good for: Powering your workout with science-backed ingredients and clinically-effective doses 

Strongest Overall

Transparent Labs Bulk Black Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.2

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Clinically dosed pre-workout 
• Over 17 g of active ingredients 
• Vegan 
• No artificial, sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No artificial sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives
• 3rd-party lab tested
• Transparent ingredients
• Subscribe and save 10%
• Available in 5 flavors

Cons

• Manufactured in a facility that also processes allergens
• Limited reviews
• Some flavors may be sold out

Bottom Line

Transparent Labs BULK BLACK is a step-up from the original BULK pre-workout with more stimulants for people looking for a bigger energy boost before their workout. It is also very positively reviewed by customers.

While you shouldn’t always read a book by its cover, just one peek at Transparent Labs BULK Black’s sleek exterior tells us it means business. And its ingredients inside are ready to power up your next workout. 

Certified personal trainer and GGR performance editor Anthony O’Reilly knows this from personal experience. “This is the pre-workout you take if you want to feel like you’re in the middle of a musical montage,” he says. “The first time I took this I felt like I was invincible. I PR’ed on two lifts in the same day, and I’m not sure if it was because of the actual ingredients or because of how ‘locked in’ I felt.”

Anthony has been ordering extra espresso shots in his lattes since 16, but even he felt energized by the 275 milligrams of caffeine—that might be because the high-stim pre-workout contains other ingredients to prolong caffeine’s energy-boosting effects.

“To address the elephant, yes, this is worth the higher price,” says Anthony, who’s tried dozens of high-caffeine pre-workouts. “Energy was quick, long-lasting, and non-crashing. Face tingles were minimal, and the strength gains were noticeable.”

The powerful pre-workout formula contains familiar ingredients in efficacious doses—like 4 grams of beta-alanine¹, 2.5 grams of betaine anhydrous², and 1.3 grams of taurine³. It also provides an 8-gram dose of citrulline malate⁴, which research⁵ shows can help increase athletic performance in high-intensity anaerobic exercises and relieve post-exercise muscle soreness.

And here’s where that extra power comes in: the Transparent Labs pre-workout also contains alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (alpha-GPC). Research⁶ suggests that alpha-GPC increases lower-body force production and that speed and power athletes should consider adding it to enhance muscle performance. It also contains boron⁷, which is thought to improve muscle growth and strength, although no current evidence shows it to be a helpful ergogenic aid. 

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout for Muscle Gain

Oh, and we can’t forget that caffeinated power! BULK Black provides 275 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous—a concentrated caffeine powder—per scoop. It also provides 30 milligrams of Infinergy™, a trademarked caffeine salt of malic acid (dicaffeine malate), formulated to prolong the ergogenic effects of caffeine and give a smoother, longer-lasting increase in mental performance.

Overall, the nootropics in BULK Black—like alpha-GPC⁶, L-tyrosine⁸, and L-theanine⁹ are said to improve your mental focus and mental acuity without the worry of jitters or that dreaded post-workout crash. And research⁸ shows that intentionally pairing L-theanine with caffeine may increase reaction time, attention, and memory while reducing stress¹⁰ and blood pressure.¹¹  

The pre-workout provides sodium and potassium¹² to boost the pump even more and promote hydration, as well as vitamins B6, B12, and D to enhance energy production. AstraGin™, a blend of Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng roots, is also added to help the body absorb the active ingredients in BULK Black. 

All five flavors of BULK Black are free of artificial sweeteners, coloring, and preservatives. Also, rest easy knowing that it’s third-party tested, with its Certificate of Analysis readily available online and has Informed Choice certification, meaning it’s been screened for banned substances. 

RELATED: Transparent Labs BULK Review

Strongest Pre-Workout on a Budget: Nutricost Pre-X 

Good for: A big caffeine boost with an affordable price per serving

Best Budget

Nutricost Pre-X Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.1

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Pre-workout formula with B vitamins
• 300 mg of caffeine per serving
• About $1 per serving
• Third-party tested
• 5 flavor options

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Contains B vitamins
• Gluten-free and non-GMO
• Affordable price per serving

Cons

• Not enough research to support the ingredients that claim to support cognitive function
• Caffeine content may be too much for some folks

Bottom Line

Nutricost Pre-X is an affordable pre-workout at about $1 per serving. There are five flavors to choose from, each with a light and refreshing taste. Each serving contains 300 milligrams of caffeine, which is equivalent to about 3 cups of coffee.

Nutricost Pre-X is our top choice for budget pre-workout because its pricing on Amazon starts around $1 per serving and it has caffeine equivalent to about three cups of coffee. And depending on which flavor and container size you choose, you can score a price per serving as low as $0.62. For this reason, Pre-X earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for price per serving. 

Our testers agree that a pre-workout can’t just be cheap, it also has to be quality. And we think Nutricost fits the bill because it’s third-party tested and made in a GMP-compliant factory, which is more than other cheap dietary supplement brands can say. It’s also vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free, and non-GMO. 

And when it comes to formulation, this budget pre-workout offers key ingredients like L-citrulline, beta-alanine, beta-anhydrous, and taurine. Other notable ingredients for mental focus and cognition—an important piece to completing your workouts—include alpha-GPC and Huperzine A. It’s worth noting that most Huperzine A studies¹³ have not been conducted on athletes, so more research is needed to link cognitive function and athletic performance. 

Kate Meier, GGR senior director of content and certified personal trainer, also enjoyed the way Pre-X tasted saying, “It’s super drinkable and I look forward to it.” She tested the Blue Raspberry flavor and says it was tasty with room-temperature and cold water. While taste is rather subjective, Kate scored the Nutricost Pre-X at 4.5 out of 5 stars for taste. 

Strongest Natural Pre-Workout: Legion Pulse

Good for: Anyone looking for a powerful pre-workout formulated with high-quality and natural ingredients 

Strongest Natural

Legion Athletics Pulse Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.4

Check Price

Product Highlights

• 100% nature-based
• Free from added sugar, food dyes, and other chemicals
• Full refund if not satisfied
• Can get with or without caffeine
• 15 flavors available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• All-natural ingredients
• Free from dyes and chemicals
• Naturally sweetened
• Intended to avoid the dreaded crash
• Full refund if not satisfied
• Can get with or without caffeine
• 15 flavors available

Cons

• Natural sweeteners make for a different taste—it may not be your cup of tea
• Only 21 servings per tub

Bottom Line

Formulated with all-natural ingredients, each of which are present at a high level, Legion Pulse's stim-free pre-workout formula is a fan favorite. If you’re trying to avoid artificial flavors and chemicals, this may be a good choice.

Legion Pulse provides the most natural ingredients out of all the strongest pre-workouts on our list. And while its ingredients list might be one of the slimmest of the bunch, don’t confuse that with ineffective!

RELATED: Best Natural Pre-Workout

Nicole, GGR senior editor and certified personal trainer, says, “It gives me energy for sure, and I haven’t experienced any of the negative stuff. Many other reviewers tend to agree, saying that it provides amazing energy without that infamous stimulant-induced post-workout crash.”

We’ll point out that Legion Pulse supplies a hefty 350-milligram dose of caffeine (but Legion Pulse also comes in non-caffeinated options). And to potentially help enhance the effects of the caffeine, Legion Pulse also provides 350 milligrams of L-theanine.⁹  

Legion Pulse is formulated with other commonly used pre-workout ingredients, including citrulline malate⁴ (8 grams), beta-alanine¹ (3.6 grams), alpha-GPC⁶ (300 milligrams), and betaine² (2.5 grams). The main product page backs its formula with scientific studies, so it’s quite clear that each selected ingredient has a purpose and effective dosing.

The pre-workout comes in over 10 flavors, all sweetened with erythritol and stevia leaf extract and free of artificial sweeteners, flavors, food dyes, and other “chemical junk.” We also applaud that Legion Pulse is third-party tested by Labdoor, free of banned substances, and made in National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)-certified, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-inspected, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-compliant facilities in the U.S. (Oh, and they will give you a full refund “on the spot” if you don’t love Pulse!)

Strongest Pre-Workout for a Pump: Jacked Factory Wick Mode

Good for: Pumping up your workouts with premium and patented ingredients 

Strongest for a Pump

Jacked Factory Wick Mode

GGR Score: 4.36

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Available in 3 flavors
• Can adjust the amount of caffeine based on the number of scoops you take
• Also includes beta-alanine, L-citrulline, and L-tyrosine

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Affordable price of $0.75 to $1.50 per serving
• Delicious flavors, according to our product testers
• Excellent solubility

Cons

• Doesn't contain creatine
• No mention of it being third-party tested

Bottom Line

Jacked Factory Wick Mode is a great choice for those looking for a pre-workout that tastes great, helps with energy and focus, and gives you noticeable pumps.

While we named Jacked Factory Nitrosurge the best pre-workout for beginners, its cousin Wick Mode might be for more advanced lifters. That’s because it supposedly helps users “feel the relentless energy, focus, and power of John Wick,” so let’s dive deeper into this hard-hitting formula.

RELATED: Best Pump Pre-Workout

Registered Dietitian Bob Iafelice notes that Wick Mode “has all the key parts of a good pre-workout and at meaningful doses.” We’ll first note that Wick Mode truly doubles down on the pump by providing a whopping 8,000 milligrams of L-citrulline²² per two scoops. L-citrulline, an amino acid that helps increase the body’s nitric oxide production, improves blood flow and subsequently provides the “pump.”

Kate Meier, GGR’s senior director of content, and a member of her weightlifting gym, both experienced noticeable pumps after taking this pre-workout. “Biceps be bustin’,” Kate commented.

They also both enjoyed the taste, rating it a perfect 5 out of 5. Kate, who tried the Osaka Cherry Blossom flavor, said it had a “great dark cherry taste” and wasn’t too sweet. Her team member tried the Baba Yaga Blue Raz flavor and likened it to a Blue Raspberry Jolly Rancher.

Wick Mode provides the familiar ingredient L-tyrosine⁸ to enhance power and cognition. It’s also fully loaded with premium trademarked ingredients, including Cognizin Citicholine, Infinergy, and AstraGin. 

One scoop provides 150 milligrams of caffeine, which actually still could be a gentler beginner option, while two scoops provide 300 milligrams and are more suitable for those with higher tolerances. Kate and her teammate both noticed the formula kicking in quickly, but neither experienced any significant side effects outside of some face tingles from the beta-alanine.

“Overall, this gets a 4.5 out of 5 stars from me,” Kate said. “It’s not my favorite but I’d definitely use it again.”

Strongest Pre-Workout With Best Taste: Onnit Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout

Good for: Those looking for intense (and delicious) pre-workout energy  

Strongest with Best Taste

Onnit Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 3.6

Check Price

Product Highlights

• 200 mg of caffeine
• Includes beta alanine and L-citrulline
• Priced around $3/serving; subscribe-and-save option available
• 2 flavors currently available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 200 mg of caffeine
• Tiger's Blood flavor tastes great
• Includes 225 mg of ashwagandha extract
• Contains beta alanine and L-citrulline
• Subscribe-and-save option is available

Cons

• Only 2 flavors available, and Yuzu Peach isn't popular among our product testers
• $3/serving is expensive
• Key ingredients like citrulline and beta-alanine are under-dosed

Bottom Line

Onnit's Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout is a unique blend of ingredients that our testers enjoyed for workouts where they wanted to be focused and energized. It only comes in two flavors; the Tiger's Blood flavor is our preferred choice.

What’s better than kicking off your workout routine with a delicious pre-workout and your favorite workout playlist? A strong pre-workout with a delicious taste and some killer beats, perhaps! 

All of our product testers agreed that the Tiger’s Blood flavor of Onnit’s Alpha BRAIN pre-workout was pleasant and rated it 4 out of 5 stars. “It’s tropical, but there isn’t much of a pineapple taste. It tastes more like strawberry/watermelon/coconut,” reported GGR’s senior director of content Kate Meier.

This formula has 200 milligrams of caffeine per serving, which is on the lower side for a pre-workout. However, you also get ingredients like Alpha-GPC and ashwagandha to support cognitive function. One of our testers definitely noticed a difference in her focus and concentration after taking a scoop of this supplement. “I work out in the morning and had a full inbox to sort through and a presentation to deliver afterward. I could still feel the effects of this supplement long after my workout ended,” she commented.

The pre-workout gets a 5-out-of-5 on solubility. Our tester poured a scoop into a shaker bottle with 10 ounces of water, gave it a few shakes, and noted that it dissolved perfectly. “There was no settling at the bottom,” she added.

In this pre-workout, you’ll also find common ingredients like L-citrulline and beta-alanine. These ingredients support athletic performance, delay the time to muscle fatigue, and help improve work capacity.

Onnit Alpha BRAIN pre-workout is quite pricey at $3.00 per serving. However, you can sign up for automatic shipments to save 25% off your first purchase and 15% on subsequent deliveries. And if you try it and don’t like it, you can request a refund within 90 days of purchase as long as the container is at least half full.

Learn more in our full Onnit Alpha BRAIN Pre-Workout review.

Strongest Pre-Workout for Strength and Power: Nutrition Cartel El Jefe

Good for: Anyone looking to enhance their pre-workout game with effective ingredients 

Strongest for Strengh and Power

El Jefe Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4

Check Price

Product Highlights

• All-in-one high stim pre-workout 
• Combines stim and pump ingredients 
• Available in 4 flavors

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Flexible dosing: Can take 1 or 2 scoops
• Combines stimulants and pump ingredients
• Save when buying multiple

Cons

• Contains sucralose
• Limited reviews
• Not third-party tested

Bottom Line

El Jefe Pre-Workout is a high stimulant pre-workout with limited but positive customer reviews for providing energy, focus, pump, and tasting good.

If you’re looking for the strongest of the strong overall, El Jefe Pre-Workout might be the Mitchell Hooper of pre-workouts. It’s got a lofty ingredients list, so saddle up as we decipher their rhyme and reason. But before that, we need to tell you about Mike, a weightlifting teammate of GGR’s head of content Kate Meier.

Mike, a very strong man, knew right away that the Creamsicle flavor was going to be a strong pre-workout. “After I took this I felt like my sinuses cleared up—felt like my nostrils were huge! I felt like I could breathe better.” Mike says. “The taste is good, kind of like an orange smarty. Not too sweet, just tangy. It mixed pretty well, but there is a bit of a chalky aftertaste.”

And as far as the pump, “It definitely gives you a big pump and is quick to kick in,” Mike says. “It kicked in almost right away. I didn’t feel like my skin was crawling but still had that energy. The biggest thing was the focus—this is one of the best feelings of being “locked in” compared to others I’ve tried (and I’ve used 20-30 different ones).”

We’ll point out that you can enjoy El Jefe as a single or double serving, although we highly encourage you to start low and slow to gauge tolerance. This is mainly because two scoops of El Jefe provide a whopping 400 milligrams of caffeine, the total daily recommended amount set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And to put caffeine content in perspective, gentler pre-workouts range between 150-300 milligrams per serving. 

However, the International Society of Sports Nutrition¹⁴ suggests that 3-6 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body mass can offer ergogenic benefits. So for someone who weighs 82 kilograms (about 180 pounds), this amounts to 246-492 milligrams of caffeine. But, again, start low and increase your tolerance level or as a healthcare provider advises. 

Caffeine aside, a double scoop serving of El Jefe contains 7 grams of citrulline malate⁴—a combo of L-citrulline and malate—to help enhance nitric oxide and subsequent blood flow and muscular endurance. Two scoops also supply 2.5 grams of betaine anhydrous², 2 grams of taurine³, and 150 milligrams of ElevATP to improve aerobic and anaerobic performance and recovery.

You’ll also get 4 grams of beta-alanine per two scoops, which research¹ shows is effective for delaying neuromuscular fatigue and improving exercise performance if you’re supplementing with 4-6 grams. But if you experience paresthesia—that tingling feeling after taking pre-workout—the International Society of Sports Nutrition¹ suggests that dividing beta-alanine into lower doses of 1.6 grams can help (so maybe stick to one scoop versus two).

El Jefe also provides choline¹⁵ to increase endurance performance in activities that reduce circulating choline levels below normal. It also contains Nitrosigine, or L-arginine stabilized by inositol. Research¹⁶ suggests 1,500 milligrams of Nitrosigine—the amount El Jefe supplies in two scoops—helps increase pre-workout energy levels and post-workout muscle pump while decreasing muscle damage.

It also contains Huperzine A, a derivative of a traditional Chinese herb that may combat inflammation and increase cognition, and black pepper extract¹⁷ to help enhance nutrient absorption. 

And as the cherry on top, El Jefe delivers a “Jefe Stim Matrix” that’s really just a proprietary blend filled with various nootropics, stimulants, and plant extracts—like theobromine¹⁸ and Eria Jarensis (N-phenethyl dimethylamine). We also need to point out that Eria Jarensis is a banned substance in Australia, and research about its benefits and risks is minimal. 

Active ingredients aside, all four flavors—including Tigers Blood and Orange Creamsicle—contain artificial flavorings, sweeteners, and colorings. There’s also no sign of third-party certifications, so it’s hard to tell if the strong pre-workout undergoes rigorous testing to validate it contains what it’s claimed to. 

Strongest Pre-Workout for Focus: JYM Supplements Pre-JYM

Good for: Lasering your focus while boosting your athletic performance and recovery 

Strongest for Focus

JYM Supplement Science Pre JYM Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.2

Check Price

Product Highlights

• A pre-workout powder powerhouse
• Packed with lab- and gym-tested ingredients
• 9 different flavors to pick from
• Boosts strength, energy, endurance, mindset, and muscle growth
• 14 active ingredients and a nutritional supplement
• Higher potency with 26-gram scoops
• Award-winning brand and pre-workout supplement

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Helps boost your energy for any workout
• Supports mental focus with caffeine, alpha-GPC, and huperzine A
• Includes amino acids to promote muscular strength and endurance
• Great for men and women

Cons

• Do not take up to 6 hours before bed
• Some reviewers don’t love the flavors
• Reviewer complaints about high sucralose and sugar levels
• Shares equipment that handles eggs, milk, soy, tree nuts, and wheat
• Not third-party tested

Bottom Line

Fuel your body with a delicious pre-workout supplement with nutrients and 14 active ingredients for an energy-boosting workout.

Look no further than “Pre-JYM” if you’re looking for energy with enhanced focus. The JYM Supplements pre-workout has 13 ingredients claimed to “fuel your most intense workouts and help you reach your loftiest fitness goals.” 

Some of those 13 ingredients are familiar—like alpha GPC⁶, beta-alanine¹, betaine anhydrous², and citrulline malate⁴. And if you’re wondering about the stim, Pre-JYM provides 300 milligrams of caffeine¹⁹ per scoop to enhance focus, attention, and the overall performance of your workout. 

That’s exactly what happened to Jacob Penner, a Level-2 USA Weightlifting Coach and GGR expert panel member. “I’ve taken this at least half a dozen times, and I always felt really clear and super stimulated for my workouts,” says Jacob, owner of Endless Strength Weightlifting. “This actually has ended up being the team’s favorite pre-workout of potentially all time, and these guys have literally used 50+ pre-workouts. For the last few months, this is the one they grab most often and enjoy the most, both in taste and in effects.”

Unlike other strong pre-workouts on our list, Pre-JYM provides 6 grams of branched-chain amino acids in a 2:1:1 ratio (which we look for in the best BCAAs) to support muscle growth and enhance athletic performance and recovery.  

Pre-JYM also contains creatine HCl to improve your strength gains and performance in the gym. Research²⁰ also shows that compared to creatine monohydrate, creatine HCl is 41 times more soluble and provides favorable changes to body composition.

Pre-JYM’s addition of beetroot extract²¹ may also enhance nitric oxide, blood flow, and athletic performance. It also provides Huperzine A to combat inflammation and increase cognition, along with BioPerine Black Pepper Extract to help absorb the nutrients it offers—like calcium, sodium, and potassium¹⁸.

Depending on the flavor, the pre-workout also contains color additives such as Blue #1, Red #40, and Yellow #5. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests these color additives are primarily safe and side effects are rare, allergic-type and other adverse reactions can still occur. 

As our full JYM pre-workout review covered, there’s no sign of third-party testing. While this doesn’t exactly mean you should avoid it, lacking certification makes us question if it adheres to manufacturing and testing practices for safety and purity. 

Strongest Pre-Workout with Creatine: Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite

Good for: Anyone looking to enhance their muscular endurance in a single product 

Strongest with Creatine

Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite

GGR Score: 4.16

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Pre-workout formulated with creatine monohydrate and creatine nitrate
• 5 grams of total creatine
• Expensive—$3 per serving
• Third-party tested
• 3 flavors: Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Glacier Grape

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Pre-workout and creatine in one
• Contains 5 grams of total creatine
• Third-party tested

Cons

• Expensive

Bottom Line

If you're looking for a product that combines a pre-workout with creatine, Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite might be a good choice.

If you’re looking for one mighty pre-workout, let us introduce you to Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite: Pre-Kaged’s stronger and more caffeinated brother. Pre-Kaged Elite provides 20 effective ergogenic ingredients—nine patented—conveniently categorized on the Supplement Facts label. 

Jacob Penner, USA Weightlifting Level-2 Coach and GGR expert panel member says, “I feel like I have a constant amount of energy—not hyper, no spikes, no lows. Not tingly at all. I’d use this again! I really like the flavor and the effects. Wouldn’t use it on a day I need a massive burst of energy or pump, but would use it for routine training.”

We’ll start with “Pump & Performance” which provides a mega dose of 10,000 milligrams of L-citrulline²² and 3,200 milligrams of beta-alanine.⁵ It also contains 5 grams of total creatine monohydrate and creatine nitrate, which is the effective dose found in the best creatine supplements. Creatine nitrate comes from NO3-T, a patented creatine that helps support strength, increase muscle mass, and produce muscle pumps.

“Power & Burn” is formulated with patented betaine anhydrous² and L-carnitine, which helps the body turn fat into energy and may improve athletic performance. Taurine³, coconut fruit water powder, and elevATP comprise the “Cellular Hydration & ATP Amplifier” matrix to promote hydration and energy production.

The “Energy & Focus” matrix provides L-tyrosine⁸, alpha-GPC⁶, huperzine A, and caffeine sourced from the patented ingredients PurCaf and AmaTea. Whereas Kaged Pre-Kaged provides a specific 274 milligrams of caffeine per serving, the Elite blend provides a whopping 388 milligrams. 

Pre-Kaged Elite is also rich in various vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, vitamin B12, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.¹² It also provides a high dose of niacin, a B vitamin that helps the body convert food into energy, but could elicit a facial flushing effect, according to a 2019 study.²⁷

Out of all the strongest pre-workouts, Pre-Kaged Elite is the only one to be Informed Choice Certified—meaning it undergoes third-party testing and is free of banned substances. And while it’s not cheap, costing $3.00 per serving, we think its high-quality and tested formulation might be well worth the spend if you have wiggle room in your budget. (And it could displace your creatine tub and act as a 2-in-1 supplement!)

RELATED: Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Review

Strongest High-Stim Pre-Workout: Huge Supplements Wrecked Enraged

Good for: Eliciting a highly stimulated workout without breaking the bank

Strongest High-Stim

Huge Supplements Wrecked Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4

Check Price

Product Highlights

• 4 flavor options
• 435mg of caffeine (from various sources)
• Clinically dosed ingredients
• $2.50 per serving

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clinically-dosed ingredients
• Customer reviews state it's great for pumps
• Uses whole food sources

Cons

• Expensive, at $2.50 per serving
• Very high caffeine content
• No creatine

Bottom Line

Huge Supplements Wrecked is a high-caffeine pre-workout supplement that uses clinically-dosed ingredients to support increased energy levels and pumps.

Low budget goals but strong stim desires? Enter Wrecked Enraged, perhaps the strongest pre-workout priced at the lowest cost. 

But let us first preface that a two-scooped serving of Wrecked Enraged contains 400 milligrams from various stimulants. According to ConsumerLabs, some of the stimulants Wrecked Enraged contain—like N-phenethyl dimethylamine and N-isopropylnorsynephrine—are prohibited and banned in some countries. 

Jacob Penner, a USA Weightlifting Level-Two Coach has tried 50-plus pre-workouts during his lifetime, “and this is wildly aggressive, even for me.

“I am more than good with just one scoop of this; can’t imagine taking two,” Jacob continues. “I will say that this could be one of the best ones I’ve tried; it doesn’t hurt my stomach, I feel really stimulated, and I like the ingredients—I’d just be careful taking this.”

With that outta the way, the pre-workout provides ingredients that are pretty standard and expected—like 4 grams of beta-alanine⁵ and 1 gram of alpha-GPC.¹² You’ll also be provided with Huperzine A and black pepper extract⁹ to augment cognition and nutrient absorption, respectively. 

Wrecked Enraged also introduces us to the newer ingredient halostachine—also known as N-methylphenylethylamine—that works as a “fat burner” similar to ephedrine, a weight loss drug banned for sale as a dietary supplement by the FDA. While halostachine is commonly dosed at 50 milligrams twice daily, hardly any research supports its use. 

Wrecked Enraged also contains artificial flavors, sweeteners, and dyes like other strong pre-workouts, although that hasn’t stopped Jacob from enjoying it: “I tried Blue Razz and the taste is so good. It tastes like a blue Icee; it is sweet, but not overly sweet. It’s almost dangerous how good it tastes because it doesn’t taste like a supplement, it just tastes like a good blue drink. I was actually able to eat after taking this. A lot of times when you take high-dose pre-workouts, you don’t want to eat. I actually wanted to eat with this.”

Other Strong Pre-Workouts We Researched

There are plenty of other strong pre-workouts on the market, including these options that just didn’t make the final cut on the list of our top picks:

• Muscle Factory Crack Pre-Workout: This was sold out each time we tried to order it for testing. 
• Apollon Nutrition Hooligan: This is high on stimulants, even for experienced users. GGR performance editor Anthony O’Reilly tried this and said even he felt a bit spacey, and he has a very high caffeine tolerance.
• Rich Piana 5% Nutrition 5150 High-Stim Pre: Our testers felt like this one took quite a while to come on, so timing could be an issue. For that reason, we left it off the list.
• Insane Labz Psychotic Pre-Workout: Anthony tried this and overall wasn’t impressed; he said it was all energy but no other effects. 
• Bucked Up Woke AF: This pre-workout has a very high amount of stimulants, and while Anthony liked it, it won’t be suitable for many people. Read his full Woke AF pre-workout review for all his thoughts. 

How We Picked and Tested the Strongest Pre-Workout

While picking and testing the strongest pre-workout products on the market isn’t a job for the faint of heart, the GGR team is always up for trying products to best serve our readers. Here’s the inside scoop on our selection process:

• Stimulants: Strong pre-workouts call for strong stimulants; we didn’t skimp out on them. But because everyone’s tolerance varies, we included varying caffeine contents and products that can easily be divided into single scoops.
• Formulation: Caffeine might be the backbone of a strong pre-workout, although even the best stim-free pre-workouts can provide stellar pump and dialed-in focus. That said, we looked for products formulated with staple pre-workout ingredients like beta-alanine⁵, citrulline malate², and alpha-GPC.¹² 
• Flavor options: Because everyone has different palates, our list falls nothing short of flavor variety. So, say NO to dry scooping pre-workout and all the yes to mixing and sipping your favorite pre-workout flavor with water! 
• Cost: Our roundups always feature products with varying costs in hopes there’s at least one option to fit into our readers’ budgets. 
• Third-party testing: Whether searching for the best creatine or best fish oil supplement, we always prioritize products that undergo third-party testing.

Benefits of Strong Pre-Workouts

We might’ve already hinted about the benefits of strong pre-workouts, but below highlights just how supplementing with one could take your fitness to the next level.

• Enhances energy and stamina: While more energy for your workout is likely the motivator behind looking for a strong pre-workout, research¹ actually shows that caffeine offers ergogenic effects. Other common pre-workout ingredients—like beta-alanine¹ and citrulline malate⁴—help combat fatigue to boost your workout stamina. 
• Improves blood flow and pumps: Pre-workouts with nitric oxide boosts, including L-citrulline²² and citrulline malate², can improve blood flow and your muscle pumps. 
• Enhances exercise performance and recovery: More stimulants in the tank can excel your workouts, though other common pre-workout ingredients—such as creatine and taurine³—also can enhance exercise performance and recovery.
• Increases focus and cognition: Caffeine, huperzine A, alpha-GPC⁶, and other ingredients act as nootropics to increase your focus during a workout. 
• Supports overall health: While formulated to boost your workouts, common ingredients in strong pre-workouts may support your overall health. For instance, beetroot extract²¹ may improve immune function while L-theanine has been shown to reduce stress.⁹

Dosing and Interactions 

While there’s no one-size-fits-all on how much pre-workout to take, we recommend starting with the lower end and gauging your tolerance. You should also dose according to the directions of your selected pre-workout, particularly if it provides a high stimulant dose, to avoid unwanted pre-workout side effects. 

Certain populations should be extra cautious of caffeine intake, including pregnant women and those with certain health issues like sleep disorders and heart conditions. 

Herbal ingredients, especially, may also interact with medications and interfere with their effectiveness. And because pre-workout ingredients and serving sizes are not standardized, we encourage you to review what’s in your pre-workout of choice and the doses of each. 

Talking with your physician before starting a new supplement routine is always a smart idea. This is extra important when considering the potency of the ingredients in the strongest pre-workouts. 

Third-Party Testing

We always encourage selecting products that have been third-party tested—and maybe even more so with the strongest pre-workouts. The FDA does not tightly regulate dietary supplements and stimulants can be dangerous (and even banned by WADA and some countries).

For these reasons, we recommend—at minimum—seeking products manufactured in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facilities. And if you’re a competitive athlete, we can’t stress the importance of using products free of banned substances and third-party tested—like Informed Choice Certified, Informed Sport Certified, and NSF Certified for Sport.

FAQs About the Strongest Pre-Workouts

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

1. Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:30. Published 2015 Jul 15. doi:10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y
2. Cholewa JM, Wyszczelska-Rokiel M, Glowacki R, et al. Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;10(1):39. Published 2013 Aug 22. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-39
3. Kurtz, J.A., VanDusseldorp, T.A., Doyle, J.A. et al. Taurine in sports and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 18, 39 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00438-0
4. 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
5. Pérez-Guisado J, Jakeman PM. Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness. J Strength Cond Res. 2010 May;24(5):1215-22. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cb28e0. PMID: 20386132.
6. Bellar D, LeBlanc NR, Campbell B. The effect of 6 days of alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine on isometric strength. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:42. Published 2015 Nov 17. doi:10.1186/s12970-015-0103-x doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4
7. Kerksick CM, Wilborn CD, Roberts MD, et al. ISSN exercise & sports nutrition review update: research & recommendations. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018;15(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0242-y
8. Jongkees BJ, Hommel B, Kühn S, Colzato LS. Effect of tyrosine supplementation on clinical and healthy populations under stress or cognitive demands–A review. J Psychiatr Res. 2015 Nov;70:50-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.08.014. Epub 2015 Aug 25. PMID: 26424423.
9. Owen GN, Parnell H, De Bruin EA, et al. The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutr Neurosci. 2008 Aug;11(4):193-8. doi: 10.1179/147683008X301513. PMID: 18681988.
10. Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, et al. L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2007 Jan;74(1):39-45. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.006. Epub 2006 Aug 22. PMID: 16930802.
11. Rogers PJ, Smith JE, Heatherley SV, et al. Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance effects of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008 Jan;195(4):569-77. doi: 10.1007/s00213-007-0938-1. Epub 2007 Sep 23. PMID: 17891480.
12. Nielsen OB, Clausen T. The Na+/K(+)-pump protects muscle excitability and contractility during exercise. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2000 Oct;28(4):159-64. PMID: 11064849.
13. Wessinger CM, Inman CL, Weinstock J, Weiss EP. Effect of Huperzine A on Cognitive Function and Perception of Effort during Exercise: A Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Trial. Int J Exerc Sci. 2021;14(2):727-741. Published 2021 Aug 1.
14. Guest NS, VanDusseldorp TA, Nelson MT, et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: caffeine and exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021;18(1).
15. Penry JT, Manore MM. Choline: an important micronutrient for maximal endurance-exercise performance? Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2008 Apr;18(2):191-203. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.18.2.191. PMID: 18458362.
16. Rood-Ojalvo S, Sandler D, Veledar E, et al. The benefits of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate as a workout ingredient. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12(Suppl 1):P14. Published 2015 Sep 21. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-12-S1-P14
17. Butt MS, Pasha I, Sultan MT, Randhawa MA, Saeed F, Ahmed W. Black pepper and health claims: a comprehensive treatise. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2013;53(9):875-86. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2011.571799. PMID: 23768180.
18. IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Coffee, Tea, Mate, Methylxanthines and Methylglyoxal. Lyon (FR): International Agency for Research on Cancer; 1991. (IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, No. 51.) Theobromine. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507032/
19. McLellan TM, Caldwell JA, Lieberman HR. A review of caffeine’s effects on cognitive, physical and occupational performance. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016;71(1):294-312. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.09.001
20. França E de, Avelar B, Yoshioka C, et al. Creatine HCl and Creatine Monohydrate Improve Strength but Only Creatine HCl Induced Changes on Body Composition in Recreational Weightlifters. Food Sci Nutr. 2015;06:1624. doi:https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2015.617167
21. Wylie LJ, Kelly J, Bailey SJ, et al. Beetroot juice and exercise: pharmacodynamic and dose-response relationships. J Appl Physiol. 2013;115(3):325-336. doi:https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00372.2013
22. Gonzalez AM, Trexler ET. Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature. J Strength Cond Res. 2020 May;34(5):1480-1495. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003426. PMID: 31977835.
23. Tartar JL, Kalman D, Hewlings S. A Prospective Study Evaluating the Effects of a Nutritional Supplement Intervention on Cognition, Mood States, and Mental Performance in Video Gamers. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2326. Published 2019 Oct 1. doi:10.3390/nu11102326
24. Han X, Parker TL. Anti-inflammatory activity of Juniper (Juniperus communis) berry essential oil in human dermal fibroblasts. Benavente C, ed. Cogent Med. 2017;4(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/2331205x.2017.1306200
25. Stabrauskiene J, Kopustinskiene DM, Lazauskas R, et al. Naringin and Naringenin: Their Mechanisms of Action and the Potential Anticancer Activities. Biomedicines. 2022;10(7):1686. Published 2022 Jul 13. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10071686
26. Binjhade N, Supare V, Ghaywat S, Trivedi S, Wadher K, Umekar M. Agmatine: A potential Neurotherapeutic Agent. J Drug Deliv Ther. 2021;11(4):88-92. doi:https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v11i4.4855
27. Jagim AR, Camic CL, Harty PS. Common Habits, Adverse Events, and Opinions Regarding Pre-Workout Supplement Use Among Regular Consumers. Nutrients. 2019;11(4):855. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040855

Sydney Lappe, R.D.

Sydney Lappe is a St. Louis-based Registered Dietitian with 6+ years of nutrition editing and writing experience. She holds a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and completed undergrad work in psychology. While fitness wasn’t in Sydney’s routine growing up, it quickly became a large part of her daily life while studying the facets of health and nutrition. Also managing chronic pain, she has come to fully realize movement is a special gift to never take for granted and hopes to inspire others to invest in their physical, mental, and emotional wellness while they can. Including her passion for all things health, Sydney enjoys spending time with her loved ones, being active in various capacities, drinking bottomless cups of coffee, eating a hearty bowl of oatmeal, and letting her creativity roam through writing and graphic design.

Further reading

Nike Free Metcon 4 Review: Versatile Training Shoes (2024)

by Cooper Mitchell, GGR Founder

It’s no secret that I love a quality pair of sneakers. I even made an entire video on the best training shoes for 2021with my friend Kate Meier, who is a certified CrossFit L1 trainer and CrossFit box owner. She is also a senior editor here at Garage Gym Reviews and did a deep dive into the Nike Free Metcon 4s for us. In this Nike Free Metcon 4 review, I’ll tell you the details on these cross training shoes including the price, warranty, durability, and what they’re best used for. There are tons of sneakers out there and I want to help you find the best fit for your specific needs.Why You Should Trust UsBesides testing and trying some of the best CrossFit shoes on the market, I’ve worn tons of fan favorites including the Position Weightlifting Eastwood Shoes, Reebok JJ 2 Training Shoes, Reebok Nano, and Altra HIIT XT Training Shoes. I even wrote an article about how to figure out what kind of shoes you need to wear based on the training you do! I might be a little biased, but I think I’m a very trustworthy person to talk to you about different athletic shoes. Read more

Daily Harvest vs HelloFresh (2024): Expert Comparison of Two Popular Services

by Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1

Looking for a top meal delivery, but not sure which one is right for you? We break down two top contenders in our Daily Harvest vs HelloFresh comparison. Read more

KURU QUANTUM 2.0 Review (2024): These Shoes Were Made For Walking

by Matt Dustin, CES, PN1-NC

Are these walking shoes the key to pain-free feet? Find out what our tester thought in this Kuru Quantum 2.0 review! Read more

Titan Loadable Olympic Dumbbell Handles Review (2024): Budget Dumbbells That Get the Job Done

by Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1

If you’ve already got Olympic weight plates, check out our Titan Loadable Olympic Dumbbell Handles review, to see if these handles could work in your home gym. Read more