Best pre-workout supplements 2022: Powder and drink formulas

Best: Overall

Rating: 8/10

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?

Best: For evening workouts

Rating: 8/10

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 (£24.95, Liveinnermost.com), 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.

Best: For flavour

Rating: 8/10

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 232g box serves 20 servings – working out at £1.20 per shake. There are three different flavours – berry blast, killa cola and ultimate orange. We tried the former and thought it sat somewhere between Ribena, Lucozade Sport raspberry and Robinson’s apple and blackcurrant flavoured squash. It dissolved well and kept us energised throughout our workout.

Best: For muscle gain

Rating: 8/10

Founded by former UK Special Forces soldier, Ollie Ollerton – who’s known for appearing on all five series of SAS: Who Dares Wins – Battle Ready is a pre-workout supplement that is supercharged with a nootropics blend to keep your energy levels and focus high during a workout. Ingredients wise it includes 200mg of caffeine per serving, beta alanine, l-tyrosine and – most unusually – ashwagandha, the adaptogenic herb known for its calming qualities.

The 375g tub includes 15 servings – so approximately £1.66 per shake. The blue raspberry flavour is bright blue in colour – it reminds us of the blue Powerades electrolyte drinks we used to have at training. After shaking, there’s an inch or so of foam that sits on top of the drink and when you open the lid, there’s a bit of a gas release from the product (so beware, as it may spit at you). The flavour isn’t sharp at all, it’s actually very fruity and surprisingly delicious.

Best: Limited edition supplement

Rating: 8/10

Bulk’s new millions pre workout has been developed to provide everything you need to push harder through your training session. Containing 5g of BCAAs in an impressive 3:1:1 ratio – 3g of beta alanine, 1g taurine and 200mg of caffeine – to improve performance, increase alertness and improve concentration.

The large 510g container includes 30 servings – £1 per drink. Inspired by the retro Millions sweets of Nineties fame, the Bulk pre-workout is currently available in two classic flavours – bubblegum and strawberry. We tried the strawberry flavour and it definitely offered us a tasty throwback to our childhoods. What better way to inject some fun into your workouts? The packaging is really joyful, too – and certainly helps it to stand out in a market filled with black tubs.

Best: For caffeine lovers

Rating: 7/10

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 (hich 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).

Best: Vegan supplement

Rating: 6/10

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 under £1 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.

Best: Pre-workout drink

Rating: 7/10

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.