Best Pre-Workout For Men To Boost Muscle & Strength Training 2021
When looking for a great pre-workout for men, it should increase muscle, promote energy, and boost strength training.
We all know that a good supplement can boost our gains and a top tier pre-workout can provide for all the needs to enhance muscle growth, energy, focus, and strength training as we seek the most out of our masculine performance. While a good protein powder or intra-workout BCAA are also vital for promoting all of our gains, a pre-workout, especially one for active men, can boost our gains to new heights. When it comes to both masculine health and performance, look no further than this list of the best pre-workout products for men.
Able to provide muscle pumps, increase energy, aid in weight loss, and get our blood pumping, we as active men know just what it takes to succeed in order to boost our masculine performance. For your overall masculine health, you deserve to have a high-quality supplement able to tackle any and all of your goals. Our bodies deserve the best when it comes to supplements and our muscle growth, energy levels, and overall masculine performance rely on great products to help us get there.
Check out our list of the Best Pre-Workout Supplements For Muscle Building for more great pre-workout products!
We’ve put together a list of the Best Pre-Workouts For Men so you can start to see those desired gains to muscle growth, energy, and strength training. With clean and effective products, you can’t go wrong when looking to promote masculine performance.
Best Pre-Workout Supplements For Men 2021
Best Pre-Workout Overall: Transparent Labs PreSeries BULK
| Stim Or No Stim | Stim |
| Calories | 0 |
| Carbs | 0g |
| Sugar | 0g |
| Number Of Servings | 30 |
| Flavors | Orange, Green Apple, Sour Grape, Blue Raspberry, Tropical Punch |
| Best Way To Take | Mix 1 scoop with 16-24 fl. oz. of water 20-30 minutes before your workout. |
Transparent Lab PreSeries BULK is an effective per-workout for those looking to increase muscle, promote better strength training results, and aid in overall masculine performance. BULK contains 6,000 mg of citrulline malate, 4,000 mg of beta-alanine, 4,000 mg of BCAAs, and 2,500 mg of betaine to boost your workouts, blood flow, weight loss, and muscle growth, all in attempts to improve performance. BULK will reduce fatigue and increase your energy to give you a more impactful and longer lasting workout. Transparent Labs prides themselves on a 100% label and there are artificial additives, colorings, or preservatives to ruin this clean product.
Pros
- High amount of citrulline malate for awesome pumps
- Very clean ingredients for an honest product
- From a reputable company in Transparent Labs
Cons
- High in beta alanine
- Premium priced option
- Only available directly from their site
Price: $49.00
Check out our individual review for Transparent Labs PreSeries BULK here! Also, use the promo code GENIRON10 for 10% off!
Best For Strength & Performance: Performance Lab SPORT Pre
| Stim Or No Stim | No Stim |
| Calories | 0 |
| Carbs | 0g |
| Sugar | 0g |
| Number Of Servings | 20 |
| Flavors | N/A |
| Best Way To Take | Take up to 6 capsules 30-45 minutes before your workout. Take on an empty stomach with 16-32 oz. of water |
Performance Lab Sport Pre is another high-quality pre-workout supplement available to the public at a great price point. Performance Lab Sport is one of the most rigorously scientifically vetted brands and all of their pre-workout products are free of synthetic additives (which might dehydrate the muscles), non-GMO, and vegan friendly. Sport “Pre” increases nitric oxide in the blood to support the oxygenation of muscles during workouts, improves endurance by hydrating the muscles, and enhances both anaerobic and aerobic exercise by increasing ATP reductase for the best benefits out of strength training, weight loss, and masculine performance.
Pros
- Vegan friendly
- Capsules are easy to take
- Will help with strength and endurance
- Caffeine free for those looking for no caffeine
Cons
- Premium priced option
- Only available through their site
Price: $39.00
Best Pre-Workout For Weight Loss: Transparent Labs PreSeries LEAN
| Stim Or No Stim | Stim |
| Calories | 0 |
| Carbs | 0g |
| Sugar | 0g |
| Number Of Servings | 30 |
| Flavors | Sour Grape, Orange, Blue Raspberry, Tropical Punch, Strawberry Lemonade |
| Best Way To Take | Mix 1 scoop with 12-16 fl. oz. of water 20-30 minutes before your workout. |
The perfect supplement for cutting, LEAN is great for those looking to target stubborn fat while keeping on that lean muscle. LEAN contains 6,000 mg of citrulline malate, 2,500 mg of betaine, 2,000 mg of BCAA, 1,500 mg of beta-alanine, and 600 mg of L-tyrosine to improve strength and muscle endurance, increase blood flow and nitric oxide levels, reduce fatigue for better energy, and improve memory. LEAN is great for those looking to slim down and encourage weight loss without losing that hard work done in the gym through your exercise performance from a great pre-workout powder with ingredients like citrulline malate and betaine.
Pros
- Well-dosed and third party tested
- All-natural ingredients
- Good for cutting and increasing strength and power
Cons
- Premium priced option
- Only available directly from their site
- Does not have the greatest ingredients for fat loss
Price: $49.00
Use the promo code GENIRON10 for 10% off! Plus, check out our individual review for Transparent Labs PreSeries LEAN here!
Best Pre-Workout For Muscle Pumps: National Bodybuilding Co. Stage Ready
| Stim Or No Stim | Stim |
| Calories | 0 |
| Carbs | 0g |
| Sugar | 0g |
| Number Of Servings | 30 |
| Flavors | Fruit Punch |
| Best Way To Take | Take 1 scoop and mix with 8-12 fl. oz. of water. |
National Bodybuilding Co. has a great pre-workout supplement called Stage Ready Pre-Workout which delivers quality muscle pumps, enhanced stamina, weight loss, and a solid boost of energy to really elevate your performance. With an advanced and effective blend, this pre-workout can hydrate and buffer muscle tissue, raise nitric oxide levels and blood flow, optimize ATP production, and boost neurotransmitter synthesis. With great ingredients and a clean formula, it is no wonder why National Bodybuilding Co. Stage Ready Pre-Workout won for Best Pre-Workout in GI Supplement Awards.
Pros
- An effective blend with solid benefits for muscle pumps, energy, and stamina
- Patented ingredients and great taste
- From a reputable company
Cons
- Premium priced option
- Only available directly from their site
- Could use more beta alanine as a key ingredient
Price: $48.00
Check out our individual review for National Bodybuilding Co. Stage Ready here!
Best For Clean Ingredients: Performance Lab SPORT Pre
| Stim Or No Stim | No Stim |
| Calories | 0 |
| Carbs | 0g |
| Sugar | 0g |
| Number Of Servings | 20 |
| Flavors | N/A |
| Best Way To Take | Take up to 6 capsules 30-45 minutes before your workout. Take on an empty stomach with 16-32 oz. of water |
Performance Lab Sport Pre is another high-quality pre-workout supplement available to the public at a great price point, especially for men looking to improve their overall masculine health. Performance Lab Sport is one of the most rigorously scientifically vetted brands and all of their pre-workout products are free of synthetic additives (which might dehydrate the muscles), non-GMO, and vegan friendly. Sport “Pre” increases nitric oxide in the blood to support the oxygenation of muscles during workouts, improves endurance by hydrating the muscles, and enhances both anaerobic and aerobic exercise by increasing ATP reductase for the best benefits out of strength training, weight loss, and performance.
Pros
- Vegan friendly
- Capsules are easy to take
- Will help with strength and endurance
- Caffeine free for those looking for no caffeine
Cons
- Premium priced option
- Only available through their site
Price: $39.00
Best For Cutting: Transparent Labs PreSeries LEAN
| Stim Or No Stim | Stim |
| Calories | 0 |
| Carbs | 0g |
| Sugar | 0g |
| Number Of Servings | 30 |
| Flavors | Sour Grape, Orange, Blue Raspberry, Tropical Punch, Strawberry Lemonade |
| Best Way To Take | Mix 1 scoop with 12-16 fl. oz. of water 20-30 minutes before your workout. |
The perfect supplement for cutting, LEAN is great for those looking to target stubborn fat while keeping on that lean muscle. LEAN contains 6,000 mg of citrulline malate, 2,500 mg of betaine, 2,000 mg of BCAA, 1,500 mg of beta-alanine, and 600 mg of L-tyrosine to improve strength and muscle endurance, increase blood flow and nitric oxide levels, reduce fatigue, and improve memory. LEAN is great for those looking to slim down and encourage weight loss without losing that hard work done in the gym through your exercise performance from a great pre-workout powder with ingredients like citrulline malate and betaine.
Pros
- Well-dosed and third party tested
- All-natural ingredients
- Good for cutting and increasing strength and power
Cons
- Premium priced option
- Only available directly from their site
- Does not have the greatest ingredients for fat loss
Price: $49.00
Use the promo code GENIRON10 for 10% off! Plus, check out our individual review for Transparent Labs PreSeries LEAN here!
Best Pre-Workout Without Creatine: Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged
| Stim Or No Stim | Stim |
| Calories | 15 |
| Carbs | 2g |
| Sugar | 1g |
| Number Of Servings | 20 |
| Flavors | Berry Blast, Fruit Punch, Grape, Krisp Apple, Orange Kush, Pink Lemonade |
| Best Way To Take | Take one scoop with water before your workout. |
Increase the performance and intensity of your workout with this high-quality pre-workout powder available from Kaged Muscle. Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged is unmatched in terms of ingredient quality and synthesis of the blend of proteins. Kaged Muscle lab tests every batch to make sure each is fully loaded as advertised — 274 mg pure caffeine, 2 g taurine, 6.5 g fermented BCAAs, 6.5 g pure l-citrulline, and 2 g of their patented betapower blend. It’s an unbeatable combination that is guaranteed to supercharge any workout with great pre-workout ingredients from supplements to increase muscle and promote weight loss while working towards better masculine performance.
Pros
- Contains BCAAs and has well-dosed ingredients
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Great taste
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Does contains sucralose, which is an artificial sweetener
- Caffeine content may be high for those sensitive
Price: $39.99
Use code GENIRON10 to save 10%! Check out our individual review for Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged here!
Benefits Of Pre-Workout For Muscle, Energy, Focus & Strength Training
For those looking into the benefits of what a pre-workout can do, the affects towards muscle growth and increased energy, as well as a host of others, have seriously dynamite results on our masculine performance and training goals. Benefits of a good pre-workout include:
- Muscle growth and pumps: All of your strength training and muscle goals will be achieved by allowing more blood flow and increased pressure on those muscles to grow (1).
- Increased energy and focus: More intense workouts as a result of better energy and focus to really stay locked in (2).
- Reduction in fatigue: Provide for longer training sessions by burning calories to fuel your body with what it needs while reducing muscle soreness and promoting better masculine health.
- Boost recovery: Allow you to bounce back faster and promote better growth for better and faster turn around time.
- Better masculine performance: Overall this will aid in your performance goals and help you see the results you want most.
Pre-Workout Safety & Effectiveness On Masculine Performance
Although pre-workout supplements are not monitored by the FDA, they are safe on the whole for the general public. One of the main ingredients in most pre-workouts, being caffeine, can have negative affects on those sensitive or who are trying to avoid it, so always reading the label can ensure your masculine health is being taken care of.
A few side effects do exist for pre-workouts including dizziness, nausea, dehydration, and high blood pressure so it is important to monitor how much and when you take it so as to not disrupt any of your daily life goals. On the whole, pre-workouts can be beneficial towards muscle growth, energy, focus, and strength training but reading and knowing what you are taking can be more than beneficial.
Key Ingredients Of Pre-Workout
While each company has their own unique formula, there are some key ingredients that should be included in your pre-workout supplement to help boost all of your gains towards strength training and masculine performance.
- Caffeine: Works to elevate energy and focus to be more alert and have a better workout without any sluggish feelings (3).
- BCAAs: The building blocks of muscle protein synthesis, these will help with muscle growth, muscle maintenance, and a reduction in fatigue (4).
- Beta-Alanine: Acts as a buffer for pH levels to push past fatigue and increase energy.
- Creatine: Makes adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to help fuel your muscles and boost overall performance (5).
- L-Citrulline: Boosts nitric oxide and helps maintain good blood flow for increased pumps by changing to L-arginine.
- Betaine: Is great for muscle growth and power by producing carnitine to elevate strength training and masculine performance (6).
How Does Pre-Workout Affect Muscle Growth & Masculine Performance
Pre-workout and it’s affect on muscle growth and masculine performance depend on the ingredients included in each respective formula. Creatine is perfect for increased strength by increasing the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which will provide for energy and better strength training. Something like citrulline malate can deliver oxygen and nutrients to your muscles to provide fuel and will work as a great way to boost muscle pumps, something that will pay off in the long run when it comes to masculine performance (7).
What About Energy & Focus
For energy and focus, certain ingredients like caffeine and L-theanine can provide for energy and allow you to be alert for whatever comes your way. By targeting the right receptors, you will be dialed in and ready to take on any workout that comes your way. This will also add to your motivation to really enhance strength training and muscle growth.
How We Choose
When it comes to choosing the best pre-workouts for men, we wanted to create a list to reflect what you want, need, and deserve out of your supplements. The reputation of the brand is very important for a top tier company will use only the best ingredients to boost all areas of your gains. Having an effective product is very important and should not be overlooked when it comes to boosting masculine performance and strength training. Price is very important because we know how expensive supplements can be when it comes to boosting your muscle and strength training goals. We sought the best supplements that are still affordable enough to not break the bank but still give you everything you want and need out of your pre-workout for men.
FAQ Section
What is the best pre-workout for men?
Transparent Labs PreSeries BULK. This is an effective pre-workout with clinically dosed ingredients for those looking to increase strength and muscle size while also looking to bulk and boost masculine performance. From an honest and transparent company, you can’t go wrong with this clean pre-workout void of all artificial colorings, additives, and preservatives.
Do stimulant-free pre-workouts exist?
Stim-free per-workouts do exist and can work well when it comes to your strength training goals without any unwanted stimulants. With an increase demand for stim-free products, many companies have shifted their focus including these in their pre-workout repertoire.
Check out some amazing stim-free pre-workout supplements here!
Are pre-workout supplements safe?
Although pre-workouts are not monitored by the FDA, they are safe for public use. With potential side effects like dizziness, nausea, dehydration, and high blood pressure, it is important to always read the label for proper directions on how to take each respective pre-workout.
When should I take my pre-workout?
This depends on the product, but it is ideal to take pre-workout somewhere around 30 minutes before your workout. This will allow time for all of those nutrients to hit your body properly so you can work as effectively as possible.
What are the differences in pre-workouts for masculine health and performance over those for women?
The main differences are ingredients and dosing. Men and women have different respective needs and your supplements should also reflect that. Caffeine for example tends to be slightly higher in masculine pre-workouts since men tend to weigh more. It really depends on your goals and how the company has properly dosed each pre-workout.
Check out our list of the Best Pre-Workout Supplements For Muscle Building for more great pre-workout products!
Wrap Up
A great pre-workout supplement for men can work to provide benefits towards muscle, energy, focus, strength training, and masculine performance and should not be overlooked in your supplementation routine. While it is best to have a well-rounded supplementation routine, a high-quality pre-workout can work to provide for all those muscle gains and strength training goals that you need most. Finding the right supplement to boost masculine performance and health can really boost all the needs of active men. Check out this list of the Best Pre-Workout Supplements For Men and see what these can do for your strength training and masculine performance goals today.
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References
- Kedia, A.; Hofheins, J.; Habowski, S.; Ferrando, Arny; et al. (2014). “Effects of a Pre workout Supplement on Lean Mass, Muscular Performance, Subjective Workout Experience and Biomarkers of Safety”. (source)
- Ellerbroek, Anya C.; Antonio, Jose (2019). “Effects of Pre-Workout Supplements on Strength, Endurance, and Mood”. (source)
- McLellan, Tom M.; Caldwell, John A.; Lieberman, Harris R. (2016). “A review of caffeine’s effects on cognitive, physical and occupational performance”. (source)
- Negro, M.; Giardina, S.; Marzani, B.; Marzatico, F. (2008). “Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system”. (source)
- Kreider, Richard B. (2003). “Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations”. (source)
- Yu, Zhu-Lin; Zhang, Ling-Yu; Jiang, Xiao-Ming; Xue, Chang-Hu; Chi, Naiqui; Zhang, Tian-Tian; Wang, Yu-Ming (2020). “Effects of dietary choline, betaine, and L-carnitine on the generation of trimethylamine-N-oxide in healthy mice”. (source)
- Outlaw, Jordan J.; Wilborn, Colin D.; Smith-Ryan, Abbie E.; Hayward, Sara E.; et al. (2014). “Acute effects of a commercially-available pre-workout supplement on markers of training: a double-blind study”. (source)
