The Top 4 Caffeine Free Pre Workouts Reviewed
People who are trying to limit their caffeine consumption or abstain altogether have a pretty rough ride of it. We live in a world where nearly every other meme on a Monday morning involves a picture of five espressos arranged in a pentagram, along with the caption “How to summon me after the weekend.” It’s almost as prevalent as all the Friday afternoon memes which point out that it’s Gin o’clock somewhere in the world.
And there’s this weird social stereotype that people who avoid caffeine (or indeed alcohol) must be rigid, upright A-type personalities who don’t want to cut loose. Unfair, or what? This international frowning-upon, as if we’re exiting “Team Fun” stage left, doesn’t take into account that some of us don’t get along with caffeine very well. Dehydration problems are worse for some than others. It’s not great if you suffer from stress tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, and—contrary to popular opinion—it can make anxiety worse rather than better.
Now, caffeine is one of the most common ergogenic (assisting the creation of energy) aids for the following reasons:
- It reduces the experience or sensation of fatigue
- Improves alertness and mental acuity
- Improves stamina, increasing the time-to-exhaustion, which means you can get a longer workout
- It works by stimulating the central nervous system (CNS).
But since the turn of the 21st century, a lot of research has gone into identifying other stimulants which improve physical or cognitive performance. You’ll see the word “Nootropics” thrown around a lot: these are substances, both supplementary and naturally occurring, which support the limbic system and the production of gamma-Aminobutyric acid, or GABA for short. They improve memory, reduce anxiety and enhance mental acuity.
Between the supplementary additions which are designed to enhance physical performance and the neurological ingredients intended to support the brain’s function during hectic energy expenditure, there are a vast variety of ingredients across quite a range of pre-workout formulae. Not many of them exclude caffeine entirely, but there’s a decent range of products which combine ingredients to the same effect. Without the jitteriness that comes with caffeine. Because let’s face it, we’re not all early birds and most of us can only hit the gym or go for that run after work. We don’t want to be rammed full of caffeine when we go to bed afterwards.
To make life easier, we’ve rounded up a list of five best caffeine-free pre-workout supplements. Following this, we’ll talk a little more about what the respective ingredients are supposed to do for you, and why small hand weights are sometimes thrown during arguments about the uselessness of including arginine as an ingredient. Shocker. We’ve wrapped by answering a few commonly asked questions.
Need to order and get to the gym? Here’s our top five picks.
Best Caffeine Free Pre Workouts
1. PUMPSURGE Caffeine-Free Nootropic Supplement Preworkout
The overwhelming feedback on this stim-free formula is the stamina that Pumpsurge brings. You don’t get that sensation of having a little person in your head yelling “I’m alive! I can lift cars!” but you do become quietly aware, after each set of reps, that you might actually have a little more left in the tank. It’s recommended that you drink this half an hour before the workout, but fans of Pumpsurge seem to have the tendency of knocking it back in the changing rooms before doing the warm-up. They just warm up a little longer than usual. It certainly removes one item from your life that normally have to set an alarm to remember. Fewer alarms—it’s a good thing.
As for delivering the joy of the expansive pump, Pumpsurge rates probably upper-middle in the stim-free ranks. The post-workout muscle expansion will still put for the next couple of hours and you’ll be full of endorphins which haven’t been compromised by artificial stimulants.
That said, this supplement seems to excel more in terms of brain chemistry support than in terms of its performance as a nitric oxide booster for your muscle mass. The inclusion of citrulline ramps up oxygen and nutrient delivery to the muscles, and it’s definitely beneficial for enhancing that pump intensity, but you’d usually expect to see this combined with power boosters and endurance enhancers too. We’ll talk more about the specifics of the missing compound elements as we walk through each product.
The neurochemical mix sells this product. Combining nootropics Huperzine A and Alpha GPC boosts the production of acetylcholine in the brain. This natural chemical encourages muscle contractions and supports skeletal muscle movement and development. In terms of your immediate workout, it really helps you to focus and ensures that your muscle memory is benefiting from the ramped-up recall and attention to detail as the rest of your mental storage system.
If you need to concentrate actively during your reps to keep your technique and posture working as they should, then Pumpsurge is your friend.
It comes in four flavors with 20 servings per tub.
2. PUMPSURGE Caffeine-Free Nootropic Supplement Preworkout
Genius comes down hard on caffeine as a pointless addition to any pre-workout mix and you’ll find that their extensive sales information harks upon the vasoconstricting properties of caffeine at quite some considerable length. They’re proud to present a vegan, sugar-free formula which features Theobromine as the fast-acting alternative to caffeine for that quick hit of alertness.
Let’s look at the nitric oxide boosting element of the formula first. This is the ‘immediate and obvious pump’ element of the product. Remember we mentioned that citrulline boosts the delivery of oxygen to the blood vessels in your muscles? Well, this formula contains a hefty great dose of it. Perhaps not strictly six times the amount of citrulline than all competitors, as claimed (Legion Pulse can compete in this respect), but it will give you definite pump support.
It also contains beta-alanine (one of the “missing elements” in Pumpsurge’s offer), which is like the internal coach for your recovery rate. It defers your exhaustion point noticeably and helps you to recover more efficiently between bouts of high-intensity exercise. If you had a circuit routine which alternated 10 heavy reps with 20 lighter ones, followed by a stretch break, then you would definitely notice your tank refilling before you hit the next heavy rep session. The formula has been mildly criticized for its lack of creatine (a strength supplement), but there is still more than enough nitric oxide boosting component in the mix for instant impact.
We don’t feel that the product loses anything in pro-performance power for its absence, and the customer feedback certainly indicates a pleasant experience of significant energy boost and stamina.
In terms of neurological enhancement, Genius Pre combines an impressive array of both naturally occurring nootropic agents (taurine, ginseng, rhodioloa rosea, huperzia serrata) with their own-brand formulation of Alpha GPC for that exuberantly focused sensation where your brain is fully alive to your muscle movement and your body is responding rapidly to the skin-straining muscular expansion.
It’s a joy supplement, in short. And unsurprisingly, it comes in at the higher end of the price range at $3.19 per ounce. One pot should see you through a month, however; at which point you’ll be in a good position to decide whether or not it’s worth following through with a subscription.
Rather unsurprisingly, given their ‘clean label’ policy, this pre-workout powder mix comes in one flavor—sour apple. Good choice – it’s a good overlay for the peat and apple extract basis for the ElevaTP dose, which is said to support the development of lean muscle mass. Not many people rhapsodize about the flavor, to be fair, but it doesn’t seem to have many haters either.
3. Legion Pulse All-Natural Pre Workout Powder
We’re revisiting some familiar ingredients here. Legion Pulse draws upon the cognitive boosting powers of Alpha GPC for that head-on focus and improved brain-to-muscle messaging and superior coordination. Enhancing that pump experience, they’re calling upon the L-citrulline malate, betaine and beta alanine combination. The citrulline malate component in Legion Pulse is generous, as with that in Genius Pre.
A nice addition here is a heavy wallop of sodium and potassium. The potassium delivers glucose to your cells. Under significant physical stress, the body will break down glycogen in the liver and skeletal muscles, which drains them of potassium. Topping up in advance directly helps to extend your endurance period. It also tag-teams with the sodium to ensure a healthy water balance, even when you’re raining sweat and other gym-goers are looking over nervously to make sure you’ve brought a big towel.
What’s nice about this product is its chemical simplicity. It banks on tried-and-tested chemical knowledge for healthy body sustenance, meaning fewer ingredients and, potentially, fewer allergens. That said, the powder comes in a range of 15 rather ambitious flavors and it appears that the formula has changed, leaving a few fans behind. Taste is a very subjective thing, of course, but it is unfortunate that among those who’d given three stars or less, the consistency and flavor had put a significant number of people off.
Overall feedback seems to suggest that this product performs better for the pump factor than for energy levels. In fairness, there aren’t many specifically ergogenic elements in this product; it seems to be geared towards maintenance of power and endurance rather than energy ignition.
4. ProSupps Dr Jekyll Stimulant-Free Pre Workout Energy Powder
This is the first formula to include creatine rather than citrulline. As a reminder, creatine is the strength-booster which also supports endurance and stamina. It’s a popular supplement ingredient and generally very effective for getting right to the end of a challenging workout without having to call a halt after a long, hard day. It has been twinned with beta alanine for that superior staying power.
The promotional material chatters enthusiastically about nooLVL, which is effectively arginine in a flashy package. Arginine is an amino acid which converts to nitric oxide in the body, helping the blood vessels in your muscle relax and fill up. It’s also pretty hot on circulation improvements. In itself, arginine is a helpful naturally occurring acid which will indeed help you with your workout. However, whether it’s useful to take it as a supplement is hotly debated, and we’ll cover that in in the buyer’s guide to follow.
This supplement is also distinguished, of sorts, by the addition of Afromomum Melegueta, which is essentially a peppery perennial hailing from the coast of west Africa. It adds a zingy, buzzy taste to the drink. Some have said that it’s quite sweet going down, and it does give a tingle which acts as a sort of helpful reminder that the supplement is hard at work. Folks aren’t quite so fond of the taste repeating itself for a while after the workout has been completed.
A solid upside of this product is that does get to work quickly. You can swig it before you get changed, and within fifteen minutes (and by the time you’ve warmed up), the effects will start to make themselves known.
Caffeine Free Pre Workout Buying Guide
We hope you found that guide through the intricacies of pre-workout supplements helpful. So that you can more easily sift the content lists of other products, (perhaps with low caffeine rather than zero), we’ve listed a few things you might find it helpful to know.
Arginine vs Citrulline
Some pro bodybuilders tend to raise their brows at mixes which contain arginine supplements, favoring citrulline. Why? Because when it occurs naturally, it does a fantastic job of converting itself into nitric oxide, dilating the blood vessels, and amping up the delivery of oxygenated, nutrient-bearing goodness to your muscles. When consumed as a supplement, it gets broken down in the digestive system and any benefits are indirect. However, Citrulline, when consumed, turns into arginine, boosting your natural supply.
So, if the label doesn’t feature arginine, don’t lose any sleep over it. Citrulline, creatine and Beta alanine, between them, will work effectively to service the blood supply in your muscles and keep them fed for strength and endurance
Health Notice: Supplements containing Creatine
Creatine is great as a strength supplement, but it also converts into creatinine in your body. If you have ongoing kidney problems, then give creatine a wide berth. At best, it will warp any creatinine tests you have to take for diagnostic purposes. At worst, they could significantly contribute to renal problems.
Other nice-to-have ingredients
You’ll see the name betaine cropping up here and there. Betaine is an amino acid which is credited with strength enhancement. Well, it does achieve this, but not during the course of your workout. It keeps your muscle tissue in good shape and helps with the repair and recovery process. It’s quite difficult to find studies to back up the claim that it directly assists with cognitive performance. If you have a solid warm-down process and pace out your workouts for proper cellular repair after each session, then betaine is very much an optional extra.
Theobromine: a gentle stimulant which makes you feel more awake, but without the habit-forming lure of caffeine. Happily, this chemical compound occurs naturally in chocolate. Not in vast quantities, but we’ve probably just given you another excuse to enjoy it, haven’t we? Arguably, any effects of theobromine are going to get side-swiped by show-stealing endorphins. It won’t do you any harm at all as an ingredient, but don’t worry about its absence either. And absolutely keep it far, far from your pets, for whom it is a toxin.
Black pepper variants: Piperine/Bioperine: they perform a preparative role by boosting the assimilation of the other ingredients into your blood stream. A very useful ingredient if you struggle to drink your pre workout brew at a convenient time ahead of your session at the gym, but the formula won’t fail to work in its absence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to rid your body of caffeine?
Caffeine has a long half-life of five hours, which can be a little aggravating for those who still like a coffee in the late afternoon. If you chug down a Red Bull (77mg) at 6pm, running between your office and the car or train, then you’ll still have nearly 40mg rattling around your body at 11pm.
How much is too much caffeine?
This depends upon who you ask, as different cultures have different tolerances. Turkish coffee could probably land Space X’s next rocket on the moon, for example, and although sold in tiny quantities, it’s enjoyed frequently.
Across the transatlantic cultural gulf between the UK and the US, it’s generally agreed that exceeding 400mg a day is going to lead to accumulative effects of insomnia and high anxiety levels.
How do I know if I have a caffeine problem?
If you have a violent headache without having had caffeine that day, then yes, it’s a sign you’re becoming biochemically dependent upon it. You can stop in the cold turkey style (provided you don’t have anything really important to do) but it’s recommended that you wean yourself off a high dosage to something just beneath 400mg, and then wean off again after being at the ‘upper limit’ stage for a week or so.