The truth is, you simply don’t need stimulants in your pre-workout.

In fact, stimulants in a pre-workout can be a bad thing. With regards to caffeine for example, you should not exceed more than 400 mg a day. And if you’re too caffeine sensitive, you could risk your hands shaking when you’re lifting weights, which is incredibly dangerous.

Moreover, other stimulates found in some pre workouts such as DMAA and DMHA are amphetamine derivatives which not only leave you with a crash in energy and mood but also come with health issues to boot.

And if that’s not enough, taking stimulants might even cause you to be ineligible to take part in competitive sports.

Thankfully, however, there are some great stimulant-free pre-workouts on the market. We’ve been trying them out ourselves and are going to be reviewing 4 of our favorites for you today. Our reviews are unbiased and contain both pros and cons.

But we totally get that choosing one can be tricky, which is why we’ve also put together a handy buying guide that will walk you through the key points to consider before you buy.

Then we’re going to top that off with another handy section where we answer some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.

1. Legion Pulse Caffeine Free Pre-Workout

Now, this pre-workout brand comes from none other than the international bestselling fitness author Mike Matthews. And that’s great, but for us, it was not enough to really sell the product – we wanted to know what the ingredients were.

It features 3.6 g of beta-alanine for muscle building and to reduce muscle fatigue, 8 g of citrulline malate to not only improve blood flow but also muscle endurance, and 2.5 g of betaine which enhances muscle strength and muscle endurance.

It also contains 300 mg of alpha-GPC which increases power, but technically is not a stimulant. And it won’t cause you to crash after your workout.

These ingredients and their dosage are all backed by science and are clinically effective. And it gets lab tested to prove that it meets FDA purity standards.

Moreover, it’s also naturally sweetened and flavored with no artificial ingredients. 

To take it, all you have to do is mix one scoop of formula with a glass of water, and drink it up about 30 to 45 minutes before your workout.

The caffeine free version is available in 4 different flavors, namely blue raspberry, fruit punch, green apple, and tropical punch. We tried them all and our favorite was the blue raspberry.

It’s made right here in the USA, and comes backed by a money-back guarantee, so if you’re not happy with it, you can get your money back, so there’s nothing to lose by giving it a try.

It’s available on a Subscribe and Save scheme with the manufacturer, whereby you can save up to 10% on repeat deliveries. Just click on “Check price” for more info. 

Pros:

• From fitness author Mike Matthews
• Increases strength, power & endurance
• Science backed, tested, & clinically effective
• Naturally flavored with no artificial ingredients
• It comes backed by a money-back guarantee
• Save 10% on the subscribe and save scheme

Cons:

• Be careful when reading the customer reviews on this one because on both the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon they have lumped the stim free reviews in with all the other reviews

2. NutraBio Stim Free Pre Workout Powder

Now, if you’re looking for a stim free pre workout supplement that includes creatine, this is the one you should go for. There’s zero caffeine, or other stimulants for that matter, and there’s a 500 mg dose of creatine monohydrate.

Creatine monohydrate is one of the most heavily researched of all pre workout ingredients. Not only is it known to increase muscle performance and strength, and it helps reduce muscle fatigue and help your muscles to recover more quickly.

But that’s not all. Another top feature of this formula is that it contains electrolytes to keep you properly hydrated, which is just what you need if you break out in a sweat as you work out. 

And it contains several other ingredients conducive to a good workout. There’s beta alanine and L-leucine which are important for reducing recovery time and increasing ATP production in the body for more energy.

And there’s also L-citrulline, nitrosigine, and agmatine, which are all important for boosting nitric oxide production in the body, which improves blood flow to the muscles in order to boost your muscles’ nutrient uptake, to help them thrive.

It also happens to be non-GMO, vegetarian, gluten-free and lactose-free.

To take it, all you have to do is mix one scoop of formula with a glass of water, and drink it up about 30 to 45 minutes before your workout.

It’s available in two great flavors, namely dragon fruit candy and watermelon. When we tried them out we decided our favorite was the dragon fruit candy, but the watermelon was quite nice as well, mellow. 

It’s available in packs of two different sizes, 1.2 pounds or 1.3 pounds. You can save a little bit of money if you buy in bulk and go for the 1.3 pound option.

Pros:

• 500 mg dose of creatine monohydrate
• Features electrolytes for better hydration
• Boosts production of nitric oxide in the body
• Available in dragon fruit candy or watermelon
• You can save money by buying a bigger pack

Cons:

• Some people find the taste a little too sweet (but I loved it)

3. Jacked Factory Pump Surge

Pumpsurge contains not one, not two, but three ingredients aimed at boosting nitric oxide and improving blood flow to the muscle, which in turn leads to better nutrient delivery to enhance muscle growth.

These ingredients include the likes of L-Citrulline, Betaine Anhydrous, and Taurine.

And it also contains alpha-GPC which also serves to boost your power through your workout session. 

This pre workout is made right here in the USA, and in a certified CGMP facility. And it contains zero fillers or artificial dyes.

To take it, all you have to do is mix one scoop of formula with a glass of water, and drink it up about 30 to 45 minutes before your workout.

It’s available in a range of different flavors, including strawberry lemonade, watermelon, blue raspberry, cherry limeade, raspberry peach, and cucumber lime.

When we tried them, the only one we didn’t like was the cherry limeade. The raspberry peach was quite nice, and the cucumber lime was really refreshing.

I’m also pleased to report that when I tried this stim free pre workout personally, I was able to hit a new personal best with my weight lifting.

We wish there were more servings in a pack, but hey, you can’t have everything.

There aren’t many customer reviews to be found on the manufacturer’s website, but we can assure you that customers are raving about this stim free pre workout elsewhere on the net. 

If you buy through Amazon, you can sign up to their subscribe and save scheme where you can save up to 15% on repeat deliveries.

Pros:

• 3 ingredients to boost nitric oxide
• Increases endurance and stamina
• Made in a certified CGMP facility
• Wide range of flavors to choose from
• Save up to 15% when you subscribe

Cons:

• There’s only 20 servings in a pack
• Some of the flavors are so popular that even the manufacturer sometimes runs out of stock

4. RAW Pump

Now, the great thing about this stim free pre workout is how all the ingredients are angled toward increasing the production of nitric oxide in the body, which in turn increases the levels of oxygen and nutrients going to the muscles, and in theory this should enable you to train for that bit longer.

These ingredients include the likes of nitrosigine, L-citrulline, lion’s mane (a mushroom), and agmatine sulfate, so you get a four-prong effect.

Moreover, whereas most pre-workouts contain L-Arginine to boost nitric oxide, this supplement uses L-citrulline which boosts nitric oxide production way more than L-Arginine does.

And that’s not all. RAW Pump also provides a 500 mg dose of Himalayan pink salt, which plays an important role in maintaining blood volume and blood pressure, as well as muscle contraction. And there’s Beta-Alanine to boot.

To take it, all you have to do is mix one scoop of formula with a glass of water, and drink it up about 30 to 45 minutes before your workout.

It’s available in two different flavors, namely pineapple, and watermelon. We found that the pineapple one was a little sharp, but the watermelon version was quite nice.

It works out a little expensive per pack, but on the flip side, each pack contains 40 servings, which is well over a month’s worth.

It’s available on a Subscribe and Save scheme with the manufacturer, whereby you can save up to 15% on your purchases. Just click on “Check price” for more info. 

Pros:

• 4 ingredients to boost nitric oxide
• 500 mg of Himalayan pink salt
• Very pleasant watermelon flavor
• There’s 40 servings in each pack
• Save up to 15% when you subscribe

Cons:

• There don’t seem to be many customer reviews around for this particular stim free pre workout – even on the manufacturer’s website

Why You Don’t Need Stimulants In Your Pre Workout Supplement When You Are Strength Training

All the energy you need to get through your day, including through your workout, should come from your food and drink. 

When it comes to stimulants such as caffeine, it is widely known that you should never exceed 400 mg of caffeine a day, which is about 4 cups of coffee. So if you’ve already had a coffee in the preceding hours before your workout, you could very easily risk exceeding your daily limit if you were to take a pre workout that contains caffeine.

Moreover, everyone differs in how sensitive they are to caffeine. So 400 mg is just a guideline anyway.

And if you are particularly caffeine sensitive, you will not only get an energy crash hours after taking it, but you could also get quite jittery shortly after taking it, and you definitely don’t want your hands to be shaking when you’re lifting weights!

Besides, energy boosting drinks are best suited as a pre workout for cardio workouts, which by nature require more energy than a strength training workout does.

➡️ The Healthiest Energy Drink

When it comes to strength training, all you really need in your pre workout supplement is ingredients that aid strength, muscle growth and muscle recovery. 

Is A Stim Free Pre Workout Supplement Worth It?

One of the more common ingredients that most pre workout supplements feature is caffeine, in order to give an extra energy boost so that you can power through and workout harder and for longer.

But, if you have decided to avoid caffeine and/or other stimulants, this begs the question of whether a pre workout supplement without these stimulants is worth bothering with. Do stim free pre workouts even have an effect?

Well, we’re pleased to report that stim free pre workout supplements are absolutely worth it!

The best ones, such as those that made our shortlist, contain ingredients that have been scientifically researched and are known to benefit strength training and muscle building sessions.

Key Points To Consider When Shopping For A Stim Free Pre Workout 

Now, let’s walk you through the key points to consider when shopping for a stim free pre workout supplement.

What Should A Stim Free Pre Workout Supplement Do?

So, if a stim-free pre workout supplement is not meant to give you energy, what is it actually for?

Well, most stim free workout ingredients concentrate on boosting the production of nitric oxide in the body, because this serves to improve the blood flow to your muscles, which in turn helps you to power through your weight lifting workout, getting more of that all important oxygen to your muscles so that they can absorb more nutrients to help them grow and recover. 

➡️ Can You Take Pre-Workout On A Plane?

Key Ingredients To Look Out For In A Stim Free Pre Workout Supplement

Citrulline

L-citrulline is one of the more common ingredients found in pre workout supplements, and it serves to boost nitric oxide production in the body, which serves to boost blood flow to your muscles.

Beta alanine

Beta alanine is the next most common ingredient. It helps to improve workout performance, helps to build lean muscle, and reduces muscle fatigue, so you can keep going for longer and do more reps.

Other Ingredients

If you wish to increase nitric oxide production in your body to get that blood pumping to your muscles, you should also look out for ingredients such as nitrosigine, and agmatine.

Flavor

Stim free pre workouts are typically available in a range of different flavors. And for the purposes of this article we made a point of trying all the different flavors so that you don’t have to. We came across some really nice flavors and others that were not so nice.

If your pre workout tastes too sour or bitter, this could easily put you off taking it again, and it will be money down the drain.

Value For Money

We don’t include prices in our product reviews, in case they are subject to change. But even within just the 4 products that made our shortlist today, there’s quite a variation in price. Some pre workouts cost only about $20 or so per pack, but at the other end of the spectrum, you can expect to pay over $50 per pack. This is why it’s a good idea to check prices as you go along.

Moreover, pre workout packs also vary in how many individual servings they contain, so if you like to work out frequently the cost could soon add up. This is why it’s good to look out for Subscribe and Save schemes, which will allow you to make repeat purchases at a significantly lower price tag.