Tried and tested pre-workout supplements to take your workout to the next level

Ah, pre-workout supplements. Sometimes, when you’re feeling tired, overwhelmed and lacking in energy, the very last thing you want to do is head to the gym for a tough workout session. Trust us, we’ve all been there. The sofa says, ‘hey you, you’re looking sleepy, why don’t you put your feet up for five minutes’, and before you know it, the entire evening has passed without a burpee or kettlebell lunge in sight. If only there was something you could take to help you get in the mood and supercharge your workout…

Enter: the best pre-workout supplements. Usually in powder or drink form (although you can also get pre-workout pills and bars, too), a pre-workout supplement is something you take before you exercise and tend to include ingredients such as; caffeine, beta alanine, creatine and BCAAs (that’s branch chain amino acids).

Now, we know what you’re thinking: won’t a banana and cup of coffee do the trick? Of course, you can’t go too wrong with using a banana as pre-gym fuel, but studies show certain supplements can give your workout the boost it needs by providing both an energy boost and delaying fatigue.

Whether you’re lifting weights or heading out for a long run, it’s important to properly fuel your body to get the most out of a session. Get your nutrition right and you’ll be powering through your workout. Get it wrong and you risk ‘hitting the wall’ and feeling drained and muscle soreness. We know which we’d prefer.

What are the benefits of taking a pre-workout supplement? | What ingredients should you look out for? | Is taking a pre-workout supplement safe? | Our full pre-workout supplement reviews.

In a rush? The best pre-workout supplements at a glance:

1. Best for beginners: Pre-Workout Blend, £16.99, MyProtein
2. caffeine-free pre-workout: Pre-Workout Caffeine Free, £34.99, Bulk
3. Best vegan pre-workout supplement: Energy Aminos, £29.99, Foodspring
4. Best pre-workout drink: Upbeat Protein Energy, £20.40, Amazon

Pre-Workout Caffeine Free

Meet the experts:

What are some of the benefits of pre-workout supplements?

“Pre workouts can help to boost energy, stamina levels and focus and improve strength, endurance and physical performance to help you work harder and for longer,” explains James Aitken,  product developer at Crazy Nutrition.

What ingredients do pre workout supplements usually contain?

“Typically most pre-workout supplements will include caffeine, beta-alanine, creatine, B vitamins and a range of amino acids,” says Aitken. “Caffeine helps to increase alertness and improve concentration – also increasing endurance performance and reducing perceived effort.”

In fact, caffeine is arguably the most common active ingredient in a pre-workout, says Hannah Norris, nutritionist at Upbeat drinks. “3-6mg/kg of caffeine (per kg of body mass) is an effective ergogenic for cognitive and physical improvement, especially in endurance sports and exercise.”

Beta alanine combines with histidine in the body to form carnosine, explains Aitken, which is naturally found in the muscles. “Higher levels of carnosine may help to buffer lactic acid accumulation in the muscles, helping you train for longer.”