Pre-Workout Drinks: Quick Summary
Find the Best Pre-Workout Drink to Support Your Energy, Focus, and Performance
This guide helps with:
• Understanding the different types of pre-workout drinks and their benefits
• Choosing the best pre-workout drink to match your workout style, goals, and timing
• Learning how specific ingredients in a workout drink can help support energy, endurance, pump, and strength
This guide is ideal for:
• Anyone looking to improve workout performance and recovery
• Runners, lifters, and endurance athletes searching for the best pre-workout drink tailored to their needs
• Fitness enthusiasts who want to understand stimulant vs. non-stimulant pre-workout drink options
Includes helpful tips on:
• How to time your pre-workout drink for maximum effectiveness
• What to eat before pairing with your pre-workout drink
• How to experiment safely with different workout drink formulas to find your best fit
Ready to crush your next workout? Shop 1st Phorm’s pre-workout drinks and find your perfect match today.
We've all had those days … you get off work, and it’s time to go to the gym. But you're exhausted, both mentally and physically, from your day.
Or maybe you work out first thing in the morning, and it takes everything you have to skip the snooze button and get out of bed.
Or you are super motivated to hit a workout, but just want to make sure you perform at the highest level.
All of these scenarios are cases where the right pre-workout could come in handy. But, with all of the different options out there, how do you know which one is right for you?
The good thing is, regardless of what you choose to do for your workouts, there is definitely a pre-workout that will suit your needs. That's what I'm here to walk you through today.
In This Article:
• What Is a Pre-Workout Drink?
• Benefits of a Pre-Workout Drink
• Which Pre-Workout is Best?
• How to Choose the Best Pre-Workout Drink
• Frequently Asked Questions: Pre-Workout Drinks
• 1st Phorm Pre-Workout Drink Options
What Is a Pre-Workout Drink?
A pre-workout drink is a beverage or supplement formulated to help support your workout by providing ingredients that can help support energy, focus, endurance, muscle performance, and more. Options range from stimulant-based (with caffeine) to non-stimulant formulas (without caffeine) designed for pump and performance support.
Benefits of a Pre-Workout Drink
A quality pre-workout drink can help support:
• Energy for your workout
• Mental focus and alertness
• Endurance for longer training sessions
• Muscle "pump"
• Strength and power output
• Hydration and muscle function
Actual effects depend on the ingredients and your personal response.
Which Pre-Workout is Best?
This is a very “it depends” question. It depends on the type of workout, intensity, duration, and overall goal of your workout.
There are pre-workouts that are solely designed to give you energy on the days you need it ... while others may have no caffeine, and are designed to help support performance during your workout.
Finding the right pre-workout for you may be relatively easy or may take some experimentation. Either way, there is a best pre-workout drink for you out there somewhere.
However, I am going to break down our pre-workouts, shedding some light as to which could be best for you.
How to Choose the Best Pre-Workout Drink
1. Goal Alignment
Choose a formula based on what you're looking to get out of it. Are you looking for energy? Are you looking for muscle endurance? Are you looking for strength? This can help guide your decision based on the ingredients found in a pre-workout and whether they can support your training or not.
2. Stimulant vs. Non-Stimulant
Decide if you want caffeine or prefer a stimulant-free option. For those who need the energy, caffeine is generally recommended. For those who train later in the day, or don't want the caffeine ... a non-stimulant option may make more sense.
3. Key Ingredients
Look for ingredients like caffeine, citrulline, beta-alanine, creatine, glycerol, and nootropics. While there are a lot of ingredients that can help support training, these are some of the well-known staple ingredients.
4. Flavor & Mixability
Pick a flavor you enjoy and a product that mixes well. If you don't enjoy the pre-workout, you probably won't use it consistently much.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Workout Drinks
Q: What Does a Pre-Workout Drink Do?
A pre-workout drink may help support energy, focus, endurance, and muscle performance during your workout.
Q: Are Pre-Workout Drinks Safe?
When used as directed, pre-workout drinks from reputable brands are generally safe for healthy adults. Always read the label and consult your doctor if you have health concerns. Never take more than a full serving.
Q: Can You Take a Pre-Workout Drink Every Day?
Many people use a pre-workout drink on training days. It's best to follow label guidance and cycle off occasionally if using caffeinated products. This can help make sure your body doesn't build a tolerance to the caffeine over time.
Q: What Is the Difference between a Pre-Workout Drink and an Energy Drink?
Pre-workout drinks are formulated to help support exercise performance with specific ingredients, while energy drinks are typically designed for general energy and alertness.
Q: How Long Before a Workout Should You Drink Pre-Workout?
15–30 minutes before training is typical, but always follow the product instructions.
Q: Can You Mix a Pre-Workout Drink with Protein Powder?
You can, but many people prefer to use pre-workout as a standalone. In my experience, the flavor differences between products typically don't form the best combinations. Many people choose to take pre-workouts before their workouts and take protein after.
Q: Should I Eat With My Pre-Workout?
That is solely up to the individual. Many people that I've talked to like to eat 1-2 hours prior to their workout, since they don’t want to feel full while they exercise. For me, I recommend focusing on getting some carbs and protein 1 to 2 hours before training in most situations. Then, I follow up my workout with a post-workout shake every time!
Q: Can I Take Other Forms of Caffeine With My Pre-Workout Drink?
I would always err on the side of caution first and try to stay away from other caffeine sources if your pre-workout drink is caffeinated. I would also recommend an assessment phase with any caffeinated supplement, which would mean starting with a half-dose the first time you use it, and working your way up from there.
Try 1st Phorm Pre-Workout Drinks Today
Pre-workout was designed to help support energy levels, focus, endurance, and several other aspects of training. Now, which of these benefits you'll receive will depend on the pre-workout that you pick out.
Remember: There are different types of pre-workouts. Whichever pre-workout drink is the best for you is ultimately up to your personal preferences.
To help you narrow your search, I'd recommend considering what you're looking to get out of a pre-workout. Is it a good pump? Is it some energy to get you going? Is it the focus to stay locked in? Is it the endurance and explosiveness to perform? Is it all of these things?
Whatever it may be, I'm confident when I say we have at least one pre-workout, including natural caffeine energy drink options, that you'll love. Here's a detailed breakdown of all our pre-workout options:
Project-1 & Project-1 Pro
Our Project-1 formulas are the Swiss Army Knives of our pre-workout supplements! By that, I mean they are full-spectrum products that can help support multiple aspects of training.
Both Project-1 and Project-1 Pro contain virtually all of the same ingredients in the same doses: creatine, beta-alanine, l-citrulline, Phyt02™, and more! Each formula can help support:
• Smooth, Long-Lasting Energy
• Laser Focus
• Muscular Endurance
• Muscle Pumps
• Muscular Strength & Explosiveness
The biggest difference between the two? It's the stimulant profile! Project-1 only contains 200mg of caffeine and a few different ingredients, whereas Project-1 Pro contains 350mg of caffeine.
Megawatt
A good way to describe Megawatt is versatile. It is great for any athletic activity, helping to increase energy and focus.
Megawatt uses all-natural energy sources to help support energy and focus. It can be a great option for early mornings, and even as a mid-day pick-me-up.
Megawatt contains 150mg of natural caffeine, B vitamins, electrolytes, and nootropics. Basically, whenever you want some extra energy, but don’t want to take in too much caffeine ... Megawatt can be a great choice!
Endura-Formance
Let’s get into the pre-workout drink that is solely designed to help support performance. Containing zero caffeine or any other stimulants ... Endura-Formance is great for any type of training.
The main active ingredients in Endura-Formance are beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate, which can help support endurance and strength. I always feel like I have more in the tank, as well as a higher output when it comes to power and explosiveness.
Alphasurge Pump Shot
This is another caffeine-free pre-workout option. The main focus of Alphasurge Pump Shot is to help support oxygen, nutrient, and water delivery to the muscle for the pump.
It incorporates ingredients like glycerol, agmatine sulfate, and l-norvaline, which can help support this effect. Alphasurge Pump Shot is definitely a great product for the lifter who is chasing the “pump", and really pushing their limits.
Not to mention, it's a liquid that requires no mixing or mess!
Traditionally, I would recommend this product to anyone who is doing "bodybuilding-style" workouts ... also known as training for hypertrophy or muscle growth.
1st Phorm Pre-Workout Comparison Tables
Stimulant-Based Pre-Workouts
| 1st Phorm Stimulant-Based Pre-Workouts | Project-1 | Project-1 Pro | Megawatt |
| Caffeine Content | 200mg | 350mg | 150mg |
| Creatine | 5g | 5g | None |
| Beta-Alanine | 3.2g | 3.2g | None |
| Vasodilators | L-Citrulline, Vaso-Drive AP®, L-Norvaline | L-Citrulline, Vaso-Drive AP®, L-Norvaline | None |
| Electrolytes | Sodium | Sodium | Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium |
| Best For | All-around performance, strength, high-intensity | All-around performance, strength, high-intensity | Great for anything, super versatile |
| Direct Link to Product | Shop Project-1 | Shop Project-1 Pro | Shop Megawatt |
Stimulant-Free Pre-Workouts
| Stimulant-Free Pre-Workouts | Alphasurge Pump Shot | AlphaSurge DRV | Endura-Formance |
| Caffeine Content | None | None | None |
| Creatine | None | None | 5g |
| Beta-Alanine | None | None | 3.2g |
| Vasodilators | Glycerol Powder, Agmatine Sulfate, L-Norvaline | Arginine Malate, Glycerol Monostearate, Agmatine Sulfate, L-Norvaline | PeakO2™ S7® |
| Electrolytes | None | None | Sodium, Potassium |
| Best For | Resistance-based training, weight-lifting, evening workouts | Resistance-based training, weight-lifting, evening workouts | Endurance, strength training, evening workouts |
| Direct Link to Product | Shop Alphasurge Pump Shot | Shop AlphaSurge DRV | Shop Endura-Formance |
If you have any additional questions or need any help in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We have a full team of NASM Certified Personal Trainers and Nutrition Coaches right here in St. Louis, Missouri.
Just give us a call at 1-800-409-9732 or send us an email at CustomerService@1stPhorm.com. We're available Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 8 PM Central and Saturday & Sunday from 9 AM to 7 PM Central. We'll be more than happy to help in any way we can!
