Getting in shape ain’t easy. You’ve got to bust your ass to get results.
To do that, you’re going to need to snag one of the best pre workouts for focus and explosive energy. Period.
BTW… you know what sucks?
Trying to get your body into fitness mode at the crack of dawn or after a long day in a cubicle.
It’s impossible to kill your workouts when you feel like a lazy honey bear.
The struggle is real.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Imagine what it would feel like to have… increased focus and energy before every exercise… all your senses elevated… your blood pulsing through your veins… your muscles thirsty for gains… the beast inside you ready to unleash a fury on your workout routine.
You’re going to be so intense the weights are going to be praying for your last rep.
Who doesn’t want to feel like that?
If you don’t, that’s cool. This post isn’t for you anyways.
It’s for those people who are willing to go the extra mile to lose weight and build lean muscle mass. The ones who will do whatever it takes to get closer to the healthiest version of themselves.
If that’s you, keep reading.
In this post you’re going to discover the best pre workout supplements for intense focus.
For each supplement, you’ll learn about four main things: ingredients, benefits, taste, and value.
And when you’re done reading, you will do two things…
First you’re going to order one of the pre workouts.
And then you’re going to share this list with your friends. But not all of them, just the ones who are serious about their health. The rest don’t matter.
The Top Three
The Best Pre Workouts For Focus
1. Legion Pulse Pre Workout
According to Legion Athletics, nothing compares to their Pulse Pre Workout. That’s one helluva statement. And they’re not wrong. In an industry filled with shitty products, Pulse is totally different. It’s backed by science, clinically dosed, has zero artificial sweeteners or fillers, tastes great, and offers premium quality. Overall, it’s a great pre workout for beginners and those who refuse to sacrifice results for a cheaper price.
Pros
- Enhanced focus
- Great pump
- Clinically effective dosages
- Naturally sweetened
- Potent ingredients
- No proprietary blends
Cons
- Steep price
- Some flavors taste bad
Ingredients & Nutrition
Legion doesn’t include any proprietary blends to make you feel cuckoo. Every ingredient is disclosed. You get high doses of Theanine, Citrulline, and Beta-Alanine. Each is responsible for increasing power, focus, and energy. As for Caffeine, it’s got that too. Although not quite as high as some other products, it’s still enough to give you a decent amount of stimulation.
Amazingly, Pulse pre workout has substantially more electrolytes (6%) than all those athlete sponsored sport drinks. Hmm.
Benefits & Effectiveness
You’ll start feeling the effects of Pulse less than 15 minutes after consumption. And when the caffeine starts to hit your system, you won’t experience any jitteriness. That’s because of the calming ingredient Theanine, which is also found in green tea matcha.
You’ll also get a nice long lasting pump for your workout. The increased blood flow will give you the focused energy you need to max out every routine. As for post-workout crashes… there are none.
Taste & Mix-ability
It’s got three flavors: Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, and Grape. We sampled the Blue Raspberry. And it didn’t have that icky unnatural taste. It actually tasted like raspberry despite the lack of synthetic sweeteners or sugar. Pulse also mixes well with water whether you like it shaken or stirred. And virtually all of it gets dissolved, which everyone loves.
Value & Price
At first glance, you might think that $40 for a container of 21 servings is high. And you’re right, it’s not cheap. But that’s about all you can find wrong with Legion Pulse. When you consider the high dosage of quality ingredients and absence of crap, you’ll know it’s a fair price.
2. Muscle Pharm Assault Pre Workout
Muscle Pharm has been around for a while. So it’s no surprise that thousands of people rely on this particular pre workout for their needs. MP Assault offers you the combination of focus, energy, and endurance at a wallet-friendly price. That doesn’t mean it’s cheap doo-doo. It’s one of the bestselling pre workouts on the market. Plus, it has Creatine and good ingredient dosages.
Pros
- Good focus & energy
- Improved endurance
- Contains creatine
- Includes vitamins
- Affordable
- No proprietary blends
Cons
- Low doses for some ingredients
- Powdery taste
- Not super potent
Ingredients & Nutrition
In addition to having zero sugar, this pre workout also gives you 3g of Creatine. That almost satisfies your daily intake of 5g. It’s an added bonus that’s going to boost your strength to give you maximum power during workouts. You also get a few doses of vitamins B6, B12, C, and E. Not many pre workouts offer that.
As for focus, well MP Assault pre workout pre workout gives you 250 mg of Caffeine. That’s a lot to keep you locked in. And there are no proprietary blends either, which is great.
Benefits & Effectiveness
One scoop of Muscle Pharm Assault pre workout is all you need. You’ll start to feel it’s effects in about 25 minutes. Unless you have a high caffeine tolerance, you won’t need two scoops. You won’t get many tingles though because the Beta-Alanine is a bit under dosed.
Since a few ingredients lack high dosages, it may not give you as much energy as some of the other pre workouts here. So don’t expect to be a raging bull. Expect to have enhanced endurance to crush your workout.
Taste & Mix-ability
Fire up your tastebuds with one of this pre workouts five flavors. There’s Strawberry Ice, Watermelon, Green Apple, Blue Raspberry, and Fruit Punch. We got the Blue Raspberry. It didn’t taste quite as good as Legion Pulse, but it wasn’t bad either. As for mixing, you won’t have any issues. Just add it to some water and you’ll be good to go.
Value & Price
You can pick up a can of Muscle Pharm Assault pre workout for less than $25. And that will give you 30 servings per can. Considering you get 11g of ingredients per scoop, that’s amazing value. So if you’re shopping on a budget, give this pre workout a look.
3. Do Vitamins PurePump Pre Workout
Do Vitamins might not be as recognized as popular brands and that’s okay. What makes this pre workout great is the fact that it’s 100% natural. It’s just straight ingredients and nothing else. The product was even tested in an FDA-approved facility. And the results proved that it’s one of the purest pre workouts on the market. Overall, this supplement is perfect for you if you’re on a vegan, paleo, or keto diet.
Pros
- Good focus & energy
- Vegan, paleo & keto friendly
- No artificial substances
- Includes vitamins
- Potent ingredients
- No proprietary blends
Cons
- Doesn't taste good
- Low doses for some ingredients
- Not very dissolvable
Ingredients & Nutrition
When you PurePump’s nutrition label it will surprise you. Under the “Other Ingredients” section, it just says None. You won’t see that on most pre workout labels. Every ingredient you need for amazing energy and focus is all that’s included in the Do Vitamins PurePump. There’s no sugar or artificial substances to mess with your body.
As for the Caffeine, two scoops delivers 200 mg of the stuff. It’s also the kind of caffeine that won’t leave you feeling sick or jittery like coffee or other supplements.
Benefits & Effectiveness
A few minutes after drinking this pre workout and you’ll be ready to attack your exercise. You might get a few tingles but that’s normal. It’s just the Beta-Alanine at work. And the caffeine will put your body in a healthy elevated state so you can maintain intense focus.
As for the pump, you’ll enjoy sustained energy throughout your workout. You might even feel like going a bit longer. And you definitely won’t have any post workout crashes to deal with because it’s got Theanine.
Taste & Mix-ability
There’s no way around this. Do Vitamins PurePump tastes like ass. And there are no other flavors. This is what you get when you make a decision to buy a 100% all natural product that’s devoid of sweeteners. You can sweeten it but that’s pointless. You’re buying a pre workout not a fruity drink. Mix-ability isn’t great. It doesn’t dissolve easily in water.
Value & Price
A can of Do Vitamins PurePump costs 40 bucks. For that price you get 30 servings, which is pretty standard for a high quality product. If you buy it here you may get up to 15% off depending on your order. That might make it a bit more affordable for you.
4. Vintage Blast Pre Workout
Vintage Blast pre workout loses points for the sour taste and slightly less dosage of a few ingredients. But it’s still a top pick because of it’s awesome two-stage formula for caffeine release; nitric oxide and testosterone effects; and lack of artificial ingredients. Plus, if NFL players and athletes use it, imagine what it can do for you. It’s the perfect pre workout when you need focus and endurance for lengthy sweat sessions.
Pros
- Two-stage caffeine release
- Great focus
- Increased energy
- Includes vitamins
- Potent ingredients
- No proprietary blends
Cons
- Sour taste
- Low doses for some ingredients
Ingredients & Nutrition
The first stage of Vintage Blast kicks in about 20 mins after consumption. And it’s going to hit you with three powerful ingredients. Citrulline Malate and Arginine boost your NO levels and reduce fatigue. While Carnitine Tartrate improves your focus even more and enhances your muscle mobility. There are no proprietary blends in this pre workout.
Stage two features natural boosters and micronutrients. But the secret here is the slow releasing Microencapsulated Caffeine, which delays this stage until about 44 mins into your workout.
Benefits & Effectiveness
This pre workout is very potent. The focus and boosts of energy you get from the stage one ingredients will have you pumped in no time. Your rest periods are going to seem pointless. You’ll feel like Captain America about to bust through a wall. Without the jitters of course.
Thanks to stage two, you won’t lose focus towards the end of your workout. And there won’t be any fatigue or crashes. You’ll be so pumped you’ll have to stop yourself from working out. It’s incredibly effective!
Taste & Mix-ability
Right now, the only flavor available is Raspberry Lemonade. Some folks like it. But we’re a bunch of sensitive sissies who are afraid of sour drinks. Anyway, it’s 100% natural tasting because it doesn’t include any artificial sweeteners. Mixing it was a breeze. Just add it to water in your blender bottle, shake it up and drink it down.
Value & Price
A tub of Vintage Blast pre workout costs around $40. And that gets you 20 servings per tub. It’s another pricey pre workout. However, Vintage Blast is easily one of the most potent pre workouts on the market. So the price reflects the value you’ll get.
5. BSN Endorush Pre Workout
When a company has a reputation like BSN, you tend to expect great things. Well most people do anyways. The BSN Endorush pre workout will give you the mental focus you’re looking for. However, if you’re looking for a boost of energy, look elsewhere. It doesn’t have as high a dose of ingredients to give you a raging pump. Overall, this pre workout is ideal if you want something that’s a bit more flavorful and mildly intense.
Pros
- Good focus & energy
- Contains creatine
- Includes vitamins
- Tastes good
- Affordable
- No proprietary blends
Cons
- Mild intensity
- Has some sugar (2g)
- Low doses for some ingredients
Ingredients & Nutrition
BSN has one of those transparent labels that we all love. Right away you can see the dosage of everything you’re going to consume. There are no proprietary blends. You’ve got a fair amount of Beta-Alanine, Citrulline, and Caffeine. But their dosages are lower than some of the other brands on this list. It does have some sugar (2g) as well.
You do get a bonus ingredient though. This pre workout has 3g of Creatine. Some people love that because it enhances muscle growth and functionality.
Benefits & Effectiveness
BSN Endorush pre workout kicks in about 20 minutes after consumption. It’s not going to slap you across the face but it will get your blood pumping. And it won’t make you crash or keep you up for hours after working out. It slowly fades out of your system.
Just to be clear, you’ll still get a boost in focus. And there will be some tingles but nothing significant. You just won’t get the high level intensity kick because of the low dosage of ingredients.
Taste & Mix-ability
Your tastebuds will be happy. BSN Endorush pre workout comes in 5 flavors. There’s Blue Raspberry, Sour Candy, Island Cooler, Fruit Punch, and Watermelon. We got Blue Raspberry. It tasted pretty much like you’d expect with a bit of candy-ness. It mixes well with water too. Most of it dissolved but there was a wee bit remaining at the end of the last sip.
Value & Price
You can pick up a can of BSN Endorush pre workout for about $30. And you’ll love the price because each can contains 30 servings. So you’re getting a 1:1 match. That seems fair considering you’re not getting similar ingredient dosages like some of the other pre workouts.
6. Citadel Nutrition Tier 1 Pre Workout
Things don’t get much simpler than Citadel Nutrition Tier 1 pre workout. Most brands use lots of flashy packaging to reel you in. Not these guys. They give you the focus and energy you need without the fluff. It’s even been tested for banned substances in an FDA-approved lab. That’s why it’s one of our top picks. If you just want the essential ingredients that won’t leave you feeling over stimulated, get this pre-workout.
Pros
- Great focus & energy
- Contains creatine
- Clinically effective dosages
- No artificial substances
- Affordable
- No proprietary blends
Cons
- Slightly bitter aftertaste
- Only one flavor
Ingredients & Nutrition
Each ingredient in this pre workout is evidence-based and has the precise clinical dosage requirement. So every scoop gives you the maximum value of those ingredients. First there’s the recommended dosage of Creatine (5g), which means you’ll get a great power boost. Next you’ve got all the Beta-Alanine (3.2g) you need to enhance your endurance.
And lastly you get a significant amount of Caffeine (200 mg) and Tyrosine (3g). Those work to keep you super-focused and locked into your workout. There are no proprietary blends either.
Benefits & Effectiveness
Simple. Clean. Effective. That’s how Citadel Nutrition explains the benefits of it’s Tier 1 pre workout. It’s going to kick you into beast mode without the feeling of over-stimulation. You can expect to sustain that feeling of focused energy throughout your exercise.
Don’t expect many jitters, crashes, and tingles because every ingredient is given an effective clinical dosage. Also, having creatine means you don’t have to buy a separate supplement. Citadel actually saves you money.
Taste & Mix-ability
Other than the added natural lemon flavor ingredient, Citadel Nutrition Tier 1 is flavorless. There are no other flavors. So unless you hate lemons, it won’t taste bad. In fact, the lemon taste is kind of faint. Think watered-down lemonade. Mixing it is pretty easy. You can stir it in a glass or shake it up in your blender bottle.
Value & Price
You can pick up a can of Citadel Nutrition Tier 1 pre workout for just under $30. For that you’re going to get 30 servings per can. That’s great value as it’s virtually less than $1 per serving. Given the effectiveness of this pre workout, you’re getting away with robbery here.
7. Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Pre Workout
Pre-Kaged is pretty unique. It’s got all the things you’d want from a pre workout – high dosages and quality ingredients. But for whatever reason, the folks at Kaged Muscle weren’t satisfied with that. They decided to toss in some powdered veggies just to make your mom happy. So you’re not just getting one of the best pre workouts for focus. You’re getting one from a company that cares about its customers health.
Pros
- Good focus & energy
- No artificial substances
- Enhanced endurance
- Unique vegetable nutrients
- Potent ingredients
- No proprietary blends
Cons
- Expensive
- Only one flavor
- Low doses for some ingredients
Ingredients & Nutrition
Let’s jump straight to those unique ingredients. On the label you’ll see 100 mg of SPECTRA. That’s their proprietary blend. But not the kind you’re thinking of. They clearly tell you what it is. It’s basically a concentrated mix of veggies and herbs like onion, spinach, oregano, and basil. Very impressive.
Oh and in addition to all that you get a substantial dose of Caffeine, Citrulline, and Beta-Alanine. Plus it only has 1g of sugar. Yea, the focus and pump are definitely strong with this one.
Benefits & Effectiveness
With Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged pre workout you’ll definitely feel a difference mentally and physically. Thanks to some of the ingredients you’ll get a powerful blend of antioxidants as well. That’s going to enhance your performance and impact your muscle development.
As mentioned before, this pre workout doesn’t skimp on the dosages like inferior brands. So you can expect to feel those good tingles when it kicks in. You’ll be dying to unleash the energy within.
Taste & Mix-ability
When you decide to buy Pre-Kaged pre workout, you’ll have two flavors to choose from. Fruit Punch and Krisp Apple. We prefer apples so that was our pick. The taste is adventurous. It starts out sweet then gets sour before hitting you with a bitter aftertaste. Like we said… adventurous. Mix it up with some water and watch it dissolve easily.
Value & Price
A supply of Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged will cost you under $36. For that you’ll get 20 servings per tub. Yes, that’s a bit steep for some. However, the high dosages and additional nutritional value seem to justify the price. It’s a premium pre workout that comes with a premium price.
Final Thoughts
That’s it for our list of best pre workouts for focus and explosive energy.
By now, you should have an idea of which one you want. If not, just choose one of our top three pre workouts:
And if you want a deeper scientific analysis for the ingredients in most pre workouts, check out Labdoor or Examine.
Now go get your pre workout, share this with your peeps, and get ready to crush your future workouts.
