Looking for a pre-workout boost? It’s not just about caffeine strength. The best pre-workout for your goals varies depending on your exercise routine and objectives. We’ve got you covered with a guide to the top 7 pre-workout powders and supplements in Australia, chosen for their value, popularity, formulation, brand reputation, and active ingredients.
Strongest Pre-Workout Australia Ranked 🏆
- Highest in Caffeine: RedCon Total War
- Best for Beta-Alanine: Cellucor ID Series C4 Pre-Workout
- Highest in Creatine: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Advanced
- Best for BCCAs: Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy
- Highest in L-Citrulline: Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout
- Best for Vitamins: BSN N.O.-XPLODE Pre-Workout
- Best Testosterone-Enhancing: GAT Nitraflex Pre-Workout
| Price per serving | Caffeine (mg) | Beta-alanine (mg) | Creatine (mg) | |
| RedCon Total War | ~$2.20 | 320 | 3200 | 0 |
| Cellucor ID Series C4 Pre-Workout | ~$1.85 | 150 | 1600 | 1000 (nitrate) |
| Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Advanced | ~$2.60 | 300 | 3200 | 5000 (monohydrate) |
| Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy | ~$1.00 | 160 | 5000 (amino blend) | 0 |
| Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout | ~$2.50 | 175 | 0 | 2500 (monohydrate) |
| BSN N.O.-XPLODE Pre-Workout | ~$1.80 | 275 | 1800 | Not specified |
| GAT Nitraflex Pre-Workout | ~$1.85 | 325 | 1500 | 0 |
Strongest Pre-Workout Supplements In Australia 💪🏻
Not everyone lives by high-caffeine pumps, so we’ve collated a list of the best pre-workouts based on different aspects. Some are high in caffeine, while others focus more on getting you fuelled with beta-alanine and creatine.
RedCon Total War
RedCon Total War is a high-caffeine pre-workout with 320mg per serving, combining caffeine anhydrous and dicaffeine malate for sustained energy. It’s noted for enhancing gym performance and focus, although its taste may not appeal to everyone. This blend doesn’t include creatine but stands out for its high percentage of active ingredients, offering better value compared to some brands with more bulking agents and sweeteners.
Cellucor ID Series C4 Pre-Workout
This brand stands out as the best for beta-alanine, with a dose under 2g per serving to avoid tingling side effects. It includes creatine nitrate, a more water-soluble form than creatine monohydrate, though its performance benefits aren’t fully proven. Despite limited long-term safety data, this pre-workout is recommended for its good taste and ingredient blend.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Advanced
This pre-workout blend is a good choice for those seeking a comprehensive mix of caffeine, citrulline, creatine, and beta-alanine, plus electrolytes for hydration. It offers a notable 6g of L-citrulline and a mix of creatine forms. However, the 3.2g beta-alanine dose could cause tingling. Suitable for regular gym users, newcomers might start with a smaller serving. Generally well-received for taste, it’s known to help boost workout energy and endurance.
Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy
The Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy contains one of the most comprehensive blends of amino acids on this list, making it a great muscle recovery enhancer. This blend offers a boost of energy and mental alertness. According to users, consuming this as a pre-workout helps boost exercise performance, strength, and energy at the gym. Many users have also complimented its taste, noting that it is one of the best-tasting pre-workouts they’ve had. Do note that this product does not contain creatine and is comparatively low in caffeine.
Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout
If you’re constantly getting the jitters from caffeine or a tingling sensation from beta-alanine, the Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout is a great option. Each scoop yields about 4500mg of L-citrulline. You’ll also get a decent amount of caffeine and glycerol in each serving. You’ll also notice a blend of nootropics (L-tyrosine, Kanna, and huperzine A), which may help preserve your mental focus, alertness, and energy as you dish out reps. Users note this pre-workout offers a great pump, improves focus, boosts endurance, and reduces fatigue.
BSN N.O.-XPLODE Pre-Workout Supplement
The BSN N.O.-XPLODE Pre-Workout has quite a high caffeine content (275mg), so it may be best to avoid taking it too near bedtime. It stands out as a blend with a good amount of minerals and vitamins, but it is higher in calories and carbs than other brands. Its long-standing tenure on the market (over two decades) and popularity speak for the brand. Many users noticed it boosted energy and endurance in their workouts. A handful of consumers have also experienced side effects like an upset stomach or diarrhea. And the taste isn’t one of this product’s strong suits, either.
GAT Nitraflex Pre-Workout
The GAT Nitraflex Pre-Workout contains boron silicate, which according to the brand, is a “clinically-tested testosterone-enhancing complex.” Research does indeed show that daily boron supplementation can result in a significant increase in free testosterone levels. Overall, the GAT Nitraflex contains a bunch of science-backed ingredients that could help crank up your exercise performance. But because it is a proprietary blend, it’s hard to say whether their quantities are sufficient to produce significant effects.
8 Common Ingredients In Pre-Workouts ☕️
Caffeine: Vital for boosting endurance and training time, though its impact on strength and power varies.
Beta-alanine: Enhances endurance in high-intensity exercises by reducing muscle fatigue. Optimal dosing is key to avoid side effects.
Creatine: Increases strength, muscle growth, and endurance. Safe when used in recommended doses, it’s a staple in many supplements.
BCAA (Branched-Chain Amino Acids): Reduces muscle damage and soreness, especially effective when taken pre-exercise.
L-citrulline: Aids in delivering oxygen and nutrients to muscles by widening blood vessels, but requires consistent, higher dosing.
L-arginine: Less effective than L-citrulline for improving blood flow and exercise performance.
L-glutamine: Has limited impact on enhancing exercise performance, and not essential if you have a balanced diet.
B vitamins: Important for energy production and red blood cell formation, but supplementation isn’t usually necessary with a balanced diet.
Types of Pre-Workouts ⚡️
Pre-workouts can generally be classified into two categories—stimulant and non-stimulant. The main difference between the two is the presence of caffeine.
- Stimulant: In stimulant pre-workouts, caffeine is the main ingredient that provides energy to fuel your sets.
- Non-stimulant: Can still boost energy and focus through a mix of ingredients like beta-alanine and L-citrulline.
Non-stimulant pre-workouts are more suitable for those who enjoy evening workouts or have a low tolerance to caffeine and metabolise caffeine slowly.
How To Choose The Best Pre-Workout 🤸♂️
- For mental focus: Look for caffeine or nootropics like L-tyrosine.
- For muscle building: Choose supplements rich in BCAAs or testosterone boosters.
- For endurance: Opt for a mix of creatine, caffeine, beta-alanine, and L-citrulline.
- For weight loss: Consider lower-calorie options.
How To Use a Pre-Workout 🫨
- Start with a smaller serving to gauge tolerance.
- Consume 15-45 minutes before exercising, as per product instructions.
- Observe how your body reacts and adjust the serving size accordingly.
- Follow the maximum daily serving limit to avoid side effects.
Best Pre-Workout Australia FAQs
Is pre-workout safe?
Research shows that many pre-workouts appear safe, with minimal adverse effects reported. Nonetheless, it’s best to purchase any pre-workout from reputable brands with a long-standing record of positive customer reviews. If you have any medical condition or are taking any medications, check with your doctor before commencing any pre-workout. It’s also worth noting that a pre-workout won’t replace a balanced and nutritious diet.
Can you consume pre-workout every day?
It’s generally safe to consume every day, but there may be some cons to taking them daily. Firstly, you may be building tolerance to the active ingredients (mainly caffeine) in the blend, meaning you may have to keep increasing your dose to experience similar effects. Some fitness experts recommend taking a break from your pre-workout every six to eight weeks to allow the cycle to reset. Alternatively, you may purchase both stimulant and non-stimulant pre-workouts and cycle between both.
Does a pre-workout make you gain weight?
In general, most pre-workouts do not contain a high amount of calories. Hence, they’re probably not going to cause you to gain weight in terms of fat mass. However, pre-workouts generally contain ingredients that support better exercise performance, muscle recovery, and muscle growth, so you may see some increase in mass due to muscle gain.
What are the side effects of pre-workout?
Some potential side effects of pre-workouts include feeling jittery, fast heartbeat, difficulty sleeping, restlessness, headaches, and nausea from excess caffeine. You may also experience a tingling sensation called paresthesia, which is your nervous system’s response to beta-alanine. While this reaction is harmless, it may cause discomfort in some people, hindering their exercise performance and focus.
When picking the best pre-workout, ensure you go through the ingredients list and read up on previous user reviews. Also, remember that the highest-caffeine pre-workout isn’t necessarily the best. A suitable one will cater to your tolerance, lifestyle, and preferences. Expect a little trial and error. But once you get your hands on the right pre-workout, it can be a valuable asset in your fitness journey!
