If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best
Want to attain a better pump from your gym sessions? The right pre-workout supplement can help you achieve that goal. Today, I’m going to talk about the best pre workout for pump, declare a winner, and give you some information about pumps.
Table of Contents
What Is Pre Workout?
Pre workout is a supplement that you take—you guessed it!—before working out. It provides a boost of energy, improves your focus, and can help you maximize your sessions. Among some of the other benefits it offers, pre workout is used to increase muscle pump.
Seeking the Pump
What is a pump, and why is it something you want? It is when your muscles feel full after a workout thanks to receiving an increase in blood flow. When you’re pumped, the muscles often appear bigger.
Arnold Schwarzenegger popularized the pump and made it something gym-goers everywhere chase. But despite being desirable, there’s no clear evidence that a pump is required for muscle growth. You can still make gains without a pump, so don’t let a pump—or a lack thereof—define your definition of a good session.
What Ingredients Should I Look For?
Pre workout causes users to experience a pump because it contains ingredients that increase nitric oxide production, which increases blood flow to the muscles. Some formulas are more geared toward a pump than others. Here are some ingredients you should look out for if you’re after a better pump.
Citrulline Malate
Citrulline malate is a typical ingredient in most pre workouts. It is ubiquitous because it is known to increase vasodilation, and it also relieves muscle soreness—two key benefits of this supplement.
Creatine
Creatine is a fascinating ingredient that has been the subject of many studies. You want it in your pre workout because it pulls water into your muscles, which helps repair muscle fiber after an intense workout, thereby facilitating recovery.
Agmatine Sulfate
Agmatine sulfate is a highly popular pre workout ingredient, and that’s because it’s insanely effective at increasing pump and vascularity. It comes from the amino acid L-arginine, and it does some cool things. Namely, increase blood flow to the muscles and provide cognitive and focus benefits.
The Best Pre Workout for Pump
Now that you’re up to speed on the basics of pump-producing ingredients, it’s time for our top picks. We reviewed a handful of the highest performers on the market and will declare a winner at the end.
Altius Pre Workout
This supplement from Altius packs an impressive 8000 milligrams of citrulline in its formula to boost nitric oxide levels. This amount of citrulline is among the highest levels in similar products, but Altius is about more than just the pump. Its ingredient list is short but high quality.
The formula includes high caffeine content to deliver a ton of energy, and the combination of creatine and beta-alanine will give you insane focus. It also contains B vitamins. We think the combination of all the ingredients is top-notch and makes this an excellent product. However, some users complain that there is just one flavor and the taste could be better.
Pros:
- No artificial sweeteners
- Provides amazing pumps
- High caffeine content
Cons:
- Just one flavor
- Taste isn’t the best
PEScience High Volume
Next up on our list is this popular supplement from PEScience. It’s a pure l-citrulline and arginine nitrate pump product that maximizes nitric oxide production. Though not a strict pre workout, we wanted to include a caffeine-free option. You can stack it with any pre workout to reap all the benefits without experiencing the jitters that these supplements tend to cause.
PEScience High Volume does a fantastic job at increasing vascularity, and users like that the pump doesn’t go away right after the workout as most do. The formula tastes great, and there are no unpleasant side effects. The only downsides are that this supplement is a bit pricey, and they use a proprietary blend, so you can’t know 100 percent what’s in it.
Pros:
- Taste
- Long-lasting pump
- Increases vascularity
Cons:
- Price
- Proprietary blend
Cellucor NO3 Ultimate
Supplement giant Cellucor expanded on their already impressive line of products with this fantastic stimulant-free pre workout. It’s got an impressive list of ingredients, such as l-citrulline, nitrosigine, arginine AKG, and grape seed extract. They create a fantastic blend that provides all kinds of benefits: nitric oxide enhancement, endurance, and mental focus.
Cellucor really delivers on its promise to provide all kinds of pumps in the gym. You’ll be so impressed that you might even want to measure your muscles. The best part of all is the excellent taste and the fact that the formula has plenty of antioxidants. The only downside is that it’s on the pricey side.
Pros:
- Superior muscle fullness
- Can be taken day or night since it’s stimulant-free
Cons:
- Price
Bucked Up Pre Workout
This option from Bucked Up is a bit different from others on our list. It contains citrulline malate, but the formula does not include creatine. The lack of creatine means you won’t get the same massive pump as you would with other products we reviewed. But you will know exactly what’s in it because the company uses no proprietary blends to make this supplement.
With only 200 grams of caffeine, it’s got less of this stimulant than its competitors, but the dosing is pretty good. Overall, Bucked Up Pre Workout is not the most impressive product available, but we do like it for newbies. If you’ve never tried pre workout and you want to see how your body reacts, this could be a good product for you.
Pros:
- Non-proprietary ingredients
- Made in the US
- Good dosing
Cons:
- Price
Nutrex Research Outlift
Last up is Nutrex Research Outlift. It contains citrulline malate and beta-alanine, as well as creatine, taurine, and BCAAs that are well dosed to give you the boost you’re looking for. It also packs a whopping 350 milligrams of caffeine, which will make you feel like you’ve got superpowers in the gym.
I like that the ingredients are not a proprietary blend, so you know exactly what you’re getting. However, the high dose of beta-alanine means you might be feeling tingly, and the caffeine content may be too extreme for some people. Overall, though, this is an excellent product that will give you the pump you want.
Pros:
- Available in several flavors
- No proprietary blend
- Contains BCAAs
- High caffeine content
Cons:
- Price
- Tingly sensation
- Not everyone can handle the caffeine in this pre workout
Top Pick for Best Pre Workout Better Pump
After reviewing all of these pre workouts, it’s time to declare a winner. The best pre workout for pump is Altius Pre Workout, and it topped my list for many reasons.
While you won’t get a variety of flavors like with some other brands, the blend of ingredients and the dosage of this pre workout are quite impressive. It includes everything you need to get not only the pumps you want in the gym, but also the focus, energy, and endurance you expect from a pre workout.
Overall, Altius’ formula is the most balanced pre workout that will provide the best results out of the options on our list. You can’t go wrong with this powerhouse supplement.