Swolverine Pre-Workout Review 2024
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Pre-workouts are extremely popular supplements for muscle gain and fitness—for some, summer is just around the corner and pre-workout promises better, more efficient workouts to get that summer body ready. For others, a pre-workout is a regular part of the gym-going routine. Regardless of your motivation, finding a good pre-workout can make or break your experience.
But what makes a pre-workout “good”? The answer is that it depends on what you’re looking for. There are a wide variety of pre-workouts to choose from. Some are loaded with stimulants to give you an energy boost and get your blood pumping before your workout starts. There are also stimulant-free pre-workouts if you’re caffeine sensitive. There are pre-workouts for women and men, energy drinks with pre-workout formulas and vitamin supplements for energy. Each type has its own pros and cons, which we’ll talk more about below.
I’ve always used stimulant-heavy pre-workouts because I’m not very caffeine sensitive, but for this article, I decided to try Swolverine Pre pre-workout—a stim-free formula that combines amino acids and superfood extracts with the aim of delivering improved muscular performance, faster recovery times and and energy efficiency. In this Swolverine pre-workout review, I’m going cover my experience with this pre-workout—from the taste to mixability, how long it takes to kick in, what it feels like when it does kick in and how it stacks up to other top brands. Let’s get started.
This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.
Swolverine Pre-Workout At a Glance
- Swolverine pre workout is a natural, stimulant free pre-workout, which means you probably won’t feel an energy jolt that triggers jitters or a rapidly raises your heart rate.
- This pre workout contains high doses of the non-essential amino acids beta-alanine and citrulline malate, which can give your muscles a boost of endurance and strength.
- There is only one flavor, Mango Lemonade, and it’s sweetened with stevia for a neutral blood sugar impact.
- The formula also includes superfood extracts, eleuthero root (siberian ginseng) and pomegranate fruit, which are both used in traditional medicine to stimulate your body’s resistance to stressors (ginseng), and fight inflammation (pomegranate).
- This pre-workout has an all-natural formula with no additives, preservatives or artificial ingredients.
Pros
- Properly dosed non-essential and essential amino acids
- All-natural ingredients in the formula
- Clinically studied formula, not just individual ingredients
- One of the best tasting pre-workouts I’ve ever had
- Mixes really well in water
- Natural, stimulant-free formula
Cons
- Only one flavor option
- Sweetened with stevia, which tastes bitter to some
- Premium pricing
Quality of Ingredients
Pillar4 Media
Let’s talk about ingredients. Here I’ll list all active ingredients and discuss what they’re supposed to do for your body and how Swolverine’s dosage compares to recommendations. I'll also note anything you should be cautious of.
One general feature about this formula is the transparent ingredients. In my experience, there are three main categories for ingredients in these types of supplements: basic ingredients, trademarked ingredients and proprietary blends. Basic ingredients are straightforward, single ingredients (for example, pomegranate fruit powder or L-carnitine in Swolverine's pre-workout).
Trademarked ingredients are typically sourced from a company that has commissioned clinical studies of their specific blends for quality, safety and effectiveness. This formula has one trademarked ingredient: CarnoSyn, a patented form of beta-alanine. Because it’s patented and studied, Swolverine can’t change the dosage on their own.
Then there are proprietary blends. I don’t like when I see proprietary blends on ingredients labels because the company has no obligation to tell you exactly what's in them. Swolverine intentionally leaves proprietary blends out of their formula, which is a big plus for my confidence in the brand.
Here are the ingredients in this formula:
Citrulline malate
Citrulline malate is a nitric oxide enhancer that’s supposed to boost your blood flow and oxygen synthesis in your muscles. That leads to more power, faster recovery and better endurance. According to studies a single dose of up to eight grams will give you the best results, but the exact amount can vary. The Swolverine pre-workout has five grams, which seemed to work well for me.
CarnoSyn beta-alanine
CarnoSyn is a patented form of beta-alanine. Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid, which means your body makes it internally rather than getting it from food. The big benefit you can get from supplementing beta-alanine is increased strength output from your muscles. The effective dose of beta-alanine ranges from four to six grams per day. Swolverine Pre has slightly less than that at 3.2 grams, but I experienced a strength boost in multiple lifts when taking this pre-workout.
Betaine anhydrous
One study of betaine anhydrous showed improved body composition, arm size and overall power after taking it for six weeks. Subjects in the study took 2.5 grams of betaine anhydrous per day, which is exactly the dose in the Swolverine pre-workout.
L-carnitine
When you take two grams of L-carnitine, studies suggest that your muscles experience less oxidative stress. What that means is quicker recovery times and less risk for injury. Swolverine Pre has exactly two grams per scoop.
L-taurine
Studies on the beneficial effects of L-taurine are still ongoing, but the early findings suggest that between one and six grams of L-taurine can limit muscle damage during high intensity exercise, which means you should recover faster after a workout. Swolverine Pre has 1.2 grams of L-taurine.
Coconut water powder
Coconut water powder is included in this formula for its electrolytes. Studies show that coconut water can help you rehydrate quicker, similar to a supplement like Liquid IV, without the sugar content and potential side effects of nausea. Hydration varies from person to person, so there isn’t a specific dose that works best, but this formula has one gram of coconut water powder.
Eleuthero root extract (siberian ginseng)
Siberian ginseng is a root extract that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Recent studies have shown that this root has several potential benefits including an immune system boost and anti-fatigue, anti-stress and anti-depression effects. Effective doses vary, but Swolverine pre-workout has one gram of siberian ginseng.
Pomegranate fruit powder
Pomegranate fruit extract is a known and potent anti-inflammatory agent. What that means for you during your workout is improved blood flow, and thus better performance. There’s not a known effective dose of this ingredient, but Swolverine pre-workout has 500 milligrams of pomegranate fruit powder.
Swolverine Pre-Workout Claims
According to Swolverine, its pre-workout has a “clinically dosed” formula that blends modern sports nutrition with whole food superfood extracts. Swolverine says that this pre-workout “is proven to help you train harder and maximize your performance.”
Swolverine says that you should take the pre-workout with four to eight ounces of water before your workout. You can expect to see “improved athletic performance, increased strength, better recovery and optimized endurance.”
The pre-workout formula is also gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO. It has no artificial sweeteners, preservatives or flavors, and the sweetness comes from stevia extract, which has no impact on your blood sugar.
My Experience Using Swolverine Pre-Workout
Mixability and texture
For pre-workouts and protein shakes, I use a regular shaker bottle with a ball to help mix the powder. Some supplements mix better than others, and I had no problem with Swolverine Pre. It mixed very easily, and left no grainy texture or excess powder at the bottom of the bottle.
Taste and sweetness
The first thing I noticed about Swolverine pre-workout was the taste. There is only one flavor option, Mango Lemonade, and it’s one of the best tasting pre-workouts I’ve ever had. I was not expecting to love the flavor because the pre-workout is sweetened with stevia, which usually has a terrible aftertaste to me, but this was the exception. It is pretty sweet, but not overwhelmingly so in my opinion.
Time to kick in
Every time I’ve taken Swolverine pre-workout (four times at the time of writing), I drink it over the course of 10 or 15 minutes (except for the first time, which I’ll talk about below) on my way to the gym after I drop the kids off at daycare. I’ve tried pre-workouts that take 30 or 45 minutes to kick in, but Swolverine has hit me in under 20 minutes every time I’ve taken it, and its effects last even after my workout is done (usually about an hour or an hour and a half after I take it).
Effects
Here are some effects I noticed while using this pre-workout:
Tingling sensation. I’ve never gotten the pre-workout jitters before because, like I said, I'm not very caffeine sensitive. But the first time I took Swolverine, I chugged it and then felt a tingling sensation in my hands, on my head and down my spine. This is a common side effect of beta-alanine that I wanted to note. It surprised me at first, but since then I’ve been drinking it slower, and I haven’t felt it again.
Boosted performance. This is anecdotal, but I’ve been able to lift more each session since taking Swolverine. The clearest example is in squats. I’ve been doing drop sets for squats for the last three weeks, and since taking Swolverine I’ve increased my reps per set significantly. My program has me working from a set of 135 pounds for 10 reps up to a set of 185 pounds for three reps, adding five pounds for each new set with 60 seconds rest between each. Yesterday I was feeling strong, so I started at 145 pounds instead, and when I got to the 185 pound set I did five reps, then did another set of 185 for good measure.
Lower recovery time. I usually try to rest at least 60 seconds between sets of any exercise to let my energy stores recover, but with Swolverine I’ve felt ready to go much faster. It’s difficult to describe, but my breathing is more regulated and my energy baseline feels higher. I’ve had some sets since taking Swolverine pre-workout where I dropped the rest to 30 seconds and saw no change in performance.
Bottom line: I experienced most of the benefits Swolverine promises. I’m sure that may vary from person to person, but my experience using Swolverine Pre has been excellent. Plus, even though I lifted heavier than I intended to, I wasn’t any more sore in the following days than I usually am.
Swolverine Pre-Workout Cost
Swolverine Pre is a premium product, and costs $52.99 for 25 servings. You can subscribe to a recurring delivery and get a 15% discount, which brings the cost down to $45.04 per 25 servings. Either way, you’re looking at between $2.12 per serving (full price) and $1.80 per serving (discounted).
Who Should Use Swolverine Pre-Workout
Because it’s stimulant-free, Swolverine is a good option for almost anyone looking for a high-quality, caffeine-free pre-workout. The doses are at or under the maximum recommendations on every ingredient, and there are no fillers or sketchy ingredients that haven’t been studied. It's also a good fit for those who work out at night, and want improved endurance and strength without negatively affecting their sleep.
Who Should NOT Use Swolverine Pre-Workout
Swolverine Pre doesn’t have stimulants, so if you’re looking for a rapid energy burst, you may need to look elsewhere (our strongest pre-workouts roundup is a good place to start). You also may not benefit from this supplement if your focus is gaining muscle mass. Swolverine pre-workout has no creatine content, which is what you’re looking for if you want to get bigger. However, Swolverine does offer supplement stacks you can use to overcome this. Swolverine is also pricey, so if you’re on a tight budget, this may not be the best option for a pre-workout.
What Customers Are Saying About Swolverine Pre-Workout
You’ve been reading my experience, but this is where I’ll summarize some key themes I’ve seen in other reviews from Swolverine’s website and customers on other platforms.
At the time of writing, Swolverine Pre pre-workout has only 53 ratings on the Swolverine website with a 4.7/5-star rating. On GNC it has a 5/5-star rating with 35 reviews and on VitaminShoppe it has a 4.9/5-star rating with 31 reviews. On Amazon, it has a 4.7/5-star rating with 15 reviews.
One common theme across all platforms is that users experience high energy with no jitters, with many reviewers claiming they hit new personal records in lifts and other athletic pursuits. Reviewer A.R. comments, “This PRE made an immediate difference and allows my lifting and (equestrian) riding to get the next level - PRs in both! Highly recommend!”
Almost every negative review has the same complaint: “the itch”—or the feeling I described above that can be a side effect of beta-alanine. It’s an odd feeling, but I haven’t felt it since drinking the mix slower.
About Swolverine
Pillar4 Media
Swolverine is a supplement brand that builds their formulas to “fuel and optimize your athletic performance through transparency, clinically effective doses, and clinically proven ingredients with evidence-based outcomes.” In addition to pre-workout, Swolverine’s major products include protein powders, post-workout recovery supplements, multivitamins, probiotics, daily snacks and supplement stacks.
All of Swolverine’s products are very transparent about their ingredients, which is one of the things I value most in a supplement company. Because of this, the cost of these supplements is a little higher than what you may find on Amazon, but it’s hard to put a price on being sure you’re putting safe, high-quality ingredients in your body.
Swolverine Pre Workout vs. XWerks Ignite
XWerks Ignite is a high-quality pre-workout with a formula that’s very different from Swolverine. The biggest difference is the stimulant content—XWerks has 150 milligrams of caffeine per dose, while Swolverine is stimulant free.
Both supplements contain CarnoSyn beta-alanine and citrulline malate, both of which are key active ingredients. Swolverine has significantly more of those ingredients, however. XWerks also has vitamins B6 and B12, calcium and magnesium lactate to address muscular recovery, where Swolverine opts for more whole food extracts to provide nutrients.
Swolverine Pre Workout vs. Transparent Labs Stim-Free Pre Workout
Transparent Labs is one of my favorite supplement brands because their philosophy is label transparency and ingredient quality. Their stim-free pre-workout is probably the best comparison to Swolverine Pre because of the quality of ingredients. One of the main differences is that Transparent Labs Stim-Free has four grams of beta-alanine, compared to Swolverine’s 3.2 grams. However, Swolverine uses patented CarnoSyn, which has been clinically tested at its dose, while Transparent Labs just uses a common version.
Transparent Labs also includes BCAAs, which may give it an edge over Swolverine for some people. BCAAs are branch chain amino acids that have proven to reduce muscle soreness and recovery time after a workout. Swolverine’s formula has ingredients to do the same, but BCAAs will be more recognizable to some users.
Swolverine Pre Workout FAQs
Is it better to take a pre-workout or creatine?
Creatine and pre-workouts are very different supplements, and which you should take depends on your goals. Pre-workouts usually act quicker and give you boosted energy and performance during your workout. Creatine doesn't give you a jolt of energy, but it more directly contributes to increased muscle mass.
Does the Swolverine pre-workout have caffeine?
Swolverine Pre pre-workout has no caffeine or other stimulants of any kind.
What happens when you stop taking pre-workouts?
There are no known negative symptoms when you stop taking a pre-workout. One thing to consider is caffeine. If you abruptly stop regularly using a stimulant-heavy pre-workout, you’re likely to experience caffeine withdrawal.
Are there risks to taking pre-workouts?
Most of the reported risks of pre-workout use come from heavy stimulant content. Over consuming caffeine can lead to insomnia, paranoia, jitters and upset stomach. Otherwise, most pre-workouts are generally considered safe to use. However, you should always consult your doctor before taking a new supplement.
What are the ingredients in Swolverine pre-workout?
Swolverine Pre is a natural, stimulant-free pre-workout that contains essential and non-essential amino acids along with siberian ginseng extract, pomegranate fruit extract, coconut water powder and stevia leaf extract as the sweetener.
Takeaway: Is Swolverine Pre-Workout Worth It?
To me, Swolverine Pre is definitely worth the price tag. I’ve tried a large variety of pre-workouts with varying results, and Pre has given me the best experience by far. I felt stronger, more energetic and I was able to lift heavier with shorter rest time. The formula is transparent and lacks fillers. It also tastes really good, which is big for me because I typically don’t like the taste of stevia-sweetened supplements.
