Long-time gymgoers know that there comes a time in every lifter’s life when you’re ready to take things to the next level — and you’re suddenly in the market for the best pre-workout supplements. If you’re searching for an introductory pre-workout that’ll pump you up without kicking your butt too much, we think Bucked Up Pre-Workout could be a solid choice.
As a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, I like recommending a milder supplement like this one. We have our expert tester, a CPT and CNC, weighing in with their experience, plus reviews by our expert registered dietitian. Let’s get into our Bucked Up Pre-Workout review and see how it compares to the best pre-workout supplements out there.
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
This pre-workout comes in five different flavors and has thousands of five-star Amazon reviews behind it. The product also includes zero proprietary blends.
Main Takeaways
- Bucked Up Pre-Workout is a stimulant pre-workout with 200 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous and no other stimulants.
- Bucked Up Pre-Workout contains labeled and clinically dosed ingredients (we love this), but also contains proprietary blends (we don’t love this). The ingredients may provide an energy boost, focus enhancement, more blood flow for a great pump, and longer endurance.
- Bucked Up comes in 20 inventive flavors, but contains artificial sweeteners and is not third-party tested.
Bucked Up Pre-Workout Specs
If you’re new to pre-workout, Bucked Up Pre-Workout is a nice place to start (you can also make a pit stop at our ultimate guide to pre-workouts to get oriented). It’s a stim pre-workout that has 200 milligrams of caffeine in it (the same amount as about two cups of coffee) and no other stimulants. But it’s not just for newbies — serious athletes and bodybuilders who avoid other stimulants may like it, too.
Caffeine aside, Bucked Up Pre-Workout also contains common pre-workout ingredients that may help boost athletic performance. Bucked Up contains the amino acids citrulline malate (for nitric oxide, blood flow, and a great pump), beta-alanine (for more endurance), and taurine (for cognitive function). You also get some vitamin B12 (for energy metabolism) and Himalayan rock salt (electrolytes for hydration). (1)(2)
Bucked Up also has some less common ingredients like alpha-GPC (for focus), Astragin (for citrulline absorption), Senactiv, and deer antler velvet extract (for recovery). The brand’s other pre-workouts, like Woke AF and BAMF, also have them. They advertise that each ingredient is clinically dosed for efficiency.
Bucked Up Pre-Workout comes in 20 flavors and uses the artificial sweetener sucralose. It’s a 5-calorie, 0-carb, keto-friendly supplement. They don’t do third-party testing, but they make their products in a GMP-certified facility. It’s a moderate cost at $1.66 per serving.
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use Bucked Up Pre-Workout
Bucked Up Pre-Workout is a stimulant pre-workout, so if you want to avoid those, you’ll want to opt for non-stim pre-workouts. Here’s who else might or might not enjoy this supplement.
Recommended for:
- Pre-workout beginners — it’s a medium amount of caffeine
- People who want only caffeine as their stimulant
- People looking for the best pre-workouts for weight loss — this one only adds 5 calories to your daily intake
Not Recommended for:
- Anyone who wants a stim-free pre-workout
- People who want more stimulants (Bucked Up’s Woke AF Pre-Workout has more)
- Bodybuilders who take creatine may want a pre-workout that includes it
Our Experience Using Bucked Up Pre-Workout
Bucked Up Pre-Workout is milder than its more potent cousin, Bucked Up Woke AF, but still has enough caffeine to make you feel like you just pounded two cups of coffee. Your mileage may vary, depending on your tolerance.
To get the inside scoop on what it feels like to train with Bucked Up, we had our expert tester — a certified nutrition coach and certified personal trainer — give ratings on its ingredients, taste, and solubility.
Ingredients
Bucked Up Pre-Workout has a nice combination of caffeine, amino acids, vitamins, and nutrients to help take your performance to the next level. Each ingredient has a clinical dosage. It sounds good on paper — but our BarBend expert tester, CNC, and CPT, only rates the overall formula a 2 out of 5.
They say, “Is this my absolute favorite pre-workout? Probably not, but it’s consistent. I like it for energy and focus.”
As a certified nutrition coach, I appreciate the inclusion of citrulline malate and also of vitamin B12, especially for any vegan users who might be deficient in the latter. But because of the presence of proprietary blends — which means you can’t be sure of how much of which ingredients you’re getting — and since it’s not third-party tested, I’m bringing this rating to a 3 out of 5, adding a point because of the beginner-friendly nature of the formula — which can be hard to find on a market full of the strongest pre-workouts.
Taste
Although your pre-workout drink is usually a quick moment before you hit the gym, you still want something pleasant. Bucked Up Pre-Workout gets a perfect score on taste from our expert tester, who gives it a 5 out of 5.
They say: “I loved the Blue Raz flavor. It was sweet, but not horribly sweet — in fact, it was even a little tart. It definitely tastes a bit artificial. I mean, have you ever seen a blue raspberry at the grocery store? I still found it to be a tasty sip though.”
That artificial taste may be a drawback for some, but if you’re a candy person, you may find yourself giving it a 5 out of 5, too.
Solubility
Just like you want a tasty pre-workout beverage, you don’t want it to be grainy or clumpy, either. Our tester says, “I didn’t have any issues with mixing — seamless.” They rate it a 4.5 out of 5.
If you’re just starting out in the pre-workout game, don’t underestimate how important mixability is. Drinking a gross, clumpy, and grainy mess is not where it’s at when you’re trying to focus and lock in for your next PR. A 4 out of 5 is one of the best ratings our pre-workouts tend to get, so that’s high praise.
Effects
So it tastes good and mixes well, but how does it really feel? The good news for newbies (or anyone who doesn’t like the pre-workout tingles) is that our tester didn’t get itchy like many people do when taking a powder with beta-alanine.
Note: Bucked Up does contain some beta-alanine, though, so if you’re really concerned about the itchy tingles (they’re harmless, but can be unpleasant to some), you may opt instead for one of the best pre-workouts without beta-alanine.
Here’s what our expert tester says: “The pumps are fine — they’re good but same as you’d get with any other average pre-workout. But the energy and focus — I am Bradley Cooper in Limitless. Makes me want to stay in the weight room all day.”
So, this one really shines on energy and focus, even at a lower stimulant level. The other nootropics may be pulling their weight in the cognition department.
Price Per Serving
One tub of Bucked Up Pre-Workout is $49.99 and contains 30 servings, making it $1.66 per serving. If you buy it on Amazon, you can get a subscription, reducing the cost to $40, and making each serving even lower at $1.33.
It’s a moderate price all around, though the website doesn’t offer a subscription option. I rate the cost a 4 out of 5.
Third-Party Testing
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements. Because of this, we prefer pre-workouts (and other products) that do third-party testing to ensure their safety and ingredients.
Bucked Up does not do third-party testing, but makes its products in a GMP-certified facility. The GMP stamp of approval means that Bucked Up is “utilizing industry best practices” during manufacturing. (3)
Still, third-party testing would be preferable, especially for athletes who compete and want peace of mind that there are no banned substances. I’ll rate it a 2.5 out of 5.
What to Consider Before Buying Bucked Up Pre-Workout
Before choosing Bucked Up Pre-Workout or any other pre-workout supplement, there are a few high-level specs to consider. The first thing to do is to decide between a non-stim vs. stim pre-workout. If you’re going for stimulants, consider what kind and how much. The same goes for creatine; do you want it as part of your pre-workout? You’ll also want to consider additional ingredients like sweeteners, plus the cost and safety. We tested TK products; here’s what we know about Bucked Up Pre-Workout.
- Stimulants: Each serving of Bucked Up Pre-Workout contains 200 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous.
- Creatine: Bucked Up Pre-Workout does not contain creatine.
- Price: One tub of Bucked Up Pre-Workout is $49.99 and contains 30 servings, making it $1.66 per serving.
- Sweeteners: Bucked Up Pre-Workout uses the artificial sweetener sucralose.
- Third-party testing: Bucked Up does not do third-party testing, but makes their products in a GMP-certified facility.
Bucked Up Pre-Workout Vs. Competitors
We know you have options, so we’re putting Bucked Up against some of its top competitors. We chose Transparent Labs and Nutricost because they’re reputable brands, and their pre-workouts have similar ingredients. Gainful is unique because they offer a custom pre-workout (they do custom protein powders, too). Gainful includes BCAAs and allows you to add creatine and either zero, 150, or 200 milligrams of caffeine.
[Related: Best Pre-Workout With Creatine]
Price-wise, Bucked Up is the same as Transparent Labs, Gainful is the highest, and Nutricost is the lowest. Bucked Up and Transparent Labs both have 200 milligrams of caffeine, while Nutricost has 300. Bucked Up and Nutricost use the artificial sweetener sucralose, while Transparent Labs uses the natural sweetener Stevia. Bucked Up also has the most flavors out of any of them.
Read our full Transparent Labs BULK Pre-Workout Review.
Places to Buy Bucked Up Pre-Workout
- Buckedup.com
- Bucked Up Store Locations (Idaho, North Carolina, and Utah)
- Amazon
- GNC
- The Vitamin Shoppe
- Walmart
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
Ordering Bucked Up Pre-Workout? Here’s what to expect about their policies and reputation.
- Shipping and Delivery:
- Time: Orders ship in 2 to 4 days or 3 to 6 days, depending on what type of shipping you select.
- Price: Bucked Up offers free shipping in the United States for orders over $75. For orders under $75, shipping is calculated at checkout based on your location and whether you choose USPS ground or priority, or Fed-Ex.
- Trial Period: Bucked Up offers a 45-day money-back guarantee only for products purchased through their website. After two weeks of use, if you are not satisfied with it, you can contact them within 45 days of purchase and receive a full refund. You have to return the tub, and at least half of the pre-workout must remain. You need to provide proof of purchase and pay for shipping.
- Customer Reviews:
- Bucked Up Site: Out of 615 reviews, customers rate Bucked Up Pre-Workout an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
- Amazon: Out of 5470 reviews, Bucked Up Pre-Workout has a customer rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
- Customer Thoughts: Customers generally like this pre-workout’s energy burst, pump, and high quality. They enjoy the taste, texture, solubility, and digestibility. Some find the powder clumpy. Others disagree on whether it’s worth the price.
Our Final Verdict on Bucked Up Pre-Workout
Bucked Up Pre-Workout offers a reasonable amount of caffeine and a solid blend of ingredients to help take your workouts to the next level. It may be suitable for beginners and athletes who like their energy to come from caffeine only. If you’re dipping your toes into pre-workout and don’t want to begin with one of the best non-stim pre-workouts, Bucked Up Pre-Workout is a solid caffeinated starting point. It comes at a moderate price point, moderate caffeine level, and a 45-day money-back guarantee — plus 20 fun flavors to choose from.
Bucked Up Pre-Workout FAQs
What does Bucked Up Pre-Workout cost?
Bucked Up Pre-Workout costs $49.99 for a tub. Since it contains 30 servings, it is $1.66 per serving.
What are the side effects of Bucked Up Pre-Workout?
Like many similar products, the pre-workout side effects here will come from the caffeine and beta-alanine. Caffeine may cause jitters, headaches, and insomnia; beta-alanine may cause tingles (or paraesthesia). Any pre-workout may also cause gastrointestinal distress.
Why does Bucked Up Pre-Workout make me itchy?
Beta-alanine usually causes a tingly sensation but may also cause an itchy feeling (called pruritus). It happens when beta-alanine binds to MrgprD, a G-protein receptor, which then causes neurons in your brain to send a message to your nervous system to feel a tingly or itchy skin sensation. The sensation may be uncomfortable to some and enjoyable to others, but it is generally regarded as harmless. (4)
References
- Gonzalez, Adam M.1; Trexler, Eric T.2. Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 34(5):p 1480-1495, May 2020. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003426
- Hoffman JR, Emerson NS, Stout JR. β-Alanine supplementation. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2012 Jul-Aug;11(4):189-95. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182604983. PMID: 22777329.
- GMP Certification. NSF.org. https://ift.tt/sIk98P3
- Liu Q, Sikand P, Ma C, Tang Z, Han L, Li Z, Sun S, LaMotte RH, Dong X. Mechanisms of itch evoked by β-alanine. J Neurosci. 2012 Oct 17;32(42):14532-7. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3509-12.2012. PMID: 23077038; PMCID: PMC3491570.
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