Many pre-workouts include creatine as one of their core ingredients. Creatine does have its benefits, but if you are one of those who only notices side effects or you just don’t like creatine, what options do you have?Well, we went out in search of the best pre-workouts without creatine.Here’s what we found…
What’s Wrong With Creatine?
As mentioned before, creatine does have its benefits, but not everyone can or wants to take it.For some people, creatine will work great, for others, it can often cause an upset stomach. I don’t know about you, but for me, training on an upset stomach is definitely not optimal. This is just simply genetics, some people absorb creatine well and others don’t. If you are one of the unlucky few who struggles with creatine, then a creatine free pre-workout will be a much better option.This can also sometimes be overcome by switching creatine sources from say monohydrate to HCL. But, in the end, this will not be a solution for every single person.
Do Creatine Free Pre-Workouts Do The Same Thing?
Creatine free pre-workout supplements still deliver great power while you’re in the gym. The best pre-workout without creatine will still contain ingredients that are proven to help increase energy, focus, muscle pump and endurance.
What Other Ingredients Should You Look For In A Creatine-Free Pre-Workout?
If creatine is out of the equation, what other ingredients should you look for?
#1: Caffeine
Caffeine has been used to boost performance for ages and is one of the main ingredients you will find in a pre-workout. Caffeine works by decreasing your rate of fatigue and lowering the perception of effort, this results in an increased work load. An optimal dose of caffeine will be around 120mg-400mg per serving.
#2: BCAAs
BCAAs (Branched Chain Amino Acids) refers to three amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These 3 amino acids help prevent the break down of muscle and help to improve muscle endurance when taken pre-workout. BCAAs also help in preventing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) which can help you get back to lifting faster. An optimal dose will be around 5g to 10g per serving, in a 2:1:1 ratio.
#3: Citrulline Malate
L-Citrulline Malate is metabolized to form L-Arginine and as a result, regulates Nitric Oxide production (this helps increase muscle pumps). A pump is probably the most satisfying feeling in the gym and is an important factor in muscle growth. An optimal dose of L-Citrulline will be 6g-8g per serving.
#4: Beta-Alanine
Beta-Alanine has been shown to increase muscle endurance and has been used by athletes for a few years now. What Beta-Alanine does is buffer hydrogen ions (H+), which means you will be able to keep up your training intensity for longer and be able to push out a few more reps. An optimal dose will be around 1.5g – 5g, however, at this dose you will probably notice some sort of tingling sensation.
Best Pre-Workouts Without Creatine 2023
#1: Pulse by Legion
Our top choice for a quality creatine free pre-workout is Pulse by Legion. Legion was founded in 2014, which means they are a fairly new supplement brand on the market. Legion is the top selling brand of natural sports nutrition in the world and have been producing a lot of top quality products.
The first thing you will notice with Pulse is that it has a small ingredient profile which is great because that means there are no propitiatory blends and you can see exactly what you are getting.
Servings & when to take
In each tub of Pulse, you will get 21 servings. Depending on your training frequency and how often you consume a pre-workout, one bottle can last 3-4 weeks.
Mix two scoops in 12 oz. of water 30 min before the workout. Since the dose of caffeine is quite high, it’s recommended to start with only half a scoop and go from there.
Summary
Pulse is one of the best creatine free pre-workouts on the market today, you will notice a definite increase in energy, performance, and pump.
Overall you won’t be disappointed.
#2: NITROSURGE by Jacked Factory
Jacked Factory is a relatively new supplement brand, but they have a ton of positive reviews on Amazon.com. This could be due to their no proprietary blend formula and focusing on proven ingredients.
Servings & when to take
In each tub of NITROSURGE, you get 30 servings, which depending on how often you train should last between 1-2 months.
Consume 1 serving (1 scoop) with 6-8oz of water 30-40 minutes before your workout. For maximum results, mix 2 servings (2 scoops) with 12-16oz of water 30-40 minutes before your workout.
Summary
Although NITROSURGE doesn’t have an optimal dose of L-Citrulline, it does still provide a good pump, and with the other ingredients, you will still notice a boost of energy and an increase in muscle endurance.
#3: PSYCHOTIC by Insane Labz
Insane Labz is a well known supplement brand for their PSYCHOTIC pre-workout. Although Insane Labz are also a fairly new sports nutrition brand they have many great reviews of Amazon.This pre-workout provides a lot of energy and endurance. In terms of Psychotic, Insane Labz advertises it as a safe and high-quality pre-workout supplement.
However, looking at the ingredient profile you will see that it is a bit under-dosed in Citrulline. Does this make it a bad pre-workout? Not really, it still works well, it’s just not the best on our list, as Pulse would be a much better choice.
This pre-workout would better be suited towards lifters who are experienced with taking high stimulant pre-workout supplements.
Servings & when to take
Mix each scoop with 6-10 oz of cold water (to desired sweetness) and consume immediately. Start with 1 scoop or less to assess your tolerance.
It is recommended to not exceed two scoops per day, which is a good idea as it would be a lot of caffeine for the body to handle.
Summary
Overall, it’s not a bad pre-workout and does provide the benefits it claims, however, I don’t like that it is a bit underdosed on the Citrulline.
Final Thoughts
Most pre-workouts on the market do contain creatine, however, choosing one on our list would definitely help you boost your energy and pump, all without the creatine.Our top choice would be Legion Pulse as it has the best doses of ingredients and overall tasted great.