Tier 1 Preworkout / Performance Supplement (376g)

I've run through the gauntlet of preworkout powders. Starting with Jack3d and moving through everything from N.O. Explode to White Flood to C4, I struggled to find a supplement that I liked enough to use on a consistent basis. After much searching, I found Tier 1 and it's been my go-to preworkout ever since.As I'm sure you guessed, I tend to be finicky when it comes to preworkout supplements. I have a rather picky palette, so the majority of preworkout powders out there are extremely hard to stomach. Tier 1 is honestly the best tasting powder I've ever tried. It can be a bit too sweet at times (especially if the water isn't cold), but overall, it has a very pleasant lemonade taste that is extremely easy to drink. It mixes well in a few ounces of water, and there's no unpleasant aftertaste.Other than the taste, the energy and focus it brings is great too. I don't get overly jittery or sick to my stomach, and one scoop allows me to finish my workouts with no problem. There is a bit of a dip in energy towards the end if the workout is particularly intense, but it does it's job extremely well for the most part.The whole allure of Tier 1 is that you know what you're getting when you drink it, and that's the greatest thing about it. For those who rely on preworkouts to get through their time at the gym, it's reassure to know that you're using a product that has nothing but tested and true ingredients. You're not putting any crazy chemicals or proprietary blends into your system, you're working with an extremely simple recipe that has all the proven and effective ingredients you need to reach your physical peak.I also want to touch briefly on Citadel Nutrition. Each and every order I've made has come with a little gift (usually a cup with their logo) and a hand written note thanking me for ordering. That may not sound like much, but it's little things like that that make me appreciate them as a company and feel good about using their product. They have the best interest of their customers in mind, and they'll do anything they can to help you reach your goals.I constantly recommend Tier 1 to my friends, and it's no different here. Try it out if you're looking for a great product with effective ingredients, and/or if you haven't had any luck with preworkouts in the past (like me). Tier 1 is also great for people who are picky or may be sensitive to stimulants. I can't recommend it enough.

I try my best to make evidence-based decisions in my life, including in my product choices. Few things make this process more difficult than pre-workout products, which are frequently marketed through misleading means: cherrypicking or misrepresentation of efficacy studies and absolute disregard for the body of evidence on safety. What's worse is that when they DO include proven ingredients, they are frequently underdosed to save the manufacturer a few pennies. Tier 1 is a pre-workout that represents a refreshing departure from these irresponsible and consumer-exploiting norms.When you look at the literature on supplements and their effects on performance, body composition, and other fitness-related factors, you'll soon realize that the list of substances with a strong track-record of beneficial effects and long-term safety is depressingly short. Many supplements either have few studies behind them, only work in limited contexts, or have a very marginal impact. Creatine, Beta Alanine, and Caffeine are all exceptions: they have consistently been proven to be safe and efficacious in appropriate doses. Chronic Creatine supplementation leads to muscles saturated with phosphocreatine, which helps most athletes increase power output significantly. Beta Alanine, when taken regularly, acts as an intracellular buffer, slowing the buildup of lactic acid in the muscle and delaying the sensation of "the burn", allowing athletes to squeeze out a little more. And Caffeine? Well, it's pretty hard not to be aware of its nootropic effects. Tier 1 gets a major kudos from me for judiciously choosing these ingredients and clinically dosing them.My only nitpick of the Tier 1 formula is their choice of L-Tyrosine as an ingredient. I know that there is SOME evidence supporting its usefulness to acutely reduce bouts of stress, but I think they could have chosen other ingredients with more promising success in the literature. L-Theanine, for example, is also noted for its anxiety reducing effects, but it is also known to synergize well with caffeine by attenuating many of its negative effects. Citrulline Malate, with its ability to increase pumps and decrease DOMS, would have also been a VERY welcome addition. But, I'm aware that it is typically an expensive ingredient when dosed in effective amounts.Overall, there aren't many pre-workouts out there that take a truly no-BS science-driven approach to formulation. This is one of them, so I strongly advise you to consider it.