The 5 Best Pre-Workouts for Pump in 2024

A skin-tearing pump is the ultimate sign your pre-workout is working. When your muscles feel full and tight during training, it means increased blood flow is delivering nutrients for growth and performance. 

But with countless pre-workouts on the market claiming pump-enhancing effects, how do you know which ones live up to the hype? In this article, we reveal the top-rated pre-workouts for muscle pumps backed by real reviews. Whether you love feeling your biceps bulge during curls or seeing defined quads in the mirror mid-set, these pre-workouts have the clinically dosed compounds to take your workouts to the next level. Power up your training with our picks for the best pre-workout for insane muscle pumps!

1: Christopher’s Secret Stuff

To begin, let’s take a look at one of the best options for pre-workouts from Raw Nutrition. Christopher’s Secret Stuff was created and named after Chris Bumstead, a five-time Mr. Olympia and the face behind our brand. The ingredients contained in this pre-workout for muscle pump were used for his preparation for snagging his fourth title.

Now, you get to try it for yourself. This contains plenty of ingredients that will increase endurance and blood flow (L-Citruline) and increase your muscle strength and power (Betaine Anhydrous), among others. If you are looking for a top-quality pre-workout for intense workouts, this might be the best option for you.

With an excellent taste and the ability to experience muscle pump like no other (without the stimulants), you’ll wonder why Chris himself called it his “secret stuff”.

2: Thavage Pre-Workout

This pre-workout is so savage. Ahem, sorry…Thavage. You can start with a half scoop to get a good idea of how it works.

From there, you can use two scoops of the Thavage Pre-Workout if you want the full-on experience. This contains some of the amino acids that will be instrumental in building muscle - L-Citrulline and L-Tyrosine. The latter amino acid will be great for giving you the increased energy and mental focus that you need while you’re working out.

You’re focused on your focus goals and have all kinds of energy to power through your workout. This is the pre-workout for those who may be considering something to increase workout intensity. You’ll have the energy and then some.

3: Pre Extreme

The Pre Extreme pre-workout will be your go-to if you’re looking for a supercharge. Yes, it contains a high amount of stimulants. So, if that’s what you’re after, this may be your best option.

Nevertheless, it can maximize blood flow to the muscle groups that you’re working on. You’ll also find this useful if you’re looking for a reliable aid in fat loss. With 400mg of caffeine, this contains what you need to get you going throughout your entire workout.

After a few minutes of taking this supplement, you’ll feel it. You’ll feel like you can conquer the fitness goals that you’ve set out to do. This is the pre-workout if you want to turn up the heat with your workouts.

This may be one of the best options for those who want that muscle pump while powerlifting is part of their workout routine. You can say goodbye to fatigue with a pre-workout like this.

4: Pump Non-Stim Pre-Workout

If you’re serious about using a pre-workout for a pump but don’t want the stimulants, this is another clear-cut choice. Our Pump Non-Stim contains no caffeine at all. Yet, it does have the ingredients you need to achieve that all-important pump such as L-Citrulline.

It also has a Lion’s Mane, which is essential for brain health. So you can still achieve that mental sharpness and clarity for those who are caffeine-sensitive. Who says there is no such thing as an alternative?

5: Essential Pre

OK, so maybe you’re not the kind of person looking for something that will crank up the intensity. That’s fine, we won’t judge. To prove our previous point, not every pre-workout for a muscle pump will be for anyone.

If you’re looking for something that will give you a decent amount of amino acids and caffeine (among other ingredients), Essential Pre is a wonderful option. If you’re new to working out with intensity while looking to achieve that muscle pump, there is no question you can choose this over any other pre-workout on the market.

So you’ll be quite pleased with this pre-workout. You get excellent benefits aside from the muscle pump that you want to achieve. If you’re planning on spending time at the gym for a couple of hours, this is the supplement that will keep you going from start to finish.

How to Choose a Pre-Workout for Pump

Choosing a pre-workout can be a challenge with so many options. Of course, Raw Nutrition products are some of the best on the market. This part of the guide will give you a few ideas on how to choose the best pre-workout while taking the following factors into consideration.

Here’s a look at what you want to mull over before making a final decision:

Level of Fitness and Workout Intensity

To begin, it is important to consider how intense your workouts are going to be. At the same time, you want to choose a pre-workout that is based on your level of fitness and the intensity that you can handle. Beginners may not want to go after the pre-workouts that have a high amount of caffeine or other ingredients.

If you’re a beginner, we’ve mentioned that pre-workouts like Raw Nutrition’s “Essential Pre” may be the best possible option. What if you have a bit more experience and can handle more intensity? That’s when you can go for the pre-workouts that will help you swing for the fences with all that power and intensity.

Stimulant or Stimulant Free

Some pre-workouts will have stimulants and others won’t. It may be a good idea to consider the tolerance level you may have with them. If you have caffeine sensitivity, you may want to find a stimulant-free pre-workout that doesn’t contain a high amount. So the best option for you would be something like “Christopher’s Secret Stuff”.

You don’t have to deal with the crash that comes with high stimulant post workouts either. So if that’s something you want to avoid, you can choose a caffeine-free pre-workout. Finding a pump pre-workout without the stimulants is not as hard as you think.

Ingredient List

This can be a challenge for those who want to avoid certain ingredients from their pre-workout. At the same time, they want something that has the essentials that will make a muscle pump possible. While there are no specific ingredients that are avoidable in pre-workouts, it’s important to do your due diligence on those that may have health claims that are questionable or seem “too good to be true”.

The truth is some supplements will promise you big gains in a short period of time. But here’s the rub: that’s something you get from steroids, not pre-workouts. Not only that, the legality of purchasing certain “supplements” with this monumental promise is questionable.

Raw Nutrition highly recommends that you should consider purchasing a pre-workout that does not have questionable ingredients. Nor do we offer such big promises like fast gains in the shortest amount of time possible. On the other side of the coin, there may be certain ingredients you may avoid for certain reasons.

For example, if you have caffeine sensitivity, it may be a smart idea to avoid pre-workout supplements that have a high amount of caffeine. There may be some ingredients you may need to avoid altogether due to allergies or adverse health reactions that may occur.

Don't forget that artificial ingredients are also out of the question as well. These include things that may be hard to mispronounce. That may be enough to say "no way". Besides, you want something that will improve your workout performance, not drag you down.

This may include an increase in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and other adverse effects.

As always, we encourage you to consult with your physician before choosing a pre-workout. Especially if you are unsure of any ingredients that may have adverse side effects. Later on, we’ll discuss the key ingredients that are often found in pre-workouts.

Is Pre-Workout Essential for a Muscle Pump?

The answer here depends on your personal preference. You could opt out of purchasing pre-workouts and utilize alternative methods such as hydrating regularly and eating a diet that will go in conjunction with your muscle growth goals. If you’re looking for a pump that will give you a temporary increase in size, it may be necessary to find a pre-workout that works for you.

You’ll be able to work with high intensity and for increased periods of time. Once again, personal preference will play a role here.

Read Reviews

Customer reviews will be your best friend when it comes to finding the right pre-workout. Most of the time, you'll be reading through plenty of mixed reviews - both positive and negative. Be sure to pay attention to any of the benefits such as weight loss, energy boost, nitric oxide boosts, and more.

If there are pre-workouts that have more negative reviews than positive, it may be best to steer clear. 

Benefits of Pump Pre-Workout

There are plenty of benefits to taking a pump pre-workout. They are derived from the several ingredients that are found in it. So here’s what the common benefits are:

Increased Energy

Of course, with an energy boost you can extend your workout to longer periods. Most of the time, it can be due to caffeine that is contained in the pre-workout you choose. So if you’re looking for that pick-me-up while you’re getting an intense session in, you’re going to need the energy to match it.

Imagine having all kinds of energy that will give you a lengthy exercise performance like never before. You'll swear that time was flying when you were having fun at the gym.

Increased Muscle Stamina

Ingredients like beta-alanine will be great for delaying muscle fatigue. In term, you’ll be able to enjoy increased muscle stamina and increased blood flow to muscles, which can be a huge benefit if you want to go longer than your normal session. Think of the last time you couldn’t go longer because of fatigue.

Guess what? That’s going to be a thing of the past. Even better, you’ll be able to experience that pump you’ve been looking for. When it comes to muscular endurance, finding the right pre-workout will be perfect for that reason.

Excellent Muscle Building Results

Muscle building is your fitness goal. That’s why you’re here. So you might be considering the idea of finding a supplement that will help aid in your muscle growth process.

Thanks to the essential amino acids contained in these pre-workouts, you have something that can help repair the small tears that go on in your muscles, making recovery much easier.

Enhanced Cognitive Performance

Do you want to stay focused on your workout? The good news is a pre-workout will help increase cognitive performance. You need to be in the right frame of mind whenever you're pumping iron.

Yes, athletic performance is physical. But it can also be mental as well.

Ingredients in Pre-Workout

Here is a list of key ingredients that you’ll find in pre-workouts:

Caffeine

This active ingredient is excellent for that increased amount of energy you want. Especially if you want to extend your workouts beyond 30 to 45 minutes. While this common ingredient will be found in most pre-workout powders, it’s an ingredient to avoid for those looking for a stim-free option. 

A pre-workout with a large dose of caffeine also may not be the best option for beginners. That's why you want to find something that may have lower caffeine content (assuming you don't have a sensitivity). You can do away with a stimulant like this and still be able to get an intense muscle pump. 

Amino Acids

Branched-chain amino Acids (BCAAs) will be present in almost all pre-workout you find. This can help with muscle growth while providing you with that lean muscle mass you want. As mentioned, you can rely on these for damage reduction to your muscles - especially if you’re going through a hardcore workout session.

There are some amino acids that will also be key for nitric oxide production, which sends blood and oxygen to your muscles. So this is another active ingredient that may never be left out of a pump pre-workout.

Creatine

Some pre-workouts will contain creating, which can be perfect for increasing your muscle strength and anaerobic performance during tough workouts. Like BCAAs, it can be great for increasing levels of body mass (albeit at lean levels).

Beta-Alanine

If you are someone who loves to crank up the intensity during their workouts, this is a must-have ingredient. It can also be great for fatigue reduction and making recovery easier. If you're looking for an excellent ingredient that will be beneficial for muscle endurance, this is a can't miss.

Conclusion

We hope that you find the best pre-workout that will be great for a muscle pump. If increasing muscle is your ultimate goal, regular pumps are a great way to make it happen. Just make sure you find the right pre-workout that matches your personal needs and preferences.

The good news is Raw Nutrition has pre-workouts for everyone. Whether you want something with a high amount of caffeine or trying to avoid it, there’s an option for you.

Ready to experience the best pump of your life? Try our scientifically backed pre-workout supplements now.

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