Serious Pre is one of those pre-workout supplements that I've been wanting to try since it first hit the market. Why? Because the composition of most pre-workouts is the same except for minor changes. They often contain a plethora of "active" ingredients that but they're present in such small quantities that they don't really work.
But that is by no means the case with Serious Pre. How was this pre-workout? Did it work for me even though it doesn't contain stimulants? Is it worth investing in? Find out in today's review.
Content of the review
The only thing left to mention at the beginning is that if you don't want to read the whole review, definitely you can watch our video review, where you will also find all the important information:
Ingredients that the manufacturers really cared about
Serious Pre's ingredients are, quite simply, unbeatable. Finally, someone has come to the market with a supplement that does not use, for example, arginine and "compensates" for it with a higher dose of citrulline. In fact, as we mentioned in our article Citrulline Under Scrutiny, this pre-workout ingredient is significantly more effective because it is yet to be broken down into arginine in the body. The problem with arginine is that it breaks down into ornithine and uric acid before it can be fully absorbed.
Furthermore, in Serious Pre you will also find 3g of beta-alanine, which is the substance responsible for the tingling of the limbs. But it also increases levels of carnosine, which sparks growth in strength, endurance and physical performance itself.
Also worth noting is the 2g of creatine HCL content. This is a version of creatine that is very similar to creatine monohydrate, but eliminates all the unpleasant effects that can occur after ingestion classic monohydrate in extremely sensitive people (i.e. bloating, intestinal problems, more frequent urination,...).
And we could go on with the active ingredients, of course, but it's definitely clearer is to look at this short summary, where all 16 active ingredients are discussed:
- 6950mg of l-citrulline malate 2:1 for maximum NO production and better blood flow
- 2980mg beta alanine for increased muscular endurance and strength
- 2980mg of l-leucine, which is responsible for protein synthesis
- 1980mg of creatine hydrochloride 2:1, which is used to increase strength during training
- 1490mg of l-isoleucine, which supports hemoglobin production and can serve as an energy source
- 1490mg of l-valine, which affects the absorption of melanin, tryptophan and phenylalanine and other neurotransmitters
- 1490mg of l-tyrosine, which is a precursor or component of many important compounds
- 1000mg of taurine for maximum concentration for performance
- 1000mg of choline bitarate, which is an essential element in the production of neurotransmitters
- 1000mg betaine hydrochloride, which relieves stomach acidity
- 500mg acetyl l-carnitine, which serves as an energy source during training
- 54mg of Deanol l-Bitarate to ensure maximum performance during training
- 29mg of Niacin for proper energy metabolism of cells
- 24mg of vitamin B6, which is essential for proper amino acid metabolism
- 20mg of capsaicin for optimal fat burning
- 10mg synephrine for maximum thermogenic effect
From my point of view, this is an extremely likeable supplement because it doesn't play around. It is not a magic formula where in a ridiculous 4g you take all the substances you need for training. Instead, one dose is a full 24.4g, but you are 100% sure that all the active ingredients are present in a concentration that will support your maximum training performance.
Maybe too intense a taste
If Serious Pre has any drawbacks, it's that the taste is a little too intense from my point of view. If you read my reviews on a regular basis, you'll know that I don't like the overly sweet flavors of proteins and other supplements, but this is the other side of the spectrum. This pre-workout feels sour, bitter and intense. While this can be solved by adding more water, I personally had a bit of a problem drinking around 0.5l of water just before my workout.
Serious Pre is available in three different flavours. To make this review as objective as possible, I tried them all:
- Lemon and Mint probably impressed me the most. It wasn't nearly as intense as the other two flavors. The mint in this flavor is not as noticeable, but the lemon flavor is refreshing and pleasant.
- The cherry wasn't downright bad either, the colour did look quite unnatural, but theIt was definitely palatable even with more water.
- The pineapple didn't impress me at all, the taste seemed artificial, the colour and smell too. In addition, there is indeed a very noticeable bitterness, acidity and intense flavour.
How and when did I use Serious Pre?
I've found it most effective to take 24.4g of Serious Pre roughly 20-25 minutes before exercising. This dose is contained in one sachet, or in 8 aligned scoops if you bought the whole pack.
Because of its intense flavor, which I mentioned a few lines above, I was unfortunately forced to use to use roughly 450-500ml of water, so I was only sipping the pre-workout slowly and was unable to drink it all in one go.
Higher price, which however corresponds to the effect
If you decide to buy the whole pack of Serious Pre, you will pay per dose. While this may seem like a pretty high price, it's important to remember that products of similar quality cost much more in some cases. For example, a dose of Agrezz, which we tested some time ago and which I personally consider to be the bestthe best pre-workout with stimulants, comes out some more expensive.
In short, Prom-IN offers exactly the good price/quality ratio that we are used to with proteins, BCAAs or other supplements. On the other hand, it's definitely worth remembering that pre-workout supplements are definitely are not essential, so if you are on a budget, you can definitely skip them.
So how do we rate Serious Pre?
Serious Pre is one of those supplements that simply and plainly cannot be rated other than positively. Thanks to the excellent formula, I felt better pumping, increased strength and delayed fatigue during my workouts. The price is relatively pleasant and the taste is of course an aspect that plays only a minor role. And I have to admit that over time I got used to it and didn't mind it one bit (specifically I had the whole pack of the lemon and mint variant). So, in conclusion, all that's left to say is that if you're looking for a "pre-workout" that is completely free of stimulants and therefore can be used in the evening, you won't find a better choice than Serious PRE.
If you have any experience with this supplement or want to ask about specific details, be sure to get in touch in the comments! We're always happy to answer.
Comparison with competitors
Other expert reviews
- Skull Labs Angel Dust: Is the effect as hardcore as the design? [review]
- GymBeam Thor [review]: one of the cheapest kickstands
- Mutant Madness: a pre-workout worth playing [review]
- Ghost Pump [review]: extreme pumping before a workout
- PEScience High Volume [review]: an unconventional preworkout that impressed us