4 Gauge vs Bucked Up Pre Workout [Do Either Of Them Work?]

4 Gauge vs Bucked Up Pre Workout

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4 Gauge vs Bucked Up Pre Workout Review

A battle of two stand out pre workouts today as we bring you our 4 Gauge vs Bucked Up Pre Workout Review.

Which of these is going to be of most use when you hit the gym? They both have stand out packaging but that can only get you so far. On the one hand, we have the hard-hitting 4 Gauge made by one of the most reputable companies we have come across.

Then we have Bucked Up – a brand made semi-famous by their use of Deer Antler Velvet Extract. No joke – but is it useful in a pre workout?

For either product to impress, they need to give us the following:

  • Increased energy
  • Enhanced focus
  • Greater muscle pumps
  • Big gains!

Anything less than this and it won’t be enough.

Let’s start by getting to know them a little better.

4 Gauge vs Bucked Up Pre Workout Review: Who Makes These Products?

Roar Ambition4 Gauge Pre Workout Supplement

Here we have the people behind 4 Gauge.

This UK based company do everything by the book. You will find it hard to dig up any controversy connected to their brand and they make everything to the approval of both the FDA and GMP.

We like that they review and amend their ingredient profiles regularly. This means the customer is getting the best possible version at all times.

Then there’s the fact that they offer a big money back guarantee when buying their products. This makes it risk-free – as it should be in our eyes.

Roar Ambition ship directly from both the UK and USA and have some impressive endorsements.

UFC fighter Diego Sanchez puts his name to their fat burner Instant Knockout. They also make a T booster called TestoFuel. Former Mr. Universe Robby Robinson puts his name to it.

DAS LabsBucked Up Pre Workout

This is the US-based company behind Bucked Up Pre Workout.

It was founded by brothers Ryan & Jeff Gardner. Their first stand out product was Deer Antler Spray.  Used around the NFL, they now appear to advertise the fact that it was banned by the NFL and try to use this to their advantage.

There’s nothing like turning a negative into a positive but the fact is, it contained IGF-1, a controversial substance in WADA’s eyes making it enough to earn it a ban. This was later reversed as it was found to only be in trivial amounts.

We like that they have a 30-day money back guarantee – as every supplement should.

DAS Labs also seem committed to customer service. There is live chat, email and a FAQ section on their site.

They also have brand ambassadors. For DAS Labs it is the likes of National Bodybuilding competitor Mike Symkoviak and Bikini Competitor Nikki Jensen on their roster.

They have a wide range of products that include BCAA supplements, high stimulant products, and fat burners.

4 Gauge vs Bucked Up Pre Workout Ingredients

This is where we can set these two apart.

The early signs are good for both. There are no proprietary blends in sight. This means we get to see all the dosages and can tell if they are effective or not.

Mutual Ingredients

Citrulline Malate

An excellent start from both products here.

It is an ingredient you expect from a good pre-workout supplement as it has so many uses.

Firstly, it can increase blood flow – that is what your gains and muscles want to hear! Also, Citrulline increases nitric oxide levels which is going to help you with those big pumps. Derived from watermelons it converts into Arginine in the body which in turn helps with Creatine synthesis.

This is more necessary for Bucked Up Pre Workout as their formula does not include Creatine.

Both products recognize the importance and effectiveness of this ingredient as they both include 6,000 mg. This is a great dosage to get us started.

Caffeine Anhydrous

Another important ingredient for a pre-workout.

Of course, you want to be ready to go when you get in the gym. Caffeine is one of the most reliable sources for this which is why it is so popular.

Not only does it increase energy levels but it enhances focus and makes you more alert. This is what you want to be getting from your supplement.

They have both included the anhydrous version. This is a powdered form popular in energy drinks. It is fast acting and easily absorbed.

The doses are important here. At 150 mg, 4 Gauge is giving you a very good, effective but safe mount. This is pretty much the same for Bucked Up Pre Workout who have included 200 mg.

Just keep an eye out for any jitter like effects and maybe build up your tolerance if necessary.

A very even start, but what about their own ingredients?

Individual Ingredients

4 Gauge

L-Theanine

A very good ingredient.

It is a clever one as it works to make sure any stimulants are effective but do not take over.

L-theanine actually helps you to stay in control whilst not affecting the good traits of using stimulants like Caffeine. It is found in Green Tea leaves. An ingredient that keeps you calm yet also makes Caffeine’s positive effects last longer.

The 200 mg in 4 Gauge is a good dosage. Their Caffeine content is pretty sensible so they don’t need to contain a lot of this anyway.

Creatine Monohydrate

The good start gets even better.

Examine.com tells us that Creatine is often used by athletes to increase power output and lean mass.

It has the backing of numerous studies which we always prefer. Proven to work, it is a safe ingredient. In terms of pre-workout supplements, it is very much one of the first names on the label.

Creatine has benefits for performance, and especially the muscles. It gives you more strength and ensures they still have energy after training.

Creatine is so popular because it also aids recovery. This means your muscles will repair quicker and can mean you are able to get back into the gym sooner and is good for even greater gains.

There is one study that shows how Creatine can benefit the body at any time. This shows how supplementing Creatine during arm flexor strength training led to greater increases in arm flexor muscle strength, upper arm muscle area, and fat-free mass than strength training alone.

The dosage in 4 Gauge is a great one once again. At 1,000 mg they are giving great value.

Acetyl L-Carnitine

What you want in supplements are ingredients that offer more than one trait.

This is what we have once again as Acetyl L-Carnitine helps to burn fat and increases energy levels. It will help you to train harder and for longer periods.

The 500 mg dosage from 4 Gauge is more than enough to get these benefits.  

Red Beet

Yet great ingredient it will make sure that blood flow is enhanced.

Red Beet is useful because it also increases your body’s plasma nitrate levels. Because of this, you will have more stamina.

Far from done, the added blood flow actually means your muscle pumps will be enhanced. The end goal is what you’re really after – greater gains.

You can see why it is becoming a popular ingredient and the 300 mg dosage is another optimal one.

Coconut Water Powder

If a pre-workout really works, it will help you to train harder and for longer. This means you will need even more hydration.

This ingredient shows a real understanding of what a pre-workout should look like as it is full of electrolytes. This means your body will be hydrated as long as you are keeping your body topped up with an ample supply of water.

A good pre-workout will get you working harder, this, of course, means you need more hydration.

300 mg is a generous amount.

Rhodiola Rosea

This Scandinavian herb is mostly linked with being able to raise spirits.

Rhodiola has also been found to keep your mind sharp. The added focus is what you really need in the gym making it another useful ingredient.

Maybe this is the answer to stopping everyone in the gym from being glued to their phone.

At 100 mg, it is a good top up.

Bucked Up Pre Workout

Vitamin B12

An ok ingredient but not the most common in pre-workouts for a reason.

It, like other B-vitamins, plays a role in energy metabolism. This is how we create energy from food and burn off calories in the process.

This is good because it can help to get you shredded and get more out of your time at the gym.

The 100 mcg dosage is considered a big amount.

Beta-Alanine

After starting well, this is not a great inclusion.

Firstly, WebMD tells us that is a nonessential amino acid that is produced by the body. The potential side effects are what make it less than desirable.

These aren’t the most significant side effects but the fact that it causes paresthesia will put a lot of people off. This is a tingling sensation of the skin. It does pass before too long, but it isn’t something you want to be experiencing when you’re lifting big weights.

A big issue is that is doesn’t appear to have a lot of reliable benefits.

Mainly linked to fighting fatigue but there aren’t a lot of studies to back it up. It is also thought to be able to produce Carnosine. This will help your muscles to stay at peak levels for longer periods. If this was the case it would be a useful attribute.

The 2,000 mg is a big enough dosage to cause paresthesia so keep an eye out for it.

Alpha GPC

When a product contains stimulants, you need ingredients that are going to help work against some of their negative effects.

Alpha GPC is useful in this area because it is a powerful cognitive enhancer. It is touted as being able to ensure your brain keeps cognitive decline away.

It has also been found to be able to increase the user’s ability to tackle academic studies.

By increasing acetylcholine in the brain it can help you to make a quick, split decision.

Examine.com advises that it is used for its cognitive-promoting properties, and to enhance power output in athletes.

With all this, Alpha GPC could be one of the better ingredients in this product. The problem is that a lot of the support so far appears to be from rodent trials. Still, it is held in high regard in many areas for its effectiveness in cognitive enhancing.

The dosage of 200 mg is a good one.

Taurine

An ingredient that you may have seen on the label of energy drinks.

This leads to a misconception that it is a stimulant, but it isn’t.

Quite the opposite really, it helps to make sure the stimulants are well tolerated and do not take over your body. By keeping the user calm and in control it is a useful ingredient.

An antioxidant that increases blood flow, it makes your gym performance even better. It is possible that it can work against the negative effects of Beta-Alanine.

Once again, there is a lack of human trials. Yes, Taurine has shown promise when it comes to animal studies but we need concrete evidence before we can really get behind it.

The 100 mg is a bit low but could be useful.

Himalayan Rock Salt

A good source of Sodium which is going to be very useful.

Since it can enhance the capabilities of other ingredients, it has its place. It maintains electrolyte levels as well, particularly after an intense workout. By keeping you hydrated we can see the sense behind it.

At 100 mg you are getting another good dosage.

Deer Antler Velvet Extract

The ingredient this company seem to have built their brand around, yes you read it correctly.

It definitely catches your attention and as WebMD comment, it is what covers the growing bone and cartilage that develops into deer antlers.

WebMD does say it is used to boost strength and endurance. You will find that it is used for an array of health reasons but like some of the disappointing ingredients in this product, it doesn’t have a lot of studies looking into its safety though.

WebMD’s own page comment that it is possibly safe when taken by mouth for up to 12 weeks. The issue is it is not known what possible side effects deer velvet might have.

Also, they tell us that there is insufficient evidence to support its use when trying to improve strength or aerobic capacity.

Deer Antler isn’t the most useful of ingredients despite its bizarre origins. Also, it might be advisable to check with your sporting organization first if you are tested. Some of their other products have been banned in the past.

To top it off, it is difficult to say what a good dosage should be.

AstraGin

This ingredient is made up of two others.

Panax Notoginseng and Astragalus Membranaceus are the combinations, but how good are they when combined?

It is thought that this ingredient is good for circulation. The issue once again though is the lack of supporting evidence.

It might be good for improving the way we absorb Citrulline which would make it a sensible ingredient to include.

The dosage of 25 mg should be enough for this.

ActiGin

The makers of this say it can aid recovery time.

The idea is that by increasing the amount of glycogen there is in the muscles it can also reduce inflammation. It may even increase the way our bodies absorb other ingredients.

So, a similar ingredient to AstraGin but also one that has some uses of its own.

The dosage of 25 mg again might be enough to make a difference.

4 Gauge vs Bucked Up Pre Workout Side Effects

The easy place to start is 4 Gauge.

Their mix of proven ingredients at optimal doges means it will really work but is also very safe.

The same can’t be said for Bucked Up Pre Workout though. Since they have chosen Beta-Alanine in their formula it means users might be susceptible to paresthesia. Like we mentioned, this itching of the skin passes, but it can still be distracting.

Lets not forget the fact that Beta-Alanine is also a but of an unproven ingredient. So, including it is a bit pointless anyway.

Other than that it should be well tolerated and even the Caffeine content should be fine.

4 Gauge vs Bucked Up Pre Workout Review Pros and Cons

4 Gauge Pros

  • 100% natural ingredients
  • Increased energy levels
  • Enhanced performance when in the gym
  • No side effects
  • Zero artificial sweeteners
  • Low in calories
  • Great taste
  • Made in the USA
  • No energy crash

Bucked Up Pre Workout Pros

  • Some useful ingredients
  • Money back guarantee
  • No proprietary blends

4 Gauge Cons

  • No choice when it comes to flavors
  • Only available from the manufacturer

Bucked Up Pre Workout Cons

  • Beta-alanine
  • Some unproven ingredients

4 Gauge vs Bucked Up Pre Workout Review Conclusion

Winner: 4 Gauge

4 Gauge Review - best pre-workout - get 1 free bottle

Read our full 4 Gauge Review

Buy 4 Gauge from www.4gauge.com

(Clean Lean Machine Tip: Buy 3 bottles and get a 4th bottle FREE whilst the offer is still available!)

Both products today were impressive enough for us to say they will work.

Only one of them is going to really get you the huge gains you are after though. 4 Gauges formula just has everything you would expect to see from a pre-workout, as well as some extras.

The inclusion of Coconut Water is a great addition, of course, staying hydrated is vital for your body and a pre-workout will make sure you need to keep nutrients in your body more than ever.

They include the likes of Creatine, Acetyl L-Carnitine and Red Beet making it the best formula we have reviewed.

A hard product to beat but also because it is completely safe to use.

Bucked Up Pre Workout could have been as well if it wasn’t for Beta-Alanine. The better products out there will ensure your safety and thankfully at least one of our products today have.

It just shows how insignificant Amazon can be when looking for top products though. Yes, this sells well on there but there are much better options out there- you just have to find them!

They went a lot further as well which is why we have no problem recommending 4 Gauge to anyone looking for the best pre-workout on the market.

Buy 4 Gauge from www.4gauge.com

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