Hi, my name is Dan.
I’ve been a registered nutritionist for over 12 years, and I also work as a personal trainer. I’m passionate about healthy living and obsessed with high performance – whether in the gym, at work, or in life in general. I’m also a HUGE consumer of energy drinks! (I pretty much tested them all at this point…) In this article, I’ll review some of the most popular energy drinks on the market and give you my absolute top picks.
What Are The Best Energy Drinks On The Market?
What I’ll cover in this article:
- The best energy drinks for a strong and long-lasting energy boost (ranked from best to worst)
- Key ingredients you should look for in energy drinks to minimize unpleasant jitters and energy crashes
- My number one top choice (this one has exceptional taste and gives a super-strong energy kick)
★ Winner ★
Alpine Bliss
4.9
See Details
Runner Up
Celsius
4.5
See Details
Bang
4.3
See Details
Red Bull
4.2
See Details
Zevia Energy
4.0
See Details
RockStar
3.9
See Details
Zoa Zero
3.7
See Details
Monster
3.4
See Details
C4
3.3
See Details
NOS
3.1
See Details
Reign Total Body Fuel
3.0
See Details
★ Winner ★
Alpine Bliss
4.9
See Details
Zevia Energy
4.0
See Details
RockStar
3.9
See Details
Zoa Zero
3.7
See Details
Monster
3.4
See Details
C4 Energy
3.3
See Details
NOS
3.1
See Details
Reign Total Body Fuel
3.0
See Details
The recipe for high energy levels is pretty simple: good sleep + good food = high energy. In a perfect world, we would all sleep 8 hours a night and eat clean every single day. But we all know how messy life can be…
Even as a professional nutritionist, I also get bad nights of sleep, and I occasionally eat not-so-healthy late-evening snacks that wreak havoc on my energy levels…
When I wake up feeling like a trainwreck, sipping a freshly open can of Red Bull (or other drinks I’ll talk about here) can literally save my day.
Energy drinks make my brain feel sharper within 20 minutes, I feel more focused, and my body feels stronger and more vigorous. They really help me “get into the zone” fast, even on “bad days”.
So no matter what people say about energy drinks, no one can deny that these sweet beverages can make you think clearer and perform better due to their stimulating ingredients (which include caffeine as well as other stimulants, as we’ll see).
Granted, they may not be the healthiest drinks out there. But as long as you consume them in moderation, you’ll be fine. Energy drinks can give you that extra edge you need to keep your brain sharp and help you power through the day.
One thing for sure is that these drinks are not created equal. Some beverages that I’ve tested in this review gave a mild boost for about 2 hours, while others pumped me up for 6-7 hours straight.
Click here to jump directly to my top choice!
My rigorous reviewing process to find the best energy drinks 
That’s A LOT of energy…
Even as a Registered Nutritionist with over 12 years of experience, finding the most effective, best-tasting, and most powerful energy drinks is no easy task, considering the wide variety of products on the market. To make an informed choice, I took several factors into consideration:
- Choosing drinks that don’t contain coffee. Energy drinks are typically stronger than your regular cup of coffee due to the multiple stimulating ingredients they contain. I voluntarily excluded coffee-based drinks to stick to a selection of pure energy drinks.
- Avoiding single-ingredient drinks. I looked for products that offered a blend of energy-boosting ingredients, not just caffeine. Top energy drinks typically contain vitamins, minerals, and other natural stimulants that can be just as effective as caffeine to boost energy.
- Selecting drinks that conform to rigorous quality standards. I only included beverages that have been rigorously tested for ingredient purity and manufactured in facilities that follow strict regulatory guidelines. I excluded all the energy drinks manufactured by small, poorly regulated brands to ensure both quality and safety.
I purchased and carefully tested 19 products (shown in the picture above) that passed this test. Then, I tested every product using the following reviewing process:
In action: my scorecard!
- Each day, I tested a different energy drink at exactly 8.00 am. I haven’t made any changes to my usual breakfast to prevent energy fluctuations caused by nutrition.
- I poured one entire can of each drink into a glass to see what the product looked like. Then, I tasted each product and wrote my initial impressions on both taste and texture.
- I measured my level of energy three times during the day: the first time 20 minutes after consumption; the second time exactly 4 hours after; and the third time at the end of the day at 6 pm. To measure my energy level, I used a scale from 1 to 10, taking into account both my mental and physical energy.
- For each product, I took extensive notes and used the scorecard above to rate the different products on taste, strength of energy boost, side effects, and other key factors.
- I researched all of the ingredients contained in these energy drinks to understand their health risks and benefits – saving you all the trouble!
- I scored them on multiple factors (see list of factors below), calculated their final scores and ranked the energy drinks accordingly.
These are the factors that matter the most to me to find the best energy drinks:
- Taste
- Strength & duration of energy boost
- Side effects
- Health benefits
- Ingredients purity
- Price
Taste is king. No one wants to drink something that tastes like gasoline. In this review, I gave a particular amount of attention to the taste of each drink – how satisfying it feels on the palate, how sweet and refreshing it tastes, and so on. My top picks taste extremely good, and I have a very sensitive palate.
Another critical factor is, of course, the energy boost your get by drinking the product. I scored each of these 19 products on the strength and duration of the energy boost they gave me. In other words, how much more energy I felt after drinking it, and for how long.
I also paid close attention to the side effects caused by each beverage, including possible jitters, headaches or energy crashes. Everybody reacts differently, but I did notice that some of these products can cause massive energy crashes during the day, while others don’t cause any unpleasant side effects. As we’ll see, there are two specific ingredients that can prevent energy crashes by “smoothening” the effects of caffeine (more on that below).
For each product, I meticulously reviewed their ingredient composition to assess their health benefits and potential risks. To perform this extensive analysis, I’ve used my knowledge as a Registered Nutritionist in combination with the latest clinical studies on each active ingredient.
I present below the conclusions of my experiment with a detailed review of the 11 best energy drinks on the market today, according to my grading system.
Now, before I present my key findings, here are a few interesting facts about energy drinks that are important to have in mind before buying anything.
Click here to jump directly to my top choice!
6 key things you must know before buying any energy drink
There are a lot of misconceptions about energy drinks so it can be hard to cut through the noise. Below, I list some key facts that most people don’t know about energy drinks, which will help you choose a beverage that is right for you.
1. More caffeine does NOT equal more energy.
Many people wrongly assume that the more caffeine a drink contains, the more energy it can give you. From a biochemical point of view, this is not true. Just like a plant can’t absorb too much water at once, our body has a limited ability to absorb and make use of caffeine.
Taking an excessive dose of caffeine can lead to unpleasant energy crashes, jitters, and irregular heartbeats. According to nutrition specialists, the sweet spot for energy drinks is between 60 and 100 mg of caffeine per serving. It’s more than enough to give you an immediate strong energy kick for several hours while reducing the risk of energy crashes.
“To achieve an optimal energy zone, you generally need to consume between 60 mg and 100 mg of caffeine. Plus, your overall ability to concentrate and perform is better when you can remain in that sweet spot over a steady period of time.”
Marvin Singh, M.D,
Integrative Gastroenterologist in San Diego, California, and Member of the Board and Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Medicin
2. Energy drinks can indeed make a significant difference in your mental performance.
Due to their high concentrations of neuro-stimulants (including caffeine), energy drinks can make a big difference in your mental performance. The increase in focus and brain power you feel after sipping an energy drink is not placebo; it’s very real!
For instance, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, a natural stimulant present in some energy drinks, has been clinically proven to improve reaction time and working memory in n-back cognitive tests. Ginger root (another common stimulant) has also been linked to enhanced cognitive performance in multiple clinical studies.
3. Caffeine is not the only neuro-stimulant that can boost your energy levels.
Besides caffeine, there are other natural stimulants that can boost your energy levels significantly, including panax ginseng, L-tyrosine, vitamin B, and ginger root, among others.
The strongest energy drinks don’t just rely on caffeine to deliver their benefits: they tend to use a combination of several energy-boosting ingredients to maximize the strength and duration of the energy boost.
4. A good energy drink must be designed to avoid crashes and jitters
It’s very common to feel an “energy crash” after a few hours of consuming an energy drink, due to the effect of excessive caffeine or sugar. To prevent these unplesant energy crashes, it’s very important to look for energy drinks that are formulated to avoid crashes and jitters.
For instance, ingredients such as L-Theanine or saffron extract can provide smoother energy without the crash commonly reported with energy drinks. These two “soft landing” ingredients can also reduce the jitters some users experience with conventional energy drinks. Low sugar content and a moderate caffeine content can also reduce the risks of an energy crash.
5. Must use the scientific dose of ingredients, with no fillers.
Many energy drinks use what are known as “filler ingredients” – putting a very low dose of an ingredient to use it in their marketing without actually delivering the scientific benefits of the ingredient. This is a common practice used to cut costs. If a manufacturer doesn’t disclose the quantity of the active ingredients it uses in its marketing, watch out.
6. Must use the correct form of ingredients.
Another trick used by manufacturers to cut costs is using a cheaper form of an ingredient. For example, ginger root extract derives its benefits from the active ingredient known as gingerol. A product can contain a simple cheap extract or a 10:1 highly concentrated ginger root extract. Even if two drinks contain 100mg of ginger root extract, the product using a 10:1 concentration of gingerols will deliver 10 times more benefits!
6. No aspartame or acesulfame-K.
A large body of scientific evidence shows that aspartame and acesulfame-K are the most potentially dangerous artificial sweeteners. Make sure any energy drink you consume does not contain these unhealthy ingredients.
The best energy drinks I tried:
★ Winner ★
Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy Booster
4.9/5
What I love:
What could be better:
- Exceptional berry taste
- Strong and long-lasting energy & focus boost
- Contains saffron extract to prevent energy crashes and jitters
- Contains a potent dose of active ingredients
- Scientific formulation
- Low sugar content
- High quality water
- Money back guarantee
- Some people may prefer more caffeine
- Has run out of stock twice this year
Overall Rating
My ABSOLUTE favorite. Exceptional taste, long-lasting energy boost, and no jitters or crashes. Alpine Bliss ticks all the right boxes for me:
- Taste: This is honesty one the best-tasting drinks I’ve ever tried. It doesn’t even taste like an energy drink; more like fresh raspberry juice blended with sparkling water. It’s super fresh, perfectly sweet, and tastes very natural and clean. For the taste alone, it’s worth trying; it’s that good!
- Strength & duration of energy boost: I felt a very strong increase in my energy levels within 30 minutes of drinking it. This is one of the most potent energy drinks I’ve tested so far. I was also positively surprised by how long this boost can last. Even 6 hours after taking Alpine Bliss, I could still feel the energy-boosting effects kicking in my brain and body (usually I stop feeling the effect after about 3-4 hours, but with this one, the boost lasted much longer)
- Side effects: The thing that surprised me the most is that I didn’t feel any particular crashes or unpleasant jitters after drinking it. When I’m taking a can of Monster, for instance, I usually feel a rapid crash in my energy levels in the afternoon. Here, I felt a pretty smooth, gradual transition to my “normal” energy state after about 6-7 hours. The drink contains several ingredients to “smooth” the side effects of caffeine, so it makes sense why I felt that way.
What I love
The taste of this drink is unbelievably good. I was already hooked at the first sip… It’s super fresh, fruity, sweet, with just the perfect amount of carbonation. When it comes to the energy boost: boy this drink can deliver! I felt much sharper within 30 minutes of drinking, and my energy levels felt significantly higher for at least 6 hours. To deliver this long-lasting energy boost, the brand uses a proprietary blend of plant-based stimulants called “DopaBliss™”.
This energy blend supports mental and physical performance, with 70mg of natural caffeine, 700mg of L-Phenylalanine, 400mg of panax ginseng, 400mg N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine and 750mg of ginger root extract with a 10:1 Gingerol concentration. Research from three clinical trials indicates that the DopaBliss™ formula surpasses caffeine in enhancing cognitive abilities, speeding up reaction times, boosting power output, quickening processing time, and lowering mistake rates in challenging activities. Additionally, this blend aids in mood elevation and overall well-being by maintaining optimal dopamine levels. They say it was formulated in a lab in Switzerland, and I could certainly feel the difference compared to other products!
To prevent energy crashes, the Alpine Bliss Cognitive Energy Booster also contains a natural ingredient that have been proven to “smooth” the effects of caffeine: saffron extract (30mg). For me, the addition of this anti-jitter ingredient is really a game changer, as I can drink this beverage without having to worry about my energy suddenly dropping in the afternoon.
Each can has only 25 calories and contains just 5 grams of natural sugar sourced from wild berries. It is free from bad artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or acesulfame potassium, and doesn’t have any preservatives. Additionally, Alpine Bliss provides much higher levels of vitamins B6 and B12 compared to typical energy drinks.
What could be better
This product is mostly available online, and if you’re not part of their subscription, it can run out pretty quickly. I’ve heard it ran out of stock a few times already this year which can be inconvenient for consumers.
Opening my first can of Alpine Bliss
Celsius
4.5/5
What I love:
- Low calorie, low sugar
- Strong boost in energy levels thanks to a high dose of caffeine, guarana and green tea extract
- Established beverage brand
- Wide range of tastes and flavors
- Rich in antioxidants
What could be better:
- Excessive caffeine dose
- Not the longest energy boost I’ve felt
- No ingredient to prevent caffeine unpleasant side effects
- Tends to create jitters and energy crashes
- Uses filler, low-dose active ingredients
Overall Rating
Great tasting drink formulated with high-quality ingredients. Strong energy boost, but tends to create side effects such as jitters and energy crashes due to excessive caffeine content.
What I love
Celsius is another great tasting option. Unlike other more “chemical” mainstream energy drinks I’ve tested, Celsius really stands out with its natural, clean taste. The energy boost I felt when drinking Celsius was definitely strong, keeping me energized for at least a few hours. This can be attributed to the drink’s high dose of caffeine and guarana seed. The drink is also rich in antioxidants thanks to the presence of green tea extract – another positive for me as I like drinks with healthy ingredients. Another thing I like about Celsius is that they provide a wide range of tastes and flavors. Meaning you can experiment with different flavors and choose what suits you best (some flavors are much better than others, though). Finally, just like Alpine Bliss, Celsius is also a low-calorie drink, which makes it suitable for people who are watching their calorie intake.
What could be better
However, there are a couple of considerations to keep in mind. The caffeine dose in Celsius is excessively high, sitting at 200 mg. Such a high dose of caffeine will cause unpleasant crashes and jitters for most people. This was the case for me. I noticed a significant crash in energy in the afternoon after taking a can of Celsius a few hours before. It didn’t feel good. I also felt mild jitters in my stomach and legs, which I really don’t like… The biggest negative I find to Celsius is that it doesn’t contain any ingredients to smooth the effect of caffeine. I tried this product many times and every time I feel jitters and experience some kind of crash. According to the online research I did, Celsius also includes low doses of some of the ingredients it claims to contain such as ginger root to cut costs – which is why it has to use an excessive caffeine dose to provide a tangible energy boost.
Bang
4.3/5
What I love:
- Strong and fast-acting energy boost
- Good taste
- Contains a rich blend of vitamins
- Fortified with CoQ10 and creatine
- Low-calorie and low-sugar
What could be better:
- Aftertaste may not be for everyone
- Excessive caffeine dose
- Caused a massive energy crash for me, and unpleasant jitters
- Negatively impacted my sleep
- Uses low-dose filler ingredients
Overall Rating
Good tasting low-sugar energy drink with fast-acting energy boost. Excessive caffeine content in my view, may cause significant energy crashes and jitters, as it was the case for me.
What I love
The first thing I’ll say is that this drink really kicks off with a bang (highly predictable pun, granted). It tastes really good, much better than I expected since the drink contains many chemical ingredients and I’m usually repelled by synthetic flavors. The energy boost I felt was definitely strong and fast-acting. I felt sharper within 20 minutes of consumption. In my case, the boost lasted for about 3 hours, which is less than other drinks I’ve tested but still respectable. What I like about Bang is its rich vitamin blend, containing vitamins B6, B12, C – all proven to support energy production. The presence of CoQ10 and creatine can also be useful for pre-workout. Just like the winner and runner-up of this ranking, Bang is also a low-calorie, low-sugar option, making it relatively healthier than most energy drinks.
What could be better
With 300 mg of caffeine, this drink can cause serious side effects. In my view, the caffeine dose is way too high, as anything above 100 mg per serving doesn’t really add much in terms of energy boost perception. I was worried about trying this drink due to the very large amount of caffeine it contains, and I was right to be worried… After drinking it at 8 am, I felt a massive crash during lunchbreak, leaving me pretty much useless early afternoon. I also felt strong jitters, and slept very badly that night, even though I only took one can in the morning. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, you need to be really careful with this one.
Red Bull
4.2/5
What I love:
- Good taste (at least for me)
- Rapid energy boost, relatively long-lasting
- Reasonable caffeine dose (80mg per can)
- Rich in B-Vitamins
What could be better:
- High in sugar or sugar-free version contains aspartame and acesulfame-K
- May cause noticeable energy crashes, jitters, and sleep issues
- Contain additives and colorings that are not recommended by nutritional guideline
Overall Rating
Iconic energy drink with good, distinctive taste. Rapid energy boost achieved with reasonable amount of caffeine. Excessive sugar content and likely to cause unpleasant side effects.
What I love
I’ve always been a fan of Red Bull just for its crisp, fruity taste, striking a delicate balance between sweetness and a carbonated zest. It may not be the most natural energy drink out there, but the taste never fails to please my senses. After drinking Red Bull, I felt a rapid and noticeable energy boost, marked by an improvement in focus and alertness. In my case, I can feel the boost for about 3 to 4 hours, which is not bad, especially given the moderate amount of caffeine contained in Red Bull (80mg). I really like the caffeine dosage in this drink: it’s strong enough to give you a potent kick without reaching the extreme levels of caffeine found in other energy drinks. Red Bull’s formulation also concludes a blend of B-vitamins such as Niacin (B3), Pantothetic Acid (B5) and Cobalamin (B12), which play a key role in energy production and mental performance.
What could be better
What I don’t like that much about the iconic Red Bull is its sugar content. With 27 g of sugar per can, it clearly surpasses the recommended daily intake, which is not only unhealthy but also a possible cause of energy crash. If you go for the sugar-free version, it contains some extremely harmful artificial sweeteners. I definitely felt some energy crash after about 3 hours of consumption, and I feel the same every time I drink Red Bull, so it’s not a one time thing. I did feel some jitters in the afternoon, and my sleep was mildly affected. I’m also not a great fan of the use of artificial sweeteners and colorings in pretty much the whole range of Red Bull drinks.
Zevia Energy
4.0/5
What I love:
- Low-sugar and low-calorie
- Clean ingredients
- Naturally sweetened with stevia extract
- Decently strong energy boost
What could be better:
- I didn’t like the taste that much (overly sweet for me)
- Energy boost could be much stronger and longer
- Mild energy crash
- Transparent juice, lacks the visual appeal of colored drinks
Overall Rating
Good low-calorie, naturally-sweetened energy drink using clean ingredients. Decently strong energy boost with mild side effects.
What I love
Zevia Energy Drink is another option with zero calories and zero sugar. I flavour I tasted was refreshingly natural, naturally sweetened with stevia extract. I like the fact that this drink doesnt use any unhealthy artificial sweetener. It’s a very clean product. With 120 mg of caffeine from green tea, Zevia gave me a pretty strong kick that increased my focus and alertness for the full morning. I felt a mild energy crash after about 4 hours, but the crash was not the worst I’ve experienced. I didn’t feel any jitters, which is definitely a big plus for me.
What could be better
I’m not a great fan of the taste. I find it a bit too herbal and excessively mild. The drink was also too sweet for my taste; I wanted to drink (a lot of) water after taking a can of Zevia… While the energy boost was decent, I’ve seen better. It does lift you up a bit, although it’s not nearly as powerful as the boost I’ve felt with Alpine Bliss or Celsius for instance. I also found myself missing the visual appeal of a colored drink when testing this one, as the juice is completely transparent.
Rockstar
3.9/5
What I love:
- Refreshing and tasty energy drink
- Strong and fast-acting energy boost
- Relies on several energy-boosting ingredients, not just caffeine
- Contains vitamins
What could be better:
- Can cause major energy crashes and jitters
- High amount of sugar (24 g)
- Excessive caffeine amount in my view
- Can cause bloating
Overall Rating
Refreshing energy drink providing a strong, fast-acting energy boost. May cause significant energy crash due to high amounts of caffeine and sugar.
What I love
Tastewise, I find Rockstar pretty good. It’s not the first time I try it so the taste didn’t really surprise me. I like the balanced flavor, not too sweet, acidic enough, and hitting the right amount of carbonation for a refreshing sensation on the tongue. What I like about this drink is that it uses multiple ingredients to boost energy, including caffeine, guarana, ginseng, and a host of B-vitamins. It gave me a strong energy kick for at least 4 hours I would say, and I felt the boost very quickly.
What could be better
With 160 mg of caffeine per 16 fl oz can, Rockstar contains the equivalent of about two cups of coffee, which is above my caffeine tolerance. I felt pretty bad when the stimulating effects of the drink wore off. The energy crash was strong and unpleasant, a potential consequence of the huge amounts of caffeine and sugar packed in the drink (24 g of sugar). The sugar and caffeine combo is known for producing major energy crashes, and I could clearly feel it after trying this one. One thing I didn’t expect: I felt bloated for a few hours right after taking a can in the morning. I don’t know why it’s the case but I would tend to avoid this drink before any workout sessions to prevent this unpleasant effect.
Zoa Zero
3.7/5
What I love:
- Can produce a decent energy boost with limited to no jitters
- Rich in vitamins
- Low calories, low carbs, zero added sugar
- Contains healthy superfoods like camu camu
- Large choice of flavors
What could be better:
- I found the taste too synthetic
- Relatively mild and short-lived energy boost
- Excessive amount of sodium, potentially unhealthy
Overall Rating
Low-calorie, no-sugar energy drink providing moderate energy boost. Excessive amount of sodium.
What I love
Endorsed by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Zoa is a better-for-you energy drink with only 15 calories, 3g of carbs and zero sugar (in the Zoa Zero version). The drink gave me a moderate energy boost for about 2-3 hours, shorter than other drinks I’ve tested in this review who have more caffeine but still decent. This one contains 160mg of caffeine, derived from green tea and green coffee bean. For some reason, I didn’t feel the usual jitterness I feel with other energy drinks with similar caffeine content. The drink includes B vitamins and amino acids, alongside superfood extracts like camu camu. I also really liked the large variety of flavors, including Super Berry, Lemon Lime, and the Original.
What could be better
What I don’t like about this drink is its energy-boosting effect. I found it pretty mild and short lived, which is surprising given the high caffeine content of the drink. I also noticed that it contains 200mg of sodium, an amount that is excessive and potentially unhealthy if consumed every day. Also not a great fan of the taste, which is overly synthetic to me.
Monster
3.4/5
What I love:
- Bold taste
- Strong and quick energy boost
- Available in many flavors
What could be better:
- Huge amount of sugar (54 grams)
- Can cause massive energy crashes due to caffeine + sugar combo
Overall Rating
Bold taste, strong energy boost, but can cause very bad energy crashes due to excessive caffeine and sugar content.
What I love
Monster is very similar to Rockstar in terms of caffeine content and energy boosting effects, so I’m not going to dwell on it too much. The energy kick I felt was comparable to that of Rockstar; strong and fast-acting. What I like about Monster is that they offer a great diversity of flavours, from the original blend to more exotic options like the Ultra and Rehab series. I personally prefer the original flavor, which I find bold and distinctive.
What could be better
The biggest weakness of this drink is its sugar content: 54 grams per can! That’s over 12 teaspoons of sugar in only one serving, significantly above the daily recommended amount. For that reason alone I don’t like to consume Monster that much, because I know it’s bad for my health. The energy crash I felt after drinking Monster is one of the worst I’ve experienced in this review (not surprising if we look at the high caffeine content and absurd amount of sugar).
C4 Energy
3.3/5
What I love:
- Sugar free and calorie free
- Innovative blend of ingredients
- Strong and long-lasting energy boost
What could be better:
- Can cause massive crashes and unpleasant jitters
- Contains acesulfame potassium, an unhealthy artificial sweetener
Overall Rating
Strong and long-lasting energy boost, innovative ingredient formula, potential for massive energy crash due to high caffeine content.
What I love
The drink is completely sugar-free and calorie-free, making it a solid choice for those of you mindful of your sugar intake and calorie consumption. C4 stands out with the inclusion of innovative proprietary ingredients like InnovaTea®, BetaPower®, Cognizin®, and CarnoSyn®, offering benefits ranging from enhanced muscular endurance to improved cognitive function. I felt a very strong energy boost after trying C4, lasting for at least 4-5 hours, longer than most energy drinks I’ve tried in this review.
What could be better
The caffeine content is excessive in my view. While the energy kick I experienced was undeniably strong, it was followed by a huge crash that made me feel weak and depleted for several hours in the afternoon. This was accompanied by some unpleasant jitters in my arms and legs. For that reason alone I wouldn’t drink C4 on a daily basis. Another negative point is the inclusion of acesulfame potassium in the drink – an artificial sweetener with a bad reputation among nutritionists. It has been linked to potential health concerns on the long term.
NOS
3.1/5
What I love:
- Strong and fast-acting energy boost
- Contains lots of vitamins
What could be better:
- I found the taste very chemical and synthetic
- Can cause massive energy crashes
- Excessive sugar content (54 grams per can)
Overall Rating
Strong energy boost, but may cause significant energy crash due to excessive caffeine and sugar content. Synthetic taste.
What I love
I’m not particularly fond of this brand, as I find the taste very chemical and synthetic. That said, I must recognize that the energy boost I felt was very strong. I felt sharper for about 5 hours, which can be explained by the large amount of caffeine (160 mg per can) and vitamins contained in the drink.
What could be better
The biggest red flag to me is the super-high sugar content of NOS, with 54 grams per can. This is the twice the recommended daily intake for both men and women. I felt a very unpleasant energy crash after trying this trying, a typical consequence of the high caffeine + high sugar combo. I also didn’t like the taste, which doesn’t seem natural at all.
Reign
3.0/5
What I love:
- Strong and fast-acting energy boost
- Rich blend of energy-boosting ingredients
- Large choice of flavors
What could be better:
- Can cause massive energy crashes. Caffeine content is way too high and potentially unsafe
- Contains acesulfame potassium, an unhealthy artificial sweetener
Overall Rating
Fast-acting energy boost, can cause very unpleasant side effects due to very high caffeine content, contains unhealthy artificial sweeteners.
What I love
The thing I like the most about Reign is that it contains many different ingredients to boost mental and physical performance, making it a strong pre-workout drink. It’s loaded with caffeine, BCAAs, CoQ10, and a rich blend of B vitamins. The drink gave me a strong boost of energy that acted very quickly (within 15 minutes). I also like the large range of flavors the brand offers.
What could be better
While the boost I felt was strong, this drink is definitely not for me due to its absurdly high, borderline unhealthy caffeine content. Each can contains 300 mg, which is unnecessarily high and potentially dangerous for some individuals. I felt one of the worst energy crashes ever after drinking Reign in the morning. Another big minus: the drink uses acesulfame potassium, an unhealthy artificial sweetener that has been linked with many diseases.
