Axe & Sledge Hydraulic Non-Stimulant Pre-Workout: Improved Formula, New Look, Great Results

Axe & Sledge Hydraulic V3 Supplement Facts Panel

When brands have their finger on the pulse of the sports nutrition space, they are constantly evolving and improving. It is not a set it and forget it mentality. Axe & Sledge has this exact approach when it comes to their line of sports nutrition supplements. Axe & Sledge has reformulated Hydraulic, their non-stimulant pre-workout, for the third time to ensure they are offering the best formula with the best flavors at an optimal price point.

Axe & Sledge Hydraulic V3 is truly a non-stimulant pre-workout. It contains ingredients for performance, pump and cognition. In version 3 it is also Informed Sport Certified. This emails that if you participate in tested organizations, this product has been tested and certified to not include any banned ingredients which is huge for athletes.

This formula can be a 40-serving or a 20-serving formula. We will be discussing the formula based on the 20-serving (24.8g) size.

Citrulline – 8,000mg

Citrulline has become the most popular choice as an ingredient for aiding in improving blood flow. Cirulline works by converting to arginine after consumption. Arginine triggers the nitric oxide pathway to improve nitric oxide and thus increasing the blood flow in the human body. Why brands choose citrulline over arginine is that citrulline has a much better bioavailable rate than arginine.

To achieve benefits from citrulline you need a minimum of 3,000mg. The 10,000mg dosage used in Hydraulic V3 is on the high end of dosing.

Beta-Alanine – 3,200mg

Beta-Alanine is a popular choice for boosting performance as it is a proven ingredient. Beta-alanine’s benefits start at the 3,200mg dosage. We’ve seen it as high as 6,400mg. Beta-alanine buffers lactic acid. This essentially means it aids the muscles in reducing breakdown and fatigue allowing you to perform better. In addition, beta-alanine may aid in reducing post-workout muscle soreness.

HydroPrime Glycerol – 3,000mg

HydroPrime Glycerol is a powdered glycerol. It works by allowing the muscles to capture and retain more fluid during your workout. This aids in proper hydrating the muscles to improve performance. It also aids in the pump by making the muscles look fuller. The 3,000mg dosage is typical for a powder and users may obtain a slight pump improvement and better performance.

Taurine – 2,000mg

Taurine is an ingredient used to help ensure the muscles are properly performing (contraction and reducing cramps) through the regulation of electrolytes. Taurine can be dosed as low as 1,000mg (which is what is available on the smaller serving size) so the 2,000mg dosage is double the standard.

Nitrosigine® – 1,500mg

Nitrosigine® is an effective blood flow enhancing ingredient from Nutrition 21. Nitrosigine® has been shown to perform just as well as 8,000mg citrulline malate. This formula does contain 10,000mg citrulline (pure) so the addition of Nitrosigine® may be a lot for some users, but you could back off the dosage a bit if it does become an issue. 

The use of Nitrosigine has been proven in 30 different studies to be safe and effective at increasing nitric oxide, blood flow, performance, and focus. The 1,500mg dosage is ideal.

Tyrosine – 1,000mg

Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that has been shown to improve cognitive functions like focus, mood and memory. Tyrosine is converted to dopamine which is your body’s feel good hormone. It also converts to norepinephrine which aids in focus, alertness and stress response. Tyrosine also converts to epinephrine aka adrenaline to aid in performance. The 1,000mg dosage is the beginning dosage you should start with.

VitaCholine® Choline Bitartrate – 500mg

VitaCholine® is a branded version of choline bitartrate. When looking at different choline ingredients, users typically look at CDP-choline, alpha-gpc and choline bitartrate. Choline bitartrate is generally considered lower tier (when it is generic) but VitaCholine is a premium, highly bioavailable version of choline bitartrate making it superior to generic choline bitartrate. Choline is converted in the body to acetylcholine. This is a neurotransmitter for memory, focus and muscle contractions. Choline bitartrate will aid in boosting brain performance in the form of improved focus and mood. The 500mg dosage is the recommended dosage from the ingredient manufacture.

CitraPEAK® – 200mg

CitraPEAK® is a pump ingredient that has been growing in popularity over the past few years. It is an antioxidant sourced from citrus fruit extract, and may aid with improving nitric oxide and performance. The active ingredient is known as Hesperidin has been linked to improving nitric oxide and blood circulation thus improving blood flow and performance. The 200mg dosage is the recommended dosage from the ingredient manufacture.

AstraGin – 50mg

AstraGin is added at 50mg to aid in increasing the absorption of the active ingredients in this formula.