MuscleTech Vapor One Review: Best Pre-Workout from MuscleTech

Ingredients Profile

Right off the bat, props must be given for the lack of a proprietary blend. In this day and age, there is little to no excuse for having a proprietary blend. Vapor One’s ingredient profile is broken into buzzwords, the ones used here are “Matrix, Complex, and Blend”

To start we have the “Cell Volumization and Performance Complex”.

First, we have beta-alanine at 3.2 grams. This is the clinical dose of beta-alanine, so no issues here. Beta-alanine buffers lactic acid, which in turn can increase endurance. Second, we have creatine monohydrate at 3 grams. 3 grams is enough to creatine saturation, so MT did good here. Next we have betaine anhydrous at 2.5 grams. While betaine isn’t as proven as creatine or beta-alanine for performance, it still has some potential power output benefits. A good dose of betaine for performance purposes is 2.5 grams a day, so nothing wrong here. Finally we have taurine at 1 gram. Taurine has plenty of benefits, too many to list here. Some of those benefits include increased blood flow and increased endurance. 500mg-2000mg is what is usually recommended, so we have another well-dosed ingredient here.

Next up we have the “VasoPrime Pump Matrix”. While it sounds gimmicky, the profile is solid. To start we have l-citrulline at 4 grams. The clinical dose of l-citrulline is 3g-5g, so this is dosed perfectly. L-Citrulline is a very common ingredient these days, and for good reason. In short, l-citrulline converts to l-arginine which results in bigger and better pumps.

After l-citrulline, we have another popular pump ingredient. Nitrosigine is an ingredient from Nutrition21, and it has good research proving its effectiveness. Vapor One has Nitrosigine at 1.5 grams, which is the clinical dose. This and l-citrulline would be enough to keep me happy, however Muscletech has a bit more to add here. Hawthorn extract is the next ingredient on here. Hawthorn is beneficial for overall heart health, with blood pressure being one of the main benefits. Doses can range from 180 mg to upwards of 1.5 grams. Here we have 200 mg of the extract, so while on the lower end, it may be enough to be beneficial.

Lastly we have VasoDrive-AP, which is a patented ingredient derived from casein. In short, it prevents an enzyme called “Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme” which causes vasoconstriction. Here we have 150mg of it, which is a fair dose, although there is at least one other product which contains more.

With all of the pump ingredients out of the way, we now come to the “NeuroAmp Sensory and Focus Blend”. For most, this may be the most noticeable aspect of this pre-workout. Let’s start of with the most proven, and well known ingredient for just about any pre-workout… caffeine. Vapor One provides us with 350mg of caffeine anhydrous. Caffeine is a very personal ingredient. Some would do fine with 100mg, while others seem to need 400mg to even get them going, So ultimately, how well this ingredient will perform will depend entirely on your tolerance to it. 350mg is on the higher end for sure, and is equal to about 3.5 cups of coffee. It should give you a nice energy boost, and if it doesn’t, you should probably take a break from caffeine.

Next up we have 2 forms of choline. First one of choline bitartrate, which is on the cheaper side as far as choline goes. However, it is still effective. After that, we have alpha-glyceryl phosphoryl choline, which is a better and more expensive form. The big issue here, is they are both in a blend, so you have no idea how much of each choline you are getting. Altogether, you are getting 200mg of each, which is actually on the lower side, Even just looking at choline bitartrate, you want at least 600mg a day.

L-Theanine is the next ingredient. L-Theanine is added to pre-workouts to prevents jitters in pre-workouts. Depending on who you are, if you like feeling jittery and potentially anxious during your workouts, this may not be something you want to see. However, if you don’t like feeling too stimmed out, this may be a good addition.

So now we have an ingredient that is a bit different. The only benefits you’ll find anywhere are for reducing hangovers. With that said, there is little else you’ll find on this. You probably won’t see this in future pre-workouts, and unless more information comes out I can’t say I see the point to having this in a pre-workout. Sometimes “Ancient Chinese Medicine” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Lastly, we have one of the most loved and hated ingredients out there, yohimbe. Yohimbe is not new to most of us who have experience with supplements. The yohimbe in Vapor One is standardized for 6% yohimbine (the active ingredient). There are so many things yohimbine does, which range from fat loss to erectile dysfunction. The main reasons you see it in pre-workouts is for the increased blood flow, increased energy, and potential fat loss. Dose is usually dependant on weight and tolerance. Here we have 1.8mg of yohimbine, which is enough for beginners to get their feet wet. I have to mention that yohimbine can be very intense for new users, and some people may hate the side effects that come with it. If you’re prone to it, be prepared for anxiety and increased heart rate.

Effectiveness

Now for the most important part of any review, does it work? Well, even with some ingredients that are unnecessary, this is a very solid pre-workout. With 350mg of caffeine, which may be a lot for some, there is no reason you shouldn’t get energy from this. The first time I took Vapor One, the energy was there and my workout was going great. Then as expected, the yohimbine started to kick in. Since I hadn’t taken any yohimbine in months, I was expecting it. After continued use, the jitters and anxiety from that went down, and Vapor One became more consistent.

The energy is pretty hard hitting, and while not as strong as a pre-workout with DMHA, it gives a great boost about 30-45 minutes after ingesting. There isn’t much in terms of focus, probably due to the choline being so low, but the energy itself is long lasting and enjoyable. Once I had grown accustomed to the yohimbine, I noticed the theanine preventing me from feeling to stimmed out while putting me in a good mood throughout the day.

As far as overall performance, I noticed an increased pump with the l-citrulline and Nitrosigine, nothing crazy like adding arginine nitrate, but noticeable and fun either way. Can’t really comment on the creatine or beta-alanine. I take both of those ingredients year round so all Vapor One did was get those ingredients in without having to take the raw ingredients. It’s a nice performance blend that may make your creatine and beta-alanine last longer if you take those already (you should).

Taste

Jujube Gummy: (7/10)

I was able to try the Jujube Gummy flavor, and I wasn’t a huge fan of it. While it wasn’t horrible, it is very strong and on a different level of sweetness. I wouldn’t call it overly sweet, but I’d say it’s only enjoyable once before you get sick of it. I could see some other people enjoying this, it was simply too strong of a flavor for me.

I do like how Muscletech decided to go with something different instead of going with the basic/overdone flavors like fruit punch, blue stuff, or watermelon. The other flavor is Rainbow Candy which sounds more enjoyable than the Jujube Gummy, and from what I’ve read is a lighter on the flavor. Still, it’s a nice attempt at something different and some may enjoy it.

Mixability

Vapor One mixes fairly well. You’ll get some residue stuck to the sides of your shaker cup. Swishing around the water in your shaker cup should help with it, but we’re still going to have to knock off some points for that. (watch the youtube video and you’ll see)

You won’t get clumping which is nice, however we do need to note that some people have mentioned a chalky texture. I found it to be barely noticeable.

Value

You can find Vapor One for around $30 for 20 servings. This is a fair price for an all around pre-workout. This isn’t a simple stim-bomb with an underdosed proprietary blend of creatine and beta-alanine, this is a well-dosed pre-workout with both energy and performance in mind. Vapor One covers all of your bases, which makes the $1.50 per serving well worth the money.