The 5 Best Pre-Workout Supplements For Focus In 2023: Our Tested Reviews
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Our product testing team uses the full 30 day serving amount in container before reviewing. Learn more about our review process here.
Out of all the aspects to pre-workouts that we look out for here on FI, focus is one of the most important. Of course, energy and pumps are some very important features to a preworkout… one that can really bring your workouts to the next level is focus. We tell people all the time to work on their “mind-muscle” connection while they workout. Pre-workouts with focus boosting ingredients can really help for this.
There are many ingredients out there that can help with focus, and you find them a lot in pre-workouts. While many of them will have Caffeine in them, which does help with focus, there are ways to make your pre-workout even better. Not only can better mind-muscle connection mame your reps and sets better, it can also keep you focused on what is most important in the gym. Some people tend to let their mind wander as they workout, or constantly check their phone as well. This isn’t beneficial to your overall growth in the gym, so it makes sense to do what you can to keep your attention to your workout.
In this list, we look at some of the best pre-workout supplements for focus on the market that we have tested and reviewed here on FI. To set the standard, these are not simple Nootropic products, these are pre-workout supplements that aid in all aspects, energy, focus, and pump.
The following products on our top pre-workout for focus ranking list were used by the author of this article.
He used each of these pre-workout supplements through the duration of a full container. Sample packs were not used in determining the rankings.
Stop relying on faulty information that is influenced by outside writers and money. This best pre-workout supplements for pump list is the real deal.
Here at Fitness Informant, we don’t steer you wrong. If you're looking for the best pre-workout supplement for focus option that you can trust, look no further than our top 5 picks below.
A Comparison of the Pre-Workout Supplements for Focus
Here's the top 5 picks for the best pre-workout supplements for focus that money can buy:
Product Name | Highlights | Rating |
|---|---|---|
#1 Build Fast Formula FullBlitz Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15% | Best Overall Pre-Workout for Pumps Highlights:
| Our #1 Rated  8.9 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#2 Like A Pro Supplements Pump+Focus | Best for Low-Stim Highlights:
| Our #2 Rated 8.8 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#3 InnovaPharm NovaPump Neuro Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15% | Best for Nootropic/Pump Highlights: | Our #3 Rated 9.2 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#4 Cutler Nutrition Prevail Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15% | Best for Value Highlights: | Our #4 Rated 8.4 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
#5 Apollon Nutrition Bare Knuckle Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15% | Best for Stim-Free Highlights:
| Our #5 Rated 8.9 out of 10 in the Pre-Workout Category |
There are hundreds of different brands and variations of pre-workout supplements out there.
How did these 5 make Fitness Informant's top 5 list? Read on and we'll tell you:
#1 Build Fast Formula FullBlitz
- Rating: 8.9 out of 10
- Servings: 24 Servings
- Best For: Top Overall Product
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15%
Pros
Cons
FullBlitz by Build Fast Formula has taken the industry by storm recently. With VasoBlitz ranked #1 for pump products here on FI, BFF has taken yet ANOTHER #1 ranking with us.
It’s pretty easy to see why we consider FullBlitz is considered the top ranked pre-workout for pumps. FullBlitz is really just VasoBlitz with some added energy and endurance boosters. It’s taking what is already great, and making it better!
To start, it has 6 grams of Citrulline, which is a good dose. Good news is, they don’t just rely on Citrulline like many other companies do. You also get 2 grams of Arginine Nitrate! Nitrates are a surefire way to get powerful and dense pumps.
FullBlitz contains Betaine Anhydrous at 2.5 grams, Beta-Alanine at 3.2 grams, and Calcium Lactate at 2 grams. All help with performance, and all are dosed well. It’s common knowledge at this point that the clinical dose of Beta-alanine is 3.2 grams. Betaine at 2.5 grams is solid as well.
Now come the energy and focus boosters. First we have 335mg of Caffeine Anhydrous. This needs no introduction, as we all know and love the energy boosting effects of caffeine. 335mg is more than enough and it should please everyone, even stim-junkies. After that, we have 800mg of DMAE. This is a nootropic ingredient, and it’s the highest dose of DMAE we have ever tried, and needless to say, we LOVED it. It puts you on a different level of focus, and it should be felt. Lastly, we have Yohimbe Bark Extract at 2.3 grams. It’s a small dose of actual Yohimbine, however don’t let that fool you. You will notice an increase in sweating and perhaps a small jittery feeling.
Who Makes It?
Build Fast Formula is a brand I bet none of you heard of. The creators of this brand are the forces behind one of the greatest pre-workouts in history: The Original Jack3d. If you've ever experienced that pre-workout, you know that they can do some cool stuff with ingredients. They did just that with FullBlitz.
What's in it?
One serving (two scoops) contains:
Vasoblitz+BA Blend
- 6g L-Citrulline - promotes blood flow
- 3.2g Beta-Alanine -buffers lactic acid which may aid in endurance
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - improves strength, power & endurance giving you more time to achieve the pump
- 2g Arginine Nitrate (NO3-T) - this produces Nitric Oxide and larger pumps
- Calcium Lactate - muscle stimulator to assist in contraction
Energy Nootropic Blend
- 800mg DMAE - great for focus
- 335mg Caffeine Anhydrous - good for energy
- 2.3mg Yohimbe Bark Extract - stimulant that aids in fat loss and energy
Bottom Line:
FullBlitz narrowly takes the win here. The profile isn't extensive, however it is dosed well and is elegant in its simplicity (like German cars). The profile is too good to not praise, as there are no gimmicks. Just flat out ingredients that work, with solid dosages.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15%
#2 Like A Pro Supplements Pump+Focus
- Rating: 8.8 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Low-Stim
Pros
Cons
Pump+Focus is a loaded pre-workout that deserves recognition. It is impressive, and like the rest of the brands on this list, does not need 300mg+ of Caffeine. The profile starts off with a clinical dose of Citrulline Malate, which can aid with pumps and performance. This is then followed by GlycerPump. GlycerPump can help with muscular hydration and cell volumization. It is great for pump and you're getting a solid dose in here at 3 grams. Then we have PeakO2, which is an ingredient from Compound Solutions. This is patented blend of mushrooms that can aid with endurance.
Now we come to Tyrosine, which is one of our favorite ingredients. It can aid with focus under stressful situations. At 2 grams it is dosed well. Next up we have Agmatine Sulfate. Agmatine is a metabolite of Arginine, and while it has many benefits, it may aid with pumps and performance. Vaso6 is next, and it is a powerful vasorelaxant. It is clinically dosed in here at 300mg.
Norvaline is something you see as much anymore. It can help with pumps by preventing Arginine from being broken down in the body. Now we come to another nootropic ingredient with Alpha GPC. Alpha GPC is a source of choline that has a high bioavailability. It is usually the first ingredient we recommend for focus, and at 600mg, it is dosed well.
As for stimulants, you get 125mg in here, which is the smallest amount on this guide. This should be enough to get you going, and LAPS has really shown us that you don't need a lot of Caffeine to have great workouts. Finally you have Huperzine A, which prevents choline from being broken down in the brain.
Who Makes It?
Like A Pro Supplements is one of those smaller brands that really focuses on making loaded products. Formulated by a respected IFFB Pro/Coach, the products are usually regarded as some of the best on the market. You will most likely see their products on many of our list for that reason.
What's In It?
One serving (two-scoops) contains:
- 6g L-Citrulline Malate- clinically dosed Citrulline to help move blood into the muscles
- 3g GlycerolPump - helps with cellular hydration and pumps
- 3g Betaine Anhydrous - good for power output
- 2g PeakO2 - helps with endurance
- 2g L-Tyrosine - aids in focus and alertness
- 1.5g Agmatine Sulfate - Helps with pumps and more
- 300mg Vaso6 - helps with pumps
- 250mg Norvaline – prevents arginine from being broken down
- 2g PeakO2 - helps with endurance
- 1g L-Tyrosine - aids in focus and alertness
- 600mg Alpha-GPC – nootropic that improves focus
- 125mg Caffeine Anhydrous - Good for energy
- 200mcg Huperzine A (1%) - May help with focus
Bottom Line:
Pump+Focus is certainly deserving of a spot here on this list. It contains great dosages of many ingredients, and it really delivers without the need of 300mg+ of Caffeine. Even with the amount of Caffeine, it delivers an experience, and this could seriously become your go-to
#3 InnovaPharm NovaPump Neuro
- Rating: 9.2 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Nootropic/Pump Blend
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15%
Pros
Cons
NovaPump Neuro is a pump product that really caught us by surprise. While looking at the profile, we realized that we shouldn't have been.
NovaPump Neuro is a stim-free pre-workout that really has more in mind than just a pump. It's essentially a very powerful pump product with an excellent Nootropic blend. NovaPump Neuro starts us off with 2 familiar ingredients that you expect in most pre-workout/pump products. Citrulline Malate at 8g, and 4g of GlycerSize®. These are both common pump ingredients, and nice to see in here. Not only do we have some basics, we also have some new trademarked ingredients that aren't as popular. Super Spinach™ is red spinach, and it is touted to have 4x the amount of nitrates when compared to beets. Following this we have PegaPump™, which is a vasorelaxant. Overall, this is a solid, and certainly interesting formula.
Of course, any product with "Neuro" in its name has to deliver some sort of focus benefits right? Well, NovaPump Neuro has a solid Nootropic blend, which really helped solidify its spot on our list. This starts us off with 1g of ALCAR, and 1g of Tyrosine. We love Tyrosine here on FI and it is great for focus, while ALCAR is our favorite form of Carnitine, as it is also good for focus. Both are dosed well and great to see in here. Also, we have Alpha GPC at 600mg, and Huperzine A at 300mcg. Alpha GPC is form of choline with a high bioavailability, while Huperzine A prevents Choline from being broken down in the brain. Both are dosed well in here, and we have no complaints.
Overall, the profile is solid and the taste is good as well. It's a great add-on and has us excited with what InnovaPharm has planned for us in the future.
Who Makes It?
InnovaPharm is a brand that has been under the radar for quite some time, yet one look at the profiles will make you think otherwise. They aren't doing any crazy or outrageous marketing, just letting their products speak for themselves. They have a strong focus on formulas, while not losing that "cool" factor about them.
If you haven't taken a look at them yet, we urge you to. The formulas are impressive, they aren't afraid to use new and innovative formulas, and we expect more from them in the near future.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 8g Citrulline Malate (2:1) – promotes blood flow and pumps
- 4g GlycerSize® – more stable form of Glycerol that holds blood and water within the muscle
- 1g Super Spinach™ – source of Nitrates
- 1g Agmatine – this produces Nitric Oxide and larger pumps
- PegaPump™ – vasorelaxant which aids in pumps
- 1g ALCAR - form of Carnitine which that aids in focus
- 1g Tyrosine - amino acid that aids in focus
- 600mg Alpha GPC - nootropic that improves focus
- 300mcg Huperzine A - prevents Choline from being broken down in the brain
Bottom Line:
NovaPump Neuro is one of our favorite stim-free pre-workouts, and we highly suggest you go ahead and try it. If you're looking to stay away from stimulants, yet still want focus in the gym along with powerful pumps, InnovaPharm is certainly a brand to look at.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15%
#4 Cutler Nutrition Prevail
- Rating: 8.4 out of 10
- Servings: 40/20 servings
- Best For: Value
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 11%
Pros
Cons
Prevail from Cutler Nutrition is a pre-workout that surprised us in a good way. Jay Cutler, 4x Mr. Olympia champion did not have to give us a good formula, but he did. Prevail is the best inexpensive pre-workout supplement for focus.
Prevail uses some of the most proven ingredients for the best focus. You get 750mg Alpha-GPC, one of the most effective nootropics on the market today. Cutler combined that with 100mg Neurofactor, a unique ingredient that can improve memory, and 500mcg Huperzine A, a massive dosage of a fan favorite ingredient for improved cognitive function. Let's not forget about 750mg N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine. They even added 50mg of Theanine for anti-stress. This is 5 total ingredinets for focus enhancement.
Yes, we get energy too. Two forms of caffeine are used, Caffeine Anhydrous at 250mg and Di-Caffeine Malate at 150mg. This gives us about 362.5mg total caffeine for a sustained energy. The use of Di-Caffeine Malate ensures that you don't hit a wall and crash, but have a two-stage caffeine process. Cocoa Seed Extract at 20mg also aids in energy.
Lastly, for pumps you get 4g Citrulline and 2g Taurine. Citrulline aids in moving blood into the muscles. Taurine regulates electrolytes which may lead to fuller pumps and endurance.
So overall, CelluVol is loaded with high doses, and you’d probably get great pumps and performance/focus at a half-dose. This is a great option for those who want an actual pre-workout, that is more than just a pump product, that will still give you a powerful pump.
Who Makes It?
Cutler Nutrition, owned by Jay Cutler, is a brand that re-launched in 2019 with solid products. As mentioned earlier, Cutler did not have to give consumers full dosages and a fully transparent label, but he did because it was the right thing to do. Not all big name athletes take advantage of the consumer, Jay Cutler is living proof of that.
What's In It?
One serving (2 scoops) contains:
- 4g L-Citrulline – improves blood flow for pumps
- 2g Taurine – helps regulate your body's electrolytes providing longer-lasting workouts (endurance)
- 750mg N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine - version of Tyrosine that may improve focus
- 250mg Caffeine Anhydrous – increased energy
- 150mg Di-Caffeine Malate - prolonged energy and crash prevention
- 100mg Neurofactor - may improve memory and learning
- 60mg Theobromine - similar to caffeine, can aid in energy production, may smooth blood vessels for more blood flow
- 50mg L-Theanine - reduces stress and anxiety
- 20mg Cocoa Seed Extract - may increase energy
- 500mcg Huperzine A - improves focus
Bottom Line:
You won't find a better value on a pre-workout supplement that will provide focus on Prevail. Prevail retails for under $40 for 20-servings. On paper this is $2 per serving. However, with our code you will save 11% bringing this down to $1.56 per serving, a helluva value for the kind of focus enhancement you are going to get with this inexpensive pre-workout supplement.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 11%
#5 Apollon Nutrition Bare Knuckle
- Rating: 8.9 out of 10
- Servings: 20
- Best For: Stim-Free
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15%
Pros
Cons
Hooligan Bare Knuckle is a top tier pre-workout from Apollon Nutrition, and some how Apollon is one of the few brands to be able to make a stim-free pre-workout seem hardcore.
The profile starts off with 8 grams of Citrulline, which is a powerful dose. This is then following by a 2.5g dosage of Betaine Anhydrous, which can help with power output. To add to pumps and performance, you get 600mg of Vaso6, and 1.5g of Agmatine Sulfate.
Now since this is a ranking guide for focus, we have to get the nootropic ingredients out of the way. The most popular focus ingredients in here are all at great dosages. You get 2 grams of Tyrosine, 600mg of Alpha GPC, and 1g of Lion's Mane Extract. These are all popular and proven ingredients that are surely going to help with focus.
To add to the fun, you get 250mg of Pink Himalayan Salt and 50mg of AstraGin. Pink Salt can help with hydration and muscle contractions, while AstraGin may help with absorption. Overall, this is a powerful stim-free pre-workout that really impresses, and that's why it is on this list.
Who Makes It?
Apollon Nutrition is a hardcore supplement line that isn't afraid to go places other brands haven't. Not only are they hardcore, they know how to make great products and care about providing clinical doses of ingredients. Certainly not a brand for beginners, however seasoned veterans and supplement nerds will certainly be impressed with what they do.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 8g L-Citrulline - Converts to arginine to aid in nitric oxide production
- 2.5g Betaine Anhydrous - May increase power output
- 2,000mg L-Tyrosine - a well-researched amino acid with many benefits. May be good for fat loss, focus, and stress
- 1.5g Agmatine Sulfate - Metabolite of Arginine which may aid in pumps
- 1000mg Lion's Mane - Mushroom that helps with brain function and health
- 600mg Vaso6 - helps with pumps
- 600mg Alpha GPC - Source of Choline that helps with focus and has a high bioavailability
- 250mg Pink Himalayan Sea Salt - Source of trace minerals and helps with hydration
- 50mg AstraGin® - Helps with absorption
Bottom Line:
Apollon is taking over our ranking guides! Hooligan Bare Knuckle is a powerful stim-free pre-workout that you could easily add a Caffeine pill to and still have one of the most impressive pre-workouts on the market. You'll get powerful pumps, great focus, and increased performance with Bare Knuckle, which is why it is on this list.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 15%
When Should I Use A Pre-Workout Supplement for Focus
So many people focus on the hard-hitting, energy component of the pre-workout supplement. That is important, yes. We cover that here at FI. One of the most important parts of any workout is the focus. The focus is so much more than just feeling like you took Adderall. Focus can lead to gains.
Focus helps you with making sure your reps and sets count. If you simply load up on stimulants and have a "REPS FOR JESUS" workout, you may feel great, but are you actually just moving the weight and neglecting getting the most out of each rep?
The next time you're looking for a pre-workout powder, remember the importance of focus. If you don't buy one of our top rated pre-workout supplements for focus, then understand what the focus ingredients and look for those the next time you go shopping.
Remember, focus can really help you stay focused on your workout, as well as help you maintain mind-muscle connection. These top 5 rated pre-workout supplements for focus can really help you get the most out of your workouts.
What To Look For In A Focus First Pre-Workout
Being a pre-workout supplement it should also provide other aspects other than just focus. We love to see hefty dosages of Choline, but it is still very important to get ingredients that contribute to energy, pumps, strength, power, and endurance.
For the specific focus aspect of the pre-workout, we want to look for ingredients that will improve mental clarity through various methods. This can occur by increasing acetylcholine in the brain, or increasing dopamine in the brain by using exogenous ingredients like Alpha GPC to increase Acetylcholine levels, or Tyrosine to increase Dopamine levels. Some of these ingredients include Alpha GPC, Huperzine A, NooLVL, L-Tyrosine, DMAE and more.
Stimulants can also aid in focus. Caffeine may be the most popular focus ingredient on the market. With that said, we will not be including products that contain gray market area stimulants such as DMHA, and there will certainly be no products with DMAA in them on our list.
Many pre-workout supplements today will forgo a focus complex in their formula, and simply rely on Caffeine for this. This is fine if the brand is giving you optimal dosages of other key ingredients. However, we do enjoy when companies make a pre-workout with the focus in mind.
Our Pre-Workout Supplement Testing Process
We examined five different areas of each pre-workout supplement when we compiled our rankings:
- Ingredients Profile
- Effectiveness
- Taste
- Mixability
- Value
Ingredients Profile
When we review each pump activating supplement on their ingredient profile, we look at the active ingredients being used and their dosages.
Many pre-workout supplements include a variety of beneficial ingredients, but under dose them proving to be non-effective.
Effectiveness
Effectiveness is an extension of ingredient profile. If the product uses proven ingredients at clinically suggested dosages, the product should be effective.
Everyone is different. Everyone takes to different ingredients differently at varying dosages. We have tried and tested each of these products throughout the full duration of their container to ensure these products are effective over their life.
Taste
We review taste on two different components. First, how close does the muscle pump supplement taste to the actual name printed on the label. For example, does Blue Raz actually taste like blue raspberry. Second, we review it on overall taste (in our opinion) versus others in the same flavor category.
Mixability
Mixability refers to how well does the product mix in 8-12oz of water. The testing process for a pump activating drink we use here is a generic Blender Bottle with the chrome spiral ball. We use regular tap water with no ice.
Value
Value is a combination of ingredient profile, effectiveness, taste, mixability and cost. We do not just look at the price tag like a lot of others do. If a product is priced at a premium, we inform you if it is worth the premium price or not based on all the categories. We look at the overall picture of the pre-workout supplement, and how it compares to other pre-workout supplements on the market.
Please Note: Many of the “top 10” lists you find online are written by content writers with no in-gym or supplement experience who are paid by the word count to write an article for a website trying to generate money.
These lists are influenced by brands who pay for placement. These lists contain pump activating supplements that are, for the lack of a better word, garbage.
The following products on our best of list were used by the author of this article. He used the pump activating supplements through the duration of a full container. Sample packs were not used in determining the rankings of the best pump producing supplements.
Stop relying on faulty information that is influenced by outside writers and money. This list is the real deal. Here at Fitness Informant, we don’t steer you wrong. Be Informed. Live Fit.
