The most experienced pre-workout users know that sometimes, even with the best pre-workout supplements, the tough part isn’t the jitters or the tingles — it’s the crash. Enter Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout. This formula tries to avoid that trap by slowly releasing some of the caffeine while also including L-theanine to ease the jitters.
As a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, I’ll walk you through the details of this supp’s formulation and the ins and outs of how it works. This Ryse Pre-Workout review will also lay out the experiences of our expert tester, who tried out this pre-workout with some intense training sessions. At BarBend, our expert testers have put over 100 different pre-workouts to the test using our supplement testing methodology. We think Ryse Pre-Workout is an energetic choice for experienced users who want to avoid a crash — but might not be the best bet for pre-workout newbies. Read on for the details.
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
This pre-workout pairs caffeine, nootropics, nitrates, and common pre-workout ingredients like beta-alanine to help provide energy and pump on days when you can use a boost. It also comes in playful flavors — Blue Raspberry Ring Pop and Sunny D Orange Strawberry — that evoke '90s nostalgia.
Main Takeaways
- Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout is a high-stim pre-workout with a bonus: some of it is delayed-release caffeine and contains L-theanine to reduce jitters and prevent a crash. It’s probably best for more experienced pre-workout users.
- Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout also contains clinically dosed and labeled pre-workout ingredients to take your exercise performance to the next level.
- This pre-workout comes in five flavors, contains artificial sweeteners, and is not third-party tested.
Ryse Pre-Workout Specs
| Caffeine Per Serving | 350mg (250mg caffeine anhydrous and 100mg ZumXR™ extended-release caffeine) |
| Other Notable Ingredients | L-citrulline, beta-alanine, caffeine anhydrous, Zumxr™ delayed release caffeine, theobromine, L-theanine, malic acid, citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, natural and artificial flavors, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, colors from beetroot or spirulina powder, fruit and vegetable juice; edible glitter from gum arabic (8 flavors) |
| Calories Per Serving | 5 |
| Price Per Serving | $1.33 |
| Flavors | Kool-Aid Grape, Kool-Aid Tropical Punch, Sour Punch Sour Green Apple, Sour Punch Sour Blue Raz, Country Time Lemonade, Ring Pop Cherry, Bazooka Classic Grape, Smarties Original, Strawberry Squeeze, Pink Splash, Freedom Rocks, Tiger’s Blood (12) |
| Sweeteners Used | Sucralose and acesulfame potassium |
| Third-Party Tested? | Tested, not third-party |
Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout is a high-stim pre-workout with 250 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous and 100 milligrams of extended-release caffeine. The idea is that it lasts longer and may not let you crash as hard. Ryse also makes an even more potent pre-workout called Project Blackout, which has 400 milligrams of caffeine.
Aside from the stimulants, Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout contains some solid pre-workout ingredients designed to boost exercise performance. It has the amino acids L-citrulline (precursor to arginine and nitric oxide for blood flow and pumps), beta-alanine (precursor to carnosine, which slows down lactic acid buildup to delay fatigue), and L-theanine (to boost focus while easing caffeine-induced anxiety and jitters). (1)(2)(3)
Project Blackout and another of Ryse’s pre-workouts, Gorilla Mode, contain betaine anhydrous (for increasing power output) while Loaded Pre-Workout does not. You should still get some good energy and decent pumps from it. It also contains Cognizin from citicoline (a nootropic) and theobromine, which may work together with caffeine to increase focus. Ryse calls the combined nootropics a patented ingredient called Thinkamine. (4)(5)
Our expert tester, Ben Emminger, an experienced athlete and fitness writer, states, “I don’t necessarily like this Ryse pre-workout more than other go-to’s in my rotation, but I don’t want to say it’s bad. It’s a good product, and I feel it could fill a spot in plenty of athletes’ rotations.”
Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout comes in 8 flavors, uses artificial sweeteners, and is in the lower price range at $1.33 per serving. Each serving contains 5 calories and 1 gram of carbohydrates — it’s keto-friendly and serves well as one of the best pre-workouts for weight loss. While Ryse does in-house testing on their products, there is no information on third-party testing.
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use Ryse Pre-Workout
Ryse Pre-Workout is a high-stim pre-workout with extra ingredients that may ease the crash. Still, anyone sensitive to high caffeine content may want to look into the best non-stim pre-workouts instead. Here’s who else may or may not want to try this one.
Recommended for:
- People who have a high caffeine tolerance
- Those who want the stims without the crash
- People interested in nootropics for focus
Not Recommended for:
- Anyone avoiding stimulants
- Pre-workout newbies, the side effects will be strong
- Bodybuilders who want ingredients for muscle growth
Our Experience Using Ryse Pre-Workout
When you can’t make it to the gym until later in your day, sometimes you need a massive energy and focus boost. That’s where something like Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout comes in. It promises to contain the correct dosages of pre-workout ingredients to help you perform your best and prevent a crash. But does it measure up?
We have our expert tester, Ben Emminger, an experienced athlete and fitness writer, to weigh in with their ratings on its taste, solubility, and effects. Emminger has used this pre-workout three or four times in the Sour Punch Green Apple flavor, “primarily for strength training sessions and athletic events such as slowpitch softball games.” Plus, I’ll throw my two cents in on its ingredients and formulation, price, and safety.
Ingredients and Formulation
Let’s start at the top: stimulants. You get 350 milligrams of caffeine, which is more than enough (maybe even too much for some folks) to be effective. Plus, 100 of the milligrams come from ZumXR™, which is said to release slowly. L-theanine works together with caffeine to boost focus and reduce anxiety, and you get 50 milligrams of it. The recommended range is 200 to 400 milligrams, so it’s a little low, but you’re also getting the caffeine. (6)
The dosages of the other primary ingredients are labeled clearly and in decent ranges. You get 4.5 grams of l-citrulline and 3.5 grams of beta-alanine. L-citrulline is well within the recommended dosage range (3 to 10 grams), although beta-alanine is slightly below (4 to 6 grams). (7)(8)
The numbers look good, and the bonus L-theanine is nice. Although it may all be a bit much for some, everything is clearly labeled, so you generally know what you’re getting into. I’m going with a 3.75 out of 5 for formulation, knocking some off for lack of third-party testing and the fact that the dose of caffeine may be too intense for a lot of users.
Effects
We know that Ryse Pre-Workout boasts science-backed dosages of ingredients and no extra stimulants — how does that translate into your workout? Here’s what Emminger reports: “I tried the ‘Loaded’ variety of this pre-workout, which I believe equates to research-backed dosages rather than, say, a spike in stimulation. You definitely get an energy boost with this formulation and I felt more locked into my training. Focus was improved, and I could re-center easily during workouts without getting distracted by conversations or other nuances in the gym.”
Energy and focus — we love it. Wondering how the pump formula holds up? Emminger states, “The pump was present, although I feel there are better formulations out there for this aesthetic.” So, it’s a bit underwhelming in the pump department.
Ryse promises that its pre-workout ingredients are designed to prevent that crash. Emminger says, “I didn’t have a crash post-workout, which was a definite plus for evening-based training sessions. Typically, I try to steer clear of pre-workouts for evening workouts, but this one allowed me to easily come down and get some rest post-training without any tossing or turning.”
He rates the effects and the pre-workout as a whole a 4 out of 5.
Taste
With creative flavor titles and artificial sweeteners, how do they actually taste? Emminger rates the taste a 4 out of 5. He explains: “I really enjoyed the ‘Green Apple’ portion of this taste, although I feel the ‘Sour Punch’ didn’t come through as much. I’d equate this more to a Green Apple Jolly Rancher than a Sour Punch. The taste is sweet, but not tooth-rotting. Overall, I enjoyed the taste, but wish there was a little more sourness to the profile.”
Solubility
No one likes a gritty or clumpy pre-workout drink. Here is Emminger’s experience: “I had no issues with solubility. The powder mixed easily in my shaker cup and there was minimal residue that required an extra wash-out.”
He adds, “I would be confident in having this pre-workout with any shaker cup. In my trials, there weren’t any unwanted clumps or residue, and the consistency was true to other pre-workouts I’ve had in the past.”
Emminger rates it a 5 out of 5 for solubility.
Price Per Serving
One tub of Ryse Pre-Workout costs $39.99 for 30 servings, so it is $1.33 per serving, which is a pretty good price and lower than many competitors. It’s about the same price on Amazon, with no subscription option. I’m rating the price a 4 out of 5.
Third-Party Testing
Since the FDA does not regulate dietary supplements, we like products that do third-party testing. Pre-workout supplements, in particular, could contain banned substances that competitive athletes won’t want in their systems. Lack of third-party testing also means what you see on the label may not be all you get.
Ryse has no information about third-party testing, though they state that they manufacture their products in a high-quality “level 3 FDA-approved and regulated facility.” They also say that their facilities are “banned-substance-free.” Still, having a third party affirm this information would be preferable. I rate it a 2.5 out of 5.
What to Consider Before Buying Ryse Pre-Workout
Before jumping into Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout, consider the high-level specs. Are you looking for the strongest pre-workouts out there? This pre-workout could be a contender, but others may have more caffeine (like Ryse’s other product, Project Blackout Pre-Workout) or other stimulants.
Remember to look out for pre-workout side effects if you’re sensitive to caffeine or beta-alanine (jitters or tingles). Our expert tester, Ben Emminger, an experienced athlete and fitness writer, says there were “no adverse side effects to report.”
Tingles, however? Yes. Emminger adds: “The tingles were present with this pre-workout. While subtle and not overly annoying, I did feel as if the sensations lingered for longer periods. I felt that all-too-common tingling in my lips for the entire duration of my workouts, which typically clock in at 1-1.5 hours.”
Next, if you’re into bodybuilding, you may prefer the best pre-workout with creatine. Also, consider additional sweeteners, price, and third-party testing for safety. We tested over 100 pre-workouts, including Ryse supplements; here’s what to know about Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout.
- Stimulants: Ryse Pre-Workout contains 350 milligrams of caffeine: 250 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous and 100 milligrams of ZumXR™, a delayed-release caffeine.
- Creatine: Ryse Pre-workout does not contain creatine.
- Price: One tub of Ryse Pre-Workout costs $39.99 for 30 servings, it is $1.33 per serving.
- Sweeteners: Ryse Pre-Workout contains the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
- Third-party testing: Ryse does in-house testing, but there is no information on third-party testing.
Ryse Pre-Workout Vs. Competitors
Taking in this information about Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout is great, but we like to place it directly next to some of its top competitors so you can compare the high-level facts. We chose Transparent Labs BULK because it’s an excellent brand with — true to form — pretty transparent labeling. We also picked Nutricost Pre-X because it has comparable ingredients, is a reputable brand, and comes at a lower cost. Nutricost Pre-X is also on our list of the best pre-workouts for women.
Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout has the highest caffeine content (350 milligrams), followed by Nutricost, then Transparent Labs. Ryse and Nutricost use an artificial sweetener (sucralose) while Transparent Labs uses the natural sweetener Stevia and no other additives. One of the most significant differences is that Ryse is not third-party tested, and the other two are.
Our expert tester, Ben Emminger, an experienced athlete and fitness writer, also has a note on other brands. Emminger says, “This Ryse pre-workout reminded me of ‘Fury’ from Animal, even down to the ‘Green Apple’ flavor. As stated before, this is more Green Apple than sour, which I’m okay with. Plus, both of these mentioned pre-workouts gave me a good sense of endurance for training with an added zest of focus.”
| Ryse Pre-Workout | Transparent Labs BULK | Nutricost Pre-X | |
| Price Per Serving | $1.33 | $1.66 | $0.93 |
| Protein Per Serving | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Calories Per Serving | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Flavors | 12 | 9 | 5 |
| Third-Party Tested? | No | Yes | Yes |
Read our full Transparent Labs BULK Pre-Workout Review.
Places to Buy Ryse Pre-Workout
- Rysesupps.com
- Amazon
- The Vitamin Shoppe
- Walmart
Customer Experience and Brand Reputation
Plenty of customers have tried Ryse Pre-Workout — here’s a bit about their experience so you know what to expect.
- Shipping and Delivery:
- Time: After placing your order, processing and shipping should occur within one to three days. Ryse ships orders Monday through Friday. If you choose USPS priority mail, shipping takes three to five days. UPS ground takes three to seven days.
- Price: Shipping is free for domestic orders over $150. For orders under $150, shipping is calculated at checkout based on your address.
- Trial Period: Ryse accepts returns within 30 days of purchase, but you must return your product unopened and unused. There is no trial period once you open and test the product.
- Customer Reviews:
- Ryse Site: The Ryse website has 1,472 reviews and an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
- Amazon: There are 4,854 reviews on Amazon and an average of 4.2 out of 5-star rating.
- Customer Thoughts: Customers generally enjoy the product and feel an energy boost and a great pump. They say they experience better performance in their workouts. Some say they experience stomach discomfort and nausea. People are split on the taste and whether it’s worth the price.
[Related: Pre-Workout Side Effects]
Our Final Verdict on Ryse Pre-Workout
Ryse Loaded Pre-Workout seems like a good choice for people who like high stimulant doses from caffeine only, but bear in mind that it is not third-party tested — an extra important factor for athletes who compete. With the L-theanine bonus, you may skip some of the lasting pre-workout effects that can keep you buzzing and crashing long after you leave the gym. Unfortunately, there is no trial period, so if you want to give it a chance, you have to commit to keeping it.
Our expert tester, Ben Emminger, an experienced athlete and fitness writer, leaves us with these comments: “I could see myself using this pre-workout in the future. I really enjoyed the mental clarity and felt that the energy boost was sufficient for my needs. Other pre-workouts I’ve trialed have been hit or miss, especially when it comes to sustained energy. This formulation kept me focused, sharp, and energetic enough for plenty of training — all without a heavy crash once I returned home.”
Ryse Pre-Workout FAQs
Is Ryse a good pre-workout?
In our experience, Ryse is a good pre-workout that can offer a great energy boost without a crash — but be wary of its high caffeine content. Even with the high caffeine, this supp includes L-theanine to help mitigate some of the potential side effects and crashes. While their products are manufactured in an FDA-approved facility, and they state that they test their products, they do not have information on any third-party testing.
Our expert tester, Ben Emminger, an experienced athlete and fitness writer, also gives a summary on whether or not it’s a good pre-workout, “The solubility is nice, and I appreciated the flavor and boosted focus/energy. Plus, be prepared for a sweeter profile than expected — I wouldn’t say this lives up to the ‘Sour Punch’ branding as efficiently as other ‘Sour’ pre-workouts I’ve tested.”
How much caffeine is in Ryse?
Ryse Pre-Workout contains 350 milligrams of caffeine (250 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous and 100 milligrams of ZumXR™, an extended-release form).
Does Ryse pre-workout give you a pump?
Ryse Pre-Workout contains 4.5 grams of l-citrulline, a nitric oxide booster that boosts blood flow and may give you a pump. However, Emminger says, “For those wanting skin-ripping pumps, I feel you can find a better formulation.”
References
- Gonzalez, Adam M.1; Trexler, Eric T.2. Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 34(5):p 1480-1495, May 2020. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003426
- Hoffman JR, Emerson NS, Stout JR. β-Alanine supplementation. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2012 Jul-Aug;11(4):189-95. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182604983. PMID: 22777329.
- Dassanayake TL, Kahathuduwa CN, Weerasinghe VS. L-theanine improves neurophysiological measures of attention in a dose-dependent manner: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Nutr Neurosci. 2022 Apr;25(4):698-708. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2020.1804098. Epub 2020 Aug 11. PMID: 32777998.
- Ismaeel A. Effects of Betaine Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Power: A Systematic Review. J Strength Cond Res. 2017 Aug;31(8):2338-2346. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001959. PMID: 28426517.
- Mitchell ES, Slettenaar M, vd Meer N, Transler C, Jans L, Quadt F, Berry M. Differential contributions of theobromine and caffeine on mood, psychomotor performance and blood pressure. Physiol Behav. 2011 Oct 24;104(5):816-22. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.07.027. Epub 2011 Aug 4. PMID: 21839757.
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/l-theanine
- Gonzalez AM, Yang Y, Mangine GT, Pinzone AG, Ghigiarelli JJ, Sell KM. Acute Effect of L-Citrulline Supplementation on Resistance Exercise Performance and Muscle Oxygenation in Recreationally Resistance Trained Men and Women. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2023 Jun 22;8(3):88. doi: 10.3390/jfmk8030088. PMID: 37489301; PMCID: PMC10366749.
- Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, Hoffman JR, Wilborn CD, Sale C, Kreider RB, Jäger R, Earnest CP, Bannock L, Campbell B, Kalman D, Ziegenfuss TN, Antonio J. International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015 Jul 15;12:30. doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y. PMID: 26175657; PMCID: PMC4501114.
