Alani Nu Pre-Workout Review (2023 Updated) Flavors Ranked

Alani Nu Pros & Cons

Alani Nu Pre-Workout Review

While often branded as a “chick” supplement, Alani Nu pre-workout is actually a very good, well-rounded, excellently formulated pre-workout powder both men and women can use.

From my experience, there aren’t many formulas with a better selection of ingredients, and while there’s definitely room for improvement here, I would gladly recommend this product to just about anyone - beginner or experienced.

One thing I will say right away is that this product isn't third-party tested, which is usually a red flag, but considering the popularity of this product and the lack of problems caused/reported, I'd say that the lack of third-party testing isn't something one should obsess about.

My Ratings Explained

The way I see it, there are three things that determine whether a pre-workout is good or not - its ingredients, how well they’re dosed, thus, effective, and how much you’re paying for those.

Now, I’ve decided to give both the ingredients and effectiveness the same score for one reason - the selection of the ingredients is excellent, but I’d like to see more of citrulline, tyrosine, and beta-alanine (since it’s already in there).

As for the price, it’s really great. As you’ll see in a minute, this one’s well below the industry average, and if you manage to grab an Amazon sale - you could very well end up with an unheard-of-for-a-product-this-good price.

Key Details

Will My Performance Increase?

If you take a scoop of Alani Nu pre-workout, you’ll experience both mental and physical performance boosts. Every single workout I had while using Alani Nu pre-workout was more effective compared to those I did "clean".

One thing I noticed right away is an energy boost. And unlike many other products I’ve used over the years, Alani Nu didn’t give me that jittery, nervous feeling.

Instead, it was a smooth energy boost that lasted for the entirety of my workout.

Now, I wasn't able to lift more weight, but I did manage to squeeze in an extra few reps at the end, so it's safe to say my exercise stamina and strength saw a significant boost.

Additionally, my pumps were pretty decent. Nothing too crazy, but my muscles felt and looked fuller, and they did get plump faster than usual.

Finally, while I'm always focused at the gym, I immediately noticed I could maintain my focus more easily while taking Alani Nu pre-workout. I genuinely felt like those moments when you’re just in the zone and nothing can distract you.

So, if my experience is anything to go by, I’d say you will definitely hit the pre-workout trifecta.

How Will I Feel Post-Workout?

I felt really good post-workout, so I can only assume you will, too. 

My absolute favorite thing about taking Alani Nu pre-workout was that I didn't experience any crashes afterward. 

It's a nice, gradual decline in energy levels. So, take it from me - you won't feel like a deflated balloon when it wears off, which is a big, big plus in my book.

Granted, my energy levels were higher than usual, even two or three hours in, but it wasn't anything too over the top or unmanageable, and definitely not something that kept me awake or restless during the evening.

What Are The Possible Side Effects

Aside from a minor but noticeable tingle from beta-alanine, I haven't experienced any adverse effects while taking Alani Nu. However, that isn’t to say there couldn’t be any.

One thing I’ll note right away is I'm not overly sensitive to caffeine, so I can't speak for those who are. Then again, I am quite sensitive to beta-alanine, so tingles may not happen for you, as 1.6 grams really isn’t all that much.

Still, I would also imagine that you shouldn't feel any jitters or anxiousness since the formula is pretty well-balanced, and 200 mg of caffeine is not over the top. 

In fact, as far as I’m concerned, this is ideal as it is more than enough to get you through your workout without having your stomach in knots and your mind racing.

That said, if you’re expecting a baby or you suffer from any underlying issues (especially cardiovascular), I would talk to the doctor before starting any pre-workout, including Alani Nu.

What Flavors Are Available And How Do They Taste?

Alani-Nu is available in 11 different flavors, which can be a bit overwhelming, but if my experience is anything to go by, you really can’t go wrong here.

To be fair, I haven't tried every single flavor Alani Nu brand offers, but I did order three that seemed most appetizing to me, which were:

Apart from those, you can get the Alani-Nu in:

The three I tried were more than good, but I quickly settled on Hawaiian Shaved Ice, as it was the Best Alani Nu pre-workout flavor out of the three as far as I’m concerned.

Hawaiian Shaved Ice wasn't too sweet and had a nice, sour-y refreshing taste. 

The best I could describe it is that is tastes like Malibu liquor with a dash of lemon juice, if that makes any sense (if you’ve ever worked behind the bar, you’ll get this). It's punchy, coconut shines through, and it feels refreshing. All in all - pretty delicious.

As for mixing, I had no issues with the Alani Nu Pre-workout supplement. I simply added a scoop to my shaker with some water and shook it until it was all dissolved - easy peasy.

One thing I’ll say is to make sure you don't get any moisture in the jar. If you do, you'll end up with a clumpy pre-workout supplement that will be hard to dissolve.

To be fair, you're bound to end up with some clumps as you go through the jar, but if you keep your powder in a dry and cool place, clumping should be minimal. 

Finally, it's worth noting that Alani Nu uses both natural flavors and artificial flavors.

Is It A Fair Price?

Alani Nu pre-workout is definitely fairly priced. It is well worth your money, and in all honesty, Alani Nu is likely one of the best price-to-value products available. 

A tub of Alani Nu, which is 30 servings, will set you back about $40, which works out to be about $1.33 per serving.

However, as I said earlier, if you manage to snag one off of Amazon when it’s on sale, you’re looking at an effective pre-workout that’s about $1.16.

Who Is It Best For?

Alani Nu pre-workout is best for those looking for a well-formulated, effective product that doesn’t contain any unnecessary or worthless ingredients. In other words, this is a product every healthy gym-goer can use.

If I already didn’t have my go-to pre-workout I use when I’m not testing others out, I wouldn’t mind sticking with Alani Nu for the foreseeable future. It is genuinely that good.

Who Is It Not Good For?

As it says on the box, children under the age of 18, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing medical conditions should not take Alani Nu pre-workout supplement without consulting a physician first.

I’d like to add to that that those on the lookout for high-stim pre-workouts with additional stimulants besides caffeine should also look elsewhere. 

Other Online Reviews

Tips For Increasing Performance Using Alani Nu Pre-Workout

Considering how good this product already is, the only good tip for increasing performance using Alani Nu pre-workout would be to double-scoop - if you deem it necessary.

Double-scooping Alani Nu pre-workout will get the maximum efficacious dose of L-citrulline, a very good dose of L-tyrosine, a decent dose of beta-alanine, and a very potent dose of both L-theanine and caffeine.

One thing to keep in mind when double-scooping Alani Nu pre-workout is that it will most likely cause you to crash afterward because 400mg in one sitting is more than many of us (including myself) can handle.

Other than that, you could mix it with cranberry juice if you want to get some antioxidants and carbs in before your workout, but if you’re overly cautious of your calorie intake, that may not be the most optimal solution.

Ingredients - Effectiveness & Amount

Caffeine

The only thing that matters in this case is the overall dose of caffeine.

Citrulline Malate

L-citrulline malate is a mixture of L-citrulline and malic acid (a compound that helps improve absorption of L-citrulline), and research suggests that citrulline malate is a more potent version of L-citrulline.

However, more often than not, what you’re getting is not actual citrulline malate (which is created in a way where citrulline and malic acid form a chemical bond) but simply a mixture of the two, which doesn’t yield the same benefits.

In this case, you’re getting a mixture of citrulline and malic acid, in a 2:1 ratio, meaning you’re getting 4 grams of l-citrulline.

That said, you’re still getting a pretty solid dose of citrulline, inevitably resulting in increased nitric oxide levels, leading to vasodilation or the widening of blood vessels. 

As vasodilation improves blood flow and better delivery of nutrients to working muscles, it results in a greater pump and athletic performance boost.[3]

L-tyrosine

L-tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that produces dopamine (to put it simply), a "feel good" neurotransmitter. It is often used as a focus enhancer because it leads to enhanced cognitive function, improved focus, mental clarity, and memory.[4]

The recommended dose of L-Tyrosine is anywhere between 500-2000 mg in a single dose, half an hour or an hour before a stressful situation, which in this case would be strenuous physical exercise.

There were even studies where 100-150 mg of L-Tyrosine were administered per kilogram of body weight. However, in my opinion, that's way too much.

With Alani Nu pre-workout, you’re getting 500mg, which isn’t ideal, but it should be just enough for you to experience some of the aforementioned benefits.

L-Theanine

L-theanine is one of the amino acids often paired with caffeine because it can offset its side effects, such as jitters, anxiety, and other stress-related symptoms, and can nowadays be found in most pre-workout supplements.

L-Theanine can help with improving mental regeneration while also reducing stress levels when administered for a prolonged period of time.[5]

Research has also shown that supplementing with just 50 mg of L-theanine can accelerate mental regeneration after a strenuous workout.[6]

The jury is still out on a recommended dose for L-theanine, but anywhere between 50 to 200 mg should be enough to experience the effects.

That said, at 200 mg, you're getting a very potent dose of L-Theanine, which should offset the side effects of the 200 mg of caffeine present in this pre-workout.

Stimulants

As you can see, Alani Nu pre-workout is a very clean formula, with no other stimulants other than caffeine. 

While I understand that some of you may not like this, I can’t say I’m in the same boat. 

Most of the stimulants used in pre-workout don’t come close to caffeine, both in terms of potency or clinically proven effects, so most of the time, you’d simply pay extra for something you’re already getting from caffeine.

Boosters

Beta-alanine is the only other ingredient in this formula.

Beta-alanine is also widely considered the "most effective" ingredient (which I definitely don’t agree with) in pre-workouts for its ability to improve muscular endurance and boost exercise performance. 

It also relieves muscle soreness and muscle fatigue by reducing intense exercise-induced lactic acid buildup.

However, according to scientific data, beta-alanine is only beneficial for exercises lasting one to four minutes, which is very unlikely to happen during a regular gym workout divided into sets.

More so, an effective dose is 3.2 to 6.4 g per day, with the latter being the optimal dosage, as research suggests that you need 179 g of beta-alanine over the course of 28 days to fully experience the benefits.[7]

And, even then, the improvements were close to marginal, with a 2.85% percent increase in the overall performance.

When you couple all that with the fact that you only get 1.6 g of beta-alanine per serving of Alani Nu Pre-Workout, it is safe to say that this ingredient will not have a significant or immediate impact on your workout unless you’re taking it on the side.

How I Felt When I Took Alani Nu Pre-Workout

In order for you to fully understand what will or won’t happen once you take Alani Nu pre-workout drink, let me walk you through a timeline I experienced.

Within 15 Minutes

Within 15 minutes of taking Alani Nu, the only thing I felt were beta-alanine tingles that were kind of showing. They weren’t strong, and I didn’t feel the need to scratch my neck and hands off, but it was creeping up on me.

As for anything else, I really didn’t feel anything.

It was closer to 20-30 minutes when I’d usually start noticing the effects of caffeine, which is actually splendid, as that is usually when I’d start my training.

Within 60 Minutes

I experienced a notable energy rise within the first 60 minutes after I had taken Alani Nu.

As I said earlier, it was a gradual increase in energy that felt nice and clean. And one hour in is when I’d reach my peak, feeling like I was ready to finish my workout with the same intensity I started it with.

Since my workouts rarely last more than 90 minutes, I had no problems riding this energy train until the very end.

The same goes for focus and mental clarity. About an hour in, it felt like I had tunnel vision (metaphorically, in a good way), and I was completely focused. I controlled my weights on the way down, wasn’t zoning off and miscounting my reps, and I could really hone in my mind-muscle connection and feel the muscle fibers working.

after 6+ Hours

Six hours after taking Alani Nu, I felt like I usually do. I had no lingering effects of a pre-workout whatsoever.

I wasn’t tired, my mind wasn’t foggy, and I could spend my evenings as I usually would - relaxing, watching TV shows, playing video games, or whatever else was on the to-do list that day.

So, if you’re worried about crashing or sleep issues - I wouldn’t be. This is a super-clean formula, and once the effects wear off after 2-3 hours, you’ll just feel “normal”. I did, at least.

How Does It Compare To Other Pre-Workouts?

Once again, in the interest of you having the clearest idea of what to expect (or what to use/buy), I decided to compare Alani Nu to two popular products - C4 Original and Transparent Labs BULK pre-workout.

Alani Nu Vs C4 Original Pre-Workout

C4 Original is a very popular pre-workout formula, but when you look at the ingredients on the back, the Alani Nu Pre-Workout supplement blows it out of the park.

C4 has 150 mg of caffeine compared to 200 mg found in Alani Nu Pre-Workout, and it doesn't contain any L-Citrulline malate (instead relies on Arginine AKG, which is not as useful as it can't be well absorbed by the intestines, and even if it could be, it's horribly underdosed).

C4 also contains a minor dose of creatine nitrate (which, from my experience, does not compare to the alternative creatine monohydrate), and it comes with a variety of vitamins that won't enhance athletic performance at all.

So, all in all, a major Alani Nu Pre Workout.

Alani Nu Vs Transparent Labs Pre-Workout

While I appreciate the simplicity of Alani Nu, I can’t say that it is better than Transparent Labs BULK pre-workout.

Even if we discard all the extras found in Transparent Labs BULK and we compare the same ingredients head-to-head - BULK takes the victory.

BULK has an additional 2 grams of citrulline malate, an extra 2.4 grams of beta-alanine, and double the dose of L-tyrosine. They both sport the exact same dose of caffeine and L-theanine at 200 mg, but that’s where the similarities stop.

If you then include the addition of betaine, taurine, theobromine, etc., it is easy to conclude which of the two is more potent and, thus, a better option.

To be fair, BULK does cost an extra $10 for the tub, but in my opinion, the price difference is justified.

Read Also Our Review Of Transparent Labs Pre-Workout

What We Have Taken Into Consideration For Giving You A Final Verdict

Before we move on to the Final Alani pre-workout review verdict, let me tell you a bit about myself and why you should trust me.

My Expertise In Supplements

My background in dietary supplements stems from a fiery wish to understand which products work and which don’t. And, if you don’t mind me saying it, over the years, I’ve come to realize that most of them don’t.

So, somewhere along the way, I decided to share my knowledge with you guys, help you understand the same, and elevate your workout performance and training sessions.

I’ve gained this “wisdom” after years of training and personal experience, as well as countless hours reading peer-reviewed studies and journals, learning from industry experts, and staying away from bro science, so I truly believe I have something worthy to say.

Reviewing Other Products

On a related note, I don’t spend all of my time using and writing about pre-workout products.

Over the years, I’ve taken my fair share of supplements. From diamond-status creatine and whey to those less effective but equally famous, only to figure out for myself what works and what doesn’t. So, I also review all of them, too.

Spoiler alert - fat burners don’t really work as well as they want you to think they do.

Alani Nu Pre-Workout Common FAQs

Conclusion

In the end, the only thing left to say is to repeat that this is a very good, excellently priced product that can help you take your workout to the next level.

You're looking at a balanced, no proprietary-blends-BS product with solid ingredients at (mostly) clinically effective doses that should improve exercise performance, focus, exercise capacity, and energy levels without causing you harm.

So, if you want a good pre-workout supplement that's tailored to actually help you reach your fitness goals, I would recommend giving Alani Nu's Pre-Workout a try.

References: 

1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-before-workout
2. https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4
3. https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2015/03000/effects_of_supplemental_citrulline_malate.29.aspx
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17513421/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6836118/
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3313114/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3374095/