When a Cellucor rep reached out offering to send some C4 pre-workout, my first thought was, uhh, why? I’ve never been into lifting. I’ve played sports my whole life, but I’ve always stayed in shape by running, walking, or just playing the sport.
Then our rep Scott (shoutout, Scott) explained that he drinks pre-workout as a cheaper alternative to canned energy drinks: basically the same formula in a bulk, use-as-you-go package. I’d always thought about trying powders like G Fuel that aren’t specifically aimed at athletes, but never pulled the trigger.
Say no more, Scott. Cellucor sent C4 Original, Sport, SuperSport, Ultimate, and Extreme. I passed the Extreme to fellow Shark Daniel, who makes our TikToks, and reviewed the other four.
| Product | Flavor | Caffeine per scoop | Jared |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuperSport | Blue Raspberry | 150 mg | 9.1 |
| Ultimate | Strawberry Watermelon | 300 mg | 8.4 |
| Original | Cherry Limeade | 150 mg | 8.2 |
| Sport | Strawberry Lemonade | 135 mg | 4.0 |
My mixing tip: ¾ scoop in a full 20 oz shaker bottle. The label’s 1 scoop per 8 oz was way too sweet and left the last ounce or two powdery.
Original: Cherry Limeade, 8.2/10
There was definitely a learning curve with a shaker bottle and powder, so I tried a few serving sizes. The suggested 1 scoop in 8 oz of water was too sweet and over-saturated, with an annoyingly powdery last sip or two.
After a few iterations, I settled on my perfect ratio: fill the shaker to 20 oz, then add ¾ scoop. That minimized the powdery shenanigans and nailed the sweetness for me. I’m known for a non-sweet tooth with some flavors, so most pre-workout drinkers may prefer it sweeter.
The flavor is a really good cherry limeade balance. I’m a fan of Adrenaline Shoc Accelerator Cherry Limeade, and at my ratio this is very similar, minus the carbonation. The limeade isn’t as strong as I’d like; I guess C4 didn’t borrow the secret sauce from its carbonated Twisted Limeade, another personal favorite.
Each serving has 1.6 g of CarnoSyn beta-alanine, 1 g of creatine, and 150 mg of caffeine. I didn’t feel the beta-alanine tingle, but I’m 6’ and 190 lb, so smaller people might.
Sport: Strawberry Lemonade, 4.0/10
The worst of the bunch by a good margin. At ¾ scoop in 20 oz, the taste was off in a way that’s hard to explain: lacking flavor, with a strong aftertaste. It’s definitely strawberry lemonade, but it needs more strawberry.
Each serving has 4.9 g of C4’s Sport Performance Blend (creatine and CarnoSyn beta-alanine) plus its Sport Energy Blend with taurine and 135 mg of caffeine.
SuperSport: Blue Raspberry, 9.1/10
The best of the four, hands down. Blue raspberry can easily be too sweet, but at ¾ scoop in 20 oz it was perfect. For comparison, it’s similar to Bang Blue Razz, slightly less sweet at my ratio.
Each serving has 3.2 g of C4’s SuperSport Performance Blend (CarnoSyn beta-alanine, CON-CRĒT creatine, and L-arginine), 150 mg of caffeine, and 1.4 g of a hydration and electrolyte complex. It feels hydrating, which is probably placebo, and I like the 150 mg level. A nice, mild boost.
Ultimate: Strawberry Watermelon, 8.4/10
The most intense of the bunch, with a warning on the label that the tingling comes from beta-alanine. The taste is a really nice blend, with both strawberry and watermelon coming through strong. ¾ scoop in 20 oz was perfect: sweet, but not overwhelming.
Each serving has 6 g of a citrulline pump matrix, 3.2 g of CarnoSyn beta-alanine, two forms of creatine, and 300 mg of caffeine. I don’t drink 300 mg energy drinks often anymore, so I definitely felt it. I like the beta-alanine tingle, but I know that’s a controversial take.
Final thoughts
I’m sold. After all four, I’m fully on board with pre-workout as a reliable, convenient, cost-effective alternative to canned energy drinks.
If you’re like me, you’ll miss the carbonation. Fill that gap with seltzer or something like the Fission Fuel Kit, and C4 pre-workout can be part of a diversified caffeine lineup.
Check out C4 on Amazon through our affiliate link, or compare the canned C4s we’ve rated:
