Hitting the gym day in and day out takes some serious motivation. It’s easy to stay dedicated to your workouts when you are fully rested, though when you’ve had a long day at work and the fatigue starts to set in, it may be difficult to stick to your plan. When the river of motivation runs dry, some people turn to pre-workout supplements to keep their energy levels boosted in the gym. And Bucked Up’s Woke AF pre-workout is a popular choice for many.
A typical pre-workout supplement contains anywhere from 50 to 200 milligrams of caffeine though this simply doesn’t cut it for some advanced trainees. For those that are looking to kick things up a notch, grabbing a pre-workout that supplies a bit more caffeine, such as Woke AF by Bucked Up, is a popular choice.
Although we’ll let you use your imagination as to what the "AF" stands for, this is a high stimulant pre-workout that contains a slew of compounds to enhance focus and optimize your energy levels in the gym. To help you distinguish what makes the Bucked Up pre-workout tick, we provided you with an in-depth Woke AF pre-workout review, including some things we like about it and a few that we don’t.
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A Quick Look at Woke AF Pre-Workout
SPECS
- Serving size: 1 scoop (11.7g)
- Active ingredients: Caffeine anhydrous, citrulline malate, beta-alanine, Alpha GPC, Taurine, Himalayan rock salt, dendrobium, deer antler velvet extract, synephrine HCl, AstraGin, ActiGin
- Recommended use: Take 1 serving 15-30 min. before your workout for increased energy, pump, focus, endurance, and hydration
Woke AF is a high stimulant pre-workout brought to you by Bucked Up, a well-established sports nutrition company founded by two brothers, that has its roots in supplying high-octane supplements and accessories to help you get the most out of your training.
Among Bucked Up’s most popular products is its pre-workout lineup which includes Woke AF, Bucked UP, LFG, and Big Game Energy. Each pre-workout contains specific ingredients with varying levels of stimulants which allows you to select one that’s most applicable to your training goals. The logo is derived from the fact that many of their products contain deer antler velvet extract, a compound found on deer antlers that may improve aerobic capacity and muscular performance. They pride themselves in providing effective supplements with full-label disclosure and no proprietary blends.
What We Like
- Provides full spectrum of pre-workout ingredients
- Uses transparent labeling
- Scientifically-dosed
- 13 flavor choices
- 45-day money back guarantee
- No added sugars
What We Don’t Like
- May be too much caffeine even for advanced athletes
- Shipping is extra unless you spend over $75
- Contains artificial flavors and sweeteners
Recommended Use
The manufacturers recommend mixing one scoop of Woke AF with 6-8 ounces of water and drinking it 15-30 minutes before working out for best results. While dry scooping pre-workouts (taking them without being mixed with water) is popular, this is quite dangerous and not advised.
Due to its high stimulant content, it's not recommended to exceed one scoop in a 24 hour period, nor should it be used by people under the age of 18.
Active Ingredients
Woke AF packs a bunch of performance enhancing ingredients, in addition to caffeine, which are designed to synergistically improve energy levels, blood flow to the working muscles, and exercise performance. These include:
- Citrulline malate: May help improve blood flow to working muscles
- Beta-alanine: Can help improve performance during high-intensity exercise
- Caffeine anhydrous: A well-known stimulant that can help increase mental focus and exercise performance
- Alphasize Alpha GPC: A cognitive enhancer that may increase power output in athletes
- Taurine: When combined with caffeine, this amino acid may improve various aspects of physical performance
- Himalayan rock salt: Supplies electrolytes and trace minerals
- Dendrobium: Type of plant that may have performance enhancing properties
- Deer antler velvet extract: May improve aerobic capacity and muscular performance
- Synephrine HCl: May help improve exercise performance and fat loss
- AstraGin: May help increase absorption of other ingredients
- ActiGin: May improve endurance and exercise recovery though research is limited
BUY: Woke AF Pre-Workout
Woke AF Pre-Workout Benefits
Can Help Improve Power Output
Caffeine, when combined with several of the other ingredients provided in Woke AF, can improve power output in explosive movements such as sprinting, lifting weights, and rowing, among others. Additionally, consuming caffeine before working out may reduce fatigue allowing you to train harder for a longer duration.
May enhance blood flow to working muscles
Woke AF contains citrulline malate, an amino acid that works to increase nitric oxide production in the body. This is a compound that’s closely linked with blood flow. Thus, regularly consuming a supplement that contains citrulline malate may enhance blood flow to your muscles.
Can Help Increase Mental Focus
One often overlooked aspect of exercise performance is mental focus. Several of the ingredients provided by Woke AF are designed to keep your head in the game to help you perform at the highest level.
Woke AF Pre Workout Ingredients
In addition to the active ingredients, this supplement also includes a few others for taste and consistency which include:
- Sucralose: Artificial sweetener
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Silicon dioxide and calcium silicate: Anticaking agents
- Natural colors
How Safe is Woke AF Pre-Workout?
Generally speaking, Woke AF is safe for adults over the age of 18 who are not caffeine-sensitive. That being said, such a high amount of caffeine may cause undesirable side effects for some people such as anxiety, a fast heartbeat, headaches, and shaky hands. Therefore, it’s likely best to start with a half scoop of Woke AF to see how you respond before gradually increasing to a full scoop from there.
Our Verdict
Woke AF is a high-stimulant pre-workout supplement designed for more advanced athletes looking to kick their training up a notch. It’s certainly not meant to be used by beginners or those that are particularly sensitive to caffeine. We liked the fact that this supplement provides a full spectrum of pre-workout ingredients with the exact amount of each listed. On the other hand, we thought the price tag was a bit steep, especially considering that shipping is extra unless you spend over $75. If you’ve tried other pre-workouts and they are no longer providing you with the energy you desire, a supplement such as Woke AF might do the trick.
Note: If stimulants give you pause, check out our list of the Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts.
FAQs About Bucked Up Woke AF Pre-Workout
Is Woke AF Pre Workout good for beginners?
Woke AF is not a good option for beginners. It’s designed for more advanced trainees who require a bit more caffeine to get energized for an intense workout. With 333 milligrams of caffeine per serving, this pre-workout is generally too strong for those just starting out and may cause potentially serious side effects such as headaches, insomnia, fast heartbeat, trembling hands, and anxiousness. It’s best to start with something with less caffeine when first trying a pre-workout.
Is Woke AF stronger than Bucked Up?
When comparing the caffeine content of Woke AF (333 milligrams per serving) to that of Bucked Up (200 milligrams per serving) you can see that it's quite a bit stronger. Bucked Up makes a good option for beginners, whereas Woke AF is more suitable for experienced gym-goers.
What is Woke AF good for?
Woke AF provides a number of compounds that may improve energy levels, boost blood flow to muscles, and increase focus during your workouts. Due to its rather high stimulant content, it's great for athletes looking to step things up a notch in the gym to get the maximal benefits out of their training.
When should you take Woke AF?
Woke AF is designed to be taken 15-30 minutes before the start of your training session for the best results. Considering that caffeine typically takes about 60 minutes to exhibit its full effect, taking the supplement 15-30 minutes before training should allow it to last throughout the entire duration of your workout.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.