C4 Pre Workout Review: My In-Depth & No-Nonsense Experience!
The majority of you will be familiar with the C4 pre workout by Cellucor, as it's been around for over a decade.
Since it's a well-known product, we couldn't resist providing our readers with an in-depth C4 pre workout review.
That means I'll be taking you through my experience with this product, break down the formula, and taking a look at other crucial factors.
Keep reading if you want to know what to expect!
Many of you will be curious to know what's going to happen to me after taking a heaped scoop of C4.
That's why we're kicking this review off with my experience! After testing it multiple times, I'm confident that I can give my take on this product.
Please note – everything I say in this article is based on my personal experience and opinion. I'm an experienced pre workout user, and my tolerance is relatively high, so this product might work differently for you.
I got a bottle of C4 in the flavor fruit punch. I'm not going to lie; it tasted rather good. It's a typical fruit punch flavor, so I had no trouble getting it down the hatch.
If you're going to try it, make sure to mix one scoop with at least 6 fl. oz of water.
So when it comes down to taste, it's definitely above average! But we all know the effects are what matters, so let's see how it helped me perform in the gym.
The Effects In The Gym
Moving onto the exciting stuff, how does the C4 pre workout boost my workout performance and intensity?
Will I be pushing out extra reps, get skin-tearing pumps while being in the zone? There's only one way to find out.
I'm going to break down my experience by looking at energy, pumps, focus individually.
Energy
We're starting with energy, which I find one of the most critical factors of a pre workout. I mean, many of us are chasing that energy boost to push through our workouts.
When I took the C4 pre workout, my energy did not increase significantly. Sure, it helped a bit, but it was nothing crazy as there's only about 150mg of caffeine per scoop.
Caffeine is also the only stimulant you'll find in the entire formula. I would've loved to see some extra stims or perhaps an increase in caffeine.
You will notice some slight tingling and itchiness since there are 1.6 grams of Beta Alanine in a scoop of C4.
Keep in mind that I have a high tolerance for caffeine and other stimulants. Those completely new to these types of supplements will feel this kick-in, no doubt.
But for me, it performed below average when it came to energy.
Pumps
Of course, we can't forget about those juicy pumps. Like many of you, I'm always chasing a good pump when I'm training. As we all know, it's a good and satisfying feeling.
Did C4 deliver skin-tearing pumps? Unfortunately for me, it did not provide anything out of this world. I did notice some moderate pumps, so there's that.
For me, it was probably the most noticable effect out of everything.
There's only one gram that'll help with blood flow in this formula, which is Arginine. Besides that, it's only dosed at a gram (1000mg), that's not too much.
Focus
Finally, we still have to cover how the C4 pre workout impacted my focus and cognitive functions.
I didn't experience any changes in my focus or alertness. Again, there's only one good cognitive enhancer here: N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, but it's also dosed relatively low.
So, unfortunately, no laser focus or feeling in the zone during my workouts.
All in all, my experience with C4 wasn't anything special. For me, it performed below what I'm used to. But then again, this is a real beginner formula, meaning you can experience it differently.
C4 Pre Workout Ingredients Breakdown
It's time to go over the C4 pre workout ingredients. By doing so, you'll get a better understanding of what each ingredient is responsible for and what kind of effect it's going to have.
You'll find several vitamins in C4, but those compounds aren't the stars of the show. We're going to look at the main ingredients that'll impact your performance.
Beta Alanine (CarnoSyn®) - 1600mg
Beta Alanine is a staple ingredient, as it's great for boosting performance. We think it's a must-have ingredient, and it's good that they included it in C4.
1600mg is on the lower end of what we're used to, yet it could still have somewhat of an impact on your training.
Creatine Nitrate - 1000mg
Next up, we have Creatine Nitrate, an ingredient many of you will be familiar with. It's a newer form of Creatine that is bonded to a nitrate group.
By binding them together, it's said to increase the solubility, meaning your body will absorb the compounds more efficiently.
C4 holds one gram (1000mg) of Creatine Nitrate per serving. That's not a lot, as it's recommended to get in at least two to three grams for optimal effects.
Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate - 1000mg
Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate (AAKG) is a type of Arginine that has high bioavailability.
It works by increasing nitric oxide, which helps get more blood and nutrients to your muscle cells. You'll find it in plenty of nitric oxide boosters.
In other words, this ingredient is responsible for muscle pumps.
Each serving holds 1000mg of AAKG, which is a moderate dosage.
Explosive Energy Blend - 425mg
C4 does contain a proprietary blend, which is the explosive energy blend at a total of 425mg. This consists of N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, Caffeine anhydrous (150mg), Velvet Bean seed extract, and Threacrine.
We don't know the dosages for the ingredients in this blend, except for caffeine. I'm not a fan of proprietary blends.
I don't like them because you don't know the dosage of the ingredient you're getting.
In other words, you won't know if it's dosed sufficiently to reap the benefits.
Is C4 Pre Workout Good?
A lot of people have asked me, is C4 pre workout good for me?
In my opinion, it is a very basic pre workout aimed towards beginners. If you've never had any before, you'll find it to be a solid first option to get your feet wet.
Based on my experience with this pre workout, I'm giving it a 6.0/10. For me, the effects weren't anything impressive but average at best.
The flavor was delicious, though, so that's a plus.
As someone that has tried literally hundreds of different pre workouts, I've put together a list of my most favorite options.
That means if you want my recommendation, head over to our best pre workout page of 2021.
In that article, we show you the most effective and stacked pre workouts that'll enhance your workout performance significantly.
So if you're chasing maximum energy, pumps, and focus, don't hesitate to head over to that page.
C4 Pre Workout Price & Taste
Now that I've shown you my experience and have given you additional information on the ingredients, you'll want to know what it's going to cost you.
A tub of 30 servings goes for $29.99 on the official Cellucor website. That works out to a dollar a pop, which is a pretty good price.
As I've said earlier in my C4 pre workout review, it tastes surprisingly good! I've only tried Fruit Punch, and if you're thinking about picking up this pre, it's a good choice.
But, there's plenty of other flavors to choose from. A few examples are watermelon, orange burst, icy blue razz, and pink lemonade.
There's no doubt in my mind that you'll be able to find one you can enjoy drinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about C4? Go over our most frequently asked questions found below!
1. How much caffeine is in c4 pre workout?
In the original c4 pre workout, there is 150mg of caffeine anhydrous per serving (one scoop).
2. How long will the effects last?
It's difficult to say exactly how long the effects will last, as this is different for each individual.
However, on average, the effects will last roughly anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. It will heavily depend on the individual's tolerance.
3. How do I take C4?
Taking this pre workout is simple! You mix one scoop with 6 fl oz of water and drink it 30 minutes before starting your training.
4. Where can I buy C4 pre workout?
You can buy C4 from so many places since it's one of the most popular pre workouts on the market. A few good and reputable places to buy it from are Amazon, iHerb, and Bodybuilding.com.
5. Can C4 cause side effects?
I did not experience any side effects by taking C4. But, users with low tolerance could experience headaches or nausea.
That's why if you're completely new to these products, you may want to assess tolerance with half a scoop to prevent any adverse effects from happening.
6. Does C4 contain any calories?
No, it doesn't contain any calories. That means you can enjoy the effects of this product without having to worry about getting excessive calories in.
My Final Thoughts On C4
Over the past few years, C4 has built up quite a reputation. Many of you requested us to review this, and I'm glad I gave it a shot.
Even though C4 didn't do a lot for me as an experienced user, I think it has its place. Especially if you're a beginner, chances are you'll experience something completely different from what I have.
The formula isn't the best there is, and in our opinion, some compounds are dosed relatively low compared to the other alternatives on the market.
With that said, we do recommend new users give it a shot if they're curious about the effects of this product.
Don't forget to check out our best pre workout page, where we go over what we believe are the best options currently on the market.
