Kaged says this pre-workout is not for the faint of heart, and we agree. Pre-Kaged Elite is one of the most potent pre-workouts we’ve come across in pretty much every aspect, from ingredients for blood flow and pump to ones for energy and even a full serving of creatine — this pre is stacked. Kaged designed this product with elite athletes and those who are experienced supplement users in mind, creating their most powerful formula to date. It combines 20 high-quality ingredients to potentially deliver heightened energy, sharpened focus, more power, and better pumps.
Out of the 20 premium ingredients, a few stand out for their exceptional dosing — like citrulline, which is dosed at a whopping 10,000mg (more than double the amount found in normal pre-workouts). Energy won’t be a problem either with 388mg of caffeine and 2,500mg of tyrosine per scoop. This all-in-one pre- and intra-workout formula also provides 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate and 2,000mg of creatine nitrate to equal a full 5,000mg serving of creatine. If basic pre-workouts don’t seem to be cutting it for you, and you potentially want the biggest pumps, most energy, and sharpest mental focus, this is a great product to consider.
Main Takeaways
- The dosing here is at or above the effective dosage, which is great to see. In some cases, the dosing is well above and beyond the necessary minimum making this a very potent pre-workout.
- If you’re looking for a strong blood flow and pump formula, this should help do the trick with 10g of citrulline and 2.5g of betaine.
- This formula has creatine in it, so you can take one less supplement throughout the day. It contains 3g of creatine monohydrate and 2g of creatine nitrate.
Pre-Kaged® Elite provides nine patented ingredients with 35 milligrams of vitamin B6 and 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 in a single 36-gram scoop. Each serving is 25 calories and includes caffeine, taurine, l-citrulline, beta-alanine, l-tyrosine, and two types of creatine.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite Highlights
Pre-Kaged Elite shines in a bunch of different areas, but the main ones are ingredient selection, dosing, and completeness. Kaged as a whole does a great job of always selecting patented versions of ingredients when they’re available. This can help to lend extra credibility to the potential benefits of the individual ingredients, as well as the product as a whole.
The patented ingredients are the specific chemical formulations used in research studies, which can be important as even small changes in molecular structure can interfere with the way things interact with our bodies. A perfect example is H2O compared with H2O2. One is water, which you’d have no problem drinking while the other is hydrogen peroxide, which we do not advise ingesting. Similar changes with supplement ingredients can produce the same type of results.
Kaged did an exceptional job with the dosing of each ingredient in Pre-Kaged Elite. They’ve included particularly large doses of citrulline (10,000mg), caffeine (388mg), beta-alanine (3,200mg), and tyrosine (2,500mg). Pre-Kaged Elite doesn’t leave any ingredient underdosed and provides adequate dosing when an established proper dose is available. Examples include the doses of creatine (5,000mg total), betaine (2,500mg), taurine (2,000mg), alpha gpc (300mg), and huperzine A (10mg).
Taken as an entire product and looking at the formula as a whole, there isn’t an aspect of potential improvement that this product omits. Pre-Kaged Elite contains ingredients for potential improvement with blood flow, pump, focus, energy, power, hydration, and performance. Many pre-workouts do well to cover one or two of those areas but very few cover them all thoroughly. The only two drawbacks to this product that are worth mentioning are a higher price per serving than common pre-workouts and quite a large serving size — which we cover more in detail later on.
Who Should Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
- Anyone who wants a strong formula that’s packed with a variety of well-dosed ingredients. This pre covers your bases for a potential boost in energy, blood flow, focus, and power output.
- Those who prefer their pre-workout to contain creatine, so they can take one less supplement each day.
- Athletes who want a legit pre-workout formula but don’t want to worry about banned substances. This pre is third-party tested and certified by Informed Choice to be free of banned substances.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
- If you’re sensitive to caffeine, beta-alanine, or stimulants in general then you may want to steer clear of this formula. It’s heavy on stimulants.
- People who don’t want to take a large scoop of pre-workout. Due to the large dosing of ingredients, each scoop of Pre-Kaged Elite is around 35g — about the weight of a scoop of protein powder.
- Those who prefer to have a ton of flavor options to choose from or are picky with flavors. There are only three flavors to pick from here, unfortunately.
Price and Buying Options
You can purchase Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite directly from Kaged’s website. Each container will provide you with 20 servings and cost around $59.99 for a one-time purchase or $53.99 if you subscribe to regular shipments. That works out to about $2.99 and $2.70 per serving, respectively.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite Overall
This product is designed for those who want the most from their pre-workout in all areas. Its dosing isn’t only high in one area — it shines throughout. From the generous helping of citrulline to a full-sized serving of creatine and a hearty kick of caffeine, Pre-Kaged Elite is a high-voltage pre-workout. If you’re new to pre-workout supplements or sensitive to stimulants, you may want to consider the original Pre-Kaged formula, which is less potent and likely more tolerable for beginners.
For seasoned supplement-takers and those who like a ton of stimulants, this will do the trick. The two major downsides here are the scoop size and the price. This is a premium formula so it comes at a higher cost than many other pre-workouts. To cram in all of the high-dose ingredients, Kaged had to make the serving size about 35g, which is about the same weight as a scoop of protein powder. The instructions say to mix with 10 to 12 ounces of water, though we think more water might be better with that much powder.
Formulation
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite contains nine patented and 20 premium ingredients to make up their all-in-one pre-workout formula. The major highlights include a massive dose of citrulline, along with large doses of beta-alanine, betaine, and caffeine. You’ll also find solid servings of tyrosine, alpha gpc, and huperzine A to round things out. Plus, you’ll receive a full dosing of creatine, so you don’t have to take that supp separately. But more on all of these ingredients below.
L-Citrulline
L-citrulline, often simply referred to as citrulline, is an amino acid that’s commonly found in pre-workouts and is generally understood to have a vasodilating effect. (1) Essentially, it’s included to help aid in improving blood flow and pumps.
Each scoop of Pre-Kaged Elite offers a massive dose of 10,000mg of citrulline. For comparison, supplements with “high doses” generally offer between 5,000mg and 8,000mg, whereas normal dosing is often around 2,500mg.
Betaine Anhydrous
Betaine is a compound commonly known to be found in beetroots, which have some potential ergogenic properties for both mind and body. Each scoop of Pre-Kaged Elite will provide you with an average dose of 2,500mg of betaine anhydrous in the trademarked BetaPower™ form. There are a few potential effects of betaine, such as possible antidepressant qualities, which might aid in your motivation to go to the gym. (2) Aside from that, betaine can also potentially improve power output and aid in body composition. (3)
Creatine
Creatine is likely the most well-researched and widely-known supplement outside of caffeine at this point. It’s been shown to potentially improve muscle power output, enhance endurance, and potentially increase muscle size. (4) A normal dose of creatine is generally 5,000mg depending on the type, and Pre-Kaged Elite contains 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate, as well as 2,000mg of creatine nitrate. The reason for the different types is that creatine nitrate can potentially help improve the bioavailability and uptake of creatine monohydrate while also providing the same benefits as monohydrate. (5)
L-Tyrosine
L-tyrosine is another amino acid that may help improve focus and energy. Studies have shown that tyrosine can also help to improve stress levels in addition to focus while under physical stress (like when lifting). (6) You’ll find an average dosing of 2,500mg of tyrosine in each serving of Pre-Kaged Elite.
Alpha GPC
Alpha glycerophosphocholine, also known as alpha gpc, is a precursor to acetylcholine — a neurotransmitter involved primarily in memory and attention. (7) Taking between 300mg and 600mg of alpha gpc can have nootropic effects, such as potential cognitive enhancement and improved focus, as well as improvements in muscle power output. (7) Each scoop of Pre-Kaged Elite provides the minimum effective dose of 300mg, which can serve to help channel the heavy stimulant load into a focused energy you can make better use of at the gym.
Huperzine A
Huperzine A is included in many pre-workouts as a focus ingredient, but the research is still a bit unsettled as to its effectiveness. (8) Thankfully, the dosage required for potential ergogenic effects is small, so there isn’t any major loss if the ingredient doesn’t seem to work for you. There also haven’t been any studies to date showing any negative side effects, so it’s worth including for the potential help, so long as there are other focus ingredients with more established benefits, and the product isn’t solely relying on huperzine A. This pre includes an average dose, which is only 10mg per scoop.
Caffeine
Caffeine, like creatine, is well-researched, and its ergogenic and nootropic effects are well-supported by the literature. It can help in muscle endurance, muscle strength, anaerobic power, and aerobic endurance — so pretty much every type of exercise. (9) Pre-Kaged Elite contains quite a large dose at 388mg, which is equivalent to about four cups of coffee. Many pre’s only contain about half that dose, so if you’re sensitive to caffeine, proceed with caution. It’s best to start out with half of a scoop to assess your tolerance and go from there.
What To Consider Before Buying Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
There are several factors to consider before taking any pre-workout. Some of the most important things to think about are the type of exercise you’ll be performing, the price you’re able and willing to pay, and the caffeine content. It’s also worthwhile to consider if the pre-workout comes in a flavor you’ll be able to put down without dreading it.
Type of Exercise
Pre-Kaged Elite is formulated with resistance training enhancement as a focal point. While pre-workouts aren’t absolutely necessary and many people can perform well without them, the ingredients in this one can potentially improve anaerobic performance and endurance, which means you might reap bigger gains. (10) This type of pre-workout wouldn’t be quite as advisable for someone performing a cardio-focused workout because of the high stimulant levels — rather, they might want to seek something solely to aid in blood flow.
Price
Most pre-workouts range from around $1.00 to $2.00 per serving, but the price largely depends on the ingredients list, the dosing of those ingredients, and sometimes the name on the label. To get it out of the way now, Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite is more costly than most other pre-workout supplements, and is at the top end of the “strong pre-workout” spectrum of between $2.00 and $3.00 per serving.
That said, the ingredients and dosing are much more potent and complete than cheaper options. Each 20-serving container of this stuff will run you around $59.99 ($2.99 per serving) with a one-time purchase, or $53.99 ($2.70 per serving) if you subscribe to regular shipments. If you can’t afford this price point, the market is full of less expensive, yet still potentially effective pre-workout supplements.
Flavor
No matter how hard they try, many pre-workout supplements still end up tasting vaguely off in a familiar sort of way. Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite contains only one gram of sugar and is naturally flavored with no artificial colorings. Kaged uses sucralose to sweeten this product, and it is available in three flavors — Strawberry Lemonade, Glacier Grape, and Fruit Punch. If you don’t like the taste of sucralose or are looking for more flavor variety, you may be better off opting for a different pre-workout. Some pres offer 10+ flavor options that aren’t sweetened artificially.
Caffeine
This pre-workout is caffeinated with nearly 400mg of caffeine per serving — double what most common pre-workouts contain. If you’re sensitive to caffeine or not used to taking that much, Kaged recommends starting off with a half scoop first to assess your tolerance, which we wholeheartedly agree with. The last thing you want is to be jittery and unable to focus, or experience negative symptoms of caffeine toxicity (such as anxiety and rapid heart rate). If you work out later in the evening, it may be a good idea to reach for a stim-free pre-workout or one with a lower caffeine content, so you don’t have trouble falling asleep.
Final Word
This is indeed an “elite” version of the original Pre-Kaged formula, and despite the massive scoop size and higher price per serving, it delivers the goods. Looking for a potentially skin-splitting pump? Pre-Kaged Elite has you covered. Want to focus up and feel every rep? Pre-Kaged Elite can also help with that. Need a big kick of energy to leave you feeling amped? Pre-Kaged Elite is packed with caffeine. This pre-workout doesn’t just excel in one area, it’s the total package, and it even offers creatine too. If you’ve got the money for the extra price per serving and don’t mind the larger scoop size, then you’re unlikely to find as complete and potent a pre-workout as this one.
FAQs
Is Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite safe?
For healthy individuals with no pre-existing conditions, the research suggests that pre-workouts such as Pre-Kaged Elite are safe and can even be beneficial. (11) This pre-workout in particular is Informed Choice Certified to be free of banned substances, so it goes the extra step for both safety and clean sport use. You should, however, consult with your doctor before beginning any new supplement, diet, or workout routine.
What sets Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite apart from other options?
This pre-workout is different from the majority of other pre-workouts in many positive and a few negative ways. It is dosed much more heavily than your average pre-workout, containing double the regular dosing in some cases, such as with citrulline and caffeine. On the flip side, that potent formula comes with a higher price tag than average and a much larger serving size. You’ll have to balance the benefits against the drawbacks to decide if this is the right product for you.
How should I take Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite?
It’s best to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer, but generally, you’ll want to ingest your pre-workout 20 to 30 minutes before you begin exercise. This gives your body time to start processing the ingredients and helps allow your stomach to settle before hitting the gym.
References
- Schwedhelm, E., Maas, R., Freese, R., Jung, D., Lukacs, Z., Jambrecina, A., Spickler, W., Schulze, F., & Böger, R. H. (2008). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of oral L-citrulline and L-arginine: impact on nitric oxide metabolism. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 65(1), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2007.02990.x
- Di Pierro, F., Orsi, R., & Settembre, R. (2015). Role of betaine in improving the antidepressant effect of S-adenosyl-methionine in patients with mild-to-moderate depression. Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare, 8, 39–45. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S77766
- Cholewa, J. M., Wyszczelska-Rokiel, M., Glowacki, R., Jakubowski, H., Matthews, T., Wood, R., Craig, S. A., & Paolone, V. (2013). Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 10(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-10-39
- Hall, M., & Trojian, T. H. (2013). Creatine supplementation. Current sports medicine reports, 12(4), 240–244. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0b013e31829cdff2
- Peeling, P., Binnie, M. J., Goods, P. S. R., Sim, M., & Burke, L. M. (2018). Evidence-Based Supplements for the Enhancement of Athletic Performance. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, 28(2), 178–187. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0343
- Deijen, J. B., Wientjes, C. J., Vullinghs, H. F., Cloin, P. A., & Langefeld, J. J. (1999). Tyrosine improves cognitive performance and reduces blood pressure in cadets after one week of a combat training course. Brain research bulletin, 48(2), 203–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0361-9230(98)00163-4
- Pérez-Guisado J, Jakeman PM. Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness. J Strength Cond Res. 2010 May;24(5):1215-22. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cb28e0. PMID: 20386132.
- Tun, M. K., & Herzon, S. B. (2012). The pharmacology and therapeutic potential of (-)-huperzine A. Journal of experimental pharmacology, 4, 113–123. https://doi.org/10.2147/JEP.S27084
- Grgic, J., Grgic, I., Pickering, C., Schoenfeld, B. J., Bishop, D. J., & Pedisic, Z. (2020). Wake up and smell the coffee: caffeine supplementation and exercise performance-an umbrella review of 21 published meta-analyses. British journal of sports medicine, 54(11), 681–688. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-100278
- Martinez, N., Campbell, B., Franek, M., Buchanan, L., & Colquhoun, R. (2016). The effect of acute pre-workout supplementation on power and strength performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 13, 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-016-0138-7
- Harty, P. S., Zabriskie, H. A., Erickson, J. L., Molling, P. E., Kerksick, C. M., & Jagim, A. R. (2018). Multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements, safety implications, and performance outcomes: a brief review. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 15(1), 41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-018-0247-6
