Genius Brand wears its philosophy pretty openly, from the name to the logo. It’s about science-based, research-proven supplements for athletes and gym-goers who think seriously about what they put in the body.
The perfect subject for Brainz.
Initial Impressions of Genius Pre Workout
As far as packaging, Genius Brand products are pretty unassuming and refreshingly simple. Unlike other supplement companies, they’re not trying to beat consumers over the head with aggression or showiness. They’re the cool, calm, and collected guy in the gym building his physique scientifically, without calling attention to himself.
When you open up Genius Pre, you find a fine powder and a refreshing scent. The powder is so fine, it seems almost liquid. It doesn’t mix as well as expected; some solute keeps settling to the bottom. But the drink mixes up to a cool yellow color that seems natural, without the garish colors of other pre-workouts.
Energy Ingredients in Genius Pre Workout
- None
Genius Pre is proudly stimulant-free – it’s their whole thing, in fact. As the package proclaims, “Focus Without Caffeine.” Instead of powering up your workout with a big heaping dose of caffeine, like other pre-workouts, Genius makes a case for avoiding caffeine, which they argue reduces blood flow.
According to their copy, Genius promises to increase nitric oxide production and give users a much better pump, increased endurance, and faster recovery time. They’re betting on the combination of L-Citrulline, beta-alanine, and ATP to provide all the pump, energy, and endurance you’ll need to get through your routine.
Nootropic (Focus and Mood) Ingredients in Genius Pre Workout
- L-Tyrosine 1 g
- AlphaSize® 50% Alpha-GPC 600 mg
- Theobromine 50 mg
- Huperzia serrata extract 10mg
The Genius Brand didn’t choose their name on a whim – their pre-workout formula is dominated by nootropics, ingredients used to get greater mental focus and cognition during a workout. Genius includes three nootropics: L-Tyrosine, Alpha-GPC, Theobromine, and Huperzia.
All three are well-dosed. 1g of L-Tyrosine is slightly lower than the generally-recognized optimal dose, but 600mg of Alpha-GPC is an unusually high dose. With theobromine as well, Genius has a very strong claim to being one of the best nootropic pre-workout formulas. All three are believed to increase focus and improve memory under stress – like the stress of a hard-hitting workout.
Huperzia serrata extract comes from club moss, and while it hasn’t been fully tested and vetted, there is some indication that it plays a role in memory and cognitive function. In fact, it’s being tested in people with Alzheimer’s.
Anti-Fatigue Ingredients in Genius Pre Workout
- Beta-Alanine 2g
Beta-Alanine has become so prevalent in pre-workout formulas that anyone who can’t stand the face-tingling sensation knows to stay away. It’s still the go-to supplement for anyone who wants to hit their fitness sets hard and say “see you later” to fatigue.
In our opinion, the 2g of beta-alanine in Genius Pre is a solid dose. Many sources place the optimal dose at 2.5g, while a lot of pre-workouts will push it to 3 or 3.5g, but those are levels where the skin-crawling is unavoidable. For many users, the beta-alanine effect is distracting, so Genius is right to put their dose at a level that doesn’t take away from your focus.
Pump and Blood Flow Ingredients in Genius Pre Workout
- L-Citrulline Malate 6g
- L-Arginine 1g
In leaving caffeine out of their equation, Genius signals that they consider pump and blood flow the heart of a workout. That’s why we should expect to see strong cardiovascular support from Genius Pre, and that’s definitely the case here.
L-Citrullline Malate is known for vasodilation, relaxing the blood vessels and allowing blood to flow more freely. Good blood flow, of course, means more oxygen to the cells and more of a pump in a weight-lifting workout. Genius couples citrulline with L-Arginine, an amino acid that breaks down into nitric oxide and opens up the blood vessels even more. Taken together, you should expect a good, honest to god pump and higher endurance.
Strength Support & Body Composition Ingredients in Genius Pre Workout
- Betaine anhydrous 2g
- AstraGin 25mg
Genius Pre skips the creatine that you find in a lot of pre-workout formulas, choosing betaine anhydrous instead. Where athletes use creatine as a muscle-builder, betaine has a different impact, helping optimize body composition and encourage lean muscle growth over fat.
Genius Pre also includes AstraGin, a patented ginseng extract. AstraGin doesn’t necessarily do much on its own. Instead, consumers turn to ginseng extract for its absorption capabilities. AstraGin can help the body absorb nutrients more efficiently, making the most out of your supplements. If you use more of your ingredients, you lose less.
Electrolyte Ingredients in Genius Pre Workout
- None
There are no electrolyte ingredients in Genius Pre, but that’s not necessarily a problem. Most users will get their hydration support elsewhere, and that’s not Genius’ goal.
The Extra Mile? Additional Pre-Workout Ingredients in Genius Pre Workout
- Taurine 1 g
- HICA 500mg
- ElevATP 150mg
- Rhodiola 100 mg
Where Genius Pre really goes the extra mile is in their support ingredients – the side ingredients that help with absorption, recovery, and growth. Taurine, for instance, comes in a near-optimal 1g for improved heart performance and recovery. HICA and ElevATP promote muscle growth and rebuilding. In fact, ElevATP is central to Genius’ strategy. Rhdiola, on the other hand, can help combat fatigue and increase antioxidant performance for recovery.
All told, Genius Pre is well-designed for post-workout needs as well.
Taste & Flavors
Genius Pre only comes in three flavors – Grape Limeade, Sour Apple, and Blue Raspberry. For some consumers, that might be disappointing, but in our opinion, cutting down on the choices can cut down on stress.
We tried Sour Apple, which, true to its name, is a bit sour. The flavor was fairly light, though, not overpowering, and even though there was a hint of stevia bitterness, it was short-lived and not a deal breaker.
Who Genius Pre is For
Genius Pre is for the thinkers – it’s a different approach than the typical “caffeine and creatine” pre-workout.
Who Genius Pre is Not For
Genius Pre is not for consumers who want a stimulant (obviously), or for those who are looking for a “bust-out-the-reps get-in-get-out” workout.
Potential Side Effects of Genius Pro
- Some users report stomach issues
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a stimulant-free pre-workout, you could do a lot worse than Genius Pre. They’ve really though out the alternatives to high-dose stimulants while still providing the resources for some serious work-out intensity.
Related:
The Top 10 Best Pre-Workouts on Amazon
The 20 Best Pre-Workout Supplements With Nootropic Brain Enhancing Ingredients
