Founded in Texas by entrepreneur Nicholas Stella, Ryse began in 2017 just before Black Friday. Their brand increased tremendously when they partnered with Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor, one of the most colorful personalities of a colorful sport. They’ve made a reputation for quality that has taken them all over the world, and now to Brainz. 

Initial Impressions of Ryse Pre Workout

The packaging for Ryse Pre-Workout calls to mind all the kid-friendly brands of youth, with Kool-Aid, Sunny-D, and Ring Pop all accounted for and properly over-the-top. It’s a big standout from the typical black tubs and aggressive lettering of most supplement brands, and reminds you that working out can be fun.

Ryse comes as a fine powder that mixes up well and looks a bit like a Gatorade ice flavor. The Sunny-D smell is quite recognizable. 

Energy Ingredients in Ryse Pre-Workout

  • Caffeine anhydrous 370mg
  • Theobromine 200mg
  • Vitashure caffeine 46mg

Ryse Pre-Workout is definitely going to wake you up – there’s 370mg of caffeine anhydrous in one serving. For context, the FDA recommends no more than 400mg of caffeine per day – about 4-5 cups of coffee, depending on your brew. Ryse pushes it to the limit in caffeine content, more than most other pre-workouts dare. Then, they add 46mg of Vitashure caffeine, a patented product that operates as a more extended release caffeine, so you don’t crash halfway through your workout. 

On top of the caffeine, Ryse adds 200mg of theobromine, a nootropic that also works as a mild stimulant. It’s less of a stimulant than coffee, and its nootropic effects suggest that it might smooth out the caffeine jitters. 

Nootropic (Focus and Mood) Ingredients in Ryse Pre-Workout

  • Theobromine 200mg
  • Huperzia serrata extract 10mg

Ryse includes theobromine, which does have some nootropic qualities, but it’s more of a stimulant than a nootropic. Ryse also includes 10mg of Huperzia serrata extract, which some have suggested has positive effects on memory and cognitive function. It’s a very of-the-moment supplement, but it hasn’t really been supported by research. 

That’s a little disappointing to us, given we’ve considered nootropics a key part of a great workout. When your focus is clear and your mind is working, you’re likely to make better choices, keep better form, and avoid injury. 

Anti-Fatigue Ingredients in Ryse Pre-Workout

  • Beta-Alanine 3.2g

Ryse might skimp on the nootropics, but they don’t skimp on the beta-alanine. Beta-alanine is the anti-fatigue supplement of choice for most pre-workout formulas, thanks to it reputation for keeping you from hitting the wall. At a high dose of 3.2g, users should expect to encounter the beta-alanine sensations if they haven’t before. For hard-core athletes who don’t mind the vibrations, Ryse is going all-in on beta-alanine. 

Pump and Blood Flow Ingredients in Ryse Pre-Workout

  • Sodium nitrate NO3-T 500mg 

Surprisingly, Ryse only includes 500mg of Sodium nitrate NO3-T and no other ingredients that are specifically oriented toward pump and blood flow support. Sodium nitrate breaks down into nitric oxide, which opens up the blood vessels and increases power. 

Considering Ryse has intense weighlifting in mind, and the emphasis on energy, anti-fatigue, and strength support, their pre-workout should really give more consideration to vasodilation. 

Strength Support & Body Composition Ingredients in Ryse Pre-Workout

  • Betaine anhydrous 1.5g
  • Betaine nitrate 1g
  • Choline 600mg
  • Choline Bitartrate 1500mg

Another sign of a solid pre-workout is the strength support ingredients, and as with energy and anti-fatigue, Ryse puts a premium on strength. First off, there’s no creatine, but if that’s your jam, you probably have your preferred creatine already. But Ryse pops off with two forms of betaine: the more conventional betaine anhydrous, which we see often in pre-workout formulas, and betaine nitrate, a form that is more readily available for absorption. Together, they make the optimal 2.5g of betaine necessary for good fat-to-muscle body composition. Ryse wants you to build muscle! 

Then Ryse piles on two forms of choline: 600mg of choline, and 1500mg of choline bitartrate. Choline has a lot of uses in pre-workouts. Choline helps improve communication between the muscles, and improves recovery time. Under stress (like a heavy workout), it even functions as a nootropic, increasing cognitive function. 

Electrolyte Ingredients in Ryse Pre-Workout

  • Sodium 310 mg
  • Potassium 80 mg

You know what makes you muscles contract? Electrolytes. You know what you lose in a heavy workout? Electrolytes. You know what Ryse includes in its pre-workout formula, unlike a lot of other pre-workouts? Electrolytes. 

Not only does Ryse include sodium and potassium, both of which are critical for keeps your muscles hydrated and contracting. They include both in optimal amounts, 310mg of sodium and 80mg of potassium. That’s a rarity in a pre-workout, and gives you a clear idea that Ryse wants to meet all your nutritional needs. 

The Extra Mile? Additional Pre-Workout Ingredients in Ryse Pre-Workout 

  • Calcium Potassium Phosphate Citrate 500mg
  • Calcium 90mg
  • Phosphorous 50mg

Ryse makes an interesting choice by including 500mg of Calci-K – Calcium Potassium Phosphate Citrate. This unique, patented combination makes calcium more readily absorbent and useable for your body. Along with 90mg of calcium and 50mg of phosphorous, Ryse is giving users a strong set of post-workout recovery ingredients in their pre-workout, making it a great all-around product. 

Taste & Flavors

Ryse has made some corporate deals to get exclusive flavors like Ring Pop, Kool-Aid, Bazooka, and other trusted flavors from your childhood. We tried the Sunny-D. 

It tastes like Sunny-D – exactly like Sunny-D. If you’ve got fond memories of Sunny-D, or ever dreamed of being the awesomely 90s kid skateboarding through the school in his backward baseball cap, you will not be disappointed. 

Who Ryse is For 

Ryse is for users who want some serious stimulant action, with a load of caffeine and strength support ingredients. 

Who Ryse is Not For

Ryse is not for any consumers who are sensitive to caffeine or beta-alanine, or who want a nootropic formula. 

Potential Side Effects of Ryse Pre-Workout

  • Caffeine crash, beta-alanine skin reactions 

Final Verdict  

Taken all in all, Ryse is an excellent product for consumers who want a huge boost of energy and power for their workout. But it’s better than that, with strong post-workout support built in as well to make a solid all-around supplement formula.

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