Ask your Caffeine Guide: the best way to get your fast cheap energy buzz

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July 15, 10:56 AM

by Big Red Boots, Caffeine Examiner

 

 

Today's question is from Workout Girl:
Hi - I'm a daily workout girl in my 30's and used to LOVE a pre-workout energy powder called KickStart by EAS that had about 200mg of caffeine. Well, they changed the formula and it just did not give me the energy kick that I was looking for after that. Anyway, you have reviewed soooo many energy drinks I'm overwhelmed and lost and hoping you can help me out.

I am looking for a pre-workout energy boost that does not give me the shakes but gives me good energy for a good 1.5 hour intensive workout. I don't want a heart attack but based upon my experience with KickStart I can take 200 mg of caffeine. I also don't want to spend $2/drink. Something affordable that I may be able to buy in bulk and the powder form seems to offer a better cost. Since it is pre-workout no syrup or carbonated type of drinks. I read about the Go Fast Light and that sounds good but paying $2 each drink is steep for someone who works out so often. Redline seems like too much and looks too nuts and uncomfortable. I go crazy in the gym (intensive running, biking & elliptical for up to 2 hours) and I really don't want to have my heart explode.

I've read about Zipfiz which may be closer to what I need??? I'm overwhelmed by all of these energy drinks. Can you please offer advice?

P..S. I am an athlete and a hard core workout maniac! If you don't feel sick or close to puking after your workout you did not go hard enough! ha!

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Zipfizz is great - I love many of their products, and a review of their stuff is coming shortly.  Problem with Zipfizz in your case is you are still left with buying individual servings every time you need a quick pick me up, or buying a big pack of 20 for 30-40 bucks.  In terms of cost, a Zipfizz is not that much less money than just buying yourself an energy drink a day.

There are 2 ways to go to get a quick buzz on the cheap.  Rather than head down the drink aisle, I would check out the supplies down the candy and mint aisles instead!  There are quite a few gums and mints which can pack quite a punch, and offer much more caffeine per dollar than the 2.50 cans of red bull.  Both VE2 gum and Mad Croc Gum have 40mg of caffeine - and in a 10 pack blister pack that equals about 5 energy drinks per 2 dollar package.  Another easy go to is some new mints which pack caffeine in the formula too. Both Vojo mints have Ice Breakers have 10mg a mint, both of which are really good deals. Problem with all these gums and mints is that for you to get your 200mg fix you need to consume 20 mints or 5 chicklets of gum.

Best option on this front is Foosh mints and Zenergize Burn Tablets.  Both can be bought for the amount you want to spend, and both have enough boost to get you moving.  Foosh mints have 100mg of caffeine, so 2 just pop 2 of those in your mouth, and you are ready to go!  Zenergize also makes a tablet you can drop in water with 90mg of caffeine, so you can drop a couple in your water bottle to get your fix.  Foosh is a great deal, giving you a ton of mints for under 5 bucks.  Zenergize has 10 tablets in their packs, and sell around 6-7 bucks.  Zenergize also has a ton of other stuff to help with your workout, and both are free of the calories and excess sugar that energy drinks pump in.

Best option in my opinion?  Bad coffee will always be available and always be cheap.  I am not talking a daily splurge for the good stuff, as a 5 dollar espresso drink or fine arabica coffee wont have nearly as much caffeine as a crappy Yuban or Folgers.  As strange as it sounds, the better, darker and richer your coffee is, the less caffeinated it is.  So for the best cheap caffeine fix, head to your closest cheapo coffee machine and slug down a pot!

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