PreSeries Bulk (v2) is one of the most complete formula's we've seen to date.
Each 23 gram scoop is specifically designed to increase blood flow, improve muscular performance, all while using a smooth and long lasting stimulant blend.
Bulk contains highly bioavailable minerals and vitamins to help with testosterone production, as well as nootropics to optimize focus.
And it doesn't have any artificial colors, preservatives or coloring, making this one of the most future-proof pre workout's we've seen to date.
Transparent Labs is one of the best supplement companies.
Unless you've been living under a rock (or a squat rack), you've probably heard of this company.
If you haven't, then you're probably thinking, like us, another lab company, eh?
But they are much more than that.
Just like their name, they are excellent with transparency with their supplements and formulate everything with full dosages without using any artificial ingredients (uses only natural colors and flavors).
This Utah-based company is one of the most recommended when it comes to clinically dosed supplements.
You won't find Transparent Labs supplements on Amazon, eBay, GNC, Walmart or really any small or big retail stores.
Who buys from GNC with their high prices anyway?
But they ship worldwide.
You won't have to deal with the extra fee's retailers would take (I'm looking at you GNC).
They don't spend anything on marketing, they have spread quickly because of their reputation.
This makes their products cheaper, passing on the savings to you.
PreSeries Bulk is one of their 3 pre workouts, along with Stim-Free and Lean.
We're going to breakdown the ingredients, so you know what you should (and shouldn't) expect.
Bulk features a fully transparent label with research-backed ingredients.
You'll even see dosages for the “other / inactive” ingredients.
From muscular endurance, pump inducing to strength / muscle growth ingredients and testosterone support.
Very few pre-workouts have been successfully using the same formula for more than 5 years in a row.
The unique aspect of this formula is the testosterone blend.
[Check out Vitality, the newest test booster from Transparent Labs]
It uses natural ingredients to enhance the “natural” production of testosterone.
And it seems other sites seem to place this pre workout high on their list.
Being future proof and containing the best ingredients you would ever need for a tough workout (and nothing you don't need), PreSeries Bulk is undoubtedly going to be a top choice for years to come.
Considering how much PreSeries Bulk packs, it's price shouldn't be a surprise.
It's priced at 49$.
But using the 10% off coupon, it's cheaper than Pre Kaged and Pre Jym ($1.74 vs Bulk's $1.4 per serving)
Use this coupon code: FITFREK.
And as the same suggests, Bulk is made for those who have the goal of gaining muscle.
You may find cheaper pre workouts but they contain half the dosages and require double servings for full servings, or they may be a pre workout of just stimulants.
Any pre workout that contains as much as Bulk will have the same pricing structure but getting multiple bottles will cut down costs.
If you get 2 then it goes as low as $40 each.
If you're focused on cutting, check out PreSeries Lean, it features nearly the same ingredients except with a thyroid blend for increasing thermogenesis.
If you're looking for the strongest pre workouts.
Or if you're not sure and want something for performance / gains, go through our buying guide for pre workouts.
Compared to the hardcore pre workouts that have just 5 grams per serving, Bulk has 24 grams per serving but still costs about the same as it only requires one scoop to get full dosages.
In this review, we'll dig into each ingredient and how it is beneficial for power, endurance and muscle gains.
And women can take this pre workout.
And ladies, don't let the “testosterone blend” intimidate you.
The testosterone blend made out of minerals and natural ingredients that can be taken by both genders.
You'll find out in this review why the Transparent Labs Pre Workout is one of the best, future-proof formula's we've found to date.
If you want less beta alanine and more weight loss ingredients, check out Transparent Labs Lean pre workout.
The original Bulk is great.
But the limited edition makes it even better.
This is the Bulk Black that has ingredients that the original doesn't.
While it has the same ingredients, it has more premium stuff.
For energy, it has more stims, close to 300mg.
It also helps with mental function as it has more nootropics.
Other than that, it features unique flavors.
You can check it out here.
When it comes to pre workouts, I enjoy the potent ones.
As you have probably guessed, exotic pre workouts like Crack and Excelsior are some of my favorites.
So when I look at Bulk and see the 210mg caffeine and the other stims that are nothing like the kind that I'm used to, I don't think anything of it.
But that's the thing about Bulk.
It doesn't put you through the high level of energy, along with the crash that typically follows a few hours after.
I've taken Bulk for months and after I come off, I don't feel any different nor do I feel like I need 400mg of caffeine to function normally.
That's why I like and recommend Bulk, it's reliable and it doesn't build up a dependency that puts me through withdrawals or cravings for more.
Here's my review on it…
As soon as I start drinking it, I can feel the tingles that come from beta alanine.
And it isn't like normal tingles, it's heavy because the dose is huge, 4g is the biggest I've seen in a pre workout and it certainly isn't your average.
By the time I get to the gym, about 45-60 minutes later, I feel like the energy has built up nicely and I don't feel any jitters or anything that would typically come from a heavy stim pre workout.
It's a steady flow of energy.
And when I get past my warm up sets, I feel like I'm well connected and pumped to lift heavy.
I've taken this on empty stomach and in a fasted state where I wouldn't have breakfast, just perhaps a banana.
I feel like the minerals and vitamins here help ensure my body gets the foundation of nutrients it needs before a workout, and with the nootropics on top of it, I'm a pretty focused state hours after my workout.
The 4g BCAA combined with citrulline malate, betaine anhydrous and taurine helps with pumps.
It would've been nice to get some agmatine to prolong the pumps, but all in all, the energy is perfect for a daily pre workout and the effects build up thanks to the ergogenic aids.
Guess what?
Transparent Labs has upgraded this pre workout to V2 for the first time in years.
They have changed a few things.
We'll breakdown these changes here, we'll discuss what was removed and what was added.
We've put the old label beside the new one so you can see the changes, see below:
Guess what?
Transparent Labs has upgraded this pre workout to V2 for the first time in years.
They have changed a few things.
We'll breakdown these changes here, we'll discuss what was removed and what was added.
We've put the old label beside the new one so you can see the changes, see below:
What remains the same is the clinical doses of citrulline malate, BetaPure betaine anhydrous, beta-alanine, BCAA’s and taurine.
Transparent Labs believes that this is the foundation of Bulk and it’s where the strength of it comes from.
Not to mention these ingredients also help with muscle volumization and nitric oxide production. (1, 2, 3, 4)
The minerals also remain the same as it has zinc chelate, boron citrate and vitamin D3.
These ingredients are specifically put in for testosterone support. (5, 6, 7)
The stimulants are the same too, with the huge dose of theanine at 360mg paired with 210mg caffeine.
This ratio is due to research showing effectiveness when used together for optimal cognitive function. (8, 9, 10)
What was changed?
These ingredients have been removed:
And they’ve been replaced with:
The removed ingredients were unnecessary as Transparent Labs felt the added ingredients prove much more useful when it comes to cognitive function, while enhancing focus and reducing the onset of fatigue. (11, 12, 13)
And Bulk now features tyrosine, instead of N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine.
Switching N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine to plain L-tyrosine is not only cost effective but it’s more effective.
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine does a poor job at converting to L-Tyrosine and even if it does, it doesn’t do it at the rate that Tyrosine does as the study shows here.
BioPerine was helpful with bioavailability but it’s been replaced with something better and that’s Astragin.
Astragin is an adaptogen and it can help increase bioavailability and uptake of ingredients taken alongside it but it can also be paired with BioPerine.
And finally, but not least, is the minerals (potassium and sodium) and Vitamin B6 / B12.
The reason why creatine isn’t here is because they have a standalone post workout for creatine which is also paired with HMB to maximize strength gains.
Transparent Labs lives up to their name as they've fully disclosed their fillers (as you can see in the picture above).
With the scoops being almost as big as protein scoops, you'll see why you should start utilizing this bazooka of a pre workout to make some more gains.
It's got everything from nitric oxide (6 grams of citrulline malate), testosterone support to BCAA's and betaine anhydrous for strength and muscle gains.
While this isn't going make you feel like you're on crack (like our strongest pre workouts), you'll definitely be making some gains, and getting some insane pumps, thanks to the profile.
You can buy bulk ingredients if you're really after the “perfect pre workout” and customize it in any way that you choose it.
We got a guide if you'd like some help finding the perfect pre workout for yourself.
What's a pre workout without some testosterone support?
Just in time for bulking season if you ask us!
Most pre workouts have vitamin B complexes, C, and maybe some electrolytes.
But only a very few actually have testosterone supporting vitamins like what you see here.
Vitamin D is one of the most common vitamins that people are deficient with. (It's the sunlight vitamin that most of us miss out on)
It's important for bone health, maintaining the immune system, and most importantly, it helps increase testosterone levels.
Vitamin D has been demonstrated to improve sleep quality, thus naturally increasing the production of GH.
With vitamin D3 being the most bioavailble form of vitamin D, you'll want to have the D3 version when supplementing.
Zinc may as well maybe one of your favorite ingredients. If you exercise intensely, you're most likely to be low on this.
With high exertion (both in the gym, and in life; stress), your testosterone levels naturally decrease but research has found that supplementing with zinc prevents that, as it helps promote higher free testosterone levels and not to mention improved endurance and thyroid levels.
Zinc is one of the essential minerals that is involved with maintaining many of the normal body functions. If you're serious about making gains or just being healthy, you'll want to have this in your supplement arsenal.
Mucuna has been removed from Bulk as it was seen as unnecessary.
Both a testosterone booster and a dopamine enhancer, mucuna pruriens is known for it's stimulating effects on testosterone, and it indirectly increases GH production.
With it in PreSeries Bulk, you'll be more motivated as it also increases dopamine / pleasure.
But most importantly, it helps with testosterone production and decreases stress.
The recommended dosage for Mucuna however, is 100mg 3 times a day, or at least a bit more than 70mg.
So while this seems low, remember that there's other testosterone increasing ingredients in here. It's one of those ingredients that's nice to have but it won't be missed if it wasn't included.
Another essential mineral that you should be using. It's been shown to maintain and improve bone health.
An interesting find on this mineral in studies, is that it tends to decrease SHBG (sex-hormone-binding globulin), a protein that binds to testosterone in the blood.
Decreasing SHBG means that you can have more testosterone free and help you make more gains. It's basically like an anti-estrogen which is perfect in any testosterone booster.
The everlasting ingredient of the bunch. Citrulline Malate is awesome for endurance, pumps and delaying fatigue.
It's the super version of arginine as it's more bioavailable and much more effective.
Citrulline is the amazing ergogenic ingredient that can increase overall performance.
The increase in nitric oxide will lead to more endurance, increased overall performance and strength. Like beta-alanine, it buffers ammonia and lactic acid, leading to greater output in performance and making you last through an intense workout more efficiently.
It has the perfect dosage as it's recommended to have anywhere from 6-8 grams of citrulline malate pre workout. If you're looking for pure citrulline rather than the malate version, check out Pre-Kaged.
After learning what citrulline malate does (buffers lactic acid), including beta-alanine just further makes this pre workout nearly limitless for increasing performance and gains.
What beta-alanine does is that it binds to histidine and turns into carnosine, which is super effective for buffering lactic acid.
With 4 grams per serving, you'll undoubtedly experience a tingling sensation (some people naturally don't) but it's totally safe and temporary.
Rest assured though, you're getting the full clinical dosage. There are shortcuts taken here by Transparent Labs.
Training without BCAA's is like leaving a pile of cash on the table hoping no one would steal it.
BCAA's is the building block of muscle protein synthesis and it can make the biggest difference in the world.
Not only can it speed up the fat loss process but it can help maintain and promote muscle synthesis.
It basically keeps you in a prime anabolic state.
Since it stimulates protein synthesis, it'll also increase recovery, decrease soreness and fight off catabolism so you keep growing and maintaining your gains. (See our BCAA buying guide if you're looking for BCAA supplements).
The fat burning pre workout, Lean, has less BCAA's to cut down on the total calories.
Check out Lean if you need a thermogenesis focused pre workout.
Training without BCAA's is like leaving a pile of cash on the table hoping no one would steal it.
BCAA's is the building block of muscle protein synthesis and it can make the biggest difference in the world.
Not only can it speed up the fat loss process but it can help maintain and promote muscle synthesis.
It basically keeps you in a prime anabolic state.
Since it stimulates protein synthesis, it'll also increase recovery, decrease soreness and fight off catabolism so you keep growing and maintaining your gains. (See our BCAA buying guide if you're looking for BCAA supplements).
The fat burning pre workout, Lean, has less BCAA's to cut down on the total calories.
Check out Lean if you need a thermogenesis focused pre workout.
Mainly a muscle volumizer (and a mental focus enhancer), taurine works to pull in more water and nutrients to the muscle.
It's not so much of a nitric oxide ingredient as it is a water filler. It's like glycerol monosterate but it's a conditionally essential amino acid so your body does need it (it's present mainly in the heart, brain and skeletal muscle).
When taken alongside BCAA's, citrulline and the other soreness “fighters” here, it works much better in making you feel more recovered and fresh.
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine was once believed to be better than L-tyrosine because of it's ability to cross the blood brain barrier of the brain.
While this may still be true, it still doesn't covert to tyrosine as well as, well, L-tyrosine.
Tyrosine on it's own works much better.
It's used to enhance focus and promotes the production of dopamine to help you feeling good.
Like taurine, Tyrosine can be consumed through food and the body produces it.
But in times of stress, like exercise or lifestyle, it’s depleted much quicker.
It helps to take it in supplement form.
Research from the journal of Military Medicine discovered that low levels of catecholamine neurotransmitters can negatively affect physical and mental performance. [14]
And this is where tyrosine is useful because it’s a precursor to a few catecholamine neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. And as a precursor, it can produce more of these neurotransmitters and will help delay mental and physical fatigue, thus improving your workouts. [15].
Tyrosine is the best form you can get, which is why Transparent Labs have replaced N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine with it.
Choline is a less effective version and has been replaced with Alpha GPC.
Known more of a nootropic than anything else, choline helps you feel more connected to your workouts, increasing more mental focus and concentration.
While choline bitartrate is the cheaper version of choline, it is still quite effective at 500mg and you'll definitely benefit from it here.
Up next is one of the best forms of choline you can get.
Alpha GPC is often used in supplements to help increase focus, as well as strength and bodybuilding.
In fact, research done by the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that using 600mg of Alpha GPC supplemented for 6 days increased lower body strength by a significant amount. [16]
This means supplementing with Alpha GPC will help increase strength, mostly in the lower body, but there isn’t enough research to confirm that this can also help with upper body strength.
The main highlight of Alpha GPC is its ability to bring clarity and focus as it can enhance one’s cognition functions.
This will help enhance that mind to muscle connection and increase overall power output. [17], [18]
Present in green tea, L-Theanine promotes a smooth-like focus when helps prolong the effects of caffeine and keeps you in a “zen-like” focus.
With a 2:1 ratio, there's 360mg of l-theanine and 180mg of caffeine.
It's another nootropic that'll get you more connected to your muscles, thus increasing that mind-to-muscle connection we are all after.
Basically you'll feel more in control of the energy that you get from caffeine.
No anxiety, stress, or anything that gets you shaky and looking like a crack-head on pre workouts!
Transparent Labs has included 30mg Infinergy DiCaffeine Malate, a slower acting source of caffeine for an extra kick of long lasting energy for those hard workouts.
Caffeine is the powerhouse of energy, caffeine simply helps you feel more awake, alert and “in the mood”.
Some pre workouts have it dosed at 500mg, some have it at 100mg, some don't have it at all (stim-free)
The clinically studied and proven dosage is at 250mg to 300mg.
The 180mg dosage included here won't get you feeling like you want to jump off a building and fly to China, but it will be enough to get you feeling like a Jedi with a controllable force that is in the zone.
Pre workouts are meant to increase overall performance and have you making more gains.
So if you're looking for a pre workout to help you jump off walls and make you feel temporarily awesome without making the most out of your gym efforts, then you should either take a look at our strongest pre workouts or our buying guide.
You can use Stim Booster with Bulk to make it even better.
L-Norvaline has been removed for Bulk V2 as it wasn't necessary to have.
In case we need to remind you, we've got some clinically dosed N.O. boosters for muscle pumps so far and having l-norvaline here is just going beyond all of our expectations.
Derived from the amino acid l-valine, it helps improve blood flow (indirectly increases cardiovascular abilities).
It's a luxury to have when stacked with other nitric oxide boosters as it further enhances the benefits.
It stops nitric oxide (Arginase) from breaking down which means more and longer pumps, better nutrient delivery and increased blood flow.
Synephrine has been removed as well.
Derived from bitter orange, synephrine is a fat burning stimulant that is both, Beta-2 and Beta-3, andrenergic receptor agonist.
What that means is that it increases energy, performance and mental functions.
So combined with the other ingredients in PreSeries Bulk (like L-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, Choline Bitratrate, and L-Theanine) you'll be feeling more in the zone, have a better mind-to-muscle connection and feel centered with your workout.
With synephrine, your body is more likely to use fat as a energy source.
That's a double boo-ya if there was ever one!
Since Transparent Labs has added in theobromine and caffeine malate, there isn't a need for this ingredient anymore so it was removed.
Lke Synephrine, it functions as a Beta-2 adrenergic agonist and it helps prevent the breakdown of noradrenaline.
When Hordenine is used with other stimulants, it helps prolong the energizing effects and have you feeling more energized for a longer period of time.
You'll basically feel more focused, alert and experience much more energy.
As with all of the ingredients present in this formula, you'll love how well everything goes and works together.
This is the cousin of caffeine and it’s often paired with stimulants to help produce more energy.
Theobromine works more in the body than in the mind unlike caffeine.
While they are both related, theobromine works by producing feel-good, euphoric energy.
It doesn’t increase heart rate, so the boost isn’t going to make you feel anxious, but it’ll rather produce a nice steady feel-good state. [19]
This works well when it’s paired with tyrosine which is also in Bulk.
All of these ingredients are better absorbed when something like this is included.
Astragin increases the bioavailability of all the ingredients that it’s taken with.
It’s a proprietary blend of two plant extracts, Panax notoginseng and Astragalus membranaceus. Both of these ingredients work in synergy to enhance transporters in the intestines. [20]
This compound is widely used in supplements for various purposes including gut health, which makes it a superb addition in Bulk.
This is the cousin of caffeine and it’s often paired with stimulants to help produce more energy.
Theobromine works more in the body than in the mind unlike caffeine.
While they are both related, theobromine works by producing feel-good, euphoric energy.
It doesn’t increase heart rate, so the boost isn’t going to make you feel anxious, but it’ll rather produce a nice steady feel-good state. [19]
This works well when it’s paired with tyrosine which is also in Bulk.
PreSeries Bulk comes in 3 6 different flavors and they've recently improved their flavors so it'll taste a bit better.
And even when it tasted a little bad, everyone was and still is addicted to this stuff because it works so well.
Since we've written this, they have revised and improved the flavoring system with Bulk V2, thanks to the feedback of the users.
Now they have 6 different flavors available (they come out with new flavors almost yearly).
We're as guilty as anyone.
Pre workouts with 5 gram servings seemed great.
They usually contained several ingredients, in a mega prop blend, in undisclosed dosages.
But PreSeries Bulk has changed things for the better.
It redefines what pre workouts are suppose to do.
Proper and clincially dosed ingredients are blended together to help take workouts and performance to the next level.
In result, gains come at a faster pace and you have an edge to break PR's.
You'll recover faster, feel less soreness, get more pumped, and feel more in the zone.
And the servings are the size of protein scoops and there isn't any artificial flavors or dyes.
A pre workout needs to be reliable.
It needs to not be 100% energy focused.
And that's why we believe PreSeries Bulk is future proof.
It's everything we could ask for in a pre workout that's as close to natural as possible.
Transparent Labs has engineered something super, and it's sustainable to use for the long term.
It doesn't need to be reformulated in any major way and it's proved this over the past few years with it's growing popularity.
They do have a stim-free version which is great if you're looking to take a break from stimulants.
Use coupon code FITFREK
Transparent Labs has revised Bulk with better ingredients while keeping the price the same, thanks to the support of their customers.
Bulk is a pre workout that's future-proof and an excellent choice for a long time to come.
