Written byMatthew Magnante, ACE
Last Updated onApril 18th, 2022
Here’s a full review of Transparent Labs BULK Pre-Workout supplement.
The name Transparent Labs is so-called because there are no proprietary blends; just “Transparent” products that list all ingredients and amounts on their labels.
“We hold ourselves to the highest standard of quality and integrity, and have committed to NEVER using artificial sweeteners, food dyes, or harmful additives.”
The brand has quickly become a crowd favorite for athletes, gym-goers, and anyone else and we can see why; they do have some awesome stuff in their lineup!
Today we go over the popular BULK pre-workout in detail so that you can have a good idea of how it’ll help your training performance.
Each serving of Bulk contains 180mg of caffeine per serving. While this isn’t a crazy amount, it’s still a lot if you don’t regularly consume caffeine. Therefore, you should have already built up a decent tolerance to it before using this product. Otherwise, you could experience some unpleasant side effects.
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BULK Pre-Workout
BULK Pre-Workout
The Transparent Labs BULK Pre-Workout is designed to help you recover better with a nice dose of BCAAs and many other suitable ingredients. This all comes from a company that focuses on creating products that are fully transparent.
Transparent Labs PreSeries BULK vs. LEAN Pre-Workout
Key Ingredients
You will find that Transparent Labs BULK includes several health-promoting ingredients in addition to a performance formula:
- 6000mg citrulline malate 2:1 improves blood flow for big muscle pumps and has positive effects on performance and cardiovascular health.
- 4000mg beta-alanine helps to prevent neuromuscular fatigue and delays lactic build-up. This amino acid also supports the production of carnosine to increase performance.
- 2.5g betaine anhydrous can help with promoting the body’s natural ability to produce HGH and IGF-1, two factors that are critical in improving physical performance.
- 1.3g taurine can reduce muscle soreness/damage, improve athletic performance and endurance, and even help with the process of fat loss. (1, 2, 3, 4)
Main Ingredients/Potential Benefits
Energy and focus
Transparent Labs BULK contains 180mg caffeine anhydrous. That isn’t a whole lot for the hardcore pre-workout users. But more isn’t always better especially when you have a well-rounded formula. Too much caffeine isn’t ideal for everyone either.
Plus, they added 360mg L-theanine that is a proven cognitive enhancer that works synergistically with caffeine to heighten its effects. (5)
Then you have 70mg of mucuna prurens for cognitive benefits along with the other similar ingredients. And it’s actually a natural precursor to dopamine, thus keeping your nervous system relaxed while allowing for more control over your mental processes during a workout.
Improved Absorption
5mg of BioPerine is included in each serving of BULK. This is an extract that comes from the black pepper fruit. This ingredient helps you with absorbing the other ingredients in the supplement, thus making the product more effective all-around.
Testosterone support and general health
The ingredients found in Transparent Labs BULK are easy for the body to process. There’s 3000 IU of vitamin D3 in each serving which enhances the body’s ability to absorb calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients.
In addition, Vitamin D3 may increase the natural levels of testosterone in the body. One 12-month study found that 3,000+IU Vit D3 increased testosterone by 25%. The hormone testosterone is crucial for growth, development, increase muscle mass, and more.
A healthy and well-balanced diet is strongly recommended when using this supplement. Also, 30mg of zinc is added in each serving. Zinc deficiency is associated with low testosterone and therefore, you need enough of this essential mineral for optimal levels. Why these two are linked is not exactly fully understood though.
Zinc is also necessary for immune system health, cell division, protein production, and more.
The other important ingredient for testosterone support is the boron which maximizes the body’s use of estrogen, testosterone, and Vitamin D. It’s also important for many bodily functions and markers of health due to antioxidant effects. (5)
Recovery/lean muscle mass support
Three branched-chain amino acids are included at a 2:1:1 ratio in BULK. 2g leucine supports muscle protein synthesis therefore playing a role in the process of muscle growth and repair. (6, 7)
1g isoleucine encourages muscle growth and prevents catabolism, a process where complex muscle fibers are broken down to form smaller and less powerful ones. 1g valine reduces the buildup of tryptophan in the brain, thus providing a higher energy level and more focus for your workout.
BCAAs are effective for helping along the recovery process but it’s important to note that you do need all nine essential amino acids to maximize the benefits of BCAAs. (8, 9)
Additional Ingredients
Bulk also contains natural flavors, 600mg Stevia to sweeten up the formula without having to use artificial options or sugar. This is definitely better for overall health.
Then you have calcium silicate and silicon dioxide that are used as anti-caking agents and nothing to worry about.
How To Use
Start with half a scoop of BULK and mixing it with about 8 to 10 ounces of cold water. Consume about 20 to 30 minutes before a workout. Over time, you can move on to a full scoop of BULK with each serving. Avoid consuming more than two scoops in a day, or else you may take in more caffeine than what you can handle.
Taste
You can choose from one of five flavors when ordering Transparent Labs BULK. Sour Grape, Strawberry Lemonade, and Green Apple are among those flavors.
I tried the strawberry lemonade and thought it was more than satisfactory. It’s a little sour which I like but not overly sweet and there’s no bad aftertaste.
Cost
You can find a 30-serving container of Transparent Labs BULK for about $49. This might be a little too high in value for some as it costs around $1.60 per serving. The total is a concerning point, as other supplements are going for a dollar per serving in some instances.
BULK Pre-Workout
BULK Pre-Workout
The Transparent Labs BULK Pre-Workout is designed to help you recover better with a nice dose of BCAAs and many other suitable ingredients. This all comes from a company that focuses on creating products that are fully transparent.
How Does It Compare?
You can also compare Transparent Labs BULK with many other supplements one of which is MuscleTech NeuroCore Pre-Workout. This option includes creatine and beta-alanine with an emphasis on building larger and fuller muscles. The product also offers adaptogenic benefits to assist in handling your workout with less stress involved. You can also consider using Cellucor C4 Original as a pre-workout supplement. This option works without any calories, sugars, or carbs and only 150mg caffeine. Arginine is added for better pumps while creatine nitrate adds to the body’s overall performance. A third option is Alpha Gx7 Pre-Workout Powder. This is a supplement that offers carnitine and taurine like many other products, but this one is different in that it includes Yohimbe, a compound that improves upon the heart rate and helps get blood to move faster along the body.
Is Bulk Pre-Workout Worth The Buy?
As long as you have realistic expectations and do your part, then we’d recommend Bulk pre-workout for your training needs. It does have a nice profile of ingredients and although the testosterone-supporting ingredients aren’t going to build you hulking muscle, it’s a nice little touch.
Then, of course, you have a 1,300mg dose of taurine in addition to the top ingredients that can really have some great recovery and performance benefits.
It’s a little pricey overall but comparatively, you’re paying for more ingredient, full transparency, and a quality product. Not to mention, it’s naturally-sweetened and there are no dyes or colors added.
Overall Rating
- Ingredients: 8.25/10
- Mixability: 9/10
- Effectiveness: 9.3/10
- Taste: 8/10
- Price: 8/10
More on pre-workouts:
If you want to learn more about pre-workout supplements, we have an entire pre-workout section that we recommend you check out!
- Best Pre-Workouts for every category and goal
- Best Pre-Workouts for Weight Loss
- Best Pre-Workouts Without Creatine
- Best Tasting Pre-Workout Supplements
- Strongest Pre Workout Supplements
- Best Caffeine-Free Pre-Workout Supplements
- Best Pre-Workouts Without Beta-Alanine
- Best Pre-Workouts For Beginners
- Creatine vs. Pre-Workout
My Final Thoughts
Transparent Labs BULK will provide you with quality ingredients for supporting muscle tissue growth and other factors of performance. BULK is formulated to help you recover better with a nice dose of BCAAs and many other suitable ingredients. This all comes from a company that focuses on creating products that are fully transparent.
If you have any questions about this article, please feel free to contact Matthew Magnante by leaving a comment below.
The Review
Transparent Labs Bulk Pre-workout
Transparent Labs PreSeries BULK Pre-workout provide you with the support you need for growing muscles the right way. BULK is designed to help you get better muscles through BCAAs and many other suitable ingredients. This all comes from a company that focuses on producing products where you know what you’re getting out of them.
PROS
- No proprietary blends
- Naturally-sweetened
- No sugar
- No artificial colors/dyes
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-free
CONS
- Pricey
- Hordenine still needs more studies on humans
Review Breakdown
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Ingredients
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Mixability
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Effectiveness
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Taste
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Price
Transparent Labs Bulk Pre-workout DEALS
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Comments 3
Eating the right amount of foods rich in amino acids can help you lose weight and build more protein in the body. `This list are really helpful for my nutritional diet plan.
Thanks for the review, Matthew!
Transparent Labs Bulk is the first pre-workout that I tried, and I must say it works great. I cannot compare since I haven’t tried a lot of them, but this pre-workout gave me more strength, focus and better pump, apart from keeping me awake in the gym. (I usually workout early morning)
Hey Rohan! Thanks so much for leaving a comment. I’m happy that you found the review helpful and Bulk is pretty awesome, glad it gives you the performance boost that you need!