Best pre-workout for calisthenics

Firstly, this list is my personal top 3, as somebody that has a very high caffeine tolerance and has tried dozens of different pre-workout brands over the years. There are a lot of variables - such as your tolerance to certain supplements, the way you train, etc - so do not take this list as a definitive ranking, but more as a loose guide if you’re completely new to pre-workouts or are looking for a new one to try.

I’d also like to add a special mention to the original Grenade preworkout, that came in a plastic military inspired box. This was the GOATed pre-workout; high in caffeine, high in beta-alanine and tasted like nothing I’d ever tried. I’m not sure why they stopped making this, but the new version that replaced it is very disappointing.

One last special mention goes to Craze, by Driven Sports. This was taken off the shelves in 2013 when it was found to contain a meth-like substance. This increased the demand and I could have re-sold my tub for 3x the original price on eBay.

Some other points that I’d like to add:
- There’s a reason that most pre-workouts have a strong flavour and are a bright, artificial colour. I had a pre-workout not too long ago that had a really weak flavour and, once mixed, it was white, and it made me realise how important the placebo effect is.
- Most of the caffeine free pre-workout’s are rubbish.
- Do not use it for continuous exercise. I used to own a business that installed outdoor fitness equipment and it required long days of physical work. I tried taking pre-workout before working a few times and it just made me feel tired. Pre-workout is best used when you’re training in a way that has rest breaks (ie a structured workout with sets and reps).
- Do not use it for prolonged cardio. Same as above; it won’t help and it might give you a heart attack.