Gold Standard Pre-Workout Reviews

Optimum Nutrition is expanding their Gold Standard brand, and introducing a new pre-workout with a name that’s about as exciting as a wedding in Hawaii.

Of course, it’s hard to fault Optimum Nutrition. The Gold Standard is one of the most recognizable brands in the supplement industry, and it’s smart to leverage that recognition. GNC is already shamelessly ripping them off, and other companies will likely follow suit.

Ingredients and Flavors

Gold Standard Pre-Workout is transparently dosed, and sticking with staid ingredients like beta alanine and creatine. Optimum Nutrition has also added Astragin to improve nutrient absorption and biovailability.

For pump and better mental focus there’s also citrulline malate and n-acetyl-l-tyrosine. What’s more, there’s a pretty modest amount of caffeine ─ 175 mg per serving.

This is actually refreshing, as I see way too many new pre-workouts mega-dosed with 300 mg or more caffeine per serving.

Price and Availability

Gold Standard Pre-Workout is available right now through the official Optimum Nutrition website and Nutraplanet, with more retailers likely to be added soon. While neither site lists the pineapple flavor promoted in Optimum’s press kit, at least four flavors ─ blueberry lemonade, fruit punch, green apple, and watermelon, will all be available.

My Experience Using Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard

As with any beta alanine product, the first thing you’re going to feel is a tingling sensation in your skin. Depending on your sensitivity, you might want to start off with half a scoop. If the tingling makes you uncomfortable, just know that this is normal and it only lasts a few minutes.

While I wasn’t particularly impressed by the formula, Gold Standard Pre-Workout is a good introductory product for someone who’s never taken a pre-workout, or looking for just a basic one. You’re also going to need to double the dosage to get recommended dosages of ingredients like creatine and beta alanine.

Should You Buy Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard?

As I mentioned above, this is going to be a great novice workout for someone new to pre-workouts. There’s just not enough in here to excite veteran pre-workout users.

It’s also not clear right now whether Optimum Nutrition will phase out their current pre-workout Platinum Pre, but this might be your last chance to stock up on it.