New Arrivals

What is Naughty Boy creatine?

Naughty Boy Creatine is pure, micronised creatine monohydrate. A 5 g serving provides 5,000 mg of creatine monohydrate, with zero calories, zero carbohydrate and zero fat. The manufacturer states a micronisation of 200 mesh, meaning a very fine powder that dissolves without lumps.

Naughty Boy is a British brand. On this product, there is nothing to comment on other than the raw material: the ingredient list runs to a single line, with no colouring, no artificial flavouring, no preservative, and no sweetener or bulking agent in the unflavoured version.

The formats in the catalogue: 150 g, 300 g, 450 g and a 120-capsule version. The 300 g format comes in an unflavoured version and in flavoured versions — Lemon + Lime, Fresh Orange, Blue Razz Bon Bons, Pink Lemonade and Strawberry — while the 150 g and 450 g formats are offered unflavoured. The rest of the brand can be browsed in our Naughty Boy section, and the other products in the category in our creatine monohydrate selection.

What does a serving of Naughty Boy creatine contain?

Creatine monohydrate is the only molecule in this catalogue with a health claim genuinely authorised in Europe for performance. The official wording is as follows: creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise. This claim may only be used if the product provides at least 3 g of creatine per day — which is the case here, even at the half serving. In a category where almost nothing can legally be asserted, that is an exception worth knowing about.

A second claim exists, less well known, and it concerns those over 55: daily creatine consumption can enhance the effect of resistance training on muscle strength in adults over the age of 55 years. It is conditional on an intake of 3 g per day combined with resistance training carried out at least three times a week. Here again, this is a regulatory fact, not a sales argument.

On micronisation, let us stay measured. A 200 mesh powder dissolves better and settles less at the bottom of the glass: that is a real convenience. It does not, on the other hand, change the amount of creatine the body absorbs, and an ordinary creatine monohydrate, well stirred, does exactly the same job. It is an advantage of texture, not of effectiveness, and it should be presented as such.

The formula contains no additives: no colouring, no preservative, no filler. It suits vegetarian and vegan diets, and it is naturally gluten-free. Note, however: the flavoured versions necessarily contain a flavouring and a sweetener, which are absent from the unflavoured version. If you want the single-ingredient formula, choose the unflavoured version.

Ingredient list

Unflavoured version: 100% pure creatine monohydrate, micronised (200 mesh). Single ingredient.

Flavoured versions: the composition also includes a flavouring and a sweetener. Refer to the label of the flavour you receive, as the detail is not disclosed in the data available to us.

No declared allergens. Gluten-free. Suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. The manufacturer does not disclose the dose per capsule for the 120-capsule format: refer to the packaging.

How do you take Naughty Boy creatine?

Serving: 3 to 5 g a day. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of water or juice. Timing: the time of day does not matter. Frequency: one serving a day, every day, including rest days. Duration: continuous; the manufacturer suggests a one-week break after eight weeks of use.

The most important point, and the one least often understood: creatine is not taken "before the session". Its effect rests on the gradual saturation of the muscle, which takes one to two weeks to build up and which does not depend on when you take it. Take it whenever you are most certain to remember — at breakfast, in your evening shaker, it makes no difference. Consistency counts, the schedule does not.

Rest days count as much as the others. This is the most common mistake with this product: stopping at the weekend lets muscle stores fall back, and you lose the benefit of the preceding weeks. One serving every day, without exception.

The loading phase is optional. You can saturate faster by taking 20 g a day for five days, but that brings nothing extra after a month — and it causes digestive discomfort in a lot of people. Three to five grams a day, patiently, gives the same result.

Drink more during the period you are taking it. Creatine draws water into the muscle; increasing your fluid intake is a simple precaution and one systematically recommended by manufacturers. Being unflavoured, the powder mixes without any trouble into a pre-workout, a protein shaker or a fruit juice.

Who is this creatine for, and who is it not for?

It suits any adult taking part in a sport involving short, intense efforts: weight training, sprinting, team sports, combat sports. Along with protein, it is the best-documented supplement in the shop, and one of the very few whose effect is recognised by European regulation.

It is not suitable for under-18s, nor for pregnant or breastfeeding women. The manufacturer asks that you seek the advice of a healthcare professional in the case of kidney or heart problems, or ongoing treatment. This point is not negotiable: if you have a known kidney condition, speak to your doctor before buying, not after.

What you should not expect from it. Creatine does not make you lose weight, does not replace training and has no effect at all in someone who does not train. Nor does it artificially "puff you up": the one- to two-kilo weight gain seen at the start of a course is water held in the muscle, which is normal and harmless — but better known before you step on the scales.

One last point, often misunderstood: roughly one person in five responds little or not at all to creatine, because their muscle stores are naturally high already. This shows up on no label and cannot be predicted. If after two months of regular use you notice nothing, it is neither the product's fault nor yours.

Creatine monohydrate or Creapure?

This is the comparison that comes up every time, and the answer is simpler than people think.

Creapure is a creatine monohydrate, manufactured in Germany under a registered trade mark. The molecule is strictly the same; what changes is the manufacturing process and the level of impurity control. For someone who wants maximum traceability, our Creapure section meets that requirement, at a higher price.

A good-quality standard creatine monohydrate does the same job. That is what we say over the counter, and we stand by it: the molecule is identical, the European claim is the same, and the effect depends only on how consistently you take it. The price premium buys a guarantee of process, not extra results.

As for the other forms, let us be direct: creatine HCL and Kre-Alkalyn are more expensive and have never demonstrated any superiority over monohydrate. They are of interest to the rare people who digest the classic form poorly, which is a good reason — the only one.

Frequently asked questions

How much creatine per serving?

5 g of creatine monohydrate per full serving, or 3 g at the half serving. Both doses allow the European claim to be made, which requires at least 3 g a day. Count on 30 servings of 5 g for the 150 g format, 60 for the 300 g and 90 for the 450 g.

What is the best time to take it?

The one you will remember every day. Creatine works through gradual saturation of the muscle, over one to two weeks: when you take it makes no difference at all, contrary to what you often read. Consistency, on the other hand, makes an enormous one.

Do you need a loading phase?

No, it is optional. Twenty grams a day for five days saturates faster, but after a month the result is identical to that of a daily 3 to 5 g intake. Loading also causes digestive discomfort in a lot of people.

Should you take it on rest days?

Yes, absolutely, and this is the most common mistake. Stopping at the weekend lets muscle stores fall back and cancels out part of the work of the preceding weeks. One serving every day, training or not.

Does creatine cause weight gain?

A gain of one to two kilos is common at the start of a course: it is water held in the muscle, not fat. It is normal, harmless, and it even contributes to the effect you are after. Better to know it before stepping on the scales.

What is the difference between the unflavoured and the flavoured versions?

The unflavoured version contains only one ingredient: creatine. The flavoured versions add a flavouring and a sweetener. If you mix your creatine into a shaker or a juice, the unflavoured version is more versatile and its ingredient list shorter.

What is the dose for the capsule version?

The manufacturer does not disclose the dose per capsule in the data available to us, for the 120-capsule format. Refer to the label of the product you receive, and work out how many capsules are needed to reach 3 to 5 g a day.

Where to buy Naughty Boy creatine?

The 150 g, 300 g, 450 g and 120-capsule formats can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is the first product we recommend to someone starting out in weight training, even before a protein: few supplements are as well documented, and none is as simple to use. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition section.

What is FULL AF by 5% Nutrition?

5% Nutrition Rich Piana FULL AF is a pre-workout with no stimulants whatsoever. No caffeine, no stimulant extracts: the formula is built solely around muscle pump and cellular hydration. It is a category in its own right, often misunderstood, and this product is one of its most heavily dosed representatives.

Five active ingredients make up the formula: 8 g of L-citrulline, 2 g of L-taurine, 2 g of GlycerSize™ (65% glycerol), 2 g of anhydrous betaine and 750 mg of Nitrosigine® (inositol-stabilised arginine silicate). Everything is quantified, there is no proprietary blend — rare enough in this section to be worth pointing out.

The flavours on offer: Wildberry, Push Pop and Blue Raspberry. The product appears in our caffeine-free booster section, and also stands comparison with the formulas in the creatine-free pre-workout section.

What does one serving of FULL AF contain?

The manufacturer publishes neither the macronutrient breakdown, nor the salt content, nor the number of servings per tub: we are flagging that rather than estimating it. The 60 kcal come mostly from the glucose polymers used as a carrier.

The figure that makes this whole page is the 8 g of citrulline per serving. For context: ordinary pre-workouts provide 1 to 2 g, serious formulas 4 to 6 g. Very few products reach 8 g, quite simply because citrulline is expensive and takes up room in the scoop. At that dose, the price of the tub explains itself.

One regulatory point is interesting, and rare in this category: betaine has an authorised claim in Europe — it contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism, from an intake of 1.5 g a day. The 2 g in this formula exceeds that threshold. The regulations require it to be stated that a daily intake in excess of 4 g may significantly increase blood cholesterol levels: at 2 g per serving and one serving a day, you stay below that, but the information has to appear. For citrulline, taurine, glycerol and arginine, no claim is authorised.

How should you dose FULL AF?

Serving: 1 full scoop, without exceeding one a day. Liquid: 250 to 350 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 minutes before training, preferably on an empty stomach. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer gives no cycle or mandatory break — logically enough, since there is no stimulant to build tolerance to.

One particular feature of this product: it can also be taken on rest days, in the morning on an empty stomach. The manufacturer recommends this to maintain the sensation of muscle fullness, and it is a use that would make no sense with a stimulant pre-workout.

Drink plenty. This is not a throwaway piece of advice: glycerol works by holding water, and without a sufficient fluid intake the formula cannot do anything. Allow at least an extra half a litre on the day you use it.

The manufacturer also states that it is possible to pair it with a stimulant pre-workout, by taking FULL AF thirty minutes beforehand. It is a common combination among advanced users: the pump on one side, the energy on the other. If you do it, add up the caffeine from the second product, not from this one — it has none.

Who is FULL AF for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at three clearly identified profiles. Those who train in the evening and do not want to sacrifice their sleep. Those who are sensitive to stimulants — palpitations, anxiety, tremors — and have given up on conventional pre-workouts. And those who work in long sets, in the 8 to 12 rep range, and are after the sensation of a pump.

The restrictions are shorter than on a stimulant product, but they exist. For adults over 18 only. Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are on any medical treatment. Do not exceed one scoop a day. The product contains COCONUT derivatives, which rules it out if you are allergic to tree nuts. It also contains FD&C Yellow No. 5, tartrazine, for which European regulations require the statement: may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Finally, do not use the product if the safety seal is damaged.

What not to expect from it: energy. That is the most frequent misunderstanding about this product. Without caffeine, you will feel no kick, no heightened alertness, nothing edgy. You may feel your muscles fuller, and that is all the formula is aiming for. Nor should you expect strength or muscle from it: a pump is a sensation, not a result.

FULL AF or a stimulant pre-workout?

The two do not replace each other, and the best advice we can give is to work out which of the two problems you are trying to solve.

A stimulant pre-workout is the right choice when the problem is finding the will to go. A session at 6:00 in the morning, a heavy end to the week, motivation at a low ebb: caffeine is what solves that, and nothing else. The formulas in the pre-workouts section typically provide 200 to 400 mg of caffeine, often with more modest citrulline doses. They also win on price: citrulline costs more than caffeine, and a tub with 8 g per serving has to be paid for.

FULL AF wins as soon as stimulation is not the point, or is itself the problem. On citrulline alone, it is ahead of just about everything we sell, including the most expensive formulas. It also wins on flexibility: it is the only type of product you can take at 20:00 without a second thought, or on rest days. The isolated ingredients that make it up — taurine, L-arginine — are also available separately if you would rather put together your own blend, but at 8 g of citrulline per serving, the sums rarely work in your favour.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings does a tub contain?

The manufacturer does not publish the net weight or the number of servings in the data supplied, and we will not estimate it. The information is on the packaging: read it when it arrives. The serving is one full scoop, once a day at most.

Is there really zero caffeine?

Yes. The formula contains neither caffeine nor any other stimulant, and the manufacturer states so explicitly. That is precisely the point of the product: it can be taken late in the day with no consequences for sleep.

What is the glycerol in the formula for?

GlycerSize™ is a 65% glycerol powder, dosed at 2 g. Glycerol holds water in the tissues, which explains the instruction to increase hydration that comes with the product. No health claim is authorised in Europe for glycerol: we describe its role in the formula without attributing any regulated effect to it.

Can it be combined with a stimulant pre-workout?

Yes, and the manufacturer even recommends it: take FULL AF thirty minutes before the stimulant. Since it provides no caffeine, there is no risk of stacking on that front. Just check the caffeine dose of the second product, which remains subject to the usual guidelines.

Can it be taken on days without training?

The manufacturer says so: one serving in the morning on an empty stomach on rest days. It is a possible use, specific to non-stimulant formulas. That said, if your budget is tight, keep the product for training sessions: that is where it makes the most sense.

Do you need to drink more than usual?

Yes, at least 500 ml more on the day you use it. Glycerol works by holding water: if you are already short on fluids, the formula cannot work and you mostly risk headaches. A bottle next to the bench is not optional here.

Does it contain allergens?

Yes, it contains coconut derivatives, which rules it out if you are allergic to tree nuts. It is, on the other hand, declared gluten-free and free from artificial colours with the exception of FD&C Yellow No. 5.

Where can you buy FULL AF by 5% Nutrition?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a product we often recommend to customers who tell us they have stopped taking pre-workouts because of sleep or palpitations: most of them do not know this category exists.

Our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, is also the place to compare citrulline labels side by side — that is generally the moment when the gap in dosing becomes obvious. The full range can be found in the 5% Nutrition collection.

What is 5% Nutrition All Day You May?

All Day You May is a powdered amino acid drink, to be mixed with water, built around a BCAA complex of 6,000 mg per 12 g serving. It stands out for its 10:1:1 ratio, that is to say ten parts of leucine to one part of isoleucine and one of valine, where the market's historical standard is 2:1:1.

The product comes from 5% Nutrition, a brand whose formulas are recognisable by their length: here there are not three amino acids but seven families of ingredients, from the joint complex to the muscle buffer. The rest of the brand's catalogue is in our 5% Nutrition aisle.

The flavours listed: Push Pop, Blueberry Lemonade, Southern Sweet Tea, Lemon Lime, Fruit Punch, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon and Mango Pineapple. The number of servings per tub is not published by the manufacturer in the information available to us; the net weight shown on the packaging you receive lets you work it out by dividing by 12.

What does a 12 g serving contain?

No nutrient reference value exists for free amino acids: a percentage column would make no sense here, and we will not invent one.

5 g of leucine per serving is considerable, and it is the product's real selling point. Leucine is the amino acid that triggers the protein synthesis signal, and the threshold generally accepted sits between 2.5 and 3 g. One serving delivers almost double that.

What that ratio implies does need saying, though, because nobody says it. Triggering the signal is not enough: you also need the bricks. The other six essential amino acids are present here only to the tune of 200 mg in total, which is a trace. Put another way, this product fires the starting gun for construction without delivering the materials. That is perfectly coherent if you use it around a meal or a protein shake that supplies the rest. It is far less so if you rely on it on an empty stomach, thinking it replaces a complete protein. In that case, a complete EAA is the right product, not this one.

The rest of the formula deserves reading line by line. The 1,500 mg of intramuscular buffer combine beta-alanine and creatinol-O-phosphate; it is the beta-alanine that explains the tingling in the face and forearms that many users feel within a quarter of an hour of taking it. It is harmless and it fades with habit. If that is the ingredient you want at a proper dose, our beta-alanine aisle offers it on its own.

The 600 mg of joint complex combine glucosamine and MSM, with no published split. That is well below the quantities used in the work on glucosamine, around 1,500 mg a day. It is a touch, not a treatment. The same remark applies to the 500 mg of N-acetyl-cysteine and to the glutamine, whose exact share of the 2,800 mg is not disclosed.

A regulatory clarification, which belongs here: none of these ingredients holds a health claim authorised in Europe. Not the BCAAs, not glutamine, not carnitine, not beta-alanine. We can describe the quantities and compare them with the market; we cannot attribute an effect to them, and legally nobody can.

Ingredients list

BCAA complex (L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine), conditionally essential amino acid complex (L-glutamine, L-carnitine L-tartrate), support complex (L-taurine, coconut water concentrate, HICA [alpha-hydroxyisocaproic acid], bromelain, blueberry fruit powder), intramuscular buffer (beta-alanine, creatinol-O-phosphate), joint complex (potassium D-glucosamine sulphate, MSM [methylsulfonylmethane]), N-acetyl-L-cysteine, essential amino acid complex (L-histidine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan), natural and artificial flavourings, citric acid, sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium), colourings depending on the flavour. May contain traces of MILK, SOYA, EGG and GLUTEN depending on the flavour and the production conditions.

How do you take All Day You May?

Serving: one 12 g scoop. Liquid: 300 to 500 ml of cold water. Timing: 15 to 30 minutes before the session, or sipped during training, or between two meals. Frequency: one serving a day to begin with. Duration: the manufacturer sets no course length.

Start with a single daily serving for at least a week. The manufacturer allows up to four servings a day for the most highly trained athletes, but that is a ceiling, not a recommendation. At four servings you are swallowing 6 g of muscle buffer, 2 g of N-acetyl-cysteine and 2.4 g of joint complex over the day: those quantities deserve at the very least to be discussed with a healthcare professional before you go there.

The volume of water matters too. Below 300 ml the drink becomes very concentrated and acidic, and free amino acids irritate some people's stomachs. For a long session, go up to 700 or 800 ml and spread out your consumption.

A practical point: avoid taking it at the same time as a complete protein shake. It is not dangerous, simply redundant: the protein already supplies all the amino acids. The right slot is the one where you have nothing else: between two widely spaced meals, or during training.

Who is All Day You May for, and who is it not for?

It suits someone who trains fasted or a long way from their last meal and who is looking to limit catabolism over a long session. It also suits those who cannot tolerate a shake during exercise.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women and restricts it to adults over 18. It also asks for the advice of a healthcare professional in the event of liver or kidney disease, which is consistent with a high daily load of free amino acids.

Two points of caution that the manufacturer does not highlight and that we prefer to put in writing. First, the glucosamine: it is of shellfish origin in the vast majority of cases, the source is not specified here, and that is information which matters to anyone allergic to crustaceans. It also calls for a doctor's advice in the event of diabetes or anticoagulant treatment. Second, the creatinol-O-phosphate: this is a synthetic molecule whose regulatory status as a food supplement ingredient in the European Union is not clearly established. We flag it because a buyer has the right to know before buying.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a protein substitute. One serving supplies 12 g of ingredients including 6 g of BCAAs, which replaces neither a chicken breast nor a shake. Nor is it a product that "builds muscle" by itself: if your daily protein intake is already adequate, the measurable benefit of additional BCAAs is small, and the literature is fairly harsh on this point. Finally, if you are subject to anti-doping testing, check the batch status with your federation before taking any.

All Day You May or a complete EAA?

This is the central trade-off in this category, and it is settled fairly clearly.

A complete EAA supplies the nine essential amino acids in proportions close to those of muscle, generally with 2.5 to 3 g of leucine per serving. It is the better choice if you take the product on an empty stomach, if you are not eating within the following two hours, or if your daily protein intake is low. It provides both the signal and the materials, which is the only way to obtain a real effect on protein synthesis.

All Day You May follows a different logic: plenty of leucine, very little of the rest, but a whole series of comfort ingredients around it — joint, buffer, antioxidant, hydration. It is the better choice if you use it as a training drink alongside meals that are already protein-rich, if the beta-alanine tingling does not bother you, and if you like long formulas. It is also, let us say it, a product of habit rather than one with demonstrated efficacy on a specific point.

If your need is simply to have something to drink during a long session, without chasing performance, an electrolyte drink costs less and does the job.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 10:1:1 ratio better than 2:1:1?

It supplies more leucine for the same total quantity, which is verifiable. But a ratio says nothing about overall effectiveness: protein synthesis requires the nine essential amino acids, not just the trigger. A 10:1:1 taken around a protein-rich meal makes sense; taken on its own, it does half the work.

Why do I get tingling after taking it?

That is the beta-alanine in the buffer complex. The sensation affects the face, the scalp and the forearms, appears within fifteen minutes and lasts half an hour. It is harmless, well documented, and fades with repeated servings. If it bothers you, split the serving in two.

How many servings a day at most?

The manufacturer sets the ceiling at four. That is a lot, and that ceiling is designed for athletes with a very high training volume. One serving a day covers the use of the vast majority of people, and two already amount to sustained use.

Can it be taken on rest days?

Yes, between two widely spaced meals. The benefit remains modest: on a day without training, what counts for recovery is total protein intake and sleep, not the distribution of free amino acids.

Does this product contain creatine?

No. The creatinol-O-phosphate in the buffer complex has a name that looks similar but it is not creatine and does not have the same effects. If you are looking for creatine, you need to buy it separately.

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

The glucosamine in the joint complex is most often of shellfish origin, and the manufacturer does not specify the source in the information available to us. Without that detail, we cannot state that the product is suitable for a vegetarian diet. The label on the tub you receive is the only reliable reference.

Can it be mixed with a pre-workout?

Technically yes, but look at the labels first. Many pre-workouts already contain beta-alanine, taurine and tyrosine: the totals add up quickly, with no extra benefit. The one ingredient there is no point in doubling up is precisely the muscle buffer.

Where can you buy 5% Nutrition All Day You May?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask in front of this tub is "how much protein do you eat a day?" — because the answer determines whether this product is going to bring you something or simply add to an already full list. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Skill Nutrition's Pre Workout?

Skill Nutrition Pre Workout is a powdered pre-workout sold in a 400 g tub, i.e. 25 servings of 16 g. The brand presents it as a “no crash” formula: the idea is to pair caffeine with L-theanine and a slow-release caffeine so as to smooth the effect out rather than produce a spike followed by a slump.

The composition covers the three usual areas of a complete pre-workout. The pump, with 6 g of citrulline malate. Performance, with 3 g of creatine monohydrate and 2.4 g of beta-alanine. The nervous side, with 300 mg of caffeine split between anhydrous caffeine and slow-release Xtenergy®, plus 100 mg of TheaGreen™ L-theanine, 500 mg of tyrosine, 500 mg of VitaCholine® and a Korean ginseng extract. On top of that come AstraGin® and three heavily dosed B group vitamins.

The flavours on offer: Blue Raspberry and Tropical. The product joins our boosters range.

What does a 16 g serving contain?

Everything is quantified, with no proprietary blend, apart from the split between anhydrous caffeine and slow-release caffeine. The only line missing is “of which sugars”.

Two positives first. The 3 g of creatine monohydrate correspond exactly to the threshold above which European regulation authorises the claim: creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise. That is rare in a pre-workout, where creatine is most often present in a token dose. And the 6 g of citrulline malate sit within the genuinely useful range.

Then a point to watch, and an important one. The 100 mg of niacin, declared as nicotinic acid, represent 625% of the NRV. At that dose, nicotinic acid very frequently causes a flush: redness of the face and neck, a feeling of warmth and tingling, appearing within 15 to 30 minutes and lasting half an hour. It is harmless and well documented, but disconcerting if nobody has warned you — and it comes on top of the beta-alanine tingling. Be aware, too, that this level of intake goes well beyond what is needed to cover a nutritional requirement. The applicable authorised claims are: niacin, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, choline contributes to normal lipid metabolism. No claim exists for citrulline, beta-alanine, taurine, tyrosine, theanine, ginseng or AstraGin®.

How do you dose Skill Nutrition Pre Workout?

Dose: 16 g, with no more than one serving in any 24-hour period. Liquid: 300 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 minutes before your session. Frequency: one serving per training day. Duration: continuous use is possible, with a 7-day break every 8 weeks.

If this type of product is new to you, start with a half serving of 8 g for the first week. The manufacturer recommends it, and at 300 mg of caffeine plus 100 mg of nicotinic acid, this is no token precaution.

Nothing after 16:00. The manufacturer states that the stimulant effects may last 4 to 6 hours, which is consistent with a slow-release caffeine. Do not take any other caffeinated product on the same day. And drink at least 500 ml of extra water during your session.

Expect two distinct sensations within a quarter of an hour of taking it: the skin tingling from the beta-alanine, and possibly the redness caused by the nicotinic acid. Both are temporary. Keep the tub closed, in a dry place, away from light.

Who is this pre-workout for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at adults already used to stimulants, for weight training, CrossFit or combat sports sessions scheduled in the morning or the early afternoon. The presence of 3 g of creatine also makes it an interesting product if you are not yet taking creatine elsewhere: it is two products in one.

The restrictions are explicit. The product is not recommended for the under-18s, or for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Medical advice is required for anyone sensitive to caffeine, or with cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure or sleep disorders. Do not exceed 16 g a day. The product may contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGG and SOYA.

One further point specific to this formula: if you already take creatine, factor in the 3 g provided here so as not to stack it needlessly. And if you already take a B vitamin complex, the 100 mg of niacin, 10 mg of B6 and 100 µg of B12 come on top — vitamin B6 deserves particular attention, high and prolonged intakes being far from trivial.

What you should not expect from it: strength or muscle in themselves. A pre-workout acts on alertness, focus and perceived effort. Creatine, for its part, works over time and only if it is taken every day — whereas this product is only taken on training days. If creatine is your goal, buy it separately.

Skill Nutrition Pre Workout or creatine bought separately?

This is the most useful trade-off on this particular product, because the 3 g of creatine are a genuine selling point — and they deserve a close look.

Buying creatine monohydrate separately is the better choice in one very common case: you want to take it every day. And that is how creatine works — muscle saturation is built over weeks of daily intake, rest days included. A pre-workout taken three times a week does not allow that. A plain creatine powder also costs a few cents per serving, and you choose your own dose. On that front, no pre-workout can compete.

The Skill Nutrition keeps the advantage if you are after a single, complete product with straightforward doses across three areas at once — 6 g of citrulline, 2.4 g of beta-alanine and 300 mg of caffeine in the same scoop. It also wins on the caffeine-theanine pairing, which few formulas offer and which genuinely softens the nervous profile. If caffeine alone is what interests you, a product from the creatine-free pre-workout range will avoid the duplication.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are there in the 400 g tub?

Exactly twenty-five servings of 16 g. At three sessions a week, one tub covers a little over eight weeks — which is the point at which the manufacturer recommends a seven-day break.

Why does the face go red after taking it?

That is the nicotinic acid flush, nicotinic acid being the form of niacin used here at 100 mg. Redness, warmth and tingling appear within 15 to 30 minutes and disappear within half an hour. It is harmless and of no consequence, but startling the first time. A half serving markedly reduces the effect.

What does the theanine paired with caffeine bring?

L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea, present here at 100 mg as TheaGreen™. It is traditionally paired with caffeine in so-called “no crash” formulas. No health claim is authorised in Europe for theanine: we are describing a formulation choice, without attributing any regulated effect to it.

Is 3 g of creatine enough?

For the authorised claim, yes: the European threshold is set at 3 g a day. But the claim assumes a daily intake, and this product is only taken on training days. If you want the benefit of creatine, top up on the other days with creatine powder.

Can it be taken in the evening?

No. The manufacturer asks you to avoid taking it after 16:00 and states that the stimulant effects last 4 to 6 hours, with the slow-release caffeine stretching the window further still. For a late session, go for a stimulant-free formula.

Can you start with a half serving?

Yes, and it is in fact the manufacturer's recommendation for the first week: 8 g instead of 16 g. That way you gauge your tolerance to the caffeine and to the niacin flush before moving to the full serving.

How many espressos does 300 mg of caffeine represent?

About three, going by the benchmark the manufacturer itself gives. That is below the daily reference points EFSA sets for a healthy adult, but above the 200 mg it sets for a single intake. Any other source of caffeine during the day comes on top of it.

Where can you buy Skill Nutrition Pre Workout 400 g?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a complete pre-workout, and you will find creatine in it — a point we always flag, because it changes what you need to buy alongside.

Drop into Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, if you would like the niacin flush explained to you before you experience it: that is the sort of thing better known before the first serving. The rest of the pre-workout range can be compared from sports nutrition.

What is Naughty Boy Amino EAA?

It is a mixable essential amino acid powder with an 11.5 g serving delivering 8.5 g of amino acids and only 10 kcal. The 350 g tub covers exactly 30 servings. The flavours listed: PickNMix, Fizzy Peach Sweets, Ultra Energy, Strawberry Mango and Cherry Mango.

What sets this product apart is the raw material: all nine amino acids come from plant fermentation, which makes the formula entirely vegan. The manufacturer also declares it gluten free, lactose free and with no added sugars.

The rest of the composition fits into four lines: malic acid, natural flavourings, sucralose and a colour that varies with the flavour. One clarification along the way, because the manufacturer's own sheet words it differently: sucralose is an artificial sweetener, not a natural one. The full British brand range sits in our Naughty Boy aisle, and the whole category in EAA.

What does an 11.5 g serving contain?

* Column calculated from the values declared for 11.5 g. No NRV is established for amino acids.

The figure worth remembering, and it is a good one: 8.5 g of amino acids out of 11.5 g of powder, that is 74% of the serving. In other words, only 3 grams go to the flavouring, the malic acid and the sweetener. That is an honest ratio for this category, where some heavily flavoured powders drop a good deal lower.

What is missing, on the other hand, has to be flagged, and it matters: the manufacturer does not publish the amount of each individual amino acid. The ingredients list names them in descending order — leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, threonine, phenylalanine, histidine, methionine, tryptophan — but no figure comes with that list. So you cannot know the leucine content, which is the first point of comparison for any EAA. We will not invent it; read the label on the tub you receive.

What the order of the list does tell you is that leucine is the dominant amino acid and that the three BCAAs take the top three places — a classic pattern, consistent with a 2:1:1 ratio across that fraction.

A regulatory note to close: no health claim is authorised in Europe for free amino acids. Not protein synthesis, not recovery, not endurance, not anti-catabolism. We describe a composition, a dose and a use — not an effect.

How do you take Naughty Boy Amino EAA?

Serving: 11.5 g, that is one scoop. Liquid: 400 ml of cold water. Timing: 15 to 30 minutes before the session, during exercise lasting more than 60 minutes, or straight after. Frequency: one serving a day, rest days included according to the manufacturer. Duration: 4 to 12 weeks of use, followed by a 1 to 2 week break.

Four hundred millilitres for 11.5 g is a generous dilution, and it is deliberate. Free amino acids are acidic; at 250 ml the drink becomes hard to finish. Use cold water: warm water dissolves it less well and the taste suffers. Shake until fully dissolved and drink once prepared.

The manufacturer allows for three windows. In practice they are not equally useful depending on your situation: before the session if you train fasted, during beyond an hour of exercise, after if your next meal is a long way off. If you have eaten a full meal two hours before, the extra intake is of little further interest.

The one to two week break after 4 to 12 weeks is a manufacturer recommendation. Nothing compels you to follow it on a product that is only an amino acid supply, but it does have one practical merit: it forces you to check that your diet stands up on its own.

Close the tub properly and store it in a dry place: free amino acid powders take up moisture and cake into a solid block, as the manufacturer points out itself. Stated shelf life: 24 months in the unopened original packaging.

Who is this EAA for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed first and foremost at vegans: the amino acids come from plant fermentation, with no animal raw material. It also suits anyone training fasted or a long way from a meal, and anyone who cannot stomach a milky shaker during exercise — at 10 kcal and with no fat, this drink weighs on nothing.

The manufacturer advises against it for children under 12, and asks pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as people on medication to seek professional advice. Mind the list of traces, which is a long one: the product is made in a facility that handles GLUTEN, MILK, EGGS, SOYA, FISH, CRUSTACEANS, PEANUTS and NUTS. If you are allergic to any of them, the “gluten free” claim made elsewhere is not enough to reassure you. Do not exceed 11.5 g a day.

It suits you less well if you want to compare precisely what you are buying: with no published leucine content, comparison with another EAA remains approximate. That is the real limitation of this product.

What you should not expect from it: 8.5 g of amino acids do not replace a protein intake. This is not a substitute for protein, and the cost per gram is far higher. If your daily intake is already adequate, this product will add nothing measurable — that is the first question to ask yourself, and rarely the one you hear asked in the aisle.

Naughty Boy EAA or Rule One Essential Amino 9?

We sell both, in the same 11.5 g serving size and the same number of servings. The comparison is therefore direct, and it is instructive.

Rule One Essential Amino 9 delivers 7.5 g of amino acids per serving, one gram less, but it publishes the content of each of the nine — 2,500 mg of leucine at the top — and it adds 500 mg of electrolytes. It is the better choice if you want to know exactly what you are drinking, and if the sodium and magnesium intake matters to you on long sessions.

Naughty Boy wins on two concrete points. The amount of amino acids per serving, at 8.5 g against 7.5 g. And the declared plant fermentation, which makes it a genuinely vegan option where not every competitor spells that out. It also offers a wider choice of flavours, in an unashamedly confectionery register.

What settles it, then, is what you value: one extra gram of amino acids, or full transparency on the detail. If your need is mainly mineral hydration, neither will replace a product from the electrolytes aisle. And if you are weighing up a cheaper option, be aware that our BCAA aisle supplies only three amino acids out of nine: the saving is paid for with an incomplete profile.

Frequently asked questions

How much leucine per serving?

The manufacturer does not publish it in the labelling data available to us, and we will not invent it. The ingredients list places leucine first, which indicates it is the dominant one of the nine, with no further precision. The label on the tub you receive is what counts.

Is the formula suitable for vegans?

Yes. The amino acids come from plant fermentation, with no animal raw material, and the manufacturer declares the formula lactose free and gluten free. One caveat, though: the production facility handles milk, eggs and fish, and traces are possible.

How many servings in the 350 g tub?

Thirty exactly, at 11.5 g per serving. At four sessions a week, that works out at around seven weeks; taken daily as the manufacturer suggests, one month. The stated shelf life is 24 months unopened.

Does the Ultra Energy flavour contain caffeine?

The ingredients list supplied to us mentions no stimulant, and no caffeine content has been communicated to us for this flavour. As the name may be misleading, check the label on the tub you receive if you are sensitive to caffeine or if you train in the evening.

Do you really need 400 ml of water?

That is what the manufacturer settles on, and it is a good setting. A free amino acid powder is acidic and concentrated in taste: at 250 ml the drink becomes unpleasant to finish. The generous volume has a second advantage, it makes you drink during the session.

Should you take a break between two periods of use?

The manufacturer advises 4 to 12 weeks of use then a 1 to 2 week break. Nothing requires it on a simple amino acid supply, but that break has one merit: it obliges you to check that your diet stands up on its own.

Can you take it on rest days?

The manufacturer allows it. We are more measured: if your protein intake is already sufficient, taking it on days without a session brings nothing demonstrated and halves how long the tub lasts. Save it for the days when a protein meal is genuinely missing.

Where can you buy Naughty Boy Amino EAA 350 g?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. The 350 g tub with 30 servings is a sensible size to try for a first EAA.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is one of the few products we put straight up against a competitor on the counter, because the two tubs have exactly the same serving size. One extra gram of amino acids on one side, the full label detail on the other: it is up to the customer to say what matters most. The rest of the amino acids can be compared in our sports nutrition aisle.

What is 5150 Legendary by 5% Nutrition?

5% Nutrition Rich Piana 5150 Legendary is a powdered pre-workout, created by the brand founded by American bodybuilder Rich Piana. The tub holds 30 servings of 12.5 g. The name refers to the California police code 5150; the brand makes no secret of its intentions, and the formula lives up to them.

What sets this product apart from most others is its multi-source caffeine complex: caffeine anhydrous, dicaffeine malate, green tea extract, yerba mate extract, guarana extract standardised to 22 %, green coffee extract and gotu kola extract. The total exceeds 400 mg per serving. Alongside that, the formula delivers citrulline, beta-alanine, taurine, N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, choline, Cocoabuterol® (a patented cocoa extract), huperzine A and two B vitamins.

The flavours available: Green Apple, Blue Ice, Tropical, Wildberry, Raspberry Mojito and Citrus Mango. The product joins our boosters range, in the most heavily dosed category of all.

What is in a 12.5 g serving?

Unlike many competitors, almost everything here is quantified, and that is the first point in the product's favour. Only the split between the seven caffeine sources stays inside a proprietary blend: you know the total exceeds 400 mg, not how it breaks down. The "of which sugars" line is not declared either.

The 400 mg of caffeine deserve to be faced squarely. EFSA considers that 400 mg spread across the whole day raises no safety concern in healthy adults, and sets 200 mg as the reference for a single intake. One serving of 5150 therefore takes you to your daily ceiling in one go. This is a product for users already accustomed to stimulants, and the manufacturer says so itself.

On everything else, the dosing is serious: 4 g of citrulline and 2.5 g of beta-alanine sit within the ranges genuinely used, where many formulas make do with a pinch just to be able to print it on the label. The 1,000 µg of vitamin B12 represent 40,000 % of the NRV: enormous on paper, with no known risk for this water-soluble vitamin, but with no demonstrated benefit at that level either. The authorised wordings that apply are these: niacin and vitamin B12 contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal energy-yielding metabolism. For citrulline, beta-alanine, taurine, tyrosine, choline, Cocoabuterol® and huperzine A, no claim is authorised in Europe.

How should 5150 Legendary be dosed?

Serving: 1 scoop of 12.5 g, never more than one a day. Liquid: 200 to 300 ml of cold water. Timing: 20 to 30 minutes before the session, ideally on an empty stomach or at least two hours after the last meal. Frequency: the manufacturer recommends keeping it to 2 or 3 sessions a week, no more. Duration: a 6 to 8 week period, followed by a compulsory 2 to 3 week break.

If you are not used to stimulants, start with half a scoop for the first three sessions. This is not a formality: at 400 mg of caffeine, misjudging your tolerance means shaking, a racing heart rate and a wasted session.

Three further instructions. Do not take it within 6 hours of going to bed. No other source of caffeine or stimulants on the same day — coffee, tea, energy drinks, thermogenic fat burners. And increase your water intake by at least 500 ml on the days you use it: the formula increases sweating.

Save it for the sessions that warrant it — legs, back, training that runs beyond 75 minutes. Used five times a week, it loses its edge within three weeks and you will have no headroom left to go up.

Who is this pre-workout for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at trained adults who already have a high tolerance to stimulants, for heavy morning or midday sessions. As a first experience of the category, avoid it without hesitation: start at 150 or 200 mg of caffeine.

The restrictions are explicit. Strictly not recommended for under-18s, pregnant or breastfeeding women. Medical advice is mandatory in cases of cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes or anxiety disorders. The possible effects listed by the manufacturer are the tingling associated with beta-alanine, an increased heart rate, sweating and restlessness; stop using it if the discomfort persists. The product is made in a facility that also handles MILK, EGGS, SOYA, NUTS and FISH, and may contain traces of them. Shelf life 24 months in the original packaging.

What you should not expect from it: strength or muscle. A pre-workout acts on alertness, focus and perceived effort. It makes up neither for insufficient sleep nor for food intake that is too low — and at this level of caffeine, using it to mask chronic fatigue is precisely the wrong idea.

5150 Legendary or a caffeine-free booster?

The choice does not come down to the quality of the formulas but to your tolerance and to the time of day you train.

A caffeine-free booster is the better choice in three clear cases. You train after 18:00: 400 mg of caffeine at that hour costs you a night's sleep, and sleep weighs more heavily on progress than any pre-workout. You train four to six times a week: 5150 is designed for 2 to 3 weekly sessions, so you will need a solution for the other days anyway. Or you have anxiety, high blood pressure, palpitations — in which case the question does not even arise.

5150 keeps the advantage on the sessions where you want everything: it combines serious doses of citrulline at 4 g and beta-alanine at 2.5 g with a stimulant load few products reach. Non-stimulant formulas often supply just as much citrulline, sometimes more, but nothing on the nervous side. Plenty of users end up with both tubs in the cupboard, alternating according to the session. If you would rather build your own, taurine and B vitamins are also available separately.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are in a tub?

Thirty servings of 12.5 g. At the recommended use of 2 or 3 sessions a week, one tub covers roughly ten to fifteen weeks — breaks included, since the manufacturer requires 2 to 3 weeks off every 6 to 8 weeks.

Why seven different caffeine sources?

The sources do not all behave in the same way: caffeine anhydrous is absorbed quickly, dicaffeine malate and the plant extracts more slowly. The idea is to spread the effect across the length of the session rather than produce a single peak. The exact split between the seven is not published by the brand.

Is 400 mg of caffeine dangerous?

In a healthy adult who is used to it, EFSA puts at 400 mg the daily intake that raises no safety concern — but spread across the day, not in a single intake. Here it all arrives at once, which explains the manufacturer's warning and the recommendation to start with half a serving. Anyone affected by the contraindications listed above should abstain.

Should it be taken on an empty stomach?

The manufacturer recommends it, or at least two hours after the last meal. In practice, on an empty stomach the effect arrives faster and harder — which is not always what you want the first time. If you are sensitive, take it on a stomach that is not empty for your first session.

What are Cocoabuterol® and huperzine A?

Cocoabuterol® is a patented extract of cocoa (Theobroma cacao), present at 50 mg. Huperzine A is an alkaloid extracted from Huperzia serrata, dosed at 300 µg. No health claim is authorised in Europe for either of them: we mention them because they appear on the label with a precise dose, which is already better than the average for the category.

Can it be combined with a fat burner?

No. The manufacturer explicitly asks that it not be combined with other sources of caffeine or stimulants, and a thermogenic fat burner typically supplies a further 200 to 400 mg. Stacking them would take you well beyond any safety reference.

Is the 40,000 % NRV of vitamin B12 a problem?

Vitamin B12 is water-soluble and no upper safe limit has been established for it: the excess is excreted. The figure impresses more than it worries. You simply should not read a proportional benefit into it — 1,000 µg do not deliver 400 times more than a normal dose.

Where can you buy 5150 Legendary by 5% Nutrition?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a product we do not put in just anyone's hands: the question of stimulant tolerance comes before the question of flavour.

In our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we often advise starting with half a serving and keeping this tub for two heavy sessions a week — that is the use it was built for. The brand's full range can be found in the 5% Nutrition collection.