At a recent team meeting, we got into a discussion about a few different pre-workout supplements. And while people tend to have their favorite products, we always leave our personal preferences aside and take a thorough research approach when comparing them.
For us personal trainers, that means researching the exact ingredients and testing the results ourselves or with the help of our clients.
After testing Gorilla Mode and Woke AF for several weeks with a group of ten clients, we’ve compiled some interesting data.
Here’s how they compare.
What Is the Main Difference Between Gorilla Mode and Woke AF?
The main difference between Gorilla Mode and Woke AF is that Gorilla Mode has a formula list that contains more scientifically proven ingredients than Woke AF and has fewer trademarked components.
Gorilla Mode uses fewer trademarked ingredients, which means that it’s clearer what exactly this product contains.
Having tried both, the clarity of ingredients in Gorilla Mode made me feel more confident about what I was putting into my body.
The other thing that stands out is that Woke AF heavily relies on stimulants, especially caffeine. This might lead to jitters and impact sleep recovery.
This is a good pre-workout supplement, but it contains as much caffeine as three cups of coffee, and that can make you feel jittery and even mess up your sleep recovery times [1].
What does that mean?
Even if that amount of caffeine doesn’t make you jittery and you get a boost of performance at the gym, you might end up with less restful sleep. And that’s when your body normally repairs and builds new muscle tissue [2].
As a result, all that extra effort at the gym could be wasted because your body is slow to recover.
“Short-term recovery is crucial to maintaining and improving performance and preventing injury in all levels of athletic training.”
- Julia Steele Rodriguez, Healthcare Education Leader
Our Test
To truly gauge the effectiveness of these pre-workouts, I decided to turn to the most reliable critics I know - my clients.
I documented each participant's current routines, exercises, dietary habits, and even their sleep patterns. This baseline data was crucial in understanding the impact of each product on their performance.
I split my clients into two equal groups. One group would test Gorilla Mode, while the other would dive into Woke AF. Over the next 4 weeks, each group would incorporate their assigned supplement into their routines, maintaining their usual exercise and dietary habits.
While both products had their merits, by the end of our experiment, it became clear that one had a distinct edge over the other in terms of overall performance enhancement and user feedback. Here's which pre-workout was the winner.
Features Head to Head
Here is the comprehensive research we did into the two pre-workouts to see how they compare in detail.
Ingredients
Based on the marketing material, both products claim to do very similar things. They aim to boost energy levels, reduce fatigue, and deliver great pumps.
Interestingly, there are three ingredients that both products share: caffeine, citrulline, and Huperzine.
Let’s look at those more closely.
A study from PubMed suggests that caffeine consumption may lead to enhanced exercise performance, with findings indicating a significant increase in endurance capacity by up to 12% in athletes consuming caffeine compared to those who did not [3]. But when you consider that it takes less than 20 minutes for caffeine to be absorbed, The Woke AF dose of 333mg seems needlessly high.
I remember the first time I tried Woke AF; the caffeine hit was intense. It felt like downing three cups of coffee in quick succession, giving me an immediate energy surge but also a bit of jitteriness.
Next, Gorilla Mode contains L-citrulline, while Woke AF uses the cheaper citrulline malate. Studies have shown that L-citrulline works faster and provides better pumps [4].
Both products also contain Huperzine. This Chinese herb has been scientifically shown to improve brain function and memory [5]. And that can help improve your mental focus during training.
But Gorilla Mode contains four times as much, and we did notice a difference during our testing.
Note: Consider the health and safety implications of the ingredients in these two supplements. You should be aware of potential side effects and interactions with medications or underlying health conditions. For instance, the high caffeine content might not be suitable for individuals with certain heart conditions or anxiety disorders.
Effectiveness
To compare the products and decide which is the strongest pre-workout, we had our test group go through one week of training without a pre-workout to have control data.
Then we spent a week training with each of the products, and we took note of how it made us feel and what our training data was by recording details on weights, sets, and reps.
I recall the distinct feeling of enhanced strength and reduced fatigue when I used both products. It was like my muscles had extra reserves, allowing me to push out those extra reps with ease. Gorilla Mode, in particular, seemed to give me that extra edge.
But when we looked closer at the numbers, we did notice better performance data with Gorilla Mode.
We also got a lot of feedback from clients that they felt they were more focused and motivated with Gorilla Mode, which may be down to the higher dose of Huperzine mentioned above.
Supplement Form
Both products come in powder form with roughly the same scoop sizes. Always check how easily powder supplements mix with water.
Some pre-workouts we’ve tested over the years end up lumpy and disgusting to drink.
In my experience, both Gorilla Mode and Woke AF mixed well with water, but Woke AF had the edge in terms of mixing speed. It was smooth and lump-free, making the pre-workout ritual a breeze.
Flavor
The first thing to note is that Gorilla Mode comes in a load of different flavor choices. We tested three of them: Firefly Lemonade, Cherry Blackout, and Jungle Juice.
The only one we didn’t like so much was Jungle Juice, as it was a bit sweet.
I still remember the burst of flavor when I first tried Woke AF’s Blue Raz - it was a mix of sweetness and tanginess that got me pumped for my workout. Grape Gainz and Rocket Pop were equally invigorating, making each sip a prelude to an intense workout session.
Dosage and Timing
You should take these pre-workouts ideally 20 to 30 minutes before a workout to allow the caffeine and other ingredients to kick in. This allows for optimal absorption of ingredients and ensures that the user experiences the full benefits during their workout session.
Also, given the high caffeine content, it's essential to ensure that the timing doesn't interfere with sleep patterns. Consuming it too late in the day might lead to sleep disturbances.
You should use one scoop of Woke AF, and one to two scoops of Gorilla Mode.
Price
I’ve always been mindful of the cost, and when I bought my first tub of Gorilla Mode for $39, I felt the value. When I later discovered the discount for buying three tubs, it was a no-brainer - quality and affordability in one.
Also, keep in mind that each tub contains 40 servings.
Woke AF is not just more expensive per tub, but it also only contains 30 servings.
That makes it considerably more expensive on a per training session basis. If you have a rigorous regimen, you will find more value in Gorilla Mode protein powder.
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Unique Features Of Gorilla Mode And Woke AF
The other thing we took a close look at is the main unique ingredients for each pre-workout and whether there is reliable scientific data on them.
Gorilla Mode
These are the ingredients my dietitian highlighted, which are only in Gorilla Mode:
- Creatine: Studies have confirmed that creatine can help improve endurance during aerobic training [6].
- Betaine: One study looked at squat performance levels in college students taking betaine for two weeks and found noticeable improvements in strength training. The number of repetitions performed in the squat exercise for the betaine group was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than the placebo group [7].
- L-Tyrosine: This amino acid has been linked to improved brain function and positive effects on fatigue [8].
- Malic Acid: Dietitians have been increasingly recommending malic acid as a natural way to boost performance levels [9].
- GlycerPump: We found an interesting study that showed combining creatine and glycerol has a positive effect on cardiovascular strain [10].
Suited For Men and Women
Gorilla Mode
Get 10% off using coupon code: TOTALSHAPE
Rated With Total Shape's Scoring System
Woke AF
These are unique ingredients for Woke AF:
- Beta-Alanine: Studies have found this to be a good ingredient for improving exercise performance, but my dietitian pointed out that 3.2g might not be strong enough [11].
- Theobromine: The scientific community is still split about how effective theobromine is for athletes [12].
- Taurine: There is no 100% clear evidence through reliable trials that taurine helps with performance, and it could add to the stimulating effect [13].
- Alpha GPC: There is an interesting study that showed significant performance boosts, but it used three times the dose contained in Woke AF [14].
Suited For Men
Woke AF
Rated With Total Shape's Scoring System
FAQ
What Are the Key Differences Between Gorilla Mode and Woke AF?
The key differences between Gorilla Mode and Woke AF are that the first one contains more scientifically proven ingredients and uses fewer trademarked ingredients, providing clarity on its contents. In contrast, the second one relies on stimulants, with caffeine equivalent to three cups of coffee.
How Should I Incorporate These Pre-Workouts Into My Training Routine?
You should take the pre-workout supplement 20-30 minutes before your workout. Start with a smaller dose to assess your tolerance and adjust as needed based on your body's response and workout intensity.
How Can Gorilla Mode and Woke AF Enhance My Workout Performance?
Both supplements boost energy levels, reduce fatigue, and improve muscle pumps.
Our Verdict on Woke AF vs. Gorilla Mode
Based on my personal experience, and the feedback both from our test group and dietitian, I would advise you to opt for Gorilla Mode out of these two. It has more proven ingredients with reliable scientific backing, and it costs significantly less per dose.
More importantly, the testing results we had over several weeks of training showed that Gorilla Mode allowed us to increase weights and/or reps to a noticeably higher level compared to using Woke AF.
Both of them may be the best pre-workout supplements on the market, but Gorilla is a high-stim pre-workout that will provide you with better results.
We Recommend
Gorilla Mode
Rated With Total Shape's Scoring System
- Contains nitric oxide for insane pumps
- Many positive comments about good endurance and energy boost
- High dose of caffeine may help with mental focus and fat burning
- Tastes good
- Get 10% off using code: TOTALSHAPE
- Does not list calorie count
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