You’re just about to hit the gym or slay your next circuits class; do you grab a drink beforehand or do you put one in your bag for during your session?
Keep reading, because in this article we give you the lowdown on these drinks, including the top product picks that have been highly-rated by our customers!
What are pre-workout drinks?
Pre-workout products are available in all sorts of different forms, ranging from meals and shakes to tablets and more.
Most pre-workout supplements are usually stirred into drinks, which you then have around 30 minutes before exercising.

What is a good pre-workout drink?
You may not be surprised to hear there are lots of different pre-workout drinks out there for you to choose from!
So how do you pick the right one?
First and foremost, it’s important you pay close attention to the ingredients list because you ideally don’t want to exceed your daily recommended allowance for the nutrients that are in the pre-workout drink you’re scoping out.
Secondly, check out the reviews below; they’re from our customers who’ve tried many of the pre-workout drinks and have highly rated them!
Thick, creamy and seriously indulgent, Grenade Fudge Brownie Carb Killa shake makes a creamy high protein drink.
Drink between meals for additional protein with a great fudge brownie flavour - without unwanted calories or carbs!
Shake well and enjoy as a part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Best served chilled.
Key benefits
- Contains 24g of protein and only 8.6g of carbs
- Enjoy any time of the day
- Suitable for vegetarians
- Halal and Kosher
Customer reviews
The best one – RADM – 5/5 stars
“Fudge brownie is definitely the best flavour and nice to have as a sweet treat in the afternoon instead of sugary snacks.”
Amazing – Alisha – 5/5 stars
“It’s the best-tasting protein shake out there. It tastes extraordinary, like a treat, rather than a protein shake.”
UFIT 50g is packed with 50g of protein goodness and added fibre, vitamins and minerals.
Fat-free and with no added sugar, UFIT 50g has been specifically formulated to support the demands of a busy lifestyle.
Key benefits
- Packed with 50g protein, vitamins and minerals
- Fat-free and no added sugar
- Made with natural colours and flavours
- 100% recyclable bottle
- Suitable for vegetarians
Full of flavour and packed with protein, the Carb Killa® shake is the perfect way to up your protein intake without the unwanted calories and carbs!
Deliciously smooth and creamy, this protein shake delivers the ultimate guilt-free indulgence.
Shake well and enjoy as a part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Best served chilled.
Key benefits
- Low in sugar
- Contains less than 200 calories per bottle
- Enjoy any time of the day
Customer reviews
Lush! – Sammyj484 – 5/5 stars
“These are an absolute delight! Amazing if you don’t have much time or have forgotten to prep. I like them post-workout as they are quick and taste amazing! Definitely my favourite flavour!”
Yummy – S0ph – 4/5 stars
“Tastes nice and is filling. I have it as a snack whilst at work when I was unable to eat, but can have drinks.”
Nutramino Protein XL Shake is designed to meet the needs of high-intensity performers.
It provides a whopping 50g of protein and 50g of carbohydrate per serving.
Shake well and enjoy cold.
Key benefits
- Provides 50g of high-quality milk protein to support muscle growth after training
- Contains 50g of carbohydrates
- Suitable for vegetarians
Customer reviews
Fantastic! – Luay – 5/5 stars
“It’s just like chocolate milkshake, offering 420kcal and 50g protein. It’s great after a workout!”
Amazing taste! – RiverAngel – 5/5 stars
“I really like this. I love the taste and like that it’s very high in protein. It makes me feel great after my work out - the chocolate and mint flavour is amazing!”
Thick, creamy and seriously indulgent, Grenade Cookies & Cream Carb Killa shake makes a creamy high protein drink.
Drink between meals for additional protein with a great cookies and cream taste - without unwanted calories or carbs!
Key benefits
- Contains 24g of protein and just 9g carbs
- A convenient way to increase your protein intake without unwanted calories or carbs
- Suitable for vegetarians
- Halal and Kosher
Customer reviews
Lovely buy – Carlylid – 5/5 stars
“I’ve been buying this protein drink for a while now. I’ve tried so many different proteins over the years, but this one doesn’t upset my stomach and is lovely to drink.”
Excellent drink – Sanquirico – 5/5 stars
“Absolutely delicious - lots of protein and low carbs. Definitely one of the very best protein drinks out there.”

Barebells’ delicious-tasting milkshake is high in protein and silky smooth, sweet and creamy. Shake well before use. Best served chilled.
Key benefits
- 24g protein in every bottle
- No added sugar
- Less than 20 calories per bottle
- Lactose-free
- GMO free
Customer reviews
Tastes delicious! – Isobel – 5/5 stars
“Very yummy and good amount of calories for the macros. I would definitely buy again!”
So good! – Omar – 5/5 stars
“Very nice taste, not too much sugar. Does the trick.”
Thick, creamy and seriously indulgent, Grenade Chocolate Mint Carb Killa shake is a high protein drink.
Drink between meals for additional protein with a great chocolate mint taste - without unwanted calories or carbs!
Key benefits
- Contains 25g of protein
- Less than 200 calories per drink
- Contains 7g carbohydrates
- Convenient way to increase your protein levels
- Suitable for vegetarians
- Halal and Kosher
Customer reviews
Very tasty – Shooshie – 5/5 stars
“This is very tasty and a good texture, not too thick or thin. It’s not too sweet either, just right for me.”
A must buy! – Chocaholic123 – 5/5 stars
“Delicious!! Doesn't have the powdery aftertaste and has a proper chocolate mint taste. It’s great for after training and when you need a choc fix!”
UFIT 50g contains 50g of protein goodness, as well as fibre, vitamins and minerals.
Fat-free and with no added sugar.
Key benefits
- Packed with 50g protein, vitamins and minerals
- Fat-free and no added sugar
- Made with natural colours and flavours
- 100% recyclable, now in a 51% RPET recycled bottle
- Suitable for vegetarians
USN Diet Fuel RTD’s (Ready to Drink) is part of the USN Weight Loss Range.
It’s high in protein, fat-free and is a quick, easy and convenient supplement to drink any time of the day.
It’s perfect for replacing meals or as a snack in between healthy meals!
Key benefits
- 25g protein per serving
- Convenient, on-the-go shake
- Low in sugar and fat-free
Full of flavour and packed with protein, the Carb Killa® shake is the perfect way to up your protein intake without the unwanted calories and carbs!
Deliciously smooth and creamy, this protein shake delivers ultimate guilt-free indulgence.
Best served chilled. Shake well and enjoy as a part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
Key benefits
- Contains 37g of protein per shake
- Low in sugar
- 300 calories per bottle
- An ideal choice for healthy snackers
Customer reviews
Excellent protein supplement! – LaCrone – 5/5 stars
“I bought Fudge Brownie and two other flavours; they are all delicious! The low carb, low sugar recipe make then a perfect way to supplement my usual diet, which is lacking in quality protein.”
Lovely – Azhar – 5/5 stars
“Wow! Great taste and 37g of good protein, definitely recommended!”
Takeaway
Pre-workout drinks give you that extra added support when you need it.
What’s more, you don’t have to drink them pre-workout either, most of them can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
With so many different options to choose from, we hope the highly-rated shortlist above helps you make your decision!
Now you’re a little clearer on pre-workout drinks, what about post-workout?
What’s the best thing to put into your body post-sesh? Take a look at this article, ‘Post-workout and muscle recovery foods.’
Last updated: 21 September 2021