EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout is a “next-generation” supplement that promises “advanced” results in the areas of energy, power, endurance, and mind-to-muscle connection.
See which pre workouts beat EVL Nutrition ENGN in our Best Pre Workouts Ranking
How does it stack up to competitors on the pre-workout supplement market? Read on to find out!
EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement—Key Takeaways
- There’s a lot to love about the formulation of EVL Nutrition ENGN, including two types of caffeine to give users a two-state energy boost and patented ingredients. However, the formulation is missing a key ingredient, L-citrulline, and has a lower dosage of another essential ingredient than we would like to see.
- EVL Nutrition ENGN is available at an affordable price point. In fact, Amazon purchasers will pay 20% less for ENGN compared to the average per-dose price on the pre-workout market supplement.
- The regular ENGN formulation includes creatine, making it ideal for those looking to bulk up their lean muscle mass, while the ENGN SHRED formulation is made for targeted fat-burning.
Table of Contents
- EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Review Score: 40.5/50
- What Are the Benefits of EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement?
- User Review Roundup: Does It Actually Work?
- EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Formulation
- EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Flavor Review: How Does It Taste?
- EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Pros and Cons
EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Review Score: 40.5/50
Flavor: 8.5/10
If you’re a person who likes your drinks sweet, you will probably enjoy the taste of ENGN Pre-Workout powder in flavors like Blue Raz and Pink Lemonade, while those who prefer more sour tastes may find the flavor a little too sweet.
Value: 8.5/10
The ENGN and ENGN SHRED pre-workout powders from Evlution Nutrition are offered at a reasonable price point, with a full-price cost per dose just above the market average. We love that discounted buying options, like purchasing off of Amazon, drop the cost per dose to just over $1.
Strength of formula: 6/10
While the caffeine content of the EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout supplement formulation is in the range we like to see, we’re disappointed that the product contains no L-citrulline (not even a citrulline blend like citrulline malate). The beta-alanine dosage is a little lower than we would like to see, too. On the plus side, this pre-workout supplement includes creatine.
Quality of ingredients: 8.5/10
Patented ingredients like VitaShure Caffeine, CarnoSyn beta-alanine, and AGMASS agmatine sulfate add name recognition to the ENGN Pre-Workout supplement formulation. We like the inclusion of two kinds of caffeine—pure caffeine anhydrous and ValiShure Caffeine—for a longer-lasting two-stage energy boost.
Experience: 9/10
EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout supplement promises bold results, and the vast majority of users say it delivers. Although many pre-workout powders cause unpleasant side effects, ENGN users report avoiding the jitters and the crash that they have experienced when using other products.
If you were just here to see the review score, consider our other pre workout reviews!
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- REDCON1 TOTAL WAR Pre-Workout Supplement Review
- Legion Pulse Pre-Workout Supplement Review
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout Supplement Review
- Nitrosurge Pre-Workout Supplement Review
- Cellucor C4 Sport Pre-Workout Supplement Review
What Are the Benefits of EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement?
Evlution Nutrition isn’t a brand that shies away from making bold marketing claims for its pre-workout supplements, ENGN and ENGN SHRED.
The original EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout, for example, boasts a “revolutionary” and “cutting-edge” formula that “supercharges your mind to muscle connection” to provide results described as “explosive” and “amplified.”
The fat-burning ENGN SHRED formulation uses similar language to communicate its promised results, including “explosive” and “maximum energy” for “game-changing performance” and a “broad spectrum of fat burning ingredients” intended to “elevate thermogenesis” and “help you build a lean body every time” you work out.
EVL Nutrition ENGN and ENGN SHRED Pre-Workout supplements promise bold results—but do they deliver?
User Review Roundup: Does It Actually Work?
Both the ENGN and ENGN SHRED formulations of EVL Nutrition’s pre-workout supplement have achieved solid reputations, with thousands of fans rating the products favorably.
It’s easy for a pre-workout powder to miss the mark in either direction, failing to give users the amount of pump they need for better workout performance or overdoing it so that side effects make the product unpleasant or even dangerous to take.
Users say ENGN gives them just “the right amount of consistent energy” to take their workouts to the next level yet avoid a crash that costs them later. Many users still experience the results they’re looking for even after months or years of use.
Some highlights from user reviews of ENGN SHRED include a user referring to themselves as an “impressed and satisfied customer” and another stating, “I am a huge lover of this product.”
“This pre-workout is one of the best of about a dozen I have tried,” another experienced pre-workout user reported. ENGN SHRED is “a GREAT product that does what it says it will,” concluded another long-term user, who described their disappointment after trying a competitor’s pre-workout powder.
Key Point: While negative reviews certainly exist, ENGN SHRED demonstrates a very strong profile of user reviews with many fans choosing this product as their go-to pre workout.
EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Formulation
The effects a pre-workout supplement produces are a direct result of its formulation—its ingredients and dosages and how these ingredients interact with the body and with each other.
What’s in a Pre-Workout Supplement?
When we evaluate a pre-workout supplement, we look for certain “must-have” ingredients, as well as certain preferred “extras.”
We also investigate the other ingredients that make a formulation unique and the science (or sometimes lack thereof) behind their use in pre-workout powders.
The three ingredients that we prefer to see in every pre-workout supplement are:
- Caffeine for energy and alertness. Preferred dosage: 200 to 400 mg.
- The non-essential amino acid beta-alanine for decreasing your perception of fatigue while training. Preferred dosage: 2,000 mg to 5,000 mg.
- The amino acid L-citrulline for enhancing blood flood to resupply muscles for better function and endurance. Preferred dosage: 6,000 mg to 8,000 mg.
The extra ingredients we most like to see are dietary nitric oxide boosters, like beet root and red spinach leaf extract, and creatine, a compound that helps you regenerate energy while exercising and build larger and stronger muscles.
EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Ingredients
Let’s dig into the formulation that makes EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout unique.
EVL Nutrition ENGN (Regular Formulation)
Evlution Nutrition separates the ingredients in the ENGN Pre-Workout formulation into four categories by purpose: intense mental focus, energy and endurance, performance vitamin complex and strength and muscle building.
| Intense Mental Focus | |
| Huperzine A | 7 mg |
| L-Theanine | 50 mg |
| Choline Bitartrate | 500 mg |
| L-Tyrosine | 250 mg |
The blend of ingredients that aims to boost users’ mental focus consists of the amino acids L-Tyrosine (250 mg) and L-Theanine (50 mg), a naturally occurring compound called Huperzine A (7 mg), and an essential nutrient called choline bitartrate (500 mg).
| Energy and Endurance | |
| Caffeine anhydrous | 225 mg |
| VitaShure Caffeine | 125 mg |
| CarnoSyn Beta Alanine | 1,600 mg |
| AGMASS Agmatine sulfate | 250 mg |
Two types of caffeine—caffeine anhydrous and VitaShure Caffeine, in quantities of 225 mg and 125 mg, respectively—provide the primary energy boost users of EVL Nutrition’s ENGN Pre-Workout supplement enjoy. Also in the Energy and Endurance category of ingredients are 1,600 mg of patented CarnoSyn Beta Alanine and 250 mg of AGMASS agmatine sulfate to support blood flow.
| Performance Vitamin Complex | |
| Vitamin B6 | 2 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 25 mcg |
| Niacin | 35 mg |
A combination of 2 mg of vitamin B6 to produce energy and improve mental processing, 25 mcg of vitamin B12 to metabolize carbohydrates into energy to fuel your workout, and 35 mg of niacin to boost metabolism for more energy.
| Strength and Muscle Building | |
| Creatine Monohydrate | 2,000 mg |
| Betaine Anhydrous | 1,000 mg |
One area where EVL Nutrition ENGN shines is in the category of strength and muscle building. The pre-workout formulation includes 2,000 mg of creatine monohydrate—the most effective form of creatine—to help increase muscle strength.
Creatine is one of our preferred ingredients, but many pre-workout supplements skip this ingredient, so we’re glad to see it here. Also contributing to strength and muscle building is 1,000 mg of betaine anhydrous to help stave off fatigue and increase workout power and performance.
Also included in the formulation are 100 mg of Mucuna Pruriens extract, 50 mg of Theobroma cacao extract from seeds, and 5 mg of BioPerine patented piperine extract to help promote the body’s absorption of nutrients.
EVL Nutrition ENGN SHRED Pre-Workout Ingredients
In addition to the regular formulation, EVL Nutrition offers the ENGN SHRED thermogenic fat-burning formulation.
Like the regular formulation, ENGN SHRED’s ingredients are categorized into four areas of focus.
| Intense Mental Focus | |
| Huperzine A | 6 mg |
| Alpha GPC | 60 mg |
| Choline Bitartrate | 200 mg |
In addition to the Huperzine A (6 mg) and the choline bitartrate (200 mg) that the regular ENGN formulation includes, the SHRED formulation’s Intense Mental Focus category includes 60 mg of alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine (alpha-GPC), a naturally occurring compound that boosts your level of the neurotransmitter that stimulates muscle contractions while enhancing focus.
| Energy and Endurance | |
| Natural Caffeine from Green Coffee and Green Tea | 260 mg |
| CarnoSyn Beta Alanine | 1,600 mg |
| B-Vitamin Energy Complex | 35 mg niacin (B3), 2 mg B6, 1,336 mcg folate (B9), 25 mcg B12 |
ENGN SHRED uses a different form of caffeine—260 mg of natural caffeine derived from green coffee and green tea—to give users a bump of energy.
Also supporting the energy and endurance effects of the supplement are patented CarnoSyn beta-alanine and a B-vitamin energy complex that includes vitamins B3, B6, B9, and B12.
| Fat Burning and Thermogenesis | |
| Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) powder | 500 mg |
| L-Carnitine L-Tartrate | 500 mg |
| Capsimax | 25 mg |
| Coleus root extract | 100 mg |
The Fat Burning and Thermogenesis category is what really distinguishes EVL Nutrition ENGN SHRED from the regular ENGN Pre-Workout formulation.
The 500 mg of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) increases metabolism, and the 500 mg of the compound L-Carnitine L-Tartrate, derived from the amino acid called lysine, helps the body more effectively use fat to fuel workouts. Extract of the coleus root (100 mg) helps manage appetite to further support fat burning and weight loss.
The 25 mg of Capsimax, a patented concentrated extract of capsaicinoids found in red chili peppers, is the ingredient that gives ENGN SHRED its thermogenic, or heat-generating, element.
| Power and Pumps | |
| AGMASS Agmatine Sulfate | 200 mg |
| Betaine Anhydrous | 1,600 mg |
The Power and Pumps category of the ENGN SHRED Pre-Workout formulation brings together 200 mg of AGMASS agmatine sulfate and 1,600 mg of betaine anhydrous, both of which are also found (although not at the same dosage) in the regular EVL Nutrition ENGN formulation.
Key Point: There’s no creatine in this formulation, but given creatine’s role in building muscle, that omission makes sense for the target audience of fitness enthusiasts who prioritize losing weight (specifically fat) over bulking up.
What Ingredients Are Missing From EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Ingredients?
While both ENGN and ENGN SHRED Pre-Workout formulations include caffeine in the range we like to see and beta-alanine (if in a lower dose than we would prefer), one of our must-have ingredients is a glaring omission from both formulations. We like to see between 6,000 and 8,000 mg of pure L-citrulline or a comparable quantity of a citrulline blend like citrulline malate. ENGN and ENGN SHRED contain no citrulline.
How big a deal is this omission? What makes L-citrulline so important is that the amino acid is converted to arginine in the body and subsequently boosts the production of nitric oxide to widen the blood vessels.
Key Point: Although the AGMASS agmatine sulfate included in EVL Nutrition ENGN and ENGN SHRED Pre-Workout supplements is intended to serve a similar purpose by supporting blood flow, L-citrulline is the vasodilation and nitric oxide booster that has been most extensively proven effective by research studies.
Who’s It For?
Although a fitness enthusiast of any kind can’t really go wrong with EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout, we think this product, especially the creatine-containing regular formulation, is best-suited for weightlifters.
Who Should Use EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement?
EVL Nutrition’s ENGN Pre-Workout supplements are designed to be used by fitness enthusiasts of all kinds. The products are suitable for boosting gym workouts as well as performance on the court or field. However, the product may be of particular interest to bodybuilders and weightlifters, as Evlution Nutrition specifically mentions improved lifts as results of the product’s effects on mind-to-muscle connection. Both men and women report seeing excellent results from using EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout supplements.
The two distinct formulations allow users to focus on their specific needs and fitness goals. If you want to bulk and build, go for the regular ENGN formulation, which includes creatine. If you would rather lose weight (specifically fat), opt for ENGN SHRED.
For users who have found that they are sensitive to the paresthesia side effect of pre-workout supplements in general—that is, those who find the skin tingling feeling itchy, distracting, or uncomfortable—ENGN may be a suitable choice due to its low dose of beta-alanine.
User Criticism: Some reviewers noted that, unlike other pre-workout powders that include a stronger dose of beta-alanine, this supplement did not leave them with an “annoying” feeling of itchiness.
Who Shouldn’t Use EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement?
Like other pre-workout powders that contain caffeine, EVL Nutrition ENGN isn’t suitable for everyone. For one thing, the supplement is only recommended for use by people aged 18 or older.
Anyone with pre-existing medical conditions, including those who are pregnant, nursing, or trying to conceive, should avoid this product unless first cleared by their physician. Certain conditions, in particular, may make this product unsafe for an individual to use, including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Additionally, you should talk to your doctor before use if you take any medication or supplement, regardless of whether it is a prescription or over-the-counter medication.
It’s important that even healthy people who have cleared the use of a pre-workout supplement with their physician avoid taking more than the recommended dose. Coffee drinkers and individuals who consume caffeine regularly in other forms should be aware of their total caffeine intake.
Key Point: Some mild side effects are common with pre-workout supplements, but users who experience an adverse reaction should stop using the product and consult a doctor.
EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Flavor Review: How Does It Taste?
You’re not drinking a pre-workout supplement for the taste, but you still want the flavor to be at least tolerable, so taking the supplement isn’t a struggle.
Although taste is subjective, users generally find EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout to taste good, at least as pre-workout powders go. Some users have even called ENGN “the best-tasting pre-workout I’ve ever had.”
New users should know that the taste of ENGN’s flavors veers toward sweet, so much so that some reviewers express a desire for a little more sourness to balance out the taste.
The regular ENGN formulation comes in six flavors:
- Blue Raz
- Cherry Limeade
- Furious Grape
- Pink Lemonade
- Ring Candy
- Bahama Blast
ENGN SHRED is available in five flavors:
- Blue Raz
- Cherry Limeade
- Fruit Punch
- Grape
- Pink Lemonade
Flavor Roundup: According to customer reviews, the best flavor of EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout powder (for both formulations) appears to be Blue Raz, which has been described as “similar to blue Gatorade” and like a “blueberry Jolly Rancher” candy. Pink Lemonade and Furious Grape are other favorite flavors and have been described as tasting “like Kool-Aid.”
EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Price and Buying Options
Buying directly from Evlution Nutrition, the cost for a 30-dose supply of the EVL ENGN pre-workout powder is $43.99. The fat-burning formulation, ENGN SHRED, costs $41.99 for 30 servings.
EVL doesn’t offer a discount subscription, as many sports nutrition companies do on their pre-workout powders, but instead offers a Bundle & Save program that can cut the costs of its products by 20%. In a Bundled order, the EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout supplement would cost around $35.20, and the ENGN SHRED product would cost around $33.60.
Bundles include a combination of three ingredients that you select yourself. You could use the Bundle & Save offer to claim a 20% discount on three containers of the ENGN or ENGN SHRED pre-workout supplement if you’re confident that you will like the product.
Alternatively, you could build a bundle with supplements that meet other health and fitness needs you may have, including multivitamins, protein, melatonin or sleep support, and weight loss support.
EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout supplements are also available from Amazon for a noticeably more affordable price. Purchasers will pay $31.49 for the regular ENGN formulation on Amazon and $33.29 for the ENGN SHRED formulation. Through the Subscribe & Save discount program, Amazon purchasers can save up to 10% or even 15%.
When comparing the cost and value of pre-workout supplements, looking at the cost per dose gives the clearest picture of what you’re getting for your money. EVL Nutrition’s ENGN pre-workout powder has a cost per dose of around $1.47 without factoring in any discounts.
If bundled, the price drops to around $1.18. Amazon purchasers pay the least for the product, with a cost per dose of around $1.05 (not including Subscribe & Save discounts). For the ENGN SHRED formulation, you will pay around $1.40 per dose if buying at full price from the manufacturer, $1.12 if purchased as part of a bundle, or $1.11 if purchased from Amazon.
In terms of affordability, EVL Nutrition’s ENGN Pre-Workout supplements are in line with the average costs of pre-workout powders.
The full-price manufacturer costs per dose are just marginally above the $1.33 average cost per dose across the market. The savings offered by purchasing through Amazon or bundling products bring the supplement to a more affordable price point.
Pricing Roundup: A few competitors—Cellucor C4 Sport, Nitrosurge, and Mr. Hyde—offer cheaper options, but you will pay more per dose for most other brands than you will for EVL Nutrition ENGN or ENGN SHRED purchased through Amazon.
*Prices listed above are accurate as of December 2022.
What Are the Side Effects of EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement?
The side effects that have been reported with EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout use are, generally speaking, the same side effects you may encounter using any caffeine-based pre-workout powder.
- A “jittery” feeling
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Rapid heartbeat
- Skin tingling, which can be severe enough to cause discomfort in some users
- A “crash” that occurs after the caffeine wears off
Key Point: It’s worth noting, though, that many users report experiencing fewer side effects from taking EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout supplements compared to other pre-workout powders on the market.
EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout Supplement Pros and Cons
Pros:
- A formulation that consists of high-quality ingredients allows EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout supplements to give users excellent results—namely, a clean pump of consistent energy that elevates exercise performance but avoids common side effects like the jitters and the post-workout crash.
- The below-average price point makes EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout an affordable option and a great value.
- Most users rate the taste of EVL Nutrition ENGN’s best flavors as enjoyable, if a tad bit overly sweet. Taste is important in a pre-workout powder because you’re less likely to make the supplement a regular part of your routine—and stick with it—if you have to force yourself to drink something that is regularly described as “like battery acid” (as pre-workout supplements, in general, are described).
Cons:
- We wish the formulation included at least some L-citrulline or citrulline malate, because the ingredient is one of the most well-studied and scientifically proven nitric oxide boosters for improved workout performance. This omission is, by far, the biggest drawback of the product in our eyes.
- Although the low dose of beta-alanine may appeal to users who are sensitive to the skin-tingling effects of the amino acid supplement, we would like to see more of it. The amount included in the EVL Nutrition ENGN Pre-Workout formulation is 20% below the minimum threshold we prefer to see in a pre-workout powder.
- With no subscription discount available, users who are looking to save money on this pre-workout powder need to build a “Bundle” of three products instead.
What’s the Verdict?
Despite missing one of the main ingredients we like to see in a pre-workout powder, EVL Nutrition ENGN is a solid pre-workout supplement with a lot of fans. At this price point and with its reputation for results without the side effects, we think it’s worth trying, especially for weightlifters.
