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Creatine is one of the most popular supplements on the market after protein powder and pre-workout. There is good reason for this as creatine has been studied rigorously for decades with hundreds of papers and much ink spilled resulting in the finding that creatine has a strong impact on both athletic performance and body composition. (1)
The potential benefits of creatine have been studied more specifically in men, and researchers found the same results for a potential increase in muscular power, hypertrophy, and body composition. (2) There are a few different types of creatine, like classic creatine monohydrate and newer formulations, such as creatine hydrochloride and Kre-Alkalyn. Here we break down the best creatine for men in regards to a variety of circumstances and goals to help you find out which is the right option for you.
Best Creatine for Men
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.
Best Creatine for Men
A lot of supplement companies include extra ingredients in their formulas, but with creatine, that’s not necessary. We think the best creatine for men should be as simple and straightforward as possible. This product from Swolverine takes the guesswork out of creatine supplementation.
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
This well-priced and extremely to-the-point creatine monohydrate is dosed at 5,000mg per scoop. That dosage is considered to be optimal for this type of creatine to elicit the desired effects of potentially improved ATP cycling for longer and stronger muscle contractions. (3)
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrtae
Swolverine's Creatine Monohydrate is 5,000 mg of pure creatine with nothing else added. This unflavored powder is easy to mix into any beverage for pre or post-workout enjoyment and benefits.
Since this is an unflavored powder, you can mix it in with your pre-workout or post-workout protein shake. If you prefer, you can mix it in with some juice, or if you’re really hardcore, just water — though some carbs may help creatine absorb better. (4) You can pick this up for around $49.99 for a 60 serving container ($0.83 per serving).
Who Should Buy Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
Athletes who prefer a simple formula void of any unnecessary additives will appreciate this no-nonsense monohydrate formula.
Anyone who’s on a budget. This creatine’s price tag is quite reasonable at around $0.83 per serving.
People who want a creatine they can mix with anything and take at any time. This unflavored powder is a great option.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
Athletes who are looking for other supplements with their creatine may want to check out some more robust options on this list.
Men who prefer creatine that isn’t a monohydrate will want to look at other forms of creatine.
Those who prefer the convenience of creatine in pill form instead of powder will want to keep reading on for other options.
Creatine supplements range in their ingredients list, type, and dosage. We like this one the best for men because of its simplicity and to-the-point nature, as well as its clinical dosing.
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Best Creatine Pills
Creatine monohydrate is a widely available supplement, which makes it difficult to stand out from the rest of the pack. This pick stands out thanks to its ease of ingestion and cost-effectiveness.
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Huge Supplements sells their creatine monohydrate in bottles of 150 tablets where five tabs make up each five-gram serving of creatine monohydrate. The nice thing about tablet-form creatine is that you know exactly how much you’re ingesting with no guesswork or scales needed. You can vary the dose by simply taking more or fewer pills since each pill is one gram of creatine.
Huge Supplements Creatine
Huge Supplements Creatine contains 5g of creatine monohydrate in a convenient capsule form. For the best results, you only need to take five capsules in the morning or evening each day — consistency is key.
Should you choose to perform a loading phase where you take a larger amount of creatine for a few days before leveling off at the standard five-gram dose, then you can easily achieve this with no fuss. Huge Supplements does sell creatine in a powder form too, but the pills offer an increased convenience factor — especially when you’re on the go or traveling.
Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Those who want the extra versatility of easily being able to manipulate the amount of creatine they take without any scales or math.
People who dislike the oftentimes gritty feeling creatine leaves when ingesting the powdered form.
Anyone who wants the original and well-researched version of creatine (creatine monohydrate) instead of other forms (such as creatine HCl).
Who Shouldn’t Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Anyone looking for a powdered form of creatine that they can mix into other products, like a greens smoothie or nighttime shake.
Some people can experience gastric distress (such as bloating) from creatine monohydrate. Those people may want to opt for a different version of creatine on this list.
No frills but all the thrills, these creatine monohydrate tablets have only the necessary ingredients — creatine. Huge Supplements did a solid job with these tabs, making them an easy pick for us.
Best Creatine For Men Building Muscle
If you’re trying to pack on the muscle, then lifting more reps of heavier weight might help. Creatine is a supplement that can potentially have a substantial impact in this area, leading to more gains — this creatine is buffered to potentially withstand the acidic environment of the stomach, so more of it has the potential to reach its target destination. (5)
Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
Creatine can potentially help you put on muscle by increasing the time to fatigue of the explosive muscles that can move the most weight. (6) The dose of Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn is 3,000mg, which is less than the typical dose of 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate, but this dose still provides the same potential benefits. (5)
Swolverine Creatine Kre-Alkalyn
Swolverine’s Creatine Kre-Alkalyn comes in a 60 serving container, and is unflavored so it mixes well with everything. It contains 3,000mg of Kre-Alkalyn per scoop.
Though slightly more expensive at about $1.17 per serving compared to creatine monohydrate’s $0.83 per serving, this creatine may be superior thanks to its buffered form, which can potentially allow more creatine to be absorbed. Each scoop of this product provides 3,000mg of Kre-Alkalyn with 60 servings per container.
Who Should Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
Those who are looking to pack on muscle will like that this product may be more effective than creatine monohydrate.
Athletes who find they have problems with absorbing or tolerating creatine monohydrate may find this form of creatine easier to digest.
Folks who don’t want to have to order supplements every month will like that this product comes in a 60-serving tub.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
Those who are already using creatine monohydrate and seeing success with it may not need to switch things up with this type of creatine if what they currently take is working.
Athletes who want a flavored creatine, or something in a pill or tablet form, so they don’t have to worry about powder.
Folks who are on a budget will want to look at other options on this list as this one is somewhat more expensive.
With Kre-Alkalyn as the only ingredient you’ll find in this product, we think that this unflavored creatine powder is exactly what anyone who’s trying to put on muscle should be adding to their supp stack.
Read our full review of Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn.
Best Pre-Workout with Creatine
Creatine should be taken daily, though it doesn’t generally matter what time of the day you take it. Having creatine already mixed into your pre-workout may make things simpler and enable you to stay on track better. Few companies do pre-workout with creatine as well as Kaged, and almost no pre-workout touches the high quality and dosing of Pre-Kaged Elite.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
You don’t have to take creatine at any particular time, and you certainly don’t need to take it right before your workout, but if you’re already taking a pre-workout, consider Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite, which contains 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate and 2,000mg of creatine nitrite — among other potentially helpful ingredients. Some of the highlights include 10g of citrulline, 3,200mg of beta-alanine, and 2,500mg of betaine. For energy, you’ll receive a kick of nearly 400mg of caffeine.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Pre-Kaged® Elite provides nine patented ingredients with 35 milligrams of vitamin B6 and 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 in a single 36-gram scoop. Each serving is 25 calories and includes caffeine, taurine, l-citrulline, beta-alanine, l-tyrosine, and two types of creatine.
It’s not necessary to take creatine right before your workout in order for it to be effective, but if you already take a pre-workout, taking one with creatine can be a great way to combine the two supplements and simplify your regimen. Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite contains a rather potent formula and is one of the strongest pre-workouts on the market, so if you’re not used to lots of stimulants, you may want to start with a smaller dose to assess your tolerance.
Who Should Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Those looking for a potent pre-workout blend that contains creatine will like this product.
If you’re looking for a high dose of citrulline, Pre-Kaged Elite packs in a massive 10,000mg per serving.
Athletes who exercise in the morning will appreciate the 388mg of caffeine here — equivalent to about four cups of coffee.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Anyone who wants just one form of creatine should opt for a different product. This supp has two different forms of creatine.
People who are shopping on a budget may want to look for more cost-effective options, like adding a creatine monohydrate to a creatine-free pre-workout.
If you’re looking for creatine on its own, this may not be what you want as it has a host of other ingredients in it.
This pre-workout formula is potent with 20 premium, clinically-dosed ingredients that can deliver potentially heightened energy, sharper focus, increased power, and better pumps. Pre-Kaged Elite may be pricey, but it combines a wide range of supplements, including creatine, into one product.
Read our full review of Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite.
Best Creatine For Men On a Bulk
If you’re on a bulk and have been training for any period of time, you know every bit of muscle you add to your frame is often a hard-fought victory. For people who are bulking, a creatine with additional potential muscle-building ingredients may be a welcome boon.
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Many people see a surge in strength when bulking thanks to the extra calories and mass. Why not double down on the boosted strength and add creatine to your supplement regimen for potentially more strength gains? These creatine pills provide five grams of creatine monohydrate per five-pill serving.
Huge Supplements Creatine
Huge Supplements Creatine contains 5g of creatine monohydrate in a convenient capsule form. For the best results, you only need to take five capsules in the morning or evening each day — consistency is key.
What makes these great for people on a bulk is the pill form. There’s no need to mix water or juice and take up room in your stomach that you could be using to put down high-quality food instead. This creatine is also pretty cost-effective at about $29.99 per 30-serving bottle or right around $1.00 per serving.
Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Lifters who are bulking and want to ensure they’re making the most of their increased mass.
Athletes who have trouble putting down as much food as they need to bulk. These pills won’t waste any extra room in your stomach with lots of liquid.
Folks who like the convenience of pills instead of powders.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pulls
Those who don’t tolerate creatine monohydrate well may want to look at other options.
Anyone on a cut may want the extra fullness from drinking down a bunch of water that’s needed to mix creatine powders.
Men who are bulking and looking to maximize their gains will need to push hard in the gym to elicit a large training stimulus. Creatine may help you push harder for a bit longer and these pills can allow you to pack in extra nutritious food and maximize your gains instead of filling up on water.
Best Creatine for Male Bodybuilders
The goal of bodybuilding is, generally speaking, pack on as much muscle as possible and show up to contest day peeled and lean. Creatine can potentially help in this pursuit, and Transparent Labs Creatine HMB may help even more than other creatine supplements.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Creatine is a bodybuilding staple, and some might say it’s essential thanks to its help with turning over ATP and its potential to enhance muscle fullness. (7) Creatine can cause water retention, but this water is stored intramuscularly (inside the muscle cells), which can potentially cause them to look bigger and fuller — a big help in bodybuilding.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
We like that this product includes hydroxymethyl butyrate, the main metabolite in leucine that prevents muscle protein breakdown. Plus, the blue raspberry flavor is tasty, and the blend contains no artificial sweeteners.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB contains a clinical dose of 5,000mg of pure creatine monohydrate to meet your creatine needs. It also includes 1,500mg of HMB, which can potentially help build muscle through increased strength, and may aid in promoting better body composition. (8 Finally, the formula is topped off with 5mg of Bioperine, which may help with absorbing the other supplements in this product more effectively.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Male bodybuilders who are looking for an edge in their training to potentially push harder and increase their strength. Creatine can potentially help you push harder for longer, equating to more reps and stimulus for the muscle to grow. (9)
Anyone who is looking to improve their body composition as well as potentially pack on some extra muscle. The creatine and HMB combo in this product may aid in these pursuits.
Folks who want more in their supplement than only a creatine monohydrate will appreciate the inclusion of HMB and Bioperine.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Men who already have their supplement stack locked down and simply need a creatine product to add in will want to look elsewhere.
Those who prefer to take their creatine in a pill or capsule form for convenience will want to seek out other options.
Folks who are on a budget or looking for the cheapest creatine option. This one is a bit pricier than most other creatine products.
It seems like this product was handmade for bodybuilders with the straightforward and clinically-dosed ingredients of creatine, HMB, and black pepper extract. This is a solid choice to add to your supplement regimen for anyone serious about putting on muscle or improving their body composition.
Read our full review of Transparent Labs Creatine HMB.
Best Creatine For Mixing
If you’ve ever taken creatine, you’re likely all too familiar with the gritty feeling it can often leave behind — making you question if the gains are even worth it. That can be a thing of the past with this micronized creatine monohydrate from Xwerks.
Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
Thanks to micronization, this pure creatine monohydrate essentially mixes instantly into water or any other liquid (like fruit juice) with no clumping and no gritty bits left behind. It’s also one of the cheapest creatines on the market at $0.61 per serving.
Xwerks Lift Creatine
Xwerks Lift is a straight-forward creatine that contains 5 grams of pure micronized creatine monohydrate per serving. It comes in an unflavored option for easy mixing.
The elegant simplicity of this product is its defining characteristic with the only ingredient being pure micronized creatine monohydrate dosed at 5,000mg. You can mix this into anything and you likely won’t even notice it — making it extra versatile with no need for masking.
Who Should Buy Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
Folks looking for creatine monohydrate without any extras will appreciate the purity of this formula.
Those who are averse to the granule-like texture that regular creatine can leave behind sometimes. This micronized creatine monohydrate helps to prevent that.
Athletes who like to mix their creatine into a variety of beverages will like this unflavored, micronized option.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
Men who prefer other types of creatine, such as hydrochloride or Kre-Alkalyn, will want to look at other options.
Those who prefer to take their creatine in pill form and skip the mixing altogether will want to steer clear of this powdered version.
Anyone who wants a flavored creatine supplement to drink on its own. This is unflavored.
Xwerks Lift Creatine is about as straightforward as you can get with 5,000mg of pure micronized creatine monohydrate per serving. The formula may be simple, but the product is top-notch and mixes almost instantly in your liquid of choice.
Read our full review of Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate.
Best Tasting Creatine
Supplements are no use if you can’t even choke them down. The first time you took creatine and got a mouthful of sand at the bottom, you likely thought about never taking it again. With this product, you won’t have to worry about taste being a deterrent factor.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Despite containing no added sugars and no artificial sweeteners or dyes, Transparent Labs Creatine HMB tastes great and will have you actually enjoying your creatine. It comes in 10 tasty flavors, some of which are Sour Grape, Hawaiian Splash, Strawberry Lemonade, and Black Cherry. With that much variety, you’re unlikely to become bored with any flavor.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
We like that this product includes hydroxymethyl butyrate, the main metabolite in leucine that prevents muscle protein breakdown. Plus, the blue raspberry flavor is tasty, and the blend contains no artificial sweeteners.
Each scoop of Transparent Labs Creatine HMB provides a solid dose of 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate with 1,500mg of HMB on top of that for a one-two combo that can potentially help enhance strength and body composition. An added bonus of 5mg of black pepper extract may help you absorb everything properly. If you don’t mind ponying up the extra cost per serving here at about $1.67, this is a great option.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Men who have trouble forcing themselves to choke down poor-tasting creatine products will appreciate the 10 tasty flavors here.
Athletes who are conscious about the products they put in their bodies will appreciate that there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives in here.
Those who want potential help with body composition over what regular creatine may provide will like the included HMB here.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Anyone who wants a standalone creatine product without added ingredients will want to look for other options on this list.
Men who are on a budget will want to look for a more cost-effective option — this isn’t the cheapest creatine out there.
Transparent Labs made a creatine that not only tastes good, but also includes HMB and black pepper in it for potentially improved results. It may be more expensive than some other options, but the taste combined with the winning formula make this product worth it.
The Benefits of Creatine for Men
Creatine is one of the most well-researched supplements, and nearly every article you read will tell you the same thing — creatine is pretty darn awesome. It can potentially give your muscles more energy, improve your power output, and increase muscle mass. (9) All of these sort of build off of one another, so let’s break them down.
Energy for Your Muscles
The energy your muscles use to fuel contractions comes from a molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). (9) Your body creatines ATP by breaking down phosphocreatine, and ingesting a creatine supplement can help increase your free creatine. The creatine supplement is then converted into phosphocreatine, which can lead to more ATP availability for your muscles to use as energy. (10)
[Related: The 3 Most Effective Workouts Splits For Strength Training]
More Power
In the first five to 15 seconds of explosive or powerful exercise, your muscles utilize the phosphocreatine system for making ATP to fuel the muscles. Thanks to the increased availability of ATP, the phosphocreatine system (PCS) can be utilized for a longer period of time before the store is depleted and you need to rest between sets to allow it to resynthesize. (11)
Because of the increased use of the PCS, you can potentially perform more repetitions more explosively at a higher weight when supplementing with creatine. (11)
More Muscle Growth and Strength
Thanks to the increased duration of heavy and powerful lifting, your muscles receive a larger training stimulus than they would otherwise have without creatine. This can potentially cause your muscles to respond by increasing their size and strength to accommodate moving a heavier weight more times. (11)
How We Chose The Best Creatine for Men
Creatine may seem simple, but there are some important factors to consider when choosing the best creatine for men for this list. We took into account the form of creatine, the price — especially per serving — and the research and dosing behind the specific form of creatine in the supplement.
Form
You most often take creatine in either a pill or powder form. They each have their advantages and drawbacks. Pills, while more portable and better for on-the-go, can be a lot to swallow, especially if you have to take five for a full 5g dose. Powders, while easier to ingest sometimes, can be gritty and not great for travel.
Image via Shutterstock / Eugeniusz Dudzinski
We wanted to highlight some of each on this list to satisfy the needs of every man who may be interested in taking creatine. We also took into consideration how well each creatine powder mixes and the flavors available. Poor mixing creatine and those that have limited flavors may not rank as highly as others that mix well or have extensive flavor options.
Price
Creatine by itself is usually among the cheaper supplements, but should you choose an intra-workout that contains creatine, a creatine combination product, protein, or some other type of creatine, the price may be significantly higher. We factored in the price compared to what the ingredients would cost on their own to see whether a supplement was a good choice or not. Those who ended up being much more expensive per serving without providing some substantial difference or advantage weren’t ranked as highly.
Research and Dosing
Despite creatine monohydrate specifically having a ton of research backing it, the other, often newer and synthesized versions of creatine may not have as robust a ledger. For that reason, creatine monohydrates ranked higher unless there was some research provided and a specific benefit explained — such as Kre-Alkalyn. The research suggests that Kre-Alkalyn may be able to be dosed lower and achieve the same benefits as creatine monohydrate thanks to it’s buffered chemical composition. (5)
Image via Shutterstock / RHJPhtotos
The dosing also had to be correct for us to consider a supplement for the list. If a product, for example, contains only 1,500mg of creatine monohydrate, then we would expect to see a solid dose of another type of creatine too, or that product would be considered underdosed and not make this list. (12)
[Related: How To Do The Romanian Deadlift For Lower-Body Size And Strength]
What to Consider Before Buying Creatine for Men
When you’re ready to buy a creatine supplement, the choices may seem overwhelming due to the similarities (and sometimes even stark differences). Some of the most important factors to consider are the price, dosage, and type of creatine.
Price
Price is a huge factor in nearly every supplement purchase. Thankfully, creatine is one of the most cost-effective supplements on the market, but that doesn’t mean it can’t become quite pricey. It’s usually best to look at the price per serving to determine whether you’re receiving a bargain or not. Some creatine supplements will have other ingredients and be more akin to a pre-workout while some are pure creatine and nothing else. Ensure that the price reflects these nuances before making a purchase final.
Dosage
Most creatine monohydrate supplements provide a standard dose of five grams, often shown as 5,000mg. (12) Other types of creatine have different dosages that are considered to be sufficient, so make sure you know the type of creatine and whether the dosage is correct for that type.
Pro-tip: All the creatines on this list are properly dosed.
Type of Creatine
You may have heard of different types of creatine, such as creatine hydrochloride (creatine HCl) or Kre-Alkalyn. They have different and unique chemical makeups, which some folks think make them superior to creatine monohydrate. There is some research that they may be more effective at smaller doses, making taking them more palatable. (12)
Image via Shutterstock / Day Of Victory Studio
Research what type of creatine you think will work best for you, and don’t be afraid to try different types for a few months to see what you might respond best to — every guy is different.
Formulation
This factor goes along with the previous ones in that it’s a culmination of dose and creatine type. The formulation of a supplement will list all of the ingredients in descending order starting with the most prevalent by weight, so make sure you read the formula and see what else is in (or not in) the product you’re thinking about purchasing.
How Much Does Creatine for Men Cost?
Creatine is one of the most prevalent and surprisingly cost-effective supplements on the market, especially when considering pure creatine monohydrate. That said, the prices can fluctuate from around $0.60 per serving all the way up to over $2.00 per serving depending on the type of creatine and what else is included in it.
Best Creatine for Men
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
$49.99
$0.83 per serving
Best Creatine Pills
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
$29.95
$0.99 per serving
Best Creatine for Men Building Muscle
Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
$69.99
$1.17 per serving
Best Pre-Workout with Creatine
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
$44.95
$2.24 per serving
Best Creatine for Men On a Bulk
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
$29.95
$0.99 per serving
Best Creatine for Male Bodybuilders
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
$49.99
$1.66 per serving
Best Creatine for Mixing
Xwerks Lift
$49.00
$0.61 per serving
Best Tasting Creatine
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
$49.99
$1.66 per serving
Always look at or calculate the price per serving to ensure that you’re getting a solid deal. A $30 tub may sound cheap until you look and see there are only 10 servings in it, whereas another $30 tub may have 30 servings (or more) in it. This goes for all supplements, especially protein powders and pre-workouts.
Final Word
Creatine has been the subject of much spilled ink in academia for decades, and it’s one of the few supplements that nearly everyone agrees on for potentially boosting athletic performance. (12) There are some new and innovative formulations which hold promise (like creatine HCl and Kre-Alkalyn), and there’s always the good ole fashioned creatine monohydrate.
After considering all the options, this list can be a helpful resource to choosing the one that’s right for you. We tried to include the best options for a variety of situations so that every guy has at least one option that will fit their needs. Whether you’re an advanced lifter or just starting out, creatine is a supplement that most consider a staple in their stack, and the ones on this list are arguably the best out there.
FAQs
What’s the best creatine for men on the market?That’s going to depend on how you prefer to ingest the creatine and what type you prefer, but for us — we are really liking Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate right now. Its no-nonsense formula and cost-effective price make it our go-to. It’s unflavored, so you can mix it into nearly anything you want, too.
How much do creatine supplements for men cost?Just like any supplement, the price is going to range. On average, you can expect to spend between $30 and $60 for a tub, or about $0.60 and $2.25 per serving. It depends on what is in or not in the supplement. Pure creatine is fairly inexpensive whereas pre-workouts and post-workout products with creatine added in will cost significantly more.
Do I need to take creatine to become strong and muscular?In short, no. The real answer is more nuanced, though. No supplement is essential — that’s why they’re called supplements. But they may give you an edge or potentially lead to greater gains. Creatine is one supplement that the research has been impressively consistent on over the decades it’s been studied — creatine is potentially beneficial for improving muscular power and strength. (12)
References
Balsom, P. D., Söderlund, K., & Ekblom, B. (1994). Creatine in humans with special reference to creatine supplementation. Sports medicine, 18(4), 268-280.
Hultman, E., Soderlund, K., Timmons, J. A., Cederblad, G., & Greenhaff, P. L. (1996). Muscle creatine loading in men. Journal of applied physiology, 81(1), 232-237.
Taegtmeyer H, Ingwall JS. Creatine–a dispensable metabolite? Circ Res. 2013 Mar 15;112(6):878-80. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.113.300974. PMID: 23493302; PMCID: PMC3646410.
Green, A. L., Simpson, E. J., Littlewood, J. J., Macdonald, I. A., & Greenhaff, P. L. (1996). Carbohydrate ingestion augments creatine retention during creatine feeding in humans. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 158(2), 195-202.
https://allamericanpharmaceutical.com/study-improved-creatine-stability-and-ph-profile-for-kre-alkalyn/
Bogdanis, G. C., Nevill, M. E., Boobis, L. H., & Lakomy, H. K. (1996). Contribution of phosphocreatine and aerobic metabolism to energy supply during repeated sprint exercise. Journal of applied physiology, 80(3), 876-884.
Examine.com. (2021, October 21). HMB supplement – health benefits, dosage, side effects. Examine.com. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://examine.com/supplements/hmb/
Greenhaff PL. Creatine and its application as an ergogenic aid. Int J Sport Nutr. 1995 Jun;5 Suppl:S100-10. doi: 10.1123/ijsn.5.s1.s100. PMID: 7550252.
Naderi A, de Oliveira EP, Ziegenfuss TN, Willems MT. Timing, Optimal Dose and Intake Duration of Dietary Supplements with Evidence-Based Use in Sports Nutrition. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. 2016 Dec 31;20(4):1-12. doi: 10.20463/jenb.2016.0031. PMID: 28150472; PMCID: PMC5545206.
Slater, G. J., & Jenkins, D. (2000). ?-Hydroxy-?-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation and the promotion of muscle growth and strength. Sports Medicine, 30(2), 105-116.
Bird S. P. (2003). Creatine supplementation and exercise performance: a brief review. Journal of sports science & medicine, 2(4), 123–132.
Rawson ES, Volek JS. Effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and weightlifting performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Nov;17(4):822-31. doi: 10.1519/1533-4287(2003)0172.0.co;2. PMID: 14636102.
Rawson ES, Volek JS. Effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and weightlifting performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Nov;17(4):822-31. doi: 10.1519/1533-4287(2003)0172.0.co;2. PMID: 14636102.
Examine.com. (2022, 30 December). Creatine – health benefits, dosage, side effects. Examine.com. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://examine.com/supplements/creatine/
Creatine is one of the most popular supplements on the market after protein powder and pre-workout. There is good reason for this as creatine has been studied rigorously for decades with hundreds of papers and much ink spilled resulting in the finding that creatine has a strong impact on both athletic performance and body composition. (1)
The potential benefits of creatine have been studied more specifically in men, and researchers found the same results for a potential increase in muscular power, hypertrophy, and body composition. (2) There are a few different types of creatine, like classic creatine monohydrate and newer formulations, such as creatine hydrochloride and Kre-Alkalyn. Here we break down the best creatine for men in regards to a variety of circumstances and goals to help you find out which is the right option for you.
Best Creatine for Men
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.
Best Creatine for Men
A lot of supplement companies include extra ingredients in their formulas, but with creatine, that’s not necessary. We think the best creatine for men should be as simple and straightforward as possible. This product from Swolverine takes the guesswork out of creatine supplementation.
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
This well-priced and extremely to-the-point creatine monohydrate is dosed at 5,000mg per scoop. That dosage is considered to be optimal for this type of creatine to elicit the desired effects of potentially improved ATP cycling for longer and stronger muscle contractions. (3)
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrtae
Swolverine's Creatine Monohydrate is 5,000 mg of pure creatine with nothing else added. This unflavored powder is easy to mix into any beverage for pre or post-workout enjoyment and benefits.
Since this is an unflavored powder, you can mix it in with your pre-workout or post-workout protein shake. If you prefer, you can mix it in with some juice, or if you’re really hardcore, just water — though some carbs may help creatine absorb better. (4) You can pick this up for around $49.99 for a 60 serving container ($0.83 per serving).
Who Should Buy Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
[Related: Could Baking Soda Be The Best Workout Supplement You’ve Never Tried?]
Best Creatine Pills
Creatine monohydrate is a widely available supplement, which makes it difficult to stand out from the rest of the pack. This pick stands out thanks to its ease of ingestion and cost-effectiveness.
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Huge Supplements sells their creatine monohydrate in bottles of 150 tablets where five tabs make up each five-gram serving of creatine monohydrate. The nice thing about tablet-form creatine is that you know exactly how much you’re ingesting with no guesswork or scales needed. You can vary the dose by simply taking more or fewer pills since each pill is one gram of creatine.
Huge Supplements Creatine
Huge Supplements Creatine contains 5g of creatine monohydrate in a convenient capsule form. For the best results, you only need to take five capsules in the morning or evening each day — consistency is key.
Should you choose to perform a loading phase where you take a larger amount of creatine for a few days before leveling off at the standard five-gram dose, then you can easily achieve this with no fuss. Huge Supplements does sell creatine in a powder form too, but the pills offer an increased convenience factor — especially when you’re on the go or traveling.
Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Best Creatine For Men Building Muscle
If you’re trying to pack on the muscle, then lifting more reps of heavier weight might help. Creatine is a supplement that can potentially have a substantial impact in this area, leading to more gains — this creatine is buffered to potentially withstand the acidic environment of the stomach, so more of it has the potential to reach its target destination. (5)
Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
Creatine can potentially help you put on muscle by increasing the time to fatigue of the explosive muscles that can move the most weight. (6) The dose of Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn is 3,000mg, which is less than the typical dose of 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate, but this dose still provides the same potential benefits. (5)
Swolverine Creatine Kre-Alkalyn
Swolverine’s Creatine Kre-Alkalyn comes in a 60 serving container, and is unflavored so it mixes well with everything. It contains 3,000mg of Kre-Alkalyn per scoop.
Though slightly more expensive at about $1.17 per serving compared to creatine monohydrate’s $0.83 per serving, this creatine may be superior thanks to its buffered form, which can potentially allow more creatine to be absorbed. Each scoop of this product provides 3,000mg of Kre-Alkalyn with 60 servings per container.
Who Should Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
Read our full review of Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn.
Best Pre-Workout with Creatine
Creatine should be taken daily, though it doesn’t generally matter what time of the day you take it. Having creatine already mixed into your pre-workout may make things simpler and enable you to stay on track better. Few companies do pre-workout with creatine as well as Kaged, and almost no pre-workout touches the high quality and dosing of Pre-Kaged Elite.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
You don’t have to take creatine at any particular time, and you certainly don’t need to take it right before your workout, but if you’re already taking a pre-workout, consider Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite, which contains 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate and 2,000mg of creatine nitrite — among other potentially helpful ingredients. Some of the highlights include 10g of citrulline, 3,200mg of beta-alanine, and 2,500mg of betaine. For energy, you’ll receive a kick of nearly 400mg of caffeine.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Pre-Kaged® Elite provides nine patented ingredients with 35 milligrams of vitamin B6 and 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 in a single 36-gram scoop. Each serving is 25 calories and includes caffeine, taurine, l-citrulline, beta-alanine, l-tyrosine, and two types of creatine.
It’s not necessary to take creatine right before your workout in order for it to be effective, but if you already take a pre-workout, taking one with creatine can be a great way to combine the two supplements and simplify your regimen. Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite contains a rather potent formula and is one of the strongest pre-workouts on the market, so if you’re not used to lots of stimulants, you may want to start with a smaller dose to assess your tolerance.
Who Should Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Read our full review of Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite.
Best Creatine For Men On a Bulk
If you’re on a bulk and have been training for any period of time, you know every bit of muscle you add to your frame is often a hard-fought victory. For people who are bulking, a creatine with additional potential muscle-building ingredients may be a welcome boon.
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Many people see a surge in strength when bulking thanks to the extra calories and mass. Why not double down on the boosted strength and add creatine to your supplement regimen for potentially more strength gains? These creatine pills provide five grams of creatine monohydrate per five-pill serving.
Huge Supplements Creatine
Huge Supplements Creatine contains 5g of creatine monohydrate in a convenient capsule form. For the best results, you only need to take five capsules in the morning or evening each day — consistency is key.
What makes these great for people on a bulk is the pill form. There’s no need to mix water or juice and take up room in your stomach that you could be using to put down high-quality food instead. This creatine is also pretty cost-effective at about $29.99 per 30-serving bottle or right around $1.00 per serving.
Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Best Creatine for Male Bodybuilders
The goal of bodybuilding is, generally speaking, pack on as much muscle as possible and show up to contest day peeled and lean. Creatine can potentially help in this pursuit, and Transparent Labs Creatine HMB may help even more than other creatine supplements.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Creatine is a bodybuilding staple, and some might say it’s essential thanks to its help with turning over ATP and its potential to enhance muscle fullness. (7) Creatine can cause water retention, but this water is stored intramuscularly (inside the muscle cells), which can potentially cause them to look bigger and fuller — a big help in bodybuilding.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
We like that this product includes hydroxymethyl butyrate, the main metabolite in leucine that prevents muscle protein breakdown. Plus, the blue raspberry flavor is tasty, and the blend contains no artificial sweeteners.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB contains a clinical dose of 5,000mg of pure creatine monohydrate to meet your creatine needs. It also includes 1,500mg of HMB, which can potentially help build muscle through increased strength, and may aid in promoting better body composition. (8 Finally, the formula is topped off with 5mg of Bioperine, which may help with absorbing the other supplements in this product more effectively.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Read our full review of Transparent Labs Creatine HMB.
Best Creatine For Mixing
If you’ve ever taken creatine, you’re likely all too familiar with the gritty feeling it can often leave behind — making you question if the gains are even worth it. That can be a thing of the past with this micronized creatine monohydrate from Xwerks.
Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
Thanks to micronization, this pure creatine monohydrate essentially mixes instantly into water or any other liquid (like fruit juice) with no clumping and no gritty bits left behind. It’s also one of the cheapest creatines on the market at $0.61 per serving.
Xwerks Lift Creatine
Xwerks Lift is a straight-forward creatine that contains 5 grams of pure micronized creatine monohydrate per serving. It comes in an unflavored option for easy mixing.
The elegant simplicity of this product is its defining characteristic with the only ingredient being pure micronized creatine monohydrate dosed at 5,000mg. You can mix this into anything and you likely won’t even notice it — making it extra versatile with no need for masking.
Who Should Buy Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
Read our full review of Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate.
Best Tasting Creatine
Supplements are no use if you can’t even choke them down. The first time you took creatine and got a mouthful of sand at the bottom, you likely thought about never taking it again. With this product, you won’t have to worry about taste being a deterrent factor.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Despite containing no added sugars and no artificial sweeteners or dyes, Transparent Labs Creatine HMB tastes great and will have you actually enjoying your creatine. It comes in 10 tasty flavors, some of which are Sour Grape, Hawaiian Splash, Strawberry Lemonade, and Black Cherry. With that much variety, you’re unlikely to become bored with any flavor.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
We like that this product includes hydroxymethyl butyrate, the main metabolite in leucine that prevents muscle protein breakdown. Plus, the blue raspberry flavor is tasty, and the blend contains no artificial sweeteners.
Each scoop of Transparent Labs Creatine HMB provides a solid dose of 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate with 1,500mg of HMB on top of that for a one-two combo that can potentially help enhance strength and body composition. An added bonus of 5mg of black pepper extract may help you absorb everything properly. If you don’t mind ponying up the extra cost per serving here at about $1.67, this is a great option.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
The Benefits of Creatine for Men
Creatine is one of the most well-researched supplements, and nearly every article you read will tell you the same thing — creatine is pretty darn awesome. It can potentially give your muscles more energy, improve your power output, and increase muscle mass. (9) All of these sort of build off of one another, so let’s break them down.
Energy for Your Muscles
The energy your muscles use to fuel contractions comes from a molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). (9) Your body creatines ATP by breaking down phosphocreatine, and ingesting a creatine supplement can help increase your free creatine. The creatine supplement is then converted into phosphocreatine, which can lead to more ATP availability for your muscles to use as energy. (10)
[Related: The 3 Most Effective Workouts Splits For Strength Training]
More Power
In the first five to 15 seconds of explosive or powerful exercise, your muscles utilize the phosphocreatine system for making ATP to fuel the muscles. Thanks to the increased availability of ATP, the phosphocreatine system (PCS) can be utilized for a longer period of time before the store is depleted and you need to rest between sets to allow it to resynthesize. (11)
Because of the increased use of the PCS, you can potentially perform more repetitions more explosively at a higher weight when supplementing with creatine. (11)
More Muscle Growth and Strength
Thanks to the increased duration of heavy and powerful lifting, your muscles receive a larger training stimulus than they would otherwise have without creatine. This can potentially cause your muscles to respond by increasing their size and strength to accommodate moving a heavier weight more times. (11)
How We Chose The Best Creatine for Men
Creatine may seem simple, but there are some important factors to consider when choosing the best creatine for men for this list. We took into account the form of creatine, the price — especially per serving — and the research and dosing behind the specific form of creatine in the supplement.
Form
You most often take creatine in either a pill or powder form. They each have their advantages and drawbacks. Pills, while more portable and better for on-the-go, can be a lot to swallow, especially if you have to take five for a full 5g dose. Powders, while easier to ingest sometimes, can be gritty and not great for travel.
Image via Shutterstock / Eugeniusz Dudzinski
We wanted to highlight some of each on this list to satisfy the needs of every man who may be interested in taking creatine. We also took into consideration how well each creatine powder mixes and the flavors available. Poor mixing creatine and those that have limited flavors may not rank as highly as others that mix well or have extensive flavor options.
Price
Creatine by itself is usually among the cheaper supplements, but should you choose an intra-workout that contains creatine, a creatine combination product, protein, or some other type of creatine, the price may be significantly higher. We factored in the price compared to what the ingredients would cost on their own to see whether a supplement was a good choice or not. Those who ended up being much more expensive per serving without providing some substantial difference or advantage weren’t ranked as highly.
Research and Dosing
Despite creatine monohydrate specifically having a ton of research backing it, the other, often newer and synthesized versions of creatine may not have as robust a ledger. For that reason, creatine monohydrates ranked higher unless there was some research provided and a specific benefit explained — such as Kre-Alkalyn. The research suggests that Kre-Alkalyn may be able to be dosed lower and achieve the same benefits as creatine monohydrate thanks to it’s buffered chemical composition. (5)
Image via Shutterstock / RHJPhtotos
The dosing also had to be correct for us to consider a supplement for the list. If a product, for example, contains only 1,500mg of creatine monohydrate, then we would expect to see a solid dose of another type of creatine too, or that product would be considered underdosed and not make this list. (12)
[Related: How To Do The Romanian Deadlift For Lower-Body Size And Strength]
What to Consider Before Buying Creatine for Men
When you’re ready to buy a creatine supplement, the choices may seem overwhelming due to the similarities (and sometimes even stark differences). Some of the most important factors to consider are the price, dosage, and type of creatine.
Price
Price is a huge factor in nearly every supplement purchase. Thankfully, creatine is one of the most cost-effective supplements on the market, but that doesn’t mean it can’t become quite pricey. It’s usually best to look at the price per serving to determine whether you’re receiving a bargain or not. Some creatine supplements will have other ingredients and be more akin to a pre-workout while some are pure creatine and nothing else. Ensure that the price reflects these nuances before making a purchase final.
Dosage
Most creatine monohydrate supplements provide a standard dose of five grams, often shown as 5,000mg. (12) Other types of creatine have different dosages that are considered to be sufficient, so make...
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The potential benefits of creatine have been studied more specifically in men, and researchers found the same results for a potential increase in muscular power, hypertrophy, and body composition. (2) There are a few different types of creatine, like classic creatine monohydrate and newer formulations, such as creatine hydrochloride and Kre-Alkalyn. Here we break down the best creatine for men in regards to a variety of circumstances and goals to help you find out which is the right option for you.
Best Creatine for Men
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.
Best Creatine for Men
A lot of supplement companies include extra ingredients in their formulas, but with creatine, that’s not necessary. We think the best creatine for men should be as simple and straightforward as possible. This product from Swolverine takes the guesswork out of creatine supplementation.
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
This well-priced and extremely to-the-point creatine monohydrate is dosed at 5,000mg per scoop. That dosage is considered to be optimal for this type of creatine to elicit the desired effects of potentially improved ATP cycling for longer and stronger muscle contractions. (3)
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrtae
Swolverine's Creatine Monohydrate is 5,000 mg of pure creatine with nothing else added. This unflavored powder is easy to mix into any beverage for pre or post-workout enjoyment and benefits.
Since this is an unflavored powder, you can mix it in with your pre-workout or post-workout protein shake. If you prefer, you can mix it in with some juice, or if you’re really hardcore, just water — though some carbs may help creatine absorb better. (4) You can pick this up for around $49.99 for a 60 serving container ($0.83 per serving).
Who Should Buy Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
Athletes who prefer a simple formula void of any unnecessary additives will appreciate this no-nonsense monohydrate formula.
Anyone who’s on a budget. This creatine’s price tag is quite reasonable at around $0.83 per serving.
People who want a creatine they can mix with anything and take at any time. This unflavored powder is a great option.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
Athletes who are looking for other supplements with their creatine may want to check out some more robust options on this list.
Men who prefer creatine that isn’t a monohydrate will want to look at other forms of creatine.
Those who prefer the convenience of creatine in pill form instead of powder will want to keep reading on for other options.
Creatine supplements range in their ingredients list, type, and dosage. We like this one the best for men because of its simplicity and to-the-point nature, as well as its clinical dosing.
[Related: Could Baking Soda Be The Best Workout Supplement You’ve Never Tried?]
Best Creatine Pills
Creatine monohydrate is a widely available supplement, which makes it difficult to stand out from the rest of the pack. This pick stands out thanks to its ease of ingestion and cost-effectiveness.
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Huge Supplements sells their creatine monohydrate in bottles of 150 tablets where five tabs make up each five-gram serving of creatine monohydrate. The nice thing about tablet-form creatine is that you know exactly how much you’re ingesting with no guesswork or scales needed. You can vary the dose by simply taking more or fewer pills since each pill is one gram of creatine.
Huge Supplements Creatine
Huge Supplements Creatine contains 5g of creatine monohydrate in a convenient capsule form. For the best results, you only need to take five capsules in the morning or evening each day — consistency is key.
Should you choose to perform a loading phase where you take a larger amount of creatine for a few days before leveling off at the standard five-gram dose, then you can easily achieve this with no fuss. Huge Supplements does sell creatine in a powder form too, but the pills offer an increased convenience factor — especially when you’re on the go or traveling.
Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Those who want the extra versatility of easily being able to manipulate the amount of creatine they take without any scales or math.
People who dislike the oftentimes gritty feeling creatine leaves when ingesting the powdered form.
Anyone who wants the original and well-researched version of creatine (creatine monohydrate) instead of other forms (such as creatine HCl).
Who Shouldn’t Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Anyone looking for a powdered form of creatine that they can mix into other products, like a greens smoothie or nighttime shake.
Some people can experience gastric distress (such as bloating) from creatine monohydrate. Those people may want to opt for a different version of creatine on this list.
No frills but all the thrills, these creatine monohydrate tablets have only the necessary ingredients — creatine. Huge Supplements did a solid job with these tabs, making them an easy pick for us.
Best Creatine For Men Building Muscle
If you’re trying to pack on the muscle, then lifting more reps of heavier weight might help. Creatine is a supplement that can potentially have a substantial impact in this area, leading to more gains — this creatine is buffered to potentially withstand the acidic environment of the stomach, so more of it has the potential to reach its target destination. (5)
Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
Creatine can potentially help you put on muscle by increasing the time to fatigue of the explosive muscles that can move the most weight. (6) The dose of Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn is 3,000mg, which is less than the typical dose of 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate, but this dose still provides the same potential benefits. (5)
Swolverine Creatine Kre-Alkalyn
Swolverine’s Creatine Kre-Alkalyn comes in a 60 serving container, and is unflavored so it mixes well with everything. It contains 3,000mg of Kre-Alkalyn per scoop.
Though slightly more expensive at about $1.17 per serving compared to creatine monohydrate’s $0.83 per serving, this creatine may be superior thanks to its buffered form, which can potentially allow more creatine to be absorbed. Each scoop of this product provides 3,000mg of Kre-Alkalyn with 60 servings per container.
Who Should Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
Those who are looking to pack on muscle will like that this product may be more effective than creatine monohydrate.
Athletes who find they have problems with absorbing or tolerating creatine monohydrate may find this form of creatine easier to digest.
Folks who don’t want to have to order supplements every month will like that this product comes in a 60-serving tub.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
Those who are already using creatine monohydrate and seeing success with it may not need to switch things up with this type of creatine if what they currently take is working.
Athletes who want a flavored creatine, or something in a pill or tablet form, so they don’t have to worry about powder.
Folks who are on a budget will want to look at other options on this list as this one is somewhat more expensive.
With Kre-Alkalyn as the only ingredient you’ll find in this product, we think that this unflavored creatine powder is exactly what anyone who’s trying to put on muscle should be adding to their supp stack.
Read our full review of Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn.
Best Pre-Workout with Creatine
Creatine should be taken daily, though it doesn’t generally matter what time of the day you take it. Having creatine already mixed into your pre-workout may make things simpler and enable you to stay on track better. Few companies do pre-workout with creatine as well as Kaged, and almost no pre-workout touches the high quality and dosing of Pre-Kaged Elite.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
You don’t have to take creatine at any particular time, and you certainly don’t need to take it right before your workout, but if you’re already taking a pre-workout, consider Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite, which contains 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate and 2,000mg of creatine nitrite — among other potentially helpful ingredients. Some of the highlights include 10g of citrulline, 3,200mg of beta-alanine, and 2,500mg of betaine. For energy, you’ll receive a kick of nearly 400mg of caffeine.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Pre-Kaged® Elite provides nine patented ingredients with 35 milligrams of vitamin B6 and 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 in a single 36-gram scoop. Each serving is 25 calories and includes caffeine, taurine, l-citrulline, beta-alanine, l-tyrosine, and two types of creatine.
It’s not necessary to take creatine right before your workout in order for it to be effective, but if you already take a pre-workout, taking one with creatine can be a great way to combine the two supplements and simplify your regimen. Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite contains a rather potent formula and is one of the strongest pre-workouts on the market, so if you’re not used to lots of stimulants, you may want to start with a smaller dose to assess your tolerance.
Who Should Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Those looking for a potent pre-workout blend that contains creatine will like this product.
If you’re looking for a high dose of citrulline, Pre-Kaged Elite packs in a massive 10,000mg per serving.
Athletes who exercise in the morning will appreciate the 388mg of caffeine here — equivalent to about four cups of coffee.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Anyone who wants just one form of creatine should opt for a different product. This supp has two different forms of creatine.
People who are shopping on a budget may want to look for more cost-effective options, like adding a creatine monohydrate to a creatine-free pre-workout.
If you’re looking for creatine on its own, this may not be what you want as it has a host of other ingredients in it.
This pre-workout formula is potent with 20 premium, clinically-dosed ingredients that can deliver potentially heightened energy, sharper focus, increased power, and better pumps. Pre-Kaged Elite may be pricey, but it combines a wide range of supplements, including creatine, into one product.
Read our full review of Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite.
Best Creatine For Men On a Bulk
If you’re on a bulk and have been training for any period of time, you know every bit of muscle you add to your frame is often a hard-fought victory. For people who are bulking, a creatine with additional potential muscle-building ingredients may be a welcome boon.
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Many people see a surge in strength when bulking thanks to the extra calories and mass. Why not double down on the boosted strength and add creatine to your supplement regimen for potentially more strength gains? These creatine pills provide five grams of creatine monohydrate per five-pill serving.
Huge Supplements Creatine
Huge Supplements Creatine contains 5g of creatine monohydrate in a convenient capsule form. For the best results, you only need to take five capsules in the morning or evening each day — consistency is key.
What makes these great for people on a bulk is the pill form. There’s no need to mix water or juice and take up room in your stomach that you could be using to put down high-quality food instead. This creatine is also pretty cost-effective at about $29.99 per 30-serving bottle or right around $1.00 per serving.
Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Lifters who are bulking and want to ensure they’re making the most of their increased mass.
Athletes who have trouble putting down as much food as they need to bulk. These pills won’t waste any extra room in your stomach with lots of liquid.
Folks who like the convenience of pills instead of powders.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pulls
Those who don’t tolerate creatine monohydrate well may want to look at other options.
Anyone on a cut may want the extra fullness from drinking down a bunch of water that’s needed to mix creatine powders.
Men who are bulking and looking to maximize their gains will need to push hard in the gym to elicit a large training stimulus. Creatine may help you push harder for a bit longer and these pills can allow you to pack in extra nutritious food and maximize your gains instead of filling up on water.
Best Creatine for Male Bodybuilders
The goal of bodybuilding is, generally speaking, pack on as much muscle as possible and show up to contest day peeled and lean. Creatine can potentially help in this pursuit, and Transparent Labs Creatine HMB may help even more than other creatine supplements.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Creatine is a bodybuilding staple, and some might say it’s essential thanks to its help with turning over ATP and its potential to enhance muscle fullness. (7) Creatine can cause water retention, but this water is stored intramuscularly (inside the muscle cells), which can potentially cause them to look bigger and fuller — a big help in bodybuilding.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
We like that this product includes hydroxymethyl butyrate, the main metabolite in leucine that prevents muscle protein breakdown. Plus, the blue raspberry flavor is tasty, and the blend contains no artificial sweeteners.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB contains a clinical dose of 5,000mg of pure creatine monohydrate to meet your creatine needs. It also includes 1,500mg of HMB, which can potentially help build muscle through increased strength, and may aid in promoting better body composition. (8 Finally, the formula is topped off with 5mg of Bioperine, which may help with absorbing the other supplements in this product more effectively.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Male bodybuilders who are looking for an edge in their training to potentially push harder and increase their strength. Creatine can potentially help you push harder for longer, equating to more reps and stimulus for the muscle to grow. (9)
Anyone who is looking to improve their body composition as well as potentially pack on some extra muscle. The creatine and HMB combo in this product may aid in these pursuits.
Folks who want more in their supplement than only a creatine monohydrate will appreciate the inclusion of HMB and Bioperine.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Men who already have their supplement stack locked down and simply need a creatine product to add in will want to look elsewhere.
Those who prefer to take their creatine in a pill or capsule form for convenience will want to seek out other options.
Folks who are on a budget or looking for the cheapest creatine option. This one is a bit pricier than most other creatine products.
It seems like this product was handmade for bodybuilders with the straightforward and clinically-dosed ingredients of creatine, HMB, and black pepper extract. This is a solid choice to add to your supplement regimen for anyone serious about putting on muscle or improving their body composition.
Read our full review of Transparent Labs Creatine HMB.
Best Creatine For Mixing
If you’ve ever taken creatine, you’re likely all too familiar with the gritty feeling it can often leave behind — making you question if the gains are even worth it. That can be a thing of the past with this micronized creatine monohydrate from Xwerks.
Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
Thanks to micronization, this pure creatine monohydrate essentially mixes instantly into water or any other liquid (like fruit juice) with no clumping and no gritty bits left behind. It’s also one of the cheapest creatines on the market at $0.61 per serving.
Xwerks Lift Creatine
Xwerks Lift is a straight-forward creatine that contains 5 grams of pure micronized creatine monohydrate per serving. It comes in an unflavored option for easy mixing.
The elegant simplicity of this product is its defining characteristic with the only ingredient being pure micronized creatine monohydrate dosed at 5,000mg. You can mix this into anything and you likely won’t even notice it — making it extra versatile with no need for masking.
Who Should Buy Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
Folks looking for creatine monohydrate without any extras will appreciate the purity of this formula.
Those who are averse to the granule-like texture that regular creatine can leave behind sometimes. This micronized creatine monohydrate helps to prevent that.
Athletes who like to mix their creatine into a variety of beverages will like this unflavored, micronized option.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
Men who prefer other types of creatine, such as hydrochloride or Kre-Alkalyn, will want to look at other options.
Those who prefer to take their creatine in pill form and skip the mixing altogether will want to steer clear of this powdered version.
Anyone who wants a flavored creatine supplement to drink on its own. This is unflavored.
Xwerks Lift Creatine is about as straightforward as you can get with 5,000mg of pure micronized creatine monohydrate per serving. The formula may be simple, but the product is top-notch and mixes almost instantly in your liquid of choice.
Read our full review of Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate.
Best Tasting Creatine
Supplements are no use if you can’t even choke them down. The first time you took creatine and got a mouthful of sand at the bottom, you likely thought about never taking it again. With this product, you won’t have to worry about taste being a deterrent factor.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Despite containing no added sugars and no artificial sweeteners or dyes, Transparent Labs Creatine HMB tastes great and will have you actually enjoying your creatine. It comes in 10 tasty flavors, some of which are Sour Grape, Hawaiian Splash, Strawberry Lemonade, and Black Cherry. With that much variety, you’re unlikely to become bored with any flavor.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
We like that this product includes hydroxymethyl butyrate, the main metabolite in leucine that prevents muscle protein breakdown. Plus, the blue raspberry flavor is tasty, and the blend contains no artificial sweeteners.
Each scoop of Transparent Labs Creatine HMB provides a solid dose of 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate with 1,500mg of HMB on top of that for a one-two combo that can potentially help enhance strength and body composition. An added bonus of 5mg of black pepper extract may help you absorb everything properly. If you don’t mind ponying up the extra cost per serving here at about $1.67, this is a great option.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Men who have trouble forcing themselves to choke down poor-tasting creatine products will appreciate the 10 tasty flavors here.
Athletes who are conscious about the products they put in their bodies will appreciate that there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives in here.
Those who want potential help with body composition over what regular creatine may provide will like the included HMB here.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Anyone who wants a standalone creatine product without added ingredients will want to look for other options on this list.
Men who are on a budget will want to look for a more cost-effective option — this isn’t the cheapest creatine out there.
Transparent Labs made a creatine that not only tastes good, but also includes HMB and black pepper in it for potentially improved results. It may be more expensive than some other options, but the taste combined with the winning formula make this product worth it.
The Benefits of Creatine for Men
Creatine is one of the most well-researched supplements, and nearly every article you read will tell you the same thing — creatine is pretty darn awesome. It can potentially give your muscles more energy, improve your power output, and increase muscle mass. (9) All of these sort of build off of one another, so let’s break them down.
Energy for Your Muscles
The energy your muscles use to fuel contractions comes from a molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). (9) Your body creatines ATP by breaking down phosphocreatine, and ingesting a creatine supplement can help increase your free creatine. The creatine supplement is then converted into phosphocreatine, which can lead to more ATP availability for your muscles to use as energy. (10)
[Related: The 3 Most Effective Workouts Splits For Strength Training]
More Power
In the first five to 15 seconds of explosive or powerful exercise, your muscles utilize the phosphocreatine system for making ATP to fuel the muscles. Thanks to the increased availability of ATP, the phosphocreatine system (PCS) can be utilized for a longer period of time before the store is depleted and you need to rest between sets to allow it to resynthesize. (11)
Because of the increased use of the PCS, you can potentially perform more repetitions more explosively at a higher weight when supplementing with creatine. (11)
More Muscle Growth and Strength
Thanks to the increased duration of heavy and powerful lifting, your muscles receive a larger training stimulus than they would otherwise have without creatine. This can potentially cause your muscles to respond by increasing their size and strength to accommodate moving a heavier weight more times. (11)
How We Chose The Best Creatine for Men
Creatine may seem simple, but there are some important factors to consider when choosing the best creatine for men for this list. We took into account the form of creatine, the price — especially per serving — and the research and dosing behind the specific form of creatine in the supplement.
Form
You most often take creatine in either a pill or powder form. They each have their advantages and drawbacks. Pills, while more portable and better for on-the-go, can be a lot to swallow, especially if you have to take five for a full 5g dose. Powders, while easier to ingest sometimes, can be gritty and not great for travel.
Image via Shutterstock / Eugeniusz Dudzinski
We wanted to highlight some of each on this list to satisfy the needs of every man who may be interested in taking creatine. We also took into consideration how well each creatine powder mixes and the flavors available. Poor mixing creatine and those that have limited flavors may not rank as highly as others that mix well or have extensive flavor options.
Price
Creatine by itself is usually among the cheaper supplements, but should you choose an intra-workout that contains creatine, a creatine combination product, protein, or some other type of creatine, the price may be significantly higher. We factored in the price compared to what the ingredients would cost on their own to see whether a supplement was a good choice or not. Those who ended up being much more expensive per serving without providing some substantial difference or advantage weren’t ranked as highly.
Research and Dosing
Despite creatine monohydrate specifically having a ton of research backing it, the other, often newer and synthesized versions of creatine may not have as robust a ledger. For that reason, creatine monohydrates ranked higher unless there was some research provided and a specific benefit explained — such as Kre-Alkalyn. The research suggests that Kre-Alkalyn may be able to be dosed lower and achieve the same benefits as creatine monohydrate thanks to it’s buffered chemical composition. (5)
Image via Shutterstock / RHJPhtotos
The dosing also had to be correct for us to consider a supplement for the list. If a product, for example, contains only 1,500mg of creatine monohydrate, then we would expect to see a solid dose of another type of creatine too, or that product would be considered underdosed and not make this list. (12)
[Related: How To Do The Romanian Deadlift For Lower-Body Size And Strength]
What to Consider Before Buying Creatine for Men
When you’re ready to buy a creatine supplement, the choices may seem overwhelming due to the similarities (and sometimes even stark differences). Some of the most important factors to consider are the price, dosage, and type of creatine.
Price
Price is a huge factor in nearly every supplement purchase. Thankfully, creatine is one of the most cost-effective supplements on the market, but that doesn’t mean it can’t become quite pricey. It’s usually best to look at the price per serving to determine whether you’re receiving a bargain or not. Some creatine supplements will have other ingredients and be more akin to a pre-workout while some are pure creatine and nothing else. Ensure that the price reflects these nuances before making a purchase final.
Dosage
Most creatine monohydrate supplements provide a standard dose of five grams, often shown as 5,000mg. (12) Other types of creatine have different dosages that are considered to be sufficient, so make sure you know the type of creatine and whether the dosage is correct for that type.
Pro-tip: All the creatines on this list are properly dosed.
Type of Creatine
You may have heard of different types of creatine, such as creatine hydrochloride (creatine HCl) or Kre-Alkalyn. They have different and unique chemical makeups, which some folks think make them superior to creatine monohydrate. There is some research that they may be more effective at smaller doses, making taking them more palatable. (12)
Image via Shutterstock / Day Of Victory Studio
Research what type of creatine you think will work best for you, and don’t be afraid to try different types for a few months to see what you might respond best to — every guy is different.
Formulation
This factor goes along with the previous ones in that it’s a culmination of dose and creatine type. The formulation of a supplement will list all of the ingredients in descending order starting with the most prevalent by weight, so make sure you read the formula and see what else is in (or not in) the product you’re thinking about purchasing.
How Much Does Creatine for Men Cost?
Creatine is one of the most prevalent and surprisingly cost-effective supplements on the market, especially when considering pure creatine monohydrate. That said, the prices can fluctuate from around $0.60 per serving all the way up to over $2.00 per serving depending on the type of creatine and what else is included in it.
Best Creatine for Men
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
$49.99
$0.83 per serving
Best Creatine Pills
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
$29.95
$0.99 per serving
Best Creatine for Men Building Muscle
Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
$69.99
$1.17 per serving
Best Pre-Workout with Creatine
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
$44.95
$2.24 per serving
Best Creatine for Men On a Bulk
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
$29.95
$0.99 per serving
Best Creatine for Male Bodybuilders
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
$49.99
$1.66 per serving
Best Creatine for Mixing
Xwerks Lift
$49.00
$0.61 per serving
Best Tasting Creatine
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
$49.99
$1.66 per serving
Always look at or calculate the price per serving to ensure that you’re getting a solid deal. A $30 tub may sound cheap until you look and see there are only 10 servings in it, whereas another $30 tub may have 30 servings (or more) in it. This goes for all supplements, especially protein powders and pre-workouts.
Final Word
Creatine has been the subject of much spilled ink in academia for decades, and it’s one of the few supplements that nearly everyone agrees on for potentially boosting athletic performance. (12) There are some new and innovative formulations which hold promise (like creatine HCl and Kre-Alkalyn), and there’s always the good ole fashioned creatine monohydrate.
After considering all the options, this list can be a helpful resource to choosing the one that’s right for you. We tried to include the best options for a variety of situations so that every guy has at least one option that will fit their needs. Whether you’re an advanced lifter or just starting out, creatine is a supplement that most consider a staple in their stack, and the ones on this list are arguably the best out there.
FAQs
What’s the best creatine for men on the market?That’s going to depend on how you prefer to ingest the creatine and what type you prefer, but for us — we are really liking Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate right now. Its no-nonsense formula and cost-effective price make it our go-to. It’s unflavored, so you can mix it into nearly anything you want, too.
How much do creatine supplements for men cost?Just like any supplement, the price is going to range. On average, you can expect to spend between $30 and $60 for a tub, or about $0.60 and $2.25 per serving. It depends on what is in or not in the supplement. Pure creatine is fairly inexpensive whereas pre-workouts and post-workout products with creatine added in will cost significantly more.
Do I need to take creatine to become strong and muscular?In short, no. The real answer is more nuanced, though. No supplement is essential — that’s why they’re called supplements. But they may give you an edge or potentially lead to greater gains. Creatine is one supplement that the research has been impressively consistent on over the decades it’s been studied — creatine is potentially beneficial for improving muscular power and strength. (12)
References
Balsom, P. D., Söderlund, K., & Ekblom, B. (1994). Creatine in humans with special reference to creatine supplementation. Sports medicine, 18(4), 268-280.
Hultman, E., Soderlund, K., Timmons, J. A., Cederblad, G., & Greenhaff, P. L. (1996). Muscle creatine loading in men. Journal of applied physiology, 81(1), 232-237.
Taegtmeyer H, Ingwall JS. Creatine–a dispensable metabolite? Circ Res. 2013 Mar 15;112(6):878-80. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.113.300974. PMID: 23493302; PMCID: PMC3646410.
Green, A. L., Simpson, E. J., Littlewood, J. J., Macdonald, I. A., & Greenhaff, P. L. (1996). Carbohydrate ingestion augments creatine retention during creatine feeding in humans. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 158(2), 195-202.
https://allamericanpharmaceutical.com/study-improved-creatine-stability-and-ph-profile-for-kre-alkalyn/
Bogdanis, G. C., Nevill, M. E., Boobis, L. H., & Lakomy, H. K. (1996). Contribution of phosphocreatine and aerobic metabolism to energy supply during repeated sprint exercise. Journal of applied physiology, 80(3), 876-884.
Examine.com. (2021, October 21). HMB supplement – health benefits, dosage, side effects. Examine.com. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://examine.com/supplements/hmb/
Greenhaff PL. Creatine and its application as an ergogenic aid. Int J Sport Nutr. 1995 Jun;5 Suppl:S100-10. doi: 10.1123/ijsn.5.s1.s100. PMID: 7550252.
Naderi A, de Oliveira EP, Ziegenfuss TN, Willems MT. Timing, Optimal Dose and Intake Duration of Dietary Supplements with Evidence-Based Use in Sports Nutrition. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. 2016 Dec 31;20(4):1-12. doi: 10.20463/jenb.2016.0031. PMID: 28150472; PMCID: PMC5545206.
Slater, G. J., & Jenkins, D. (2000). ?-Hydroxy-?-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation and the promotion of muscle growth and strength. Sports Medicine, 30(2), 105-116.
Bird S. P. (2003). Creatine supplementation and exercise performance: a brief review. Journal of sports science & medicine, 2(4), 123–132.
Rawson ES, Volek JS. Effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and weightlifting performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Nov;17(4):822-31. doi: 10.1519/1533-4287(2003)0172.0.co;2. PMID: 14636102.
Rawson ES, Volek JS. Effects of creatine supplementation and resistance training on muscle strength and weightlifting performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Nov;17(4):822-31. doi: 10.1519/1533-4287(2003)0172.0.co;2. PMID: 14636102.
Examine.com. (2022, 30 December). Creatine – health benefits, dosage, side effects. Examine.com. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://examine.com/supplements/creatine/
Creatine is one of the most popular supplements on the market after protein powder and pre-workout. There is good reason for this as creatine has been studied rigorously for decades with hundreds of papers and much ink spilled resulting in the finding that creatine has a strong impact on both athletic performance and body composition. (1)
The potential benefits of creatine have been studied more specifically in men, and researchers found the same results for a potential increase in muscular power, hypertrophy, and body composition. (2) There are a few different types of creatine, like classic creatine monohydrate and newer formulations, such as creatine hydrochloride and Kre-Alkalyn. Here we break down the best creatine for men in regards to a variety of circumstances and goals to help you find out which is the right option for you.
Best Creatine for Men
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.
Best Creatine for Men
A lot of supplement companies include extra ingredients in their formulas, but with creatine, that’s not necessary. We think the best creatine for men should be as simple and straightforward as possible. This product from Swolverine takes the guesswork out of creatine supplementation.
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
This well-priced and extremely to-the-point creatine monohydrate is dosed at 5,000mg per scoop. That dosage is considered to be optimal for this type of creatine to elicit the desired effects of potentially improved ATP cycling for longer and stronger muscle contractions. (3)
Swolverine Creatine Monohydrtae
Swolverine's Creatine Monohydrate is 5,000 mg of pure creatine with nothing else added. This unflavored powder is easy to mix into any beverage for pre or post-workout enjoyment and benefits.
Since this is an unflavored powder, you can mix it in with your pre-workout or post-workout protein shake. If you prefer, you can mix it in with some juice, or if you’re really hardcore, just water — though some carbs may help creatine absorb better. (4) You can pick this up for around $49.99 for a 60 serving container ($0.83 per serving).
Who Should Buy Swolverine Creatine Monohydrate
- Athletes who prefer a simple formula void of any unnecessary additives will appreciate this no-nonsense monohydrate formula.
- Anyone who’s on a budget. This creatine’s price tag is quite reasonable at around $0.83 per serving.
- People who want a creatine they can mix with anything and take at any time. This unflavored powder is a great option.
- Athletes who are looking for other supplements with their creatine may want to check out some more robust options on this list.
- Men who prefer creatine that isn’t a monohydrate will want to look at other forms of creatine.
- Those who prefer the convenience of creatine in pill form instead of powder will want to keep reading on for other options.
[Related: Could Baking Soda Be The Best Workout Supplement You’ve Never Tried?]
Best Creatine Pills
Creatine monohydrate is a widely available supplement, which makes it difficult to stand out from the rest of the pack. This pick stands out thanks to its ease of ingestion and cost-effectiveness.
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Huge Supplements sells their creatine monohydrate in bottles of 150 tablets where five tabs make up each five-gram serving of creatine monohydrate. The nice thing about tablet-form creatine is that you know exactly how much you’re ingesting with no guesswork or scales needed. You can vary the dose by simply taking more or fewer pills since each pill is one gram of creatine.
Huge Supplements Creatine
Huge Supplements Creatine contains 5g of creatine monohydrate in a convenient capsule form. For the best results, you only need to take five capsules in the morning or evening each day — consistency is key.
Should you choose to perform a loading phase where you take a larger amount of creatine for a few days before leveling off at the standard five-gram dose, then you can easily achieve this with no fuss. Huge Supplements does sell creatine in a powder form too, but the pills offer an increased convenience factor — especially when you’re on the go or traveling.
Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
- Those who want the extra versatility of easily being able to manipulate the amount of creatine they take without any scales or math.
- People who dislike the oftentimes gritty feeling creatine leaves when ingesting the powdered form.
- Anyone who wants the original and well-researched version of creatine (creatine monohydrate) instead of other forms (such as creatine HCl).
- Anyone looking for a powdered form of creatine that they can mix into other products, like a greens smoothie or nighttime shake.
- Some people can experience gastric distress (such as bloating) from creatine monohydrate. Those people may want to opt for a different version of creatine on this list.
Best Creatine For Men Building Muscle
If you’re trying to pack on the muscle, then lifting more reps of heavier weight might help. Creatine is a supplement that can potentially have a substantial impact in this area, leading to more gains — this creatine is buffered to potentially withstand the acidic environment of the stomach, so more of it has the potential to reach its target destination. (5)
Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
Creatine can potentially help you put on muscle by increasing the time to fatigue of the explosive muscles that can move the most weight. (6) The dose of Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn is 3,000mg, which is less than the typical dose of 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate, but this dose still provides the same potential benefits. (5)
Swolverine Creatine Kre-Alkalyn
Swolverine’s Creatine Kre-Alkalyn comes in a 60 serving container, and is unflavored so it mixes well with everything. It contains 3,000mg of Kre-Alkalyn per scoop.
Though slightly more expensive at about $1.17 per serving compared to creatine monohydrate’s $0.83 per serving, this creatine may be superior thanks to its buffered form, which can potentially allow more creatine to be absorbed. Each scoop of this product provides 3,000mg of Kre-Alkalyn with 60 servings per container.
Who Should Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn
- Those who are looking to pack on muscle will like that this product may be more effective than creatine monohydrate.
- Athletes who find they have problems with absorbing or tolerating creatine monohydrate may find this form of creatine easier to digest.
- Folks who don’t want to have to order supplements every month will like that this product comes in a 60-serving tub.
- Those who are already using creatine monohydrate and seeing success with it may not need to switch things up with this type of creatine if what they currently take is working.
- Athletes who want a flavored creatine, or something in a pill or tablet form, so they don’t have to worry about powder.
- Folks who are on a budget will want to look at other options on this list as this one is somewhat more expensive.
Read our full review of Swolverine Kre-Alkalyn.
Best Pre-Workout with Creatine
Creatine should be taken daily, though it doesn’t generally matter what time of the day you take it. Having creatine already mixed into your pre-workout may make things simpler and enable you to stay on track better. Few companies do pre-workout with creatine as well as Kaged, and almost no pre-workout touches the high quality and dosing of Pre-Kaged Elite.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
You don’t have to take creatine at any particular time, and you certainly don’t need to take it right before your workout, but if you’re already taking a pre-workout, consider Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite, which contains 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate and 2,000mg of creatine nitrite — among other potentially helpful ingredients. Some of the highlights include 10g of citrulline, 3,200mg of beta-alanine, and 2,500mg of betaine. For energy, you’ll receive a kick of nearly 400mg of caffeine.
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Pre-Kaged® Elite provides nine patented ingredients with 35 milligrams of vitamin B6 and 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 in a single 36-gram scoop. Each serving is 25 calories and includes caffeine, taurine, l-citrulline, beta-alanine, l-tyrosine, and two types of creatine.
It’s not necessary to take creatine right before your workout in order for it to be effective, but if you already take a pre-workout, taking one with creatine can be a great way to combine the two supplements and simplify your regimen. Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite contains a rather potent formula and is one of the strongest pre-workouts on the market, so if you’re not used to lots of stimulants, you may want to start with a smaller dose to assess your tolerance.
Who Should Buy Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
- Those looking for a potent pre-workout blend that contains creatine will like this product.
- If you’re looking for a high dose of citrulline, Pre-Kaged Elite packs in a massive 10,000mg per serving.
- Athletes who exercise in the morning will appreciate the 388mg of caffeine here — equivalent to about four cups of coffee.
- Anyone who wants just one form of creatine should opt for a different product. This supp has two different forms of creatine.
- People who are shopping on a budget may want to look for more cost-effective options, like adding a creatine monohydrate to a creatine-free pre-workout.
- If you’re looking for creatine on its own, this may not be what you want as it has a host of other ingredients in it.
Read our full review of Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite.
Best Creatine For Men On a Bulk
If you’re on a bulk and have been training for any period of time, you know every bit of muscle you add to your frame is often a hard-fought victory. For people who are bulking, a creatine with additional potential muscle-building ingredients may be a welcome boon.
Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
Many people see a surge in strength when bulking thanks to the extra calories and mass. Why not double down on the boosted strength and add creatine to your supplement regimen for potentially more strength gains? These creatine pills provide five grams of creatine monohydrate per five-pill serving.
Huge Supplements Creatine
Huge Supplements Creatine contains 5g of creatine monohydrate in a convenient capsule form. For the best results, you only need to take five capsules in the morning or evening each day — consistency is key.
What makes these great for people on a bulk is the pill form. There’s no need to mix water or juice and take up room in your stomach that you could be using to put down high-quality food instead. This creatine is also pretty cost-effective at about $29.99 per 30-serving bottle or right around $1.00 per serving.
Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Creatine Pills
- Lifters who are bulking and want to ensure they’re making the most of their increased mass.
- Athletes who have trouble putting down as much food as they need to bulk. These pills won’t waste any extra room in your stomach with lots of liquid.
- Folks who like the convenience of pills instead of powders.
- Those who don’t tolerate creatine monohydrate well may want to look at other options.
- Anyone on a cut may want the extra fullness from drinking down a bunch of water that’s needed to mix creatine powders.
Best Creatine for Male Bodybuilders
The goal of bodybuilding is, generally speaking, pack on as much muscle as possible and show up to contest day peeled and lean. Creatine can potentially help in this pursuit, and Transparent Labs Creatine HMB may help even more than other creatine supplements.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Creatine is a bodybuilding staple, and some might say it’s essential thanks to its help with turning over ATP and its potential to enhance muscle fullness. (7) Creatine can cause water retention, but this water is stored intramuscularly (inside the muscle cells), which can potentially cause them to look bigger and fuller — a big help in bodybuilding.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
We like that this product includes hydroxymethyl butyrate, the main metabolite in leucine that prevents muscle protein breakdown. Plus, the blue raspberry flavor is tasty, and the blend contains no artificial sweeteners.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB contains a clinical dose of 5,000mg of pure creatine monohydrate to meet your creatine needs. It also includes 1,500mg of HMB, which can potentially help build muscle through increased strength, and may aid in promoting better body composition. (8 Finally, the formula is topped off with 5mg of Bioperine, which may help with absorbing the other supplements in this product more effectively.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
- Male bodybuilders who are looking for an edge in their training to potentially push harder and increase their strength. Creatine can potentially help you push harder for longer, equating to more reps and stimulus for the muscle to grow. (9)
- Anyone who is looking to improve their body composition as well as potentially pack on some extra muscle. The creatine and HMB combo in this product may aid in these pursuits.
- Folks who want more in their supplement than only a creatine monohydrate will appreciate the inclusion of HMB and Bioperine.
- Men who already have their supplement stack locked down and simply need a creatine product to add in will want to look elsewhere.
- Those who prefer to take their creatine in a pill or capsule form for convenience will want to seek out other options.
- Folks who are on a budget or looking for the cheapest creatine option. This one is a bit pricier than most other creatine products.
Read our full review of Transparent Labs Creatine HMB.
Best Creatine For Mixing
If you’ve ever taken creatine, you’re likely all too familiar with the gritty feeling it can often leave behind — making you question if the gains are even worth it. That can be a thing of the past with this micronized creatine monohydrate from Xwerks.
Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
Thanks to micronization, this pure creatine monohydrate essentially mixes instantly into water or any other liquid (like fruit juice) with no clumping and no gritty bits left behind. It’s also one of the cheapest creatines on the market at $0.61 per serving.
Xwerks Lift Creatine
Xwerks Lift is a straight-forward creatine that contains 5 grams of pure micronized creatine monohydrate per serving. It comes in an unflavored option for easy mixing.
The elegant simplicity of this product is its defining characteristic with the only ingredient being pure micronized creatine monohydrate dosed at 5,000mg. You can mix this into anything and you likely won’t even notice it — making it extra versatile with no need for masking.
Who Should Buy Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate
- Folks looking for creatine monohydrate without any extras will appreciate the purity of this formula.
- Those who are averse to the granule-like texture that regular creatine can leave behind sometimes. This micronized creatine monohydrate helps to prevent that.
- Athletes who like to mix their creatine into a variety of beverages will like this unflavored, micronized option.
- Men who prefer other types of creatine, such as hydrochloride or Kre-Alkalyn, will want to look at other options.
- Those who prefer to take their creatine in pill form and skip the mixing altogether will want to steer clear of this powdered version.
- Anyone who wants a flavored creatine supplement to drink on its own. This is unflavored.
Read our full review of Xwerks Lift Creatine Monohydrate.
Best Tasting Creatine
Supplements are no use if you can’t even choke them down. The first time you took creatine and got a mouthful of sand at the bottom, you likely thought about never taking it again. With this product, you won’t have to worry about taste being a deterrent factor.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
Despite containing no added sugars and no artificial sweeteners or dyes, Transparent Labs Creatine HMB tastes great and will have you actually enjoying your creatine. It comes in 10 tasty flavors, some of which are Sour Grape, Hawaiian Splash, Strawberry Lemonade, and Black Cherry. With that much variety, you’re unlikely to become bored with any flavor.
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
We like that this product includes hydroxymethyl butyrate, the main metabolite in leucine that prevents muscle protein breakdown. Plus, the blue raspberry flavor is tasty, and the blend contains no artificial sweeteners.
Each scoop of Transparent Labs Creatine HMB provides a solid dose of 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate with 1,500mg of HMB on top of that for a one-two combo that can potentially help enhance strength and body composition. An added bonus of 5mg of black pepper extract may help you absorb everything properly. If you don’t mind ponying up the extra cost per serving here at about $1.67, this is a great option.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Creatine HMB
- Men who have trouble forcing themselves to choke down poor-tasting creatine products will appreciate the 10 tasty flavors here.
- Athletes who are conscious about the products they put in their bodies will appreciate that there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives in here.
- Those who want potential help with body composition over what regular creatine may provide will like the included HMB here.
- Anyone who wants a standalone creatine product without added ingredients will want to look for other options on this list.
- Men who are on a budget will want to look for a more cost-effective option — this isn’t the cheapest creatine out there.
The Benefits of Creatine for Men
Creatine is one of the most well-researched supplements, and nearly every article you read will tell you the same thing — creatine is pretty darn awesome. It can potentially give your muscles more energy, improve your power output, and increase muscle mass. (9) All of these sort of build off of one another, so let’s break them down.
Energy for Your Muscles
The energy your muscles use to fuel contractions comes from a molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). (9) Your body creatines ATP by breaking down phosphocreatine, and ingesting a creatine supplement can help increase your free creatine. The creatine supplement is then converted into phosphocreatine, which can lead to more ATP availability for your muscles to use as energy. (10)
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More Power
In the first five to 15 seconds of explosive or powerful exercise, your muscles utilize the phosphocreatine system for making ATP to fuel the muscles. Thanks to the increased availability of ATP, the phosphocreatine system (PCS) can be utilized for a longer period of time before the store is depleted and you need to rest between sets to allow it to resynthesize. (11)
Because of the increased use of the PCS, you can potentially perform more repetitions more explosively at a higher weight when supplementing with creatine. (11)
More Muscle Growth and Strength
Thanks to the increased duration of heavy and powerful lifting, your muscles receive a larger training stimulus than they would otherwise have without creatine. This can potentially cause your muscles to respond by increasing their size and strength to accommodate moving a heavier weight more times. (11)
How We Chose The Best Creatine for Men
Creatine may seem simple, but there are some important factors to consider when choosing the best creatine for men for this list. We took into account the form of creatine, the price — especially per serving — and the research and dosing behind the specific form of creatine in the supplement.
Form
You most often take creatine in either a pill or powder form. They each have their advantages and drawbacks. Pills, while more portable and better for on-the-go, can be a lot to swallow, especially if you have to take five for a full 5g dose. Powders, while easier to ingest sometimes, can be gritty and not great for travel.
We wanted to highlight some of each on this list to satisfy the needs of every man who may be interested in taking creatine. We also took into consideration how well each creatine powder mixes and the flavors available. Poor mixing creatine and those that have limited flavors may not rank as highly as others that mix well or have extensive flavor options.
Price
Creatine by itself is usually among the cheaper supplements, but should you choose an intra-workout that contains creatine, a creatine combination product, protein, or some other type of creatine, the price may be significantly higher. We factored in the price compared to what the ingredients would cost on their own to see whether a supplement was a good choice or not. Those who ended up being much more expensive per serving without providing some substantial difference or advantage weren’t ranked as highly.
Research and Dosing
Despite creatine monohydrate specifically having a ton of research backing it, the other, often newer and synthesized versions of creatine may not have as robust a ledger. For that reason, creatine monohydrates ranked higher unless there was some research provided and a specific benefit explained — such as Kre-Alkalyn. The research suggests that Kre-Alkalyn may be able to be dosed lower and achieve the same benefits as creatine monohydrate thanks to it’s buffered chemical composition. (5)
The dosing also had to be correct for us to consider a supplement for the list. If a product, for example, contains only 1,500mg of creatine monohydrate, then we would expect to see a solid dose of another type of creatine too, or that product would be considered underdosed and not make this list. (12)
[Related: How To Do The Romanian Deadlift For Lower-Body Size And Strength]
What to Consider Before Buying Creatine for Men
When you’re ready to buy a creatine supplement, the choices may seem overwhelming due to the similarities (and sometimes even stark differences). Some of the most important factors to consider are the price, dosage, and type of creatine.
Price
Price is a huge factor in nearly every supplement purchase. Thankfully, creatine is one of the most cost-effective supplements on the market, but that doesn’t mean it can’t become quite pricey. It’s usually best to look at the price per serving to determine whether you’re receiving a bargain or not. Some creatine supplements will have other ingredients and be more akin to a pre-workout while some are pure creatine and nothing else. Ensure that the price reflects these nuances before making a purchase final.
Dosage
Most creatine monohydrate supplements provide a standard dose of five grams, often shown as 5,000mg. (12) Other types of creatine have different dosages that are considered to be sufficient, so make...
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