Nitric Oxide, two words every pump-lover can’t get enough of.
Big doses of NO get your veins big and has you lifting heavier and more when you train.
With that, it makes sense to take an N.O.-spiking blend that gets your veins popping out of your skin before, during & after workouts… right?
Enter NO2 Black Full Cycle. It boasts of the kind of formulation that boosts vital NO at the times when you need it most.
NO2 Black Full Cycle is the successor to NO2 Black, and is touted for its perfect form. But is it really? Can it live up to the hype? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
About NO2 Black Full Cycle
Made by MRI Performance, NO2 Black Full Cycle is the self-proclaimed “current pinnacle of nitric oxide performance.” MRI might just be right. Thanks to its innovative formula strategy, quality ingredients, and novel delivery system, NO2 Black Full Cycle is made to work better than typical NO-boosters currently on the market. Formula notes:
- Mad NO Boost!: MRI claims their product is capable of dishing out 1250% more nitric oxide, for maxed-out muscle circulation.
- “Full Cycle” PWO: Primes muscles before training, boosts intensity and endurance during training, and helps recovery & growth afterwards.
- Two-layer effect: Each caplet is layered with their two proprietary blends so no, it’s not a coloring defect.
NO2 Black Full Cycle Supplement Facts |
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Serving Size: 3 Caplets Servings Per Container: 50 |
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Ingredients | Amount Per Serving | |
Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) | 180 mg (300% DV) | |
Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol) | 800 IU (200% DV) | |
Layer One, HemoCycle Proprietary Blend (Brown) | 2147.5 mg | |
L-Arginine, L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Extract (Seed and Skin), Citrulline Malate, N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride, L-Norvaline, ActiNOS2™ CFM Nitro® P (Whey Peptide Fraction) | ||
Layer Two, HemoCycle Proprietary Blend (Beige) | 1947.5 mg | |
L-Arginine, L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Extract (Seed and Skin), Citrulline Malate, N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride, L-Norvaline, ActiNOS2™ CFM Nitro® P (Whey Peptide Fraction) | ||
Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Croscarmellose Sodium, Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide, Polyvinylpyrrolidone, Triacetin. | ||
Directions for use: Take 3 caplets 30 minutes before breakfast on an empty stomach. For maximum results, take 2 more caplets mid-afternoon or before your workout. |
NO2 Black Full Cycle is a complicated NO booster that expects everyone to understand how it works.
High quality ingredients paired with the right dosages for optimum efficiency, that’s how a great PWO is made.
NO2 Black Full Cycle has the ingredients down and maybe some of the dosages too but they added a twist: layering. Yep, that two-colored pill is no factory defect my friend. Does this “layering” provide any real benefits? Seems more of a gimmick, since they don’t really explain it.
But when you get beyond the gimmicks & techno babble of No2 Black Full Cycle, you see smart pre-workout ingredients that make sense as a stack. Check it:
Vitamins: Yeahhhh, normally we complain about boring-ass vitamins in our PWO stacks, but NO2 Black Full Cycle supplies a couple of good basics that make sense.
- Vitamin C. Apart from supporting blood vessel integrity (and a hell of a lot more), ascorbic acid also displays vasodilative properties that help circulation.
- Vitamin D3. Provides plenty of health benefits but has also been shown to regulate NO synthase which leads to vasodilation. PUMP SUPPORT, Bro.
Enough of that. Let’s move on to the sexy ingredients in NO2 Black Full Cycle:
HemoCycle Proprietary Blend
This is the same blend that’s apparently supplied in a bilayer release form. We’re working on assumption here, but we figure one layer releases quickly, while the other dissolves slowly — extending the N.O. boosting activity. On to the actual ingredients:
- Arginine: Contains two arginine sources: L-Arginine & AAKG. We’re not sure why they use 2 different forms. AAKG is the better form, but both are effective Nitric-Oxide boosters.
- Grape seed and skin. These supply antioxidant activity, but more notably help to keep blood vessels flexible and healthy. This may help with circulation, but grapeseed is not a direct N.O. Booster.
- Citrulline Malate: One of the best PWO compounds out there for muscle circulation & mad pumps, but really it does a lot more… helping with muscle energy, workout intensity, and anabolic growth, too.
- N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCl. Often used as a brain booster and fat burner. It’s also capable of reducing muscle soreness. At least, that’s what MRI says.
- L-Norvaline. Boosts NO and vasodilation and inhibits enzymes that destroy arginine. Basically Arginine’s BFF.
- ActiNOS2™ CFM Nitro® P. NO Synthase activator, NO booster, vasodilator, and pump inducer in one. Also, ActinNOS2 is the US name while CFM Nitro is for the EU.
Formula Analysis
We’re not entirely sure if it works the way it’s supposed to work, what with its claims of up to 1250% NO boost and the whole “full cycle” illustration they used.
But, basing on the ingredients alone NO2 Black Full Cycle will definitely unleash some massive N.O. spikes for peak workout intensity and major pumps.
There’s definitely a lot of though that has been put into NO2 Black Full Cycle, which we really appreciate. This is no slapped-together PWO formula. MRI explains its formulation choices in four key steps.
- L-Citrulline boosts L-Arginine & funnels it into N.O. production pathways
- L-Arginine+AAKG fuel Nitric Oxide conversion processes
- L-Norvaline counters enzymes that degrade Arginine
- N.O. is supported in 2X channels; synergistic boost potential
NO2 Black Full Cycle is definitely designed with synergy in mind.
They also throw in some novel & premium ingredients to get there. ActiNOS2™ CFM Nitro® P supplies a whey peptide called NOP-47, an NO dependent protein that’s been shown to promote vasodilaton.
Although it is to be noted the studies used at least 5 g per day and it’s unknown whether ActiNOS2™ CFM Nitro® P works in small doses… which is what we might be looking at here, since NO2 Black Full Cycle lists it last in its prop blend.
But still, props to MRI Performance for this, and other, interesting PWO ingredient choices.
What’s the deal with NO2 Black Full Cycle’s “Layers?”
While virtually no one really gets how this “layering” works, and it’s not even explained on their website, it would be good to note that the two layers have the same ingredients.
From there we can only assume that they only differ in concentration, absorption, and release time. Meaning one layer is immediately absorbed to make sure you actually “feel” the pump minutes after ingesting while the second one is there to help prolong that feeling.
This seems logical since MRI promises a decent NO Boost all throughout the day but does this complicated approach to NO boosting guaranteed to work? If you actually look closer, they recommend taking 2 more caplets in the afternoon. Quite a contradiction right there.
On top of everything else MRI states “NO2 BLACK FULL CYCLE features efficacious, scientifically validated levels of L-Arginine, Grape Seed Extract and L-Carnitine to help drive the “full cycle” of muscle bioenergetics” which we hope is true as we can’t really see their dosages.
Overall, despite the little stumbles and contradictions, we really like the angle NO2 Black Full Cycle takes. They seem to formulate for potency and synergy, with the intent of unleashing a lot of PWO benefits that are linked to peak Nitric Oxide production and beyond.
NO2 Black Full Cycle Benefits
It’s a mad pumper. It was the only reason it was created and we have to give it that. We’re not so sure if it does give you 1250% NO or if the NO boost can last the whole day but for the most part it should give you a decent pump. They make additional claims about benefits for muscle synthesis, muscle endurance, and workout intensity, which all seem to check out, as well.
Who Takes It?
NO2 Black Full Cycle is marketed to hardcore bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts. Hardcore bodybuilders might think twice before using this since it has no caffeine or creatine, which means they’ll have to stack. Typical fitness enthusiasts on the other hand may find a PWO meant only for pumps a bit too much and not worth the money on a bang-for-buck basis. It’s also a great choice for those seeking a stimulant-free, creatine-free PWO formula.
Any Side Effects?
You might get unwanted erections (but really, is there such a thing?). Seriously though, you may feel some sensory side effects from the big circulatory boost. But NO2 Black Full Cycle is stimulant free, so it may be a well-tolerated POW, especially for those who don’t handle their caffeine well.
NO2 Black Full Cycle Summary
Pros
- Massive N.O. spikes. We believe it does what it claims to do.
- Good ingredients. Each serves a function; some premiums, too.
- Smart formulation. Its synergy amplifies the NO-boost activity.
- Layers. Extended support for intense, long-duration workouts.
Cons
- Expensive. Other “solo” pump PWOs are cheaper.
- Short lifespan. Taking 5 caplets a day reduces this to a 15-day PWO.
- Mixed reviews. Some users report of not getting pump advertised.
- Prop blends. Hidden ingredient dosages never inspire confidence.
Pricing & Buying Info
- 1 bottle (150 caplets): $99.99 on their website
Final Word on NO2 Black Full Cycle
We like No2 Black Full Cycle’s ambition & innovation. They’re pushing boundaries and trying to change the PWO game, specifically in the NO-booster category. We call B.S. on their “1250% more nitric oxide” claim, which is impossible to validate. But the extended, full-cycle claims are credible and well-explained — placing NO2 Black Full Cycle on the cutting edge of NO-boosting PWO stacks.
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Juan says
Excellent review !!