If you’re looking for a pre-workout but you’ve tried all the standard popular brands like Optimum Nutrition, Alani Nu, C4, etc. this product might spike your interest. Why? Because no one has really heard of it. 13th Floor are the new supplement kids on the block.
They’re only putting out four products, with the most abstract approach: minimal information with weird, unrelated product names. And big claims, such as being a ‘body and mind-altering pre-workout’.
The branding is clear cut: black, red, angry. The company is an enigma. The product descriptions are creative – even at times a little scary – and the slogan direct: where monsters are made.
But let’s see whether it’s up to the hype….
Table of Contents
About 13th Floor Project: Legion
As mentioned, 13th Floor is a new supplement company. “Another one?’ we hear you ask. Yes, another one. But this one has caught our eye for good reason; it’s slightly odd, it’s unique and the product descriptions are right out of a movie, think Frankenstein. Here’s an example: Subject is anticipated to exercise extreme prejudice when confronted with resistance elements. Not entirely sure what that means, but we’re rolling with it.
The product itself that we’re going to be reviewing today is a pre-workout. Pre-workouts are supplements that incite feelings of excitement, motivation and focus before a workout. They are used by individuals who want to lift heavier, push for longer and hit the gym even when they’re tired.
In that sense, this pre-workout is like all the others. But what we find enticing about this particular product is the creative spin 13th Floor have added. The claims are unique and at times funny: raging vasculature and predator-like focus, and the website looks like the info page for a theme park Halloween horror night.
The product promises a range of psychological and physiological – direct quote – “mutations” when consumed prior to exercise. Without analyzing the ingredients, it’s difficult to assess whether this product lives up to the hype on the basis that there’s nothing on the internet about it.
We searched Amazon and Google for some possible reviews of the product, but couldn’t find any. This is because the product is totally new to the market, a full ingredient analysis is the only route. So let’s get into it shall we?
13th Floor Project: Legion Supplement Facts
Ingredients Amount Per Serving
Betaine Anhydrous 2.5g
Agmatine Sulfate 1.5g
S7 50mg
Choline 1g
Caffeine Anhydrous 350+mg
NMT 75mg
Synephrine 30mg
Unlike most pre-workout supplements that have a list of other ingredients, the website fails to include the specific flavorings, colorings, fillers and preservatives that undoubtedly are included in this product.
The front of the product tub says that it includes natural and artificial flavors but we’re unsure as to the specifics, which is a definite negative of the product, particularly for individuals who have intolerances to certain ingredients.
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Directions for Use
As with all pre-workouts, shake the tub before attempting to open it. There’s nothing worse than clumpy powder, or when your scooper is stuck at the bottom of the container. We’re not sure of the exact directions for use because the creative, unique product description fails to include some of the most basic information for use of this product.
But we know that the tub is 6.88 oz and contains 30 servings, so one serving is approximately one small scoop. Always take pre-workout with plenty of water, to prevent dehydration.
What Each Ingredient is For
Betaine Anhydrous 2.5g
Betaine anhydrous, also referred to as trimethylglycine or TMG, is a naturally occurring vitamin derived from choline, a type of amino acid.
It’s an ingredient that has multi-purpose uses, partially due to its role in methylation. It has been used to treat anything that relates to high blood homocysteine levels, like liver disease, depression, osteoarthritis, obesity and a compromised immune system. In the case of this product, we’re going to focus on its benefits for improving athletic performance.
Betaine anhydrous has similar effects in the body to creatine. Like creatine, this ingredient works by moving in and out of the cells, increasing the volume of the cell and fluid balance. Basically it makes your muscles look bigger, fuller and more pumped; and when your cells are hydrated, they are more resistant to training fatigue and recover better.
Betaine anhydrous is also thought to be lipotropic, meaning it supports fat loss by promoting the oxidation of lipids; it improves digestive efficiency and promote lean mass.
A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research in 2011 examined the effects of betaine supplementation on performance in resistance trained men, and found that supplementation was associated with an increase in total repetitions and total volume load during a workout. This is particularly helpful if you’re training for hypertrophy: it’s less about the size of the weight and more about lifting for reps.
Agmatine Sulfate 1.5g
Agmatine is a byproduct produced by arginine, a type of amino acid. Like a lot of supplements, this ingredient plays multiple functions in the body. When metabolized, it acts as a neurotransmitter and is stored in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory and emotional regulation. This has led researchers to explore its benefits on individuals with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety or cognitive decline.
But for athletic performance, its effect is quite different. Agmatine produces nitric oxide when metabolized, which as a result increases dilation of the blood vessels and arteries, to improve the efficiency of circulation.
In less scientific terms – this product is responsible for the pump, dilated blood vessels and improved circulation that means that your muscles can push for longer without getting fatigued, increased size and emphasized definition. One study found that this ingredient increases muscle strength by up to 62 percent.
S7 50mg
S7 is an ingredient produced by the company FutureCeuticals and it’s a blend of seven plant-based ingredients that have been shown in research to increase nitric oxide by up to 230 percent, according to the FutureCeuticals website.
If you remember, nitric oxide is also what is produced when the body metabolizes agmatine; it improves circulation and blood flow. It’s important to add that we couldn’t find a list of the specific seven ingredients this product contains, or a link to the clinical research they reference… but it’s FDA approved so we suppose we’ll believe them.
Choline 1g
Choline is a nutrient integral to good health. It is naturally occurring in animal products like eggs, fish and meat. However, the bioavailability of choline in these foods is fairly low, so supplementing this nutrient for optimized health might be a good idea, particularly if you’re trying to improve athletic performance.
When choline is consumed, it stimulates acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. When this neurotransmitter is stimulated, the brain becomes more focused and it sends signals to the muscles telling them to contract.
So essentially, this ingredient gets you focused and gets more of your muscle fibers engaged in each exercise, which can potentially have implications for strength and size gains.
That being said, the actual research on this ingredient is mixed. Most researchers state that our naturally occurring levels of choline are rarely affected by resistance training, so supplementing it is unlikely to noticeably improve performance.
Caffeine Anhydrous 350+mg
Caffeine anhydrous is dehydrated caffeine; anhydrous means without water. So what happens when you remove all water from caffeine? It becomes more concentrated and more potent. This sounds great right? We all love our morning coffee to get us going for the day. But actually this specific form of caffeine can be quite dangerous due to its potency.
That being said, it’s the most common and popular pre-workout ingredient for a reason. It’s predictable, powerful and pretty cheap to get hold of. A study published in the European Journal of Sports Science found that caffeine ingestion acutely enhances muscular strength and power, and that’s a thoroughly researched claim.
We believe this ingredient is beneficial in most pre-workouts. But be careful not to take too much because this will have a completely adverse effect on your performance. Rather than hitting PRs, you’ll be hitting your head against the wall with pounding headaches, anxiety, sweaty palms, a racing heartbeat and severe nausea.
These are all symptoms associated with too much caffeine. The recommended daily limit of caffeine intake is 400mg, so the ominous 350+ figure should be taken seriously.
NMT 75mg
It’s important to start this ingredient analysis off by saying that this ingredient is banned in professional sports. It’s banned. So before we go on, if you play professional sport – this includes pro bodybuilding – don’t take this supplement. 13th Floor do not include this warning on their site, which we think is a little sketchy. But we digress.
This ingredient, N-methyltyramine (NMT), used to be a popular pre-workout stimulant but came into the focus of the FDA due to its long list of adverse effects.
The research for this ingredient does not show it to have a particularly beneficial effect on performance, largely because it has low lipid solubility, which means that according to the Banned Substances Control Group it’s almost impossible for it to cross the blood-brain barrier. Essentially: even if it should enhance performance and focus, it will struggle to get to the brain to have the opportunity.
However, some research shows that it is effective because it forces your body into fight or flight mode. This mode makes you think psychologically and physiologically that the world is ending, and you need to escape; which can help you lift heavier and run faster. Not entirely sure we would recommend going to such extremes.
Synephrine 30mg
Synephrine is a naturally occurring alkaloid that has been shown in some preliminary research to work as an effective stimulant and nootropic. Once synephrine is consumed, it acts as a beta-agonist, meaning that it causes your basal metabolic rate to increase.
This is great if you want to lose weight, increasing your metabolism allows you to burn more calories at rest. If you take this prior to a workout, you’re going to be burning more calories per session. This claim is well researched as per a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Here’s the bad news. Synephrine is similar to ephedra, which was banned by the FDA in 2004 for concerns over its impact on the heart and blood pressure. Synephrine is also banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Web MD states that Bitter Orange (active ingredient synephrine) “taken by itself or with stimulants such as caffeine or caffeine-containing herbs, might increase the risk for high blood pressure, fainting, heart attack, stroke, and other severe side effects.” It may also interact with medication for depression.
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Formula Analysis
Will 13th Floor Project Legion work? Yes, very likely. The formula is a mix of stimulants and some pump ingredients. It’s a simple formula and we like that this product hasn’t gone crazy overboard with the caffeine. Some other pre-workouts contain multiple sources of caffeine which can have some seriously adverse effects, but the caffeine content is limited to just one ingredient which is good.
This product will likely give you the strong energy and focus boost you would want from a pre-workout.
But, unfortunately, that’s not the full story. This product contains multiple different stimulants. Some of the ingredients like S7 and choline have mixed results from the research conducted on their efficacy, or lack thereof in the case of S7. And it contains not one but two banned substances, both of which could potentially be dangerous.
Is it worth it? Only you can decide that, but we can’t recommend this product because of that.
13th Floor Project: Legion Benefits
The benefits of this product are that you’re undeniably going to get pumped up. The majority of the ingredients are well researched and it’s a fairly unique concoction, so we’re likely to assume that the ingredients probably work well together.
Who Takes it?
If you’re tired, mentally or physically, if you’re trying to make some serious gains, if you’re trying to beat your time on a 5km or if you are struggling to get hyped up enough for your workout – you could take this.
But if you’re a professional athlete, don’t take it. It contains banned substances. Likewise, if you want to avoid potential side effects, avoid it too.
Any Side Effects?
There are no clear side effects listed on the website other than that the subject is anticipated to exercise extreme prejudice when confronted with resistance elements. Right… But we already know that some ingredients can cause side effects. Plus, we’re personally not sure that we want to experience the ‘adrenalin-fueled aggression’ or the ‘animalistic fury’ that Legion promises us. Hopefully it’s just hyperbole.
13th Floor Project: Legion Summary
Ok, let’s be honest. The 13th Floor Project is intriguing and the formula no doubt effective. The creative spin in the description of ingredients is fun and the combination of ingredients will no doubt leave you feeling pumped up and ready to go. We just have reservations about those banned substances.
Pros:
- New product
- Unique concoction of ingredients
- Largely well-researched ingredients, destined to be effective
- Three flavors to choose from
Cons:
- Contains two banned substances
- Website doesn’t list side effects or full list of ingredients
- No reviews of the product
See the Top Rated
– Pre-Workout This Year –
13th Floor Project: Legion Price & Buying Info
You can get this product from 13thfloorsciences.com for $44.99.
Final Word on 13th Floor Project: Legion
If you want to step your performance up, lift heavier, workout for longer and increase your focus during your workouts; this product will work for you. It uses an interesting blend of ingredients that have been proven effective in a pre-workout. Quite whether it will deliver the ‘animalistic fury’ it promises (and whether you would want it to!) is another matter, and it’s difficult to separate the hyperbole from the reality.
The only thing that stops us from recommending this is the banned ingredients it contains; Legion is a definite no-no if you take part in competitive sports at any level.
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