Beyond Raw Lit vs. Bucked Up are two pre-workout supplements that have jumped firmly on board the train of new-and-different. Both are scientifically-focused pre-workout supplements that utilize uncommon ingredients. Beyond Raw Lit boasts alternative ingredients such as peat moss and coffee fruit extract while Bucked Up supplies a healthy dose of deer antler velvet and Himalayan pink salt.
Both products have great reputations, but which formula has the right to brag about using ingredients before it was cool? Let’s find out in this Beyond Raw Lit vs. Bucked Up review.
Table of Contents
Beyond Raw Lit vs. Bucked Up Supplement Facts Comparison
Beyond Raw Lit | Vs. | Bucked Up | ||
Ingredients | Dosage | Ingredients | Dosage | |
Energy & Mental Intensity: 5.2 g | Vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin) | 100 mcg | ||
CarnoSyn® Beta Alanine | 3.2 g | Citrulline Malate 2:1 | 6,000 mg | |
Micronized Creatine (as Creatine Monohydrate) | 1.5 g | Beta Alanine | 2,000 mg | |
Caffeine Anhydrous | 250 mg | Caffeine Anhydrous | 200 mg | |
elevATP® (Ancient Peat & Apple Extract) | 150 mg | AlphaSize® | 200 mg | |
NeuroFactor™ Coffee Fruit Extract | 100 mg | Taurine | 100 mg | |
Pump & N.O. Support: 4.5 g | Himalayan Rock Salt (Trace Minerals) | 100 mg | ||
L-Citrulline Standardized for 45% chlorogenic acids | 3 g | Deer Antler Velvet Extract | 50 mg | |
Nitrosigine® (Arginine Silicate Inositol) | 1.5 g | AstraGin® | 25 mg | |
ActiGin® | 25 mg |
Formula Comparison
Beyond Raw Lit is the popular pre-workout supplement from GNC that has its claim to fame in its “clinically-dosed” formula. What’s the big deal? We use the term “clinically-dosed” when the dosage levels of ingredients match that of those used in scientific studies. Beyond Raw Lit proudly lets you know that it’s done its homework.
- Clinically-dosed ingredients: As mentioned above, one of the finer points of Beyond Raw Lit is that it has dosed most of its formula on those levels found within several research studies. On paper then, it should deliver what it claims.
- Mind and body energy: Beyond Raw Lit contains ingredients that amplify energy in the mind and the body. With stimulants and nootropics, you can expect laser focus. Meanwhile, it has creatine monohydrate and ancient peat apple extract, which will keep your muscles happy with adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
- Boosts nitric oxide: Love that blood-pooling, pumped-up feeling? Beyond Raw Lit has you covered with the inclusion of l-citrulline and Nitrosigine®, which both support blood flow and nitric oxide production.
Bucked Up is a relatively new supplement from DAS LABS, and they are hitting the ground running with this pre-workout. They don’t hide behind proprietary blends, and clearly define what’s in the supplement and exactly how much. As you’ll see, the dosages and ingredients used are impressive and go beyond what most other pre-workouts deliver.
- Caffeine sweet spot: Bucked Up has found the Goldilocks zone of caffeine at 200 mg, which provides the perfect boost in energy without sending your adrenal glands into a debilitating overdrive.
- Attacks from all sides: Bucked Up contains ingredients for mental energy (caffeine and AstraGin®), physical energy (beta-alanine and deer antler Velvet Extract), and overall performance (AlphaSize®).
- O’Natural: Bucked Up contains nine all-natural ingredients to help you achieve serious heights in workout performance.
How are Beyond Raw Lit and Bucked Up formulas similar?
Beyond Raw Lit and Bucked Up see eye-to-eye on two main ingredients (caffeine and beta alanine), then take sudden and sharp turns in opposite directions. Let’s first talk about the two ingredients these two pre-workouts have in common.
Beyond Raw Lit | Bucked Up | |
Caffeine Anhydrous | 250 mg | 200 mg |
Beta-Alanine | 3.2 g | 2 g |
Caffeine, the cornerstone of all stimulant-based pre-workouts, is found in respectable amounts in both supplements. Caffeine can spike mental energy and physical performance. It can even help your body to kickstart its fat-burning ability, but like any good thing, too much can be bad.
Bucked Up is in the sweet spot for caffeine dosages, making it appealing to those who have never tried caffeine-based pre-workouts before. Beyond Raw Lit contains 50 mg more, which could be the tipping point for some. If you’re a long-time pre-workout supplement user; however, you might lean towards Beyond Raw Lit (along with a second scoop).
How are the Beyond Raw Lit and Bucked Up formulas different?
Beyond Raw Lit and Bucked Up both contain beta-alanine, a key pre-workout ingredient that has been shown to promote strength and performance during your workout. However, there is a slight difference between the two. Beyond Raw Lit is clinically dosed at 3.2 grams per serving, while Bucked Up only has two grams. That extra 1.2 grams can easily be the difference between being in the zone and falling short. In what other ways are these two pre-workout supplements different?
There are three key ingredients in Beyond Raw Lit that you won’t find in Bucked Up:
NeuroFactor™ Coffee Fruit Extract: One of the grand-daddies of nootropic ingredients, coffee fruit extract has been suggested to promote the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The more BDNF your brain produces,, the better your cognitive performance. In other words, you’ll be in the zone during workouts.
elevATP®: The branded name for ancient peat apple extract, this ingredient is converted into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the preferred fuel source for muscle tissue during power-output and sprint-based performance.
L-Citrulline: A great way to boost blood flow, l-citrulline can help support workout performance through nitric oxide production. It also helps the nutrient uptake of other ingredients via better blood flow.
Bucked Up contains three key ingredients that you won’t see in Beyond Raw Lit:
L-Citrulline Malate: L-citrulline malate (l-citrulline with malic acid attached) is a far more effective and absorbable form of L-Citrulline. It can support intra-workout performance and help to promote nitric oxide production.
AlphaSize®: The branded name for the ingredient alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha GPC), Alpha Size® has been shown to improve workout performance while increasing alertness and cognitive performance.
Deer Antler Velvet Extract: Slowly making its way into pre-workout and intra-workout supplements, deer antler velvet extract has been demonstrated to increase aerobic power and muscular strength while combating fatigue.
Which is the better formula?
This pre-workout formula showdown is a close one. Both supplements are bringing proven ingredients to the table. Both take the quality over quantity approach, highlighting several key ingredients instead of loading two dozen under-dosed ingredients. Blow for blow, these two seems to be even keel until you look at the dosage levels, and this is where Bucked Up pulls ahead of Beyond Raw Lit.
For example, while both contain a form of l-citrulline, it is Bucked Up that has the superior form AND is dosed at six grams compared to the three grams with Beyond Raw Lit. Another example is that Beyond Raw Lit has more caffeine than Bucked Up, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing. The 200 mg dose in Bucked Up is going to be more applicable to a greater audience of users.
Finally, Bucked Up has a more natural formula, where Beyond Raw Lit has a list of artificial ingredients and additives. Again, this is insanely close, but Bucked Up takes the vote for better formula.
Quality Comparison
Beyond Raw Lit | Bucked Up | |
Branded ingredients | CarnoSyn®, elevATP®, Nitrosigine® | AlphaSize®, AstraGin®, ActiGin® |
Enhanced Botanicals | None | None |
Other advanced forms | N/A | N/A |
Clean Label | NO (Artificial Flavors, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Soy Oil and Lecithin Blend, FD&C Red # 40, Hydroxypropyl, Methylcellulose, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Acetylate Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 80) | NO (Artificial Flavors, Sucralose, Red 40 Lake) |
Advanced Delivery | Gelatin-based; non-vegan capsule | Gelatin-based; non-vegan capsule |
Non-GMO | NO | NO |
Stim-Free | NO (Contains caffeine) | NO (Contains caffeine) |
Price Comparison
Beyond Raw Lit | vs | Bucked Up | ||
30 servings: | $39.99 | 30 servings: | $49.95 | |
Price Per Serving: | $1.33 | Price Per Serving: | $1.66 |
For 30 servings, Bucked Up has the larger price point, but considering its formula, it’s worth the extra $10. And there’s a good chance you’ll be able to save that $10 (and maybe more) by shopping around.
Sites like Amazon and Bodybuilding.com offer weekly sales and coupons so you can pretty much assume that you will never have to pay full price.
Beyond Raw Lit is only available through GNC; but again, this is a company that always has some coupon coming to your inbox or a store-based buy-one, get-one offer. Keep an eye out and call your local store to find our when things are going on sale.
Beyond Raw Lit vs. Bucked Up: Which is Better?
We have two really good pre-workout supplements here. They both offer incredible formulas and both garner an impressive share of the market.
Beyond Raw Lit puts all of its pride into the fact that many of its ingredients are clinically-dosed, namely beta-alanine. Bucked Up also contains several clinically-dosed ingredients, but makes no attempt to boast loudly about it.
When you get right down to it, Bucked Up offers ingredients and a few dosage levels that aren’t in most pre-workouts. Its six grams of l-citrulline malate is rare, and its use of the deer antler velvet extract is a nod to forward thinking. Yes, Beyond Raw Lit is a great supplement (and it’s worth a try), but the victory is going to Bucked Up.
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