Pre-Workout Supplements

The Dark Labs Pre-Workout Lineup

From daily energy to maximum-stim formulas. Find the Dark Labs pre-workout built for your session.

Crack lineup

Crack Intensity Ladder

Crack is our line of stimulant pre-workouts, ranked here from mildest to strongest.

MildMaximum
Crack OGExtreme

Step 5 of 7 · 20 servings · 2 scoops

Crack OG

5.0 (4 reviews)

Our strongest all-rounder: caffeine plus an extended stimulant matrix for long, locked-in sessions.

Intensity9/10
Caffeine550 mg
Servings20
Cost / scoop$3.00
$59.90 Details & label

Shop All Pre-Workout Supplements

Pre-workout 101

How to Choose the Best Pre-Workout for Your Training

There is no single best pre-workout for everyone. The right one depends on your stimulant tolerance, the time you train and what you want from the session.

How to Choose a Pre-Workout by Caffeine Tolerance

Your caffeine tolerance matters more than any label. If one coffee keeps you buzzing, start at the bottom of the intensity ladder above. If you already handle strong formulas comfortably, a high-stim pre-workout will feel right.

Our guide to high-stim pre-workouts explains how they hit and who they are built for.

When to Take Pre-Workout

Take it 15 to 30 minutes before training so it peaks during your working sets. Caffeine stays active for several hours, so stimulant formulas belong in morning and afternoon sessions.

More detail in our article on pre-workout timing.

Stim vs. Stim-Free Pre-Workout

Stim pre-workouts use caffeine and other stimulants to drive energy and focus. Stim-free (non-stim) pre-workouts work on blood flow, pump and hydration without any caffeine, so you can use them at any time of day.

See the full stim vs. non-stim comparison.

Pre-Workout for Cutting

During a diet, many lifters switch to a thermogenic pre-workout that pairs energy with heat, so they do not need a separate fat burner. Count it as your stimulant for the day and never stack it with another stim product.

Read how fat burners and pre-workouts work together.

Pre-Workout Capsules

Capsules give you pre-workout energy without powder or a shaker, which is handy for travel and early sessions. They work the same way as a scoop: take them shortly before training and count them toward your daily caffeine.

VYB3D is our capsule option.

How to Take Pre-Workout for the First Time

  • Start with half a serving to test your tolerance.
  • Mix with 8 to 12 oz of cold water.
  • Drink it 15 to 30 minutes before you lift.
  • One serving per day, with no extra coffee or energy drinks.

Dark Labs Pre-Workouts Compared

FormulaTypeCaffeineServingsIntensity
Crack BarbarianExtreme475 mg2510/10
FlameExtreme400 mg259/10
HeroleanThermo + stim3 caffeine forms259/10
Maniaco RippedThermo + stim400 mg259/10
Crack OGExtreme550 mg209/10
ManiacoExtreme400 mg209/10
Crack Gold Limited EditionExtreme400 mg259/10
VYB3DCapsule—607/10
Crack (Purple)High stim500 mg207/10
Crack ReloadedHigh stim425 mg206/10
Crack DailyModerate394 mg305/10
Crack InitiationMild250 mg303/10
Maniaco PUMPStim-free0 mg20—
P.I.M.P.Stim-free0 mg20—

Questions

Pre-Workout FAQ

Straight answers to what lifters ask us most before choosing a Dark Labs pre-workout.

Start with Crack Initiation or Crack Daily and take half a scoop the first time. If you are sensitive to caffeine, begin with P.I.M.P., a stim-free pre-workout with no stimulants at all.

Choose a stim-free formula: P.I.M.P. or Maniaco PUMP. Neither contains caffeine, so they will not keep you awake. Here is more on how pre-workouts affect sleep.

Crack Daily is built for it: steady energy you can use most days of the week. For heavier days, step up to Crack (Purple).

Crack Barbarian sits at the top of our intensity ladder, followed by Crack OG and Crack Gold. They are meant only for experienced users who already handle high-stim pre-workouts well.

Yes. A stim-free pre-workout such as P.I.M.P. or Maniaco PUMP has no stimulants, so you can pair it with one Crack for energy plus a stronger pump. Never combine two stimulant pre-workouts.

  • Crack Initiation: 250 mg
  • Crack Daily: 394 mg
  • Crack Reloaded: 425 mg
  • Crack (Purple): 500 mg
  • Crack OG: 550 mg
  • Crack Gold: 400 mg
  • Crack Barbarian: 475 mg
  • Flame, Maniaco and Maniaco Ripped: 400 mg
  • P.I.M.P. and Maniaco PUMP: no caffeine

Amounts are total caffeine per full serving. A full serving is one scoop for most formulas and two scoops for Crack Reloaded, Crack (Purple) and Crack OG. The high and extreme formulas also contain other stimulants, so compare the intensity score rather than caffeine alone.

Most people feel it 15 to 30 minutes after drinking it, and the effect usually lasts through a full training session. Take it shortly before your warm-up.

Your body adapts to caffeine over time, so the same scoop can start to feel weaker. Many lifters rotate in a few stim-free weeks to keep their stim pre-workouts effective. See why a pre-workout can stop working.

Both were developed with GarageGymHomie and carry 400 mg of caffeine. Maniaco Ripped adds a thermogenic matrix for cutting phases, while the original Maniaco focuses on energy, focus and pump.

Yes, for healthy adults the same rules apply to everyone: start with half a scoop, stay within one serving per day and choose a formula that matches your caffeine tolerance. Do not use stimulant products while pregnant or nursing.

The prickly, itchy feeling comes from beta-alanine. It is a known, temporary sensation that usually fades within an hour and becomes milder with regular use. Learn more about beta-alanine tingling.

Maniaco Ripped and Herolean are built for cutting phases. Use one of them instead of a regular stim pre-workout, not in addition to it.

Every order from darklabs.pro ships directly from Dark Labs in the USA, sealed and with the full label. Buying from the official store is the only way to be certain you get the original formula.

For healthy adults 18 and older. Do not exceed one serving per day or combine with other caffeine or stimulant products. Talk to a doctor before use if you have a medical condition, take medication, or are pregnant or nursing. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.