Most college students survive off of caffeine. When it’s cramming time for a test or time to wake up for class, a boost of caffeine can help get us through the day. As a powerlifter and an avid pre-workout energy drink consumer, I have gone through enough energy drinks to be able to successfully determine what the top drinks are. I can safely say it boils down to these three: Celsius, Reign, Monster.
3. Monster
Monster has been around for many years, representing energy drinks when they first began selling. However, the Original Monster is tragically mediocre. It has an acquired taste, and so the company has had to release several other flavors, almost all of which have continued to miss the mark. One flavor, Monster Energy Ultra: White Monster, is the outstanding exception. With notes of citrus, this flavor has the perfect amount of carbonation, and contains 150mg of caffeine per can. It gives the perfect rush of energy and is just enough to help one get through a workout or a late night assignment.
2. REIGN
In my opinion, most REIGNreign flavors taste worse than anything I could ever imagine. White Gummy Bear tastes like vomit and Orange Dreamsicle tastes like an ice pop that has been melted and frozen multiple times over. They are unbearable, but some other flavors stand out. Rainbow Sherbet takes the spot of the best REIGN flavor. It is unique, refreshing, and delicious. Its packaging contains colors that are bright pink, orange, and lime green, and the best way to describe it is that the colors resemble exactly how the drink tastes; it is very vibrant in flavor. However, this drink is not for those with a low caffeine tolerance, containing 300mg of caffeine per can. REIGN has a bunch of vitamins and amino acids meant to improve both physical and cognitive performance, which makes a great pre-workout option, but it is perhaps a little strong for just studying.
- Celsius Energy Drinks
This brand is one of the most impressive energy drink brands. Celsius offers a plethora of flavors, and has options that are non-carbonated. Their drinks are made of natural ingredients with low sugar content. The original blend by far is the best, and flavors Mango Passionfruit and Orange are the best flavors, with 200mg of caffeine per can. Celsius also has drinks with added amino acids, or higher caffeine content for those who need to use it as a pre-workout. By far, Celsius sits at the number one spot due to their flavor and content selection, as well as their use of natural flavors.
Remember, it is best not to consume over 300 mg of caffeine a day, so drink with caution. However, if you are in need of a caffeine boost, these drinks are often cheaper than buying coffee, and just as convenient. Get your focus on!
*The runners up include Ghost, for their unique sour patch kids flavor, and Alani Nu for their tasteful Rocket Pop flavor.