Iron Horse Series High Kick Pre Workout Review // Will It Work?
Iron Horse Series High Kick Pre Workout Review First Look:
Will this pre workout from Iron Horse actually work?
Now, you may think pre workout supplements are a no brainer and of course they will work, of course they will leave us feeling the energy coursing through our vascular veins.
However, you will be wrong. I have tried numerous and countless pre workout samples and you would be surprised at how ineffective most are.
I am talking absolutely lackluster, absolutely foul tasting and absolutely useless.
I do not understand how a company could bring out a pre workout that is not formulated properly to give the user a hit around the face like a wet fish and the explosive power and energy required.
How can they believe that once someone has tried a pre workout that has less effects than a espresso to think it would be used again?
I am not sure, but it happens. A lot.
So is this at all tempting?
To be honest with you, being called Iron Horse Series makes me think of some sort of gay, bondage, fetish subculture. That isn’t helped any more so by the black and chrome packaging.
Having read the name and looked at the sachet it just made me think of some sort of gay bondage dungeon in Berlin somewhere.
Now you have seen how my brain works, let’s look at the ingredient in more detail but also how it feels.
Ingredients:
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) – Thiamine is required by our bodies to properly use carbohydrates.
Some research suggests that taking thiamine together with pantethine and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) does not improve muscle strength or endurance in athletes.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-965-thiamine%20vitamin%20b1.aspx?activeingredientid=965&activeingredientname=thiamine%20vitamin%20b1
Taurine – It has been touted that Taurine can help mental performance.
Early clinical research suggested that taurine, in combination with caffeine, glucuronolactone, and B vitamins, can improve attention and reasoning in adolescents, but does not improve memory.
However, there is insufficient evidence to prove this is always the case.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1024-taurine.aspx?activeingredientid=1024
Tyrosine – Tyrosine is taken for depression, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the inability to stay awake (narcolepsy), and improving alertness following sleep deprivation.
It is also used for stress, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS).
Acetyl Tyrosine is a more soluble form of tyrosine.
https://examine.com/supplements/l-tyrosine/
Caffeine – It stimulates the central nervous system (CNS), heart, muscles, and the centers that control blood pressure to give you an extra boost and hit that PB.
Caffeine Anhydrous is the purest form of caffeine so always look out for it.
This is found in 4 Gauge which is the best pre-workout.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-979-caffeine.aspx?activeingredientid=979
Panex (Korean) Ginseng – This form of Ginseng is the most highly researched. There’s lots of evidence which suggest cognitive function, mood and immunity is increased, however, although there is evidence for better erections and an increase in testosterone production for infertile men there is also evidence contradictory evidence also.
https://examine.com/supplements/panax-ginseng/
Schisandra (Schisandrin) – This is used for increasing both physical and mental performance.
However, no research studies would suggest that it can help physical performance but mental performance can be improved.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-376-SCHISANDRA.aspx?activeIngredientId=376&activeIngredientName=SCHISANDRA
Beta-alanine – Supplementation of this non essential amino acid aids the production of carnosine. That’s a compound that plays a role in muscle endurance in high-intensity exercise.
That said, studies have not exactly been positive nor entirely conclusive.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1222-beta-alanine.aspx?activeingredientid=1222&activeingredientname=beta-alanine
L-Citrulline – This is used as a sports performance and cardiovascular health supplement. L-Citrulline supplementation results in reduced fatigue and improved endurance for both aerobic and anaerobic prolonged exercise.
An increase in growth hormone has been noted with exercise, but not at rest.
L-citrulline boosts nitric oxide production in the body. Nitric oxide helps your arteries relax and work better, which improves blood flow throughout your body.
Supplementing can help lower blood pressure in people with prehypertension.
https://examine.com/supplements/citrulline/
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/l-citrulline-uses-and-risks#1
L-carnitine – Acetyl-L-carnitine helps the body produce energy. It is important for heart and brain function, muscle movement, and many other body processes.
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/carnitine-lcarnitine
BCAA – BCAAs (typically a combination of L-Leucine, L-IsoLeucine and L-Valine) play a critical role in muscle development because they are metabolized in the muscle rather than the liver.
Because BCAAs are metabolized in the muscle, they can be used for building new proteins or for energy.
However, Supplementation is not necessary if you eat eggs and meat regularly.
https://examine.com/supplements/branched-chain-amino-acids/
L-Histidine – No conclusive evidence of testosterone being increased with supplementation.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-467-histidine.aspx?activeingredientid=467&activeingredientname=histidine
Magnesium – Research into magnesium supplementation also increased testosterone production in men.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20352370
Niacinamide (Vit B3) – Higher amounts of niacin can improve cholesterol levels and lower cardiovascular risks and maybe symptoms for Alzheimer’s . However, the jury is out on these real benefits.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/924.htm
Vitamin B6 – Using it in its most natural form, pyridoxine, B6 is an essential nutrient to raising the body’s metabolism and aiding the fat burning process.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) – Gives you more energy and boost your metabolism, helping you shed unwanted pounds. Ensure you are not deficient in Vitamin B12 so you can do that quick 10 miler at 5am…
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b12-cobalamin
Vitamin C – Its antioxidant properties mean vitamin C provides neuroprotective effects and benefits for blood flow. By protecting the testes from oxidative stress, vitamin C can also preserve testosterone levels.
https://examine.com/supplements/vitamin-c/
Alpha Lipoic Acid – Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant made by the body. It is found in every cell, where it helps turn glucose into energy. Antioxidants attack “free radicals,” waste products created when the body turns food into energy. Free radicals cause harmful chemical reactions that can damage cells, making it harder for the body to fight off infections.
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/alphalipoic-acid
Hesperidin – Looks to be possibly effective for blood flow, but there’s limited research available.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1033-hesperidin.aspx?activeingredientid=1033&activeingredientname=hesperidin
Rutin – It is used for the belief that it can strengthen blood vessels. It may also help protect against some cancers.
It seems it can be potentially effective at relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis when combined with trypsin and bromelain.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-270-RUTIN.aspx?activeIngredientId=270&activeIngredientName=RUTIN
Diosmin – When taken with Hesperidin is can help poor circulation and treat hemorrhoids.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1030-DIOSMIN.aspx?activeIngredientId=1030&activeIngredientName=DIOSMIN
Dose:
The sachet is 15g. The ingredients in the panel with their included amounts add up to 12,925mg.
That isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination but it is a lot of ingredients which means it may not get the doses required for optimum effectiveness. 
Effects & Benefits:
There’s a host of B vitamins which will always helps with required, important bodily function. A lack of B vitamins through poor diet or massive fluid loss will not allow your body to operate effectively.
B vitamins also convert food to energy so you can plow through that gym session.
Potassium is key for heart function and health, not to mention muscle function. A lack of Potassium can make your muscles cramp.
Magnesium also improves testosterone production but this mineral is vital for muscle and cell function.
Citrulline is great and found in the best pre workout.
It helps increase nitric oxide in the blood stream and opens up the blood vessels to pump more blood and oxygen around the system.
It also helps with endurance, reduces fatigue and also increases growth hormone when you are resting.
Tyrosine can also benefit by improving cognitive function and alertness when tired.
Higenamine is sometimes found in fat burners because it increase energy expenditure which burns more calories.
Caffeine is a widely popular stimulant used in many pre workouts formulas and fat burners for its thermogenic and energizing effects.
I haven’t really come across Schisandra prior to this supplement but it seems to be able to improve mental performance. Any physical benefits have yet to be proved.
Carnitine is present which is great for producing energy plus vital for other bodily functions.
As well as Carnitine the BCAA’s help muscle development, building new proteins or provide energy.
Vitamin C is always a good addition to have. It acts as an antioxidant and assists with blood flow.
Alpha Lipoic Acid is also an antioxidant which helps fight off infections from the free radicals produced when the body creates energy from food.
Hesperiden and Diosmin can help improve circulation.
READ: Read about our favorite pre workout that turned me in to a beast on the rugby pitch
How did it feel?
I felt the initial tingly sensation as is the case with Beta-Alanine.
However, after that it took a downward turn. I just didn’t feel anything at all.
Nada, zilch, nothing.
I think part of the problem as I mention in my video is that due to so many pre workout formula’s being available different companies try to differentiate themselves and as such lose track of the goal.
The goal is to provide a stimulating and energizing supplement that will keep you hydrated as well as make you feel invincible, get that tunnel vision and basically feel like Eddie Hall has just slapped you about a bit and is now screaming at you through your set.
However, I rarely experience this from many of the pre workouts that I try.
It seems they are more and more becoming like multi-vitamins with some Caffeine and Beta-Alanine to make it feel a bit special.
Video:
Negatives:
I just didn’t feel any benefit.
This is most likely down to the fact that 5 ingredients are not proven to work or offer any related benefit.
There’s also a lack of stimulants and we are only given 100mg of Caffeine per serving.
Then there’s ingredients such as Vitamin C which in everyday life is useful but is it required in a pre workout? I don’t think it has a case.
Nor has Alpha Lipoic Acid, again, a great everyday benefit but I would have preferred that being replaced with Creatine, Beta Vulgaris or Potassium.
And this is the problem, lots of ‘nice to have’ ingredients but they’re not really going to set your gym session on fire, are they?
Iron Horse Series High Kick Pre Workout Review Conclusion:
This is following suit of many pre workout formulas whereby they have lost site of the end game.
I want a massive hit of energy, power and focus and more often we are seeing mere multivitamins with a bit of a kick from Caffeine and Carnitine but very little else.
This just does not help.
Nor does a silly low dose of Caffeine which is the only stimulant, and I do not really appreciate yawning in the gym after having a pre workout.
I would have felt more in tune to hitting the gym after an can of cola than this helped.
Take a look at the best rated pre workouts, here.
