C4 Ripped Sport pre-workout has absolutely nothing going for it. Don’t buy it. It’s a proprietary-filled, mass-marketed, useless pre-workout backed by an incredible marketing team. 

That’s it. 

It’s nowhere close to hitting the minimum effective dose of any of the key ingredients. On top of that, it has all kinds of pointless fillers that make zero difference to your training. 

I used C4 products for years before I knew any better. Don’t repeat my mistakes by wasting money on this or any other C4 products. There’s a way better alternative.

Alternative to C4 Ripped Sport: Transparent Labs BULK

Transparent Labs BULK is a great choice if you can spend a bit more money on a pre-workout that hits the minimum effective dose of all the essential ingredients. 

It does cost $1.66 per serving ($1.49 if you subscribe), but considering the ingredients, it’s still reasonably priced.

Check out my Transparent Labs BULK review for a more complete overview. You can also learn more by reading all my previous pre-workout reviews.

Oh my. And I thought the original C4 was crap. There’s absolutely nothing in C4 Ripped Sport that makes it worth a purchase. Even the caffeine is too low.

As I said in my C4 Original review, these guys are a prime example of a marketing company masquerading as a supplement brand.

Best For:

No one. There is not a single reason on Earth to buy C4 Ripped Sport. 

Well, if there’s a zombie apocalypse and you need something to throw at the zombies, this might do.

Not For:

Anyone who takes training and supplements seriously.

There is nothing in here that will improve your performance in any way.

Anyone who wants to avoid wasting money on a shitty supplement.

You’re better off using your money as toilet paper.

C4 Ripped Sport Pre-Workout Ingredients

[image showing the ingredient label]

The majority of the ingredients in C4 Ripped Sport are proprietary blends. Although they list the ingredients in each blend, they give zero indication of how much of each ingredient is in the blend, with the exception of caffeine. 

It doesn’t matter anyway because just by looking at the dosage of each blend, we already know there isn’t enough L-citrulline. And it doesn’t have any L-tyrosine or betaine anhydrous whatsoever!

There’s no point in taking a pre-workout that doesn’t have the necessary ingredients of a pre-workout.

C4 Ripped® Sport Performance & Thermogenic Blend

2,820 mg

You can be certain that the ingredients in this blend don’t hit the minimum effective dose. But let’s go through the painful exercise of tackling them one by one. 

CarnoSyn® Beta-Alanine

CarnoSyn® is a licensed (and patented, of course) version of the single amino acid beta-alanine. The claim is that this patented formula is more effective or better absorbed than your stock standard beta-alanine. 

Licensed ingredients come from B2B (business-to-business) companies that license their products for B2C (business-to-consumer) companies to use in their pre-workout. Reputable B2B supplement companies prioritize the potency and purity of their products, putting them through strict internal and external testing to maintain their brand integrity. 

Pre-workouts incorporate beta-alanine to induce the tingling sensation. This feeling alone doesn’t tell you anything about beta-alanine’s efficacy; it’s only a side effect of the acute high dose.

Beta-alanine doesn’t enhance performance unless you reach the 176,000 mg saturation point. Since I have no idea how much beta-alanine there is in here, I won’t even speculate how many days you’d have to take C4 Ripped Sport to hit that saturation point. But I’d say 100+.^[1]

Once you attain that saturation point, the minimum effective dose to experience the performance benefits is 3,200 mg. C4 Ripped Sport isn’t anywhere near.

Citrulline Malate

Citrulline malate is a mix of two ingredients: L-citrulline and malate, or malic acid. When dosed properly, it might improve your muscle pump and muscle endurance. It may help you train a bit harder and allow you to bang out a few extra reps. It can also dampen delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and improve anaerobic performance.^[2]

How much citrulline malate you need depends on the ratio of L-citrulline and malate in the mix. 

The minimum effective dose of L-citrulline is 4,000 mg. Unsurprisingly, in C4 Ripped Sport there’s zero indication of the ratio or the total amount. But since the total of this thermo-bullshit blend is less than 3,000 mg, it’s impossible that there’s enough L-citrulline here. 

Conjugated Linoleic Acid Powder

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid, most often derived from plant oils. CLA supplementation may improve immunity and reduce inflammation. It has also been shown to reduce body-fat mass in overweight or obese people. 

But get this, the minimum effective dosage of CLA is 3,600 mg or more per day, so the dosage in C4’s blend is laughable.^[3]

Dosage aside, CLA doesn’t have an acute effect so it’s not really an ingredient you need in a pre-workout. It’s just here for show.

Green Coffee Seed Extract

Green coffee extract might help with fat loss, especially in individuals with a high BMI (>25 kg/m).

However, the research on this supplement is a bit sketchy and not always the best quality. We need more rigorous, peer-reviewed research to fully understand how it works.^[4]

Doses as low as 700 mg/day might be effective for fat loss in obese people.^[5] But it’s unlikely that C4 Ripped Sport has that much. Also, those alleged fat-loss effects only take place when green coffee extract is supplemented for more than four weeks.

DygloFit® 

DygloFit is made of Dichrostachys glomerata fruit extract. The fruit extract has some science behind it for improving fat loss and reducing the markers of metabolic syndrome in the obese population over an 8–12-week period.^[6] But there are no scientific studies of Dichrostachys glomerata in the non-obese population.

Obviously, I have no idea how much of Dichrostachys glomerata there is in C4 Ripped Sport, but the minimum effective dose — if it would even work for you — is >300 mg per day.^[7]

This ingredient is just lipstick on a pig.

Sodium Citrate

Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid, a natural acid found in citrus fruits. It’s been shown to improve performance in various physical activities, particularly in endurance sports, such as running and cycling. 

The optimal dosage for improving anaerobic training for a 60-second workout is 0.5 g/kg body mass. That’s 40 GRAMS for an 80 kg (176lb) individual.^[8] C4 Ripped Sports doesn’t even remotely have that kind of dosage, making this ingredient useless here.

L-Carnitine Tartrate

L-carnitine plays an important role in fat metabolism and can help your body burn more fat for energy after training. But L-carnitine doesn’t make your body use more energy overall; it just helps it choose fat as the energy source, provided you don’t mix it with glucose.^[9]

As I’ve said about a thousand times, fat loss is all about energy balance, not about some miracle supplement that might make a 0.01% difference.

The minimum effective dose of L-carnitine is 1,000 mg, and it’s safe to say that C4 Ripped Sport is nowhere near that.

Magnesium Chloride

Magnesium chloride plays a critical role in energy metabolism and muscle function. When supplemented with 350 mg/day, it can reduce muscle soreness, improve recovery, and potentially improve performance.^[10] Supplementing it can also improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes.

Does C4 Ripped Sport have enough magnesium to do anything for you? Your guess is as good as mine, but the answer is probably a solid no.

Dipotassium Phosphate

Dipotassium phosphate is a compound that combines potassium and phosphate ions. It can help electrolyte levels, maintain energy, and improve overall performance. But you only need to worry about that if you’re training for hours on end or in a hot climate.

Besides, it’s unlikely that C4 Ripped Sport has enough dipotassium phosphate to achieve these effects anyway.

C4 Ripped® Sport Energy Blend

1,140 mg

As with the previous proprietary blend, we’re flying blind here and simply guessing if there’s enough of each ingredient to do anything for you. (There isn’t.)

Taurine

Taurine may improve performance and recovery, but the evidence is more pitiful than Charlie Sheen on a good day. The dosage in these studies varies between 1 g and 6 g.^[11]

There’s a slim chance that there’s enough taurine in here to hit that 1g of minimum effective dose. Still, I am beyond certain that taurine isn’t the missing link between you and an amazing training session.

Caffeine Anhydrous

135 mg

As unbelievable as it might sound, Cellucor does disclose the exact amount of caffeine in C4 Ripped Sport: 135 mg, which is about a cup and a bit of brewed coffee. If you’re super sensitive to caffeine, that might be enough to improve your energy and focus while training.^[12] 

For many folks, 135 mg of caffeine in pre-workout isn’t enough.

Pyridoxine HCl

Pyridoxine HCI is better known as Vitamin B6. Because it’s essential for many physiological functions, I am all for B6 supplementation when one is deficient in it. 

But if that’s the case, talk to your doctor. B6 serves zero purpose in your pre-workout. 

Cyanocobalamin

You’re more likely to know this one as Vitamin B12. As with B6, it’s a good idea to supplement it if you don’t get enough in your diet, as is often the case for vegans and some vegetarians. 

If you think you’re low on B12, call your doctor. Having it in your pre-workout does f*ck all.

Sodium

60 mg

Low sodium levels can mess up your electrolyte balance, which then affects your muscle contraction. So, if you sweat something severe, sodium can help you correct the electrolyte imbalance.

However, this is only a concern when you’re training in hot and humid conditions or pushing yourself through loooooong and intense sessions.

Calcium

25 mg

Calcium plays several roles in performance, such as muscle and nerve function, and energy metabolism. 

The recommended daily calcium intake for adults ranges from 1,000 to 1,300 mg, so the 25 mg in C4 Ripped Sports is absurd. A small amount like that won’t have any acute effect on your performance — or your health.

Potassium

20 mg

Like sodium, potassium can make a difference to your training if you’re sweating a lot and your electrolyte balance is all over the place.

For context, the recommended daily intake for potassium for adults is around 2,600 to 3,400 milligrams per day for women and 3,400 to 4,700 milligrams per day for men. Is the 20 mg in C4 Ripped Sport the thing that will finally unlock an incredible training session for you? Yeah, no.

Magnesium

12 mg

Since I’ve already covered magnesium earlier in this review, let me reiterate: 12 mg won’t do anything for your training.

Vitamin B6

3.4 mg

Hey, remember how I said earlier that B6 is pointless in your pre-workout? That’s still true.

Vitamin B12

60 mcg

Dear Lord, give me strength…B12 doesn’t need to be in your pre-workout. It will have no acute impact on your training. If you think you’re deficient in it, chat with your doctor.

[table showing ingredients and minimum effective doses]

My Experience Using C4 Ripped Sport

For my commitment to the cause, and despite my better judgment, I bought and used C4 Ripped Sport for two weeks to write up this review. I’ve also used C4 products religiously in the past, so I’ve learned lessons that you shouldn’t have to. 

The only even remotely positive thing about this product is that it tastes great.

Price

[image of the serving size]

A serving of C4 Ripped Sport costs $0.86 ($0.69 if you subscribe), and that’s about $0.85 more than it should.

Cellucor offers free shipping for orders over $55.

Third-Party Tested and GMP certified

[screenshots of third-party test results]

It’s not third-party tested or GMP certified, but it’s certified to not include any banned substances. 

So, if you’re an athlete looking for a pre-workout that doesn’t do anything for you and also want to be sure you’re not taking anything illegal, you’ve found your answer.

Energy

I did feel a small rise in energy, but not enough to make any difference to my training. I can get the same energy from looking at the Starbucks logo.

Pump

Yeah. None whatsoever.

Taste

[screenshot of flavors from the website]

C4 Ripped comes in two flavors:

• Fruit Punch
• Arctic Snow Cone

This actually tastes good. This is no surprise since it’s easier to flavor a product that has a low dose of every ingredient.

Mixability

[image of the pre-workout mixed up]

C4 Ripped Sports mixes well. No grittiness, lumps, or sandy texture. It’s smooth to drink. 

Customer Experience

Navigating the website was easy, as you’d expect from a well-oiled marketing company. The ordering process was also straightforward. Cellucor works hard to keep the schmucks happy.

How I Tested C4 Ripped Sport

I test each supplement across eight categories, pouring over studies and combining them with personal feedback.

When I conduct tests and write my pre-workout reviews, my commitment is to the truth, even if it ruffles a few feathers. There are no hidden agendas, no fluff — just rigorous research.

1. Ingredients

I care mostly about two ingredients in pre-workout supplements: caffeine and L-citrulline. Then there are two that might be worth your dollars: beta-alanine and electrolytes. But those two are far from mandatory.

Once I know a pre-workout has the two ingredients I care about, I check that the dosage of both ingredients is where it should be to provide the stimulation I need. 

Besides those two, most other ingredients serve a different purpose: marketing. The fewer ingredients I see on the label, the better. 

You can read more about the ingredients I look for on my how I test ingredients page. 

2. Price per serving

I care whether a single serving will give me enough of the two ingredients above for the needed stimulus. Ultimately, I want the best bang for the buck per serving. 

Often, the key ingredients are about the same in most pre-workout supplements. It’s the proprietary blends and trademarked ingredients that raise the price. Both of which rarely contribute to the quality or effectiveness of the supplement. 

Another reason why fewer ingredients are better is that it keeps the cost down.

You can read more about how price factors into my scoring system here.

3. Third-party testing and Good Manufacturing Practice certification

When a supplement company wants third-party testing and certification, it pays an outside organization to test for ingredient potency and accuracy.

Getting certified means an independent organization has reviewed the product and determined it complies with safety, quality, and performance standards.

The absence of third-party testing doesn’t immediately mean a poor product. But knowing the dishonest bullshitting going on in the supplement industry, third-party testing gives me peace of mind knowing a product is safe and has — and does — what it says on the box. 

GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification means the manufacturing facilities comply with the rigorous quality standards of regulatory authorities. It covers the entire manufacturing process, including sourcing of raw materials, production processes, packaging, and labeling. 

These guidelines provide minimum requirements that a manufacturer must meet to ensure its products are consistently high in quality.

In short, third-party testing is about the product, and GMP compliance covers the manufacturing.

Read more about third-party testing and GMP compliance here.

4. Energy

Out of all the effects I look for in a pre-workout, this is the one I care about the most. I want to feel psyched and focused for my strength training. And I want to finish without getting the dreaded post-workout caffeine crash.

You can read more about how the energy factors into my scoring system here.

5. Pump

The second most important thing I need from a pre-workout is the pump. The product must have enough L-citrulline (4,000 mg) to increase the blood flow into the muscles I’m working. In most cases, anything less than 6,000 mg, and I’d rather spend my money elsewhere.

Read more about what I look for when scoring the pump.

6. Taste

Let’s face it: Making a decent-tasting pre-workout shouldn’t be that difficult. Yes, a pre-workout with high-quality ingredients in high doses often tastes worse because it’s hard to mask the flavor of the ingredients, but anything less than 8/10 is only acceptable if the product is otherwise exceptional. 

Then again, taste is subjective, so don’t get too hung up on this.

You can read more about how taste factors into my scoring system here.

7. Mixability

I need a pre-workout that’s easy to mix in a shaker. That means no powder clumps! I expect something smooth and grit-free that doesn’t get stuck on the side of the shaker. Most pre-workouts add silicon dioxide and calcium silicate as anti-caking agents, so look for that if you’re as annoyed by clumps as I am.

Read more about how mixability factors into my scoring system.

8. Customer experience

In this testing stage, I find and navigate the website, complete the ordering process, and accept delivery, evaluating each company every step of the way. I also review customer service in cases where I have problems with the order. I have high expectations for customer service and will harshly judge brands with missing links in their customer experience.

You can learn more about how customer service factors into my scoring system here.

Conclusion

C4 Ripped Sport pre-workout is a completely useless proprietary-blend-filled product from Cellucor that does not deliver on any front. 

It fails to provide effective doses of any key pre-workout ingredients, like L-citrulline or even caffeine. 

Despite Cellucor’s massive marketing engine pushing this product, I cannot recommend C4 Ripped Sport to anyone who takes their training seriously. 

Rather than waste money on C4 Ripped Sport, opt for Transparent Labs BULK. Yes, it’s not as cheap as C4, but that’s because it actually has the potential to do something for your training.

FAQs

References

1. Trexler, E. T., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Stout, J. R., Hoffman, J. R., Wilborn, C. D., Sale, C., Kreider, R. B., Jäger, R., Earnest, C. P., Bannock, L., Campbell, B., Kalman, D., Ziegenfuss, T. N., & Antonio, J. (2015). International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-alanine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 12, 30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y

2. Aguiar, A. F., & Casonatto, J. (2022). Effects of citrulline malate supplementation on muscle strength in resistance-trained adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 19(6), 772–790. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2021.1939473

3. Blankson, H., Stakkestad, J., Fagertun, H., Thom, E., Wadstein, J., & Gudmundsen, O. (2000). Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat mass in overweight and obese humans. The Journal of Nutrition, 130,12, 2943–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/JN/130.12.2943

4. Gorji, Z., Varkaneh, H., Talaei, S., Nazary-vannani, A., Clark, C., Fatahi, S., Rahmani, J., Salamat, S., & Zhang, Y. (2019). The effect of green-coffee extract supplementation on obesity: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytomedicine, 63, 153018. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYMED.2019.153018.

5. Vinson, J., Burnham, B., & Nagendran, M. (2012). Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, linear dose, crossover study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a green coffee bean extract in overweight subjects. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity, 5, 21–27. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S27665

6. Youovop, J., Takuissu, G., Mbopda, C., Nwang, F., Ntentié, R., Mbong, M., Azantsa, B., Singh, H., & Oben, J. (2023). The effects of Dyglomera (Dichrostachys glomerata extract) on body fat percentage and body weight: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Functional Foods in Health and Disease, 13(6). https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v13i6.1088

7. Azantsa, B., Kuate, D., Chakokam, R., Paka, G., Bartholomew, B., & Nash, R. (2015). The effect of extracts of Irvingia gabonensis (IGOB131) and Dichrostachys glomerata (Dyglomera™) on body weight and lipid parameters of healthy overweight participants. Functional Foods in Health and Disease, 5, 200–208. https://doi.org/10.31989/FFHD.V5I6.184

8. Mcnaughton, L. (2004). Sodium citrate and anaerobic performance: Implications of dosage. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 61, 392–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00236058

9. Odo, S., Tanabe, K., Yohda, M., & Yamauchi, M. (2020). Liver-oriented acute metabolic effects of a low dose of l-carnitine under fat-mobilizing conditions: Pilot human clinical trial. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 66(2), 136–149. https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.66.136

10. Reno, A., Green, M., Killen, L., O’Neal, E., Pritchett, K., & Hanson, Z. (2020). Effects of magnesium supplementation on muscle soreness and performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36, 2198–2203. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003827

11. Kurtz, J. A., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Doyle, J. A., & Otis, J. S. (2021). Taurine in sports and exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00438-0

12. Guest, N.S., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Nelson, M. T., Grgic J., Schoenfeld, B. J., Jenkins N. D. M., Arent S. M., Antonio, J., Stout, J. R., Trexler, E. T., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Goldstein, E. R., Kalman, D. S., & Campbell, B. I. (2021). International society of sports nutrition position stand: Caffeine and exercise performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4