I am totally bought into Kinobody.
First, I hopped on the Kinobody Warrior Shredding Program and lost 15 pounds of fat. Then I joined the Greek God Program and put on 8-10 pounds of solid muscle.
Then I heard that Greg O’Gallagher of Kinobody had come out with his own pre workout supplement that supposedly put the rest to shame.
It sounded too good to be true, but he hadn’t steered me wrong yet. So I decided to order my own tub of the stuff and put it to the test.
Let’s check out my Kino Octane review.
Overall, Kino Octane is a really effective pre-workout. The energy levels are just right, and it boosts your mood, focus, and performance rather than just giving you a caffeine high. It’s become a staple in my weekly training.
The taste isn’t as good as competitors (though it has WAY less sweeteners in it and uses mostly natural flavors) and if you’re used to pre-workouts with 250+ milligrams of caffeine, you might find this doesn’t give you enough of a boost.
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Kino Octane Backstory: What is Octane?
If you’ve been following the work of Greg O’Gallagher, you know he’s a strong proponent of a few things, namely natural strength training and bodybuilding.
He believes in building a tremendous natural physique using a more minimalist approach: just three workouts per week and a flexible, enjoyable diet.
Until recently, he was strongly anti-supplement. But if you catch up on his latest YouTube videos you’ll see he’s evolved his thinking and now uses a small suite of different supplements to maximize his training.
One of the catalysts for this evolution was the creation of his own pre workout supplement, called Kino Octane, that would address all the problems and faults he saw in traditional pre workouts.
Instead of a drink packed with artificial sweeteners, insane amounts of caffeine, and useless “pump” compounds, he wanted to create something that would give smooth but effective energy, and maximize performance and recovery, without all the extras.
Octane was born.
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Kino Octane Ingredients
Octane is a little bit of a different breed.
A lot of common pre-workout supplements rely on a super energy boost from crazy high amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, plus low levels of creatine for a little bit of a pump, and that’s pretty much it.
Let’s look at what makes Kino Octane so unique.
Caffeine – 150mg
150mg of caffeine is on the lower end for a pre workout supplement, but still plenty to be effective. (Many pre workouts offer 300mg or more per serving, which can definitely give you that jittery, wirey, hollow energy).
Octane relies far more on some other natural compounds to boost your performance, focus, and energy. 150mg is a bit more than a cup of coffee, and should have you feeling alert and ready to go without feeling overly amped up.
L-Citrulline – 6,000mg
L-Citrulline is commonly cited as one of the best and most effective compounds used in pre workout supplements, so its presence here is a great sign. (It’s also not cheap, and isn’t usually found in bargain-bin supplements). L-Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid, originally found in watermelon oddly enough, and has been clinically proven again and again to improve muscle endurance and recovery.
6 grams is a generous amount and actually above the minimum effective dose.
Potassium & Sodium – 200mg
It’s rare to find these natural nutrients in a pre workout drink, but they’re super important when it comes to getting maximum performance out of your body.
Together, they work to replenish your electrolytes as they become depleted during a rigorous workout. You’ll keep your performance at its peak throughout your time in the gym, and one of Octane’s biggest selling point is that it helps you “finish strong” toward the very end of your workouts. The little boost from potassium and sodium goes a long way toward that end.
Ginseng – 300mg
Another natural supplement found in Kino Octane when many other brands are choosing harsh chemical compounds. Ginseng is known to boost energy, reduce stress, and raise cognitive function naturally.
Kino Octane Flavor
One of the key elements of Kino Octane is that it doesn’t include any artificial sweeteners (or sugar, for that matter… it’s a zero calorie beverage).
I knew that going in. And when I first opened my tub, the smell was… not great.
So I was a little hesitant.
But I’m happy to report that once you mix one scoop of the Kino Octane powder with 8-10 ounces of water, a pleasant orange aroma becomes unlocked and it starts to smell pretty good.
The drink itself isn’t exactly beautiful: it’s kind of a dull yellow.
The taste is… fine.
If you’re used to sticky-sweet pre workout drinks (like I was), it’ll be an adjustment for sure. It doesn’t taste bad, it’s just a lot more bland. But it’s all in the name of your health and performance. The use of artificial sweeteners definitely makes things taste better, but their impact on your long term health is questionable at best.
Think of Kino Octane as black coffee… getting acclimated to the taste will take some time, but the benefits are immense.
Kino Octane Performance & My Review
I tried Octane for the first time about 30 minutes before I hit the gym (the instruction recommend taking the fast-acting pre workout about 15-30 minutes before you work out).
Energy: I usually have a few cups of coffee in the morning, so other 150mg caffeine drinks I’ve tried sometimes send me over the edge into jittery territory, but not Octane. I definitely felt alert and ready to go, but the energy was smooth and subtle, not overpowering. It wasn’t the hollow, wirey feeling I’m used to getting from cheaper supplement.
Mood: I can’t say for sure if it was the Octane, but I found myself in a remarkably upbeat mood after drinking it. There could be a lot of variables here, so just take it as anecdote, but I definitely found myself humming some favorite tunes while getting dressed for the gym!
Performance: Near the end of my workout, I felt some of the familiar signs of burnout coming. (A particularly brutal set of high-rep lateral raises had my shoulders screaming). But I found myself able to push through. Again, could be the Octane, could be a placebo effect, but I was extremely happy with my performance and endurance in the gym after drinking this stuff. All my top level strength felt great as well.
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Kino Octane: Pros, Cons & The Verdict
OK, now let’s put it all together:
Pros of Kino Octane
- No artificial sweeteners
- No “proprietary formula” – all ingredients listed
- Natural ingredients like ginseng, potassium & sodium
- High levels of L-Citrulline
- Smooth, effective energy
Cons of Kino Octane
- Taste is a little bland
- No creatine or extra pump
- Might not be enough caffeine for super-users
- Expensive
The Verdict
This is an extremely high-quality product.
The ingredients are all top-notch, with a focus on natural energy and supplements that really work. It’s not overly stuffed with harsh chemicals and compounds that have little benefit.
It doesn’t come cheap (just under $2 per serving), but is well worth a try for serious lifters and gym-goers.
Get your first bottle of Kino Octane right here.
To keep reading, check out: Is Red Bull a good pre-workout?
Kino Octane Pre-Workout Review
A smooth, all-natural pre-workout for awesome performance. Highly recommended.
Evan Porter
Kino Octane Pre-Workout