EmailBest Reviewed
Energy Drinks
- Best energy shot 5-Hour Energy *Est. $2
- Best-tasting energy drink Rip It A'tomic Pom Energy Fuel *Est. $1
- Organic energy drink Guru 100% Natural Energy Drink *Est. $2
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Best energy shot
- Good energy boost
- No crash effect
- No sugar, moderate caffeine
- Four calories per 2-ounce serving
- Mixed reviews for taste
- Can cause jitters
- Expensive
Reviewers are mixed on the merits of energy drinks in general, but 5-Hour Energy is rated more highly than most. It has no sugar, no herbal stimulants and moderate caffeine (about as much as a cup of coffee). In addition to the caffeine, the energy boost is provided by a mix of amino acids and vitamins, including an enormous amount of B12. Bloggers like the kick that doesn't leave a crash effect once it wears off, although in reviews some customers say they felt jittery after drinking 5-Hour Energy, which comes in a 2-ounce shot. As for taste, the orange flavor seems to be the best liked. But overall, reviewers say other energy drinks taste better, including Rip It A'tomic Pom Energy Fuel (*est. $1 for 16 oz.). Rip It has far more calories (260) and contains 66 grams of sugar, however.
Mainstream sources don't review many energy drinks. ConsumerReports.org, for instance, rates just 12, not including 5-Hour Energy. That leaves primarily bloggers who often guard their anonymity and don't engage in the blind taste tests that usually are a hallmark of product reviews we rank highest. We thought ScreamingEnergy.com was the best source for 5-Hour Energy reviews because two staffers sampled the products and customer reviews add balance. A blog called Energy Drink Ratings reviews more products but may not be very objective. We found helpful information from two other blogs, an article by an MSNBC health editor, and customer ratings on RateItAll.com.
| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  327 store reviews | In Stock. | $22.50 | See It |
 |  1651 store reviews | In Stock. Get free shipping on orders over $25! | $24.70 | See It |
| 24 Hour Fitness |  0 store reviews | In Stock. | $36.00 | See It |
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Our Sources
ScreamingEnergy.com doesn't review quite as many drinks as some websites, but two site editors review each product. User ratings and comments are also posted. Four 5-Hour Energy drinks are reviewed, with the orange and lemon-lime flavors generally faring better than berry. The decaf version receives a high rating for taste, but it doesn't provide much of an energy boost, according to this reviewer.
Review: 5-Hour Energy Orange Review, Jason Hargett, May 2, 2008
The reviews here are based on the tasting of one tester, but the anonymous blogger has a good grasp of his subject matter and seems to make an honest effort at objectivity. He rates five 5-Hour Energy products, with the Extra Strength version getting the highest rating of 9.7 out of 10.The lemon-lime flavor comes in at a close second.
Review: Extra Strength 5-Hour Energy Drink Review, Justin T. ("Oshburg"), Mar. 16, 2008
Dan Mayer is an energy drink enthusiast. He gives a seven out of 10 rating to the decaf version of 5-Hour Energy, saying he didn't really like the taste, but it wasn't "horrible." He says the boost "got me going."
Review: 5-Hour Energy Decaf, Dan Mayer, Apr. 8, 2008
The "EnergyGuru" doesn't identify himself or his testing methods, but the reviews are balanced. He says the 5-Hour Energy berry version had enough kick to make him feel "loopy" but also queasy, and that the taste "made me gag." He finds the 5-Hour Extra Strength version the best tasting of the bunch.
Review: 5 Hour Energy Shot Berry Review, "EnergyGuru", June 10, 2008
Nearly 200 contributors give 5-Hour Energy an average score of 3.41 out of five, so opinions are a mixed bag. Some say the "kick" was too short and too weak, while others say they were intensely jittery for longer than they expected.
Review: 5-Hour Energy, Contributors to RateItAll.com
6. MSNBC
Health editor Melissa Dahl personally tests 5-Hour Energy, and even though she isn't crazy about the taste, she enjoys the gradual boost that doesn't make her jittery or cause her to crash once it wears off. She mentions that most energy drinks taste horrible, but she doesn't perform a comparison taste test for this article. After her personal experience with 5-Hour Energy, she reports on a dietician's breakdown of the ingredients and their effect on one's health.
Review: Zip! 5-Hour Energy Packs a Punch, Melissa Dahl, Feb. 12, 2009
Energy Drinks Runners Up:
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
