5-Hour Energy Review

What reviewers like:

• Good energy boost
• No sugar, moderate caffeine
• Four calories per two-ounce serving

What reviewers don't like:

• Mixed reviews for taste
• Can cause jitters
• Expensive

5-Hour Energy review highlights

Mainstream sources don't review many energy drinks. Consumer Reports, 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 and from customer ratings on RateItAll.com.

Reviewers are mixed on the merits of energy drinks in general, but 5-Hour Energy is better-rated 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, although some customer reviews say they felt jittery after drinking 5-Hour Energy, which comes in a two-ounce shot. As for taste, the orange flavor seems to be the best liked. But overall, reviewers say other energy drinks taste better, including BooKoo Energy Punch (*est. $2.10 for 16 ounces). BooKoo has far more calories (240) and contains 58 grams of sugar, however.

Also see full report: Energy Drinks

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. ScreamingEnergy.com
5-Hour Energy Orange Review
Jason Hargett
May 2, 2008

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. Three 5-Hour Energy drinks are reviewed, with the orange and lemon-lime flavors generally faring better than berry.

2. Energy Drink Ratings Blog
Extra Strength 5-Hour Energy Drink Review
Justin T. "Oshburg"
Mar. 16, 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 four 5-Hour Energy products, with the Extra Strength version getting the highest rating of 9.7 out of 10.

3. EnergyDrinkReviews.com
5-Hour Energy Decaf
Dan Mayer
Apr. 8, 2008

Dan Mayer is an energy-drink enthusiast. He gives a seven 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 said the boost "got me going."

4. Taurine Rules blog
5-Hour Energy Shot Berry Review
Unnamed blogger
June 10, 2008

This blogger doesn't identify himself or his testing methods, but the reviews are balanced. The reviewer 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."

5. RateItAll.com
5-Hour Energy
Contributors to RateItAll.com

About 135 contributors give 5-Hour Energy an average score of 3.57 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.

Also see full report: Energy Drinks

5-Hour Energy Review