Welcome to the most comprehensive Koala Freak pre-workout review on the world wide web.
Everything you need to know about this Staunch Nation manufactured supplement, from where to buy it and how much it costs, to a detailed breakdown of its ingredients and how their dosages compare to what the latest scientific research says about optimal servings!
If you even take your training remotely seriously, then the chances are you’ve heard of pre-workout supplements and what they are supposed to offer you. Most brands claim that their products can not only get you in the right place physical and mentally for your sessions, but can also help you to boost the gains you would ordinarily expect to make!
Whilst there is definitely room for pre-workout supplements in your regular routine, finding a product that does what it says it’s going to can be trickier than you might imagine. With so many brands vying for your custom, the choices are almost endless, and whilst variety can be the spice of life, it does make your decision a little harder!
That’s where we come in. Our second to none pre-workout reviews are designed to give you all the information you need in one simple and easy to understand article, which will allow you to rule in or rule out any number of supplement products.
You’re welcome!
About Calum Von Moger and Staunch Nation
Calum von Moger is an Australian bodybuilder who burst onto the global stage with victory at the Mr. Universe contest in 2014.
He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA as he continues a tough training regime in order to reclaim his title. He also works as a brand ambassador, fitness/fashion model and does public speaking all over the world about fitness and nutrition along with an inspirational message about his goal of striving for the highest level of excellence in every aspect of his life.
Staunch Nation is his very own supplement brand, creating a wide range range of nutritional products designed to support your athletic regime!
As the website points to… “Staunch supplements are fun, delicious, and most importantly, effective in helping you achieve your goals.”
Koala Freak review: ingredients
As with any multi ingredient supplement, the first question to consider is whether the product contains any proprietary blends. That is essentially when the manufacturer details each component ingredient but does not disclose their individual weights, only offering a total blend weight.
That means it is almost impossible for you to know how much of everything you are consuming. Never a good place to be when it comes to active ingredients, which must be dosed correctly in order to be of benefit!
The good news as far as this Staunch Koala Freak review is concerned is that there isn’t a single proprietary blend in this product!
Citrulline malate (6g)
Citrulline malate is finding its way into pre-workout supplements with increasingly regularity, and for good reason. It is probably one of the most exciting nutritional ingredients on the market right now with the capacity to help you to fight fatigue during sessions. How…?
Well, if dosed correctly, citrulline helps you to raise your blood levels of another amino acid called arginine. Increased levels of arginine boosts your production of nitric oxide which in turn causes greater vasodilation and improved circulation. Better circulation means more blood flow and therefore extra oxygen to working muscles during exercise.[1]
In order to achieve such tangible effects for your exercise performance, citrulline malate must be dosed at 6-8g approximately 30-60 minutes before your session.[2] That means the 6g contained in each scoop of this Koala Freak by Staunch Nation product is absolutely bang on!
Great start to this Calum Von Moger pre-workout review!
Beta alanine (3.2g)
Outside of creatine monohydrate, beta alanine is the single most researched nutritional supplement out there when it comes to exercise performance. There is a wealth of evidence to suggest its efficacy for exercise performance, helping your body to fight fatigue!
How does it do this? Well, by helping to increase your muscle stores of something called carnosine, which plays a critical role in buffering lactic acid during short bursts of intense anaerobic activity.[3]
In order to have such an effect, most experts agree that beta alanine must be consumed at a dose of 4-6g per day for a period of at least 2 weeks.[4] This allows it to generate sufficient muscle saturation of carnosine in order to produce a tangible performance benefit.
Now, whilst that means the 3.2g serving in this Koala Freak pre-workout falls a little short of the bottom end of this optimal range, that doesn’t mean it won’t be effective. This dose should still be sufficient to increase carnosine levels within your muscles, it is just going to take a little longer than if you were supplementing with a higher daily dose.
In fairness, in our experience, there aren’t many pre-workouts on the market which can top this products serving of beta alanine!
Caffeine (360 mg)
Caffeine is by far and away the most commonly used stimulant ingredient within pre-workout products, and for good reason, as there is a wealth of evidence to demonstrate that it is effective at not only boosting energy levels but also helping users to burn more fat during sessions.
Most research indicates that it is effective at doses as low as 100 mg whilst it is safe to consume at levels as high as 400 mg per day.[5] That means the 360 mg serving in this Koala Freak pre-workout is potent to say the least, guaranteeing a pretty insane buzz for even the most hardened stimulant users!
This kind of dose is likely to have some minor side effects for most users, particularly if you are new to pre-workouts or have a low tolerance to caffeine. More on that a little later!
Arginine (750mg) and betaine (2g)
We’ve grouped these 2 ingredients together as there is only mixed evidence to support their efficacy for exercise performance. Whilst raising blood arginine levels is the key to the efficacy of citrulline supplementation, as already discussed, strangely enough, oral consumption of arginine directly, does not have the same effect. This is because the vast majority is broken down by the liver before it even reaches the bloodstream.
As far as betaine is concerned, there is some evidence to suggest that it can be help increase strength and lean muscle mass. The level of research into this ingredient is limited, however, with nowhere near the kind of evidence to support its efficacy as for ingredients such as beta alanine, creatine monohydrate and citrulline!
As a result, the dosages of these 2 ingredients as well as a number of others that we’re not even going to waste our time addressing, are largely irrelevant. Our Koala Freak pre-workout review would much rather deal with ingredients with a proven track record of helping you make gains!
Koala Freak side effects
Our Staunch Nation Koala Freak pre-workout review should point out that there are a couple of ingredients included which may cause some minor side effects.
Beta alanine tends to cause a mild tingling sensation on the surface of the skin (particularly the face) which normally subsides after around 20 minutes. The good news is this symptom is entirely harmless and should be taken as a sign you are consuming a meaningful dose of beta alanine and not something completely useless! The 3.2g dose contained within Koala Freak by Calum Von Moger is likely to be sufficient to cause such a response!
The 360 mg serving of caffeine is almost guaranteed to cause some side effects for even the most hardened stimulant users. Diarrhea, vomiting, the jitters and even anxiety are potential symptoms which can be associated with such a potent dose.
If you are new to pre-workouts, or have a low tolerance to caffeine, then it may be sensible to start with a half serving of this product in order to test the waters. You can always increase your dose gradually provided you don’t have any adverse reaction!
Pros and cons of Koala Freak by Staunch Nation
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Where to buy Koala freak?
At $49.00 on the official Staunch Nation website, Koala Freak comes in at a relatively pricey $1.68 per serving. This is, however, by no means the most expensive pre-workout we’ve ever reviewed, and given the optimal dose of citrulline malate, solid dose of beta alanine and huge dose of caffeine, it kind of warrants that price tag in our opinion!
With just 4 flavors to choose from, the fussy among you may struggle to find a taste to your liking. Nothing too crazy with the choices that are available, however, with pretty classic flavors including Blue Bazz Berry and Peach Mango.
This product is available to purchase through the official Staunch Nation website, as well as global online retail giant Amazon, and third party supplement stores such as Elite Supps and Mr Supplement. As result you should definitely shop around for the best price!
Summary: Staunch Nation Koala Freak pre-workout review
All in all, this has been a very positive Staunch Koala Freak review. Not a single proprietary blend in sight, which means you know exactly how much of everything you’re consuming per scoop. This kind of brand transparency is exactly what you should be looking for from your supplement manufacturer. That way, at least you know for sure if the product is underdosing any ingredients and you can make an informed decision about whether it’s right for you!
An optimal dose of citrulline malate and a solid serving of beta alanine, are two more major positives for this pre-workout and something that should not be underestimated. It means Koala Freak will absolutely be of benefit to your training performance.
The extremely potent dose of caffeine could also be a big positive for many users, particularly those looking for a big stimulant hit and those who have really built up a resistance to caffeine with regular pre-workout use. Equally, however, this could be a little too much for some users, and certainly isn’t for the faint hearted.
Only 4 flavor options is a slight disappointment, especially given how much today’s consumers expect from their supplements in terms of taste. If you’re choosing your pre-workout solely based on flavor options, however, then you’re probably in this game for the wrong reasons!
$1.68 per serving is by no means cheap, but it also isn’t overly expensive given the quality of ingredients which are included and their dosages!
Our final verdict…? This a pretty solid pre-workout product which is definitely going to benefit your exercise performance. Yes there are probably better products out there, but for the price, you’re not going to go too far wrong with this Calum Von Moger pre-workout!
References:
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124046306000531
[2]Pérez-Guisado, J., & Jakeman, P. M. (2010). Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24(5), 1215-1222.
[3] beta-Alanine supplementation augments muscle carnosine content and attenuates fatigue during repeated isokinetic contraction bouts in trained sprinters- J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Nov;103(5
[4] International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine- J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015; 12: 30.
[5] Fat burners: nutrition supplements that increase fat metabolism- Obesity Reviews 2011
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