 Recently I participated in Relay Del Sol, an overnight team relay race that traverses nearly 190 miles through central Arizona. As if running and managing team logistics isn’t exhausting enough, I decided to punish myself even further by acting as a vendor and selling souvenirs all day at the finish line. That meant that while other participants had the privilege to go home, take a shower, and dive into the realm of slumber, I had to remain in the land of the living.
Naturally, I expected myself to be dragging a bit (to say the least), and searched for a convenient, portable energy drink to keep me going while I hawked merchandise. I preferred to stay away from some of the other rather noxious, sugar-laden drinks I’ve tried in the past, and coffee (although a favorite) just doesn’t pack well during an adventure race.
Then I found 5-Hour Energy, which comes in a convenient 2-oz, re-sealable bottle and claims to boost energy without sugar or a ridiculous amount of caffeine. It seemed like a good choice - so I decided to give it a try for the relay.
 Its moniker says it all: “5-Hour Energy increases energy and alertness for several hours”. The main ingredient for this task is caffeine; an amount equivalent to one cup of coffee. Being a two-cup-a-day guy, this quantity of caffeine seemed reasonable; unlike the amounts found in Cocaine Energy Drink (which claims to contain 350% the energy content of “The Bull”). Better yet, the drink contains a heavy dose of B-Vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids, while containing zero sugars and carbs.
The product also contains Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Taurine, Malic Acid, and Glucuronolactone, which are known to aid in producing energy and aiding nervous system functionality. The complete nutritional information is pictured above.
But does it work? After supplementing 17 miles of running over the last 20 hours with only two hours of sleep, I put 5-Hour Energy to the test. I found the taste to be tolerable, but nothing I’d drink recreationally. However, there is only 2-oz of liquid and I was more interested in the effects anyway.
Almost instantly I could feel it kick in, and to be frank, it made me rather jittery for about 15 minutes or so. However, the nervousness wore off, and I soon had a good, stable baseline of energy. I drank another 2-oz vial of the elixr about three hours later, which induced similar effects. I ended up making it through the day without a crash.
 The lack of a crash makes sense to me. After all, the drink contains no sugar and is basically the equivalent of a cup of coffee plus a few other ingredients. Coffee doesn’t make me crash, so why would 5-Hour Energy?
And true, 5-Hour Energy has some extra vitamins that you wouldn’t get with coffee, but in my opinion its main benefits are portability and convenience. The fact that they weigh only 2-ounces and come in re-sealable bottles allows enables them to be easily stored and brought along for workouts, training runs, and other adventures.
I am wary, however, of taking any caffeine supplement (even coffee, for that matter) immediately before running or other exercise. Although caffeine has been shown to enhance performance, it can also have some negative side-effects, and thus remains a controversial subject among runners and other endurance athletes.
In addition, and when I do drink caffeine, it tends to be in moderate quantities (1-2 cups) and with plenty of water to offset caffeine’s diuretic effects.
However, if you are looking for an extra boost, whether it is before a workout or even afterwards to help you get through the day, 5-Hour Energy is a suitable option. In addition to being the most convenient and portable product in the energy drink market, it is also probably one of the safest.  The caffeine content, like coffee, is also comparable to the many caffeine-enhanced energy gels (such as the “Double Espresso” flavored Clif SHOT) that have become extremely popular among runners and other endurance athletes.
Overall, 5-Hour Energy definitely works as advertised - it will keep you awake without causing you to crash later on. Just remember that if you choose to incorporate it into your exercise routine, you should employ personal discretion and drink plenty of water - just as you would with any caffeinated beverage.
For more information about 5-Hour Energy, please visit: http://5hourenergy.com/
Note: Although the review is authored by just one of TFS’s team members, it reflects the cumulative results of the entire groups’ trials.
***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content.
5 Hour Energy Shot Berry Case of 12- $36.00
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