If you're an athlete, bodybuilder, or simply spend a lot of time working out, then you've probably hit a plateau at some point in your training. While there are many reasons you might hit one, don't let those moments discourage you. One way to power through is to add the best supplement stack to your training. There are supplements for runners, for weight loss, and others for performance, but by combining many different kinds of supplements into one cohesive stack, you can maximize your training.
Supplement stacks are bundles of supplements that brands put together to give you a holistic supplement routine. For example, a stack to get you shredded typically includes a fat burner, pre workout, and a muscle builder to address all parts of losing fat and building lean muscle. In this article we're highlighting the best supplement stacks for whatever your fitness goals may be. We'll tell you what's included in each stack, what that supplement is used for, and outline what to look for if you decide to do your own research.
Why Trust Us?
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The Best Supplement Stacks - Our Top Picks
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- Best Supplement Stack Overall: Transparent Labs Muscle Building Essentials Stack
- Best Supplement Stack for Muscle Gain: Jacked Factory Build 24/7 Stack
- Best Supplement Stack for Cutting: Huge Supplements Shred Stack
- Best Supplement Stack for Weight Loss: Jacked Factory BURN-XT + LEAN PM Stack
- Best Supplement Stack for Bodybuilding: Kaged P.I.P Stack
- Best Supplement Stack for Beginners: Transparent Labs Muscle Building Essentials Stack
Best Supplement Stack Overall - Transparent Labs Muscle Building Essentials Stack
SPECS
- Certifications: Gluten-free, non-GMO
- Included supplements: Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate, Creatine HMB, BULK Pre Workout, GROWTH Anabolic Catalyst
- Best for: Building Muscle
Transparent Labs muscle building stack is our pick for the best overall supplement stack for a few different reasons. Building lean muscle is one of the most basic ways to break through a plateau or see improvement in your performance. And Transparent Labs only uses premium ingredients in their products with no preservatives, no fillers, and no artificial ingredients.
This stack has all of the basics you need for muscle building: high-quality protein isolate, creatine, pre workout, and an anabolic catalyst—all of which can help your muscles perform, recover, and grow.
What We Like
- Premium ingredients
- Certified gluten-free and non-gmo
- Sweetened with sugar alternatives
What We Don't Like
- Not vegan or vegetarian-friendly
- Pre-workout contains a high dose of caffeine
BUY: Transparent Labs Muscle Building Essentials Stack
Best Supplement Stack for Muscle Gain - Jacked Factory Build 24/7 Stack
SPECS
- Certifications: Vegan
- Included supplements: Build XT Daily Muscle Builder, Build PM Night Time Muscle Builder, Growth Surge Post-Workout
- Best for: Adding strength and size
There are supplement stacks for generally building muscle and then there are supplement stacks that are focused on helping you gain muscle with as much size, mass, and strength as possible. The Jacked Factory 24/7 stack helps you do the latter. It includes Build XT daily and Build PM night time muscle builders so your muscles are getting stimulation day and night.
This stack is best for those who are regularly training five or more times each week because it’s focused on high performance. So, if your program is only three to four sessions per week, a general muscle builder may be a better option for you.
What We Like
- All-natural muscle building formula
- Clinically researched active ingredients
- Build PM includes a sleep aid to improve your sleep quality
What We Don't Like
- No protein powder included
- No pre-workout
BUY: Jacked Factory Build 24/7 Stack
Best Supplement Stack for Cutting - Huge Supplements Shred Stack
SPECS
- Certifications: None
- Included supplements: ELIMINATE Thermogenic, EXTERMINATE Stimulant-free Fat Burner, BCAA, UTILIZE Insulin Mimetic Nutrient
- Best for: Body fat loss
Getting shredded means losing as much body fat as possible while simultaneously building lean muscle. But your body utilizes fat as energy reserves so before you set out to reach a single digit body fat percentage make sure you consult your doctor. If you've done your homework and are ready to get as shredded as possible, we recommend checking out the Huge Supplements Shred stack.
This stack has two thermogenic fat burners, one with stimulants and one without, that works to burn fat stores throughout the day and night. The UTILIZE supplement also works by absorbing as many nutrients from your diet as possible to support your body's processes naturally.
What We Like
- Stimulant-free fat burner included
- Premium BCAAs for gym performance
- Helps your body absorb more nutrients from food
What We Don't Like
- Not vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free
- No supplements for muscle recovery
BUY: Huge Supplements Shred Stack
Best Supplement Stack for Weight Loss - Jacked Factory BURN-XT + LEAN PM Stack
SPECS
- Certifications: Vegan
- Included supplements: Burn XT Fat Burner, Lean PM Fat Burner + Sleep Support
- Best for: Losing Weight
While getting shredded requires building lean muscle and burning fat, if you just want to lose weight there is a simpler approach. We recommend Jacked Factory's weight loss stack that includes two fat burners focused on burning—you guessed it—excess fat.
The Lean PM fat burner is stimulant-free and includes a sleep support formula to make sure the thermogenic process isn't keeping you awake while the Burn XT helps you access those fat stores for energy throughout the day.
What We Like
- Burn fat while you sleep
- Simple ingredients
- Vegan-friendly
What We Don't Like
- No muscle-building supplements
- Burn XT has a high dose of caffeine that may still affect sleep if you're caffeine-sensitive
BUY: Jacked Factory BURN-XT + LEAN PM Stack
Best Supplement Stack for Bodybuilding - Kaged P.I.P Stack
SPECS
- Certifications: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO
- Included supplements: Pre-Kaged Pre Workout, In-Kaged Intraworkout, Re-Kaged Post Workout Protein
- Best for: Muscle Building and Recovery
CHECK PRICE
Are you bodybuilding? Whether you're preparing for a competition or not, bodybuilding requires a specific supplement regimen that helps you push your body to its absolute maximum potential. If putting on as much muscle as possible is your current goal, we recommend the Kaged P.I.P stack. P.I.P stands for pre-, intra-, and post-workout and this stack hits all of those categories.
The Pre-Kaged pre workout has a formula that works to boost your energy, activate your muscles for longer performance, as well as a mental stimulant so you can stay laser focused. In-Kaged is BCAA to take during your workout to boost muscle recovery and give you an extra pump. And the Re-Kaged post workout stimulates muscle growth with essential amino acids and nutrients for maximum muscle gain.
What We Like
- Supplement for all stages of your workout
- Great for those with dietary restrictions
- Premium protein powder included
What We Don't Like
- No fat burners
- Small quantities
BUY: Kaged P.I.P Stack
Best Supplement for Beginners - Transparent Labs Muscle Building Essentials Stack
SPECS
- Certifications: Gluten-free, Non-GMO
- Included supplements: Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate, Creatine HMB, BULK Pre-Workout, GROWTH Anabolic Catalyst
- Best for: General Muscle Building
You may notice that this is the second time we've featured Transparent Labs muscle building stack on our list, and that is because it is one of the most versatile stacks that isn't as intimidating as some of the other stacks out there. This is a great stack if you're a beginner who wants to experiment and see if a supplement regimen is for you.
Protein powder is used by millions of people, and Transparent Labs includes a premium whey isolate in this stack. The Creatine HMB, pre-workout, and Anabolic catalyst are all items even casual gym goers have likely tried. So as a beginner, this stack can give you a good idea of whether you want to use supplements going forward.
What We Like
- Premium grade, but commonly used supplements
- Great for general muscle building
- Doesn't require a rigorous training regimen to be effective
What We Don't Like
- Expensive
- Doesn’t include recovery supplements
BUY: Transparent Labs Muscle Building Essentials Stack
Benefits of Supplement Stacks
Low Barrier of Entry
If you're just a beginner, supplement stacks are a huge help. It can be overwhelming to research what supplements to take and what goals they accomplish. Supplement stacks basically lay out a supplement routine for you as you begin your journey.
Removes the Guesswork
Supplement stacks are basically just product bundles. The supplement manufacturer puts together a pre-selected bundle of supplements to help you accomplish a particular goal. This is helpful because you don't have to go searching for all your different supplements and try to determine what goes with what. Plus, you usually get a discount for buying in bulk.
How to Choose the Best Supplement Stacks
Certifications
What exactly do we mean by certifications? All dietary supplements have to be reviewed because it would be illegal to put non-FDA approved ingredients in the formula. So when we say certifications, we’re really referring to dietary restrictions. Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and non-GMO are all important certifications to consider based on your preference and dietary needs.
Purpose
Knowing what your specific training goals are will help you decide which supplement stack is best for you. Here are some of the common supplements you'll see in stacks:
- BCAAs. BCAA stands for branched chain amino acids. BCAAs are proteins that increase muscle endurance and boost muscle recovery.
- Protein powder. Protein is a macronutrient that helps your muscles recover after a workout, boost muscle performance, and can help you lose weight.
- Fat burners. Fat burners are made from different ingredients but the goal is always the same: increase blood flow and increase how much energy your body is using. Ideally, this forces your body to access your fat stores for energy.
- Pre-Workout. Pre-workouts give you energy to push yourself during training. The most common ingredient is a stimulant like caffeine, but you can also expect to find beta alanine which is meant to lower your muscle fatigue so you can keep the intensity high for longer periods.
- Creatine. Creatine is one of many essential amino acids that your body uses for energy. Creatine supplements give you enhanced muscle performance so you can progress faster.
- Anabolic catalysts. Anabolic catalysts are not steroids. These supplements make your body use cellular pathways more effectively. Basically, your body will transfer nutrients and energy to your muscles faster.
Ingredients
The ingredients of a supplement are the most important part of the buying process. You want to avoid supplements that have a lot of filler ingredients or artificial colors and flavors. A good rule of thumb is the shorter the ingredient list the better.
But most importantly, make sure you're doing your research and consulting with your doctor about ingredients before consuming any supplements.
FAQs About Supplement Stacks
Are supplement stacks worth it?
Supplement stacks are worth the money if you've got clear goals and know you want to take supplements to help you achieve them. Don't forget to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.
Do supplements ever cancel each other out?
Taking supplements together won't usually cause them to cancel each other out. But it would not make sense to take a mass supplement while also taking a weight loss supplement because they have opposing goals.
What are the different types of stacks?
Supplement stacks are usually organized by your goal. There are weight loss stacks, fat-burning stacks, muscle-building stacks, mass stacks, lean muscle stacks, etc. The best supplement stack for you is entirely dependent on what you're trying to accomplish.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About the Author
Cory is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition coach. After spending six years as an educator and coach, Cory joined the ACTIVE team as a staff writer turning his passion for education toward helping ACTIVE readers live their best, healthiest lives.
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