RATING: 4 out of 5 ****
Taste Rating: 2 out of 5 **
Name: Fusion Energy Shot
Tag: Fuel Your Core
Manufacturer: Got Fusion, Inc.
Flavor: Berry, Limon
Supplement Info: 8 Calories, Vitamin B6 40mg, b12 500mcg, Taurine, Caffeine(comparable to 1 cup of coffee), Tyrosine, Niacin 33mg, etc.

The great thing about Fusion energy shots are they are dirt cheap.  You can run over to the Big Lots and get them for 50 cents each, in 6 packs for $3.  So, already right there they are a winner.  But surprisingly, this cheap energy shot makes for an impressive 5 hour energy alternative.

First off, the taste.  It's not great, but I've had worst.  The good news -- it does NOT taste like cough syrup.  I always give points to those that don't taste like Nyquil.   If I could relay the flavor, it's somewhat like berry flavored coffee grounds, which sounds gross, but is more tolerable than you think.  But it's only two ounces, and a shot at that, so get over it.

With this energy shot, you will notice the effects right away -- within 10 minutes.  This is substantial as some energy shots, such as Mana, can take 30 minutes or more.

This guy will give you a little bit of the jitters especially if you double stack it, but not too bad.

This shot claims 3 times the power! 6 + hours of energy, but for regular energy shot users, expect 2 - 4 hours depending upon your tolerance to caffeine.

Final thoughts - This energy drink may be cheap, it may not be the name brand, but it is definitely worthy of giving a try.  It is packed full of good vitamins, is easy to swallow, and best of all, is super light on the budget at only 50 cents.

AS FUSION ENERGY SHOTS 12PACK    US $40.00

Name: Redbull Energy Shot
Flavor: Cough Syrup/Smarties
Maker: Redbull
Size: 2 fl. oz
Caffeine Content: 80 mg
Retail Price: $2-$3/bottle

Rating: *** 3.5 out of 5 stars
Flavor: *** 3 out of 5 stars

Redbull was the first energy drink on the market(discounting Jolt and a few others) that actually advertised it's product heavily.  The tagline "Redbull gives you wings!" with their terrible animated commercials that make you not want to drink their stuff.  But they came into the market at the right time and are a big hit, especially among women.  These energy drinks are not known for being the biggest buzz, but they are popular for drinking before a long party night.  They are better known for keeping you awake, rather than giving you wings.

Redbull however was slow to market with their Redbull energy shot.  It has been worth the wait, though.  First off the design of the 2 ounce energy shot looks great.  It's the trademark blue and silver color of redbull sodas, smaller.  Thank the Energy Gods they didn't make another shot shaped like 5 hour energy!  The packaging reminds me of a bullet, and it's silver so everytime I take one I find myself telling people, "Gotta go shoot a silver bullet."

Next is the taste.  It's not so good.  It reminds me of their energy drink, in cough syrup form.  But I have tasted worse such as the Rockstar or Hitman Energy shots, so this one slid down pretty easy.  If you are going for taste this isn't your shot, but if you don't care of have even a medium tolerance you should be fine with this guy.

About the kick.  It is pleasantly mild, almost calming in a way.  This may sound bad, but it's actually a good thing.  It is not going to get you wired like a 5 hour or an Xtra or an Amp, but it will keep you awake and alert.  No jitters, and mood's reasonable, and positive.  Stuff lasted not quite 3 hours for me.  No crash.

Before I get in my last word let's compare the Redbull energy shot versus the Redbull energy drink.  The winner is: The Energy Shot!  No surprise here, the energy shot tastes worse, but lasts longer and only have 2 ounces instead of 8.  The drink only wins when it comes to taste.

Does it give you wings? Sort of.  I recommend it after you wind down from a different energy shot or about 5 - 8 hours after taking Lipo 6.  You will be pleasantly surprised.

18 RED BULL ENERGY SHOTS 2 0Z EACH BOTTLE REDBULL Hot    US $64.99

Name: Xtra Energy Shot
Maker: Stacker 2
Size: 2 oz.
Flavor: Grape, Berry

Rating: **** 4.75 out of 5
Flavor Rating:  ***** 5 out of 5

Summary: The best tasting energy drink out there, and now the number one 5 hour energy alternative.  Can be found in stores for $1.  Finally Stacker 2 got something right.

Stumbled upon this drink just this week at the Dollar Store when I went in there to purchase a soda since the Dollar Store moved in next to our office.  I noticed these energy shots right next to the counter so of course I picked them up.  Got grape and berry flavor.

First thing I noticed was the taste.  Absolutely awesome.  Hands down best tasting I've had.

Second thing I noticed is they kick in fast and they work great for nearly 4 hours.  Very good for my high tolerance.

Third thing: No crash.

Fourth thing: No cruddy side effects.  Some energy shots hurt my stomach, but I have been using these for a few weeks with absolutely no side effects.

They work great, and have similar ingredients to 5 hour energy.  Caffeine is the same as would be found in one cup of coffee, and the rest is vitamins.

Acai Naturally Extra Energy Burst Formula Xtra AcaiPure    US $12.99

Stacker 2 Xtra Energy Shot 2oz GRAPE flavor 32 sealed    US $12.50

Stacker 2 Xtra Energy Shot Grape Berry 2 Bottles 2oz ea    US $.01

Stacker 2 Xtra Energy Shot 2oz GRAPE flavor 75 sealed    US $25.15

Stacker 2 Xtra Energy Shot 2oz orange flavor CASE of 48    US $49.99

Stacker 2 Xtra Energy Shot 2oz BERRY flavor CASE of 48    US $49.99

NATLY ACAI XTRA ENERGY FORMULA LIQUID SUPPMLENT 16OZ    US $10.63

NVE Pharmaceuticals Stacker 2 Xtra Energy Shot    US $33.23

STACKER 2 XTRA ENERGY SHOT 6 SHOTS    US $8.99

LK 4 x Stacker 2 Xtra Energy Shots Berry Flavor    US $8.99

3oz 6 Hour Stacker2 Xtra Energy ShotsGrape Flavor 12pk    US $33.77

View Page:   1

Name: Steaz Energy Shot--Organic Fuel
Manufacturer: Steaz
Size:2.5 oz
Flavor: Berry
Rating: **** 4 out of 5
Flavor Rating: **** 4 out of 5

Touted as the first USDA Certified Organic energy drink on the market, it is also vegan certified.  Made from all natural ingredients, it also includes green tea, acai juice,  yerba mate, organic berry and organic guarana.  The product has a whopping 150 mg of caffeine, naturally occuring mind you from the guarana.  When I heard of this product I was excited to try it.  Especially if it is all natural as it claims, that was a plus to me, as I am always looking for healthier products, which can be hard to find in the energyshot market(don't get me started on the Monster or Rockstar drinks!).

So after downing it down the hatch, I settled in for a little bit of SNES games on the Wii.  I was surprised at how quick the punch kicked int, we're talking 15 minutes.  I guess I should mention that this was mid morning and I had eaten light, just a banana and toast(as day and diet can affect the performance of an energy shot).  I suddenly found myself focused and doing great on the game.  Taken green tea and similar products I would say the initial rush is similar to that, but I wasn't as a jittery.  The jitters were still there, and the rush was better than you can get from green tea.

About 2 hours later, I thought it was wearing off, but as I stopped playing video games, and got ready for my day of "work"(working on awesome sites like this one), I felt the shot's energy kick back in.  I rushed to the computer and started working.  This is definitely a productive energy drink, keeping you busy and focused.

My mood was increased, and getting through the sludge of monotonous web site tasks, I found them not monotonous and rather fun.

The effects started to where off at about 3 hours 45 minutes, very good for an energy shot.  Not the best, but above average.  The side effects were slim, and I felt fine when it wore off.  I didn't crash and I kept working without stopping.  I noticed my focus continued for many more hours.

I forgot to mention the taste.  THis is one of the best drinks I've tasted.  The acai berry adds an especially nice touch to the flavor, very similar to blue or black berry, with a tart after taste.

In conclusion this shot has me excited to try again.  If you love to stay focused, awake, and in a good mood with something all natural this is the energy shot for you.

10 FREE B2G1 STEAZ ORGANIC BEVERAGE COUPONS NO EXP    US $.99

Steaz Diet Blueberry Pomegranate Sparkling 4 Bottles    US $11.99

Steaz Diet Orange Sparkling Green Tea 4 Bottles 12 oz e    US $11.99

STEAZ ENERGY DRINK 5 X 125 SPONSOR STICKER NEW    US $1.00

Steaz Energy Shot Berry 150 mg    US $28.97

DOCH STEAZ BOGA VEDAYU RAROG    US $15.95

Steaz Energy Diet Drink 4 Pack 12oz ea Green Tea Yerba    US $11.99

Product: 5 Hour Energy Extra Strength
Maker: Chaser
Flavor: Berry
Rating: ****** 6 out of 5
Flavor Rating: **** 4 out of 5
Price: $3-6
Where to Purchase:  From us of course(about $2/bottle when you buy in bulk)

The best known brand of energy shots is Chaser's 5 hour energy.  Being a reseller of energy shots I've seen and tried many energy drinks.  Some are comparable to the regular strength 5 Hour Energy, but there is none on the market that comes even close to the 5 Hour Energy Extra Strength Energy drink.

First off the taste is great.  Compared to the regular 5 hour energy shot, the taste is even better.  No bitter after taste.  Just smooth sailing down the throat.

The affects are great, giving you a rush almost immediately that is very intense.  One negative that some may not like, is that it does give one the jitters, and that is because it has more caffeine in it.  The initial rush is intense, and positive feelings, makes one more sociable and an overall happy feeling.  It is also very good for focus and encouraging you to get a lot of things done.

In total the 5 Hour Energy extra strength lasts me about 5.5 hours.  Greater than any energy shot I have taken.  I usually only take half of one of these, and that peps me up, but doesn't give me the jitters.  As usual there is no crash even with the initial intense buzz that mellows out about 2 hours into the experience.  I've also noticed that if I take it in the evening I can stay up late, get up early in the morning and still feel energized.

Let's compare  how it is different than the normal 5 hour energy:

• It has 40mg of Niacin compared to 30mg
• It has 10mg of Sodium compared to 18mg
• It's energy blend is 2000mg instead of 1870mg
• It has 12 ounces worth of caffeine instead of one cup of caffeine(8 ounces)

So, there isn't much of a difference in ingredients except for the boost in caffeine(which is still low compared to other energy drinks on the market).

Stop wasting your money on other brands.  Step up to 5 hour energy extra strength, and you won't have to look for another energy shot alternative for the rest of your life.

Name: Mana Energy Potion
Maker: Harcos, Inc.
Color: Blue, Green
Size: 1.69oz
Caffeine Content: 160mg
Available in the store
Rating: **** 4 out of 5 stars

I've been looking forward to trying the Mana Energy Potion.  I love the idea and the packaging, and I wish I had come up with it myself.  If you are wondering about its shape it is a reference to video game mana, way back to the original Final Fantasy series on the NES.   The mana is used to feel up on magic abilities, and is a reference to that is beyond the realm of video games, even being referenced in the Bible.  The makers of Mana Energy Potion are targeting gamers as they use the worn out slogan "made by gamers for gamers."  So if you are playing World of Warcraft or Warhammer late into the night, this may just be the drink for you.

For gamers or not this is a fabulous energy drink.  I tried it with low expecations, expecting it to be more marketing hype than substance, but I was pleasantly surprised.  The drink has a strange sweet and tart tonic taste to it that differs from the usual run of the mill energy shots.  I highly enjoyed it and it has become my energy shot of choice right now for the moment.

But what about the buzz?  The buzz is great.  The drink has no sugar so there is no crash later, and it lasted about 4 hours for me which is good since I intake too much caffeine as it is.  I did not feel jittery and felt very focused on the tasks at hand.  After it was wearing off, I took another and was surprised that it kicked in again for round two.  Again, very rare with an energy drink.

So try it out.  Geekery aside, it's actually a real unique energy drink, and you can keep the bottle afterwards as a fun office toy or collectible to stack next to your video games.

This drink has been hard to come by, but we have a few available right now in the store.

Name: 6 Hour Power
Maker: Stacker 2
Size: 2 Fl. Oz
Flavor: Very Berry

Rating: 0 out of 5
Flavor: ***** 5 out of 5

As an obvious knock off and want to be contender of 5 Hour Energy, Stacker 2 who has come out with quite a few different energy drinks including the Yellow Jacket, you would think that they would get it right.  Especially when they claim the product gives you 6 hours of mighty power.

Well, I was timid at first to down this drink.  What if it did give me 6 hours of heart jolting energy?  It could have overloaded my system, and I might have died.  Being your fearless energy drink reviewer I buried the thing down the hatch, knowing that my health was on the line.  Then it was only a matter of waiting.  I waited and waited.

And waited.

This product has absolutely no effect on me.  After waiting about 15 minutes I downed a second energy shot.  I'm still waiting.

That pretty much sums it up.  6 days later, and I'm still waiting.

As a consolation, it is the best tasting energy drink I've ever had.  But wait, it only counts as an energy drink when it actually gives you energy.

If you still want to try him out check out 6 hour power in the store.

Rating: *** 3 out of 5 stars
Flavor: ** 2 out of 5 stars

"Designed for women" is what it says on the packaging.  6 ways women boost energy.  So is it fair as a guy that I review this product with a relatively low rating?  Yes, and no.  If you are a guy, you can relate to what I'm saying.  If you are a lady you probably can't take my word completely.  So keep this in mind.

I took the Slimquick energy yesterday, and my throat was greeted by a nasty cough syrup taste.  However it was not as bad as Rockstar's energy cough syrup.  It says the flavor was berry lemonade, but I failed to taste either of those ingredients in it.

This product had me on the wall for a rating.  If it does give energy it is very "silent" about it.  What I mean is there were no signs of energy associated with other drinks such as increased blood flow and higher beating of the heart, jitters, or just weird undescribable feelings.  I felt normal throughout.  But I should note that I didn't feel sluggish either.  I noticed my mood was brightened and I even was more social with my sibling counterparts that I often can not be social with.  I was also able to relax(but not feel sluggish or tired) playing some video games, which if you knew me is way out of character because I hate doing things that I feel are a waste of time.

So, the product does give energy but it doesn't tend to pronounce the effects like others which is a good thing.  It can be a double edged sword, however, if you are used to the throbbing pulse, cold sweat, and coffee jitters.  It may be working and you may not think so, and have another energy shot which could seriously screw things up.

This was my experience with the product.  I would be interested to hear from any females on their experiences with it, and I will put it up in the review.  I suspect it would have a greater effect on you than it did me.  Overall it was a positive experience, but not a preferred one.  This might call for further research

Rating: *** 3 out of 5 stars
Flavor: * 1 out of 5 stars

Saw this guy at the convenience store and decided to give it a chance.  Never, ever been a fan of the normal Rockstar drinks.  All they are is a bunch of caffeine in a HUGE bottle, making you consume a bunch of calories, sugar, and other unhealthy bull crap.  But it's amazing what marketing to GEN X and the youth crowd can do for the company.  Them and monster have been able to sell alot of crappy tasting drinks that don't do much in the energy department.

The Rockstar shot still claims to be the biggest in the market - 2.5 fl oz.  Don't know why they decided to go bigger when the point of it is to be a shot.  Not a huge difference, but if you want to carry one in your pocket it's a bigger pain because it seems twice the size of a 5 hour energy.

First off is the taste.  HORRIBLE!  Like drinking cough syrup but thicker.  Still, it's not much to drink so it goes down quick.  Chase it with some water or something.  So in taste department, Rockstar still fails miserably.

As for ingredients the main ingredient is caffeine, 200 mg.  Also in the energy blend is the usual suspect guarana, ginseng, and taurine.  They also throw in some b12 and b6 but at such low levels they won't do much in the energy department.  BUT...

I ragged on the drink for most of this review, but I was surprised at the energy kick I got.  It was mostly the caffeine kick, and felt like a normal caffeinated buzz. A little more mellow than 5 hour energy, but I was still able to get stuff done and didn't feel tired afterward. It is much better than their large drinks.

I recommend other energy drink shots out there.  Go for a smaller one like 5 hour energy or Hydroxycut Instant Energy.  They will cost about the same(Hydroxycut is cheaper), they taste better, and give you a better buzz.

Rockstar's first attempt in the energy shots market is decent, but they need to make some improvements.  A smaller size, better taste and less reliance on caffeine would be a good start.  But in quick fix they are a decent choice to get your fix.