This list also works as our 5 hour energy best alternatives.   To see our previous 5 hour energy alternative.  After four grueling years of degenerative health in the name of science and all that must be known for the sake of a cheap buck (and so you know!), here is our list.

But first . . .

Let's mention those that were removed from the list and why.

Fusion Energy Shot - Fusion is a good energy shot.  It has a bad taste.  Unfortunately, since making the list it has just become too hard to find.  If you can get it than it isn't so good for you.

Monster Hitman Energy Shot -This energy shot is good, but not great.  People complain about the taste most.  It's high price and mediocre buzz is why we took it off the list.

Now that we have covered the losers, let's look at the new ones that have made the list.

Worx Energy Extra Strength Shot - Worx is new on the scene 2011.  Copying 5 Hour's bland commercials and similar marketing tactics we were thinking another "me too" energy shot.  However, the Extra Strength version truly performs and gives a clean buzz that lasts longer than the rest, with no crash.

Now to the list.  It is going to look similar to 2011, but that's only because the year has been slow in "solid" product releases.  Is the energy shot trend finally peaking?  That's for another article altogether.

#7

5 hour regular strength energy shot - 5 hour still remains on the list, because it is a brand you know you can trust, and can get just about anywhere.  If the same old is your thing, then stick with what works.

#6

Stacker 2 Energy Shot - Regular strength Xtra's work alright, can be found at just about any dollar store, and they are only a buck.  What could go wrong?

#5

Mana Energy Potion - With a combination of novelty, good taste, and a product that works, this energy shot "mana"ges to hold on for another year.  This one's not for everyday, though, when it can cost as much as $6 per shot.

#4

Nitro2Go Instant Energy Extra Strength - A solid copy cat that works.  It is getting harder to find, however, and the price has been creeping closer to the $3 range.

#3

5 Hour Extra Strength - Always works.  Always available.

#2

Worx Energy Shot - New for mid 2010, Worx Energy is only $2 or less and provides a different, more powerful experience than the rest.  And with strong marketing it is here to stay.

#1

WINNER: Xtra Extra Strength Energy Shot - The cheapest buzz for your buck, Xtra continues to win with its affordability and ability to work.

NVE Pharmaceuticals Stacker 2 Xtra Energy Shot    US $34.59

Stacker 2 Xtra 6 hour Energy Shots 3 Flavor 9 Bottles    US $17.99

5 Hour Energy Xtra Strength Grape X S 5 Hr 12 SHOTS    US $27.50

Stacker 2 Xtra Berry 2oz Energy Shots    US $1.99

5 Hour Energy Xtra Strength Grape 24 shots    US $9.99

XTRA Stacker 2 Diet and Energy Shot 12 Bottles 3oz each    US $17.98

48 Stacker 2 Xtra Diet Energy Crave Control Shots 2 oz    US $59.00

Lot of 6 Stacker2 Xtra Berry Flavor Energy Shots 2fl oz Stacker 2    US $6.99

Stacker 2 Xtra Berry Flavor 6 Hour Energy Shot 6 Pack    US $13.99

5 Hour Energy Xtra Strength Grape X S 5 Hr 24 SHOTS    US $55.00

XTRA ENERGY SHOT 2FL OZ1 BOTTLEBERRY FLAVOR0 SUGAR    US $1.50

XTRA ENERGY SHOT 2FL OZ1 BOTTLEORANGE FLAVOR0 SUGAR    US $1.50

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At only a buck, the Xtra Extra Strength Energy shot, is the most energy for your dollar.

Turbo snort is a natural energy spray that you snort up your nasal passage.  Using it like Vicks or a nasal inhaler, it delivers energy that is instantly absorbed through your olfactory region, and easy on the sinuses.

Each bottle has 223 sprays and lasts for weeks.  You can use it up to 10 -15 times a day, and get a "hit" any time you need.  No after effects.  No crash.

Ingredients include: Green Tea, Kola Nut, Guarana, Spearmint,Creatine, Glutamine, Taurine andVitamin C (as Citric Acid).   So the energy is all natural.

The seller claims that they can't keep the product in stock because it is so popular, but we are still skeptical.  It is up to you to decide.  However, if you are tired of nasty tasting drinks and shots, and just want something quick and painless.

Energy is short lasting, thus the recommended continuous use over the day.  Cheap.  The product will cost you around $10, but you get over 200 sprays.

5 Hour Turbo Snort Energy Nasal Spray Creatine Taurine Better Than Energy Shots    US $9.99

5 Hour Turbo Snort Caffeine Energy Nasal Spray Instant Mental Alertness    US $9.99

According to our tests the Ephrine plus contains no ephedrine product in it.  In fact, it contains nothing out of the ordinary.  Expect the usual B vitamins and caffeine for your local pick me up.

Comes in berry flavor.  Doesn't disappoint.  Or it does.  Depends on who you are.

I found the packaging to be okay, but not to my liking.  The lid opened as normal, and the liquid was drinkable like other energy shots.  Berry flavor. The taste was neither bad nor good.  It provided the artificial energy as one would expect to get through the day.

Ephrine Plus Berry Flavor Energy Shots 2 oz Lot of 12    US $10.95

Not only do I feel revitalized, now I know that I can get sustainable, real energy the way nature intended.  And I just found out that nature intended that I get it through green tea catechins.  The taste of V8 is unique indeed to the typical energy shot expert.  It is a different experience.  If you have v8 products before you will be use to it, but otherwise it may be a new experience for your taste buds.  It is decent, but others have made it obvious that it is a love it or hate it scenario.  Thank goodness they added an extra half ounce to help enhance the flavor so you have to drink 2.5 ounces versus the usual 2 ounces.  It's still a shot folks.

One big difference is this product does have calories: 50 of them.  Most shots have 0 - 10, so if you are counting calories this may not be for you.  It also has 10 grams of sugar and some sodium.  But to make up for it you get a serving of fruits and veggies and lots of vitamins including a very small dose of B6 and 12, A, C, E, thiamin, riboflavin,potassium, and niacin.

Includes caffeine equal to a cup of coffee, but its natural so it is slower to synthesize than other energy shots.  It brings on a more natural buzz(if you could call it that), and doesn't have crash effects.

An effective energy solution for the health conscious. 100% juice.

The Sqwincher Energy Steady Shot does for energy shot does what 5 hour energy does for you. Gives you the performance you need when you need it. Is it true? We investigate to find out the truth.

This energy shot claims 0 calories and 0 sugars and comes in 3 flavors including orange, berry, and fruit punch.  We should add they are "bold" flavors, whatever that means.

They also claim.  No sugar.  No crashes.  No excuses.  So if you take it and you fail you can not blame it on anyone else.

The energy is steady thus the claim.  Tastes and performs like an energy shot at a reasonable price.

Energy Sqwincher Steady Shot 2 OZ Berry 12 Lot    US $44.87

Energy Sqwincher Steady Shot 2 OZ Orange 12 Lot    US $44.87

Energy Sqwincher Steady Shot 2 OZ Fruit Punch 12 Lot    US $44.87

SQWINCHER STEADY SHOT ENERGY DRINK ORANGE 2OZ LOT OF 12 BOTTLES NEW JUST IN    US $27.99

SQWINCHER STEADY SHOT ENERGY DRINK DRINKS 2OZ LOT OF 12 BOTTLES NEW FRUIT PUNCH    US $27.99

SQWINCHER STEADY SHOT ENERGY DRINK DRINKS 2OZ LOT OF 12 BOTTLES NEW BERRY    US $27.99

Coming in Cherry Berry Flavor, that is what it tastes like.

The 74 ml bottle has similar ingredients to other energy shots, but it is licensed and sold for Playboy.  Any change in libido?  Sure, but not really.  Provides the same as any other energy shot.

We interviewed Mary Mary, who donned a blazen orange vest and handed us a 5 hour energy shot and an Emergen-C immunity mix drink.  She said, "It is a free kick back for consumers who are staying up late.  It is a display of what these products can do for those that need to stay up late and push their bodies to the limit."

5 Hour Energy Drink 24 Bottles Pomegranate Fresh all Sealed Expires 2013    US $50.60

5 HOUR ENERGY 144 BOTTLES MIX THE FLAVORS YOU WANT    US $231.99

Living Essentials 5 hour Energy Berry 12 ea    US $23.99

Living Essentials 5 hour Energy Orange 12 ea    US $23.99

Living Essentials 5 Hour Energy Extra Strength Berry 12    US $27.99

Living Essentials 5 hour Energy Pomegranate 12 ea    US $23.99

Living Essentials 5 hour Energy Grape 12 ea    US $23.99

5 HOUR ENERGY DRINK 100 BOTTLES    US $122.50

24 PACK OF 5 HOUR ENERGY BERRY FLAVOR EXP 10 13 FREE SHIPPING IN US    US $59.99

5 Hour Turbo Energy Nasal Spray Creatine Taurine Caffeine Kola Green Tea    US $9.99

5 HOUR ENERGY DRINK NO CRASH 12 PACK FAST SHIPPING    US $21.59

New Pomegranate 72 Bottles 5 Hour Energy Drink    US $139.74

5 Hours energy drink    US $24.49

5 Hour Energy ORANGE Flavor 24 Shots with Free Expedited Shipping    US $47.39

5 Hour Turbo Snort Energy Nasal Spray Creatine Taurine Better Than Energy Shots    US $9.99

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Or is it to get the consumer hooked?  Whatever the intentions we know a good thing when we see it.

If you missed it, you can get 5 hour energy or Emergen-C mix drink at pretty much any retailer.

The first decision I had to make was to go with Orange Mango or with Grape.  Tough choice, and since I run the foremost website on the internet dealing in energy shots, I took the hit and got both flavors.  $72.  It is for the children, I justified.  The children.

As for flavor, both are tolerable, neither one being either extra good or extra bad.  Thankfully, my taste buds survived this taste test.  Either that or they are totally shot from the other nasty ones I have put my buds up against.  I failed to taste the mango in the orange mango flavor however.  Grape tasted like grape.

Luckily for all of us that are addicted to these things, they have 0 calories and therefore can be sucked down at will if you are on a diet.  That is not recommended, and I have yet to find an energy shot that I want to sip on like it's a fountain drink.

Does Street King energy shot pack a punch?  Boy does it . . . sort of.  With its all natural ingredients, and caffeine and B vitamins being the typical precursors to an energy assault, it is a decent energy shot, but nothing special.  I know it has come to the fact that I am a broken record, but this is an industry that is hard to make anything better without adding in substances that are not legal and/or bad for you.

You'll feel the onset pretty quick since you are getting a load of caffeine in liquid form.  Absorbed straight to the stomach and the blood stream, I recommend this on an empty stomach for full effects.  The SK 464 milligram "Rebel Energy Blend" which is basically a bunch of caffeine and filler is what you will feel.  There is definitely a bunch of caffeine in this sucker.

Street King 6 hour Energy Grape 12 pack Shots    US $12.99

So does it work.  Yes.  Is it AMAZING. No.  Is it worth $3.  Possibly.

Seeing as it does work, is on par in the price department as other energy shots ($3), and for every purchase a child gets a meal from United Nations World Food Programme.  So, caffeine junkies do your part this Christmas and help someone in need and still get what you need.

Red Rain energy shots come in Berry flavor, and taste almost identical to 5 Hour Energy, the standard of the industry, except they have a slightly more "berry bitter" after taste.  Most people don't mind.

The formula is "extra strength" with similar ingredients to others.  Our team found it to be comparable to the energy leaders, but what intrigued us the most was the cheap price, weighing in at less than a George Washington per sip.  The only downside is you have to buy them in bulk, but you can get 12 of these shots for the same price of getting only 3 to 5 of the other guys at retail price, and three more versus XTRA! by stacker 2.

One of the best deals and quality to boot, Red Rain has got on our radar for the best energy shots for 2011 and possibly 2012.

Red Rain Energy Shot Watermelon Flavor 2 Ounce Bottles Pack of 12    US $16.92

Red Rain Energy Shot Berry Flavor 2 Ounce Bottles Pack of 12    US $16.92

Red Rain Energy Drink Berry Pomegranate 16 Ounce Cans Pack of 12    US $17.92

Red Rain Energy Drink Cherry Limeade 16 Ounce Cans Pack of 12    US $17.92

Red Rain Energy Shot Berry Flavor 2 Ounce Bottles Pack of 24    US $25.06

RED RAIN energy can 250ml Israel NEW VERSION    US $4.95

RED RAIN Ice Coffee empty energy can 250ml Israel    US $4.95

Red Rain Energy Shot Extra Strength Berry Flavor 2 Ounce Bottles Pack of 12    US $16.92

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