That’s why today we have Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, and GGR senior director of content, sharing her go-to move for targeting those oblique muscles and wreaking havoc on them—in a good way, of course! 

Check out our guide on how to do side crunches right here!

How To Do the Side Crunch

They call this move the side crunch because, as you may have guessed, it involves basically the same movement pattern as the standard crunch exercise. However, instead of hitting the front of your abs, you’re working one side of your body at a time and targeting your often-neglected obliques.

How to do it:

1. Lie down on your exercise mat on your right side with your legs fully extended, knees slightly bent, and your left foot stacked on top of your right foot.
2. Place your right hand on the floor in front of you and your left hand behind your head.
3. Lift your head and upper body toward the ceiling using your left oblique muscle.
4. Squeeze the contraction, then release and return to the starting position.
5. Repeat for reps, then turn onto your left side and repeat the set.

Modifications

• Dial it back: Side crunches are fairly beginner-friendly as is, but some newbies may find lying on their sides uncomfortable. For true beginners, scale down to regular crunches or assisted sit-ups to build core strength before progressing to the side crunch.
• Make it harder: Do you feel your standard side crunches on the stable floor aren’t challenging enough? Slide a stability ball between you and the floor and do your side crunches that way. The instability will force your core muscles to work harder to hold a steady position. You can also graduate to cable crunches with an oblique twist or the wood chop exercise (see below) using a cable, dumbbell, or resistance band.

RELATED: Beginner Core Workout

How To Do Side Crunches At Home

One of the biggest perks of side crunches and other bodyweight exercises is that they require virtually no equipment to perform them. All you need is a little bit of floor space and one of the best exercise mats, and you’re good to go! 

So, side crunches need no modification or equipment to fit right into your home workout.

Side Crunch Variations

Side Plank Crunch

The side plank is already an effective isometric oblique exercise, but the side plank crunch takes it to the next level by adding a crunching movement.

Stability Ball Side Crunch

A study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research¹ found that core exercises performed on a Swiss ball produced greater muscle activation than those performed on a mat. That’s because adding an element of instability forces your core to work harder to maintain proper form, making it a quick and easy way to up the ante.

RELATED: Our Ultimate 10-Minute Ab Workout

Standing Side Crunch

The standing side crunch seems silly at a glance, but after a few repetitions, you’ll see what makes them so effective.

Since you’re doing these in a standing position, you can also incorporate one of the best resistance bands or the cable machine to increase the exercise’s total effect.

Side Crunch Alternatives

The side crunch is a killer move for targeting the external obliques, but it’s far from the only core exercise to include in your ab workout. Work in a few of our side crunch alternatives to really get those abdominal muscles a good burn!

Reverse Crunch

Why do it: “Reverse crunches, like side crunches, target an often-neglected region of the abs: the lower rectus abdominis,” says Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1. “They’re also gentle on your neck, making them a great alternative to both the side crunch and regular crunch exercises.”

How to do it: 

1. Lie on your back with your arms at your sides and your legs fully extended.
2. Press your palms into the floor and lift your legs toward the ceiling.
3. Bring your knees into your chest.
4. Squeeze the contraction in your abs.
5. Release, then slowly return to the starting position.
6. Repeat for reps.

RELATED: Lower-Ab Workouts

Bicycle Crunch

Why do it: A study performed by the American Council on Exercise² determined that bicycle crunches were the most effective ab exercise for targeting the rectus abdominis and ranked second best for hitting the obliques. So, they’ll make an excellent addition to just about any ab workout.

How to do it: 

1. Lie face up on the floor with your hands clasped behind your head.
2. Press your lower back into the floor, tighten your core, lift your legs into the air, and bend your knees to form 90-degree angles.
3. Lift your head and shoulder blades off the floor.
4. Bring your left elbow and right knee toward each other, straightening your left leg as you move.
5. Return to the starting position, then bring your right elbow and left knee together while extending your right leg.
6. Alternate sides for each rep until your set is complete.

Russian Twist

Why do it: Whereas crunches, oblique crunches, and other crunch variations use hip flexion to target the core muscles, Russian twists use rotational movement to totally torch your obliques. The unique positioning also allows you to hold a dumbbell, kettlebell, or medicine ball for some added resistance, helping this movement pack even more punch.

How to do it: 

1. Sit on the floor with your feet planted and your knees slightly bent.
2. Brace your core, lean back, and lift your feet a few inches off the floor.
3. Twist your torso to one side, tapping the floor next to you with your hands or your choice of free weight.
4. Twist back to center, then twist to the opposite side and touch the floor again.
5. Continue alternating sides on each rep until your set is complete.

RELATED: 6 Rotation and 6 Anti-Rotation Exercises

Wood Chop

Why do it: Speaking of rotational movements, the wood chop exercise uses precisely that to target your obliques among other upper-body muscle groups. You’ll essentially get a full-body workout from this functional movement.

How to do it: 

1. Hold a dumbbell or kettlebell with both hands in front of your body and your arms fully extended.
2. Bring the dumbbell up, across your chest, and over your shoulder as though lifting an ax.
3. Swing the dumbbell with control down across your body toward your hip.
4. Repeat for reps, then switch sides and repeat the set.

Benefits of the Side Crunch

The side crunch is great at hitting those often-overlooked obliques, which may be beneficial in a variety of ways. Here are our favorite benefits associated with doing side crunches.

Boosts Functional Strength

People exercise for various reasons: weight loss, building a lean physique, supporting general health and wellness—you get the picture. Functional strength can benefit anyone because it allows you to do everyday movements with less effort.

RELATED: What Is Functional Fitness?

“Your oblique muscles support the lumbar spine, enable rotational and side-to-side movements, and contribute to greater overall core strength and stability,” says Kate. “Since many popular ab exercises offer minimal activation to the obliques, exercises like the side crunch become crucial for ensuring you don’t leave them out.”

According to Sports Health³, “side position exercises are better for oblique…recruitment.” So, don’t stick to sit-ups and crunches exclusively; work side crunches and other oblique exercises into the mix, too!

May Help Reduce Low Back Pain

The World Health Organization⁴ estimated that 619 million people globally were affected by low back pain in 2020, making it the single leading cause of global disability.

According to a study in Clinical Biomechanics⁵, the oblique muscles are active during prolonged periods of sitting and standing. The study determined that patients suffering from low back pain had “relatively small oblique abdominal muscle strength,” giving credence to the theory that strengthening the oblique muscles may help reduce lower back pain.

That’s not all; a cross-sectional study published in the Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions⁶ observed “significant correlations” between abdominal muscle activity and trunk movement, meaning greater core strength and stability should lead to less low back pain.

Correct Muscle Imbalances

Generally speaking, you always, always, always want to do the same number of reps on each side when performing unilateral exercises. However, since the side crunch focuses on a single side, you can feasibly use the exercise to correct strength and muscle imbalances.

Why would you have oblique muscle imbalances in the first place? Well, think about it—do you favor one side over another when throwing a ball or swinging a bat? How about when you reach over your shoulder to grab your phone off the charger to silence that spam call?

In everyday life, you may favor one side, and that’s normal. The same holds true in athletics, as according to the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine⁷, sprinters and hurdlers exhibited asymmetry in muscle morphology and trunk rotational strength.

“An exercise like the side crunch may correct those imbalances through judicious programming and monitoring,” says Kate. “Most people may never need to worry about these discrepancies, but elite athletes may want to consider the implications here and consult a qualified coach or personal trainer to learn more.”

Common Side Crunch Mistakes

You won’t enjoy any of the benefits above if you’re performing the side crunch without proper form. Know what to do and what to avoid by keeping these common mistakes in mind.

Straining Your Neck

Proper form for the side crunch involves placing a hand behind your head and supporting your head and neck, not yanking on it. When the going gets tough, it’s common to use your arms to sort of “pull yourself up” off the floor.

“Pulling your neck out of alignment is a recipe for neck pain and could contribute to an injury,” says Kate. “If you find yourself pulling hard on your head to eke out those last reps, consider cutting the rep scheme down to a number you’re able to complete without compromising your form.”

Using Too Much Momentum

When done correctly, the side crunch involves contracting your obliques and using hip flexion to lift your body off the floor. To experience the full effect, you’ll want to engage your core muscles and squeeze the contraction on every rep.

That means using your abs to lift yourself off the floor and to control the descent back down. Flopping yourself on and off the floor like a fish out of water looks funny and diminishes the impact of the exercise.

Avoid losing out on those sweet, sweet gains by lifting and lowering yourself slowly and with control.

Twisting Your Torso

“When you’re doing side crunches, you want to move up and down in basically a straight line,” says Kate. “You use your abs and hips to come up, crunch, and lower straight back down.”

So, if you’re channeling your inner Chubby Checker and doing the twist, you’re probably putting more undue stress on your lumbar spine instead of alleviating potential low back pain.

Keep your form strict and straight, avoiding rotational movement at all costs.

Muscles Worked by the Side Crunch

The side crunch exercise primarily works your oblique muscles, but those aren’t the only muscles getting worked by this movement. Here’s a quick rundown:

• External obliques: These muscles run bilaterally along the outer perimeter of your abdominal muscles. They support your spine and enable both rotational and lateral movements. That’s what makes them most integral for this specific exercise.
• Internal obliques: The smaller, less superficial counterpart to the external obliques, the internal obliques also contribute to trunk rotation and spinal support.
• Rectus abdominis: You’ll get more bang for your buck doing standard crunches or sit ups, but the rectus abdominis—aka the six-pack muscles—will get some activation during the side crunch.
• Glutes: Believe it or not, your derriere is helping during the side crunch, too. This crucial lower-body muscle supports your lower back, stabilizes your core, and enables various hip movements.

How To Do Side Crunches: Final Thoughts

No comprehensive ab workout is complete without giving some time and attention to the unsung heroes of the abdominal muscles: the obliques. 

There are many exercises designed to target and strengthen this crucial muscle group, but the side crunch is among the best. The side crunch:

• Provides a ton of muscle activation throughout your obliques
• Contributes to improved core strength and stability
• May reduce low back pain
• May correct abdominal muscle imbalances
• Is beginner-friendly and requires no equipment

So, don’t let your obliques get weak; work the side crunch into your next ab workout and let the gains reign. Until next time, fit fam!

How To Do Side Crunches: FAQs

References

1. Srivastav P, Nayak N, Nair S, Sherpa LB, Dsouza D. Swiss Ball Versus Mat Exercises For Core Activation of Transverse Abdominis in Recreational Athletes. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016;10(12):YC01-YC03. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2016/23102.8972
2. Anders, M. American Council on Exercise (ACE)-sponsored Study Reveals Best and Worst Abdominal Exercises. American Council on Exercise. Accessed August 9, 2024.
3. Escamilla RF, Lewis C, Pecson A, Imamura R, Andrews JR. Muscle Activation Among Supine, Prone, and Side Position Exercises With and Without a Swiss Ball. Sports Health. 2016;8(4):372-379. doi:10.1177/1941738116653931
4. GBD 2021 Low Back Pain Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of low back pain, 1990-2020, its attributable risk factors, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023: 5: e316-29.
5. Snijders CJ, Bakker MP, Vleeming A, Stoeckart R, Stam HJ. Oblique abdominal muscle activity in standing and in sitting on hard and soft seats. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 1995;10(2):73-78. doi:10.1016/0268-0033(95)92042-k
6. Polat M, Demirsoy N, Tokgöz N. Association between abdominal muscle activity and lumbar muscle morphology, and their role in the functional assessment of patients with low back pain: A cross-sectional study. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2022;22(3):375-384.
7. Adams L, Pace N, Heo A, Hunter I, Johnson AW, Mitchell UH. Internal and External Oblique Muscle Asymmetry in Sprint Hurdlers and Sprinters: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Sports Sci Med. 2022;21(1):120-126. Published 2022 Feb 15. doi:10.52082/jssm.2022.120
8. Brobakken MF, Krogsaeter I, Helgerud J, Wang E, Hoff J. Abdominal aerobic endurance exercise reveals spot reduction exists: A randomized controlled trial. Physiol Rep. 2023;11(22):e15853. doi:10.14814/phy2.15853

In the United States, obesity rates are even higher, as 41.9% of adults were obese according to data from 2017 to 2020², and children and adolescents are also experiencing an increase in excess body weight. This isn’t meant to shame or judge anyone with bodyweight challenges, but as obesity is associated with a number of serious health risks, it’s worth taking a closer look. 

In this article, I’ll share the most recent obesity statistics, and share my best tips for sustainably maintaining a healthy weight, based on 12 years of experience as a personal trainer and certified nutrition coach. 

Please note, our intention is not to reduce people to their bodyweight, and we understand that obesity is defined by BMI, which has been shown to be an outdated health metric⁷. When we use the term obese, we’re referring to the clinical term used by medical practitioners.

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. 

Key Takeaways

• In 2022, 1 in 8 people worldwide had obesity¹. 
• According to the NIDDK³, nearly 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. have obesity, with over 2 in 5 being severely obese. 
• 41.9% of adults in the U.S. have obesity². 
• Obesity in children and adolescents (ages 2-19) was reported at 19.7%⁴ from the years 2017-2020. 
• For adults, a BMI of 30+ is considered obese; in children and teens, obesity is a BMI in the 95th percentile or greater. 

Obesity in America

While obesity rates continue to rise worldwide, this article is specifically focused on obesity in America, where rates are trending upward year after year. The problem has become so serious that the WHO describes this as an obesity epidemic, as it’s a serious health risk to the American population. 

RELATED: Fitness Statistics for 2024

Overweight and obese status is determined by BMI, calculated using height and weight. Overweight is classified as having a BMI over 25, and obese is classified as having a BMI over 30. A healthy weight is considered as having a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. 

BMI isn’t a perfect measure, as it doesn’t account for body composition. This means that having a higher-than-average amount of muscle mass will add scale weight and increase your BMI.

Whether or not your BMI is a health concern is a discussion you should have with your healthcare provider, but for the majority of people, having obesity and a high BMI is not something to take lightly. 

RELATED: Cardio vs. Weights for Weight Loss

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), being overweight or obese is associated with a long list of chronic diseases and health concerns⁵. I won’t list them all here, but some of the most serious obesity-related health outcomes include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Increased risk of developing certain types of cancer
• Fatty liver disease
• Mental health problems

Obesity in American Adults

Now that I’ve established what obesity is, let’s take a closer look at the current statistics about overweight and obesity in adults over the age of 20. 

According to an NIDDK study³ that examined data from 2017 to 2018, 30.7% of adults have a BMI greater than 25 and are classified as overweight. This includes 34.1% of adult men and 27.5% of adult women.

That same study found that 42.4% of adults have crossed the BMI threshold of 30 and now have obesity, including 43% of adult men and 41.9% of adult women. 9.2% of adults have severe obesity, which means they have a BMI over 40. 

If you’re interested in checking your own BMI, you can use this BMI calculator from the NIH.

For reference, here’s the classification chart:

• BMI of 18.5 to 24.9: Normal weight
• BMI of 25 to 29.9: Overweight
• BMI over 30: Obese 
• BMI over 40: Severely obese

Obesity in American Children

Unfortunately, adults aren’t the only group impacted by this epidemic, as childhood obesity rates are also increasing. The same study³ that measured obesity rates in adults over the age of 20 also looked at childhood and adolescent obesity and found that rates are increasing in nearly all age groups. 

According to data from 2017 to 2018, the study found that in children ages two to five, 13.4% had obesity. In children ages six to 11, 20.3% had obesity, and in children ages 12 to 19, 21.2% had obesity. 

When you look at the combined data from childhood to adulthood, you can see that excess weight gain tends to start at an early age and increase with age.

If you’re a parent who’s curious about your child’s BMI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put together a helpful calculator. Rather than using set BMI guidelines to determine body weight status, the CDC uses percentiles⁶, which you can see below. 

• Underweight: Less than the 5th percentile
• Healthy weight: 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
• Overweight: 85th to less than the 95th percentile
• Obese: 95th percentile or greater
• Severely obese: 120% of the 95th percentile

Global Obesity 

While U.S. adults may be among the world leaders in rates of obesity, we’re not the only country experiencing a rise in adult obesity. 

The WHO¹ found that in 2022, 890 million adults around the world were obese. If this seems like a large number, it is, and worldwide obesity has doubled since 1990 in adults and quadrupled for adolescents. 

It’s hard to pinpoint any specific risk factors for developing obesity. There are multiple factors at play, including the rise of processed foods, jobs that keep us sedentary throughout the day, income inequalities that make healthy food inaccessible, and many more. Regardless of the cause, this is a public health concern that shouldn’t be ignored. 

Weight Loss Tips

The climbing rates of obesity may seem alarming, and our modern lifestyles certainly don’t make maintaining a healthy weight easy or convenient. If anything, the easy access to all sorts of high-calorie, processed foods, combined with sedentary lifestyles and an emphasis on convenience, makes losing weight very difficult. 

RELATED: Best Weight Loss App

Thankfully, I’m not going to leave you hanging. Losing weight (and keeping it off) isn’t easy; however, with the right habits, you can certainly take action to improve your health and strive to maintain a healthy body weight, reducing the risk of developing various health problems as you age. 

There are a few methods I’ve recommended to many clients over the years that can help you get started without requiring any drastic actions, so I’m going to share my best weight loss tips below. 

Of course, you should consult a medical professional before making changes to your fitness and nutrition routine, as they may recommend specific medical interventions. 

Weight loss only occurs in a calorie deficit, which is when you’re eating fewer calories than you burn each day. Don’t fall for flashy or weird diets or dramatic claims from “experts” selling you something; weight loss comes down to energy balance. 

There are many ways to go about this, and the best weight loss programs can help you dial in your routine, but here are some quick tips you can start using as soon as today. 

• Increase your physical activity. While your body is constantly burning energy, even at rest, regular movement is a fantastic way to boost your health and burn more calories. You can lift weights, go for a run, ride a bike, or even go for a walk on your lunch break. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; just find ways to include more movement each day.
• Consume high-protein foods with each meal. Of the three macronutrients—protein, carbohydrates, and fats—protein is the most filling and can help manage your appetite. Protein also has a high thermic effect of food (TEF), which means you’ll burn extra calories simply from the work required to digest and absorb it. 
• Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Fruits and veggies are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and many are also rich in fiber, another key nutrient that can help improve your digestive health and keep you full between meals. 
• Consider tracking your macronutrients. If healthy eating isn’t helping you lose weight, you may want to track your macros for a while. This is like budgeting, as it shows you your true food intake, and you can adjust your diet if you’re overeating or undereating any of the macros or reduce your overall food intake if needed. 
• Hire an expert for professional help. Finally, for professional help and guidance, it’s never a bad idea to consult with a registered dietitian, a certified nutrition coach, or even work with an online personal trainer to help boost your fitness routine. 

RELATED: Macros for Weight Loss

Obesity Statistics: Final Thoughts

The global rise in obesity is a serious health concern that we should all be aware of. The intention of this article isn’t to judge or shame anyone with obesity, but simply to bring awareness, as an unhealthy body weight is associated with many serious health concerns, like an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. 

If you’re focused on your own weight loss journey, the tips I’ve shared above may help you get started. Focus on daily movement, regularly consuming healthy foods, and of course, speak to your doctor if you have any concerns about your body weight and any health risks. 

Obesity Statistics: FAQs

References

1. World Health Organization: WHO. (2024, March 1). Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
2. FastStats. (n.d.). Overweight Prevalence. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm
3. Overweight & Obesity Statistics. (2024, June 27). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity
4. Stierman, B., M. D. ,. M. P. H., Afful, J., M. S., Carroll, M. D., M. S. P. H., Chen, T.-C., Ph. D., Davy, O., M. P. H., Fink, S., M. A., Fryar, C. D., M. S. P. H., Gu, Q., Ph. D., Hales, C. M., M. D. ,. M. P. H., Hughes, J. P., M. P. H., Ostchega, Y., Ph. D. ,. R. N., Storandt, R. J., M. T. (A. S. C. P. ), M. S. P. H., & Akinbami, L. J., M. D. (2021). National Health Statistics reports. National Health Statistics Reports, Number 158. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr158-508.pdf
5. Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity. (2024, June 24). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/adult-overweight-obesity/health-risks
6. Child and Teen BMI categories. (2024, June 28). BMI. https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/child-teen-calculator/bmi-categories.html
7. American Medical Association. (2023, June 14). AMA adopts new policy clarifying role of BMI as a measure in medicine. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-adopts-new-policy-clarifying-role-bmi-measure-medicine 
8. Wang, L., Southerland, J., Wang, K., Bailey, B. A., Alamian, A., Stevens, M. A., & Wang, Y. (2017). Ethnic Differences in Risk Factors for Obesity among Adults in California, the United States. Journal of obesity, 2017, 2427483. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2427483
9. Obesity in the U.S. – Food Research & Action Center. (2019, October 3). Food Research & Action Center. https://frac.org/obesity-health/obesity-u-s-2#:~:text=Adult%20Obesity%20in%20the%20U.S.,Black%20men%20(36.9%20percent). 

I’m no stranger to eating on a budget. As an undergrad and grad student in nutrition, I lived on a slim budget. But I learned the value of meal planning and how to spot budget-friendly foods.

That said, eating well doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, eating healthy foods on a budget is actually pretty easy, it just takes a little bit of planning and commitment. In this article, I’ll share 11 tips with you on how to eat healthy on a budget.

RELATED: Homemade Protein Powder

What Is Healthy Eating?

A healthy diet consists of consistent intake of the appropriate macro and micronutrients¹, according to your body’s energy needs. Nutritious meals that contain high protein, low fat foods are a good place to start. The USDA’s MyPlate² resource can help you create a balanced diet on a budget. There are also a number of energy intake calculators you can use to determine your energy needs, which will help you refine your shopping list.

Healthy eating on a budget looks like healthy eating with an unlimited budget, just maybe without the caviar and free range eggs. In any case, healthy eating can be doable. Below are 11 easy to follow tips to help you stay healthy on a budget.

RELATED: How Much Carbs, Protein, and Fat per Day Do You Need?

11 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

1. Plan Your Meals

The best way to start eating healthy on a budget is to plan ahead. Think of some of your go-to meals or recipes, maybe a week or two of meals, and go from there. Once you have a general idea of what meals you think you’ll eat, start to craft your grocery list. When making your grocery list, start with the essentials, then move on to bigger things. Do you like pasta? Lasagna and spaghetti noodles are the perfect base for wholesome meals. Consider upgrading to whole wheat pasta; the difference in price is small, but the protein and fiber content are almost double that of regular noodles.

Be sure your list is sensible but includes foods you like, and maybe stick to one or two weeks of meals. You’ll need to stick to your list to see how the savings add up. After a while you should be able to compare lists or add substitutes for new meals.

I still do a good bit of meal planning, which lets me splurge on meal delivery services every now and then.

2. Pick Versatile Foods

If you’re creative, you can reuse certain foods for multiple meals, and really make your dollar stretch. For instance, beans and rice go together for a decent (bland) meal, but beans can spruce up your eggs, add protein to a salad, and so on. Potatoes are cheap and make a great side dish, but they also add a lot of density to a breakfast casserole. Point being, when making your list, try to think of the essentials, then add foods that you know are versatile. This beats trying to stock up on different ingredients for each meal every day.

3. Inventory

This step should be common sense, but it evades my absent mind quite a bit. Once you’ve finished your list, do an inventory of what you have on hand. Then decide if you need anything else, and pick a couple meals you can rotate through the week. Think of how you can use what you currently have, or what you won’t use much of.

Consider your foods’ expiration dates. Don’t buy a lot of foods with a short shelf life, like milk or yogurt. Do buy foods that last a while or can be stored in the pantry. Canned anything generally lasts a long time and is usually cheap. Eggs surprisingly last quite a while if handled properly.

Point being, know what you have and compare that to your grocery list.

4. Budget

If you can, create a weekly food budget. Allocate funds to this specifically, stick to it, and avoid impulse buys. This is great advice, but not always easy when bills pile up and life gets in the way.

Budgets are really specific not only to each person, but to each area. Some people are fortunate to have multiple grocery stores within a mile radius, while others have to make a special trip just to get to a half-decent produce section.

The best way to budget is to track your expenses and compare them to your list. Let’s say you have $75 for two weeks of groceries (been there). Once it’s time to go shopping again, compare your receipts from your last trip to your next grocery list. Try to find coupons, or opt for store brands.

RELATED: Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service

5. Cook and Prep at Home

This probably goes without saying, but prioritize cooking at home in lieu of fast food or other take out. Eating out is often a large expense, especially with delivery fees and up charges. It’s just not worth it. But I get it, sometimes it hits the spot.

When you cook and prep at home, you have full control over what you eat and when. You can make big dishes like casseroles, stir-fry, and stews. Plus, you can modify these in so many ways so you won’t get tired of them too quickly. Slow cookers are also a great way to make hearty, long-lasting meals.

Cooking at home also means you can make multiple dishes with limited ingredients. Ingredient sharing across dishes is yet another way to make healthy meals, reduce food waste, and maintain a budget-friendly, balanced diet.

RELATED: Protein Smoothie Recipes

Finally, try meal prepping. Cook for the week, not just the day ahead. This is a great way to understand portion sizes and how they relate back to costs. By investing a little time at the beginning of the week, you can save time later on. In grad school I had to teach portion sizes and how they related to macronutrient intake. You’d be surprised how much we over serve ourselves! Save yourself some grief and get familiar with proper portion sizes. Just make sure you don’t over-prep—you don’t want anything to go to waste because you got too excited!

6. Go Meatless

Eating less meat is a good way to save money and increase your increase of plant-based proteins, as well as fresh produce and veggies. Legumes like lentils and chickpeas are great high-protein foods. Add brown rice and black beans and you have a complete protein that you can serve alone or as part of loads of healthy meals, like in salads or pastas.

If you prefer to keep meat in your diet, opt for cheaper cuts of meat like chicken breast or pork shoulder or loin. Also—and this is what my wife and I always do—buy meat when it’s on sale and freeze whatever you don’t need right away. Remember what you bought, though, because chicken with freezer burn is no good.

RELATED: Best Vegan Protein Powder

7. Shop Smart

I think shopping smart is the best tip for healthy eating on a budget. If you know your way around a grocery store, healthy eating on a budget will become second nature. Try to stick to a single store that you know has decent prices and even membership discounts.

One thing I always do is buy store brands over name brands. Store brands have the same nutrient profiles as name brands, and are usually much cheaper. They often sometimes come from the same distributor, so there is literally no difference.

8. Opt for Canned and Frozen Foods

When grocery shopping, it’s never a bad idea to get familiar with the produce section. Whole foods and fresh produce are nutrient dense, but they can sometimes be a luxury. If you don’t need produce as your main ingredients, opt for frozen fruit and veggies. Frozen produce has the same nutrient content as fresh produce, but it lasts way longer. Plus, frozen produce, I’ve found, is much more versatile. And, most importantly, it’s cheaper than fresh produce. The downside is you may not have the variety of frozen veggies that you do fresh. 

Don’t be afraid of canned foods. Non-perishable items like beans and canned veggies have a long shelf life and they’re usually cheaper than their fresh counterparts. In fact, canned chicken, for example, can be cheap compared to whole, fresh chicken. It also lasts longer and you’re not obligated to eat an entire chicken.

RELATED: High Protein Meals

9. Whole Grains Are Good

Whole grains are a game changer. Whole grain cereals and breads aren’t a budget buster, and they’re way more nutrient dense than regular processed foods. In fact, plain store brand white bread is roughly the same cost as store brand whole grain bread, but the latter usually tastes better (IMO) and has more fiber, which is good for your gut.

10. Read Food Labels

Food labels contain all the info you need to help you understand portion sizes and nutrient density. Food labels are a good way to level up your shopping know-how and keep your wallet happy. I wouldn’t say you should nerd out on cost per serving, but knowing a serving size will help you buy the right amount and make accurate portions.

11. Track Your Macros

This isn’t a hard and fast rule for eating well on a budget, but it IS a good way to understand your eating habits, as well as the nutrient content of your food. I encourage my personal training clients to track their meals for a week or two. This way they get a good sense of what they actually eat in a day, and where their nutrients are coming from. You can also relate this back to the cost of each food.

Tracking your diet and your fitness can help you develop and stick to your wellness goals, not to mention your budget. If you’re looking for something to keep you on track, try one of these free workout apps. We’ve also compiled a review of the best health apps for even more coverage.

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget: Final Thoughts 

Maintaining your health on a budget can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. There are a ton of sites that promise to help you unlock the secrets to healthy eating on a budget, but the tips we presented here should be all you need to stay healthy and save your money for a night out.

The most important things to remember are to plan your meals and your budget—weekly is easy to stick to. There are a few more things to consider:

• Create a sensible budget that covers the essentials but affords some healthy snacks. 
• Prep your meals ahead of time. This saves time and money and affords you leftovers.
• Cook your meals at home. Reduce waste and reliance on fast food or take out.
• Eat less meat. Meat is often the most expensive food.
• Shop smart. Know how to navigate the grocery store, read food labels, and find deals.

These are strategies that helped me eat well and save my money. I learned my way around the kitchen, and became a master of farmer’s markets and grocery stores.

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget: FAQs

References

1. Cena H, Calder PC. Defining a Healthy Diet: Evidence for The Role of Contemporary Dietary Patterns in Health and Disease. Nutrients. 2020 Jan 27;12(2):334. doi: 10.3390/nu12020334. PMID: 32012681; PMCID: PMC7071223.
2. MyPlate Plan. MyPlate. (n.d.). https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan 
3. Vigar V, Myers S, Oliver C, Arellano J, Robinson S, Leifert C. A Systematic Review of Organic Versus Conventional Food Consumption: Is There a Measurable Benefit on Human Health? Nutrients. 2019 Dec 18;12(1):7. doi: 10.3390/nu12010007. PMID: 31861431; PMCID: PMC7019963.

Mushroom coffees have exploded in popularity as people look for ways to avoid caffeine jitters, manage stress, improve focus, and boost gut health without completely giving up their morning cup of coffee or tea.

Everyday Dose and MUD\WTR are two popular brands of mushroom coffee that are similar in many ways, but have some important differences. We’ll compare and contrast Everyday Dose vs MUD WTR in this article, combining real-life testing results from our fitness experts with insights from myself, a registered dietitian, on their ingredients and effectiveness to help you choose the best product for your needs.

Everyday Dose

Everyday Dose Mushroom Coffee Starter Kit

GGR Score: 3.8

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Product Highlights

• Combination of coffee, mushrooms, collagen protein, and nootropics
• Listed benefits: Improve energy, mood, focus, memory, sleep, immunity, and gut health while reducing stress
• Dairy-, soy-, sugar-, and gluten-free
• Included: 30 servings mushroom coffee, rechargeable frother, gunmetal dose spoon, breathwork app by Othership, and wellness booklet

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Combines coffee, mushrooms, collagen, and nootropics
• No GMOs, herbicides, pesticides, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners
• Keto- and paleo-friendly

Cons

• Only 2 mushrooms in the blend
• Not vegan due to collagen
• Only available in the United States

Bottom Line

Everyday Dose is a coffee alternative that combines a two-mushroom blend and coffee. One serving contains 45 milligrams of caffeine. Customer reviews for this were generally positive. Many consumers found this product helpful in reducing their coffee and caffeine consumption.

MUDWTR

MUD\WTR

GGR Score: 3.4

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Product Highlights

• Low- or no-caffeine coffee alternative
• Listed benefits: Provides energy boost without jitters, improves focus and mood, supports immunity
• Certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO project verified, certified vegan, Kosher, and Whole 30-approved
• Available in 4 varieties: Original, Matcha, Turmeric, and Rest
• Included: 30-serving tin, rechargeable frother, guidebook, sticker, and sample

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2 flavors with caffeine and 2 flavors without caffeine
• 30-day money back guarantee
• Vegan, Kosher, and Whole 30 Approved
• Free shipping within the United States

Cons

• Very mixed reviews on taste, texture, and mixability
• Website defaults to 30-day subscription when you attempt to purchase
• Mixed reviews on effectiveness

Bottom Line

MUD\WTR is a low- or no-caffeine alternative to a cup of coffee. They recommend pouring hot water over 1 tablespoon and mixing with a spoon or frother. MUD\WTR claims this powder will give you energy without the jitters and crash associated with coffee. They also claim it will improve your mood and support your immune system. This drink has extremely mixed reviews on taste, texture and effectiveness. The taste is described as ‘earthy’ in both positive and negative reviews.

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.

Everyday Dose vs MUD WTR Comparison Chart

Quick Look: Everyday Dose vs MUD WTR

When comparing these shroomy coffees, it’s important to consider factors like mushroom varieties and amounts, caffeine sources, and whether the product contains additional health-promoting ingredients. We also checked for the presence of sweeteners, artificial ingredients, and food additives. 

Below are some helpful highlights. For more detailed information, check out our full MUD WTR Review.

Who Should Buy Everyday Dose

• Those who want the joint health benefits of hydrolyzed collagen peptides
• People on a tighter budget
• Those who want the smoothest consistency with no settling
• Customers who want to improve focus with L-theanine 

Who Should Buy MUD WTR 

• People who want a larger variety of mushrooms
• Vegans and vegetarians
• Those who prefer whole powdered mushrooms over mushroom extracts
• Anyone wanting a certified USDA Organic option
• Those who enjoy the flavor and anti-inflammatory benefits of chai spices

Key Similarities Between Everyday Dose and MUD WTR

• Contain less caffeine than a cup of coffee
• Matcha-based options available 
• Contain proprietary mushroom blends
• Each contains lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms
• Coconut creamers sold separately
• Can be prepared with cold or hot water

Important Differences Between Everyday Dose and MUD WTR

• Everyday Dose contains 2 types of mushrooms, while MUD\WTR contains 4 
• Everyday Dose is made with mushroom and coffee extracts, while MUD/WTR is made with whole powdered mushrooms and tea
• Everyday Dose contains collagen and L-theanine
• MUD\WTR has caffeine-free options

RELATED: Onnit Shroom Tech Review

Formulation

Everyday Dose and MUD\WTR both contain a blend of adaptogenic mushrooms free from sweeteners, GMOs, gluten, artificial ingredients, and food additives and contain about half the amount of caffeine you’d get in a traditional cup of coffee.

While similar, they do vary in significant ways. In addition to chaga and lion’s mane mushrooms, Everyday Dose contains 4,725 milligrams of hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides for improved skin, hair, and joint health. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which, according to a 2010 randomized controlled trial¹, may help improve focus during demanding cognitive tasks when combined with caffeine. 

Because Everyday Dose only contains two different types of functional mushrooms and combines them with coffee bean extract and L-theanine in a vague proprietary blend, we could only give the formulation a 2-out-of-5-star rating. The actual amounts of these ingredients aren’t disclosed, so we don’t know whether the dosages are effective. 

For example, the study above tested 97 milligrams of L-theanine with 40 milligrams of caffeine and found that this combination was effective for improving focus, but the amount of L-theanine in Coffee+ isn’t listed on the label.  Matcha+ is an exception, with 120 milligrams of L-theanine listed on the label.

It’s worth noting that the optimal dose of lion’s mane (and other medicinal mushrooms) hasn’t yet been determined², so claims about its benefits in any specific amount should be taken with a grain of salt.

Also of note: Everyday Dose uses mushroom extracts and coffee extract rather than whole powdered mushrooms or coffee beans, which may be a dealbreaker for some people.

MUD\WTR received a slightly higher 3-out-of-5-star rating for formulation thanks to the fact that it contains four varieties of mushrooms, organic ingredients, and antioxidant-rich black tea and chai spices. It also contains whole powdered mushrooms. That said, it contains a proprietary blend and would have scored higher if the amounts of each individual ingredient were more transparent.

RELATED: How to Make Protein Coffee 

Taste and Solubility

We looked to our expert product testers for their real-life experiences with these mushroom coffees. Caine Wilkes, an Olympian and USAW-L1 weightlifting coach, tested Everyday Dose for us. MUD\WTR was tested by Frieda Johnson, certified nutrition coach and specialist in exercise therapy.

In terms of flavor, Everyday Dose had a slight edge. Caine rated the Coffee+ a 4 out of 5, saying that it “tasted somewhat like weak instant coffee. It’s not too earthy, and it tasted great when mixed with my regular coffee. I wouldn’t replace my normal coffee or tea with it, but a lot of customers online love the flavor.”

Frieda had similar comments about MUD\WTR. “I tried the Original flavor, which tasted like watered-down chai with a little bit of cocoa. It’s good, but needs some doctoring to make it delicious,” she said, rating the flavor a 3.75 out of 5.  

Everyday Dose also shone for its solubility, with Caine noting, “It mixes smoothly thanks to the frother that comes with your first purchase. There was no settling and the frother gave it an airy, whipped texture, which was really pleasant.” It got top marks here with a 5 out of 5 rating.

Meanwhile, MUD\WTR got a disappointing 2 out of 5 rating from Frieda. “It settles a lot at the bottom of the glass. I had to stir it back up as I drank it. If you don’t, you’ll have to add more water at the end so you can finish drinking it. I also found it a bit gritty, even with the stirring,” she said.

Neither of our testers noted any unpleasant side effects. 

RELATED: Coffee vs Pre-Workout

Price Per Serving

While pricing for both brands varies based on whether you choose the subscription starter kit, Everyday Dose wins out for affordability. At $1.20 per serving with a subscription and a discount for the first month at $0.90 a serving, it earned a 5 out of 5 rating for price. Without a subscription, a one-time purchase will run you $1.50 per serving.

MUD\WTR costs a bit more, likely due in part to its higher-quality formulation. At subscription pricing of $1.33 per serving or $1.67 per serving for a one-time purchase, it earned a 3 out of 5 from us.

Company Policies

Honestly, we found the refund policy from Everyday Dose to be a bit confusing overall. 

They offer free shipping on subscription orders and will refund first-time orders if you email customer service within 45 days of delivery. Unfortunately, their money-back guarantee only applies to subscription orders, not one-time purchases, and they only refund opened packages from first-time orders. You’ll also have to email them the tracking information for your return. 

MUD\WTR earned a 4 out 5 from us for their customer-friendly policies, offering refundable first-time orders within 30 days of purchase. You’ll just need to use the contact form on their website to submit your refund request. They also offer a referral discount program to reward customers who recommend it to others.

Everyday Dose vs MUD WTR: Final Thoughts

If you’re simply looking for a lower-caffeine alternative to coffee, Everyday Dose and MUD\WTR will both do the trick. Coffee lovers may be disappointed by the comparatively watered-down taste of both, but neither is unpleasant.

Both contain adaptogenic mushrooms which may help boost mental focus, improve the quality of your sleep, support immune function, and help the body adapt to stressful environments, although more research is needed before we can say for sure. 

You may prefer Everyday Dose if you want collagen and L-theanine in your mushroom coffee, if you need to save money, or if you want the smoothest possible consistency. On the other hand, some may prefer MUD\WTR for its mushroom variety, chai spices, organic ingredients, use of whole powdered mushrooms, and caffeine-free options.

Still not sure if either of these are right for you? Check out our RYZE Mushroom Coffee Review for insights on an additional mushroom coffee brand.

Everyday Dose vs MUD WTR: FAQs

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

References

1. Giesbrecht T, Rycroft JA, Rowson MJ, De Bruin EA. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness. Nutr Neurosci. 2010;13(6):283-290. doi:10.1179/147683010X12611460764840
2. Venturella G, Ferraro V, Cirlincione F, Gargano ML. Medicinal Mushrooms: Bioactive Compounds, Use, and Clinical Trials. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(2):634. Published 2021 Jan 10. doi:10.3390/ijms22020634

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout for Men

Zero sugar energy drinks are more popular among those working toward weight loss or otherwise restricting calories. That’s because they are a way to boost energy levels without consuming caloric drinks like lattes and sugary beverages. That said, there’s some controversy about these drinks being detrimental to our wellness due to poor formulation and quality. Let’s see how PRIME Energy Drinks stack up based on our experience.

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.

Our Experts Help You Separate Hype From Hoax

Don’t trust social media to inform you on what’s best. The fitness professionals, registered dietitians, and personal trainers on Team GGR take pleasure in personally testing each nutritional product to provide you with an honest picture of the products we review. 

We rate products using a scale of 1 to 5 based on our custom GGR supplement testing methodology. This methodology examines criteria like:

• Quality of the formulation
• Taste/solubility
• Side effects
• Third-party testing
• Price/value
• Customer reviews/service

PRIME Energy Drink

PRIME Energy

GGR Score: 3.55

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Product Highlights

• Vegan energy drink 
• Founded by YouTubers and entrepreneurs KSI and Logan Paul 
• Includes electrolytes and coconut water 
• Available in 8 flavors

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Gluten-free
• 0 g of sugar
• 8 different flavors that are positively reviewed by customers
• Available in a wide variety of stores, including grocery and convenience stores

Cons

• Contains sucralose
• Customers report receiving damaged cans when shipped
• Can is smaller than the 16-oz can that other energy drinks come in

Bottom Line

PRIME Energy is a vegan energy drink that features coconut water and electrolytes. Customer reviews of this drink were extremely positive—they really enjoyed the taste. However, some customers who purchased via Amazon complained about receiving dented and damaged cans.

A Quick Look at PRIME Energy Drinks

PRIME is an American brand that was created by purported YouTube rivals Logan Paul and KSI. It started with PRIME Hydration Drink in 2022 which sought to rival mainstream sports drinks like Powerade with their now-iconic flavors like Meta Moon. 

Their hydration drinks even contain branched-chain amino acids. Now, the duo is in the energy drink business with beverages that contain both caffeine and electrolytes without any added sugar. 

Before You Buy

• Think carefully before ordering online, as Amazon offers no refunds and you have to commit to a case of 12.
• Those under the age of 18 should only try Prime Energy Drinks with adult supervision.

Are PRIME Energy Drinks Worth It?

Though the inclusion of electrolytes can be appreciated, it’s just not enough to justify the higher-than-average cost of $2.50 per can when compared to other, comparable energy drinks. That said, we were impressed by how great the drinks taste and the solid buzz you get from taking them, so it all depends on how much you’re willing to pay to buy into the hype. 

RELATED: Bang Pre-Workout Review

PRIME Energy Drink Specs

Experience Using PRIME Energy Drinks

We had PRIME Energy Drinks tested by Matt Dustin, CES, PN1-NC, who had an overall positive experience. He warns active people not to expect to get the effects of pre-workout, as the drink doesn’t contain ingredients like BCAAs or beta alanine, but he generally approved of the taste, formulation, and effects he got from PRIME. 

Price Per Serving

We gave a rating of 3 out of 5 stars for price, as $2.50 per can is a bit much when you can get very similar drinks like Celsius and C4 for cheaper. Some may argue that the product’s similarity to sports drinks like Powerade and Gatorade could justify the higher price, but we’ll get to that next. 

Formulation

We rated formulation 4 out of 5 stars, as it actually has a lot more to offer than most of your average energy drinks, namely the electrolytes and caffeine content. First off, it contains some electrolytes, namely sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. As a sports dietitian, though, I have to let out a big ol’ sigh at the ratio of these electrolytes.

RELATED: Best Electrolyte Powder

The second ingredient in Prime Energy Drinks (and the Prime Hydration Drink, for that matter) is coconut water. Unfortunately, coconut water is widely thought to be a top-tier drink for rehydration, but this is not true. Coconut water is indeed high in potassium, which is an electrolyte, however most people taking electrolytes for rehydration actually need a surplus of sodium because this is the main mineral we lose in our sweat. Prime Energy Drinks proudly tout that they contain 355 milligrams of electrolytes, which breaks down like so:

• Potassium: 170 mg
• Sodium: 70 mg
• Calcium: 60 mg
• Magnesium: 55 mg

While the amount gets a thumbs up, you can see the ratio for rehydration isn’t comparable to other sports drinks. For perspective, a 12-ounce Gatorade contains 160 milligrams of sodium and 50 milligrams of potassium. PRIME is also sweetened with the sugar alcohol inositol and sucralose. 

Vitamins B6 and B12 have been added, which is cool, but largely unnecessary. I know I’m not the only dietitian who is exhausted with having to explain why we need to stop putting B vitamins in things and then slapping “energy” on it. While B vitamins do play a role in the metabolic process that produces ATP, nearly everyone gets enough B vitamins from their diet. 

In any case, PRIME contains taurine, a common ingredient in other energy drinks like Red Bull. Taurine is one of those semi-essential amino acids that science suggests can reduce muscle soreness. Finally, we want to point out the caffeine content of 200 milligrams, which is a solid amount to give you a nice boost. 

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout for Women

That said, given the drink’s popularity on TikTok, parents are urged to avoid giving their children PRIME, as some public health guidelines² recommend those under age 18 not have more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day. Luckily, it’s relieving to see that PRIME’s website does specify that its product is intended for those 18 and over. 

Taste

We gave PRIME 4 out of 5 stars for taste. Our tester Matt says, “The Ice Pop tasted just like a Rocket Pop. What threw me off, though, is that the flavor is super strong and sweet compared to other energy drinks I’ve tried. It wasn’t bad, though!”

Side Effects

Based on Matt’s experience, we gave it 4 out of 5 stars in this category. “You get a nice little bump in your focus and energy from PRIME, which I like—it qualifies as an energy drink for sure,” Matt reports. “Don’t expect to get the tingles or a pump like you would from pre-workout, but it’s still great when you need a second wind in the afternoon.”

RELATED: Pre-Workout vs Energy Drink

Third-Party Testing 

We gave this category a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, as PRIME isn’t third-party tested by NSF for Sport or Informed Choice. However, PRIME is an energy drink which is a beverage and means it is regulated by the FDA. So, if safety is your concern, know the FDA has much tighter regulations on beverages than is offered to supplements.  

PRIME Energy Drink vs C4 Energy Drink

C4 Energy Drink

C4 Energy Drink

GGR Score: 3.8

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Product Highlights

• 200 mg of caffeine
• Carbonated and uncarbonated options
• No sugar, carbs, or calories
• Includes beta alanine and citrulline
• Comes in 8 flavors

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 200 mg of caffeine
• Zero calories
• Carbonated and uncarbonated options
• No sugar
• Comes in 8 flavors that are generally well-liked
• Affordable

Cons

• Dosages of beta alanine and citrulline not readily available
• While affordable, it's more expensive than C4's powder pre-workout

Bottom Line

C4 Energy is a well-known pre-workout drink with 200 mg of caffeine as well as ingredients like beta alanine and citrulline. We love the flavors and the price point of this classic drink.

Between the ubiquity of PRIME and C4 Energy, the likes of Red Bull, which used to dominate the world of energy drinks, are becoming relics. These are two energy drinks that are very similar. Both have the same caffeine content, are free of added sugar but sweetened with sucralose, and contain vitamin B12.

However, at nearly $1 cheaper per can, C4 is way more affordable. It also contains some ingredients that are commonly found in pre-workout, like beta-alanine, which makes it a more appealing choice to active individuals. If you want the full details on C4, you can see our full C4 Energy Drink Review. 

Customer Experience 

We had to give 1 out of 5 stars for customer experience, as all purchases of PRIME are final sale—no refunds. Access to customer service is also minimal, with there only being a website query form—no phone or live chat. Finally, when buying products like beverages on Amazon, be aware that returns are not accepted. 

Ordering PRIME Energy Drinks

One thing about buying PRIME is that you can’t just buy one can to try, you gotta commit to 12 of these suckers when you buy them on Amazon. Secondly, if you go to the PRIME website, you can buy products like their PRIME Hydration Drink online. 

However, when you navigate to the energy drinks, you get a store locator that shows you the closest place to buy them in person. So, if you want your tropical punch deliciousness delivered to your door, you’ll have to get PRIME on Amazon.  

RELATED: Best Electrolyte Drinks

Customer Reviews

There are curiously no customer reviews available on PRIME’s official website, but the energy drinks are rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon based on 1,631 customer reviews at the time of writing. 

Most reviews rave about the taste and energy boost they get, saying the drink is worth it. Most negative reviews complain their cans were damaged upon arrival, but this didn’t happen when our team ordered them, luckily. 

Final Verdict of Our PRIME Drink Review

While we can’t say there are any outstanding features that would prompt us to recommend PRIME Energy Drinks over other, similar energy drinks on the market, it’s a nice tasting option that’s got a pretty good amount of caffeine to get the job done. 

That said, the lack of carbohydrates and iffy ratio of electrolytes don’t make it as effective a hydration tool as the marketing may imply, so we don’t recommend using it for that purpose. All in all, it’s a good option for some afternoon energy if you don’t mind the price tag. 

• Zero sugar, but sweetened with artificial sweeteners
• Order at your own risk from Amazon, as damaged cans seem common
• Not recommended for those under 18

Full Rating

PRIME Energy Drink

PRIME Energy is a vegan energy drink that features coconut water and electrolytes. Customer reviews of this drink were extremely positive—they really enjoyed the taste. However, some customers who purchased via Amazon complained about receiving dented and damaged cans.

Product Brand: PRIME

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 21.95

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
3.3

PRIME Energy Drink: FAQs

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

References

1. Kurtz, J. A., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Doyle, J. A., & Otis, J. S. (2021). Taurine in sports and exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00438-0
2. Cho H. W. (2018). How Much Caffeine is Too Much for Young Adolescents?. Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives, 9(6), 287–288. https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2018.9.6.01

The eclectic world of cross-training and CrossFit shoes features familiar names like the Reebok NanoX, Nike Metcon, and adidas Dropset. However, the Nano line now boasts a new addition that holds plenty of promise for fitness enthusiasts looking for a less expensive, more versatile version of their favorite training shoe. 

But did Reebok deliver on its promise to create something that’s suited for running, weight training, and fitness classes? In our Reebok Nano Gym Shoes review, I’ll dive deep into everything from their design and appearance to their stability and performance so you can figure out whether they’re the right fit for your feet. 

We Walk the Walk With Our Thorough Testing Process

At Garage Gym Reviews, we don’t just talk the talk when it comes to product testing. Whether it’s the best home gym equipment or the best supplements for muscle growth, our team of experts, including certified personal trainers, gym owners, CrossFit enthusiasts, and an Olympian weightlifter, delivers honest feedback so you can make informed purchasing decisions. 

As a longtime rugby player and weightlifter, I’ve used everything from Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars to different iterations of Nike Metcons over the last decade-plus. While Metcons have been my preferred workout shoe for years, I maintained an open mind about making the switch to #TeamReebok. To give a fair assessment of the Nano Gym Shoes, I carefully scored them based on our equipment testing methodology, which examines key criteria such as: 

• Appearance and design: As much as we care about comfort and performance, we also appreciate shoes that have a stylish appearance and attractive design. 
• Durability: Nobody wants to invest $100 on a pair of workout shoes that only last a few months. 
• Versatility: Are you limited to just lifting or running? The best cross-training shoes give you the versatility to do everything from CrossFit to cardio exercises like HIIT treadmill workouts. 
• Stability and performance: Your training shoes should allow you to move freely without worrying about staying balanced or feeling supported. Shoes that look good but don’t deliver from a performance standpoint don’t earn high marks from the GGR team. 

Reebok Nano Gym Shoes

Reebok Nano Gym Shoes

GGR Score: 4.36

Check Price

Product Highlights

• Cross-training shoe
• Meant for running, weight training, and fitness classes
• Mesh upper and cushioned EVA midsole
• TPU cradle for lateral support
• 8 mm drop

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Versatile shoe
• Good value
• Comfortable
• Multiple colorways available

Cons

• Reviewers say they run a bit snug
• Not great for heavy lifting

Bottom Line

Reebok Nano Gym Shoes are meant to be the jack-of-all trades for your gym workouts. They provide enough support for short bouts of running, but enough stability for weight training. Reviewers say sizing one half of a size up is the way to go.

A Quick Look at the Reebok Nano Gym Shoes

The Reebok Nano line launched in 2011 as the official provider of licensed CrossFit footwear and apparel. Designed with a spacious toe box for high-impact movements, weightlifting, and short-distance running, the Nanos quickly became one of the most popular training shoes not only in the CrossFit community but the fitness community as a whole. 

The company took things in a different direction in 2021 by releasing the Nano X1 to accommodate multiple training styles. Made with Reebok’s Flexweave knit upper and Floatride Energy Foam in the midsole, this model set the stage for future iterations like the Nano X2, which added a low-profile TPU heel clip for added support. The Reebok Nano X3 came out in 2023, adding a lift and run chassis system to increase the shoe’s functionality and running capabilities. Earlier this year, the company released the Nano X4, which earned high marks from our testing team. 

RELATED: Reebok Nano X4 Review

Interestingly, Reebok also decided to expand the Nano line with their Nano Gym Shoe, which they describe on their website as a “versatile cross-training shoe made for movement.” 

Before You Buy

• The Nano Gym Shoes are available in five colorways for men and four for women.
• Reebok describes them as having the “look and feel of a running shoe” but “built with the DNA of a training shoe.” 
• These cross-trainers have an 8-millimeter midsole drop, which is 1 millimeter more than the Nano X4. 
• Reebok sells the Nano Gym Shoes for $100 and offers a pay-over-time option with interest-free installments via Klarna on their website. 

Is the Reebok Nano Gym Shoe Worth It?

At a price point of $100, the Reebok Nano Gym Shoes are less expensive than household names like the Reebok Nano X4, Nike Metcon 9, or NOBULL Outwork. If you’re looking for a versatile training shoe that you can use for everything from HIIT workouts to bodyweight exercises to running, this is an excellent option. However, advanced lifters who like to go heavy may need to look elsewhere, as the Nano Gym Shoes don’t provide the same level of stability as dedicated weightlifting shoes, or even cross-trainers like the Nano X4 or Metcon.

Reebok Nano Gym Shoes Specs

Workout Experience With the Reebok Nano Gym Shoes

After receiving my new shoes within three days of ordering, I eagerly laced them up and got right to work. Over the course of three weeks, I tested them extensively in home and commercial gym settings, using them for everything from classic movements like squats and deadlifts to burpees and box jumps. I also wore them for a few neighborhood runs and StairMaster workouts to see how they responded to cardiovascular activities.

While I may not be ready to completely ditch my favorite workout shoe (Nike Metcons), I was highly impressed with how the Nano Gym Shoes performed. Let’s take a closer look at how they scored across each category. 

Appearance and Design

While I wouldn’t call myself a #sneakerhead, I do have an appreciation for stylish footwear. Available in five different colorways for men and four for women, the Nano Gym Shoes definitely pass with flying colors from a design and appearance standpoint. I selected the black-and-white version. 

Boasting a sleek, sporty design that isn’t overly audacious, I like that these shoes can work well in the gym or for everyday use. They certainly don’t look like a typical running shoe, which you might not wear in non-training situations. However, the Nano Gym Shoes fall in line with the casual athletic style I tend to go for. 

Although the chunkier heel is a tad thicker than I would prefer from an aesthetic standpoint, overall I have zero qualms about how Reebok designed this new shoe. I can’t speak for the other colorways, but the black-and-white version earns a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating.

Durability and Construction

Determining a durability score after just three weeks of use can be a bit of a challenge. However, based on their design and construction, I’m confident the Nano Gym Shoes will hold up well over time. 

Reebok uses high-quality build materials, including a plush foam collar and a TPU cradle that provides lateral support for lifting. I also appreciate the high-traction outsole that gives a secure grip when pushing off a treadmill or climbing the StairMaster. 

Best of all: The Nano Gym Shoes are lightweight, with the unisex size 9 weighing just 12 ounces. This is particularly valuable when running, as you can move freely and comfortably. 

Overall, I give the Nanos a 4.5-out-5 rating for durability and construction. 

Stability and Performance

Some people prefer dedicated shoes for weightlifting and running. Others prefer a shoe that’s capable of performing well for multiple training styles. I fall in the latter category simply because it’s easier and more cost-effective to have a single shoe that can work well for lifting, HIIT, or basic bodyweight exercises.

Reebok specifically designed this shoe to be a jack of all trades, with more of an emphasis on dynamic workouts like bootcamp classes and circuit training. After using them for three weeks, 

I can vouch for their functionality.

Starting out with deadlifts and squats in my garage gym, I quickly realized the Nanos are good, but not great for these two powerhouse exercises. The cushioned heel helps absorb impact and provides excellent support, which pays off when you’re jumping or running. However, I found that the shoes weren’t quite so stable when I went heavier on squats and deadlifts. Still, I would say most people would be just fine using these for lifting.

The Nano Gym Shoes really shined once I stepped away from the squat rack and performed a full-body workout in my local commercial gym. I had no trouble using the leg press or hack squat, and I also found them to be quite comfortable during my StairMaster session and walking from machine to machine. 

Furthermore, the Nanos proved quite comfortable and supportive for running. While that’s not exactly my favorite activity—I’m a lifter at heart—I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable I felt going for a jog in my neighborhood with my new shoes.

Despite lacking some stability when training with heavier loads, these shoes impressed me with their ability to perform well for such a wide variety of training styles. As a result, they earn a 4-out-5 rating for performance. 

Versatility, Adjustments, and Comfort

Are the Nanos the best weightlifting shoe? No. 

Are they the best running shoe? No. 

Are they a shoe that’s capable of doing everything well? I’d say yes.

After testing them for lifting, running, and a mix of other activities—including walking around for everyday use—I can vouch for their versatility. I actually find myself wearing them for non-training situations quite a bit, which speaks volumes about how comfortable they are.

Based on my experience testing them out for several weeks in many different settings and situations, I’ll give them 4.5 out of 5 for versatility. 

Price and Value

As a lifelong Metcon user, I’m used to paying well over $100 for workout shoes. In fact, that figure usually falls around $150 before taxes. Reebok wisely priced the new Nanos at a more affordable price point than the Nano X4 or the highly popular Metcon 9, both of which cost $150.

Given their versatility, solid construction, and reliable performance, that $100 price tag seems like rock-solid value. Plus, unlike other types of workout shoes, these also work well in more casual situations, giving you flexibility to use the Nano Gym Shoes in multiple settings.

Overall, I can’t complain about paying $100 for a high-quality pair of workout shoes that look and perform well. As a result, I gave the Nanos a 4.5-out-of-5 rating in the all-important price and value category.

Reebok Nano Gym Shoes vs Nike Metcon 9

Nike Metcon 9

Nike Metcon 9

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Released August 2023
• Versatile, durable training shoe
• Meant for CrossFit workouts and training
• Enhanced rope guard
• Larger Hyperlift crash pad
• 11 colorways available at launch

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Versatile training shoe
• Rope guard wrap-around
• Rigid heel great for stability
• Multiple colorways to choose from
• Lace locking system
• High-traction outsole
• Durable upper
• Breathable woven textile upper
• Wide toe box

Cons

• Not great for running or WODs with longer run intervals
• Some people may find them too rigid
• Expensive at $150 a pair

Bottom Line

The Nike Metcon 9 training shoes were released in August 2023 and build upon the Nike Metcon 8s with an enhanced rope guar wrap-around, plus a larger and more rigid crash pad. They feature a tightly woven and durable, but breathable, upper. The patterned, grooved outsole provides great traction during most weather conditions.

Pitting the Nano Gym Shoes against the highly rated Metcon 9 gives you a chance to see some of the similarities and differences between two excellent training shoes. First, the Reeboks are more affordable, coming in at $50 less than the Nikes. They also have a much bigger heel-to-toe drop (8 mm) compared to just 4 mm for the Metcon 9. 

In my experience, this makes the Nikes better for squats, deadlifts, and other exercises like power cleans and bent-over rows. However, Metcons are less forgiving when it comes to sprints, burpees, box jumps, and high-impact movements. 

Read more about one of our favorite footwear options in our Nike Metcon 9 shoe review.

Customer Service 

Reebok earns a 4.5-out-of-5 rating for customer service by offering a number of valuable perks. First, the company provides free shipping on orders over $75 and offers a 30-day return policy. Reebok members also receive free shipping, returns, and exchanges. 

In addition, you can get in touch with Reebok via live chat, phone, or Facebook. The live chat feature is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST. You can call customer service between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST on weekends.

Ordering the Reebok Nano Gym Shoes

Eager to try out their latest release, I signed up for an email notification from Reebok when the Nano Gym Shoes became available. Once that day arrived, I got the email, immediately went to the site, selected my size (12) and color (white/black), and added them to my cart.

Luckily, I qualified for free shipping since Reebok offers this perk for orders over $75. Overall, the ordering process was straightforward and stress-free. Even better: It only took a couple days before I had a fresh pair of Reeboks waiting at my front door. 

With zero complaints or hiccups, the ordering experience receives a 5-out-of-5 rating. 

Customer Reviews

As a recently released product, the Reebok Nano Gym Shoes have yet to garner a ton of reviews. However, customers who’ve gotten their hands on them (more like feet in them, in this case) have provided plenty of positive feedback on the company’s website. 

With a 4.9-star rating based on seven reviews, here’s what customers had to say about this new design: 

“The Reebok Nano series is a solid pick for men who want a versatile gym shoe. It’s great for running, offering decent cushioning and support, while also performing well in various workouts like lifting and HIIT. A durable and stylish choice for all-around fitness. #sweepstakes,” a customer named John L. wrote in his 5-star review. 

Meanwhile, a customer named Ken H. was pleased with how the Nanos fit and performed during his workouts: 

“I felt like this shoe was very comfortable right out of the box. I went with a 1/2 size larger than I normally wear, and they fit very comfortably with a little extra room in the toe box. I wore these to do box jumps and power cleans in my first workout with them. They were very bouncy on the box jumps, yet had some stability for my weightlifting. As I got a little heavier in weight, I did rock forward in my toes. So, I will probably reserve these for HIIT style workouts and days where I am looking for something more lightweight, and keep my heavy days to wearing my Nano X4’s for more stability!” 

Also available on Amazon, the women’s version has compiled a 4.2-star rating based on 22 reviews. 

“These shoes are incredibly comfortable, lightweight, and stylish. They’re made of breathable material and fit perfectly true to size. The rubber outsole offers excellent support and grip, making them ideal for gym activities. There’s really nothing to dislike about them. I absolutely love these shoes and highly recommend them to anyone in need of gym footwear. I love the color on the sole too,” a user named Sofie Birkin wrote in her 5-star review.

Final Verdict of Our Reebok Nano Gym Shoes Review

While skeptical would be too strong of a word, I had some initial hesitations about making the switch from Metcons to Nanos. However, once I put them through a few WODs, runs, and strength training sessions, I bought into the hype. They may not be the best option for long-distance runners, and they certainly aren’t the best lifting shoe, but they are versatile enough to cater to a number of training styles. 

Full Rating

Reebok Nano Gym Shoes

Reebok Nano Gym Shoes are meant to be the jack-of-all trades for your gym workouts. They provide enough support for short bouts of running, but enough stability for weight training. Reviewers say sizing one half of a size up is the way to go.

Product Brand: Reebok

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 100

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.36

Reebok Nano Gym Shoes: FAQs

Stay tuned for more details on this compact functional trainer and squat rack combination machine. 

We’ve Tested More Than Two Dozen Functional Trainers

Our experts have had their hands on some of the best functional trainers ranging from ultra-budget to top-of-the-line machines. Our experts are not just fitness fanatics, we’re gym owners, CrossFit Level-1 Trainers, certified personal trainers, and Olympic-level athletes. We know what specs make a high-quality piece of equipment and understand how to put each piece of equipment we review to the test. 

For this Bolt Warlord Functional trainer rack review, Coop Mitchell, OG product tester and founder of Garage Gym Reviews, took the lead on testing and scoring this all-in-one machine. Coop used our in-depth fitness equipment testing methodology to assess the durability, versatility, stability, accessories, and the overall value. 

Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer

Bolt Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer Combo

GGR Score: 3.87

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Product Highlights

• 2-in-1 home gym machine
• Half rack and functional trainer
• 2:1 cable pulley ratio
• Dual 250-pound weight stacks
• Multi-grip pull-up bar

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Universal uprights
• Universal hole size and spacing
• Super smooth pulley and cables
• Free shipping

Cons

• Not designed or engineered in-house
• Steep price point
• Center knurling on pull-up bar

Bottom Line

The Bolt Fitness Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer Combo offers a solid 2-in-1 home training machine. However, the price does not reflect any stand out features or anything that will blow you away.

A Quick Look at the Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer

In Coop’s expert opinion—he’s been testing and reviewing equipment on YouTube for nearly a decade—Bolt Fitness falls in his third-tier personal hierarchy of quality. He says Rogue and REP Fitness are the top, Titan Fitness and Bells of Steel fall below that, and Bolt Fitness delivers quality equal to or under that. 

This is not a knock to Bolt Fitness or brands like Titan. Coop thinks it’s important to know what to expect and not set your expectations as high as you can with a purchase from Rogue Fitness. 

RELATED: Titan Squat Rack Reviews

Before You Buy

• The Warlord rack is part of the brand’s Storm Series, which includes a variety of strength attachments, full racks, Smith machines, and squat stands. 
• The Warlord specs are not listed clearly on the website and there were a few things our team had to confirm with a representative from Bolt Fitness. 
• Coop’s video review reveals a dirty secret: The Warlord Half Rack is a white-label product with custom logos.  
• Bolt Fitness currently does not ship to Alaska or Hawaii, only to the contiguous United States. 

Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer Video Review

Is the Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer Worth It?

The Bolt Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer Combination Machine is neither cheap nor is it outrageous. It’s priced at $4,000, which includes shipping (this is significant based on the bulky size). 

However, based on the overall quality, mechanical parts, and powder coat finish the price is a little steeper than Coop would have expected. Keep in mind Coop also prefers well-thought-out and unique engineering and design. And this machine is not that. 

In fact, during the assembly process Coop noticed one of the bottom pieces had “NC Fitness” laser cut into the shroud. After a quick Google search, Coop found it’s just another fitness brand selling very similar products with different accessories.

What does this mean for you? It means when you buy this functional trainer combination rack from Bolt Fitness, it’s a white-labled product manufactured by a large corporation that sells the identical (or nearly the same) product to other fitness brands with the idea that it can be customized with logos and labels later on. 

“It’s worth knowing that this is not an exclusive piece to Bolt Fitness,” says Coop. “When you’re spending $4,000 little details like that matter.” For this reason, the price and value earn 3 out of 5 stars, our middle-of-the-road rating. 

Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer Specs

What to Expect With the Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer 

The Bolt Warlord Half Rack and Functional Trainer combination machine is exactly how it sounds. You’ll get a half rack with spotter arms for performing all of the best barbell exercises  including squatting, rack pulls, bench press, and overhead press. Plus, you’ll have a functional trainer with dual 250-pound selectorized weight stacks. 

This all-in-one design is an ideal piece of home gym equipment that takes up far less space than owning two stand-alone pieces. Let’s dive into Coop’s experience. 

Footprint

The footprint of the Bolt Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer was not listed on the website. However, our team got on the live chat function on the bottom left-hand side of the screen and chatted with Abraham from Bolt Fitness. 

He was able to quickly provide the footprint measurements with and without the storage pins. He also noted the storage pins can be placed on the back side of the rack, too. Without pins, you can expect the half rack to sit about 4.5 feet deep, just over 4 feet wide, and 8 feet tall. 

If you place the pins on the side of the rack, it makes the rack 6.25 feet wide. This machine will definitely take up some room in your garage gym, but because it’s a half rack, it’s about half the depth of a traditional power rack. It earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating in this category. 

RELATED: REP FT-5000 Functional Trainer Review

Durability and Construction 

The Bolt Warlord earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for durability and construction. When our experts assess functional trainers, we’re looking for heavy-duty steel uprights, minimal plastic parts, and aluminum pulleys. 

The Bolt Warlord features nearly everything we want from a durable half rack and functional trainer combo machine. The 3-inch by 3-inch uprights are constructed from 11-gauge steel, making an extremely strong base, similar to what we saw on the rack we tested for our REP Fitness PR-4000 Power Rack review. 

The half rack also features centered 1-inch holes on the front-facing side of the rack with offset placement on the sides of the rack. The holes and placement are universal and will make it so that the uprights are adaptable with other attachments from competitor companies. For Coop, this is a win. 

There are also laser cut numbers (not stickers) on the front side so you’ll always know where to place your J-hooks. It’s all finished off with a black powder coat. “While the finish is pretty good, it’s important to know you’re not going to see the same quality welds or powder coats from Bolt Fitness as you will see from Rogue or REP Fitness,” says Coop. 

Coop noticed an interesting feature on the crossmembers: Every single one has holes, it’s not limited to just the uprights. While it’s not necessary, it adds more functionality and room to get creative with looping bands and playing with accommodating resistance.  “Companies don’t usually do that because it saves them money not to laser-cut the whole thing,” says Coop. 

Additionally, the trolley system has four rollers to slide on the uprights every time you change the trolley height. You’ll find an oversized pop-pin and a handle flanking either side trolley—neither made from plastic, which Coop was pleased to see. 

RELATED: Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer Review

Pulleys and Overall Stability

We not only had to reach out to customer support to get the footprint of the Warlord machine, we had to ask about the cable travel length because it’s not listed on the website. But, Abraham came through and personally went to check and measure himself (go Abraham!). 

The Bolt Fitness representative reported the travel length on the aluminum cables is about 90 inches, which is suitable for cable machine workouts for strength and bodybuilding. 

We not only approve of the length, Coop appreciates that the aluminum cable pulleys travel on aluminum parts, making for a super smooth pulling experience. Our experts prefer aluminum cables over nylon for both the feel and durability. 

“This is a very smooth functional trainer,” says Coop. It’s not just because of the aluminum cables, these have high-quality bushings in the head plate and weight stack and the guide rods.

“The mark of a smooth functional trainer is when a light head plate on the weight stack feels just as smooth as the rest of the stack, and the Bolt Warlord does it,” explains Coop. 

When it comes to stability, you’ll need to either bolt the machine to the ground or use the stabilizer legs that come with the purchase. Coop warns not to skip the stability process because half racks are known for being tippy when lifting heavy weight. For this reason, the cables and overall stability earns 4 out of 5 stars. 

RELATED: Squat Rack Safety

Accessories and Additional Features 

When our experts score functional trainers for accessories, we’re looking for more than a basic pair of D-handles. The Bolt Warlord earns a 3-star rating because it offers more than D-handles but lacks a variety of attachments like ankle straps or a lat pulldown bar. 

You can expect a multi-grip pull-up bar with pronated, supinated, and neutral grips. You’ll also receive a pair of UHMW plastic coated J-hooks, spotter arms, stabilizer feet, and eight plate pins for weight plate storage. Coop appreciates that the stabilizer feet and spotter arms are the same length, which is not only safe, but ideal for adding bands for accommodating resistance on barbell training.

Keep in mind this machine has universal measurements and hole spacing, making it an ideal way to customize your gym setup. The Warlord is part of the Bolt Fitness Storm series where you can find other strength attachments like a lat pulldown and low row, a Smith machine attachment, lever arms, leg press attachment, and a leg extension. 

There is a large back plate on the half rack that is not only aesthetically pleasing, it also acts as a shrouding to protect the cables and weight stacks. In Coop’s video review he mentions that using magnetic hooks from Amazon on this shrouding can easily add more home gym storage for cable accessories and bands. The pulleys are also shrouded, which is more of a commercial look and not seen as much in the home gym space, but Coop likes the idea for home gyms for added protection. 

RELATED: Best Resistance Bands

Versatility and Weight Stacks  

The Warlord half rack and functional trainer can do many things in one footprint. You can essentially do more of your barbell training (with the exception of deadlifts), light and moderately heavy cable training, and pull-ups. It earns a 4-star rating in the versatility category. 

RELATED: Deadlift Benefits

Coop docks a point because while dual 250-pound weight stacks will challenge most home gym owners and recreational lifters, it’s not ideal for seasoned strength trainers. The reality of the 2:1 cable ratio is that you feel only half of the listed weight. In other words, when you use the selectorized weight stack to choose 250 pounds for a cable row, you’re really only rowing 125 pounds of resistance. 

The weight stacks aside, Coop was pleased with the multi-grip pull-up bar and the medium knurling for additional security for gripping. “The knurling is just enough,” says Coop. “But there is center knurling that doesn’t make sense—I hit my chin on the knurling on every rep. It’s minor but worth pointing out.”

RELATED: Best Pull-Up Bar

Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer vs REP Athena 

REP Athena

REP Athena Plate Loaded Side-Mount Functional Trainer

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Fits PR-4000  or PR-5000 V2 series power racks
• 2:1 pulley ratio 
• Available for 80” and 93” power racks

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Free shipping
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Available to purchase as left or right and paired.
• Functional trainer without large footprint
• Designed to be adjustable with one hand with large oversized pop-pin
• Integrated band pegs on base and headplate
• Upgrade kit will be available in the future

Cons

• Compatible with limited racks
• The Athena cannot clear weight horns with all diameter plates
• Comes with only 1 only D-handle attachment

Bottom Line

The Athena Plate-Loaded Side-Mount Functional Trainer could be a useful addition to your home gym: It can add a lot of versatility to a cable system without taking up much space, provided your current gym set-up is compatible with the Athena.

The Bolt Warlord half rack and functional trainer compares to one of Coop’s all-time favorite pieces of home gym equipment: the REP Athena functional trainer. Coop owns the REP Athena and uses it weekly in his personal garage gym. 

He notes that the finish and feel of the REP Athena is superior to the Bolt Warlord, but he likes the fact the Warlord offers heavier weight stacks. Both machines offer smooth cable training, and when you read our in-depth REP Fitness Athena review, you’ll notice that the Athena is an attachment for a squat rack—and it’s completely customizable. 

You can go all-out or keep it bare bones. On the Athena, the width and depth are customizable in addition to choosing whether it’s plate loaded or selectorized. It can make it confusing to essentially “build it yourself” so if you’re new to fitness (or just want less decision-making responsibilities), then we say go for the Bolt Warlord. 

Customer Experience 

Bolt Fitness has three types of warranties: residential, light commercial, and commercial. For the purpose of this review, we’ll stick with the residential warranty. The frame on the Bolt Warlord has a lifetime warranty, moving parts (which includes things like bearings, bushings, and pulleys) have a 10-year policy, and the powder coat finish and cables have a 5-year policy. 

The brand also has a standard 30-day return policy. Once you initiate the return, you must return the item within 7 days in the original packaging. The brand earns a 4-star rating for customer experience. 

At checkout, you will notice shipping is included in the $3,995 price tag or you can choose to pick up in person at the showroom in Houston, Texas. It’s worth noting that this option does not bring the price down.

Customer Reviews

At the time of writing this review, the Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer has a lone 5-star customer review. There are no Google or Trustpilot reviews to scope out either. The one customer review featured on the website is a happy camper who only mentions that the 250-pound weight stacks with a 2:1 ratio can be limiting for heavy lifts and pulls. We don’t disagree, but it will ultimately vary from person to person. 

Final Verdict of Our Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer Review

The Bolt Fitness Storm Series Warlord half rack functional trainer combo machine is a solid option for home gym owners limited on space. While Coop was a little shocked at the price tag, he was still impressed with the smooth pulleys, high-quality bushings and bearings, and the heavy-duty uprights with universal hole spacing. 

Coop thinks the Warlord deserves your consideration if you: 

• Want something basic but durable 
• Don’t already own a squat rack or functional trainer 
• Need something compact
• Will be challenged training with dual stacks offering 125 lbs of effective resistance 

Full Rating

Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer

The Bolt Fitness Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer Combo offers a solid 2-in-1 home training machine. However, the price does not reflect any stand out features or anything that will blow you away.

Product Brand: Bolt Fitness

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 3995.00

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
3.87

Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer: FAQs

To help you find the perfect app, our team has put together a list of the eight best calorie counter apps currently available. Our testers have extensively used each of these apps, a team that includes certified nutrition coaches, certified personal trainers, registered dietitians, and more. Many of us have spent years using various apps, and we understand the most important features to look for.

Without further ado, here are the best calorie-counting apps to help you reach any fitness goals you may have.

The 8 Best Calorie Counter Apps

• Best Overall Calorie Counter App: Cronometer
• Best Free Calorie Counter App: Lose It!
• Best Calorie Counter App With Barcode Scanner: MacroFactor
• Best Calorie Counter App for Weight Loss: FatSecret
• Best Calorie Counter App for Muscle Gain: MyFitnessPal
• Best Calorie Counter App With Recipes: WeightWatchers
• Best Calorie Counter App for Intermittent Fasting: Lifesum
• Best Calorie Counter App for Keto: Carb Manager

Best Overall Calorie Counter App: Cronometer

Good for: People who want detailed data tracking

Best Overall

Cronometer

GGR Score: 4.4

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Product Highlights

• Nutrition tracker that tracks macros, micronutrients, exercise, and more
• Free and ad-free Gold version with fasting tracking and custom reports and charts
• Monthly or annual payments for Cronometer Gold
• Access to community through social media and forum for questions and answers
• Can sync with compatible fitness trackers

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large community
• Monthly subscription choice
• Track up to 84 nutrients
• Can sync with compatible fitness trackers

Cons

• Free version has ads
• Pricier subscription
• Number of things to track can be overwhelming

Bottom Line

Cronometer is a robust nutrition tracker, allowing you to track up to 84 different nutrients in your diet. The app can sync up to fitness trackers, which will then input data from exercise into Cronometer. The app is able to help log and track various diets and eating plans, from Keto and Vegan to dietitian-prescribed plans. There is both a free and Gold version, which allows for further tracking and customization in your plans.

Cronometer is one of the most popular calorie-counting apps, and for good reason. While many apps simply track calories and macronutrients, Cronometer can provide an extremely detailed look at your micronutrient intake as well, providing a detailed look at the essential vitamins and minerals we should be consuming. 

GGR Senior Editor Erin Chancer, CPT, CNC, tested Cronometer, and found this to be a little overwhelming, as there’s so much information to monitor, and gave Cronometer a 4-out-of-5-star rating for ease of use. 

In addition to a detailed food log, you can also use Cronometer to track your body measurements, blood pressure, mood, sleep, and more. However, Erin also pointed out that tracking some of these additional metrics can be a little confusing. She said, “Anything you choose to track can then be added to your daily diary. The tracking is very generic, so you may have to assign your own scale (1-5) to certain items. For example, I tried to track mood and could only enter numeric values.”

As a nutrition coach, one feature I particularly love about Cronometer is the verified food database. With other apps that have a public database, it’s not uncommon to type in a food and find 50+ entries with a wide range of nutritional information, while Cronometer carefully checks and approves every public food database entry (you can still create your own custom foods).

Finally, there’s a limited free version you can use to track your food, but the paid plan is relatively affordable at $8.99 per month or $49.99 per year and unlocks advanced features, like tracking intermittent fasting. 

If you’re looking for a highly accurate food database and robust data tracking, Cronometer is our pick for the best overall calorie-counting app.

Best Free Calorie Counter App: Lose It!

Good for: Those looking for a free nutrition app

Best Free App

Lose It

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Calorie tracking app made with weight loss in mind
• Over 40 million users
• Includes personalized weight loss plan, smart camera, and community support
• Premium version has advanced tracking and sync with devices
• Lifetime membership also available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large community
• Large food database
• Barcode scanner
• Personalized weight loss plan

Cons

• Some users complain of minor bugs
• Lots of ads in free version

Bottom Line

Lose It! is an app focused on weight loss through counting calories and tracking food. It offers personalized weight loss plans with advanced tracking through a premium subscription. With a large database and barcode scanner, tracking foods is easy.

If you’re looking for a calorie counter app with a fantastic user experience, clean interface, and best of all, a free plan that includes nearly all of the important features, Lose It! is a great choice. 

Lose It! is more than just a food logger, as it aims to educate users about food choices and provide education to improve your health and wellness. When you sign up, you’ll begin by taking a thorough quiz that helps the app establish appropriate food goals. The quiz asks about your body stats, goals, and exercise levels, and even allows you to customize the plan by selecting higher calorie days in the week if you want to enjoy more food on specific days. 

GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, CNC, was very impressed with this onboarding feature, saying, “I’ll once again stress just how thorough the opening quiz was—I almost got annoyed at how many questions they were asking. It’s great to see this level of commitment in a fitness app.”

While users can receive free calorie targets and track their food, the ability to see custom macro targets as well is part of the premium version, so this truly is a free calorie counter app, not a free macro tracking app. 

The barcode scanner and flexible high-calorie days are also part of the premium plan, unfortunately, but if you don’t need these features, the free version is still very simple and easy to use with a pleasant interface. 

Anthony rated the ease of use a 5 out of 5, saying, “A very easy-to-use nutrition app. Sort of reminds me of MyFitnessPal before it started charging for every feature on the app.”

If you’re looking for premium features or the ability to track your macros, you’ll need to pay the premium fee, which costs $39.99 per year, though discounts may be available. However, if you simply need a free app that’s enjoyable to use and allows you to record your daily calories, Lose It! is worth a try. 

Best Calorie Counter App With Barcode Scanner: MacroFactor

Good for: Anyone who wants a barcode scanner and AI coaching

Best App With Barcode Scanner

MacroFactor

GGR Score: 4.18

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Product Highlights

• AI-powered nutrition coaching
• Fast, clean interface with barcode scanner
• Verified food database
• Tracks progress photos and measurements as well
• No free plan; premium-only starting at $11.99/month

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Energy expenditure algorithm
• Fast food database
• Barcode scanner
• Weekly AI-powered nutrition coaching

Cons

• No free plan available
• Can't share recipes with other users

Bottom Line

MacroFactor is a powerful nutrition app that records your food intake, macros, and daily bodyweight to calculate and track your daily energy expenditure. It includes free coached programs that will calculate and adjust your macros to keep you progressing toward your goals.

I’ve been using MacroFactor for just over a year. It’s one of the better calorie-tracking apps I’ve ever used, and easily earns a 5 out of 5 for features and resources. 

It has two unique features that I really love. The first is the barcode scanner, which is extremely fast and easy to use. If you scan a barcode and it’s not in the food database, you can also scan the nutrition label and MacroFactor quickly imports all of the nutrition facts, allowing you to easily create a new food without having to manually enter the information. 

MacroFactor also has a great algorithm for tracking your energy expenditure with its AI Coaching. As long as you record your daily body weight and food intake, honestly, the app will calculate your exact energy expenditure after a few weeks based on what you’ve been eating and any change in body weight. 

This is a great way to figure out how many calories you burn, as it’s calculated based on what’s happening in your body, rather than estimating your energy expenditure using your height, weight, and activity level.

Having this information allows the app to tell you exactly how much you need to eat to reach any goal, based on your current energy expenditure. You can also use a coached, collaborative, or custom program, where you set your health goals (weight loss, weight gain, or maintenance), and the app will monitor your progress and suggest changes to your macros to keep you on track.

It’s not the cheapest food tracker, but the interface, fast barcode scanning, and energy expenditure tracking with built-in coaching are well worth the cost. 

Best Calorie Counter App for Weight Loss: Fat Secret

Good for: People focused on weight loss

Best for Weight Loss

FatSecret

GGR Score: 4.18

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Product Highlights

• Calorie counting app for Android and Apple
• Free version allows calorie and food tracking with large database of food
• Premium version includes advanced meal planning and dietitian-created meal plans
• Large community with journals and articles

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Lots to offer in the free version
• Large database of food nutrition information
• Aren’t asked to upgrade often

Cons

• Foods’ nutrition information hasn’t come from a verified database
• Premium version doesn’t offer much on top of free version

Bottom Line

FatSecret is a calorie counting app available on both Apple and Android phones. It has a pretty robust free version that allows you to track calories and foods through a large food database. The premium version includes advanced meal planning as well as meal plans created by registered dietitians.

Fat Secret, as the name implies, is the best app for managing calorie intake for anyone currently focusing on weight loss goals. The interface is similar to many of the other apps on our list. You can access food journals, easily log your food, and track your calories and macros over time as you work toward your goal.

Other notable features in this free app include a barcode scanner, image recognition that allows you to track your food by taking a photo of it, an exercise diary, fitness tracker integration, and more. 

Our tester, Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, was very impressed by the meal plans provided in the premium version. These plans are perfect for those who wish to lose weight but are unsure of what to eat each day. 

“I really like that this app offers customized meal plans like vegetarian, keto, Mediterranean, etc., all from an RD, and for a really low cost that starts at under $7/month,” Kate said. “If you subscribe to Premium, you can get a week of pre-planned meals and a shopping list. Not only that but the food is automatically entered into your diary, so all you have to do is make tweaks instead of entering everything.”

If you’re looking for an app to help you lose weight that tracks your food and can provide pre-made meal plans for you to follow, Fat Secret is a great option. 

RELATED: Macros for Weight Loss

Best Calorie Counter App for Muscle Gain: MyFitnessPal

Good for: Anyone looking to build muscle and strength

Best for Muscle Gain

MyFitnessPal

GGR Score: 4.42

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Product Highlights

• Nutrition and fitness tracking app
• Calorie and macro counter
• Syncs your data from popular fitness apps
• Vast database of nutrition labels and food

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Free and premium accounts available
• Find and track virtually any food
• Create and store your homemade recipes
• Track recipes from your favorite cooking websites

Cons

• Free version doesn’t allow barcode scanning
• Free version doesn’t feature Macro Goals
• Monthly subscription is costly

Bottom Line

MyFitnessPal is one of the OG calorie counting apps on the market. The free version is available for looking up food per item and creating recipes, but does not allow you access to the barcode scanner. The Premium version grants you access to macronutrient data, intermittent fasting, food comparison, and the barcode scanner. The Premium plan offers a significant price break if you sign up for the annual plan at $79.99 per year compared to the monthly plan, which is $19.99 per month.

MyFitnessPal is one of the most popular calorie counter apps on the market, if not the single most popular app. It has a clean interface, it’s extremely easy to use and beginner-friendly, and can track exercise, steps, and more.

The paid version also has all the features we’d expect to see in an app, including the ability to set your own custom macros, use the barcode scanner, track your body weight and progress over time, and more, but it does have two things we need to call out. 

The first is the public food database. Anyone can add their own food entries, and there’s no way to tell if the one you’re choosing is correct. Some food entries will have a green checkmark to show it’s been verified with a food database, but it’s still confusing.

Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, tested this app and quickly noticed this as well. She said, “The one issue is that users can add foods, and those will show up when you search, and you might have to dig to really figure out which one is the right one.”

The second thing is the premium plan, which isn’t cheap at $19.99 per month or $79.99 per year. While there is a free version, it’s quite limited and doesn’t allow you to use the barcode scanner or set your own macros. 

If you’re willing to pay the membership fee, this app is still very easy to use with a clean interface and one of the most user-friendly calorie-counting apps we’ve tested. 

Even though the database can be hard to verify, we felt this was a bigger issue when looking to lose weight as calories need to be more precise, so we still recommend MyFitnessPal for those currently working on intentional weight gain.

Best Calorie Counter App With Recipes: WeightWatchers

Good for: Those looking for food and meal planning ideas

Best for Recipes

WeightWatchers

GGR Score: 4.23

Community Score: 5

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Product Highlights

• Designed specifically for weight loss
• Targeted quizzes to find the right plan for you
• Two membership options, starting at $23 per month
• Online-only or hybrid memberships available
• Works on a point budget system—no “off-limit” foods
• 24/7 support chat

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Point system allows you to tailor the plans to your preferences
• Online or hybrid options provide more flexibility
• Can choose a plan that works within your budget
• Includes an app for easier tracking

Cons

• Assigning Points to food is hard to translate to real-world eating when off the plan
• Tracking can be tedious
• Requires weekly weigh-ins, which can be problematic for some

Bottom Line

WeightWatchers is a flexible weight loss program that allows you to tailor your diet and lifestyle to your needs and preferences. There are two membership options: one for those who prefer in-person support, and one for those who are looking for an online program.

One of the biggest challenges people tend to face when attempting to improve their nutrition is figuring out what to eat. If you’re changing your normal eating habits, you’ll probably be eating different food, and constantly tracking down new recipes to avoid food boredom isn’t always easy. 

Thankfully, the WeightWatchers app has features to support those on a weight loss journey, including thousands of recipes ready to log. 

RELATED: Noom vs Weight Watchers

Now, this isn’t technically a calorie-counting app, but rather an app that uses WeightWatchers’ point-tracking system. Rather than tracking the number of calories in a given food, users are assigned a daily points goal, and each food, meal, or recipe is worth a certain number of points. 

All you need to do is avoid going over your daily point goal, which may be easier for some than tracking macros or calories. 

Our tester, Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, was very impressed by the large recipe database, along with several other key features, giving a 5-out-of-5-star rating to both the features and community scores. 

“There are more than 11,000 recipes, and you can track all kinds of activities. It syncs with Apple Health and other platforms as well, so you don’t have to manually input exercise,” Kate said. “There’s also a huge community on social, in the app, and just with the millions of people who have used it.”

If you like the idea of tracking points instead of calories or macros, and want to try an app that includes over 11,000 recipes for you to try, WeightWatchers is a great app to consider. 

For more, check out our complete Weight Watchers review.

Best Calorie Counter App for Intermittent Fasting: Lifesum

Good for: Those who want to track fasting and feeding windows

Best for Intermittent Fasting

Lifesum App

GGR Score: 3.87

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Product Highlights

• Diet and food tracker app
• Free tracking app with premium subscription plan for meal plans and more
• Weekly life score with premium for a snapshot of how you’re doing
• Available on Android and iOS

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Multiple meal plans for different goals: Lose weight, gain weight, and maintain weight
• Customers found app intuitive and easy to use
• Meal plans comes with shopping list

Cons

• No monthly subscription options
• No personalized coaching
• No free trial for premium version
• Limited features on the free version
• Mixed reviews on accuracy of barcode scanner

Bottom Line

The Lifesum app is a food tracking app with free and premium versions. The free version has extremely limited features, essentially just tracking food, exercise, water, and weight. The premium version provides meal plans and daily and weekly scores so users can track their progress. Customers generally found the app easy to use and intuitive. They were frustrated there was no free trial available for the premium subscription.

Intermittent fasting, the practice of intentionally going without food for long periods of time, is a popular dieting approach that many embrace in their efforts to maintain a healthy body weight. 

While you can technically use any app to track your food while fasting, Lifesum makes this an easy process. You can choose different fasting styles, and the app will automatically adjust your macros to account for the fast. It also includes a fasting timer to keep track of how long you’ve gone without food and show when you’ve entered ketosis, which is when your body starts burning fat for energy. 

I tested Lifesum myself, and along with the fasting features, I like the app’s emphasis on food education and food quality. You can take a life test, which asks a variety of questions about how often you ate specific foods in the past week, such as various fruits and vegetables, and assigns a score based on how balanced your diet is. There are also plenty of meal plans and recipes to help you with easy food ideas, and you can track your exercise and water intake.

My biggest issue is that the app’s free version is cluttered with annoying pop-up ads. It’s great to have a free version for users, but when key areas of the screen are covered, or you can’t view the screen without viewing an ad first, I want to close the app immediately. 

The paid version is a beautiful, simple app, and I’d love to give it a 5 out of 5 for ease of use and functionality, but with how messy the free plan is, I have to bring this down to a 3 out of 5. 

If you’re willing to pay for an app, I think Lifesum is a great option for tracking calories and macros, especially if you practice intermittent fasting. However, if you plan on using the free version, I would try any other app on this list that doesn’t rely on so many ads. 

Best Calorie Counter App for Keto: Carb Manager

Good for: Individuals following the keto diet

Best for Keto

Carb Manager

GGR Score: 4.4

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Product Highlights

• Diet tracker app specializing in low-carb, keto, and paleo diets
• Features calculator for macros, calories, and net carbs
• Nutrition info of over one million foods
• Unlimited barcode scans
• Measure and log exercise, weight loss, and BMI
• Premium version includes micronutrient tracker, diabetes tracker, and advanced reports
• Premium version billed annually

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Integrates with FitBit, Garmin, and other fitness trackers
• Lots of included foods, articles, and recipes in free version
• Macronutrient goals can be adjusted beyond just keto

Cons

• Only annual billing option
• No refunds after 7 days

Bottom Line

Carb Manager is a food tracking app geared towards low-carb and keto diets, although you can set your macronutrient goals to your preference. It allows you to track macros, as well as chart weight loss progress and scan in nutrition information through a barcode. The premium option is billed annually, and includes tracking of micronutrients, blood glucose, and access to more recipes.

Carb Manager is a great calorie-counter app to try if you’re following the keto diet or simply want to reduce your carbohydrate intake. 

While it tracks all of your macros, the emphasis is on tracking carbohydrates, which is the most important thing to watch for anyone on the keto diet. The app uses net carbs, which subtracts fiber from the total carb intake, a strategy often followed by those on carb-restricted plans. 

GGR Senior Staff Writer Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-1, tried this app, and while he was impressed with the features, he noted that several weren’t obvious right away. 

“The app is pretty easy to use, although there is a lot to navigate,” said Caine. “Premium features are clearly marked, and you’re prompted to purchase premium if you try a feature. It’d probably take a bit of fiddling to learn about all the features, like tracking workouts to estimate calories burned.”

Carb Manager can suggest a meal plan, track various types of intermittent fasting, and include an easy-to-use barcode scanner. It also offers thousands of low-carb, keto-friendly recipes to try, and educational content for those new to the keto diet. 

The free version is somewhat limited, so most users will want the paid plan. The monthly plan costs $8.49, though you can purchase a quarterly or annual plan to bring down the cost.

If you love the keto diet or want to learn more about it and try it out, Carb Manager is the app to try.

Other Calorie Counter Apps We Researched

There are plenty of calorie counter apps to choose from, but we simply couldn’t include them all. Here are a few that came close, but didn’t quite make the cut.

• Noom – We like Noom as a weight loss program, but it focuses more on food psychology and behavior and pairs you with an accountability coach. This is more than someone who simply wants a calorie counter will need. 
• Healthi App – Healthi offers weight loss plans and allows users to track calories and macros, but it received a lower score based on our testing methodology than the other apps on our list.
• Foodvisor – The app is very easy to use, but our tester found that the food database wasn’t always accurate, and the option to log food by taking a photo didn’t work well.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Calorie Counter Apps

We didn’t just choose these apps off a list, we carefully used and tested each. 

Here are a few of the most important factors we look for when evaluating a nutrition app, which we used to assign scores and determine the top eight apps. 

Ease of Use

Is this app easy to use, or do you need to watch tutorials to figure it out? Most people want something simple and easy to use without too much of a learning curve, so we prioritized apps that are very intuitive and easy. 

Some of the apps we chose may have more advanced tracking features available, but each should be quick to set up if you’re simply looking to record your food intake.  

Progress Tracking

If you’re counting your calories, you’re probably working toward some kind of body composition goal. While all of these apps can record your food, we wanted to include apps that allow you to track all sorts of progress, including measurements, scale weight, progress photos, and more, allowing you to record most of your health and fitness data in one place.

Food Database Accuracy

Finally, an accurate nutrition database is tremendously helpful, especially for those new to nutrition and calorie counting. 

While an app like MyFitnessPal is user-friendly in almost every single way, the food database includes custom user entries, which means you may be combing through dozens of entries for the same food if there’s no verified option. On the other hand, paid apps like MacroFactor may not be free, but the verified food database can save you plenty of time when logging your calories.   

Benefits of the Best Calorie Counter Apps

Logging everything you eat on a phone app may seem inconvenient, but apps can be a useful tool to help you reach your calorie goals. Here are a few of the biggest reasons you may want to consider using a nutrition app. 

I’ve worked with hundreds of clients over the years who’ve benefited from using these apps, and to get another opinion, I also spoke with Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD, the head of performance nutrition for the NBA G League Ignite, to see what she thinks of these apps.

Improved Food Awareness

Even if you aren’t focused on any particular weight goal, tracking your food is a great way to build food awareness and make good dietary choices. It’s no secret that the average American diet isn’t always the healthiest, so tracking your food, even for a short period of time, can be a good way to clean things up.

In my first college nutrition course, we were required to keep a food log for two weeks, which was my first experience tracking everything I ate. This eye-opening experience helped me make a few major changes to improve my overall nutrition intake. 

Destini had a similar experience, saying, “Tracking food can be an educational tool in that it can open people’s eyes to the true macro and calorie content of their food. When I was on a cut in grad school and using MyFitnessPal (my personal favorite tracking app) to help me track my protein and fat intake, even as a nutrition student I was shocked at how many grams of fat were contained in a cup of oats, and quickly discovered that this food alone was probably hindering my fat loss.”

Just like tracking your spending can help you accurately assess your financial situation and set a budget, being honest and looking at food logs is a good way to quantify your eating and ensure it’s aligned with your goals.

RELATED: What Should My Macros Be?

Easier Time Reaching Your Goals

For those trying to lose weight, a calorie deficit is key, and tracking your food helps ensure you’re staying in a deficit and reaching your goals as quickly as possible. There’s nothing worse than putting in the mental effort of dieting, only to see no results because you’re still eating too much food. 

Whether you’re focused on weight management, athletic performance, or muscle gain, proper nutrition is one of the most important factors.

Destini offered her own insight on the topic as a sports dietitian who regularly works with athletes who need precision and accuracy to reach their goals as quickly as possible. 

“As a sports dietitian, I’m intimately familiar with how tight control of your calories and macros can make or break body composition changes,” Destini said. “Even the smallest inconsistencies in your diet can significantly slow fat loss or muscle gain progress. That’s why I recommend that anyone with the time use a food tracking app to track their intake when possible.”

If your goal is weight loss, tracking your food may be the best way to see results. This 2017 study¹ looked at participants in a 12-month weight management program, comparing those who rarely tracked, inconsistently tracked over the year, or consistently tracked food for the entire 12 months. Only the group that consistently tracked their food lost significant weight.

Improved Nutritional Balance

If you’re not logging your food intake, knowing exactly how many nutrients you’re consuming is impossible. While most of us don’t have to worry about major nutrient deficiencies if we’re including whole foods in our diets, certain diets can sometimes be restrictive. 

For example, removing an entire food group can lead to very low intakes of important nutrients like fiber or healthy fats. That’s why many calorie-counting apps can alert you if your diet seems to be missing any key food groups, vitamins, or minerals, helping make sure you’re not missing anything important.

What to Look for in a Calorie Counter App

If you’re having trouble choosing a calorie counter from our list, here are a few of the most important factors to consider. 

Cost

While many of the best calorie counter apps have a monthly fee, there are certainly free versions available, though certain features are often locked without a premium subscription. 

That said, the monthly cost can vary greatly, and there’s often a discount if you pay for a year in full. We suggest trying a few apps to see which you like the most, and which you’re most likely to stick with, and purchasing a year upfront to get the best savings. 

Barcode Scanner

For those who have never tried a calorie counting app with a barcode scanner, the scanner allows you to import the nutrition information of most commercial foods by simply scanning the barcode. 

This will typically bring up the nutrition information, and you can simply enter the serving size you consumed to log your food. Compared to manually entering all of the information, a barcode scanner can save you significant amounts of time, especially if you’re entering food throughout the day. 

Custom Macros

While many simply want to track their calories, some users may have macronutrient goals they’re aiming for. If you want to track your macros and customize your macro targets, make sure the app you’re choosing allows you to do so. 

Every app on our list allows you to do this, but some apps only allow premium members to change their macro targets. If you’re going to be using a free app, you’ll want to make sure this feature is available if custom macros are important for your goals. 

Automatic Diet Adjustments

Counting calories is usually associated with a specific body composition goal, such as losing body fat, increasing lean muscle mass, or both. Most apps will calculate a basic target based on your body stats, but they may or may not adjust the macros for you along the way. 

Some apps on our list, like MacroFactor, allow you to set your goal weight. The app will automatically adjust your macro targets to keep you on track as you progress toward your goal. This is a powerful tool for anyone uncomfortable adjusting their nutrition plan and not ready to hire a nutritionist or registered dietitian. 

Best Calorie Counter Apps: FAQs

References

1. Ingels, J. S., Misra, R., Stewart, J., Lucke-Wold, B., & Shawley-Brzoska, S. (2017). The Effect of Adherence to Dietary Tracking on Weight Loss: Using HLM to Model Weight Loss over Time. Journal of diabetes research, 2017, 6951495. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6951495
2. Hahn, S. L., Linxwiler, A. N., Huynh, T., Rose, K. L., Bauer, K. W., & Sonneville, K. R. (2021). Impacts of dietary self-monitoring via MyFitnessPal to undergraduate women: A qualitative study. Body image, 39, 221–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.08.010

For heavy sweaters, fighting the battle against sweat and body odor can be tough. Fortunately, the team at GGR has tested top deodorant and antiperspirant brands to bring you our picks for the best deodorants for men. We’ve had the men on our team—certified personal trainers, coaches, and athletes—try out these brands and use them before runs, lifting workouts, or leisurely strolls.

RELATED: Best Gym Shoes for Men

Whether it’s a nice scent you’re looking for, or some sweat protection, we have you covered. Read on for our top deodorants for men.

We intend the term “men” to include all men, including trans men. However, we recognize that almost all research on this topic has focused on cis men (i.e., men who are not trans). For that reason, when we reference gender-based research and nutritional recommendations, we will clarify by saying “cis men.” We encourage trans and nonbinary people of all genders to check in with a trans-competent nutritionist regarding their supplements and training needs.

The 10 Best Deodorants for Men

• Best Deodorant for Men Overall: Dove Men+ Care Antiperspirant
• Best Deodorant for Men for Odor Protection: Mitchum Men’s Deodorant Antiperspirant
• Best Clinical Strength Deodorant for Men: Degree Men Clinical Strength Protection
• Best Roll-On Deodorant for Men: Certain Dri Prescription Strength Antiperspirant Roll-On Deodorant
• Best Deodorant Spray for Men: Ursa Major Natural Spray Deodorant
• Best Aluminum-Free Deodorant for Men: Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant for Men
• Best Natural Deodorant for Men: Native Whole Body Deodorant
• Best Budget Deodorant for Men: Degree Men UltraClear Antiperspirant
• Best Men’s Deodorant for Workouts: Old Spice Original
• Best-Smelling Deodorant for Men: Jack Black Pit Boss

Best Deodorant for Men Overall: Dove Men+ Care

Good for: Those looking for solid protection and a pleasant scent from their deodorant stick

Best Overall

Dove Men Plus Care Antiperspirant Clean Comfort 72-Hour

GGR Score: 4.21

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Product Highlights

• Dove’s deodorant and antiperspirant combination
• New aluminum-free formula
• 72-hour protection
• Also includes vitamin E and moisturizer

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Available in 6 different scents
• Also available in travel size
• Dermatologist tested
• PETA cruelty-free—not tested on animals

Cons

• Longtime customers frustrated by new formula
• Customers find it does not last 72 hours as claimed
• Some customers experienced skin irritation
• Mixed reviews on effectiveness

Bottom Line

Dove Men Care features a new aluminum-free formula available in 6 different scents. Customer reviews disagree about the effectiveness of this deodorant, with multiple customers stating they had to reapply throughout the day. However, most agree that the deodorant does not provide 72 hours of protection as advertised. Some customers also experienced skin irritation.

Dove Men+ Care gets our overall pick for its well-roundedness. Available as an antiperspirant or deodorant, it can provide sweat protection and a nice scent that lasts throughout the day. Having used the Clean Comfort and Extra Fresh scents of their deodorants myself, the odor protection has lasted through pretty laborious Olympic lifting workouts and days at the gym.

Staff writer Matt Dustin, CES, PN1-NC, tried out the Paradiso Sunrise deodorant and liked the scent it provided. “It’s not too overbearing,” he says. “It has a nice, mild scent.” He rates the scent a 4 out of 5.

While the odor protection lasted throughout the day for Matt, it didn’t last quite as long as the 72 hours the deodorant stick claims on its label. “At the end of the day, the scent started to fade a bit,” Matt explains, rating the protection a 4 out of 5.

The stick applies easily, leading Matt to rate the ease of application a 5 out of 5. “It can leave some residue, but overall it’s very comfortable and easy to wear. It’s not chalky like other sticks can be,” he adds.

The antiperspirant does contain aluminum and the deodorant contains alcohol, which can be an irritant. While Matt didn’t notice any issues, if you are avoiding metals or alcohols in your odor protection, you may need to opt for a more natural solution—especially if you have sensitive skin. But for about $6 a stick, this is a solid option for most guys.

Best Deodorant for Men for Odor Protection: Mitchum Men’s Deodorant Antiperspirant

Good for: Men who want a long-lasting deodorant to prevent odors and sweat

Best for Odor Protection

Mitchum Men’s Deodorant Triple Odor Defense

GGR Score: 4.17

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Product Highlights

• Combination antiperspirant and deodorant
• Triple odor defense: Heat, stress, and motion
• 5 different scents

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Dermatologist tested
• Affordable
• Can purchase in a variety of stores
• Available in 5 different scents, including unscented

Cons

• Mixed reviews on scents
• Customer reviews stated it isn’t strong enough to last all day or on extremely hot days

Bottom Line

Mitchum Triple Odor Defense is both an antiperspirant and a deodorant. There are 5 different scents, including unscented. Customer reviews were very mixed on the scents and generally found this to not be a powerful antiperspirant. Customers in hot climates said it didn’t work all day and often resorted to other products.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from competing in Olympic weightlifting for the last 25 years, it’s that I can sweat a lot. OK, so I probably learned other things, but I’ve always been a heavy sweater in the gym, and with that comes a bit of body odor after a long session. 

Our pick to fight body odor is Mitchum Men’s Deodorant Antiperspirant, which claims 48 hours of protection. I got to try this antiperspirant and found it to be pretty accurate—although the Intense Energy scent didn’t last quite as long. Still, for a couple of days, it protected my armpits and kept odors at bay. I rate the protection a 5 out of 5.

The Intense Energy scent is nice, a little floral and clean. It’s not overpowering or wildly strong, but my wife complimented me on the scent (a couple of times) so I’ve got to give it high marks for its scent: a 4 out of 5. Being an antiperspirant, it has a thicker consistency, but it’s still easy enough to put on, leading me to rate the application another 4 out of 5.

Since aluminum is currently under fire for potentially being a toxic substance (although research is limited¹), I’d understand if you wanted to avoid this stick and other antiperspirants. Choose an aluminum-free deodorant instead. Nevertheless, at $5 for a stick, this is a pretty good value for an antiperspirant with long-lasting odor protection.

Best Clinical Strength Deodorant for Men: Degree Men Clinical Strength Protection

Good for: Heavy sweaters who need lengthy protection in their deodorant and antiperspirant

Best Clinical Strength

Degree Men Antiperspirant Sport Strength

GGR Score: 4.1

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Product Highlights

• Prescription-strength antiperspirant
• Features Degree MotionSense Technology
• Available in 2 scents: Sport Strength and Clean

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Motion sense technology that releases scent as you move
• Prescription-strength
• Customers found the product effective

Cons

• Applicator is uncomfortable
• Multiple customers on Amazon ordered a 2-pack and only got 1
• More expensive than other clinical strength deodorants

Bottom Line

Degree Clinical Protection Deodorant and Antiperspirant provides 72 hours of protection. Degree recommends applying two clicks at night. Customers found the deodorant and antiperspirant to be effective. However, they found the applicator difficult to use and uncomfortable.

If you constantly deal with excessive sweating, you may need a powerful deodorant or antiperspirant to provide maximum protection throughout your day. Degree Men Clinical Strength Protection does just that, claiming up to 72 hours of protection from sweating and odor. 

GGR head of content Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, had her husband Rob try out this deodorant, and he mentions, “It easily lasted longer than a day.” He rates the level of protection a perfect 5 out of 5.

Rob and Nicole were both big fans of the scent as well, giving the scent top marks as well. Rob used the Clean scent, and says, “It definitely smells clean, like the name suggests.” Rob was a big fan of this deodorant, and would buy this again.

This antiperspirant is more of a powder; as you wind up the stick, the deodorant is pushed through holes. Rob still rates the application a 4 out of 5, although he prefers normal deodorant sticks. Rob also preferred the antiperspirant to deodorants that contain alcohol, which commonly irritate his skin. It still has aluminum, though, leading him to rate the formulation a 4 out of 5.

The main drawback is the price—nearly $7 for a stick. With that said, it’s clinical strength, long-lasting, and lives up to the claim, making it worth the cost for some users.

Best Roll-On Deodorant for Men: Certain Dri Prescription Strength Clinical Antiperspirant Roll-On Deodorant

Good for: People who prefer a roll-on for easy application

Best Roll-On

Certain Dri Prescription Strength Clinical Antiperspirant

GGR Score: 4.17

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Product Highlights

• Clinical strength antiperspirant for excessive sweating
• Fragrance-free
• Features 15% aluminum chloride

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clinical strength
• Also available in a spray and stick form
• Affordable compared to other clinical strength antiperspirant
• Certified cruelty-free by PETA

Cons

• Only available without scent
• Some customers experienced burning and itching
• Can’t apply immediately after showering, shaving, or on broken or irritated skin

Bottom Line

Certain Dri is a clinical-strength antiperspirant featuring 15% aluminum chloride. This product is very strong, and Certain Dri recommends not applying right after a shower, shaving, or on broken and irritated skin. They also note you should apply sparingly at night. Customer reviews found that the Certain Dri worked well to stop sweating. However, multiple customers had to discontinue use because it caused a burning sensation or created skin irritation.

Deodorant sticks and bars can be easy to apply, but can also clump up or leave residue. For a clean application, you can try our favorite roll-on deodorant: Certain Dri Prescription Strength Clinical Antiperspirant. This unscented roll-on applies smoothly and evenly, earning it a 5 out of 5 for its ease of application.

GGR staff writer Matt Dustin, CES, PN1-NC, tried out Certain Dri and says its clinical and prescription strength is no lie. “I didn’t sweat from my armpits for like two days,” he says. “This stuff is crazy.” He rates the protection a solid 5 out of 5.

The roll-on is unscented, and unlike some deodorants that have a smell although they’re marketed as unscented, this actually had no scent. Matt rated it a 5 out of 5, saying, “It’s nice to have an unscented deodorant, so it doesn’t affect the smell of any cologne I might wear.”

Matt, who prefers deodorants instead of antiperspirants, was a little wary of the ingredients, notably the aluminum, which blocks pores from sweating. “I don’t know if that’s the healthiest thing to do, block your sweat for days at a time,” he says. “For that reason, I probably wouldn’t use it again.”

I agree with Matt that if you’re working out, it’s probably better to sweat some; a deodorant might be better in that case. Still, there are times that you want sweat protection. With its clinical strength, this might be the ticket to dry armpits for heavy sweaters.

Best Deodorant Spray for Men: Ursa Major Natural Spray Deodorant

Good for: Men looking for a deodorant spray with natural ingredients

Best Spray

Ursa Major Sublime Natural Spray Deodorant

GGR Score: 3.9

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Product Highlights

• Natural, aluminum-free deodorant
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Uses plants and enzymes to neutralize odor
• Certified Plastic Negative Product: Ursa Major removes two plastic bottles for every bottle sold

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Cruelty-free—not tested on animals
• Made in the United States
• Subscribe and save 10%
• Love it guarantee

Cons

• More expensive than competitors at $20
• Only available in 1.7 fl oz size
• Only 1 scent available
• Mixed reviews on effectiveness and scent
• May experience a 2-3 week detox period with excess sweating if used to traditional deodorant

Bottom Line

Ursa Major Sublime Sage Spray Deodorant is a natural, vegan, and aluminum-free deodorant. It is only available in one scent. Ursa Major notes that you should try the deodorant for 3 weeks as you may experience a detox period if you are switching from a traditional deodorant/antiperspirant. The reviews were very mixed for both scent and effectiveness.

Looking for a deodorant spray? Before you resort to tacky body sprays you used in high school, check out Ursa Major Natural Deodorant.

Not only is this deodorant a spray, but Ursa Major makes their products cruelty-free, never testing on animals. The company is also a certified B corporation, meaning you can rest assured that they’re honest and transparent about their products. This impressed Shane Johnson, husband of GGR editor Frieda Johnson, CNC, SET, who tested out Ursa Major’s spray deodorant.

For the ingredients and formula, it gets a near-perfect 4.75 out of 5. Made with essential oils—sage, lemon myrtle, and geranium—and natural ingredients, the spray does contain alcohol, which can be irritating to some people. “I didn’t have any issues, though,” says Shane.

The sage scent earned a 5 out of 5 from Shane, who says, “I liked the scent a lot. Not too floral, but not too much musk either.” He adds, “There’s no alcohol smell to it either.”

The spray applies easily, although it takes a minute to dry. Shane mentions that the spray has a fine dispersal which covers a broad area. “Just one or two sprays is all you need; more than that makes it leave a sticky residue,” says Shane.

Our main gripe is the price. At $20, this is expensive deodorant—only earning a 1 out of 5 for its cost. Still, for natural ingredients and cruelty-free production, this spray is a great choice.

Best Aluminum-Free Deodorant for Men: Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant for Men

Good for: Those who want odor protection without the sweat-blocking properties of aluminum

Best Aluminum Free

Tom’s of Maine Complete Protection Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant for Men

GGR Score: 4.26

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Product Highlights

• Vegan, natural, and aluminum-free deodorant
• Contains aloe vera
• 11 different scents available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 11 different scents, including unscented
• Not tested on animals
• Container made with 100% recycled plastic
• Dermatologist tested
• No parabens, artificial colors, fragrances, or preservatives

Cons

• Only a deodorant—no antiperspirant ingredients
• More expensive than other deodorants
• Longtime customers dislike the new formula found in the new packaging

Bottom Line

Tom’s of Maine is a natural, aluminum-free deodorant designed to provide 48 hours of protection. Customers generally liked the scents. However, there were very mixed reviews on the effectiveness of the deodorant. Reviewers also mentioned that the deodorant left stains on their shirts.

Although research is limited, there are major concerns for aluminum being a toxic ingredient—although the chance of its toxicity depends on the metal entering the body—which would be very rare for a topical application. Still, this leads to many people opting for aluminum-free deodorant. Our pick for the best aluminum-free deodorant is Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant for Men.

While trying out this deodorant for myself, the first thing I noticed was the abundance of unique scents. Along with common scents like Mountain Spring or Deep Forest, there was also the scent I used: Eucalyptus and Sandalwood. I’m a fan of woodsy smells, so the sandalwood was a great touch, and the eucalyptus scent was very present. It’s not a common smell in deodorants, but I quickly became a fan of the minty scent, rating it a 5 out of 5.

It was easy to apply, and very smooth in its application, earning another 5 out of 5. Being a deodorant with naturally derived ingredients, it didn’t last as long as clinical strength sticks, maybe losing its scent after a few hours. Still, this was long enough to last through my most intense workouts, so it still earned a 3 out of 5 for its protection.

At about $7 for a stick, it’s one of the pricier deodorant brands we’ve tested out. However, Tom’s of Maine is a B-certified company, and the deodorant has decent ingredients (aside from alcohol, which still didn’t irritate my skin). All things considered, this is a solid deodorant with a nice smell.

Best Natural Deodorant for Men: Native Whole Body Deodorant

Good for: Those with sensitive skin who need to avoid skin irritants

Best Natural

Native Whole Body Deodorant Stick

GGR Score: 3.73

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Product Highlights

• Natural whole-body deodorant
• No aluminum, parabens, baking soda, or talc
• Vegan and cruelty-free—not tested on animals
• 4 scents, including unscented

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Available in 4 scents, including unscented
• Subscribe and save 15%
• Available as both a stick and a spray

Cons

• More expensive than other deodorants
• Only deodorant—no antiperspirant ingredients
• Mixed reviews on effectiveness

Bottom Line

Native Whole Body Deodorant is available as both a stick and a spray. It is a natural formula made without aluminum or other antiperspirant ingredients. Customer reviews were mixed on the effectiveness. Customers who have used Native’s traditional underarm deodorant found the whole-body deodorant to be less effective.

Men with sensitive skin, or those who are conscious of what they put on their body, may want a deodorant that’s all-natural. Native has you covered with their Whole Body Deodorant. Their unscented deodorant, which GGR staff writer and nutrition coach Matt Dustin tried, has a simple list of ingredients: coconut oil, shea butter, tapioca, and essential oils.

Matt liked the unscented deodorant, giving the deodorant a 5 out of 5 for its (lack of) scent. It also applies pretty easily, “although it’s a little thick,” says Matt. Native earns a 4 out of 5 for its application.

Being a natural deodorant, it doesn’t have the long-lasting protection of stronger antiperspirants, but Matt rates the protection a 3 out of 5. “You’ll still sweat with this deodorant,” he says, adding, “I let my girlfriend try it out, and she felt that it lasted for about half of the day.” For a natural deodorant, that’s not too shabby.

RELATED: Best Detergent for Sweaty Clothes

At nearly $13 per stick, this is an expensive deodorant stick, although it may be worth it to you to be able to read a list of simple ingredients without polysyllabic scientific words.

Best Budget Deodorant for Men: Degree Men UltraClear Antiperspirant Deodorant

Good for: Those looking for a budget-friendly price on a quality deodorant

Best Budget

Degree Men UltraClear Antiperspirant 72-Hour Protection

GGR Score: 3.96

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Product Highlights

• Ultra-clear antiperspirant and deodorant
• Features Degree MotionSense Technology and anti-white mark and yellow stain technology
• 4 scents available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Motion sense technology that releases scent as you move
• Available in 4 scents
• Also available as a spray

Cons

• Customer reviews noted that the stick left stains
• Mixed reviews on scent and effectiveness
• New packaging features a new formula that longtime users disliked

Bottom Line

Degree Ultraclear Black White is both a deodorant and an antiperspirant with a new formula. Longtime users disliked the new formula, which switched from aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex to aluminum sesquichlorohydrate. Customers also found that the deodorant stained their clothes and left white marks.

With deodorants being comparable to cosmetics like toothpaste, body wash, or shampoo, some men are concerned more about getting the best deal. Our budget pick does just that. Degree Men UltraClear Antiperspirant Deodorant provides good protection while averaging about $4 per stick. (There are many value pack options available on Amazon, so make sure you compare them to find your best price.)

Degree UltraClear is made to prevent marks and discoloration on shirts, a common side effect of some deodorants. It appears to have done well on that front, although GGR staff writer Matt Dustin, CES, PN1-NC, doesn’t like its ease of application, rating it a 3 out of 5. “This is pretty chalky if you use a lot, and it clumps a bit.”

RELATED: How to Get Sweat Smell out of Clothes

The antiperspirant deodorant provides good protection despite being a budget option, leading Matt to rate it a 4 out of 5. “I didn’t sweat for the whole day, so it was solid protection.” He does add, however, “I’m not sure about the odor protection; I didn’t smell bad, but I also rarely do.”

Since this is both an antiperspirant and deodorant, it contains two potentially harmful ingredients: aluminum and alcohol. People with sensitive skin may want to avoid this deodorant and opt for a natural deodorant instead.

Best Men’s Deodorant for Workouts: Old Spice Deo Stick

Good for: Lifters or runners needing odor protection for intense workouts

Best for Workouts

Old Spice Deo Stick

GGR Score: 3.5

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Product Highlights

• Available in 12 different scents
• Features 24-hour protection

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Scents positively reviewed by customers
• More affordable than competitors at less than $4
• Available in 12 different scents

Cons

• Some customers had issues getting incorrect scent and/or amount when ordering from Amazon
• Just a deodorant, not an antiperspirant
• Some customers experienced underarm rash

Bottom Line

Old Spice Deodorant is available in 12 different scents that generally have positive reviews from customers. It is not an antiperspirant, so it does not limit sweating. However, it doesn’t contain aluminum. The customer reviews are mostly positive, but some did experience an underarm rash.

I prefer to use deodorants during my workouts, since I know I’m going to sweat from the intensity and exertion of snatches and clean and jerks. If you’re looking for a decent deodorant for your next strength or cardio session, we recommend Old Spice Deo Stick. Available in a variety of scents, Old Spice deodorant has made a name for itself with a variety of zany commercials. How does their deodorant hold up, though?

Pretty well, from our testing. Its strength is the ease of application. GGR head of content Nicole Davis’ husband Rob Davis tried out the Old Spice Deo Stick, and rated the application a 5 out of 5. “The stick is easy to wind up and the deodorant glides on smoothly,” he says.

Rob got the Original scent, which he wasn’t a fan of. “It’s too much of an old-school scent,” he says. “It’s just not for me.” He rates it a 2 out of 5. I myself have used other scents from Old Spice, and they can be hit or miss. Generally speaking, these are mostly musky scents, so if you’re looking for more floral or mild scents, Old Spice may not fit your preferences.

Being a deodorant, it doesn’t have the long-lasting protection of an antiperspirant, earning it a 3 out of 5. Old Spice was the one deodorant we tested that also had an adverse effect while Rob used it. Old Spice sticks contain alcohol, which can cause irritation or even a burning sensation. I myself have had this happen, although I’ll add that it’s only happened with certain scents. Still, people with sensitive skin may want to avoid this deodorant stick.

Best-Smelling Deodorant for Men: Jack Black Pit Boss

Good for: Guys who prefer a nice scent with decent protection

Best-Smelling

Jack Black Pit Boss Men’s Deodorant

GGR Score: 3.64

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Product Highlights

• Antiperspirant and deodorant designed for sensitive skin
• Features Jack Black’s popular “All-Over” scent
• Also contains Vitamin E and aloe leaf juice

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Both a deodorant and antiperspirant
• Formulated for sensitive skin
• Multiple scents available

Cons

• Customers complained it clumps
• Mixed reviews on scent
• More than $20 dollars, much more expensive than competitors
• Mixed reviews on effectiveness

Bottom Line

Jack Black is a premium skincare company that provides quality products for men. Pit Boss is both a deodorant and antiperspirant but got mixed reviews on its ability to stop sweat. The scent had very mixed reviews. In general, customers found Pit Boss to be too expensive even if they liked the smell and effectiveness.

If you’re wanting a nice, musky scent that’s not overpowering, Jack Black Pit Boss might be your best choice. I tried the Original scent, and it provided a scent almost like cologne, but much more mild. If you’re looking for a scent that won’t overpower the room, this is it. I rate the scent a 4.5 out of 5. It also comes in other more floral scents, if that’s your preference.

Although it’s pricey, I’d say Jack Black (not that Jack Black) Pit Boss is an experience. Unlike many typical stick deodorants, Pit Boss is a round metal stick, which gives it a unique and sleek look compared to most deodorant brands. 

Still, I found the application was a little tough. Using the small circle to apply the antiperspirant didn’t feel like it got my armpit entirely, so I’d have to do several pass-throughs, trying to hit a different spot each time. Because I’m a broader person, I really had to reach to get my pits fully covered. I rate the application a 3.5 out of 5.

It works well as an antiperspirant, lasting all day for me, although the scent may fade a bit beforehand, earning it a 4 out of 5.

The ultimate issue I had with Pit Boss wasn’t the aluminum—the active ingredient in antiperspirants. It was the price; $22 is just a lot for a deodorant, even one with a premium aesthetic like Pit Boss. Still, for the look and smell alone, this might be worth a splurge purchase.

Other Deodorants for Men We Researched

Not every deodorant we’ve researched or tested has made our list of top deodorants for men, although there were certainly some we liked. Here’s another stick or two that we like, but still didn’t quite make the list.

• Harry’s Extra Strength Antiperspirant: This antiperspirant comes in four different scents and contains allantoin to help soothe your skin. However, reviews are a little mixed as to its level of protection, as quite a few people mention it doesn’t last the full 48 hours that it claims.

How We Picked and Tested Deodorants for Men

I’ve used deodorants for years now, and I’m pretty certain I can say that our staff and product testers at GGR have, too. Deodorants are pretty common in people’s toiletries and are a staple in personal care. All that to say that for this roundup of the best deodorants for men, we brought more than our fitness expertise as personal trainers and athletes—we’ve used these products for most of our lives, so we know what’s effective and what to look out for.

To create this list of the best deodorants for men, we researched dozens of different deodorant sticks, roll-ons, and sprays—some we had used previously and some we hadn’t. After selecting top brands, the men on our team tried out about a dozen different deodorants or antiperspirants.

In using the deodorant sticks, we looked at the following aspects, rating them between 1 and 5:

• Cost: Deodorants can vary by price, probably a lot more than you’d expect. The cheapest deodorants usually are under $4, but high-end deodorants can cost $20 or more.
• Scent: Like testing out taste for the best supplements for men, the scent of these deodorants is a subjective rating from our team. Still, we also looked at customer reviews to help determine our score and help make it a bit more objective.
• Ease of application: How easily does the deodorant apply to the underarm? Factors will mostly be from the texture, but the shape of the stick deodorant might help or hinder application. We also noted any clumping that occurred.
• Protection: Deodorants stop body odor, while antiperspirants prevent sweating. How long did the protection last? Some antiperspirant deodorants claim 24, 48, or even 72 hours of protection…we tested how accurate that claim was.
• Ingredients: We looked at active and key ingredients, looking for irritants or harmful chemicals, and noted when deodorants had aluminum, alcohols, or other irritating ingredients. (That said, antiperspirants will always have a form of aluminum as the active ingredient; it’s the only FDA-approved ingredient to prevent sweat.)

We also looked at customer reviews and customer service policies to help narrow down our list. Once final scores were given, we narrowed our list down to the best deodorants you see before you.

Benefits of Deodorants and Antiperspirants

There are two main reasons to use deodorants or antiperspirants: preventing excessive sweating and blocking body odor. Deodorants are made to reduce body odor, while antiperspirants reduce sweat. Some sticks are both antiperspirants and deodorants, enabling them to do both.

The Food and Drug Administration² classifies deodorants and antiperspirants differently due to their intended purpose. Deodorants are classified as cosmetics used for cleansing or beautification. On the other hand, antiperspirants are considered a drug since they’re used to alter the body’s function (in this case, preventing the body from sweating). Because of this, companies must get FDA approval before releasing a new antiperspirant.

Reducing Sweat

Sweating is a natural way for our bodies to cool down in warmer climates or to reduce excess heat. Typically a warmer area on the body, your armpits have more sweat glands, which can cause excessive sweating in certain cases. 

Because excess sweat can soak through shirts and clothing, people may wish to reduce their sweating, which is where antiperspirants come in. Antiperspirants use aluminum to block the sweat glands from producing more sweat.

There has been some concern that blocking sweat in one area may hinder the body’s ability to regulate its core temperature properly. Studies have shown³, however, that blocking sweat in the axillary area (armpits) had no effect on the body’s regulation of its temperature when exposed to warmer temperatures.

Reducing Smell

Sweat can add to body odor, although sweat in itself isn’t malodorous. When bacteria on your skin breaks down sweat particles, the process creates odors, which is where body odor comes from. The moist warmth in your armpits is an ideal environment for bacteria to cultivate, leading to them breaking down sweat and causing body odor in those areas.

Sweat from your apocrine glands⁴ in particular—located in the armpits, the groin, and the nipple area—can be abundant with proteins, which are easier for bacteria to break down.

While an antiperspirant can help reduce the amount of sweat that bacteria can break down, deodorants are made to help neutralize odors. Usually alcohol-based, deodorants make the surface of your skin acidic, which bacteria don’t like as much. There are also scents and perfumes to help mask odors.

What To Look For in Deodorants for Men

Although deodorants for men seem to be a commonplace item and a no-brainer, there are a lot of things to consider—notably the type of deodorant or antiperspirant, plus the type of ingredients you may want to avoid.

Antiperspirant vs Deodorant

First off, do you want an antiperspirant or a deodorant? An antiperspirant actually blocks sweat from being produced, while a deodorant neutralizes body odor—although it keeps you sweating.

If you’re commonly doing activities that’ll make you sweat anyway, you may want to consider a deodorant instead. I myself will typically use deodorant prior to a workout, since I know I’m sweating through my shirt completely after a tough Olympic weightlifting workout. 

However, if you’re wanting to prevent any obnoxious sweating during times you’d rather avoid it, an antiperspirant may be better for you. I’ll opt for an antiperspirant during church or another event where I’m not working out.

There are also differences in ingredients between the two. Speaking of which…

Ingredients

Deodorants and antiperspirants have been around for a long time, and there hasn’t been a lot of innovation in the field—until the past few decades. Some more common ingredients have come under scrutiny as to safety concerns for users; others are known to be irritants, especially to anyone with sensitive skin.

Let’s go over some common (and not-so-common) ingredients and why people may want to steer clear of them. Before completely shunning certain ingredients or deodorants entirely, talk to a dermatologist to fully understand the potential risks.

Aluminum

The largest talking point for ingredients in deodorants and antiperspirants is aluminum, the active ingredient in antiperspirants. Commonly found in a stick as aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium, aluminum has been widely regarded as toxic and possibly promoting breast cancer.

However, its toxicity to humans is dependent on penetrating the skin. As a topical agent, aluminum has been shown¹ to have an extremely low chance of transmitting into the skin. However, zirconium salts, commonly used with aluminum, have been found to be toxic, and are partly regulated in Europe. Ultimately, more research needs to be done.

Men—or any indviduals—who want to avoid aluminum can simply switch to aluminum-free deodorant.

Parabens

Parabens are antimicrobial agents used to preserve cosmetics, medicine, and food. They’ve been a topic of controversy since they’ve been shown as toxic in animal and in vitro studies, according to a 2021 review⁵. 

The same review, however, also says this doesn’t mean there’s a direct correlation to human toxicity, as studies have shown parabens to be non-teratogenic (causing issues or defects during pregnancy), non-mutagenic (causing genetic mutations), and non-carcinogenic (causing cancer). For now, certain parabens are still deemed safe for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, but consumers may still want to avoid them, especially now that many brands are releasing paraben-free deodorants.

Propylene Glycol and Alcohols

Propylene glycol is a common alcohol used in deodorants as an emulsifier. However, propylene glycol—and other alcohols that may be used in deodorant sticks—are also known irritants and allergens⁶ for users. People with sensitive skin may want to look for alcohol-free alternatives, or deodorants with aloe, vitamin E, or other moisturizers used to soothe skin.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are becoming a popular skincare alternative for a natural deodorant. Natural ingredients often avoid common irritants, and the oils are able to mask odor and fight bacteria, making them a decent alternative to traditional deodorant. Essential oils can still be irritating to those with sensitive skin, however, so you may need to opt for a fragrance-free option.

Form

Although the most common form is a deodorant stick, deodorants come in a variety of ways: sticks, roll-ons, and even body sprays. Sprays can be wet or dry sprays—simply meaning they dry on contact or do not. Roll-ons and sprays may be a bit easier to apply than sticks, and also may avoid clumping in some cases. Ultimately, it’s up to your preference as to which form of deodorant or antiperspirant you prefer.

Cost

Just like any cosmetic, prices for good deodorants can vary quite a bit, ranging from under $4 to over $20. Factors can include the ingredients used and the strength of the antiperspirant deodorant. Natural deodorants that are aluminum- and alcohol-free typically can be pricier than traditional deodorants. Clinical strength and prescription strength antiperspirants offer much more protection, but usually at a higher cost.

Best Deodorants for Men: FAQs

References

1. Martini M. C. (2020). Déodorants et antitranspirants [Deodorants and antiperspirants]. Annales de dermatologie et de venereologie, 147(5), 387–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annder.2020.01.003
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Cosmetics Safety Q&A: Personal Care Products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/resources-consumers-cosmetics/cosmetics-safety-qa-personal-care-products 
3. Burry, J. S., Evans, R. L., Rawlings, A. V., & Shiu, J. (2003). Effect of antiperspirants on whole body sweat rate and thermoregulation. International journal of cosmetic science, 25(4), 189–192. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1467-2494.2003.00184.x
4. Hodge BD, Sanvictores T, Brodell RT. Anatomy, Skin Sweat Glands. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482278/ 
5. Petric, Z., Ružić, J., & Žuntar, I. (2021). The controversies of parabens – an overview nowadays. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia), 71(1), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.2478/acph-2021-0001
6. Jacob, S. E., Scheman, A., & McGowan, M. A. (2018). Propylene Glycol. Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 29(1), 3–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/DER.0000000000000315

If you have a job that involves long periods of time on your feet, you know that choosing the wrong shoes can lead to stiff, achy joints in your feet, ankles, knees, and back when you get home, which nobody wants.  

Proper footwear provides ergonomic support and cushioning to help relieve foot pain and keep your feet comfortable all day long. In this guide to the best shoes for standing all day, we’re sharing our top picks for those who work on their feet.

The 7 Best Shoes for Standing All Day

• Best Overall Shoes for Standing All Day: HOKA Transport
• Best Budget Shoes for Standing All Day: Saucony Cohesion 13
• Best Non-Slip Shoes for Standing All Day: Crocs Slip Resistant Work Clog
• Best Shoes for Standing All Day for Flat Feet: KURU QUANTUM 2.0
• Best Slip-On Shoes for Standing All Day: ON Cloud 5
• Best Shoes for Standing All Day for Food Service Workers: New Balance Fresh Foam x 880 V12
• Best Shoes for Standing All Day for Health Care Workers: ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26

Best Overall Shoes for Standing All Day: HOKA Transport

Good for: Those who want maximum comfort and style

HOKA Transport

Hoka Transport

GGR Score: 4.44

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Product Highlights

• Combination lifestyle and performance shoe designed for commuters
• Vegan and uses recycled materials
• Recommended for hiking, walking, and general lifestyle wear
• 13 colorways for women’s sizing and 10 for men’s sizing

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Water-resistant
• Available in regular and wide
• No shoe tying—features quick-toggle laces (traditional laces also included)
• Weatherproof version (GTX) and Crossover version (X) for everyday life
• American Podiatry Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance

Cons

• Hoka account required for 60 day return period
• Heavy at 9.10 oz/11.20 oz
• Not a lot of variety in colorways - very neutral
• Customer reviews found the shoes noisy

Bottom Line

The Hoka Transport is a commuter shoe that combines a lifestyle and performance sneaker. Hoka recommended these shoes for hiking, walking, and lifestyle. Most customers shared that they purchased the shoes for extended periods of walking at work or for leisure. These shoes are heavier than a typical running shoe. The customers reviews were largely positive, however, some did find them extremely uncomfortable and noted that they exacerbated their existing leg pain.

HOKA is known for producing shoes with exceptional comfort and support, like the HOKA Bondi 8, running shoes that we’ve previously tested and loved. 

Unlike a sport-specific shoe, the HOKA Transport is a lifestyle shoe, versatile enough to provide all-day comfort for any occasion. HOKA claims to have designed these shoes with the city-dweller in mind, which means they provide enough support for long walks and extended periods of standing time, with a bit more support than a lightweight running shoe would include. 

The midsole is made of compression-molded EVA foam, sustainably produced with 30% sugarcane, and a Vibram® EcoStep outsole that provides traction on any surface. 

Our tester was impressed with this sole and awarded a 4.5-out-of-5 score for stability, saying, “The sugarcane midsole is supportive yet soft enough for extended wear, and I don’t feel as if my walking gait is compromised while wearing them. Again, I don’t think they’d be good running shoes, but for walking paces I feel they’re a top pick for the task at hand.”

The HOKA Transport is built to last, comfortable, and a great choice if you’re looking for a versatile shoe you can wear all day long.

Best Budget Shoes for Standing All Day: Saucony Cohesion 13

Good for: Anyone looking for high-quality shoes on a budget

Saucony Cohesion 13

Saucony Women’s Cohesion 13

GGR Score: 3.5

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Product Highlights

• Technical yet breathable upper provides a secure hold
• Segmented rubber outsole with flexibility in forefoot
• Neutral running shoe with VersaFoam cushioning designed to absorb impact and reduce pressure
• Heel-to-toe drop/offset measure 12 mm
• Best suited for walking and an occasional jog

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Multiple color options
• Comfortable
• Relatively affordable
• Breathable

Cons

• May run small
• Narrow toe box

Bottom Line

Saucony’s Cohesion 13 is an affordable, neutral running shoe available in a wide variety of colors.

Let’s face it, if you already have a pair of weightlifting shoes, running shoes, and a few other pairs of shoes for different occasions in your life, you may not want to spend a small fortune on yet another pair of shoes. 

If that sounds like you, but you still want to wear appropriate footwear for long periods of standing, the Saucony Cohesion 13 is our recommendation. This shoe is several years old, and newer models have been released, but we tested and loved the 13s.

RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Beginners

At the time of writing, this shoe ranges from $40 to $60 on Amazon depending on the color and size you choose, and they be even cheaper as prices often fluctuate throughout the year. Other retailers may carry them for an even lower price.

Our tester, Amanda Capritto, a certified personal trainer and former GGR writer, gave these shoes a 4 out of 5 for stability. She said, “These are firm, but roll well with my stride when walking. They don’t propel you forward as much as some other running shoes, but I believe these are intended primarily for walking, so it makes sense.”

They may not be the newest, flashiest standing shoes on the market, but at such an affordable price, they’re well worth a try if you’re looking for some new shoes. 

Best Non-Slip Shoes for Standing All Day: Crocs Slip Resistant Work Clog

Good for: Those who work on slippery surfaces

Crocs Bistro Slip Resistant Work Clog

Crocs Bistro Slip Resistant Work Clog

GGR Score: 4.7

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Product Highlights

• Work clog designed with food service, hospitality, and healthcare workers in mind
• Croc style shoe with closed toe design
• Available in 3 solid colors: Blue, black, and white

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Slip-resistant tread
• Able to clean with soap and water
• ASTM F2913-11 tested, CE Certified for slip resistance
• Affordable at less than $50

Cons

• Customer reviews note the shoes can shrink in the heat/sun
• No half sizes
• Only available in 3 colors
• Customer reviews state feet get hot in shoe

Bottom Line

Crocs Bistro is a certified slip-resistant work clog. It is a typical croc style but with a closed toe shoe. Reviews were largely positive. However, some customers found that the shoe shrunk when left in the heat/sun.

Those of us who’ve worked in restaurants know that slippery surfaces are waiting around every corner, and non-slip shoes are critical for safety. While I’ve never slipped while carrying someone’s food or drink, I came dangerously close a few times in my years working in a bar, and I know it’s a terrifying feeling. 

The Crocs Bistro Slip Resistant Work Clog is specifically designed for the workplace, whether you work in a bar, garden center, water park, or anywhere else with wet surfaces. The enclosed toe design protects your foot from spills, and the bottom features Crocs Lock™ slip-resistant tread to help you maintain stable footing on nearly any surface. 

Even if you don’t like the style of Crocs, the comfy feeling may be enough to convince you.

Erin Chancer, CNC, CPT, a senior editor here at GGR, tested the shoes and said, “I’ve resisted the ‘call of the Crocs’ for a very long time, but I have family and friends who swear by them, so I was willing to give them a try. Do they look silly on me? Yes. But is the comfort worth it? YES. I may be a Crocs convert.”

She gave these shoes a 4.7-out-of-5 rating for comfort, saying the adjustable heel strap kept her foot very snug. Her only issue was the lack of air holes for ventilation typically seen on regular Crocs. Without the breathability, she noticed that her feet felt a bit warm after a while. 

For those who need non-slip shoes for work, the Crocs are a great choice. With a suggested retail price of only $49, they’re priced to fit nearly any budget. 

Best Shoes for Standing All Day for Flat Feet: KURU QUANTUM 2.0

Good for: Anyone with flat feet looking for plenty of midsole support

KURU QUANTUM 2.0

KURU QUANTUM 2.0

GGR Score: 4.34

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Product Highlights

• 8.5 mm heel-to-toe drop
• Wide design
• Plenty of cushioning in the midfoot
• Available in men's and women's colorways

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Supportive heel cushion
• Wide design and toe box
• Available in both men's and women's colorways
• 8.5 mm heel to toe drop

Cons

• Expensive
• Bulkier and heavier than many other shoes
• 8.5 mm may feel unusual to those used to minimalist shoes

Bottom Line

The KURU QUANTUM 2.0 is specifically designed for walking, providing exceptional cushioning and support. It's not a great choice for runners or weightlifters, but versatile enough for most casual daily activities.

If you have flat feet, standing for long periods of time can quickly become a painful endeavor, especially on the sole of your foot. 

The KURU QUANTUM 2.0 is specifically designed to maximize arch support and minimize heel pain. KURU shoes are meant to minimize pain from plantar fasciitis and provide proper foot support, and this is the brand’s best-selling walking shoe, which provides a bit more support and cushion than the lighter running shoes. 

For those with flat feet, this shoe features KURU’s most supportive midsole and the highest level of cushioning possible, with a wide toe box that won’t restrict your foot too much. This isn’t the lightest shoe we’ve seen, but comfort and support is more important for those who experience foot pain from extended periods of standing. 

RELATED: Best Walking Shoes for Flat Feet

Erin Chancer, CNC, CPT, a senior editor at GGR tested these shoes, and was impressed by the arch support, giving them a score of 5 out of 5 for stability. She said, “I need a lot of arch support and found that the shoes were right in the sweet spot and kept me comfortable while I ran errands downtown and took my dog for a walk in the park.”

If your flat feet are causing aches and pains when you stand all day, these shoes are well worth a try. To learn more, check out our complete KURU QUANTUM 2.0 review.

Best Slip-On Shoes for Standing All Day: ON Cloud 5

Good for: Those who need shoes that are easy to slip on and off

ON Cloud 5

On Cloud 5

GGR Score: 4.11

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Product Highlights

• The 5th iteration of On’s popular Cloud shoe
• Uses 44% recycled materials
• Features the recognizable CloudTec cushioning system

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Lighter than competitors at 7.1 oz (women) and 8.8 oz (men)
• No shoe tying: Features elastic speed lace system
• Free shipping
• 30-day free returns

Cons

• Limited size range, 5-11 (women) and 7-14 (men)
• The “clouds” in the sole can be difficult to clean
• Gravel/small rocks can easily get stuck in soles per reviews
• Customers suggested sizing up ½ size
• Limited customer reviews and none on the company website

Bottom Line

On Cloud 5 is the most recent version of the popular Cloud running shoe. They share that they have improved the fit and comfort in the newest version of the shoe. There were limited customer reviews but they recommended sizing up ½ size due to the tightness of the shoe but overall found them comfortable. Reviews did note the “clouds” were difficult to clean.

If you’re looking for the ultimate choice in comfort and convenience, slip-on shoes like the ON Cloud 5 are always a fantastic option. You don’t have to worry about your laces coming untied and creating a tripping hazard, and changing in and out of slip-ons is much faster than traditional shoes that you need to lace up each time you wear them. 

The shoes feature CloudTec® shock-absorbing cushioning in the midsole, designed to provide maximum support with each step. Rather than one solid sole, the cushioning is divided into chunks with gaps in between, providing flexibility and support in multiple directions. 

Our tester, Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1, said the shoes were very comfortable, but he was worried about the durability. He noted that while the upper material is very thin and breathable, he also feels it will be the first part of the shoe to fail, and gave these a 4 out of 5 for durability. 

He also had a small issue with the design of the sole, despite how comfortable it felt. 

“One thing is that the sole is broken up into separate squares running along the bottom of the shoe,” Caine said. “There’s deep indentations between the squares, and I’ve found it’s been very easy to get a rock stuck in my shoes while walking on the street. A minor inconvenience, but it happens a lot more than I’d like it.”

The ON Cloud 5s are comfortable, easy to wear, and very supportive, though they may be better for indoor use, as debris can easily become wedged into the sole.

Best Shoes for Standing All Day for Food Service Workers: New Balance Fresh Foam x 880 V12

Good for: Anyone who’s standing all day in a restaurant setting

New Balance Fresh Foam x 880 V12

New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v12

GGR Score: 4.27

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Product Highlights

• Neutral road-running shoe 
• 7 colorways for men and women 
• Sizes 5.0-13.0 for women and 7.0-16.0 for men

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large size range
• 3 widths available: Standard, Wide, X-Wide
• Larger heel-to-toe drop than many competitors at 10 mm
• 45-day free returns in new condition

Cons

• Heavier than counterparts at 8.4 oz and 10.5 oz
• Limited colorways
• Runs small
• No trial period

Bottom Line

The New Balance Fresh Foam 880v12 is a very soft shoe that people enjoy using as an everyday runner. Reviewers also noted that the shoes run small.

If you work in the food service industry, whether you’re a bartender, server, barista, or any similar role, you know that the job requires long periods of standing and walking. Not to mention, you may also find yourself navigating wet floors, spills, and small kitchen spaces. 

This means that not only do you want a supportive shoe, but you’ll also need something with plenty of traction to keep you safe on all surfaces. That’s where the New Balance Fresh Foam x 880 comes in, offering support, comfort, and a grippy sole. 

Note: This review is based on our testing of the New Balance Fresh Foam x 880 v12, and newer versions have since been released, with minor upgrades that may make the shoe even better.

While the New Balance Fresh Foams are meant to be running shoes, they provide exceptional cushioning and neutral support, which means the design of the shoe doesn’t propel you forward with each step. Many of the customer reviews specifically mention wearing these shoes for walking, standing, and general all-day use, specifically because they don’t feel like running shoes. 

RELATED: Best Walking Shoes for Plantar Fascitis

The Fresh Foam X midsole provides the highest level of support and cushioning, resulting in a shoe that’s extremely comfortable to wear. Our tester noted that this makes the shoe a bit bulkier and heavier than many minimalist running shoes, but this shouldn’t matter in a food service setting. 

Because they’re meant to be all-surface running shoes, the Fresh Foams have plenty of traction and grip on any surface, making them great shoes for food service workers. They’re also available in narrow, standard, wide, and extra-wide sizes, and in multiple colorways, so you should have no problem finding your perfect fit in a color that’s suitable for work.

Best Shoes for Standing All Day for Health Care Workers: ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26

Good for: Health care workers who spend all day on their feet

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26

Asics GEL-NIMBUS 26

GGR Score: 4.35

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Product Highlights

• Maximum cushioning through the midsole
• Additional shock-absorbing heel support
• Plenty of traction from the rubber outsole
• Available in wide and extra wide size options

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Maximum cushioning and heel support
• Specifically designed for shock-absorption
• 18 colorways
• Available in wide and extra wide sizes

Cons

• Expensive
• Foam compresses on long runs

Bottom Line

The Asics GEL-NIMBUS 26 is designed for maximum comfort, with FF BLAST™ PLUS ECO foam cushioning in the midsole, and additional heel support for shock absorptions. These running shoes are great for shorter runs or recovery runs.

Not only does health care work involve plenty of standing throughout the day, but many health care providers work in long shifts, as professions like nursing often require 12+ hour shifts. This requires footwear that’s not only supportive, but also comfortable enough to wear for very long periods of time. 

ASICS specializes in supportive, comfortable running shoes, and the GEL-NIMBUS 26 is one of its most cushioned shoes. The sole features FF BLAST PLUS ECO foam, which is ASICS’ softest foam yet, designed to keep your foot comfortable all day long and provide shock absorption on any surface.

The heel contains extra cushioning from a PureGEL insert, and the upper features a soft, stretchy tongue and collar to keep your entire foot comfortable. 

Our one callout is the excess cushioning in the heel. While comfortable, it may take some getting used to, as it can shift your weight forward onto your foot more than you’re used to. 

Lauren Strong, CPT, tested these shoes and found the height of the heel made the shoe comfortable, but her gait felt a bit unnatural, and she rated the stability 3.5 out of 5. She said, “This shoe will do well for someone seeking a lot of cushioning. Or perhaps someone trying to get away from a heel strike, because the shoe kind of rolls you away from a heel (and midfoot) strike.”

If you’re a health care worker looking for a shoe that’s extremely comfortable with plenty of support, the GEL-NIMBUS 26 is worth a try. Just know that it may take some getting used to if you’re used to shoes without much heel lift.

Other Shoes for Standing All Day We Researched

While we selected the best of the best using scoring from our equipment testing methodology, there are plenty of options when it comes to supportive footwear. Here are two other options we researched for standing shoes that came close, but didn’t quite make the cut. 

• Kane Revive Active Recovery Shoes: While we love these supportive recovery shoes, the massaging nodes in the footbed may be uncomfortable with extended wear. 
• HOKA ORA Recovery Shoe: This is another well-cushioned, supportive slip-on shoe, but we already have the HOKA Transport on our list, and for slip-ons, we prefer the ON Cloud 5 a bit more than the Ora recovery shoe.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Shoes for Standing All Day

We’ve tested nearly 100 pairs of shoes here at GGR, including running shoes, weightlifting shoes, recovery shoes, and everything in between. Here are the most important factors we considered when choosing the best shoes for standing all day. 

Testing and Scoring

While you can always find plenty of customer reviews for any shoes out there, that’s not enough for us to make a recommendation. 

Every single shoe we’ve included on this list has been extensively worn by one of our expert testers. We regularly wear the shoes before assigning a score using our equipment testing methodology, which looks at the most important aspects of a shoe, including:

• Construction and durability
• Stability
• Appearance and design
• Comfort
• Value

Support and Cushioning

If you’re going to be standing all day, you want to make sure your foot is supported, but it needs to be the right kind of support. 

Weightlifting shoes offer plenty of heel support, but are too stiff. On the other hand, some of the best running shoes from brands like Nike and Brooks may feel great on your feet while you’re going for a run but can shift your weight forward more than you’d like if you’re simply standing in place.

We looked for plenty of cushion and support, but in shoes that would work well for walking and standing all day, rather than being intended for one specific activity.

Value

Finally, value played a part in our list. Good shoes aren’t cheap, but we made sure to include shoes that fit a wide variety of budgets. If you want to spend $150+ on a shoe for standing all day, you certainly can, but we wanted to make sure you don’t have to. We included several affordable options in the list above.

Benefits of Wearing The Best Shoes for Standing All Day

If you’re just starting at your first job that requires long periods of standing all day, you may be wondering why you need special shoes in the first place. Here are a few of the most important benefits you’ll notice. 

Reduced Health Risks

As a former personal trainer, I can tell you that standing on your feet for long hours at a time can leave you feeling exhausted at the end of the day.

However, you don’t need to take my word for it. This 2015 study¹ looked at the known effects of standing all day at work, and found that it can lead to increased fatigue, low back pain, pregnancy complications, and even cardiovascular problems such as leg edema and varicose veins. 

Proper footwear was one of several interventions that was shown to provide pain relief, along with compression socks, inserts and insoles, and breaks to sit down whenever possible. 

Reduced Joint Pain

Standing all day can lead to all sorts of aches and pains, regardless of your fitness level.

I asked Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-1, a GGR Senior Staff Writer and Olympian if he noticed any benefits from wearing the standing shoes that he tested for this article, the ON Cloud 5s. 

Caine said, “As a weightlifting athlete and coach I can be on my feet for hours on competition days helping athletes, loading bars, and cheering on friends. Having a good pair of shoes for those days is vital. Supportive lightweight shoes that also have cushioning helps me and my entire body stay supported for hours on end, holding off general fatigue and joint aches longer than having a heavy, rigid shoe.”

Improved Comfort

Even if you don’t think you’re going to suffer from health conditions, an achy back, or sore feet, the shoes we chose in this list are specifically designed for comfort and support. 

Unless you work in a job that has a strict dress code and you need to wear specific shoes, there’s no point wearing shoes that make you uncomfortable at work and cause unnecessary pain. 

Wearing high heels, dress shoes, or minimalist footwear may provide an aesthetic that you prefer, but you’re not going to be as comfortable on your feet as you would while wearing properly-cushioned footwear. 

How to Choose Shoes for Standing All Day

If you’ve gone through this list and you’re still having a hard time choosing the right pair of shoes for your needs, here are the most important factors we think you should consider. 

Type of Work

Are you working in slippery, unstable environments? Do you need to be able to demonstrate exercises and be mobile at work, or are you standing behind a bar or counter?

The type of work you do determines the shoes you should choose. Someone working in an environment with set surfaces may need to prioritize traction and safety over style, while a personal trainer or physical therapist may need athletic shoes that will stay in place as they demonstrate various exercises.  

Dress Code

The type of work you do determines the shoes you should choose. If you’re standing behind a bar or counter, any shoes are probably fine, but a server at a high-end restaurant may need to adhere to a dress code and choose a more conservative style. 

Luckily, most of the shoes on our list are available in a wide range of colorways, so you’re sure to find something that fits your company’s dress code, whatever that may be. 

Cost

Finally, you’ll want to think about how often you’ll be wearing these shoes, and use that to determine a budget. If you typically sit at work and only need standing shoes on special occasions, a budget-friendly option may be more appropriate. 

However, if you’re a healthcare worker who’s going to be spending the majority of your time on your feet, proper footwear is a must-have, and it may be well worth spending a little extra to get the best of the best. 

Best Shoes for Standing All Day: FAQs

References

1. Waters, T. R., & Dick, R. B. (2015). Evidence of health risks associated with prolonged standing at work and intervention effectiveness. Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, 40(3), 148–165. https://doi.org/10.1002/rnj.166