Need a quick energy boost but don’t feel like downing a 16 fl.oz energy drink?
5 Hour Energy Shots have you covered, delivering all the potential of an energy drink in a 1.93 fl.oz, sugar-free package.
But how exactly does it fare against other more conventional energy drinks?
In short, 5 Hour Energy Shots are a great pick-me-up and will help in getting you through those late-night crunch sessions or an afternoon energy slump.
However, they don’t taste great, so it’s not something you can enjoy casually and they probably aren’t right for everyone.
For a more detailed review, read on to find out everything you need to know about 5 Hour Energy Shots, from ingredients to taste, and if the drink is actually as good as it seems.
Let’s get started…
5 Hour Energy Nutrition Facts
Firstly, here’s a table comparing the nutritional value of 5 Hour Energy Shots with some of its competitors.
| Standard Value | 5 Hour Shots (1.93fl.oz) | Reign (16fl.oz) | Bang (16fl.oz) | Red Bull (16fl.oz) |
| Energy | 4 calories | 10 calories | 0 calories | 210 calories |
| Protein | 0g | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Fat (Of which Saturated) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 0g (0g) | 3g (0g) | 0g (0g) | 56g (52g) |
| Sodium | 15mg | 220mg | 40mg | 210mg |
| Potassium | 15mg | 80mg | – | – |
| Caffeine | 200mg | 300mg | 300mg | 151mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 30mg | 21.6mg | 5mg | 43mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 50mg | 2.0mg | 0.5mg | 4.0mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 500μg | 6.25μg | 1.5μg | 9.6μg |
| Choline | 2mg | – | – | – |
| Vitamin C | – | – | 27mg | – |
| Magnesium | – | – | 5mg | – |
| Calcium | – | – | 5mg | – |
Overall, the first thing you probably notice is the size of 5 Hour Energy Shots, which are a lot smaller than regular energy drinks (1.93 fl.oz vs. the usual range of 8.4 to 16 fl.oz).
This means that, while you can usually take anywhere between 10 to 45 minutes to finish a regular energy drink, you can be done with a 5 Hour Energy Shot in mere seconds.
Due to how quickly you can down a shot, its effects on your body will show almost instantly (when it gets absorbed into your system), instead of a gradual ramp-up like most other energy drinks.
For context, it’s basically the same as having a shot of whiskey instead of nursing a beer for half an hour; the former is a lot more likely to get you buzzing sooner.
So if you’re an energy drink enthusiast who’s into the casual enjoyment, taste, and hydration aspect of energy drinks, 5-Hour Energy Shots might not be the best choice for you.
On the other hand, if you just want a quick and instant boost to get your work done, 5 Hour Energy Shots is probably right up your alley.
If the talk of alcohol has got you going, how about taking a look at my article for the best energy drinks to mix alcohol with? It’s definitely an eye-opener.
5 Hour Energy Shot Ingredients
Now that you know what it does nutritionally, here are the ingredients for 5 Hour Energy Shots.
- Purified Water
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Sucralose
- Potassium Sorbate
- Sodium Benzoate
- EDTA
- Taurine
- Glucuronic Acid
- Malic Acid
- N-Actyel L-Tyrosine
- L-Phenylalanine
- Caffeine
- Citicoline
How Much Caffeine Is In a 5 Hour Energy Shot?
Each serving of 5 Hour Energy (1.93 fl.oz) has 200mg of caffeine.
Oddly enough, for a caffeinated product that boasts 5 hours of energy, 5 Hour Energy Shots aren’t actually the strongest energy drinks in the market, as brands like Reign and Bang have up to 300mg of caffeine.
However, as stated earlier, 5 Hour Energy Shots have a lot less liquid content in them than most other energy drinks.
So from a caffeine per volume perspective, 5 Hour Energy has roughly 103mg per fl.oz, while drinks like Reign and Bang have only 18.75mg per fl.oz.
Essentially, it’s a lot of caffeine in a much smaller package, which could explain why its effects are delivered to your body exceptionally fast.
Even if you’re used to caffeinated beverages and have a decent caffeine metabolism, there’s a pretty big difference between having 300mg over 30 minutes and having 200mg in mere seconds.
So be sure you know what you’re getting into before having a 5 Hour Energy, especially if you’re new to the whole energy drink scene.
For reference, the FDA also recommends you limit your daily caffeine intake to a maximum of 400mg, as any more might lead to a caffeine overdose which can lead to notable side effects, namely:
- Insomnia
- Anxiousness
- Increased Heart Rate
- Digestive Issues
- Nausea
- Headaches
But, as long as you only have 5 Hour Energy Shots in moderation and not too often, you should be able to avoid the effects of having too much caffeine in your system.
Do 5 Hour Energy Shots Have Sugar?
5 Hour Energy Shots don’t contain sugar and are sugar-free, but they do contain artificial sweeteners, namely sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
5 Hour Energy Shots are sugar-free, so they shouldn’t have any negative impact on you from a dietary perspective which is a welcomed plus considering many energy drinks are high in sugar.
Besides that, you also don’t have to worry about a sugar-induced crash after having a 5 Hour Energy Shot since none of its ingredients will actively raise your blood sugar level.
As for the drink itself causing an energy crash due to its ingredients, that’s a discussion for further down the line.
While 5 Hour Energy Shots are free of sugar, they do contain artificial sweeteners, namely, the zero-calorie sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Although I find it pretty strange that sweeteners are included in such a small serving of energy drink, it might just be there to counteract the bitterness of caffeine.
As zero-calorie sweeteners, both ingredients won’t have a nutritional impact on your diet and, while there’s still a lot we don’t know about artificial sweeteners, they have been approved by the FDA.
Hence, as long as you don’t overdo it on the 5 Hour energy shots, you should be perfectly fine from any potential side effects.
B-Vitamin Content in 5 Hour Energy Shots
5-Hour Energy Shots have a staggering amount of B-Vitamins, with the Vitamin B12 content going up to 20,000% of the daily recommended value.
That said, all the B-Vitamins present in 5 Hour Energy Shots are well within their tolerable upper intake level, so there’s not really a risk of overdosing.
Considering B-Vitamins are more nutritious than anything else, the high amount in 5 Hour Energy will help you with a well-rounded diet, but it won’t give you much in terms of energy.
Here’s a table showing the B vitamins in 5 Hour Energy:
| Amount per serving of 5 Hour Energy Drink | Tolerable Upper Intake Level | |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 30mg | 35mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 40mg | 100mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 500µg | N/A |
Do 5 Hour Energy Shots Really Work?
In terms of keeping you awake, 5 Hour Energy does exactly that by mainlining caffeine into your system in a short amount of time, giving you that boost you need as quickly as possible.
Essentially, 5 Hour Energy Shots work through caffeine, a pretty handy stimulant that blocks the adenosine receptors in your brain and prevents the onset of fatigue from setting in.
Caffeine does a lot of great stuff, from improving psychomotor performance to preventing you from falling asleep in the middle of a lecture, so it’s no surprise why coffee and energy drinks are as popular as they are.
So, 5 Hour Energy Shots do work, although I personally don’t think shotgunning that much caffeine in mere seconds would do your nerves any favors.
But, if you need an immediate boost, 5 Hour Energy Shots will definitely give you the energy you desire.
Are 5 Hour Energy Shots Bad For You?
As long as you have them in moderation and only when you need to, 5 Hour Energy Shots will give you the boost you need with minimal side effects, and won’t have any serious health consequences.
That said, if you happen to be caffeine-sensitive, I would suggest staying away from 5 Hour Energy Shots as they deliver a large amount of caffeine to your system fairly quickly.
Besides that, metabolizing 200mg of caffeine in a short period of time also means the effects are more likely to wear off sooner, as compared to having a constant intake of a regular energy drink.
There are also some reports of 5 Hour Energy causing symptoms of crashes, most likely due to the caffeine leaving the system.
So whilst you’re free from sugar crashes, 5 Hour Energy apparently does cause some strain a few hours after having the drink, not from a sugar crash but a caffeine crash.
Apart from that, exceeding two shots of 5 Hour Energy day is a pretty bad idea, and so is mixing the drink with other caffeinated beverages such as coffee, as doing so would definitely risk a caffeine overdose.
So, my advice is to know your limits and be sure to watch your caffeine intake so that you don’t end up jittery throughout the day.
5 Hour Energy Shot Flavors
5 Hour Energy Shots have a pretty decent variety of flavors considering its standard 1.93 fl. oz volume, here are a few of them:
- Berry
- Blue Raspberry
- Cherry
- Cool Mint
- Grape
- Lemonade Tea
- Orange
- Peach Mango
- Pink Lemonade
- Pomegranate
- Raspberry Tea
How Does 5 Hour Energy Taste?
Considering that it’s mostly concentrated caffeine, 5 Hour Energy Drink tastes as well as you expect, which is to say, bitter and not all that great.
If you were expecting something similar to the sugary goodness of a Monster or the clear carbonation of a Celsius Energy Drink, you’re in for a pretty rough surprise.
It’s rather bitter, which isn’t surprising because caffeine (and coffee) on its own is known for having an acquired taste.
While the flavors and sweeteners try to wash out the bitterness, it sort of ends up giving it a strange artificial aftertaste with both sensations vying for a spot on your tongue.
On the bright side, there’s not much of 5 Hour Energy to savor, so a quick shot to the back of the throat and a refreshing glass of water to wash it down should be a decent course of action.
Of course, it’s all down to personal preference. To add to my review, the video below shows a series of taste tests on 5 Hour Energy which you might find insightful:
How Much Is a 5 Hour Energy Shot?
The usual price for a 24-pack 5 Hour Energy is around $39, depending on where you get it and if there’s shipping involved.
5 Hour Energy Shots are definitely pricier than your average energy drink, especially from a sheer volume perspective.
Even then, it does make up for it by having just as much caffeine, albeit in a smaller package.
Considering the price and caffeine content, you definitely shouldn’t be buying 5 Hour Energy as an energy drink to enjoy.
On the other hand, you’ll find much more success using it as a panic button when you really need to be at your best and focused for a short period of time.
That said, if you want to find some energy drinks that are more affordable with a bit more hydration value, I’ve written an article on just that.
Is Red Bull Better Than 5 Hour Energy?
Between Red Bull and 5 Hour Energy, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to have an energy drink casually, Red Bull’s for you, and if you need energy fast and don’t care much about taste, 5 Hour Energy is probably your pick.
The biggest difference between Red Bull and 5 Hour Energy is that Red Bull happens to be a casual drink and has a somewhat decent taste in comparison, which makes it a lot more enjoyable to drink.
On the other hand, Red Bull also contains more calories due to its sugar content, which is pretty bad from a nutritional perspective.
5 Hour Energy does beat out Red Bull by its sheer ability to deliver caffeine quickly, but that’s a double-edged sword considering not everyone wants (or can handle) that amount of caffeine in a short period.
In any case, it’s up to you to decide which energy drink is better for you, and if you need some way to find out which energy drink is the best option, I have an article written on that as well.
5 Hour Energy Shot Review (7 out of 10)
Overall, I’m giving 5 Hour Energy Shots a solid 7 out of 10. It definitely does its job of giving a big boost in a short time, but its high caffeine content and average taste knock some points off.
5 Hour Energy Shots are the kind of drinks for when you’re on a mission to get something done. It’s definitely not something you’ll enjoy casually, but you can’t go wrong if you need energy quickly.
While 5 Hour Energy Shots are efficient, their bitter taste will definitely not be well-received by many. Plus, if you’re caffeine-sensitive, this is definitely not the caffeinated product you should be having.
On that note, 5 Hour Energy also doesn’t provide a lot of actual hydration, so you might want to look to other energy drinks with a much larger volume of liquid if you’re looking to quench your thirst.
5 Hour Energy Shots Alternatives
If you don’t think 5 Hour Energy Shots will do it for you, here are some regular energy drinks that you might find more enticing:
There are also some awesome powdered options such as:
- Advocare Spark
- Zipfizz
- REIZE (my favorite)
REIZE (10 out of 10)
5 Hour Energy certainly packs a punch in a small package, but how about something a little more enjoyable and versatile?
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that comes in a convenient 4g sachet. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, it’s completely sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serving.
REIZE also contains a smart blend of taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins, which work together to give you the perfect energy boost without the sugar crash afterward.
Best of all, you can get REIZE shipped straight to your door for only about $1 per drink.
That’s great value for money.
So try REIZE today, and I’m sure you’ll also find it the better option than 5 Hour Energy.