Reign and Bang Energy Drink, both are filled to the brim with extra ingredients that might help energise your workout routine.
They also both happen to be pretty similar to each other, to the point that a lawsuit has been thrown about.
Legal disputes aside, you might be wondering which one of these is actually the better drink.
In summary, Reign and Bang have the same caffeine content (300 mg), and are both sugar-free. However, Reign has more calories than Bang while the latter is more expensive. It is also notable that Bang has a wider flavour range.
Now with that out of the way, if you want to witness the epic battle between the two energy drinks, competing against each other in all the important categories, read on!
Reign vs Bang Nutrition Facts
Let’s take a look at the nutrition facts of Reign and Bang to compare both beverages properly.
| Typical Values Per 16 fl. oz Can | Reign | Bang |
| Energy | 10 calories | 0 calories |
| Protein | 0g | 0g |
| Fat (Of which Saturated) | 0g (0g) | g (g) |
| Carbohydrate (Of which Sugars) | 3g (0g) | 0g (0g) |
| Sodium | 220mg | 40mg |
| Potassium | 80mg | – |
| Caffeine | 300mg | 300mg |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 21.6mg | 5mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 2.0mg | 0.5mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 6.25μg | 1.5μg |
| Vitamin C | – | 27mg |
| Magnesium | – | 5mg |
| Calcium | – | 5mg |
Calories
Reign has 10 calories per 16 fl. oz can, while Bang has 0 calories per 16 fl oz can.
Given that the recommended daily caloric intake for adults is 2400 to 3000 calories for men and 2000 to 2400 calories for women, both Reign and Bang should have a minimal impact on your day-to-day diet.
If you are the active type, you might prefer Reign for its 10 calories. On the other hand, if you are those who happen to be on a diet you will be happy with Bang’s zero-calorie formula.
Though in the end, 10 calories don’t really matter much, so it’s probably not the hill you want to die on when considering which of these drinks suits you more.
Vitamins and Other Nutrients
In terms of vitamins, Reign seems to have a higher amount of B-Vitamins, while Bang has a higher variety of nutrients.
As an overview:
- Reign has more sodium (220mg vs 40mg).
- Reign has more Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12.
- Reign has potassium. Bang does not.
- Bang has Vitamin C, Magnesium, and Calcium. Reign does not.
Reign vs Bang Ingredients
Generally, most energy drinks are satisfied by throwing in sugar, caffeine, some B-Vitamins, and a handful of other ingredients into their mix. This is not the case, however, with Reign Total Body Fuel or Bang Energy Drinks.
Reign Energy Drink Ingredients
- Carbonated Water
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Citrate
- L-leucine
- Caffeine
- L-Isoleucine
- L-Valine
- Sucralose
- Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
- Potassium Citrate
- Sodium Benzoate (Preservative)
- Niacin (Vitamin B3)
- Magnesium Citrate
- Coenzyme Q-10
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Cyancobalamin (Vitamin B12)
Bang Energy Drink Ingredients
- Carbonated water
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Natural flavours
- Malic acid
- Caffeine Anhydrous
- Sodium Benzoate (preserves freshness)
- Potassium citrate monohydrate
- EAAs (L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-lysine, L-threonine, L-phenylalanine, L-histidine, L-methionine, L-tryptophan)
- Sucralose
- Potassium phosphate dibasic
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Potassium sorbate (preserves freshness)
- Magnesium chloride
- SUPER CREATINE® (Creatyl-L-Leucine [Creatine bonded to L-Leucine])
- Calcium chloride
- Calcium disodium EDTA
- vitamin B3 (niacinamide)
- CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10)
- vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) and
- vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin)
Now all of this might look really intimidating, but I’m going to run you through some of the more important ingredients, so stay with me.
What Are EAAs and BCAAs?
Reign has 1000mg of BCAAs (Branch-Chained Amino Acids), namely leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These are helpful in maintaining a balanced diet, and they’re not produced by the body.
BCAAs provide a whole host of benefits, namely:
- increased muscle growth
- decreased muscle soreness
- reduced exercise fatigue
- prevent muscle deterioration
- improved liver health
Bang, on the other hand, has EAAs (Essential Amino Acids), which contain BCAAs and 6 other essential amino acids (namely lysine, threonine, phenylalanine, histidine, methionine, and tryptophan).
Having EAAs may also provide more benefits on top of the ones BCAAs give such as:
- improved mood and sleep
- boosting exercise performance
- can prevent muscle loss
- may promote weight loss
In terms of the number of amino acids, Bang seems to have the more complete package in its 9 EAAs, in comparison to Reign’s BCAAs.
However, unlike Reign, we don’t have a hard number on how many EAAs are actually in Bang, so keep that in mind when selecting between the two.
In fact, I paid to have Bang tested in a lab to check just how many EAAs are in a can.
I was very surprised to find that some of the EAAs that Bang claims are included in the list of ingredients were not detected at all in the lab test.
What is Coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring nutrient within the body. It acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage, and plays a crucial role in body metabolism.
While this might sound pretty amazing, you should note that the exact amount of Coenzyme Q10 present in both Reign and Bang is unknown, so take the effects with a pinch of salt.
I actually took it upon myself to test the amount of COQ10 in a can of Bang in the lab.
The lab test revealed that there is a total of 63.86mg of COQ10 in a can of Bang, far less than the minimum prescribed dose of 100mg required to treat most conditions.
Super Creatine in Bang
Super Creatine is a proprietary component of Bang Energy Drinks and one of their bigger selling points.
It is supposedly normal creatine which has been bonded with an amino acid, to be absorbed easier into the body.
Creatine is a common sports supplement and provides a variety of benefits to the body such as improved athletic performance and increased muscle strength.
However, it should definitely be noted that the effects and benefits of creatine are actually diminished if taken with caffeine.
Considering we have no idea how much creatine is actually in Bang in addition to Bang’s incredibly high caffeine content, it’s hard to be sure if Super Creatine would have any effect at all.
I’ve written everything you need to know about the creatine in Bang Energy in my other article, which you should definitely check out if you want to learn more about that ingredient.
Caffeine in Reign vs Bang
According to the cans, both Reign and Bang have 300mg of caffeine in different forms: Reign has 300mg of regular caffeine, while the 300mg of caffeine in Bang is anhydrous caffeine.
Regular caffeine is pretty self-explanatory. It’s the stuff you find in coffee and other energy drinks that helps to keep you awake and also boost your awareness while it’s in your system.
Anhydrous caffeine differs from regular caffeine in that its caffeine, which has water and other chemical components, is filtered out through a laboratory process.
Although anhydrous caffeine is noted to be more concentrated than regular caffeine, research hasn’t found a significant difference between the two types of caffeine in terms of enhancing sports performance.
In any case, at 300mg of caffeine, both Reign and Bang have nearly double the amount of caffeine in your standard energy drink (such as Rockstar or Monster) and are two of the strongest energy drinks available.
It’s a lot of boost in a can, but considering that the FDA recommends a daily caffeine intake limit of 400mg of caffeine a day, both Reign and Bang come dangerously close to that limit.
Now is probably a good time to mention that I paid to have Bang lab tested to check the quantities of various ingredients, including caffeine.
The results were mind-boggling.
In short, the lab test revealed a far smaller amount of caffeine in Bang than what is actually printed on the can. You can see the full lab reports in my other article if you’re interested.
Going over the daily recommended caffeine limit may lead to some serious side effects, such as:
- insomnia
- shakiness
- anxiousness
- increased heart rate
- stomachaches
- nausea
- headaches and
- dysphoria
Through consideration of your personal caffeine tolerance, it might be wise to dial it down and try other energy drinks (or consult a health specialist) before throwing yourself into the 300mg caffeine deep-end.
I personally prefer my energy drinks to have 50 to 100mg of caffeine per serving so that I don’t get too overwhelmed but its effects. But again, your tolerance might vary from mine.
As a rule of thumb, be sure to have your caffeine responsibly. While both Reign and Bang will keep you going when you need it, it’s probably unwise to have more than one can per day.
Sugar in Reign vs Bang
Neither Reign nor Bang contain any complex sugars in their drink and can both be considered sugar-free. They do, however, contain artificial sweeteners: Sucralose in both Bang and Reign and Acesulfame Potassium in Reign.
Fans of sugar-free and low-sugar energy drinks should be pretty pleased. Both Reign and Bang are noted to have zero sugars in their ingredients list.
They do, however, contain zero-calorie sweeteners. You can find out more about artificial sweeteners such as sucralose in this article here.
While the absence of sugar may be great, you might not be getting that energy boost you crave as compared to energy drinks that do have sugar in them.
As such, Reign and Bang’s staying power is entirely based on their caffeine content, as the energy your cells usually get from sugar (sucrose) is absent in these drinks.
On the upside, no sugar means no sugar crash either.
So if you’re someone who likes taking their coffee black, both Reign and Bang might seem like decent substitutes for your caffeinated needs.
Is Reign or Bang Vegan?
Reign
While not officially certified, Reign shouldn’t contain any materials that might dissuade you from drinking it even if you’re vegan. As a company representative says:
We use no animal by-products in any of our product lines. However, the product is not vegan certified.
VegFAQ
So we can conclude that Reign is vegan-friendly, so feel free to crack one open if you happen to be vegan.
Bang
Bang on the other hand has an interesting story. The old formula for Bang is not vegan-friendly, while the new formula is.
I actually wrote an article answering the question of whether is Bang Vegan-Friendly in detail, which will provide a deeper look at how vegan-friendly Bang is.
The short answer is that the BCAAs used in Bang are derived from animal sources, and are therefore off-limits to those who happen to follow a strict vegan diet.
Saying that Bang’s official website states that while animal sources are present in their old formula, the most recent Bang formula seems to be both vegan-friendly and gluten-free.
Only the reformulated Bang® Energy drinks have been tested and verified to be gluten-free. If you receive cans that have “BCAA Aminos” instead of “EAA Aminos” printed on them, we cannot guarantee that they fall within the gluten-free guidelines.
Bang’s Official Website
However, if you’re worried about which can of Bang is or is not vegan-friendly, your best bet is to consult a nutritionist or a company representative to see if you can get some more concrete answers.
Reign vs Bang Price
Looking at the market, a 12-pack of 16fl oz cans of Bang Energy Drink costs around $32, while a 12-pack of 16fl oz cans of Reign Energy drink costs around $19.
With a bit of math, you can come to the conclusion that a 16 fl. oz can of Reign is priced at around $1.60, while a 16fl oz can of Bang is priced at around $2.65.
Bang is definitely the pricier of the two, costing a whole $1 more than Reign. So if you’re looking for the cheaper option, you can’t go wrong with Reign.
As for the price of Bang, it all depends on if Bang’s extra ingredients are beneficial in your eyes. Sure it might cost more, but there’s also a lot more happening in a can of Bang that might justify the price point.
For a more in-depth look at price points and energy drink spending, I’ve written an article on how best to spend your money on energy drinks, so feel free to check that out.
Reign vs Bang Flavors
Reign has only 10 flavours in its lineup, while Bang has a total of 24 flavours.
Reign Flavors
- Orange Dreamsicle
- Melon Mania
- Peach Fizz
- Razzle Berry
- Sour Apple
- Carnival Candy
- Lemon HDZ
- Strawberry Sublime
- Mang-o-Matic
- Lilikoi Lychee
- Cherry Limeade
Bang Flavors
- Black Cherry Vanilla
- Blue Razz®
- Champagne
- Candy Apple Crisp
- Cherry Blade Lemonade
- Citrus Twist
- Cotton Candy
- Lemon Drop
- Bangster Berry
- Frose Rose
- Key Lime Pie
- Rainbow Unicorn
- Peach Mango
- Pina Colada
- Power Punch
- Purple Guava Pear
- Purple Haze
- Root Beer
- Radical Skadattle
- Rainbow Unicorn
- Sour Heads
- Star Blast®
- Birthday Cake Bash
- Miami Cola
While Bang might be pricier, you can’t argue with the variety they give you in comparison to Reign’s 10 flavours.
Is Reign or Bang Better?
| Per 16fl oz Can | Reign | Bang |
| Calories | 10 calories | 0 calories |
| Caffeine Content | 300mg | 300mg |
| Sugar Content | Sugar-free | Sugar-free |
| Amino Acids | BCAAs | EAAs |
| Approximate Price | $1.60 | $2.65 |
| Flavors | 10 | 22 |
As stated earlier, it depends on how you view both Reign and Bang and what exactly it is you want. Reign is cheaper sure, but Bang has more variety.
In the end, they’re both energy drinks with enough caffeine to keep you going for hours on end. If you’re not too much of a sucker for fancy ingredients, you certainly can’t go wrong with Reign’s cheaper deal.
Other Energy Drink Alternatives
If you’re looking for other energy drinks that are similar to Reign or Bang with a little less caffeine, here are some options for you to try out:
Wondering about powdered energy drinks? Here’s something for you as well:
- G-Fuel
- Zipfizz
- Advocare Spark
- REIZE
REIZE Energy Drink (10 out of 10)
REIZE is better than both Bang and Reign in my opinion. It’s better in so many ways.
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that comes in a convenient 4g sachet. It has a sensible 50mg of caffeine and is completely sugar-free, with only 11 calories per drink.
It also contains a lot of other beneficial ingredients such as taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins. REIZE has a great mix, providing you with the energy boost you need, but without the sugar crash afterwards.
Perhaps best of all, you can get REIZE shipped right to your door for only about $1 per drink.
That’s amazing value for money and a lot more affordable than either Reign or Bang.
Try REIZE today, and I think you’ll also find it to be a smarter option than either Reign or Bang.