We have counted down right from Top Secret Nutrition at #5, Muscle Pharm #4, ANS Performance #3, and earlier today Cellucor at #2. For those that have been waiting and wondering, taking home top honors on our list of best brands from 2013 is Giant Sports. Other entrants did make good cases for the #1 seat, however none better than the case Giant presented. In the past 12 months the brand proved to us that they were more than a one hit wonder, going on to show that they just create hits full stop.
We first discovered Giant Sport’s when they were rolling with two supplements, Delicious Protein and Dexamine. While we did eventually try most of the Delicious flavors, it was when we finally got a shot at the energizing fat burner that we knew the brand were the real deal. In our review Dexamine showed that it does just as it’s bottle describes, delivering a powerful energetic and thermogenic experience. As for the protein powder, it also did as per it’s description, becoming one of the best tasting protein formulas we had ever reviewed. This quality was carried over to the two 2013 flavor releases, seeing Delicious’s original set of three, chocolate, vanilla, and cookies and crème, joined by peanut butter chocolate and banana. Around this time Giant secretly gave back to their hit product by not only adding a few more tastes, but another size option. Unfortunately it was only fans located across Australia, New Zealand, and Korea, that were given the ability to purchase the massive 125 serving 10lb Delicious.
After the semi-early start that spread the noise of Giant Sport’s Delicious even further, as well as bring some more attention to the weight loss supplement Dexamine. News surfaced that the brand were looking to get in on the game of pre-workouts. The energizing category had already seen plenty of innovations launched, with some effective products actually being drowned out by the amount of top quality formulas being produced. The task Giant had before them was not an easy one. That being said with two top performers already in their arsenal, us and most likely a lot of others, had very little doubt in the brand pulling it off.
It wasn’t until around August that the name Metabolic Bioshock came to light. This was confirmed as the title of Giant Sport’s pre-workout, that was being promoted as a widely packed and well dosed, transparently detailed supplement. A month or so after the name was announced, a facts panel surfaced. This was not the official contents list, although it did give us a good idea of what to expect from the product. Basically Bioshock was as promised, a widely packed and well dosed supplement. Glutamine nitrate, CoQ10, instantized & micronized BCAAs, it had one of the most odd mixtures not just seen last year, but for some time.
Upon seeing the final facts panel, we hadn’t lost faith despite the product missing a couple of things that in the past few months we had begun to look for in a pre-workout. Without even trying the supplement we already felt like congratulating Giant. In the midst of what could have been called a dogfight in the energy category, the brand had put together something completely different. They didn’t take features that others had seen effective or successful. They actually appeared to have worked hard on a supplement, that was unlike anything else on the market. With all the higenamine fueled formulas that had begun to trend, Giant Sports acted as if there was no competition for Metabolic Bioshock. Sticking to their guns and releasing a product that after six months has still yet to see an equal.
We did eventually get to review the pre-workout, where it sort of came as no surprise that the supplement surprised. Going from use to use we discovered that Bioshock was a product of many effects. Endurance, pump, taste, energy, focus, and even the ability to enhance strength through calm stimulation. Giant’s formula had it all. It may not have topped our charts coming at number 6. But it’s balance and entry into our ranks still stands as a great alternative to the hard hitting supplements ahead of it, while delivering a physical performance on par with the best.
As the year began to come to a close, Giant Sports unveiled one more innovation for the year, ThyroTwin. Unfortunately we have yet to try the two ingredient fat burner, however with stockists listing the product at the prices they are. Even if Giant follow through on half of what the supplement promises, it’s value is going to win over the hearts of weight loss enthusiasts.
Over all the launches, updates, and giveaways, the main reason we have put Giant Sports at number one on our list, is because of their reliable consistency. Not once in the year did they miss a mark, fall through on a release date, or fade away into the background of this highly competitive market. The brand stayed relevant, they continued to please, and in our eyes had zero fails in the year. Giant follow their own beat, which was more than proven with Metabolic Bioshock and even somewhat in ThyroTwin. They are not just a brand of innovation, but one of innovation that is inspired by their own goals and intentions. A quality we feel Giant Sports can claim as their own.
