If you saw the original list of 10 nominees for our top 5 brands of 2016, you’ve probably already figured out the name that’s earned the number one spot. The brand that just did everything right last year is none other than MAN Sports, who actually came in at 4th on our top 5 list the year before, and 5th for 2014.
MAN was really just non-stop with hype, promotions, and new releases throughout 2016, with the busy year starting all the way back in January. Before the brand even made it to February it rebranded its stimulant powerhouse PepTest Bulk, introduced its Straight To The Dome tee, relaunched CLA Powder in three flavors, and introduced the new, simpler pump pre-workout Pump Powder. It was basically full on for MAN right from the get-go.
After a whirlwind start to the year, things didn’t slow down for the brand in the following month. MAN did in fact take things even further, creating more buzz around itself by unveiling its first ever whey protein formula Clean Protein, and revealing and releasing a new and improved version of its well-known pre-workout, Game Day.
Not too surprisingly the brand’s reformulated pre-workout ended up landing on our list of top 10 pre-workouts following our review a month or so after its release. The supplement actually still holds a place on that list today, which is quite impressive as it is the second oldest product on there. Around the time we dropped that review MAN also decided to launch the very mysterious Mystery Flavor ISO-Amino, made exclusively for Campus Protein.
Moving into April the brand continued to keep the new releases coming and excitement flowing, adding the new flavors Strawberry Kiwi and Tropic Thunder to its only two-month-old Game Day. It also kept some hype going for its unreleased protein powder Clean Protein, by teasing the supplement with confirmation of some creative looking flavors such as Unicorn Milk.
As we moved into the middle of the year we saw MAN Sports really shine with a spree of supplement releases. The brand launched a flavored version of its muscle builder Nolvadren XT, we finally got the release of Clean Protein, which turned out to be one of the most transparent proteins on the market, then lastly we got a preview of the industry first ISO-Amino Coffee Creamer.
While MAN had already filled 2016 with a massive amount of innovative, top rated, and delicious product releases by the half way mark, it didn’t stop in the second half. Between June and September the brand really kept fans happy introducing four more ISO-Amino flavors with Grape Bubblegum, Tropic Thunder, Green Apple, and Strawberry Kiwi. We also got the Staple Series, a five-piece line of essential formulas like leucine and glutamine.
Moving into the final quarter of the year, things kind of slowed down for MAN Sports but after such a crazy first nine months, it was bound to happen. We did get one more new supplement launch with the dextrose-based ISO-Carb, and a long list of new product previews. The items the brand decided to tease to close the year were the focus formula Brain Bridge, the pre-workout Block Buster, and the only one that has since been released, the Campus Protein exclusive Sour Nukes ISO-Amino.
MAN Sports basically kept fans and followers interested from January right through to December, with not a month going by where it didn’t launch or tease something exciting. You also can’t forget the brand did have a lot of promotions in between all the new supplement action, including incredible deals like free Pump Powder with Game Day, custom metal shakers for well under $10 each, and a free “It’s Game Day Baby” tee with the pre-workout itself.
MAN was simply the most consistent and top rated brand of 2016, it did everything that we look for and more. The craziest thing of all is that even with all that it did, MAN still gave itself plenty of unreleased products to keep its momentum going into this year, including the exciting looking and no doubt well put together pre-workout Block Buster.
