Crack vs. JACK3D Battle of High Stim Preworkouts

Crack Vs. JACK3D Which is the King of Preworkouts?

Preworkouts have come a long way since the days of Hi-Tech Ultimate Orange, the first preworkout on the market. Today there's no shortage of selection when it comes to preworkouts with some aiming to be well rounded, others aiming to be high stim, and others vying for that title King of Pumps. When it comes to stim fueled preworkouts for stimheads however two names commonly come up, the Old School JACK3D Preworkout from Hi-Tech and Dark Labs Original Crack Preworkout. In today's post we're going to be breaking down the formulas and telling you which is best, though that answer could depend on what you're looking for out of a preworkout. 

What to Expect From Crack?

Crack has an absolutely insane formula in terms of pumps, focus and most notably energy. In the pump department this one features 8 grams of L-Citrulline along with a gram of agmatine and a gram of arginine. In terms of focus you have 30mg of Noopept which is a nootropic compound which isn't technically a stimulant but can feel stimulating because of how much it sharpens your focus and motivation. Where Crack really shines though is in the stim department, this preworkout is absolutely insane. You've got 400mg of N-Phenethyl-Dimethylamine-Citrate along with an insane 300mg of DMHA and another 250mg of caffeine. One thing we really like about Crack is the transparent label which means we know not only exactly what's in here but the dosages as well. 

What you can expect as a Crack User, lol, is insane energy and focus and a solid pump. Unless your a serious stimhead most users will find this preworkout to be too insane and will experience either nauceousness, anxiousness, jitters and a heavy crash after their workout, though they will likely have the best workout of their life. 

What to Expect from JACK3D?

JACK3D is a hugely popular OG Preworkout that's been around since 2006. When people talk about strong Preworkouts and OG Preworkouts JACK3D is a name that routinely comes up. Now it's important to note that today's JACK3D is not the original formula, the original formula launched in 2006 had DMAA which has since been banned, in or around 2017 the formula was changed to DMHA in place of DMHA which has similar effects and is still very strong but is only about a third as strong as DMAA. Another thing to note is JACK3D has a proprietary blend, while these were super common ten years ago these days most companies have moved to transparent labels as that's what consumers prefer and expect these days. 

What users can expect, JACK3D is a solid well rounded all be it high stim preworkout. The only ingredient which we know the exact dosage of is the Caffeine which is 135mg per scoop or 405mg per 3 scoop serving. As far as the other ingredients go we do know each scoop contains a 4,145mg blend of all of the ingredients but we don't know the exact dosages of any single ingredient, though we do know the higher up on the label an ingredient is the higher it's dosed. 

Overall JACK3D is a high energy high stim preworkout that's fairly well rounded, provides a decent pump though nothing crazy and provides good focus. 

Crack Ingredients

? L-Citrulline (4000 mg – 8000 mg)

What it is: An amino acid that boosts nitric oxide production.
Benefit: Improves blood flow and gives a stronger muscle pump, enhances endurance, and may reduce post-workout soreness.

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⚡ Beta-Alanine (1600 mg – 3200 mg)

What it is: A non-essential amino acid that buffers lactic acid.
Benefit: Increases muscular endurance and delays fatigue — it’s the reason for that “tingly” feeling many get from pre-workouts.

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? Agmatine Sulfate (500 mg – 1000 mg)

What it is: A metabolite of arginine.
Benefit: Enhances nitric oxide production and vasodilation for bigger pumps; also supports mood and focus.

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? L-Arginine HCl (500 mg – 1000 mg)

What it is: A precursor to nitric oxide.
Benefit: Works synergistically with Citrulline and Agmatine to increase blood flow and nutrient delivery to muscles.

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☕ Caffeine Anhydrous (200 mg – 400 mg)

What it is: Pure caffeine in dehydrated form.
Benefit: Boosts energy, alertness, and focus while enhancing performance and endurance.

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? N-Phenethyl Dimethylamine Citrate (200 mg – 400 mg)

What it is: A stimulant derived from Eria Jarensis (PEA-like compound).
Benefit: Elevates mood, focus, and energy — gives the “euphoric” feel similar to DMAA or DMHA, but legally different.

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⚙️ 2-Aminoisoheptane (DMHA) (150 mg – 300 mg)

What it is: A potent stimulant, chemical cousin of DMAA.
Benefit: Strong focus, alertness, motivation, and appetite suppression. Synergizes with caffeine for an intense energy boost.

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? L-Norcvaline (150 mg – 300 mg)

What it is: An arginase inhibitor.
Benefit: Keeps nitric oxide levels elevated for longer, extending your pump and vascularity during workouts.

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⚡ Caffeine Citrate (75 mg – 150 mg)

What it is: A faster-acting form of caffeine.
Benefit: Quick energy onset to complement the slower release of other caffeine sources.

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☕ Dicaffeine Malate (75 mg – 150 mg)

What it is: Caffeine bonded with malic acid.
Benefit: Smoother, longer-lasting energy with less crash than anhydrous caffeine.

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? Isopropylnorsynephrine HCl (30 mg – 60 mg)

What it is: A stimulant derived from synephrine (bitter orange).
Benefit: Enhances thermogenesis and fat oxidation, boosting energy and focus.

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? Noopept (15 mg – 30 mg)

What it is: A nootropic (smart drug-like compound).
Benefit: Improves cognitive function, focus, and mental clarity — helps with the “tunnel vision” workout effect.

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? Rauwolfia Vomitoria Extract (1.5 mg – 3 mg, standardized to 90% Alpha Yohimbine HCl)

What it is: A plant extract containing Alpha Yohimbine (Rauwolscine).
Benefit: Intense thermogenic and fat-burning properties; also boosts adrenaline and focus — but can cause anxiety or jitters for some users.

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? Other Ingredients

Citric acid, flavoring, silicon dioxide (anti-clumping), malic acid, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and FD&C Red #40 — these are mainly for flavor, texture, and preservation.

JACK3D Ingredients

? Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG)

What it is: A combination of the amino acid L-Arginine and Alpha-Ketoglutarate, a key molecule in the Krebs energy cycle.
Benefit: Boosts nitric oxide (NO) production, which promotes better blood flow, vascularity, and muscle pumps during workouts.

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⚡ Creatine Monohydrate

What it is: One of the most well-studied supplements in sports nutrition.
Benefit: Replenishes ATP (your body’s main energy currency), increasing strength, power output, and overall muscle performance.

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? Beta-Alanine

What it is: A precursor to carnosine, which helps buffer lactic acid buildup in muscles.
Benefit: Increases muscular endurance, delays fatigue, and helps you push harder in high-intensity training. (Also the “tingle” sensation many get.)

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? Caffeine

What it is: A central nervous system stimulant found in coffee, tea, and countless pre-workouts.
Benefit: Increases alertness, energy, and focus while improving strength, endurance, and fat oxidation.

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⚙️ 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA)

What it is: A powerful synthetic stimulant originally found in early Jack3d formulas and sometimes labeled as “Geranium Extract.”
Benefit: Dramatic surge in energy, mood, and focus. Produces euphoric intensity and drive similar to amphetamines.
Note: DMAA is banned by the FDA for use in dietary supplements due to cardiovascular and safety concerns. Modern versions of Jack3d no longer legally include it in the U.S.

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? Schizandrol A

What it is: A compound extracted from Schisandra chinensis, an adaptogenic berry used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Benefit: May enhance mental clarity, stress resistance, and endurance. Some users report it intensifies stimulant effects when paired with caffeine or DMAA.

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? Yohimbe Extract (Pausinystalia johimbe)

What it is: A bark extract standardized for the alkaloid yohimbine.
Benefit: Increases adrenaline, thermogenesis, and fat burning. It also enhances focus and performance but can cause anxiety or jitters in sensitive users.

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? Other Ingredients

Flavoring agents, citric acid, silicon dioxide (anti-clumping), sucralose, and coloring — all for taste, mixability, and shelf stability.

Which is Better Crack or JACK3D?

Which is better depends on what you're looking for out of a preworkout. If we're strictly talking dosages and formula Crack is going to come out the winner, first off it's got a transparent label compared to JACK3D's proprietary blend, but in terms of even dosages Crack features a solid pump with 8 grams of L-Citrulline and a gram of Agmagine and Arginine. And while we don't know the exact dosages of pump ingredients in JACK3D, its likely somewhere between 1 and 3 grams. 

In the focus department both preworkouts are going to provide some nice focus from stimulants like Caffeine and DMHA, but Crack also contains the powerful nootropic Noopept which provides laser focus and enhanced motivation. 

When it comes to stims both are strong preworkouts which should satisfy most stimheads, however Crack takes things to the next level containing 300mg of DMHA to JACK3D's likely 100-150mg of DMHA, it also contains a whopping 400mg of Eria Jarensis which acts as both a nootropic and stimulant. Crack is for the true stimheads out there. 

If we're strictly looking at formula and dosage Crack is going to take the winning slot on this one. That said Crack is likely going to be too strong for 80% or more of users which may or may not make JACK3D a better choice. JACK3D while somewhat lacking in the pump comparison compared to Crack is a more well rounded moderately dosed preworkout for your average user.

Which one is right for you is going to depend on what you're looking for out of your preworkout. If you're a stimhead looking for something to  use one or maybe two times per week on a super heavy leg day Crack may be the best choice. If you're someone who likes a high energy preworkout but want something that can be an everyday use preworkout JACK3D may be the better option. At the end of the day both are solid high stim preworkouts that won't disappoint.