How important is the brand of creatine?

Lennie · 08-02-2007, 05:56 PM

I've been training for about seven months and am want to start taking creatine. I've found the stickied articles here really helpful, but there's one issue I haven't found an answer to yet--Do the brands really matter? From what I've read, it sounds like micronized creatine monohydrate is what I'm looking for, but there are a lot of brands and a lot of price variation. For example, on one site, there's a brand called "Supplement Direct" that's 14.99 for 200 5g servings, while everything else is around $23-$30 for the same number of servings, same nutritional info on the label, etc. So is there any reason not to get the "Supplement Direct" brand? Are the more expensive brands using a higher quality or purer form of creatine? Any advice would be appreciated. I don't want to put crap into my system just to save a few bucks, but I don't want to just throw money away, either.

**romanaz** · 08-02-2007, 07:00 PM

I'll tell you right now, there is adifference.

its hard to tell by the label, but some companies don't use as good as quality.

In my experience, GNC creatine is terrible

creatine should be POWDER.

Personally I prefer to not advertise for a company that is not one of IM's sponsors, but I'm also using Allmax (got it for free) and it seems alright.

just be careful

**Succio** · 08-02-2007, 07:15 PM

i dont know, i got effective results using GNC creatine mono. But yeah stay away from the really cheap and unheard supp companies.

**haiz69** · 08-02-2007, 09:51 PM

I does make a difference IMO.

**DJSTARER** · 08-03-2007, 04:03 PM

makes a difference....

ROM i liked GNC's

**romanaz** · 08-03-2007, 04:51 PM

DJ:

when I switched from GNC to TP, I gained an extra 5lbs somehow (guessing most of it was water weight).

GNC didn't feel like it did anything to me. I mean, I still have some left, so when I run out of creatine in the fall, I might fall back on it, but hoping I don't have to.

**Succio** · 08-03-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by romanaz

DJ:

when I switched from GNC to TP, I gained an extra 5lbs somehow (guessing most of it was water weight).

GNC didn't feel like it did anything to me. I mean, I still have some left, so when I run out of creatine in the fall, I might fall back on it, but hoping I don't have to.

how long did you wait to switch?

**DarkFalcon** · 08-03-2007, 05:45 PM

I'd like to say it doesn't but in fact it definately does. I've tried a lot of types and brands of Creatine over the years and some DEFINATELY work better then others. BSN's NO-Xplode is excellent, Syntrax Swole V3 was also top notch as well as S.A.N's V12. Weider brand Creatine Mono was also a very good brand believe it or not.

**romanaz** · 08-03-2007, 05:47 PM

No-Explode has like 2g of creatine, its a Nitric-Oxide supplement there DF.

I think your getting confused there.

**DarkFalcon** · 08-03-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by romanaz

No-Explode has like 2g of creatine, its a Nitric-Oxide supplement there DF.

I think your getting confused there.

Not really, NOEX is CEE which requires a much lower dose then Creatine Mono. That dosage is high enough to effect change.

**romanaz** · 08-03-2007, 06:29 PM

Ok, I do see your point, but, refering to the posters question, he is asking bout mono.

That being said to, hasn't CEE been proven to be bad for you? I've seen at least 2 studies I believe showing it not to work (as well as mono) and to be sorta dangerous to your health.

:-/

I like my mono bloat anyhow

**DarkFalcon** · 08-03-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by romanaz

Ok, I do see your point, but, refering to the posters question, he is asking bout mono.

That being said to, hasn't CEE been proven to be bad for you? I've seen at least 2 studies I believe showing it not to work (as well as mono) and to be sorta dangerous to your health.

:-/

I like my mono bloat anyhow

Nothing conclusive yet and I generally like Di or Tri Creatine better myself since CEE doesn't work as well for me but No-X is a great product. I don't think he was asking only about Mono he said he thinks it might be the choice for him. Anyway the V3 or V12 both kick ass if you want to skip the Arginine.

**Ikaika** · 08-03-2007, 10:53 PM

As for bulk stuff I've always loved AST's Micronized creatine monohydrate. 1 kilo for $20 and it gets the job done.

V12 and Swole are both great too.

~~Hacking is a Felony~~ · 08-04-2007, 12:50 AM

micronized is the way to go .. hope you find one that works for you Lennie .. welcome to Iron Mass by the way.

Lennie · 08-04-2007, 03:46 PM

Thanks a lot for all of the advice. I should have known there'd be a reason why some brands were so much cheaper than the others.

**Pioneer** · 08-04-2007, 09:46 PM

Ive honestly never gotten anything out of mono or CEE from many different companies. maybe im doing something wrong and i just need to do a straight up test without taking anything else at the same time.

danman77220 · 08-05-2007, 02:22 AM

Just remember:

Anything > Cell Tech

08-02-2007, 05:56 PM	#1
Lennie New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	How important is the brand of creatine? I've been training for about seven months and am want to start taking creatine. I've found the stickied articles here really helpful, but there's one issue I haven't found an answer to yet--Do the brands really matter? From what I've read, it sounds like micronized creatine monohydrate is what I'm looking for, but there are a lot of brands and a lot of price variation. For example, on one site, there's a brand called "Supplement Direct" that's 14.99 for 200 5g servings, while everything else is around $23-$30 for the same number of servings, same nutritional info on the label, etc. So is there any reason not to get the "Supplement Direct" brand? Are the more expensive brands using a higher quality or purer form of creatine? Any advice would be appreciated. I don't want to put crap into my system just to save a few bucks, but I don't want to just throw money away, either.

08-02-2007, 07:15 PM	#3
Succio IronMass Sponsor Join Date: May 2006 Location: beastville Posts: 1,942 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 97	Re: How important is the brand of creatine? i dont know, i got effective results using GNC creatine mono. But yeah stay away from the really cheap and unheard supp companies. __________________ SUPPLEMENTS.NET REP

08-02-2007, 09:51 PM	#4
haiz69 Iron Mass Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 388 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 25	Re: How important is the brand of creatine? I does make a difference IMO. __________________ Supplements.net - Quality Supplements, Great Prices, Awesome Service

08-03-2007, 04:03 PM	#5
DJSTARER eating more folate... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 4,035 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 114	Re: How important is the brand of creatine? makes a difference.... ROM i liked GNC's __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: 500lbs squat and a total over 1400 in competition

08-03-2007, 05:45 PM	#8
DarkFalcon I've got a RAGING clue! Join Date: May 2005 Location: dnyc99's cleaning staff Posts: 11,511 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 299	Re: How important is the brand of creatine? I'd like to say it doesn't but in fact it definately does. I've tried a lot of types and brands of Creatine over the years and some DEFINATELY work better then others. BSN's NO-Xplode is excellent, Syntrax Swole V3 was also top notch as well as S.A.N's V12. Weider brand Creatine Mono was also a very good brand believe it or not.

08-03-2007, 10:53 PM	#13
Ikaika resident degen Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,751 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 216	Re: How important is the brand of creatine? As for bulk stuff I've always loved AST's Micronized creatine monohydrate. 1 kilo for $20 and it gets the job done. V12 and Swole are both great too. __________________ No supplement can make up for the lack of a strong work ethic.

08-04-2007, 12:50 AM	#14
~~Hacking is a Felony~~ I destroy property Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,105 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	Re: How important is the brand of creatine? micronized is the way to go .. hope you find one that works for you Lennie .. welcome to Iron Mass by the way.

08-04-2007, 03:46 PM	#15
Lennie New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	Re: How important is the brand of creatine? Thanks a lot for all of the advice. I should have known there'd be a reason why some brands were so much cheaper than the others.

08-04-2007, 09:46 PM	#16
Pioneer Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,719 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 73	Re: How important is the brand of creatine? Ive honestly never gotten anything out of mono or CEE from many different companies. maybe im doing something wrong and i just need to do a straight up test without taking anything else at the same time. __________________ "A Marine in battle fears disgracing himself by running. He fears not losing his life, but losing his honor. He may not be able to preserve his life, but he can always preserve his honor. That much is within his power... To fear disgrace but not death, to fear not duty but dereliction from duty -- this is courage." -FMFM 1-0 "Leading Marines" pg. 43 Drive on

08-05-2007, 02:22 AM	#17
danman77220 Pro Stature Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,021 Recipes: 1 Rep Power: 50	Re: How important is the brand of creatine? Just remember: Anything > Cell Tech __________________ Accomplishment tastes better than cheesecake. Stats(/goals): Age: 18 Weight: 193 BF%: 19%/8% Max Lifts B: Poop S: Pee D: Status: Gaining back strength and size after tonsillectomy My Training Log