XtendOriginal BCAA Powder

Overview

Xtend, originally from Scivation and now part of Nutrabolt, has been the default BCAA powder for well over a decade. Each 12.7 g scoop delivers 7 g of BCAAs in the 2:1:1 ratio (3.5 g leucine and 1.75 g each of isoleucine and valine), 2.5 g of L-glutamine, 220 mg sodium, 170 mg potassium, and vitamin B6, with zero sugar and zero listed calories. It's sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium, and current relabeled tubs color flavors with vegetable juice and beta carotene. The label carries Informed Choice and NSF Contents Certified marks, and a 30-serving tub costs about $26 to $28.

What reviewers say

Supplement reviewers have liked it for years: Fitness Informant rated it 8.5 out of 10 and called it "still the king of the mountain," and newer breakdowns still describe it as one of the most popular intra-workout formulas on the market. Flavor is the headline, from Watermelon Explosion to candy collaborations with Airheads and Jolly Rancher. The main caveat is scientific rather than sensory: research suggests BCAAs alone can't maximize muscle protein synthesis, so if you already eat enough protein, Xtend works best as a flavorful, electrolyte-boosted training drink rather than a muscle builder.

Who it's for

Lifters and athletes who like sipping a sugar-free, electrolyte-enhanced drink during long training sessions, especially fasted ones, and anyone who wants third-party-tested BCAAs at a budget price.

Bottom line

Xtend Original earns our BCAA pick for its proven formula, Informed Choice testing, and value. Just know what you're buying: a great-tasting recovery drink, not a substitute for protein.