After a decade coaching athletes and testing supplements, I've learned expensive doesn't always mean better. BBW's Pure Creatine Monohydrate proves this point perfectly - delivering identical results to premium brands at a fraction of the cost.
TL;DR
BBW's Pure Creatine Monohydrate delivers exactly what pricier brands do - improved strength and power - at roughly a third of the cost. The packaging is brilliant, it mixes well, and after three months, I can't find a reason to go back to premium brands.
Let's cut through the noise here. I've seen every supplement fad come and go. Creatine monohydrate isn't one of them - it's the real deal. But when Bodybuilding Warehouse (BBW) started making waves with their pure creatine at frankly ridiculous prices, I had to see what the fuss was about.
Why I Switched (And Why Price Actually Mattered)
I'll be honest - I was that coach who stuck with the expensive stuff. Optimum Nutrition, Dymatize, the works. Not because they were better, but because... well, habit and a bit of brand snobbery, if I'm being brutally honest.
Then one of my athletes mentioned he was getting identical results with BBW's version for £10 per kilo. That's roughly 5p per serving versus the 15-20p I was paying elsewhere. As someone who preaches evidence-based practice, I had to admit the maths didn't lie.
The Flavours: A Mixed Bag 🎯
I've tried all four variants over the past few months:
Unflavoured remains my go-to. It's genuinely tasteless - not "barely there" like some brands claim, but actually neutral. Perfect for mixing with anything.
Lemon & Lime is surprisingly decent. Not overpowering, just a subtle citrus hint that makes plain water more palatable.
Berry Blitz works well, though it's more artificial-tasting than I'd prefer. Still perfectly drinkable.
Strawberry Lime was the only disappointment. Too sweet for my liking, and the artificial strawberry flavour reminded me of children's medicine.
What Actually Matters: Performance
Here's what I've observed across my athletes and my own training:
The strength gains are exactly what you'd expect from quality creatine monohydrate. We're seeing the typical 5-15% improvement in power output during high-intensity, short-duration efforts. One of my powerlifters added 10kg to his bench within six weeks - though obviously, that's training progression combined with creatine supplementation.
What impressed me most was the consistency. No gritty texture, no stomach upset, no weird aftertaste lingering for hours. Just clean, effective supplementation.
The Packaging Revolution
This might sound trivial, but BBW's new packaging is genuinely game-changing. They've ditched those awful zip-lock seals that inevitably get powder stuck in them for what I can only describe as a "velcro-style" closure.
It's not completely airtight - squeeze the bag and some air escapes - but it doesn't need to be. We're storing powder in a cupboard, not preserving specimens for NASA. The convenience factor alone makes this worth considering.
Mixing and Solubility
One concern with budget supplements is poor solubility, but BBW's creatine dissolves completely in room temperature water. I typically use 300ml of water with 5g of creatine, give it a quick stir, and it's gone.
Pro tip from the trenches: if you're finding any creatine a bit gritty, try mixing it with something slightly carbonated. The bubbles keep everything in suspension, making it far more palatable.
The Science Bit (Because Context Matters)
Let's be clear about what creatine actually does. It increases your muscle's phosphocreatine stores, allowing for faster ATP regeneration during high-intensity exercise. This translates to improved performance in activities lasting 1-10 seconds - perfect for weightlifting, sprinting, or explosive movements.
Creatine supplementation consistently enhances performance in repeated bouts of brief, high-intensity exercise by 5-15%, with the greatest benefits observed in activities lasting less than 30 seconds.
International Journal of Sport Medicine (2022)
The effective dose is 3-5g daily. Loading phases (20g for 5 days) work faster, but aren't necessary. Consistency matters more than timing, though I still recommend taking it pre-workout out of habit.
Value Proposition
At £10 for 1kg (200 servings), this works out to 5p per serving. Compare that to premium brands charging £25-30 for the same amount, and you're looking at 400-500% markup for... what exactly?
Once creatine meets pharmaceutical standards for purity, there's virtually no difference between brands. You're paying for marketing, fancy packaging, and brand recognition - none of which make your muscles any stronger.
Meta-analysis of creatine supplementation studies shows no significant difference in efficacy between different brands of creatine monohydrate when purity standards are equivalent.
Sports Medicine Research (2023)
Who Should (And Shouldn't) Buy This
Perfect for:
- Anyone wanting effective creatine supplementation without the premium price tag
- Beginners not wanting to invest heavily before seeing results
- Experienced users tired of overpaying for identical products
- Athletes on tight budgets (which, let's face it, is most of them)
Maybe avoid if:
- You're obsessive about completely airtight storage (though this really doesn't matter)
- You need flavoured options beyond basic fruit varieties
- You prefer tablets over powder (BBW only does powder)
The Bottom Line
After three months of use across multiple athletes, I can't justify recommending expensive creatine anymore. BBW's Pure Creatine Monohydrate does exactly what it claims, at a price that makes supplementation accessible to everyone.
The quality is spot-on, the packaging is actually innovative, and the value is frankly ridiculous. Unless you're emotionally attached to paying more for identical results, this is the obvious choice.
Will I continue using it? Absolutely. Will I recommend it to my athletes? Already am.
Sometimes the best choice is also the simplest one. 💪
