Raspberry Lime Creatine HCl Powder

My brother has been training consistently for a long time and is picky about supplements. Before trying this one, he read about creatine HCl and how it differs from other forms. He explained to me that creatine HCl is more concentrated and does not require large scoops, which was appealing to him. He also liked the idea of pairing creatine with prickly pear extract, since he read that it supports water balance in the body. When he first opened the container, he commented on the smell. He said it smelled fresh and light, not chemical or artificial. He chose the raspberry lime flavor and liked that it tasted crisp instead of overly sweet. He mixes it with water most of the time and said it blends smoothly without clumps. The texture once mixed is clean and smooth, not gritty. Taste was important since he takes it often. He said the raspberry lime flavor is pleasant and refreshing, especially before training. After a couple of weeks, his comments about training started. He told us that he felt somehow stronger during lifts and more stable through his sessions. He said his strength felt more consistent instead of peaking and crashing. He also said his muscles felt supported without feeling bloated or heavy. He liked that the ingredient list is short and clear. Creatine HCl, prickly pear extract, electrolytes like magnesium, sodium, and potassium. He read that electrolytes help with hydration and muscle performance, which made sense to him. That research made him feel comfortable…

Full disclosure I'm a fan of this brand so I decided to give this flavored creatine a try. I like how the ingredients are easy to read and know what is inside. I decided to try the flavored creatine for an extra way to get more water intake because if it was non flavored I don't like taking it alone I mix it in protein shakes. The taste is pleasant I will say and the price is reasonable.

This is made from creatine HCL, in case you didn't catch that, which is supposed to be a more concentrated version of creatine monohydrate that you need less of. I can't say I've noticed much difference after using this for a couple of weeks, but creatine is a long term supplement that needs time to work, and I'm sure creatine HCL is the same way. Otherwise, the taste is okay and doesn't have any artificial flavor to it. It actually mixed and dissolved pretty well - a lot of creatine powders dissolve very poorly. So this was near the top of the kinds I've tried when it comes to that. Otherwise, this was pretty decent, but I can't say I've noticed much difference between this and creatine monohydrate, so if there is a difference, you don't notice it right away.

I've used creatine for a long time, but I'm also someone who notices water retention pretty quickly, so I'm usually cautious about changing formats. This was my first time using a creatine HCl, and I approached it more as an experiment than a switch. The powder mixes easily, the raspberry lime flavor is light and clean, and it doesn't have that heavy or artificial taste that makes some supplements feel like work. It was easy to take consistently, which matters more than the label claims. What stood out over the first couple of weeks was how normal everything felt. Strength and training intensity were there, but without the puffiness or bloated feeling I sometimes get with traditional creatine. I didn't feel waterlogged, and I didn't feel like I needed to 'wait it out' for things to settle. I also appreciated how simple the dose is. It doesn't feel like you're forcing down something aggressive or overengineered, and I never had any digestive issues or hesitation about timing it around workouts. This feels like a version of creatine meant for people who care about how they feel and look day to day, not just what the scale or mirror says after a loading phase. It's quietly effective, easy to stick with, and doesn't announce itself. That's usually when something earns a spot in the rotation.