Our EPO Pump review in one line: AfterDark EPO Pump is a stim-free pump pre-workout with a full 6 g of L-citrulline per scoop, no caffeine and no beta-alanine, at a good-value price per serve. It also contains huperzine A, a drug-like compound with limited evidence for performance, so check with your GP first if you take any medication. Below we break down every ingredient and compare it with two other stim-free pumps we stock in Australia, BBD Pump and R1 Pump.
EPO Pump vs BBD Pump vs R1 Pump at a glance
| AfterDark EPO Pump | BBD Pump | R1 Pump | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | None | None | None |
| L-citrulline per scoop | 6 g | 6 g | 3 g |
| Beta-alanine (tingles) | None | 3.2 g | None |
| Other key ingredients | 750 mg arginine, 3 g dextrose and D-ribose, 300 mg creatine HCl, 1 g L-tyrosine, 750 mg choline bitartrate, huperzine A | 2 g arginine nitrate, 2 g creatine nitrate, 2 g taurine, 300 mg pine bark extract | 500 mg Nitrosigine, 500 mg L-arginine, 2 g taurine, 1 g betaine |
| Serves per tub | About 20 | 20 | 30 |
| Price | $39.95 | $49.95 | $69.95 |
| Approx. cost per serve | $2.00 | $2.50 | $2.33 |
Doses are from the labels we checked, and prices are at the time of writing. EPO Pump has been one of our best-selling stim-free pre-workouts over the last six months.
What is in EPO Pump, ingredient by ingredient
One heaped 16 g scoop is the label serve. Here is what each part does and how strong the evidence is.
L-citrulline (6 g) and arginine (750 mg)
This is the core of the formula. Your body turns citrulline into arginine, which is used to make nitric oxide, the molecule behind blood flow and the "pump" feeling. A 2021 meta-analysis of eight studies found citrulline malate taken before resistance training increased repetitions to failure, but the effect was small. Those studies used 6 to 8 g of citrulline malate, and 6 g of pure L-citrulline is at least as much citrulline as that, so EPO Pump is properly dosed here.
Glycogen polymers (3 g)
This is dextrose and D-ribose, which are simple carbs. Three grams is a very small amount, less than a teaspoon of sugar, so do not expect it to fuel a session. It mostly adds to the taste and texture.
Creatine HCl (300 mg)
The ISSN creatine position stand uses 3 to 5 g of creatine a day for ongoing use, so 300 mg is a token amount. If you want the proven benefits of creatine, take a separate creatine supplement each day as well.
L-tyrosine (1 g) and choline bitartrate (750 mg)
These are added for focus. Tyrosine is used to make brain chemicals involved in alertness, and choline is used to make acetylcholine. Evidence that either improves gym performance in well-rested, healthy people is limited, so see them as a bonus rather than the reason to buy.
Huperzine A: what you should know
EPO Pump lists 100 µg of Huperzia serrata extract as a source of huperzine A. Huperzine A is a compound from Chinese club moss that slows the breakdown of acetylcholine. According to Operation Supplement Safety, a US Department of Defense program, its status as a supplement in the US is unclear, and it is an approved drug in some other countries.
The same source says no studies to date have shown huperzine A improves mental performance in otherwise healthy people. Reported side effects include a slower heart rate, nausea, dizziness, sweating, blurred vision and trouble sleeping, and long-term safety is not well understood. That is why we say it plainly: if you take any prescription medication, have a heart condition, or are stacking EPO Pump with other focus or nootropic products, talk to your GP or pharmacist before using it. The label also says not to use it if you are pregnant or nursing.
EPO Pump vs BBD Pump: the key differences
BBD Pump matches EPO Pump on citrulline (6 g) but adds 3.2 g of beta-alanine, 2 g of taurine and two nitrate salts, arginine nitrate and creatine nitrate. Beta-alanine is one of the best-supported ingredients in the category. The ISSN says 4 to 6 g a day for two to four weeks can improve performance in efforts lasting about one to four minutes, but it also causes the harmless tingling some people dislike. BBD Pump does not contain huperzine A.
So the choice is simple. If you want no tingle and like the focus ingredients, EPO Pump fits. If you want beta-alanine in your pump product and would rather skip huperzine A, BBD Pump is the better pick, though it costs more per serve.
Who EPO Pump suits, and who should skip it
- Good for: evening sessions, people sensitive to caffeine, and stacking with your usual stimulant pre-workout or coffee for extra pump.
- Good for: anyone who hates the beta-alanine tingle, as none is listed.
- Skip it if: you take regular medication or are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless your GP says it is fine, because of the huperzine A.
- Drug-tested athletes: we have not seen a third-party batch-testing claim for EPO Pump. R1 Pump is stated by Rule 1 to be Informed Choice certified, so it is a safer starting point. Always check with your sport.
For more caffeine-free options, read our guide to the best stim-free pre-workouts for night training, or the EPO Pump product guide for mixing and serving tips.
Our verdict
AfterDark EPO Pump is a well-dosed, good-value stim-free pump with a full serve of citrulline and no tingle. Its weak points are a token amount of creatine and the huperzine A, which is drug-like and has little evidence for gym performance. If that does not suit you, choose BBD Pump for added beta-alanine or R1 Pump for a certified option. Compare more in our best pump and nitric oxide supplements in Australia guide or browse all stim-free pre-workouts.
How our price compares
Here is what the same products cost at other Australian supplement stores, so you can check the difference yourself.
| Product | Supps247 | Nutrition Warehouse | ASN | Elite Supps | Supplement Mart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AfterDark EPO Pump 20 serves | $39.95 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| BBD Pump 20 serves | $49.95 | Not confirmed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| R1 Pump Non-Stim 30 serves | $69.95 | $59.46 (sale) | Not listed | Not listed | $69.95 |
Supps247 prices come from our website. Other prices were checked on the websites of Nutrition Warehouse, Australian Sports Nutrition (ASN), Elite Supps and Supplement Mart on 29 October 2026 (same product and size, price for one unit) and can change at any time. Sale means it was on sale that day. Not listed means we could not find that exact product on their site. Not confirmed means we could not confirm the same product and size. Supps247 members can use our Price Match Guarantee against Nutrition Warehouse, ASN, Elite Supps and Supplement Mart: we beat their full price by 5% or match their sale price (conditions apply).
Shop the products in this guide
AfterDark EPO Pump Sour Buddy$39.95
BBD Pump Strawberry Pineapple$49.95
R1 Pump Non-Stim 30 serves$69.95
Browse all stim-free pre-workouts and pump supplements.
FAQs
Does EPO Pump have caffeine?
No. The EPO Pump label lists no caffeine or other stimulants, which makes it a non-stim pre-workout. You can use it for late sessions, or alongside a stimulant pre-workout if you follow both labels and keep your total caffeine within the FSANZ guidance for healthy adults of no more than 400 mg a day from all sources.
Is huperzine A safe?
Huperzine A is a drug-like compound from Chinese club moss and is an approved medicine in some countries. Operation Supplement Safety reports side effects such as a slower heart rate, nausea, dizziness and trouble sleeping, and says long-term safety is not well understood. If you take medication, have a heart condition or are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your GP before using a product that contains it.
Will EPO Pump make me tingle?
It should not. The tingle in most pre-workouts comes from beta-alanine, and EPO Pump does not list any. If you want the performance benefits of beta-alanine and do not mind the tingle, BBD Pump has 3.2 g per scoop.
How many serves are in a tub of EPO Pump?
The label lists about 20 serves per tub, with each serve being one heaped 16 g scoop. Used on four training days a week, a tub lasts about five weeks. Australian and US labels can differ, so check the panel on your tub for the exact serve size and directions.
Can I stack EPO Pump with a stimulant pre-workout?
Many people do, because EPO Pump adds citrulline without extra caffeine. Follow the directions for both products and count the caffeine in your stimulant pre-workout and any coffee that day. Avoid stacking it with other products that contain huperzine A, and check with your GP first if you take medication.
Sources: Operation Supplement Safety, huperzine A; Vårvik et al. 2021, citrulline malate and strength endurance: a meta-analysis; ISSN position stand: creatine supplementation (2017); ISSN position stand: beta-alanine (2015); FSANZ, caffeine powders and high caffeine content foods; product labels and brand nutrition panels, checked October 2026.
Order online with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $99.99 or more, with Afterpay available at checkout. You can also use click and collect at a store that offers it, or visit a Supps247 store in Melbourne, regional Victoria or Brisbane to compare products in person. Members can use our member price match on full-priced items.
Prices and stock were checked on 29 October 2026 and can change at any time. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, check with your doctor first.
