Ingredients7.9
Effectiveness9.4
Value6.5
Pros
  • Excellent Ingredients
  • Awesome Muscle Pumps
Cons
  • Take 2x a day on empty stomach
  • 8 pills a day at max dosage
7.9Overall Score

Force Factor’s name has become synonymous with nitric oxide thanks to their popular Force Factor and Factor 2.

Given their reputation for nitric oxide boosters, I was excited to test VolcaNO, and see what kind of a pump it gave me.

First I’ll cover how nitric oxide facilitates better lean muscle gains, then cover the main ingredients and my experience taking VolcaNO during my workout.

Nitric Oxide for Noticeable Gains

Nitric oxide is a gas produced within the endothelial cells of blood vessels. By signaling relaxation in the surrounding muscle, nitric oxide improves vasodilation, which increases blood flow.

This allows you to get a better pump during your workout and deliver more blood, nutrients, and oxygen into muscles. Shuttling this extra oxygenated blood into muscles helps clear out lactic acid and other toxins which fatigue the muscle. This helps boost strength, endurance, growth, and recovery.

What’s Inside VolcaNO?

Here’s a breakdown of some of VolcaNO’s ingredients and their purported strength and performance benefits:

L-Citrulline: L-citrulline is an amino acid which the body converts to arginine and utilizes to enhance nitric oxide production. L-citrulline has the added benefit of being recycled back into arginine and helps remove the waste product ammonia, delaying muscle fatigue. [1]

Agmatine Sulfate: Agmatine is an arginine derivative which uses a unique reverse nitric oxide pathway to increase nitric oxide production anaerobically. [2]

L-Norvaline: L-norvaline boosts nitric oxide production by inhibiting the enzyme arginase, which breaks down arginine. [3]

CON-CRET® Creatine HCL: Creatine HCL is highly bioavailable which means it’s easily absorbed and doesn’t cause the side effects associated with other forms of creatine such as bloating or other gastrointestinal problems.
Force Factor

My Experience With VolcaNO

The recommended dosage is 2-4 capsules. I decided to just go for it and take all 4 my first time, and I have to say I came away very impressed with VolcaNO. Personally, I can get a normal pump by just performing a few light warm-up reps. My body also responds pretty favorably to nitric oxide products in general, and I can tell almost right away if a product is giving me a better pump.

That being said, the agmatine/citrulline and norvaline combo gave me an absolutely ridiculous pump. I’ve tried several nitric oxide products over the years, and up until now my favorite was probably the now discontinued Plasma Jet from Gaspari.

For me, I didn’t mind taking 4 capsules twice a day, I just took them in the morning an an empty stomach and before my workout. However, this kind of dosage schedule might be a perceived downside for some of you.

Final Thoughts On Force Factor’s VolcaNO

I came away a big fan of VolcaNO. This is a supplement I would definitely recommend if you’re looking to get a better pump, and squeeze in some of those extra reps and sets. Since this is a non-stimulant product it stacks well with your other pre-workouts, or can be taken by itself.

[1] Pérez-Guisado J, Jakeman PM Citrulline malate enhances athletic anaerobic performance and relieves muscle soreness. J Strength Cond Res. 2010 May;24(5):1215-22

[2] Morrissey JJ, Klahr S. Agmatine activation of nitric oxide synthase in endothelial cells. Proc Assoc Am Physicians. 1997 Jan;109(1):51-7.

[3] El-Bassossy HM, El-Fawal R, Fahmy A. Arginase inhibition alleviates hypertension associated with diabetes: effect on endothelial dependent relaxation and NO production Vascul Pharmacol. 2012 Nov-Dec;57(5-6):194-200. doi: 10.1016/j.vph.2012.01.001. Epub 2012 Jan 17.



About The Author

Brian E. is from southern California and has worked for names like GNC and Vitamin Shoppe as a supplement expert and consultant. He currently lives in Utah and is studying marketing.

13 Responses

  1. George Montgomery

    I haven’t used the porduct yet since I am in a rest and recovery phase but I thought I would order the “free” sample. I paid my shipping for the “free” sample which arrived in a timely manner. However, Forece Factor takes it upon themselves to start charging your credit card you submit to pay the shipping rate of the free sample their price for a full bottle you never order so be careful. Very shady business practice and I will never do a business with this company or a company which pushes their product.

    Reply
    • Joe(y)

      Its in the print. All you have to do is cancel within 2 weeks. They are very fair. they even sent me more free samples and extended my trial period and lowered the cost. I ordered through them 2 yrs ago and had no problem canceling from them. Do you always sign without reading the fine print?

      Reply
  2. Robert

    im a type 1 diabetic will it be ok for me to use the volcano supplements

    Reply
    • Admin

      Robert, you’ll want to check with your doctor first to avoid any adverse reactions.

      Reply
  3. Jay Smith

    I use this product and I must say it’s a little scary that you have a lot of energy after working out for 30 minutes. I can go for an hour with no issues. On a side note, I did gain 10 pounds after 2 months of using this product so watch you diet.

    Reply
    • Barrie

      In your post you mentioned that you gained 10 pounds in only two months after beginning to use this product, and as a result you recommended watching your diet. I must admit, that quick of a gain does sound a bit Scary. So, the obvious question I have is what kind of gain were you referring to? Was it Good weight or Bad weight? Lean muscle mass, or otherwise?

      Reply
  4. John

    I want to know if I can take 4 pills 30 minutes before I work out and the other 4 30 minutes before I eat lunch will that work

    Reply
    • Lisa Melvin

      Hey! According to the Force Factor website, you can take 2-4 capsules with breakfast and 2-4 capsules 30 minutes before working out.

      Reply
    • Brian E.

      Yes! Force Factor VolcaNO is a great pump supplement. It will help you get more bloodflow to the muscles being worked out for a more intense muscle pump.

      Reply
  5. Darren

    Dude this review is great. I’ve had great success with FFVolcano myself in the past couple of months since I’ve started using. Really appreciate this so I can show other people what I’ve been talking about haha.

    Reply
  6. John R. Wills,PhD, Nutritionist

    I have been using L-Arginine Ethyl Ester at 4 grams daily in powder form with orange juice to control my blood pressure. This product works for me because L-Arginine is metabolized to fast for good BP reduction. I am 73 yrs old and BP average is 135/70 before using L-Arginine Ethyl Ester the average was 160/85
    Also daily intake of 200 mg of CoQ, 100 mcg L-Selenomethione, 100mg Zinc Gluconate, 2 cap of Twin Labs stress-B with Vit C, 400 mg MgProteninate, and 400 IU of L-alpha tocopheryl acetate.

    Will this new product improve the results I am obtaining?

    Reply

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