MuscleTech Alpha Test Thermo Products: Which is Best for You? (2024)

For years, MuscleTech has set itself apart in two key areas: a willingness to incorporate novel ingredients unlike other similarly large brands, and hybrid formulations. That and of course some of the most fun sponsored athletes in the entire industry!

Whereas most brands have a separate product for each element of health and wellness, MuscleTech notoriously combines use cases to create synergistic formulas that benefit the human organism as a whole. An excellent example of this is Burn iQ, which incorporates nootropic ingredients in a fat-burner.

On the other end of the spectrum, we recently broke down the different Mass-Tech weight gainers, and some readers asked us to do the same for the Alpha Test Thermo series.

Alpha Test Thermo vs. Alpha Test Thermo XTR

Another great example of hybrid formulas is in the Alpha Test Thermo lineup, which combines fat burning and testosterone-boosting ingredients for male athletes to stay in peak condition. The goal is to burn fat but enable muscle gains and hormonal optimization at the same time.

There are two products:

1. MuscleTech Alpha Test Thermo
2. MuscleTech Alpha Test Thermo XTR

The original is great for taking before a workout early in the day. Alpha Test Thermo XTR, on the other hand, is an excellent option for those of us who work out slightly later, like in the early afternoons, because it replaces the caffeine with paraxanthine, which has a shorter half-life.

The XTR version also contains KSM-66 ashwagandha as an adaptogenic ingredient, and some extra grains of paradise and longjack.

We’re going to dive into each formula and how they differ, but first let’s check PricePlow for good MuscleTech deals, and check out our video review of the new flavor:

MuscleTech Alpha Test Thermo

Our full analysis is linked in this article’s intro, but the original Alpha Test Thermo contains the following ingredients:

• Thermo Fire Plus Matrix

  • L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (1g): a bioavailable form of carnitine that optimizes testosterone signaling, enhances oxygen delivery to cells, increases androgen receptor density to amplify testosterone’s effects, and supports healthy weight loss through increased insulin sensitivity and activation of calorie-burning brown adipose tissue.
  • Caffeine (225mg): enhances energy metabolism and fat oxidation, leading to increased caloric burn, while also improving strength, speed, endurance, attentiveness, and memory, making it an effective stimulant for both physical and mental performance.
  • aXivite (62.5mg): a stabilized form of phenylcapsaicin that enhances liver health, improves metabolic functions, decreases insulin resistance, and promotes fat loss by activating brown adipose tissue and reducing inflammatory markers, as confirmed by animal studies and safety approvals from stringent regulatory bodies. There’s also new data supporting performance that we’ll be covering soon, as well.
  • Grains of Paradise Extract (20mg): A spice from the ginger family that stimulates metabolic activity in brown adipose tissue, enhancing calorie burn and reducing visceral fat, thereby mitigating metabolic dysfunctions like insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, as demonstrated in studies on both men and women.

• Test and Vitality Matrix

  • Fenugreek Extract (600mg): Fenugreek has been demonstrated to increase both total and free testosterone, improving traits such as strength, body composition, and sex drive, partly by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase which converts testosterone to estrogen.
  • Boron Citrate (200mg, supplying 5mg boron): Boron plays a significant role in testosterone and vitamin D synthesis, directly and indirectly supporting higher testosterone levels by increasing vitamin D production and enhancing its half-life, as well as potentially increasing free testosterone and decreasing estrogen levels.
  • Longjack Extract (50mg): also known as tongkat ali, longjack has been traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and is now supported by scientific literature as a potential testosterone booster, with studies indicating increases in sperm motility and libido.
  • Zinc Oxide (11mg): a crucial mineral for optimizing testosterone production, often considered vital for the male endocrine system, with even minor deficiencies leading to significant drops in testosterone levels.

For a complete breakdown of the Alpha Test Thermo formula, check out our article titled ““.

But what if you want even more?! Or… you want to try the new caffeine replacement, paraxanthine?!

Alpha Test Thermo XTR

Alpha Test Thermo XTR is similar to the original, but contains KSM-66 ashwagandha, enfinity paraxanthine instead of caffeine, double the amount of grains of paradise, and 150% the amount of tongkat. Here are the ingredients:

• Muscle Matrix

  • L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (1g): see above.
  • KSM-66 (600mg): Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that promotes overall well-being by aiding the body’s adaptation to stress, demonstrated by its ability to reduce cortisol levels and perceived stress while boosting testosterone, enhancing athletic performance, and promoting hormonal balance.

• Thermo Fire Matrix

  • Enfinity Paraxanthine (200mg): Instead of caffeine, Alpha Test Thermo XTR contains enfinity paraxanthine, which is a novel caffeine alternative and caffeine metabolite that provides a smoother energy than caffeine, as well as a shorter half life, and fewer side effects since it side-steps the two longer-lasting, more aggravating metabolites (theobromine and theophylline).
  • aXivite (62.5mg): see above.
  • CaloriBurn Grains of Paradise Extract (40mg): Alpha Test Thermo XTR contains twice the amount of grains of paradise extract as Alpha Test Thermo.

• Test and Vitality Matrix

  • Boron Citrate (200mg): see above.
  • Longjack Extract (75mg): Alpha Test Thermo XTR has 150% the amount of longjack as Alpha Test Thermo.

For the full story on the Alpha Test Thermo XTR formula, read our article titled “MuscleTech Alpha Test Thermo XTR: Upgraded Fat Burning Testosterone Booster“.

There’s obviously a price difference between these two, and some people simply like the heavier “smack” of energy from caffeine from Alpha Test Thermo. But overall, the XTR version brings a bit more power.

With respect to Alpha Test Thermo XTR, there’s even new data supporting increased energy expenditure from paraxanthine — to the tune of 100 calories per day, while reducing hunger and heart rate!

Either way, we’re very excited about this duo of hybrid formulas.

Burning Fat and Boosting T

While fat-burning supplements and testosterone boosting supplements have generally been treated separately and discretely, it’s exciting to see MuscleTech meld the two together. After all, male athletic performance cannot be broken down simply into discrete pieces. The body is a holistic system, and if one element is out of whack, the system is thrown into disarray.

Both Alpha Test Thermo products function as fat-burners, pre-workouts, and muscle-builders. All told, you have dynamite in capsule form that will help you get the most out of our workout regimen.

Be sure to sign up for our MuscleTech news alerts on PricePlow, and don’t miss our latest research on paraxanthine, the new enfinity energy expenditure study is worth looking at!