Buffer the burn.
Buffer is an enteric-coated sodium bicarbonate capsule. The active ingredient has been studied for decades to show it can reduce fatigue by neutralizing acidity. The coating delays release so it doesn't react in your stomach. A 2022 review pooled 158 studies on sodium bicarbonate, making it one of the most researched supplements. Backed by science. Cleared for competition.
- NaHCO3sodium bicarbonate
- 1,000 mgper capsule
- 60capsules
- 30servings
- buf·fer /ˈbə-fər/
- n. & adj.
- 1. Chem. A substance or system which resists alterations in acidity or alkalinity.
- 2. Slang. More muscular; stronger or more robust in physique.
- MMA
- HYROX
- CrossFit
- Sprinting
- Rowing
- Spin
- Boxing
- Swimming
- Muay Thai
- Jiu Jitsu
Try a serving on us.
One sachet, one full serving: two 1,000 mg capsules. Take it with carbs before your next hard session and see how it sits before you commit to a jar.
- 2 capsulesone serving
- 2,000 mgsodium bicarbonate
- Free+ $10 shipping
One per customer. High in sodium: 550 mg per sachet.
The burn is chemistry. So is the fix.
One active ingredient, studied for decades. We put it in a measured capsule so you know exactly what you took.
The burn is acid building up.
Hard efforts make energy faster than your body can clear the byproducts. Hydrogen ions pile up in working muscle, acidity rises, and that is a big part of the burn that makes you back off.
Bicarbonate is your buffer.
More bicarbonate in your blood helps pull acid out of working muscle, so you can hold your output longer before you fade.
Coated to get past your stomach.
Plain baking soda reacts with stomach acid, which is where the bloating comes from. Each 1,000 mg capsule has an acid-resistant enteric coating, designed to open in the small intestine instead.
Bicarbonate soaks up the hydrogen ions that build up in hard efforts. You breathe the rest out as CO₂.
Less fatigue. More in the tank.
Sodium bicarbonate is one of the few supplements the International Society of Sports Nutrition rates as effective for performance. In study after study it delays fatigue, extends high-intensity endurance and helps athletes finish stronger, across both single all-out efforts and repeated intervals.
More total reps in a CrossFit-style “Fight Gone Bad” workout after 10 days of bicarbonate vs placebo, with the ventilatory threshold pushed back about 25 seconds.
The effort window where pooled studies show a clear endurance boost (effect size 0.40 across 25 studies). Think MMA rounds, HYROX stations, sprinting and hard rows.
Improved muscular endurance across 12 studies (effect size 0.37): more work before your muscles hit failure.
Over a 2 km row: trained CrossFit athletes finished 2.2% faster on bicarbonate than on placebo.
- Durkalec-Michalski K, et al. The effect of chronic progressive-dose sodium bicarbonate ingestion on CrossFit-like performance: a double-blind, randomized cross-over trial. PLOS ONE. 2018;13(5):e0197480.
- Grgic J, et al. Effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on exercise performance: an umbrella review. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021;18:71.
- Grgic J, et al. Effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation on exercise performance: an umbrella review. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021;18:71.
- The effects of enteric-coated sodium bicarbonate supplementation on 2 km rowing performance in CrossFit® athletes. Edge Hill University, 2023. PubMed ID 36705750.
Findings come from published studies of sodium bicarbonate, not from trials of Buffer itself. Doses varied by study. Individual responses vary.
How to take it.
Take 2 capsules (2g) with carbs, 1–2 hours before your workout. You can take up to 20 capsules at a time: build up gradually, take them with a meal and plenty of water, and spread larger amounts over 15–30 minutes.
That’s the window the International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends. Taking it with a carb-rich meal and plenty of water helps it sit easy.
- 1–2 hours outTake your capsules with a carb-rich meal and plenty of water.
- While you waitBicarbonate in your blood climbs toward its peak.
- Go timeFight, MMA, HYROX, race, row, WOD, spar. First time? Try it on a training day, not race day.
- 2 capsulesper serving
- 2,000 mgsodium bicarbonate
- 1–2 hoursbefore your workout
- With carbsand plenty of water
- Up to 20capsules at a time
- 15–30 minto spread larger amounts
Same ingredient. Cleaner way to take it.
| Buffer | Baking soda in water | Gel bicarb systems | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per serving | $1.50, or $1.33 subscribed | Bad taste | About $17.50 |
| Your stomach | Enteric-coated, opens past it | Most gut issues in studies | Also built to protect it |
| Measured dose | 1,000 mg per capsule | Kitchen-spoon guesswork | Pre-portioned by weight |
| Prep | Swallow capsules with water | Measure, mix, chug | Mix a gel |
Straight answers.
What’s in it?
Sodium bicarbonate (1,000 mg per capsule) in an enteric-coated gelatin capsule. The capsule is bovine gelatin, so Buffer isn’t vegetarian.
Is this just baking soda?
Yes. Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda. The difference is a measured 1,000 mg dose in an enteric-coated capsule that’s built to get past your stomach, instead of a spoon and a glass of salty water.
How many capsules do I take?
Take 2 capsules (2g) with carbs, 1–2 hours before your workout. You can take up to 20 capsules at a time. Build up gradually in training, take larger amounts with a meal and plenty of water, and spread them over 15–30 minutes. Each capsule has about 275 mg of sodium, so 20 capsules carry about 5,500 mg.
Will it upset my stomach?
The enteric coating is designed to cut that down by opening in the small intestine instead of your stomach. Some people still feel it, so take it with a carb-rich meal and plenty of water, and try it in training before race day.
What kind of training is it for?
Hard efforts from about 30 seconds to 12 minutes, and repeated hard efforts: MMA rounds, HYROX stations, WODs, sprinting, rowing, spin intervals. It does little for max strength or long steady runs.
Who shouldn’t take it?
It is high in sodium: 550 mg per 2-capsule serving (24% of the daily value). Skip it and talk to your doctor if you are on a low-sodium diet, have high blood pressure, kidney or heart problems, or are pregnant or nursing.
Can I stack it?
Research suggests beta-alanine and creatine may add to the effect. Whether caffeine adds anything is unclear.