I’ve been bullish on sleep hygiene and supplements long before I’d ever even heard of AG1—much less wrote an AGZ review. And, though it’s probably a little late into 2025 to be talking about New Years resolutions, one that I’m proud to say I absolutely crushed was getting better sleep. From wearing eyemasks and cutting down my nighttime Trailer Park Boys allotment to using melatonin, ashwagandha, and a bevy of other pills and powders, I’ve been sleeping like an absolute rock, fellas. That being said, there’s always more REM to be had, and increasing my sleep score on my Apple watch (which I wear to bed in lieu of an Oura Ring or Eight Sleep) compels me to optimize, optimize, optimize. So, when I got the chance to try out AGZ—AG1’s newest sleep supplement that promises to help pre-bed relaxation, improve sleep quality, and increase morning wakefulness—I jumped at the chance.
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Ian Burke
Pros
- Full of research-backed ingredients
- NSF Certified for Sport and third-party tested
- Multiple flavor options
- On-the-go convenience
Cons
- Pricey
- Not the most delicious drink
A Slew of Supplements for Serious Snoozing
I take my sleep pretty seriously. Not really for the litany of benefits that getting a solid eight hours will give you—though that’s a plus, for sure—but mostly because I’m a total meathead, and getting a night of dead-to-the-world sleep is crucial for recovering in time for my next session. I, without a doubt, notice a significant difference in how sore, tired, and brain foggy I feel when I’m not a) getting enough sleep or b) getting enough quality sleep. I’ve pretty much got the amount of sleep dialed in, but it’s my sleep quality that I’m always trying to improve. That’s where AGZ comes in.
AGZ has a laundry list of supplements including (deep breath) stress adaptogens, calming herbs, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids—all of which come together in a supplement soup that purports to help you wind down before bed, improve your sleep quality, and wake up refreshed. You’ll probably peep some familiar (and research-backed) faces if you’ve been in the supplement game for a while, including L-theanine, ashwagandha, and magnesium. I’d already been using forms of the last two for a while—and feel like they definitely help with my sleep quality—so the ingredients list looked solid even on first glance. However, I hadn’t heard of valerian or saffron (as a sleep supplement) before, so I was eager to give it a go.
Not Exactly a Sweet Treat, But Effective
Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the box is full of individual sachets full of powder—a genius move, IMO, compared to your standard bag- or tub-and-scooper situation. Why? Because it’s when I’m traveling that I need all the help I can get to snooze through the night, and trying to get bags of ambiguous unlabled powder through TSA is a total PITA. It also mixes really well—which is a big deal for me, since as GQ‘s (somewhat-reluctant) chief guinea pig supplement tester, I’ve had to deal with more clumpy, chalky mixtures than I care to count. AGZ, on the other hand, passed the ultimate hurdle: the ol’ pint glass and spoon test. After maybe 10 seconds of stirring, it was a nice, if somewhat off-putting, homogenous brown beverage. (I tried the chocolate flavor, obviously.) As for the taste? Well, taste is subjective, which is to say it wasn’t the best-tasting drink I’ve ever had, but I’m more interested in the results, anyway. It’s a little earthy for me, which is to be expected when you grind up a bunch of roots and herbs, I guess—and, to be fair, I’m not really a chocolate guy to begin with, and my fiance was quick to report it wasn’t that bad.
So, the question remains: Does AGZ work? In a word, yes. I can only speak for myself, but I’ve definitely noticed a significant improvement in my sleep quality since I started supplementing with the stuff. (I also stopped taking KSM-66—which is essentially ashwagandha extract—and my magnesium glycinate, since they’re both represented in this formula.) The best part, though, is the feeling I’ve had waking up since I started testing. I’ve always been a heavy sleeper, but haven’t exactly been known to spring out of bed in the AM. With AGZ, though, I’m waking up surprisingly refreshed.
Verdict: Is AGZ worth it?
Before I started my testing for this AGZ review, I’d already been trying my best to optimize my sleep, and after getting properly snooze-pilled and zonk-maxxed (eye mask, cold room, analog alarm clock, no screens before bed, 86ing the booze, popping melatonin like candy—you get the idea), I wasn’t sure there were many more boxes I could check. AGZ, however, gives me a good peace of mind that I’m getting squared away on the nutritional side of things, too—and helps me cut down on the number of different supps I’m taking every day, which is always a plus.
