These are terrible for you in the calorie department. Worst thing you can drink other than beer and soda. As you mentioned, they do have those zero calorie/zero carb versions but they all taste like crap (the Monster "low-carb" version isn't too bad, however, and it comes in at only 10 Calories and 3g of carbs).
 
In any case, this is why I prefer the 5 hour energy shots. They taste like ass, but its a very small amount of fluid which can be downed at once. No carbs, no Calories, and they get the job done rather well.

Well, I very very rarely drink them.  Once in a while coffee just doesn't do it, or I haven't been able to get any, and so I'll reach for an energy drink.  I usually end up with the 8oz Red Bulls when I do.  It's about as rare as me ordering Coke or something at a restaurant.  I actually never drink any of that sugary sweet stuff at home, always just water if it's non-alcoholic and usually eating out is water or unsweetened iced tea.  It's funny you guys mentioned 5 hour energy.  I tried some of that last week.  Maybe I was just dead tired from moving a 2br house and 1br apartment in one day on Sat. the 4th but early in the week when I tried it, zero effect really.  I was not impressed.

lol I'll have to find the extra strength one in the store and check it out.  We have kind of a mini-mart style vending area that got installed at work (self checkout kiosk, everything in shelves/fridges, no vending machines, security camera monitored) and they have a few of the flavors but not the extra strength one.

2 cases of monster a week! Green monster is the best in my oppinion.  though assault is a near 2nd favorite.  Damn stuff is addicting.

Monst3r

You will never guess mine
Also I didn't name my self on the energy drink. I just liked the name Monst3r so i choise monst3r. and the Monster logo is pretty cool so i use that.

Crusheddream

2 cases of monster a week! Green monster is the best in my oppinion.  though assault is a near 2nd favorite.  Damn stuff is addicting.

You 2 need to try Java Monster Energy man I love them!

Monster and Rockstar for me.

 
was my fav untill it was discontinued

Monster! Definitely. Venom comes in Second and I have yet to drink another energy drink that satisfies me the way those 2 do!

#1 Mango

 
#2 Grape, #3 Orange (These have only 20 Calories per can and great taste)

Crusheddream

2 cases of monster a week! Green monster is the best in my oppinion.  though assault is a near 2nd favorite.  Damn stuff is addicting.

2 Cases of monster a week!?! Dude you are lining yourself up for heart problems in your near future.. you really really should cut back. 

 
If I need an Energy drink, this. The low carb one is pretty decent too. As for the Black Mamba flavor, for those of us old enough to remember Sweet Tarts when you were a kid, it tastes just like it.

Oh, BTW, AFAIK Monster is based here in San Diego (or close to). Because of that, I typically get ALL of their products available to me at quite a few different stores.
 
I just tired this:
 
http://www.monsterenergy.com/us/en/products/m3/
 
Tastes WAY better than anything else I've tried (which is a lot), only has 50 calories, is stronger than a standard size Monster and is only 5 fl oz. Oh, and it comes in a cool little glass bottle (super thick and dark green, like a Jagermeister bottle). And it is NOT a twist off!
 

 
Oh, and apparently they have an energy drink review site?!?
 
http://www.edjunkie.com/reviews/monster%20M3.html
 
 
 

I prefer the healthy stuff; I drink it occasionally when I go to the gym before a workout.
 

Hmmm, all the Monster talk made me decide to go down to the break room and try the regular green one today since I'm gonna need the kick when I get home anyway to detail my car this evening for an event tomorrow.  Right off the bat I have to say the green is similar in taste to the absolutely zero I tried yesterday, but that one actually tasted sweeter, was thicker, and had a slight aftertaste.  The green one does away with all of that. 
 
I found it interesting that a can of it has 30 fewer calories than a 16oz Mt. Dew as well which Mt. Dew is what I normally would get when I needed some kick but not energy drink level kick.  Of course the only Mt. Dew in the new vending format in the break room is some new 24oz. bottle.  Yep not the "standard" 20oz., but now they're up to 24 so the Monster only has about 2/3's the sugar and it's natural sugar not HFCS.  Still not great of course (sugar type difference) but it's marginally better lol.