CLA

[smaul]

Any good?  I'm either going to be trying CLA or L-Carnitine, just to get a bit more ripped for the christmas holiday season!! 
The L-carnitine is much much cheaper.  Which one is better?  CLA is also meant to help put on muscle?

[MidniteRambo]

Regarding CLA, the human record is not encouraging:

"Of the small amount of human clinical data, an abstract presented at a strength and conditioning conference showed no differences between two groups of weight lifters on measures of body weight, fat mass or fat-free mass following a month of CLA supplementation. Another small study followed 10 subjects consuming 3-4 grams of CLA each day for three months and compared them to 10 subjects consuming a placebo. Results showed no difference in weight loss between CLA and placebo, but those talking CLA dropped somewhat more body fat. In one study of 17 healthy women, CLA supplements (3 grams/day) or a sunflower oil placebo for 64 days, resulted in no change in body weight, fat-free mass, fat mass, or percentage body fat. Likewise, CLA had no significant effect on energy expenditure, fat oxidation, or respiratory exchange ratio at rest or during exercise."

http://www.supplementwatch.com/suplib/supplement.asp?DocId=1084

From a personal perspective, I tried it during a cutting phase with no observable effect.

[MidniteRambo]

From the same source (supplementwatch is a valuable tool, bookmark it) the record for Carnitine is only slightly better is appears:

"Studies of the role of carnitine as an ergogenic aid have been equivocal, with several suggesting a beneficial effect of supplements and other indicating no effect at all. Several early studies suggested an indirect effect of carnitine (2 to 6 g/day) on endurance performance by showing a reduction in the respiratory exchange ratio (RER), which indicates a greater reliance on fats for energy generation. Other studies have failed to indicate any glycogen sparing effect of carnitine supplements (6 g/day)."

http://www.supplementwatch.com/suplib/supplement.asp?DocId=1065