200 protein powder samples - the review thread.

[Mesai]

Protein shaker pauper here. Best I’ve had so far is Myprotein chocolate peanut butter. Would be interested to know how it ranks on your league table.

Excellent initiative though!

Do you mix it with water or milk? That’s probably the worst flavour I’ve tasted, although I find all MyProtein flavours to be pretty terrible.

In general flavours seem to have gone a bit south but generally fine with ON or Protein Works if I’m feeling cheap.

 

[tom_nieto]

Do you mix it with water or milk? That’s probably the worst flavour I’ve tasted, although I find all MyProtein flavours to be pretty terrible.

In general flavours seem to have gone a bit south but generally fine with ON or Protein Works if I’m feeling cheap.

I mix with water as I quite often take the shaker into work with dry powder. It seems to mix well. I think the chocolate peanut tastes like a snickers. None of this stuff is going to beat an actual snickers or Jammie dodger, but as a bit of a protein boost I can’t really complain.

 

[Mason-]

By the way can anyone recommend some good shakers? I have the 700ml and 1000ml beast pharm ‘alpha’ shakers and they both leak.

Would like quite high capacity ones, easy to clean and the main thing is they don’t leak.

 

[tom_nieto]

By the way can anyone recommend some good shakers? I have the 700ml and 1000ml beast pharm ‘alpha’ shakers and they both leak.

Would like quite high capacity ones, easy to clean and the main thing is they don’t leak.

I have had my Myprotein shaker for quite a while, it doesn’t leak (need to give the spout cap a good click!) and goes through the dishwasher absolutely fine. I’m sure the branding adds expense, but it seems to do the job.

 

[tom_e]

In general flavours seem to have gone a bit south but generally fine with ON or Protein Works if I’m feeling cheap.

You can't have been using whey for too long then we're at peak flavour, back in the day you had unflavoured and possibly strawberry/chocolate/banana very few of which tasted like their namesake

 

[Mesai]

You can't have been using whey for too long then we're at peak flavour, back in the day you had unflavoured and possibly strawberry/chocolate/banana very few of which tasted like their namesake

I've worked my way through a ton of brands and types - it's probably come down to a change/increase in artificial sweeteners and cheaping out on the flavour components.

I don't mind or expect them to not taste artificial, but there's a notable lack of effort from some places, offering 30+ flavours that are all tested by the same dude who lost his taste buds 10 years ago. New "Salted Caramel Mocha French Vanilla Brownie Custard Cream" - 10 tablespoons of aspartame and caramel essence so concentrated it'd burn a hole in the ground.

I just stick to the more established brands now and those are perfectly fine.

 

[Mason-]

I have had my Myprotein shaker for quite a while, it doesn’t leak (need to give the spout cap a good click!) and goes through the dishwasher absolutely fine. I’m sure the branding adds expense, but it seems to do the job.

Did some googling last night. Ordered 2 helimix bottles. Supposedly they shake by the shape of the bottle and so you don’t need a ball or strainer thing. Nice in theory. I’ll see if they work.

 

[Freefaller]

You can't have been using whey for too long then we're at peak flavour, back in the day you had unflavoured and possibly strawberry/chocolate/banana very few of which tasted like their namesake

We all had to add chocolate powder into whey in the old days... unflavoured whey was gag inducing at least they were 25 years ago.

 

[kindai]

Day 2.

Trained by JP - Lemon Merangue
Mixes well. Smooth throughout the whole drink without beign overly thick.
6/10 - Definately better than yesterdays.
The flavour is subtle, but pleasant.

 

[tom_e]

We all had to add chocolate powder into whey in the old days... unflavoured whey was gag inducing at least they were 25 years ago.

Oh yeah I remember my tub of nesquick for if I was feeling fancy

 

[artemis789]

Interesting thread!

I'm a little bit set in my ways when it comes to Protein Powder.

I try to use as little as I can.

My preferences are Whey Protein Isolate and Beef Protein Isolate. These have been my last two buys.

I just select "Chocolate" and that's the purchase made, and soon consumed -- via mixing in a glass with a fork!

Standard "Chocolate" has never failed me so far, from any of the larger-sized vendors (e.g., MyProtein or Bulk).

 

[tom_e]

Interesting thread!

I'm a little bit set in my ways when it comes to Protein Powder.

I try to use as little as I can.

My preferences are Whey Protein Isolate and Beef Protein Isolate. These have been my last two buys.

I just select "Chocolate" and that's the purchase made, and soon consumed -- via mixing in a glass with a fork!

Standard "Chocolate" has never failed me so far, from any of the larger-sized vendors (e.g., MyProtein or Bulk).

Just be aware "beef" protein isolate is just collagen and has zero muscle building benefits. Might as well just flavour your water with squash.

 

[artemis789]

Interesting @tom_e.

I was not aware of that.

I did some research tonight, and it does appear that there is a line of thought that Beef Protein powders are derived from, to put it politely, the "throwaway" (or "by product") parts of cows (rather than so-called "quality meat" or cuts), which was not what I was expecting, and is a little disconcerting.

The criticism sounds plausible, given the pricing of the powders on the market, and is probably something that should have occurred to me sooner!

I ran the following searches as part of my learning:

• "beef protein isolate effectiveness" [Google Link]
• "beef protein isolate criticism" [Google Link]
• "beef protein isolate manufacturing process" [Google Link]

One quite disturbing article I found, by TigerFitness, is here. It sets out some potentially grisly details behind the product. Another article, from a reasonably well-known vendor, ProteinWorks, is here, and contains some interesting text under the sub-heading "What are the Problems with Beef Protein?".

However, I will likely still finish my 2.5kg packet! I bought 2.5kg of it, and it's getting used!

 

[Gray2233]

Just be aware "beef" protein isolate is just collagen and has zero muscle building benefits. Might as well just flavour your water with squash.

This.

Not to say collagen intake is bad, it (arguably) helps with tendons/hair/nails etc but I'd say it's a considered supplement easily achieved with tablets or food habits rather than a healthy protein intake. Unfortunately nothing beats whey in that regard, if you want healthy and positive protein you eat meat/fish or you use whey based powders. Not all "proteins" are the same thing, they don't all help in the same ways.

Using AI linked google results rather than actual original sources is honestly mildly embarrassing to experience second hand.

See here: https://pescience.com/blogs/article...vTboUupqc213IbrwFwRm5ywK2bY4WAj4npFjOur3Cd7-k

You're really not going to find any direct honesty from most companies selling products either, guilty as I am of using one.

 

[Freefaller]

Let’s face it. Whey is a cheap biproduct that has been monetised and glamourised.

Is it possible to get enough protein without supps? Yes easily. Even for protein monsters like myself.

Is it a hell of a lot easier to drink an average flavoured drink which gives you a decent hit in a short time? Yes.
It is ultra processed and unless you're willing to spend a lot on organic and hand massages cow udders

They're all much of a muchness within reason. Some add a shed tonne of artificial sweetener and other fillers which aren't useful. Some do actually think about things like adding creatine and a handful of other amino acids that are arguably useful.

They key for me is having a shake WITH a little bit of wholefood even a banana and a handful of nuts at the same time will help your body digest and exploit the nutrients from the shake. That’s partly because the fibre, fats, and micronutrients in real food slow digestion and send better satiety and “nutrient incoming” signals along the gut–brain axis. It steadies blood sugar, keeps you fuller, and gives your microbiome something to work with, which plain whey alone doesn’t. But even if you don't you're getting some benefit from intaking extra protein.

But ask yourself do you really need it or is just an easy meal? If it's just an easy meal, scramble some eggs on some nice home made bread and you've given yourself the same amount of benefit with better digestive impact. Chewing and whole food bulk trigger stronger gut–brain signals, plus eggs bring choline, vitamins, and healthy fats that powders can’t match even shakes with MCTs.

 

[kindai]

Day 3.

Per4m Whey - Smores
Mixes well. Smooth throughout the whole drink without being overly thick.
1/10 - Nope. It smells like chemicals, tastes like chemicals, has an aftertaste of chemicals.

 

[kindai]

Day 4.

Per4m Whey - Fluffy Marshmallow.
Mixes well. Smooth throughout the whole drink without being overly thick.
Was expecting another repeat of chemicals today, however the taste is ok but very sweet, would probably become sickly after a few days.

 

[kindai]

Day 5.

Naughty Boy - White choc and hazelnut.
Basically the same as day 4, mixes well, tastes ok, but way too sweet.

 

[Sheff]

Does anyone else add a bit of salt to shakes they find too sweet?

 

[fraps]

I hope chocolate mint is on the list. It’s my favourite flavour by far.
I think you should also add % of protein from the per 100g, to see if it’s possible to have a good tasting powder without sacrificing protein content.