Best Protein Powder for Men: The Best Protein Powder for Gaining Weight, Building Muscle, and Recovery

In a world of ever-changing gym trends and fads, the best protein powder for men remains the same powder in most athletes’ recovery routines. And there’s a good reason for that: high-quality protein powders can improve muscle growth, repair tissue, and help with weight management. And while there are several ways to incorporate protein into your diet — chicken, eggs, tuna — protein powders are often cheaper, more convenient, and (today) taste better.

But that doesn’t mean all protein powders are good. There are many types that are cheaply manufactured and of poor origin. Some are filled with sugar, while others hide behind dubious proprietary blends that obscure exactly what’s in them. So we decided to wade through the vast world of protein — everything from whey protein available at your local pharmacy to your favorite athlete’s favorite plant powder — to determine the type of powder. Best real protein for men.

The absolute best protein powder

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% whey protein

It’s hard to stay on top of a classic. Arguably the most recognizable whey protein on the planet, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard is also perhaps the easiest whey to use. And with over 20 different flavors, there’s very little risk of you getting sick of any of them. (We really got a late chocolate coconut taste, but cookies and ice cream are still good options.) Plus, ON is easy to mix, so you’ll never find big lumps of protein powder. cling to the wall of your glass or blender. With 24 grams of protein to help build muscle and 5.5 grams of branched-chain amino acids to help promote recovery, this is a rare fitness supplement that is appreciated nearly every box.

Protein powder has the best taste

Black magic multi-source protein

Black Magic Supply is arguably the best pre-workout product on the market today (we’re reviewing you, Haterade), and their protein powder is now matching. Created from a combination of whey protein isolate, micellar casein, egg albumin enzyme and MCT, it’s a range of great flavors of Black Magic that really make a difference. Specifically, Fruit Whirls, made with crunchy cereal flakes as an added little bonus. If you were someone who enjoyed drinking leftover milk from your morning cereal as a child, then this is the protein powder for you.

The most eco-friendly protein powder

Gnarly Vanilla whey protein

$63

Gnarly . Sports Nutrition

If you’re not looking for a dessert-like taste from your protein powder, Gnarly’s vanilla grass whey is one of the lightest and smoothest powders we’ve ever tried, making it the perfect base if you’re looking to grab some. protein from homemade smoothies. What we love most is the company’s commitment to the environment: Gnarly recently swapped out the giant plastic tubs that have become synonymous with nearly all other protein powders for cans instead. Steel is easier to recycle.

The best plant protein powder

Ambrosia Collective Vegetable Protein “Planta”

Every year companies have improved on the overall taste and mixability of plant protein powders, but no company has come close to Ambrosia Collective’s Planta formula, which comes in 14 different flavors. What if we had to choose just one? Banana Maple French Toast.

The best dairy-free protein powder

MuscleTech ISO Whey Clear

Let’s Just Keep Everything Absolutely 100: Sure, There Are Flavored Protein Powders Okay when paired with water, but no one has to use tricks in the Jedi mind to convince themselves that their post-workout drink tastes better than it actually is if milk weren’t a blending option. That’s why we love MuscleTech’s new ISO Whey Clear so much — it’s specifically designed to mix with water into a variety of flavors that really make sense, creating something like a juice. than. Or a white claw.

Best meal replacement protein powder

Bare Performance Nutrition “Strong Food”

$85

Ceiling Performance Nutrition

Bare Performance Nutrition makes some of the best-tasting whey proteins on the market, but if you’re looking for a meal replacement instead of just a post-gym shake, their Strong Food powder Packed with high quality whey and peas. protein in addition to healthy fats derived from MCT powder, macadamia nut oil, and flaxseed. And as we’ve come to expect from BPN, the cinnamon roll flavor tastes like a real dessert in a shaker.

Best Casein Protein Powder

Whey protein is often hyped, but casein protein has its own special benefits. While both come from cow’s milk, casein is absorbed by the body at a slower rate than whey and contains bioactive peptides that help boost both your immune and digestive systems. If you’re a fan of an afternoon protein shake as a mid-meal snack, or you’re looking for a better alternative to bedtime ice cream, Naked’s casein protein powder is the perfect choice. .

The most beautiful protein powder

Finally, a protein powder that you won’t be ashamed to have in your kitchen—no black tub in sight. But in addition to the great packaging, Elm & Rye offers both a standard grass-fed and vegan protein blend in three great flavors: chocolate, vanilla or cookie and cream.

9 other protein powders we love:

Dymatize ISO100 x Dunkin ‘Cappuccino

The fashion world’s love for collaborations has officially spilled over into the ancillary sector, launched by Dymatize and Dunkin’. ISO100 has long been one of our favorite protein powders and it only gets better with the addition of 95mg of caffeine. And if a Dunkin’ cappuccino isn’t your drink of choice, the collab includes an equally delicious latte mocha.

Sprout Living “epic plant-based” protein powder

GQ resident wellness columnist and well-rounded guy Joe Holder must admit to being very picky about protein supplements. “It’s hard to find one that has a simple ingredient list but also tastes great and pairs well,” says Holder. One protein powder that surpasses his high standards: Sprout Living’s Epic Organic Plant Protein Powder. Made with golden peas, sacha inchi, Jerusalem artichoke root, sunflower seeds, pumpkin and cranberries, this vegan-friendly option provides 26 grams of protein with 5 grams of fiber and just one gram of sugar. .

Isopure Zero Carbohydrate

No carbs. There is no road. Just great-tasting whey protein in a variety of flavors that you can reliably find at your local GNC or Vitamin Shoppe, big box retailers like Target and Walmart, or online at Amazon for make sure you never run out.

RSP TrueFit . meal replacement protein powder

More of a meal replacement than a mere protein shake, RSP TrueFit boasts 20 grams of protein along with a blend of 12 different superfoods that will keep you feeling full until lunch. And with their Cold Brew Coffee flavor, you can cut back on all those morning lattees—it boasts 100 milligrams of caffeine extracted from actual coffee beans.

Pro Jym Ultra-Premium Protein Blend

Most powders come from a single source, but the 24 grams of protein found in Pro Jym’s comes from a blend of whey, micellar casein, milk, and egg whites, which your body digests and absorbs at a rapid rate. varying degrees throughout the day.

Vegetable protein ladder

Co-created and developed by LeBron James and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ladder offers one of the best tasting plant-based proteins on the market. We like the chocolate flavor, lighter and finer than 99% of other chocolate flavored protein powders on the market.

Whey Protein Isolate in Transparent Labs

It’s always refreshing when you look at the nutrition facts label and can actually pronounce all the ingredients listed: Vitamin D, potassium, iron, calcium. Labs clear protein powder is free of artificial sweeteners, colors and preservatives while providing clean, grass-fed whey in a number of delicious flavors, from salted caramel to cookies and cream.

NorCal . Organic Whey Protein

NorCal Organic is committed to making the highest quality whey protein possible. By using cold-treated microfiltration and small batch drying while avoiding acid treatment or bleaching, NorCal Organic is able to create a protein powder that is free of gluten, sweeteners, and preservatives. .

Love Sweat Fitness Plant Protein Peanut Butter

The hard-core, marketing-savvy people might not sound like Love Sweat Fitness’s target demo. But if you’re looking for a vegan, sugar-free, plant-based protein that still tastes great, LSF has cracked the code by sourcing real peanuts.