Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Christian Harris2 said:Optimum Nutrition gold standard whey. That ON logo right by the tip of the left arrow? That's their branding. 🙂 It's an awesome whey. Highly recommend it.

Ah, so that's the ON one! 😁

I haven't actually tried that specific one yet. I've used some of the others, though.

Thanks!

Christian Harris2 said:Well... I'm not from Washington, D.C., so pulling off a stunt like that would be a whole lot more complicated down in Miami. 🙄

Thanks for the reply, though. 🙏

EDIT: Oh, and one more thing—when they say over at Nike that orders over $133 qualify for free shipping... is there some kind of catch? Like, some sneaky little fine print where they somehow find a way to tack on some freakin' extra fee anyway?

Check out www.gladiator.com—they carry MusclePharm proteins and they're running a sale right now, I just saw it.

MusclePharm has ridiculously high prices, and honestly, it’s just the same old stuff you get from any other big manufacturer.

Some of their stuff is definitely pricey, but I think the quality is actually quite solid. For instance, this MuscleTech blend has about 95% protein content 😲, which seems fair given the price point. Honestly, once my current stash runs out, I’ve already decided I’ll probably grab three bags of this: The flavor is pretty neutral, I suppose. 🙂 It feels like a good value.

nimbleskipper89, thanks for the link, by the way. 🙂

Ethan Garcia8 said:MusclePharm has absolutely ridiculous prices—it’s basically the same junk as any other big-name manufacturer.

...I'm not sure if you've actually sat down to look at their price points, but I suspect your math might be a bit off. For instance, their 500g CFM isolate—which packs 8g of Glutamine per 100g of powder—is priced at $46 (you can verify all the numbers on their site). If you take that and compare it to the cost of 500g of some cheap whey concentrate or something that's only 10% or 20% isolate, the "high price" argument against MusclePharm falls apart pretty quickly. I've heard this complaint about high prices more times than I can count, but personally, I wouldn't go along with it—mostly because I've spent enough time testing everything, crunching the numbers, and comparing brands to know better. In the end, it usually works out much cheaper to pay a few extra bucks for quality, since, let's face it, not all proteins and glutamines are created equal.

I don't know, I personally drop the cash on 2.2 kg of Dymatize $93. Honestly, there's just no way MusclePharm can even compete with that.

Ethan Garcia8 said:I don't know—I personally drop the cash on 5 lbs of Dymatize natural$93. Look, let's be real—there is just no way MusclePharm can even compete with that.

In terms of price? Certainly not. But really, it all comes down to what kind of quality you’re actually hunting for. If you think one specific brand is the gold standard, hey, that's your call to make. Ultimately, you get what you pay for—it's a simple equation—and since I happen to know exactly what I'm putting in my body, I don't mind shelling out a little extra. You might want to grab some MusclePharm just to run a side-by-side comparison; there is often a massive gap between manufacturers regarding how much of a product your body actually absorbs—which, arguably, is the whole point. Lower-tier stuff usually just ends up passing right through you... straight to the restroom. It's a cliché for a reason—"you get what you pay for"—and when it comes to supplements, that has proven true for me a thousand times over. So, I disagree with the idea that MusclePharm is "expensive"; quality is never cheap, regardless of who you ask. I'm sticking to my choice precisely because I have no interest in throwing money down the drain.

I've used MusclePharm before. Honestly, I don't see any real difference between Dymatize and MusclePharm. The only reason I go with Dymatize is because I source it from Austria, whereas the markup here in the States is just outrageous.

Ethan Garcia8 said:Look, I’ve used MusclePharm. There really isn't a measurable difference between Dymatize and MusclePharm. The reality is that I source my Dymatize from Austria, and the issue here is simply that retailers in the States have an outrageously high markup.

I don't know about all that, but they don't carry MusclePharm over there—so I actually tried checking MusclePharm prices in Germany since a friend visits frequently, but I gave up because almost everything is cheaper here in the US. To me, that felt more like a confirmation of quality rather than just a high margin. It’s possible that the cheaper products we see locally make the most profit precisely because everyone assumes all proteins are identical; essentially, customers "save" a few cents only to end up buying total garbage. I've heard guys who buy stuff in Austria mention they often get products right at their expiration date, or sometimes even past it, so I've definitely crossed that off my list.

I put a little effort into this comparison because when you claim they are the same, and I say they aren't—well, I'll let the numbers speak. I'm not sure how clear this will be, but here is the breakdown:
Dymatize
Dymatize is an ideal blend of whey proteins, featuring concentrate, isolate obtained via ion exchange, and protein peptides. Furthermore, Dymatize doesn't include unnecessary added carbohydrates or salts. To further enhance the product, Dymatize included an enzyme blend (Zytrix®) which facilitates better absorption and utilization of the consumed protein. Anyone with even a passing interest in nutrition knows that protein is the cornerstone of muscle recovery and growth. Processed whey proteins with high biological value are undoubtedly a primary source for any athlete looking to improve physical performance and gain quality muscle mass. On top of all these technical perks, Dymatize tastes great and mixes incredibly well.

Nutritional value and composition per:
28.8g
29.4g

Caloric content
470 kJ/ 112 kcal
470 kJ/ 112 kcal

Protein
23 g
23 g

Carbohydrates, including: - sugar
2.5 g
1 g
2.5 g
1 g

Fats
including: - saturated
1.5 g
0 g
1.5 g
0 g

cholesterol
2 mg
5mg

sodium
55 mg
55 mg

MuscleTech - A top-tier protein isolate derived through ion exchange and microfiltration. Its distinct advantage lies in the use of high-value whey protein, which serves as a particularly accessible and rapid source of protein. MuscleTech contains a specifically high ratio of essential amino acids and is rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Due to this characteristic, MuscleTech is an essential component for muscle building during strength training. Through the addition of Glutamine, MuscleTech ensures that the increased needs of successful athletes are met during recovery phases. A Vitamin B-complex, along with Vitamins E and C, accelerates overall energy metabolism and synthesis. The specialized, highly concentrated Vitamin B6 plays a key role in protein metabolism.
Minerals, calcium, and magnesium support optimal muscle function as well as muscle contractions during strength training. The whey protein isolate is obtained through a specialized filtration and ion exchange process.
MuscleTech comes in various flavors, naturally free of purines and low in fat. It is exceptionally easy to digest and absorbs very quickly.
Composition per 100 g %RDA* per serving (30 g) %RDA*
Energy value 1533 kJ(362 kcal) 457 kJ(108 kcal)
Protein 80 g 24 g
Carbohydrates 3.0 g 0.9 g
Sugars 3 g 0.9 g
Fat 3.3 g 1.0 g
Saturated Fat 2.3 g 0.7 g
Fiber 1.1 g 0.3 g 12 %
Sodium 0.3 g 0.1 g
Calcium 230 mg 29 % 69 mg 9 %
Magnesium 125 mg 42 % 38 mg 13 %
Vitamin C 200 mg 333 % 60 mg 100 %
Niacin 60 mg 333 % 18 mg 100 %
Vitamin E 33.3 mg 333 % 10 mg 100 %
Pantothenic Acid 20 mg 333 % 6.0 mg 100 %
Vitamin B6 6.7 mg 333 % 2.0 mg 100 %
Vitamin B2 5.3 mg 333 % 1.6 mg 100 %
Vitamin B1 4.7 mg 333 % 1.4 mg 100 %
Folic Acid 667 µg 333 % 200 µg 100 %
Vitamin B12 3.3 µg 333 % 1 µg 100 %

* Percentages refer to the Daily Value based on a standard American diet.
Amino acid profile per 100 g of pure protein (in grams)
L-Isoleucine * 6.4 g
L-Serine 4.8 g
L-Proline 5.0 g
L-Histidine 2.2 g
Glycine 2.2 g
Glutamic Acid 12.4 g
L-Cystine 2.0 g
L-Aspartic Acid 11.9 g
L-Arginine 3.1 g
L-Alanine 5.4 g
L-Glutamine 6.9 g
L-Valine * 6.7 g
L-Tryptophan * 2.3 g
L-Threonine * 7.2 g
L-Phenylalanine * 4.1 g
L-Methionine * 2.1 g
L-Lysine * 10.2 g
L-Leucine * 12.6 g
L-Tyrosine 3.9 g

* = essential amino acids

nimbleskipper89 said:their Whey has 500g of CFM isolate with about 8g of Glutamine per 100g of powder

I think Optimum Nutrition actually has 13g per 100g. ☕

I wonder how much they're paying you? 🙂 It seems to me that might be the only reason why you seem to be favoring that specific brand without really providing much of an argument, though I suppose it isn't anything particularly special. 🤷

Can anyone point me toward a decent product if I'm looking for pure protein? I want zero additives—no flavors, no sweeteners, nothing extra. Just the good stuff.

nimbleskipper89, honestly, none of that matters to me. I just need a post-workout protein that’s budget-friendly and doesn't rely on artificial sweeteners. To me, that tiny difference in quality is basically zero compared to my entire training routine—it's negligible. People tend to obsess over big brands when, at the end of the day, a solid diet is what actually moves the needle. For me, it all comes down to a trusted brand, the price tag, and how it tastes.

Jonathan Miller7 said:Could someone perhaps recommend a product that consists of pure protein without any added flavors, sweeteners, or anything like that?

I suppose I could help with that.
There is also this one, though it seems to be a bit more expensive:

Jonathan Miller7, you've got some Dymatize natural.

Ethan Garcia8 said:nimbleskipper89, honestly, none of that really matters to me. I just need some protein after my workouts—something budget-friendly that doesn't have any artificial sweeteners. To be fair, the difference this makes is maybe 0.001% of my total training routine, so it feels pretty negligible. I feel like people obsess over brands way too much when a solid diet is actually the most important factor. It all really comes down to finding a reputable manufacturer, a decent price, and a good taste.

Does anyone know of other protein options without sweeteners besides the ones I mentioned? Ideally something that’s reasonably priced, too.

Ethan Garcia8 said:Jonathan Miller7, you have some Dymatize natural available.

You might be getting ahead of me. 😁

Christian Harris2 said:Optimum Nutrition gold whey has 13g per 100g. ☕

How much are they paying you? 🙂 That seems to be the only logical explanation for why you’re so blindly favoring this brand—it's totally unsubstantiated. Nothing special about it. 🤷

So, we’ve actually reached the point where people are questioning if someone is being paid just because they’re standing by their opinion. Honestly, I don't care what brand it is—this time we're talking about MusclePharm—and I always try to back up what I say, though apparently, that isn't very popular around here. If something is good, I say it's good; if I've had a bad experience, I say that too, and that's that. Now you've gone and given me homework, since I wasn't aware of those 13 grams. I'll go check!

nimbleskipper89 said:It feels like we’ve reached a point where people assume someone is being paid just because they have an opinion. Honestly, I don't care about the brand name—in this case, it's MusclePharm—and I always try to back up what I say, even if that doesn't sit well with everyone here. If something works, I'll say it, and if I had a bad experience, I'll say that too. You've given me something to look into now, though; I didn't realize there were 13g in there. Let me go check!

And what does those few grams of Glutamine actually mean for you? Do you have any real evidence that it's helping? How did you measure it? What was the absorption rate? How much of that tiny amount of Glutamine actually gets metabolized? How much muscle did you gain during the times you weren't using MusclePharm versus when you were? What did your training patterns look like for comparison?😁

Folks, we're just spinning our wheels here. 😁

nimbleskipper89 said:It feels like we’ve reached a point where people start questioning someone's motives just because they have a strong opinion. I suppose it doesn't really matter which brand we're discussing—in this case, I was talking about MusclePharm—but I always try my best to explain the reasoning behind what I say, though it seems that isn't particularly well-received around here. If I think something is good, I'll say so, and if I've had a bad experience, I'll be honest about that too, I guess.

I wonder why there is such bitterness. 🙂 I suppose the issue might be that you haven't quite clarified exactly why you consider that specific protein to be so superior. You mentioned certain figures, but I guess I didn't really see any particularly dramatic differences when comparing them to other protein options on the market.

nimbleskipper89 said:Well, you've actually given me something to look into now, since I wasn't aware of those 13 grams. I suppose I should go check that out!

One scoop weighs about 30.4 grams, which I believe contains roughly 4.082 grams of Glutamine.

Ethan Garcia8 said:So, what does that specific amount of glutamine actually mean for you? I suppose I wonder if there is any real empirical evidence suggesting it helps, or how you might have even gone about measuring those results. Like, what were the actual percentages involved? Or what percentage of those little grams of glutamine is even being metabolized by the body? I guess I am also curious about how much muscle mass you gained during the periods when you weren't using Inkospor compared to when you were, assuming your training patterns stayed relatively consistent.😁

It feels like everyone is just talking in circles here. 😁

The bear makes some rather wise points, I suppose.