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With so many protein shakes available out there, choosing the best one for your bulking needs can be confusing.
In this list, we share with you 5 of the best protein powders that can turn a skinny person into a muscular beast in no time.
5 Best Protein Powders for Skinny Guys at a Glance:
- Best Overall: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein 5lb
- Highest Protein Content: Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein 2lb
- Most Balanced Protein Blend: BSN Syntha-6 5lb
- Best for Those on a Budget: MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder 4lb
- Lowest Fat Content: Dymatize ISO 100 3lb
BEST OVERALL: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein 5lb
- Nutrition per serving:
120 calories
24g protein
3g carbohydrates
1.5g fat
1g sugar - Number of servings: 74
- Top 3 Ingredients: Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolates, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Peptides), Cocoa, Lecithin
- Allergen: Milk, Soy
- Type: Powder
- Size: 5 LB ( 2.27KG)
| WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| ✅ Fast-digesting whey protein blend | ❌ Does not contain any slow-digesting proteins |
| ✅ Low fat and sugar content | |
| ✅ Available in 13 flavors | |
| ✅ Affordable price per serving |
Universally recognized as one of the world’s best-selling whey protein powders, you just can’t go wrong with Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey when it comes to supporting lean muscle growth.
As its name implies, Gold Standard 100% Whey only uses whey protein in its formula, including:
- Whey protein isolate
- Whey protein concentrate
- Whey peptides
Whey protein isolate, in particular, is the purest and cleanest form of whey. It is rapidly digested by the body and delivers all 9 EAAs (Essential Amino Acids) needed for supporting muscle growth.
Each serving provides you with 24g of fast-acting protein, making Gold Standard 100% Whey an ideal protein shake to drink right after working out.
This protein powder supplement also supplies your body with 120 calories and 3g carbohydrates per serving. With only 1.5g of fat and 1g of sugar in its formula, Gold Standard 100% Whey looks serious in promoting muscle gain, not fat storage.
If you are tired of drinking bland protein shakes, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey gives you 13 different flavors to choose from:
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Double Rich Chocolate
- Chocolate Malt
- Chocolate Coconut
- Rocky Road
- Strawberry Banana
- French Vanilla Crème
- Cookies & Cream
- Mocha Cappuccino
- Chocolate Peanut Butter
- Extreme Milk Chocolate
- Coffee
- White Chocolate
- Strawberries and Cream
Verdict
| Having been around for more than 3 decades now, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey is already a household name in the world of protein shakes. Aside from giving you a rapid-digesting blend of whey protein, this protein powder also lays out 13 different flavor variants to pick from. |
HIGHEST PROTEIN CONTENT: Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein 2lb
- Nutrition per serving:
190 calories
30g protein
7g carbohydrates
3.5g fat
3g sugar - Top 3 Ingredients: Super whey protein, maltodextrin, sunflower lecithin
- Allergen: Milk, Soy, Gluten Free
- Type: Powder
- Size: 2 LB
| WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| ✅ Contains added creatine, taurine, and L-glutamine | ❌ A bit on the pricey side when compared with others on the list |
| ✅ Features fast-, slow-, and medium-digesting protein sources |
When placed side-by-side with the other protein shakes in this list, Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein takes the lead when it comes to protein content per serving.
Each serving supplies your body with 30g of protein – that’s the same amount of protein you get by eating 100g of chicken breast. You may also use 2 scoops to get up to 60g of protein in your shake.
Its Super Whey Protein Blend features whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate. Both these protein sources are quickly digested and absorbed by the body. They also feature a complete amino acid profile – perfect for supporting lean muscle growth, repair, and recovery.
Super Advanced Whey Protein contains 190 calories and 7g of carbohydrates per serving. You also get 3.5g of fat and 3g of sugar in each shake.
This protein shake features a Super Recovery Blend, which contains 1.5g of creatine monohydrate. Creatine can help you boost your workout performance and give your muscles a more volumized appearance at the same time.
This blend also contains 1.5g of taurine and 1.5g of L-glutamine. These nutrients may help boost your mood, enhance exercise performance, and speed up post-workout recovery.
Super Advanced Whey Protein also offers a decent assortment of flavors, such as Vanilla, Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookies N‘ Cream, and Strawberry.
Verdict
| Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein is a smart choice for your high protein needs. With each serving giving you 30g of protein, you also get a boost in exercise performance with its creatine, taurine, and L-glutamine content. |
MOST BALANCED PROTEIN BLEND: BSN Syntha-6 5lb
- Nutrition per serving:
200 calories
22g protein
15g carbohydrates
6g fat
3g sugar - Number of servings: 28
- Top 3 Ingredients: Protein Matrix Comprised of (Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Calcium Caseinate, Micellar Casein, Milk Protein Isolate, Egg Albumen, and Glutamine Peptides)
- Allergen: Milk, Eggs, Soy, Wheat
- Type: Powder
- Size: 2.91 LB ( 1.32KG)
| WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| ✅ Higher amount of calories compared to other supplements in the list | ❌ There are users who say that it can be too thick or hard to mix |
| ✅ Features fast-, slow-, and medium-digesting protein sources | |
| ✅ Contains Medium Chain Triglycerides and digestive enzymes |
If you are looking for multiple protein sources in your protein shake, BSN Syntha-6 looks like a worthy choice.
Syntha-6 gives you a Protein Matrix that features:
- Whey protein concentrate
- Whey protein isolate
- Calcium caseinate
- Micellar casein
- Milk protein isolate
- Egg albumen
- Glutamine peptides
This protein blend features fast-, medium-, and slow-digesting protein sources – making Syntha-6 an ideal protein shake to consume virtually any time of the day.
These protein sources are also “complete” proteins, which means that they provide you with all 9 EAAs (Essential Amino Acids) and 3 BCAAs (Branched Chain Amino Acids). These amino acids are used for building, repairing, and preserving lean muscle tissue.
Syntha-6 gives you a decent 200 calories and 15g of carbohydrates. It also contains 6g of fat and 3g of sugar per serving.
This protein shake is further enhanced by the addition of Medium Chain Triglycerides. These fatty acids are instantly used by your body as an energy source, so you don’t have to fret about them being stored as unwanted fat.
When it comes to taste, BSN Synta-6 gets many favorable reviews mentioning its milkshake-like taste and creamy consistency. It is available in 6 flavors, including:
- Banana
- Chocolate cake batter
- Chocolate milkshake
- Chocolate peanut butter
- Strawberry milkshake
- Vanilla ice cream
Verdict
| Featuring 8 different protein sources in its formula, BSN Syntha-6 looks well-equipped to keep your muscles well-fed for extended time periods. To achieve a smooth, milkshake-like consistency, try mixing this protein shake with a blender or a shaker bottle. |
BEST FOR THOSE ON A BUDGET: MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder 4lb
- Nutrition per serving:
130 calories
25g protein
5g carbohydrates
1.5g fat
2g sugar - Number of servings: 52
- Top 3 Ingredients: Microfiltered Protein Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Hydrolysate, Micellar Casein, Egg Albumin), Cocoa Bean Powder, Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Allergen: Milk, Egg, Soy (Lecithin), Gluten Free
- Type: Powder
- Size: 4 LB ( 1.814KG)
| WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| ✅ Lower cost-per-serving compared to the others in this list | ❌ There are users who say that they experienced gas or stomach discomforts |
| ✅ Features fast-, slow-, and medium-digesting protein sources | |
| ✅ Contains digestive enzymes |
Working on a limited budget? You can enjoy quality protein support without burning a hole in your wallet by choosing MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder.
Combat Protein Powder starts off by supplying your body with 25g of protein in each serving. It shows off a Microfiltered Protein Blend, which features:
- Whey protein isolate
- Whey protein hydrolysate
- Whey protein concentrate
- Micellar casein
- Egg albumin
All these protein sources are “complete” proteins, which means that you get all 9 EAAs (Essential Amino Acids) and 3 BCAAs (Branched Chain Amino Acids) that are used for building, repairing, and protecting lean muscle tissue.
Unlike some protein shakes that cost a fortune, Combat Protein Powder shows off a rather-affordable price tag. Each serving can cost you just a little more than what you pay for a small bag of chips.
This protein shake gives you 130 calories and 5g of carbohydrates per serving. You also get 1.5g of fat and 2g of sugar, which is pretty decent.
MusclePharm says that Combat Protein Powder has an award-winning taste and is easy to mix with water. It is made available in 5 flavors, such as:
- Banana cream
- Chocolate milk
- Cookies ‘N’ Cream
- Triple Berry
- Vanilla
Verdict
| With its budget-friendly cost per serving, MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder is a practical protein shake to choose if you are on a tight budget. It features 5 protein sources in its formula and is offered in 6 “award-winning” flavors. |
LOWEST FAT CONTENT: Dymatize ISO 100 3lb
- Nutrition per serving:
110 calories
25g protein
1g carbohydrates
0g fat
Less than 1g sugar - Number of servings: 43
- Top 3 Ingredients: Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Cacao Powder
- Allergen: Milk and Soy, Gluten Free
- Type: Powder
- Size: 3LB ( 1.4KG)
| WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| ✅ Zero sugar and minimal sugar content | ❌ There are users who say that its Fruity Pebbles flavor tastes way too sweet. |
| ✅ Good source of quick-digesting protein | |
| ✅ Offers Cocoa Pebbles and Fruity Pebbles flavors |
If you are looking to enjoy clean muscle gains – with minimal fat storage – from your protein shake, Dymatize ISO 100 is up for the job.
Among the other protein shakes in this list, Dymatize ISO 100 is the only one that has zero fat and less than 1g of sugar in its formula. This makes it easier for you to build lean muscle mass without worrying about consuming too much fat or sugar.
Protein-wise, ISO 100 gives you 25g of protein per serving, in the form of hydrolyzed whey protein isolate and whey protein isolate. Both proteins are rapidly absorbed by the body, making them an excellent source of nourishment for your muscles right after working out.
ISO 100 contains 110 calories and only 1g of carbs in each shake – so it definitely focuses more on giving you quality whey protein support.
If you love the taste of breakfast cereal, Dymatize ISO 100 is offered in Cocoa Pebbles and Fruity Pebbles flavors. It also comes in Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookies & Cream, Fudge Brownie, Gourmet Vanilla, and Peanut Butter variants.
Verdict
| With zero fat and less than 1g of sugar per serving, you can expect to enjoy clean muscle gains with Dymatize ISO 100. It offers Cocoa Pebbles and Fruity Pebbles flavors for those who love the taste of breakfast cereal – some however say that they can taste overly sweet. |
FINAL THOUGHTS
Adding a protein shake to your diet can help you build lean muscle faster – especially when it is paired with the right diet and an effective strength-training program.
Having been around for more than 3 decades now, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein is a trusted protein shake that can give you the quality protein support you need. But if you are looking for a little bit of protein in your shake, Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein is worth considering.
If you prefer to have a blend of slow, medium, and fast-digesting proteins in your drink, BSN Syntha-6 has your needs covered. Dymatize ISO 100, on the other hand, is ideal for those who are trying to limit their fat and sugar intake.
Lastly, if you are not keen on shelling out large amounts of money for your protein shake, you are better off choosing MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which protein is best for skinny guys?
If you are trying to build lean muscle, choose a “complete” protein source, such as whey, casein, egg, or soy protein.
Do protein shakes help skinny guys?
Yes, protein shakes can help you meet your daily protein needs for gaining weight or building lean muscle.
Should a skinny guy take whey protein?
Whey protein is a complete protein source, making it an ideal protein for ectomorphs and skinny guys.
How much protein does a skinny guy need to gain muscle?
To build muscle, it is recommended to consume 1 gram of quality protein per pound of body weight each day.
Which is better: a protein shake or a mass gainer?
If your goal is to gain weight faster, a mass gainer is the better choice. If your plan is to build or maintain lean muscle, a protein shake is what you want.
