The Protein Powder I Buy for Everyone (Literally)
“I buy Isopure unflavored specifically because it mixes into anything — coffee, oatmeal, smoothies. Then I ship it to friends and family. David Gordon gets it. My dad Bill Bradford gets it. I'm a protein powder Santa Claus.”
Isopure Zero Carb Protein Powder (Unflavored, 3 lb)
67,432 reviews
Pros
- +Zero carbs — just pure protein
- +Unflavored mixes into anything without changing the taste
- +25g protein per scoop from whey isolate
- +I buy this for David Gordon AND my dad Bill Bradford
- +67,000 reviews — the people's protein
Cons
- -Unflavored means it tastes like... nothing. Which is the point.
- -$47 for 3 lbs — not the cheapest per gram
- -I've become the guy who gives protein powder as gifts
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey (Double Rich Chocolate, 5 lb)
134,567 reviews
Pros
- +134,000 reviews — the most-reviewed protein on Amazon
- +5 lbs for $63 — better value per serving
- +Double Rich Chocolate actually tastes good
- +24g protein per scoop
- +The industry standard for a reason
Cons
- -Has carbs and flavor (not ideal for mixing into food)
- -The flavored versions dominate — harder to find unflavored
- -Your friends might actually prefer this as a gift
The Story
I've become THAT guy. The protein powder evangelist. 'Hey David, I'm sending you protein powder.' 'Hey Dad, check your mail — there's protein powder coming.' My friend David Gordon and my father Bill Bradford both receive Isopure unflavored from me on a semi-regular basis because I've decided they need more protein.
The unflavored part is key. Most people buy chocolate or vanilla protein and mix it with water or milk. I buy unflavored because it disappears into everything. Coffee? Add a scoop. Oatmeal? Add a scoop. Smoothie? Already in there. It's invisible protein. Stealth protein. The protein equivalent of dollar-cost averaging — you don't even notice it but it adds up.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard is objectively the king of protein powders — 134,000 reviews, better value per serving at 5 lbs, and it actually tastes good. But I want unflavored. I want to add protein to my coffee without it tasting like a chocolate milk that went to the gym. And I want to ship unflavored protein to everyone I know because apparently that's my love language now.
The Lesson
Unflavored protein powder is underrated — it goes in everything. But if you want flavor and value, ON Gold Standard is the GOAT.
Affiliate Disclosure: Links on this page go to Amazon and include an affiliate tag. If you buy something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is an honest comparison of products I've actually used. Product details, prices, ratings, and review counts are approximate and may be outdated. This page was created with AI assistance. Not professional product advice — just one guy's experience.
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Glen's Musings — AI, investing, and building things. Occasional. Free.
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