Best Weight Gain Supplements Reviewed & Rated for Quality
Before buying weight gainer supplements, you might want to calculate how much protein you need. If you're a consistent weightlifter, you'll want to ingest about .7 to .9 grams of protein per day for each pound of your bodyweight. Then you'll know what to look for when you're shopping for gainers.
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Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Materials
There are several factors you can look at and adjust to help you make the gains in mass that you are looking for. You should have a solid training plan and nutritional regime. Train smartly and track your workouts. Incorporating advanced strategies that can increase the intensity of your workouts can also help you to succeed. Then when you need that extra boost, going towards supplementation is a great way to keep a well-rounded program going that will support all your hard work. These weight gainer supplements are all great, and they will provide you with the tools and backup to help you make your fitness goals a reality. There is a specific type of training and nutrition that you need to use to get massive gains, and these weight gainers will have you covered.
When you are training for great mass, you need an excessive caloric intake. To meet those requirements, these protein shakes for weight gain are going to be a huge help for most people that cannot humanly eat as much as necessary to get the calories needed. The other important thing is not necessarily calorie loading with any food; it is making sure that the calories you are consuming are not empty and won’t weigh you down. These weight gainers are designed to be high calorie but also nutrient dense in a way that is going to support your body and your performance in the gym.
Believe it or not suitable, healthy fats can help you gain lean muscle mass and stay slim. The dietary fat that is used in these formulations will help to keep you sculpted and svelte. Those weight gain supplements that have medium chain triglycerides and minimal saturated fats are what to look for in this category.
Getting the right balance of creatine is another key feature of these products. You are most likely taking creatine by itself, so it makes sense to make your supplementation routine easier by being able to take get your creatine with your protein mix. It is excellent for your budget because you don’t have to buy as many products and it is produced with your time because you are getting a lot of what you need in one shake. The cool thing about the formulation of adding creatine is how creatine works the best. It works the best with high amounts of quick acting carbs, which is what protein shakes for weight gain utilize.
To ensure that you take your supplements you should not be grossed out by them. The taste is important. Remember these shakes are not milkshakes; they are performance shakes so don’t expect to have some delicious, rich and indulgent shake you have to be realistic. However, many weight gainers taste pretty good overall. The cool thing is that many of the brands have multiple flavor options for you to choose from. So there is a good likelihood that you will be able to find one that is pleasing to your palate.
Product Purity
As an athlete, we know that what you put in your body is essential to you, and the last thing you want to do is work super hard in the gym and then ruin all that hard work by putting crap in your body. That's why when making our list we only included products whose ingredients and materials are of good quality. We're not going to lie to you here, the supplement industry is a quagmire of fast-talking snake oil salesmen, and it's essential to be careful about what you buy and what you put in your body. Some of the products on our list are almost totally all-natural, while others do use some ingredients that are processed. Tends to be the nature of the supplement industry, and even some of the best gainers are made with processed ingredients. We did our best to bring you gainers that have a high level of purity in the ingredients they use, and we hope you'll find the right one for you and get great results.
Ease of Use
There is no denying that ease of use is essential. It is nice to have a well-rounded shake that you can add a bunch of fun extras to adjust to your palates like berries, nut butter, dissolvable fiber, and powders like matcha. The reality is that you don’t always have a blender nearby when you need to get that quick shake in. Many times you are just leaving the gym and need to hit that sweet spot of time where your body is in optimal condition to take in and absorb nutrition. So it is essential that the powder you use is easily mixed, that it can be dissolved in whatever liquid you decide to mix it with. If you can use a standard shaker to get your protein shake on hand, then you are in good shape. The last thing you are going to want to be chugging is lumpy, thick protein globs.
Side Effects
As you get to the higher calorie product lines be aware that if you are someone sensitive and struggle with indigestion, these are the ones that can be the most irritating to your system. The best options are the ones that are the easiest on the stomach and don’t interfere with the rest of the “real food” you eat. The best options can be broken down with ease by your body, and all the great nutrition absorbed fully. You don’t want anything that is going to be heavy and keep you dragging. You want it in, absorbed and working fast.
Whenever you are using a new supplement give it some time before making a judgment call on its effectiveness or how our body is responding. Many times you need to allow your body to have an adjustment time to get used to the new product. That being said, it should not be an overly long period that you are not feeling well or having issues with your digestion such as gas or diarrhea for example. If you are not feeling great upwards towards a month plus, it is time to make a change.
Value
Weight gainers can seem reasonably expensive when you first start shopping for them, but we want you to understand why. Most weight gain supplements contain anywhere from 600 up to 2000 or more calories per serving. That means that in one meal of proper gainers there are the same amount of calories as anywhere from a large lunch up to an entire day's worth of food. So even though a single serving of protein shakes for weight gain can run upwards of $5 on the high end, that's still cheaper than a meal at a restaurant or even cooking at home depending on what you make. And if you want your meal to include as much protein as an excellent gainers, you'll be looking at spending even more. We want you to find weight gainer supplements that fit your budget, so each product review contains a value score from 0-100 to help you pick out a great product at a reasonable price.
Top 10 Proteins Shakes for Weight Gain
1. MRM All Natural
MRM is a large, trustworthy supplier of sports and health supplements. They are well known for providing superior supplements with the highest quality of ingredients and standards. They use alternative health practices and ideologies to formulate their products. With a high value on research and experimentation, this is a company that puts serious time into their product lines. These weight gainers and no exception, and its excellence and reputation put it firmly at #1 on our list.
Read moreProbiotics
The formulation used is mixed with 5 strains of probiotics. Probiotics are all the rage these days as people are learning more about chronic conditions like leaky gut for example. They help to keep your digestive tract healthy, and they keep your body’s immunity like a well-oiled machine.
Extra protein
This mixture has a whopping 25 grams of complete protein in every serving. Protein is an essential macronutrient needed when you are looking to gain muscle and mass most healthfully. The protein sources have all the essential amino acids including Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs). It is necessary because this is what will aid in lean muscle development.
Cost and Value
The company is committed to manufacturing supplements that are top of the line and useful in health promotion. They use non-GMO, organic, gluten-free and vegan ingredients. These weight gainers work exceptionally well, and they have great taste and texture. It is a healthy way to add mass to your body. These weight gainers are also affordable, especially considering their quality.
2. Muscle Milk
Muscle Milk makes this high-quality gainer that you can use either before or after your exercise sessions. You can also use this prior to going to sleep, although the perfect time is after your workout. These weight gain supplements are designed to take full advantage of your body’s natural rhythms to help with replenishing as well as building and repairing your musculature.
Read moreCompany
It is the company that has paved the way for portable protein mixes and drinks. They are the leader in the weight gainers market, and they have valuable partnerships with professional athletes and training facilities. This company is heavily engaged in sports-related research so that they can be on the cutting edge of science and manufacture elite products to support active individuals.
Quality formulation
The weight gainers you will get from this company are made with the highest quality ingredients. Everything is put together at an expert level with all the key nutrients you’d want in a supplement. All weight gainers are NSF Certified which will keep you feeling confident in putting them into your body. They are safe for you, and they don’t have any banned substances that could impact you in your sport.
Cost and Value
Muscle Milk is a household name for the sports and athletic industry. It is a quality manufacturer of reliable supplements, specifically. It’s a versatile protein line. There are many options in the protein line to help aid you in your athletic goals. The taste is consistent, and most people find it quite good, the texture is also very pleasing to most people’s palate. It's one of the more expensive weight gainers on our list, but you pay for what you get.
3. Naked Mass
Naked Mass makes a great dietary aid that should be used before bed for a high protein and calorie intake. It is an organic, clean source of multi-phase protein and carbohydrate powder. Through the use of organic tapioca, it is naturally gluten-free.
Read moreClean ingredients
These weight gain supplements are made with the highest quality well-thought-out ingredients. They use organic sources and sustainable additives such as grass-fed whey protein and pea protein powder. These gainers are all full of the essential amino acids you’d be looking for. Simple ingredients that do not use artificial sweeteners or colors so you can take in the most authentic and natural dietary aid.
Mass
Talk about mass; this product has 50 grams of protein with 11.5 grams of BCAA’s in every serving. That is tremendous and will get your body kicked into high gear for bulking up.
Cost and Value
It is a well-made product that thoughtfully works. These weight gainers are easy to use and get those mass gains you are looking for. The best part about this is that they won’t upset your stomach, and the ingredients are responsible and clean. They are high in protein and calories, the carbohydrate count is a right amount as well and at their price gives you a great bang for your buck value.
4. Universal Nutrition
Universal Nutrition makes potent weight gainers that are an easily digestible dietary aid for you to bulk up on. They are formulated with inulin and fiber to help your body break them down and obtain serious gains.
Read moreEasy to use
This formulation mixes excellently in water or other beverages. It dissolves easily for a nice texture that you can drink with ease. The taste is on point, and you will enjoy the flavor and look forward to your shakes.
Will keep you growing
Made with carbs and proteins that are digested in a range of time variables, this is an excellent option that will indeed pump up your muscles. You can expect severe gains and a nutrient-rich formula thanks to healthy EFA and MCT-based fats.
Cost and Value
These weight gainers are one of the cleanest on the market with regards to fat and sugar. That makes a difference in your overall health as well as the gains that you are looking for. It is accessible on the gut and comes at an affordable value. It will help you make the strides in your mass in a healthy way.
5. Optimum Nutrition
Designed to offer 1250 calories and 50 grams of protein per serving, Optimum Nutrition provides a perfect recovery powder for your athletic goals. It will work well after your workouts and in between meals to help you gain serious high-quality weight.
Read moreCalories
When you are working towards obtaining a more massive, more shaped physique, you need to have the right amount of calories to back it up and support that growth. For many people who are serious about their workouts and their muscle mass, it can be challenging to get a high amount of caloric intake needed to meet those caloric requirements. These weight gain supplements are comprised of quality ingredients that pack a punch in the amount of calories you get. At 1250 per serving, this will help you meet your goals with ease.
Amp up your shakes
You could take in this shake by itself without adding anything to it and still get a pleasant tasting drink that has the nutrition you need. If you want to mix it up and customize it better to your tastes, it is super simple to use your electric blender and put together a great shake. Add nuts or berries, frozen fruit or peanut butter, anything you enjoy mixes thoroughly with this product.
Cost and Value
If you are having difficulty getting in the substantial amount of calories needed to make gains, these weight gainers are the product that can help you a lot. It will get you to your nutritional requirements, and you will see the mass building. Mix this with whole milk, and you are upping your nutrient profile as well as padding in the extra fats and calories that you want.
6. BSN True Mass
BSN True Mass are the ultimate weight gain supplements. It is engineered to provide you with excellent growth. A 4:1 ratio of protein to carbs is serious for the hard-core lifter looking to get huge.
Read moreCompany
BSN is a leader in bio-engineered nutrition. They put a ton of time and resources into cutting-edge research and the nutritional sciences. They are concerned about performance, and how their supplements help the avid athlete succeed in meeting their fitness and physique goals. They are one of the most recognizable brands in the industry for a reason. Their gainers do good work.
Well Made
It is a prime lean mass gainer that will help you grow and recover from the intense lifting and workouts you put your body through. There is a 2 to 1 ratio in the formulation of carbs to protein along with the dietary fiber which will help you take this in with no issues and help your body break it down well. There are medium chain triglycerides that help to boost the nutritional content.
Cost and Value
It is truly an awesome product. It doesn’t have the metallic and heavy taste and texture that you can sometimes have with these gainers. The chocolate tastes amazing, it has such an excellent flavor. It is an option to absolutely look at, you won’t be let down, plus it's available at a reasonable price point.
7. MuscleMeds Carnivor
Do you like beef protein? Well, here you go. MuscleMeds Carnivor is a beef protein isolate that has intense amino acid levels when compared to alternative protein sources on the market. It has over 350% more concentrated muscle building ability than that of which you would get in a legit sirloin steak. It also tastes excellent so give this one a look.
Read moreBeef protein isolate
This type of protein source is comparable to standard whey protein in its profile and makeup. It is reasonably high in alanine, arginine, glutamic acid, glycine, and proline. It is also a good source of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. In general, the protein in terms of grams is high, and it doesn’t have carbs. It tends to be digested by the body much slower and is broken down in the body in a way that is most similar to how the body breaks down eggs.
6 stage purification process
This product goes through a state-of-the-art hydrolysis system to get the highest bioavailable, concentrated protein. It also helps to improve the taste, and it removes the nasty fat and cholesterol. This company has its proprietary 6-stage process that keeps the standards of their products high and consistent.
Cost and Value
There are 10 flavors to choose from, so anyone should be able to find the right option for them. There is the talk of it being hard to mix, but that is not the reality. This protein does mix very well with a spoon or with a regular shaker bottle. This product makes a nice performance shake of severe athletes.
8. Dymatize Super
This product makes it easy for you to meet your caloric goals. You won’t have to figure out numbers and struggle to keep those calories high, and the Dymatize Super formula will get you to where you need to go. You can increase your mass and bulk with this product.
Read moreHigh standards
This company has high standards and guidelines they utilize when they manufacture their products. They are serious about producing a formula that is high in proteins and carbs, has a good ratio and also is ardently tested to ensure there are no banned substances in the mixture. That is excellent news for athletes who are held to regular testings in their sport.
Great flavor
The flavors aren’t overwhelming or chalky; there is an excellent smoothness to the powder you will enjoy. The chocolate flavor is similar to silky chocolate milk. If you mix it with unsweetened almond milk you can lower the carbohydrate load, and if you use it with cow’s milk you can increase it, and they both mix well with this powder.
Cost and Value
Worth every penny. If you need to gain weight or need extra nutritional support you can meet those needs with this product. If you are a heavy exerciser, you will appreciate the fast recovery that you can feel with your muscles. It is a good bang for your buck, and the taste is sensational.
9. MuscleTech Extreme
MuscleTech makes a good quality supplement that has a fairly decent taste. It will give you a full feeling after consumption but won’t give you an overly weighed down feeling. This mixture was formulated with creatine and glutamine, making this a well-made product.
Read morePerfect for bodybuilders
This product is extreme and is precisely everything that a bodybuilder would want in a gainer. It has an insane amount of protein, 80 grams to be exact and more than 400 carbs. It has a macronutrient profile that is a precise fit for the needs of bodybuilders or any athlete that wants strength and size increases in a healthy way. It is ideal for achieving a sculpted physique without the excess fat.
Well rounded shake
This one will work for you without a doubt. It has a good flavor, and while it works best to follow the directions for blending, it is best to use an electric blender. Combined with a proper diet and a regular workout schedule you aren’t going to go wrong with this product. It is easy to digest which is always an important aspect when you are purchasing protein.
Cost and Value
You are going to have a hard time finding a better price for a gainer with all the added nutritional benefits of this one. The taste is pretty good overall. It is loaded with protein and carbs so there is no way you won’t put on mass and all of that weight gaining power also comes at an affordable price.
10. Mutant
It is a product that is loaded with a wide variety of macronutrients. Mutant makes a great shake that you can have throughout your day. The strawberry banana flavor is terrific. Whenever you need to up your protein game, this one will do the job for you.
Read moreBalanced
The nutrition profile is dense and balanced. It is a product that is packed with carbs, waxy maize, MCT’s, Colostrum, Cinnulin PF and that is not all, there is more. So the calories you get when digesting this product is about 1000, but they are not empty by any means. They are strategically engineered to engage in your body and get you to bulk up most constructively and effectively.
Composition
Made with 34 grams of BCAAs, EAAs, glutamine and glutamine precursors as well as arginine, the makeup is specifically designed to help your muscles grow. It isn’t light on the protein either; there are 52 grams including whey, casein, and eggs for a potent blend.
Cost and Value
This product comes in the option of picking from 6 different flavors. The ingredients are straightforward and nutrient dense. This product is specifically designed with every single aspect of it to help the body gain mass and increase muscle growth. There are no undeclared ingredients so you can see what you are taking in when you read the ingredient list, and it won't break your wallet either.
Sources
- , 6 Important Reasons to Use a Weight Gainer, Bodybuilding Website
- , The Fit 5: Pack on the Muscle Mass, Men's Fitness Magazine
- , German Volume Training: How to Pack on Muscle Mass, Athletic Magazine
