Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein, Double Rich Chocolate, 5 LB

Why it's worth it

Gold Standard gives you 24 grams of whey per scoop with isolate listed first, so there's little excess fat or lactose along for the ride. It's been the default recommendation for decades because it does the ordinary things well and it's stocked nearly everywhere.

It hits the protein number that actually matters. Each scoop delivers 24 grams of whey, with isolate as the primary ingredient, which means most of the fat and lactose gets filtered out before the powder reaches the tub. That sits squarely in the 20-to-30-gram range research links to a full muscle protein synthesis response. One scoop after training and one in the morning covers a real chunk of your daily target.

The amino acid profile is the boring, proven kind. Whey brings naturally occurring BCAAs and EAAs in the proportions clinical work keeps pointing to, including the leucine that does most of the signaling. You don't need a spiked formula or a proprietary blend to get there. Optimum Nutrition isn't doing anything clever here, and that's the point — it's the version of this product everything else gets measured against.

From our review of 12 protein powders for muscle building, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +It hits the protein number that actually matters
• +The amino acid profile is the boring, proven kind
• +It mixes without a fight
• +The five-pound tub makes daily use practical

What to know

• –The sweeteners are sucralose and acesulfame potassium
• –There's still a concentrate fraction in the blend
• –Protein density per gram trails the pure isolates