158 Responses

1. The Most Bang for your buck, period.

   March 10th, 2009

   As a first-thing-in-the-morning, pre- and post-workout supplement, Optimum Nutrition’s 100% Whey Gold Standard is hard to beat. And, given its quality and effectiveness, it’s the best protein powder one can spend their money on. Before I became a regular user, I’d read a lot of reviews that said this product was great, and I couldn’t agree more with those reviewers once I tried it out for myself. And though I first started to take it only as a post-workout supplement, I’ve recently found that combining it with plain and strong black coffee (without sugar) about 20 minutes before a training session can work wonders for me when it comes to endurance and stamina. In my opinion, it even beats supplements that are to be taken specifically pre-workout in terms of effectiveness. I usually try to keep my weight-training sessions within a one-hour time limit, and if I start training without having taken my scoop of ON Whey, it’s a lot harder to keep things going with mad intensity (as I like to train) after the first 30 minutes. If I do take it, then I can rest assured that there’s going to be no crash or burn-outs before I’m done with all of my sets.

2. Sweet

   March 10th, 2009

   Pretty happy with this product, I will buy a different flavor next time. Not a huge fan of the vanilla ice cream, doesn’t go well in fruit smoothies.

3. Excellent taste

   March 10th, 2009

   The product tastes great and mixes well and is an excellent value with free shipping and a “subscribe and save” subscription…only about $35.

4. 100% Whey - flavor???

   March 10th, 2009

   The flavor of this product isn’t as good as Carb Solutions Vanilla product. Plus, it tends to be a lot more “foamy”. I won’t order it again.

5. Tastes good.

   March 10th, 2009

   I make this in a blender – tastes good – use it for a boost in my metabolism in the AM.

6. GOOD STUFF

   March 11th, 2009

   Protein supplements have come a long way. This really is the Gold Standard. Good taste, mixes easily, and there’s no quicker way to remedy a protein deficiency. Delivery was unbelievably quick.

7. Contaminated product

   March 13th, 2009

   I enjoy a variety of ON Whey products. In plastic jugs, they have a great taste. However, these variety packs have a bad metallic taste to them. I would recommend getting the 2lb. jugs instead to try a flavor, as the sampler is not representative of the product.

8. My favorite protein powder!

   March 15th, 2009

   Use: Daily Supplement, Occasional Meal Replacement, weekend athelete. Pros: Taste Digestibility (as someone prone to gas, this is important) Value Quality Mixes well Cons: I can’t possibly store all the flavors! Overall: I have used this powder for a long time and love it. Doesn’t get my as gassy as many of the other popular powders I have tried. Mixes well and works well in recipes (Pancakes, baked goods, shakes). My girlfriend is picky about drinks and she loves as well.

9. Amazing~~

   March 21st, 2009

   This product taste awesome^^.This Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard will give u everything that u need^^ .

10. Double Rich Chocolate Tastes Great!

    March 22nd, 2009

    The double rich chocolates flavor tastes and mixes much better then GNC’s chocolate flavored protein. It also contains a mix of whey proteins (Isolate, Whey Concentrate, and Peptides) which is good. The only bad things I noticed is that is does not have all the vitamins and minerals that GNC’s whey protein has and that it contains artificial sweeteners.

11. fantastic whey

    March 22nd, 2009

    This is very good for just a whey protein mix. It is low in fat and carbs, so there is no way it’s going to taste like Muscle Milk or anything, but this is lightyears ahead of other low carb, low fat whey mixes I’ve had. It mixed VERY well, and it actually tastes pretty good, downright tasty when mixed in milk! It even includes a healthy dose of glutamine, aminos, and other complexes. And with Subscribe and Save and Super Saver shipping, I really couldn’t be happier! I’ve heard good things about the vanilla flavor too, I’ll have to give that a shot next…

12. Gold Standard Whey

    March 26th, 2009

    I liked almost every flavor of the variety pack. It was very useful finding out which flavors worked best for me before buying the 5lb tubs. Most of the flavors taste best in milk or unsweetened soymilk but they all can mix in water I just didn’t find them as appealing. Also, Gold Standard Whey really needs to be at least “whisked.” Stirring with a spoon and waiting just didn’t make those clumps disappear for me. Once whisked it stays uniformly dispersed indefinately and might require some swirling of your cup/bottle if it’s been sitting of several hours. I like the variety of flavors of this brand, the ease of whisking, the price/protein ratio, and availability of enconomy size 5lb+ of most of the flavors. Do your homework on a good supplier that isn’t at your local mall and there is a place you can get Any Whey 3lb tubs for $33 as well as these favored ones for in 5lb tubs for $35.

13. Works beautifully.

    March 26th, 2009

    I received the chocolate on time and I have to say that it works beautifully. My recovery of muscles were good to the point to where I felt no soreness the next day and allowed my muscles to get stronger. This did the job that it promised to do for not a bad price either. Good product.

14. Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein

    March 30th, 2009

    I have been a long time user of this product, tastes great, priced even better!!

15. Wow - this stuff tastes great!

    April 3rd, 2009

    I wasn’t sure what to expect – I’ve never taken whey before, but from everything I’ve heard about it, I expected to be underwhelmed by the taste. My “trainer” warned me that any decent whey would “taste like crap.” I can’t wait to hear his reaction to it. Well, this does NOT taste like crap (not that I actually know what it tastes like, of course). It tastes great – I mixed it in skim milk with a vintage Tupperware shaker, and it was a lot like how I remember Nestle Quick tasting. I can completely understand how that one reviewer manages to get his kids to eat it as “chocolate milk.” I didn’t even notice a weird artificial sweetener aftertaste, which is usually an issue for me. So this choice was a win, win win, as far as my tastebuds and lean muscle mass are concerned.

16. 10.37 lb Rocky Road; great tasting; good value; easy to mix

    April 7th, 2009

    I recently ordered the 10.37 pound bag of Rocky Road flavored Whey protein. I was pleased to find that it is very palatable — important since the 10.37 pound bag will last a while. It is a good value compared to the smaller protein packages and mixes well in a shaker cup with or without carbohydrate powders and oil. Although the bag is resealable I’ve found that I can still squeeze out air after it is sealed so you might prefer to keep some of your old plastic protein containers to store it. Otherwise I would give it 5 stars.

17. Double Chocolate Vs. Chocolate

    April 14th, 2009

    So – you’ve been researching the 7000 options for Protein Powder and you’ve landed on Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard. Good choice. The quality of the product, the price and the reputation are all great. Now you need to decide on a flavor. After all – if it doesn’t taste good – it doesn’t matter how much it costs. You’re a chocolate guy/girl and think that’s the safest bet. If you’re getting 5 pounds of something, you need to minimize your risk! But do you go with Chocolate or Double Chocolate? I had the same question, so a co-worker and I each got one and did a taste test. Here is what we found: Chocolate: very tasty! When mixed with skim milk it was pretty close in taste to chocolate milk. No aftertaste and generally one the better powders I’ve tried. Double Chocolate: also very tasty! Smells way more chocolately in the jar and after mixing with skim milk. This one tasted more like a liquid brownie than chocolate milk. There definitely was a “Double” chocolate kick. No aftertaste and perhaps my favorite powder to date. The “winner”? Both really. My co-worker was very happy with her choice of Chocolate because it wasn’t overwhelming and I was very happy with the Double because it was more of a “treat” with a bigger chocolate flavor. So decide which one sounds like you – and buy with confidence. At 120 calories for 24g of protein, you’ll be getting what you need with a great taste.

18. great product

    April 15th, 2009

    i love whey protein and gold standard’s vanilla ice crea tasts greate with everythin i mix it with (orange juice, milk, soy milk).

19. First Whey Protein ever used

    April 16th, 2009

    I had been interested in trying a whey protein to help my workouts for a couple of years, but was hesitant to start using it because I didn’t know the effects or whether or not it would actually be helpful. After a little bit of research, and reading the reviews on Amazon, I bought a 2.5 lb. tub of ON 100% Whey (Double Rich Choc.) and am really happy with the results. The biggest benefit I have realized from drinking a whey protein shake after my workouts is that recovery time is vastly reduced. I rarely get sore the day after workouts now. Combine that with the great taste and easy mixability of ON 100% Whey, it was an easy decision to buy a 5 lb. tub once I finished my 2.5 lb. tub. I actually look forward to drinking this stuff after my workout is over. It’s a motivating factor in my workouts. I don’t allow myself to have a shake if I don’t have a satisfactory workout.

20. A simple review

    April 17th, 2009

    I’ve used this for 5 weeks, 3 times/day with total whey intake approximately 0.7-1 gram per lb of body weight. I could go on and on about this product with technical details, comparative analysis and discussions of the pros and cons. Instead, I will put it in what I think are the terms that matter most to people looking to use this product. Remember, everyone’s physique is different and I have a fairly intense workout and diet regimen so your results may vary dramatically. No, I am not affiliated with the maker of this product or Amazon or any muscle magazine or whatever. I don’t know if other shakes would give the same results since I don’t plan to switch. 1. I rarely if ever feel sore when I wake up the next morning 2. My muscles have grown visibly and are measurably stronger. My bench press and lat pulldown have increased by 20 lbs each 3. My new pants fit and my old pants are loose. 4. I can wear form-fitting T-shirts without fear of being like the fat guy in a speedo on the beach. 5. Women who would blow me off are now giving me their business cards and phone numbers. 6. The End.

21. Great product!

    April 21st, 2009

    This product seems so far to be a very good source of protein at a reasonable price. It cost a little more initially, but it is not full of fillers so it doesn’t take a lot of it per serving to meet your needs.

22. Liked it

    April 25th, 2009

    Purchased the double choco variety and thought it was great. Dissolved the best of any whey protein we’ve tried so far, and it tasted good too.

23. optimum whey.

    April 26th, 2009

    it came on time, the only thing is that the protein came in a box with styrofoam why do you need this? you don’t! The other annoying thing is the company started sending me all this junk mail, I hate junk mail advertising their vitamins. Please don’t send me stuff I don’t want. Overall good.

24. Blah!

    April 28th, 2009

    Chocolate Mint is much better. This stuff does not taste very good, but I’ll still finish it off because I payed for the protein not the taste.

25. Perfect for any athelte

    April 29th, 2009

    Lots of choices and have come to this late as in very late. Wish I had known and understand the benefits from such a fine product much sooner. Had used carb solutions on occasion but how clumpy it is and has only half the protein let alone the full benefits of this product. A subscription to this product via Amazon at 10lbs is going to produce a great bang for the buck. I’ve used the product for just over a month with a weight training program that was restarted after the local gym had closed down. (Replaced by Ironmaster Superbench & Powerblocks!) Very, very impressive results in just a short 5 week time. Aid in recovery to allow you to rebuild your training with minimal soreness or next to none was a shock to me. Being over 40 I didn’t even know this was possible. I had not worked out all winter. This product helped me to not only get back on my program it allowed me to see results in strength and body that I’ve never had so fast in my life. I’m an overall athlete who has had several knee operations so I am a swimmer who also bikes and this product allows you to reach goals that took so much longer previous. Wish I had known and understood this years back but there you have it. As someone who also bikes and swims for health, this product is going to be just as useful for cardio as for strength training. If I grow old and live good like Jack Lalane, I’ll owe a big debt to Optimum Nutrition no doubt. I’ve read about other products that are very good, provide excellent taste and that is no doubt probably true. But for overall use, (it dissovles easily) and benefit with cost in mind, I don’t think there is anything that will do better for more people than this product.

26. There are better products available.

    April 30th, 2009

    [...]This product, while smelling very chocolaty, tastes like unsweetened baking cocoa which isn’t good by any means. I’ve been using protein powder for at least 7 years now and use it everyday with breakfast. I know protein powder can taste pleasant if not good. There are better products available for those who plan on using a product every day and don’t care to take the time to blend in extra ingredients as I do.

27. Great if you're lactose intolerant

    May 2nd, 2009

    I bought the double chocolate cause it’s on sale and I’ve read a lot of good things about ON. To me the taste is nothing to write home about, pretty much the same as other brands. It sits real well in my stomach after drinking it … I’m lactose intolerant and some other brands upset my stomach a bit, no problem whatsoever is Gold Standard. I’ll probably stick to this brand.

28. Solid product, not sue about the flavour

    May 3rd, 2009

    I have been using ON’s protein powder for years: great quality. This is the first time I buy Cookies N’ Cream. The flavour is good but really sweet and takes a while to get used to. I do not think I am gona purchase this flavour again but I’ll stick with double choccolate and french vanilla

29. Best Protein

    May 5th, 2009

    On 100% whey protein is one of the best supplements out there. delicious and inexpensive, take this throughout the day to fit in more protein without tons of carbs or fat

30. perfect!

    May 6th, 2009

    This product is not grainy or gritty. It mixes well even without a blender! It tastes just like chocolate milk! I highly recommend!

31. tasted great

    May 7th, 2009

    the reason why im giving it 4 stars is because of the taste. i later on realized i liked the vanilla a lot more than the chocolate.

32. Great Protein

    May 10th, 2009

    Probably THE best tasting of protein I have had. The mint flavoring kills any of the “different” taste protein powders normally have. Mixes great too.

33. Excellent Taste!!!

    May 11th, 2009

    Definitely the best tasting chocolate protein I’ve ever purchased. It mixes unbelievably well. I’m planning to buy some other flavors to use with cereal, etc., but so far this is the only one I can speak for. I reviewed several competing products and this one was cheapest at the time; it didn’t disappoint!!

34. terrible tasting whey protien

    May 11th, 2009

    the cookies and cream taste is horrible. I wish I could take it back .

35. Good taste, mixes well, great value

    May 16th, 2009

    Been using Optimum whey protein for years. Priced right, tastes good and mixes well with milk or water.

36. Awesome, but not the best flavor.

    May 17th, 2009

    I like this product a lot because of all the quality supplements that are included. This, however, is not the best tasting flavor. I bought it so that I wouldn’t be tired of the Double Rich Chocolate flavor. Turns out, I got tired of this flavor way earlier. Stick with Double Rich Chocolate.

37. First day...taste nice...

    May 19th, 2009

    this is my first date using this product and it really taste great!!! wait for the update…i cant wait for see the resoults!!!

38. My Favorite

    May 19th, 2009

    This is my favorite ON protein so far. I’ve tried soy, egg, casein natural, aftermax and I like this one best so far. Good service from the shipper too.

39. great taste, great results

    May 20th, 2009

    I have been overweight (150 lbs. overweight) most time of my life, and as a 24 yrs young woman, was hard to develop long lean muscles, but this product (plus my diet and exercises), is really helping me to make it through my goal. It doesn’t taste like Nesquick, but is really great for smoothies, I prepare it with water to minimize the calorie intake, and it taste good.

40. Cheapest quality protein hands down

    May 20th, 2009

    This stuff was recommended as a favorite on several popular strength & weight training blogs, and I’ve been getting it ever since. It tastes great which is surprising giving the extremely low carb/sugar content. I drink it straight with water most of the time, but also mix it in kashi or oatmeal for breakfast which tastes awesome. You can’t beat the price with a subscription either.

41. A bit hard to dissolve, tastes good

    May 21st, 2009

    I used the Vanilla flavor the last two times but…Amazon didn’t have it in the big tub this time, so I tried this – Chocolate Mint. Tastes good and no after taste. Minor complaint is that it doesn’t dissolve as totally as the vanilla did – no matter how much I shake.

42. pretty darn good

    May 21st, 2009

    For me, this product is good, not necessarily because I saw myself bulk up tremedously in the month that I took it, although there were some visible differences, but because it helped me get the amount of protein I needed daily, and it tasted great. I think if I keep taking this I will have nothing but great results.

43. high quality, low price

    May 23rd, 2009

    I have been high on TrueProtein for awhile but their prices are really expensive. After trying ON Whey I think Im going to stay with it because the quality is the same and the price is a lot cheaper specially if you do the suscribe and save plan and it also comes with aminogen, a scoop, flavor, and a container all included. The cookies and creme flavor isn’t the best but its not bad. The ratio of isolate to concentrate to hydrolyzed whey is great for pre and post workout. Five pounds of high quality whey for 33 dollars shipped is a steal. Definitely give this a try.

44. Affordable whey for the masses, but there is better out there

    May 28th, 2009

    I have been sampling various whey products for about 6 months now when I started my bodybuilding and transformation efforts. This is not the highest quality product out there. It is not the pure whey isolate but contains a variety of lower quality protein in addition. I tried the sample pack and after going through almost all of them I have only found 1-2 that are palatable. Most of them have a very chemical smell and flavor to them which I found a little nauseating – especially the strawberry varieties and cookies and cream. I did like the chocolates – especially the chocolate mint. If you are looking for higher quality whey get AST VP2 or the Prolab product which are high percentage pure hydrolyzed whey isolates. A bit pricier but there is a reason for that – costs more to make it that way. I don’t think that I will be sticking with Optimum whey.

45. Yummers !!!

    May 29th, 2009

    Mmmmmmm. Chocolate. It’s not as rich as the name double rich implies, but then again i drink it with skim milk. Shaker bottle mixes it nicely. I also use it in smoothies and protein pellets. For the price, this is a good deal.

46. Excellent product

    June 1st, 2009

    Excellent product! My son introduced me to this brand of whey and it tastes great as well.

47. Smooth

    June 2nd, 2009

    For those of you that dont like thick shakes, this one is for you. It is a very thin shake when mixed. Like drinking chocolate milk.

48. good transaction

    June 3rd, 2009

    well…is my second buy from vitamin shoppe and It was sucessfull. It was fast, too fast…..3 days. I recomend this page to buy.

49. Good for the balance I need

    June 11th, 2009

    Hi this stuff is good to balance my protein intake. It’s low on carb, fat and sodium. Watch the cholesterol though. I don’t use it everyday but probably 75%. It can taste a bit chalky and metallic. I use it with water mostly and I whip it with an aerolatte (coffee frother). I find the taste is better with really cold water. It can also be made with a shaker. Most people make a shake with added frozen fruit and any kind of milk. I don’t like to drag out the blender.

50. Very good protein mix

    June 11th, 2009

    Started on Optimum Nutrition when I began to take protein supplements. Changed to a GNC-espoused brand when I couldn’t find ON at my local grocery store. When I found ON Whey on Amazon, I knew it was an easy decision because of Amazon’s great service, the quality difference between ON and the GNC-pimped brand, and the price. I’m sticking with Amazon for my supplement needs.

51. Does not contain artificial sweetner

    June 12th, 2009

    This is an excellant product, I tried it at a friends house and did not notice the sweetner (maybe because it was not artificial) but when I saw it on here that someone said it contained splenda I thought I would write to the company. I did not want to insult my friend by asking. When I wrote to the cmpany this is their answer: [===> OUR REPLY

52. Bad Batch?

    June 12th, 2009

    I have used ON Double Rich Chocolate Gold Standard 100% Whey for a while now and have really been satisfied until my last purchase. I purchased a new 5.15 lb in May and this container smells almost like spoiled milk and taste the same. I have contacted Optimum nutrition about it and I am waiting to get a response. Has anyone else had this problem? I mix it with water and has been great until this package. I would ahve rated it higher if not for my problem with this current batch. I hope I am not out $40!

53. Tasty Double Rich Chocolate

    June 12th, 2009

    Good flavor, even with water. Needs thorough mixing, I use a whisk ball shaker. Good protein to calorie ratio and priced comparatively to other online retailers. The scoop got buried in the powder during shipping and is a pain to dig out (use kitchen tongs). Why not just attach it to the lid? And why is a serving labeled one rounded scoop? Is it that hard to make your scoop a little bigger? It is easy to spill powder off a rounded scoop when transferring to a bottle. Anyways, a few stupid packaging flaws, but the powder itself is great and is visibly making a difference!

54. Great amount of protein and low fat. Bad taste, high price.

    June 16th, 2009

    My cookies and creame taste like coffee. WTF. GNC pro performance and muscle milk cookies and creame taste way better than this. However, I did not buy this for the taste unlike other reviewers, 24 grams of protein is perfect for my 150 lbs body and with 1 gram of fat, it beats GNC pro performance but not the taste part. Costing $10 more than GNC pro performance, oh well more protein less fat will cost more anyways.

55. Best Protein Powder I've Had

    June 17th, 2009

    Cheap, quality protein. I make 2 protein shakes everyday with this stuff and have noticed an increase in muscle mass. I need to eat 200 grams of protein a day and combining this with milk 2X a day gets me half of that.

56. Tastes good

    June 19th, 2009

    I wish to edit my post: Yes the company wrote to say that three is no artificial sweetner but they lied. If you take note they say in the reply below that they do not container artificial sweetners and that there is no Splenda as the fellow said. They said it does contain the sweetener Stevia, and that is a lie! There is no Stevia (I am looking at the ingredeints)there is an artificial sweetner called Acesulfame Potassium, supposedly this sweetner is safe (but it is that is for you to decide. This is a comment about Acesculfame Potassium: Acesulfame potassium, also known as Acesulfame K, is an artificial sweetener. It was first discovered in 1967 by chemist Karl Clauss, working at the time for the company that would become Nutrinova. The reality is that it is an artificial sweetner making them a liar. I do not like being lied to and thought you might like to know the kind of company this is. So you can judge weather this ingredient is safe or not. I wish I cn change my stars to ONE! This is my original note, I take it back. This is an excellant product, I tried it at a friends house and did not notice the sweetner (maybe because it was not artificial) but when I saw it on here that someone said it contained splenda I thought I would write to the company. [===> OUR REPLY

57. make sure you have a blender bottle

    June 23rd, 2009

    I had to convince myself I was drinking tapioca pudding the first couple nights I went without a blender. This is pure gluten in a drink. You better have one hell of a workout scheduled before you commit to drinking this. DO NOT drink this with water. When mixed with whole milk the taste reminds me a homemade malt. Overall, this being my second purchase of a tub of whey, I would rate my satisfaction very high.

58. Something isn't the whey it should be.

    June 25th, 2009

    I am sure most of you are familiar with the nutritional aspects of this product, from the description or the reviews. I just felt I needed to chime in and say that while this flavor is passable with milk, it is pretty foul with water. And the last thing I want after an intense workout is chunks of “cookies” floating in the shake that I am drinking.

59. Gold Standard Whey Protein Variety Pack

    June 27th, 2009

    Great product….most of the flavors are delicious. Helpful in deciding which one you want to get in a bigger size.

60. Many delicious flavors, mixes great with water, EXCELLENT for Bariatric patients

    June 29th, 2009

    As a weight loss surgery patient, I have tried many, many proteins. This is by far my favorite. Why? 1. Price. Per scoop it’s very cost effective. 2. Quality. ON constantly rates highly on protein quality. 3. Taste. I don’t know what any other user is talking about, but this stuff is delicious. I have at least 5 flavors that I truly, truly ENJOY and look forward to drinking. 4. Mixes well with water. Again, as a WLS patient, I keep my carb count down, and milk can make me sick. I mix a scoop of this with 4oz of water and I’m good to go. At home I might add a splash of cream and some ice. Don’t even get me started about what you can do with a raw egg and some cream cheese… 5. You can cook with it! I love to make protein pancakes with the stuff. 6. No lumps. With the exception of the Chocolate Malt, I have been able to mix every one of the samples I tried with 4oz of water in a jar with a lid, shake for 15 seconds and have a lump free shake. 7. Variety. I love that the Extreme Chocolate Milk is too sweet for me, the Double Rich Chocolate isn’t sweet enough, but that the Chocolate Malt is juuuust right. I love that they have not 1 but 2 vanillas, and also a “sugar cookie.” I love that I can get Chocolate Malt, Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Toffee, Rocky Road and Chocolate Coconut (can’t wait to try that one!). Oh and now both Coffee and Mochachino. I mean, really? That’s amazing. Buy a sample pack, go wild. Then get yourself a big ol’ jug and ENJOY!

61. Outstanding Powder

    June 29th, 2009

    Both my wife and I have been using this product at least for the last four years. We like the fact that they have a great variety of flavors and it mixes well in water without the clumping.

62. My New Favorite

    July 7th, 2009

    I have been a loyal user of Muscle Milk for quite some time, which can be painful due to the price. I tried some of the Gold Standard b/c Amazon had a good deal with an instant [...] and boy am I glad that I did. This stuff tastes really good. It is not nearly as rich as Muscle Milk, but I find that to be better. The price per serving is unbeatable as well. I mix this with a shaker and it always mixes up very well with virtually no “chunks” of powder remaining. I will be subscribing to this product now, it is that good.

63. OMG-Delicious

    July 15th, 2009

    My husband just purchased this and usually despises any shake items. However, he absolutely loves this flavor. He made this with a few strawberries, 1 cup of skim milk and half a bananna and it is delicious! I can’t believe it is so healthy for you!

64. Great to drink, great performance.. read review..

    July 16th, 2009

    Ok. I grew up with my dad being a weight lifting coach, so he always was in the know of what was good/ wasnt.. this whey protein is authentic whey. ill review the product first, and then the performance factors 2nd. Taste: when mixed with skim milk, it offers a smooth low-creamy effect. i use a gnc shaker bottle with it. it tastes better than any yoohoo or nesquick out there. id even buy this at 7-11 for the taste if it wasnt good for me. Texture: mixes smooth. use a shaker cup, 30 seconds of casual mixing and its good to go. Chocolateness: the double chocolate actually has a pretty decent chocolate back taste. Performance:i started up on this stuff and noticed with in a few days a big increase in performance. along the way, i did want to see if i was just wasting my money, and stopped this for about 2 weeks but kept up high protein meals. i was lacking in performance, recovery, and strength. went back on and it came back within a few days. Nutrition: i was always big into protein, however i strongly feel the performance of this stuff is much much better than just doing eggs/meat milk etc.. for my protein. theres hardly any (if not 0 grams) of fat/calories.. so its much healthier and better on your cholesterol. Endurance/recovery: my “peak” comes faster into my workout and lasts for alot ALOT longer.. the next day im not nearly as sore. i know this as during my “testing” phase i was doing the same stretches/lifting and was alot more sore the next day. GIVE THIS A TRY. dont forget, your body needs to have not just protein but also amino acids.. they help rebuild your muslces faster so you can get a better workout next. I drink it in the morning (when your protein is the lowest after the night), RIGHT after an exercise (the key is to drink within the first 30 minutes of your workout. that is your peak absorption for your body to suck up all the goodness of this stuff..) and right before bed so your body has a storage of protein to draw from during the night. small snacks/meals during the day with protein has been proven to spike your metabolism (as even having a higher protein intake overall.. ) [...] go here, half way down and use the calculator to figure out your protein intake. try to get up to near that number during the day. hope this has helped. cheers!

65. Excellent

    July 16th, 2009

    I just got my whey protein by ON, the delivery was really fast; I ordered on Sunday afternoon and I received package on Tuesday. I ordered the strawberry flavor, not bad at all, tastes pretty good especially when combined with milk. I have also tried the double rich chocolate from my cousin; taste is good as well. I guess what I am trying to say is that the taste is not horrible at all as many of the other people had stated. Since this is my first time trying this product, I really can not comment in the effects it has on building muscle. I really wish people had focused on that rather than the flavor, so if you recently bought this product and know its benefits, please tells us, but only if you have seen a change in your body. A month from now, if things work (i.e. I see results), I will be buying another tube and writing another review

66. Tastes great!

    July 20th, 2009

    I got the vanilla ice cream flavor and it’s definitely one of the best tasting whey protein I’ve had. It doesn’t dissolve as well as I’d like in milk but it digests very well and I’ve had no gastro-intestinal complaints.

67. the best protein powder i have ever seen

    July 21st, 2009

    this is the best protein powder i have ever seen that’s currently out on the market…

68. Yes, Whey

    July 27th, 2009

    The Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey, Double Rich Chocolate is the best tasting and performing protein shake I have ever used.

69. Good Stuff!

    August 10th, 2009

    My husband is using this and he really enjoys it! It came on time and with no problems! Thanks~!

70. Delicious!

    August 12th, 2009

    This is exactly what I was looking for and tastes great. I usually mix 1 scoop of this and 1 scoop of ON Pro Complex Vanilla after a workout and tastes great.

71. Bad flavor

    August 29th, 2009

    Strawberry flavor ain’t a good choice.. Chocolate flavor is a way better flavor in the same product..

72. Excellent~

    August 30th, 2009

    I generally like to mix my protein drinks really thick, with very little milk, the only downside is with all the other products there is a lot of clumping and bits stuck to the side of the glass. Not so with this product, it mixes completely with not one clump! The taste is not overbearingly sweet either.

73. Good taste

    September 4th, 2009

    I really liked the strawberry taste. Would recommend it to others as well. Something diff from Usual Chocolate flavors

74. Good product

    September 4th, 2009

    It was a little expensive at the time of purchase and needs to be mixed well in milk to prevent clumps. Otherwise, its a good product.

75. better than food?

    September 5th, 2009

    no, it is not. but, great when you don’t feel like eating a full meal or when you are in a hurry. good snack. quick. goes down easy. provides nutrition for your muscles.

76. TASTE AWEFUL, DIDN'T GAIN A SINGLE POUND!

    September 7th, 2009

    I don’t know why people are rating this stuff with 5 stars for taste. The taste is just awful! It’s like drinking some badly made chocolate milk. It’s just watery even after cutting back the suggested amount of water to mix with. It does mix rather instantly but is that such a good thing??? The taste is just awful and I don’t know why some people are raving about it. I took this product 3 times a day for 4 weeks and didn’t gain a single pound. In fact I might have lost a couple of pounds. I was taking Muscle Milk before but thought I should change it up a bit and I read great reviews about this product here and thought I would try. I’m going back to MuscleMilk. I had better gains with it and it pretty much costs the same, maybe a few dollars more but not too much. It taste much better and seems more richer, not watery and chemically like this whey.

77. Smooth-tasting drink

    September 7th, 2009

    I mix two scoops of Double Rich Chocoloate with a glass of 2% milk and tastes great. Previously I had used Body Fortress which had a lot of little crystals in it (supposedly creatine?), but ON is much smoother. It’s not as heavy a chocolate taste as I was expecting, but it’s fine. I find myself craving it even when I haven’t worked out. I drink it after some dumbbell lifting and stomach work. So far it is “working out.”

78. Great product. But they sure are jacking up the prices.

    September 10th, 2009

    The is a great protein. However, their costs have gone up substantially over the last couple years, as with many other whey protein brands. After purchasing it, I actually found a site that sells it for $8 cheaper and lets you choose from all of their flavors.

79. Its protein powder

    September 10th, 2009

    I like the taste. I mix a half gallon of water at a time up with it. I use a Green Birdseed Funnel to fill a one gallon milk bottle. Shake and serve.

80. Best Protein For The Money

    September 10th, 2009

    This is an excellent bargain via Amazon, I highly recommending buying this through their subscription service to save more money and keep it coming regularly (which you can control as you wish, as well). I do agree with other reviewers that the artificial sweeteners are not good, but for the money there isn’t a better product. Cookies n’ Cream is what I always buy and it’s delicious, even mixed with only water.

81. Sucky taste, stinky smell

    September 11th, 2009

    It is disgusting, not even similar to chocolate taste. It has a strong stench similar to rotten eggs.What a waste.

82. delicious

    September 12th, 2009

    This is the best whey protein I have tasted and seen results with. Buy it, you will not regret it! It even tastes great with H2O! I use 2 scoops and about 12-16oz H2O, and then use a hand blender and it is awesome! I love it. I use it after every workout.

83. good quality, good taste

    September 15th, 2009

    This is no Burger King chocolate shake, but it tastes good, probably better than most proteins out there. It has worked for me so far. There are some cheaper ones out there but not by much. I’d rather pay the extra couple of bucks and stick to this one. It goes down easy on my stomach and I have seen the difference in my body.

84. Good as always!

    September 16th, 2009

    Optimum Nutrition has been #1 rated protein for years now. There is good reason for it. Its the highest quality of protein, the taste is absolutely amazing, and the price point is better then anything your going to find. it doesnt contain other supplements, just straight protein. It doesnt clump up when your mixing it, it doesnt have a horrible after taste either. Its just straight wholesome goodness. This stuff cuts recovery time from muscle exhaustion dramatically. Literally over nite muscle soreness evaporates into a figment of your imagination. Im not a rep for Optimum, just a proud user for quite a few years now. I will always buy Optimum, and nothing else!!

85. the best whey for the price.

    September 22nd, 2009

    If you’re like me you don’t like wasting money on useless supplements. I spent over $300 a month trying lots of Different products and after almost a year of testing this product, ISO-pure zero carb, and ON 100% casein are all I use. Yeah you could spend more but why? I use this for bulking along with maltodextrin. Now food sells big 12 lb bags as a complex carb.

86. Wake up call for people who believe that naturally flavored is healthier then artificially flavored!

    September 26th, 2009

    Excellent product. My personal trainer recommended this and I have never gone back to the Muscle Milk I had been consuming for over five years. The only flavor I have tried is double chocolate and it tastes great plus it dissolves easily and quickly. Muscle Milk tasted too sweet and thick for me regardless of how much powder I used and it doesn’t dissolve easily. NOTICE TO PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PRODUCT BEING ARTIFICIALLY FLAVORED: If you were to do just a little bit of research (on reputable websites) or speak to any Dietician you would understand that artificially flavored products are healthier, yes healthier then naturally flavored ones. They are both made in a lab by a “flavorist”. Artificial flavorings are simpler in composition and safer because only safety-tested components are utilized. There is too much information on this to list but I find it very funny how people put down a product because it is artificially flavored and then grab the one that is naturally flavored thinking its better for them…LOL!

87. My favorite, best taste

    September 26th, 2009

    Ive taken quite a few protein shakes and none have compared to the taste of chocolate flavored Gold Standard. Its not going to be ice cream but are you fricken kidding me, do you expect something that good for you to taste like an ice cream shake. I take it with skim milk and the taste is amazing. You can go listen to all the technical mumbo jumbo of the other reviews but give or take a gram or two most (quality) whey protein shakes are comparable…what seperates it is the taste and I absolutely love the taste of the Chocolate and mint chocolate Gold Standard…cant say for the other flavors.

88. Too sweet, hated the taste, just threw it.

    September 26th, 2009

    I hated this product. It was too sweet.. I don’t know if I got a bad batch, looking at all the other great reviews. I hated it so much, I threw it off after using it only once or twice. I like the taste of muscle milk, but I was looking for something cheaper and less fat and change.

89. Great!

    September 26th, 2009

    Great protein. Mixes easily and tastes pretty good, especially with milk. One note of caution: buy chocolate flavor. Friends warned me but i went for it and got cookies and cream. Its not terrible, but chocolate is just so much more tasteful and froths a lot less. Seriously, just get chocolate and you will have the best protein on the market.

90. Fantastic Product Overall

    October 3rd, 2009

    For the price, convenience, and flavor, this is the best whey product I have owned. The price of this product, ordered through Amazon(33.36 per month under my present subscription via subscribe and save), is the best I have found so far at 45 cents per scoop. In the arena of convenience, shipping the product directly to me assists me in not having to waste precious time going to some retail store – I simply go onto Amazon.com and click a few buttons if I run out before my next subscription ships another batch to me. As far as the flavor, this product does not taste like sugar-loaded candy. It is not meant to. For the low quantity of sweeteners and additives it actually has, it tastes fantastic. The flavor is somewhat like a hot chocolate mix, which is satisfying even when mixed and ingested with water alone. I recommend this product to anyone.

91. excellent, best mixer ever!

    October 4th, 2009

    I’ve bought several tubs of this protein and really enjoy it. I have NEVER had a protein powder that mixes this easily, which really makes a huge difference. The taste is awesome as well, maybe a tad on the sweet side, but that can be easily adjusted by adding a little more milk, water, etc. I usually mix a scoop with oatmeal every morning. A great buy in my opinion.

92. Awesome taste, well worth the money.

    October 4th, 2009

    This is by far the best flavor I’ve had as far as whey protein goes. I’ve tried strawberry banana, double rich chocolate (ON Whey Gold Standard) and strawberry milkshake Muscle Milk. ON Whey wins by far, the other stuff was complete junk compared to this. I will always have a tub of both strawberry banana and double rich chocolate sitting around – strawberry banana to mix with my oatmeal in the morning (DELICIOUS!) and double rich chocolate for the much needed protein after workouts. I’ll be sticking with Optimum Nutrition for a long time.

93. This stuff tastes amazing as far as protien goes

    October 8th, 2009

    The mint chocolate flavor smells like andies mints. When i mixed it up with milk the mint wasnt overpowering but it had a slight calming effect on my stomache overall the taste was amazing as far as whey protien shakes go. iv been seeing good results with this product Only down side as far as i can see is pretty smelly gas. but this was somewhat expected as with most protien shakes.

94. Tastiest Protein Out there

    October 9th, 2009

    Tried Double Rich Choclate. Had it post workouts. My muscles are so much better toned now

95. I like it.

    October 10th, 2009

    So I purchased this flavor because it was the cheapest out there and I can compromise flavor over price. I think we all know that optimum makes darn good protein powder. Probably the best for the price, in my opinion. SO yeah, i was surprised with the taste of Cookies n’ Cream. Tastes much better than I thought… definitely you can pick out the cookies and cream (there are actual little black particles in there for the cookies!)and I would venture to say there is even a hint of tootsie roll in there, haha.

96. Delicious Double Rich Choc. Whey recipe!

    October 11th, 2009

    Make sure to always keep ripe bananas around and whole milk. Add milk 1 banana and protein in blender and mix real well. Tastes like heaven, again make sure the bananas are ripe even over ripe because otherwise it tastes a little green. With this recipe its like drinking a shake, it tastes awesome. I don’t know about other proteins but if you want to try something else make sure to check out the label and do not buy without tasting it first.

97. Not to bad

    October 11th, 2009

    I have tried a number of the whey drinks. Some are better than others, and some are just plane hard to get down. This one is not to bad. If you use milk, it’s a little like the old “Instant Breakfast” drink.

98. SUPER JAKED MUTANT MEN

    October 14th, 2009

    OMG ALIENS ARE HERE WITH THIS HOT SEX LUBE, damn it really makes me have a corkscrew

99. whey protien

    October 16th, 2009

    Best tasting powdered protien on the market. Amazon had the lowest price with free super saving shipping.

100. Different flavors, different experience

     October 19th, 2009

     I really like this brand of protein supplement. It is the only brand I’ve tried, after reading many reviews on the web and Amazon. I wanted to write a note about the flavors, though, as I did not have a good experience with the Cookies N Cream flavor. I have tried the Double Rich Chocolate flavor for 2 months and decided to try a different flavor. The Cookies flavor tastes fine, however it is extremely salty! The nutrition label lists 1 serving contains 8% of the daily recommended sodium.. imagine eating 3 or more servings to meet your protein needs for a day – the salt content will quickly add up. Compare this to 3% sodium for the Chocolate flavor… much more pleasant and enjoyable drink. I am going back to the Chocolate ASAP, but will keep the Cookies flavor around and finish it slowly, perhaps 1 serving / day, due to HIGH sodium content.

101. What are the ingredients?

     October 19th, 2009

     Why no ingredient information here? Nor on the manufacturer’s website. Had to find the ingredients on a bodybuilding site (includes image of the nutritional label on the product). Ingredients include: Acesulfame potassium: According to Wiki, “As with aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, and other sweeteners that are sweeter than common sugars, there is concern over the safety of acesulfame potassium.” Aminogen: A brand name so esoteric that it’s not even on Wikipedia. Best I can find: “proprietary synthetic enzyme that helps breakdown protein during digestion, making it easier to absorb.” I don’t know…take whey protein for the amino acids and junk, but also ingest these two things? Do you end up better or worse?

102. The best out there period

     October 21st, 2009

     I dont usually leave reviews but I have to for this shake. The taste is wonderful, feels like you are drinking a shake, the results, excellent also. I feel it could be a little cheaper, but never the less, am a customer for life.

103. Excellent Product and Service

     October 22nd, 2009

     We are very pleased with the service from Amazon and the product we ordered Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% whey Vanilla Ice cream is wonderful. Very delicious and we drink it every day. We would highly recommend this product to anyone. We will order more when this product is gone Karen and John Baum

104. Doesn't Taste So Great

     October 24th, 2009

     The price was right, but I think it tastes terrible. It’s not chocolatey enough. All whey protein tastes pretty bad, but I’ve had some better than this for about the same price. On the plus side, I got it the day after I placed the order (Amzon)! Incredible!

105. Very effective

     October 24th, 2009

     I am a vegetarian and hence protein is hard to come by… I gotta eat huge quantities of chickpeas and the like in order to get the amount of protein that a small piece of chicken would give. Not only has Optimum Whey given me the much needed protein in just one scoop, combined with my weight training i have gained a healthy 12 pounds in a year and am looking in a much better shape now… Even though I dont weight train much anymore, as i attend some kick boxing classes regularly, I still maintain my daily intake of 2-3 scoops of this protein to keep me going… It is a good buy!

106. Excellent protein powder!

     October 27th, 2009

     Our family has used Optimum Gold Standard 100% Whey for years. Both my adult boys are athletes and use it every day. One of them is sensitive to milk products and this does not upset his system at all. My husband is a bodybuilder and feels that this is one of the best products of its kind on the market. We make smoothies, use it in coffee drinks, mix is on the go with water … whatever the use, it tastes great. We like vanilla as it mixes best with all types of frozen and fresh fruit.

107. Tastes Bitter, But still value for money.

     October 28th, 2009

     tastes bitter but there is no better product than this in market in terms of nutritional facts. GO FOR IT if taste doesnt bother you.

108. Flavor Review

     October 29th, 2009

     I recently purchased the variety pack from ON and wrote a little review about each flavor. Hopefully it can help you choose a flavor you will enjoy. This is a high quality whey protein and an essential for anyone who spends time with weights at the gym. With all the fast absorbing protein and BCAA’s your muscles will be able to recover faster and in turn you will see quicker gains. Hope this helps! ON Variety Pack Flavor Ratings Banana Cream 5/5 * Tastes like banana laffy taffy. Best banana I have had in a protein powder. Rich, sweet, creamy and delicious! Chocolate Malt 3/5 * Pretty good taste, but a little too rich and creamy. More of a malty than expected or wanted. Cookies and Cream 5/5 * Very rich and creamy! I have never had a good tasting whey protein in this flavor, but this one was actually really good. Good and creamy and will hit your sweet tooth cravings! No weird “cookie” chunks like you sometimes see with this flavor. Double Rich Chocolate 4/5 * Very rich chocolate flavor, just like the name! Tastes like creamy chocolate milk. French Vanilla 4/5 * Good and creamy vanilla flavor. It was very good, but I have had better tasting vanilla whey Orange Cream 2/5 * Not bad, but not good either. Taste like what you would think, sort of like a orange push pop. Not a flavor I would want to indulge in regularily. Root Beer Float 3/5 * Did not really taste like a root beer float to me. I can taste a little similarity, but it wasn’t close. Still rich and sweet, good taste but it would get old quickly. Tropical Punch 4/5 * Tastes exactly like Hawaiian Punch! Very good and incredibly refreshing after a hard workout. Caramel Toffee Fudge 3/5 * Interesting taste, not what I expected. I think it’s the after-taste that’s goofy. Good and creamy; caramel and toffee are the most noticeable flavors in it. Not something I would want to drink on a regular basis though. Chocolate Mint 1/5 * Smells like an Andes mint; tastes decent but would get old really fast. Delicious Strawberry 4/5 * Good and creamy. No metallic-like taste normally found in strawberry powders. Very good flavor, but not a long-term choice for me. Extreme Milk Chocolate 5/5 * Delicious, creamy milk chocolate taste. Similar to chocolate milk but not quite as thick, though you could make it thicker by using less liquid. Mocha Cappuccino 5/5 * Yum! Just a hint of coffee flavor to it, mostly a chocolate taste similar to hot cocoa. Not overwhelming, very good. Not too rich or creamy. Rocky Road 2/5 * Good taste, light chocolaty flavor. I would not want to drink this regularly. Has an interesting after-taste Strawberry Banana 4/5 * Very sweet. Not too thick or creamy, very good texture. Great taste, but a little too sweet for my liking, and I would tire of it quickly. Vanilla Ice Cream 5/5 * Tastes like the name! Creamy consistency and delicious taste.

109. Taste great

     November 1st, 2009

     I would consider myself a bodybuilder but wanted more of a meal replacement. This seems to work well for me and it taste delicious when mixed with soy milk. I like to have it after a workout to help me recover.

110. Great stuff

     November 3rd, 2009

     While I’m not any sort of expert on whey, I tried a couple other kinds before finding this one and it is definitely better. For one thing, when mixed with milk this really tastes good so that’s a huge plus, and it also mixes really well. The other whey powder I tried was much more clumpy after being mixed so it was a pleasant surprise to be able to drink this one without chunks of the powder stuff still floating around. Highly recommended!

111. great taste

     November 6th, 2009

     This product has a wonderful soft creamy texture and flavor. I like it so much better than similiar products I have purchased from local health food and retail stores.

112. The Best Protein Powder Out There

     November 15th, 2009

     Love it! It mixes well, tastes great, and is an easy way to add more protein into your diet. Even my kids love the taste of this stuff!

113. artificial flavor is so obvious

     November 16th, 2009

     Pricing is not bad for this protein powder but the taste is so obviously artificial. If you can’t endure bad taste, beware. I trust that the whey protein I’m getting is enough for my daily needs. Aside from the taste, I could not complain anymore.

114. Excellent product!!!! Great for late night protein snack.

     November 16th, 2009

     I have tried a LOT of protein powders, this one is by far the best tasting and mixes well with a spoon (others can be sticky and clumpy). The rocky road flavor is the best!!!! Chocolate Mint has to be the worst from this line but still tolerable.

115. tastes like chocolate milk

     November 20th, 2009

     I put like 1 and a half scoops in a glass of milk and it tastes good. This product is very helpful for my protein needs. I’m just a little worried about all that aspartame and artificial sweeteners. I’d gladly drink it without that stuff even if it tasted bad because if you have the discipline to work hard you should have it for eating healthy.

116. GREAT! Subscribe and get it for 35 dollars a month!

     November 26th, 2009

     I ordered this 2lb jar to see if I liked the taste enough to use Amazon’s subscription service for the 5lb product. In a little over a week of changing my dietary habits to multiple small meals (5-6, at least two or more are just a protein shake) spread out every 3 hours, while exercising daily, I have noticed myself being more energetic, less fatigued in the mornings and a loss of two pounds. Not bad for a weeks work. The best thing is, is that I’m not hungry most of the day. Keeping your meals spread out to a 3hr max keeps your metabolism working continuously and keeps you feeling satisfied all day. But about the product, Its mixability is superb, its taste is subtle enough to mix with water or milk without it being too sweet. In water it taste like Mexican Horchata, in Vanilla soy milk it taste like a true vanilla shake. Whey contains the best protein for your body, meaning your body absorbs it and utilizes it more so than other types of protein (ie. soy). For weight loss and muscle gain, this is a no brainer since about a third of your daily calories should come from protein.

117. O.N. Gold Standard Whey Protein

     November 26th, 2009

     I bought the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey, Double Rich Chocolate, 5.15-Pound Tub and found the value of this product very good compared to many other retailers. I used this product for about a month (3x daily), using it to supplement my regular diet and workouts throughout the week. I have gained 3-4 Ibs. in that time period. I was expecting better results with this product. Here is my disclaimer however, I weight trained (6x/week) during the entire course of taking this product but did not incorporate any cardio workouts to supplement my weight training. This may have had an impact on weight gained (cardio work is an important aspect of weight training due to the loss of fat that occurs from it). I was hoping to add more healthy weight than just 3-4 Ibs. But please take into consideration your body type, everyone is unique and each person must evaluate his/her make-up when it comes to weight training, cardio work, and weight gain/loss.

118. i dont like it

     November 28th, 2009

     i just dont like its teast.and i ordered another one by accidently.it shows i ordered no march,but i got it on august,so i cant return it,made me so sad!!

119. whey good!!!!

     November 29th, 2009

     outside of the fact that the mint flavor is a bit odd . ( Vitamin shops is better tasting!!!) its a great supplement that mixes easily… plus nothing beats shopping at Amazon !!!!!!

120. Delicious and creamy

     December 3rd, 2009

     I’m not usually a big fan of vanilla-flavored products, but I bought this in the vanilla flavor since I had several recipes on-hand that called for vanilla protein powder. I’ve bought ON’s chocolate and strawberry protein powders in the past and they are among my favorite flavors, and this vanilla one is no exception. It’s rich and creamy, and has a nice “ice cream” taste to it. It’s also available here on Amazon in two smaller containers (instead of the large bin like this one), which are much easier to store if you don’t have a lot of space. After doing a weight workout, try blending a scoop of this with some water or skim milk and some fruit (like a frozen banana and strawberries or blueberries), and you’ll have a nice post-workout treat. I’ve also been using it to make French toast in the mornings: mix about two servings of egg whites with a dab of skim milk, add in 3/4 scoop of protein powder, keep mixing, and then dip a healthy bread like Ezekial bread into the mixture and cook it up. Another yummy ice-cream-like treat for clean eaters (in a recipe I found in _Oxygen_ magazine) is to blend one scoop of this vanilla protein powder with three dates, three or four large Brazil nuts, 1-2 tsp of vanilla, and 1/2 cup of water in the blender. After it’s blended, add in about 8-10 ice cubes, and then freeze the mixture until it’s hard again. This makes a tasty substitute for ice cream. Enjoy!

121. Tasted good but contains Sucralose (artificial sweetner)

     December 4th, 2009

     Why use a controversial sweetener like Sucralose which has been linked to many side effects including cancer when there are alternative sweeteners like Erythritol which is natural and has much less serious side effects? I received a 5 pound tub of the banana cream whey protein product from ON today. I immediately poured a scoop into 8 ounces of water and mixed it for 20 seconds. There were a few small clumps of powder but not too bad. The flavor was okay but I noticed the aftertaste of an artificial sweetener which I hate. I had checked their website and read that NATURAL “100% WHEY GOLD STANDARD” has no sweetners. I accidentally ordered 100% WHEY GOLD STANDARD which has Sucralose. The names are very similar and it is easy to make a mistake. With the large number of people that do not like artificial sweeteners ON should make it a little easier to tell the difference. I’ll try a few more servings of the product but I may have to order the Natural. Good Luck.

122. Overrated

     December 4th, 2009

     Well, I bought this because I kept hearing about how it’s the best for the money. While I didn’t think it was completely horrible, it just wasn’t what I expected. The stuff mixes great, but tastes pretty rough, and that’s coming from a guy who can drink body fortress chocolate whey all day long. I give this product 3 stars because it mixes better than alot of proteins I’ve tried and hey maybe you’ll like it. Me, I’ll stick with my Myofusion. Stuff can’t be beat.

123. Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Choc, Vanilla

     December 4th, 2009

     First I’ll say that the Double Rich Chocolate is the best of the flavors Ive tried. Vanilla being the second and Strawberry was just painful, which was a real let down because I really like the others. Ive only tried these flavors so I can’t comment on the others (banana, cookies/cream etc). The DRChocolate or other chocolate flavors are great and the ones I get most often. I would purchase the Vanilla if I somehow couldnt get the Chocolate one but will never buy the Strawberry again. Ive tried alot of the powder proteins and the Gold Standard brand is the best one that I’ve had so far (with exception of the Strawberry flavor) If you’ve only tried brands of powdered protein from regular box stores and didnt like them you need to try this, there is no comparison. Nutrition stores carry this product but its around 10.00 cheaper to buy it online here. Ive not found a box store that has this brand at this price for 2lb.

124. Got 2 Love it!!

     December 8th, 2009

     Better get it from here then any other place. the prize is awesome. and this is the best it gets if ur in protein shakes. all you got to do is mix it with banana and it tastes awesome ohh and milk lol dont use water

125. Strawberry flavor not so good ....

     December 9th, 2009

     I’m just commenting about taste and stomach upset here. I’ve tried double chocolate and it’s really good with fat free milk. I like strawberry in general, but this Whey strawberry does NOT taste good even with milk. It also upsets my stomach unlike the double chocolate.

126. Very Good

     December 15th, 2009

     Ships fast. Nothing to complain about. Just good. Enough qty for one person, 3 times per week work out for 2 month.

127. Meh...

     December 17th, 2009

     After having Muscle Milk, this stuff tastes and smells horrible in comparison. I guess it’s because it doesn’t really have anything except for protein, whereas Muscle Milk has a bunch of other stuff in it too…

128. very good product

     December 21st, 2009

     whey is a very good source of protein but trust me whey choosing please think of the taste the vanilla ice creams only smells nice when you open up the container but tastes disgusting.

129. Review

     December 22nd, 2009

     Item arrived quickly. No problems. It tastes a little funny, but I was expecting that. Overall it is a good product.

130. god stuff

     December 23rd, 2009

     The container is like the size of a 55 gallon drum, hence the price. You get a lot of mix. Taste pretty good for a protein shake.

131. Its Protein

     December 29th, 2009

     Use milk instead of water. Tastes better. Doesn’t take much, maybe a cup or less per scoop!

132. When "Good Enough" is the best...

     January 4th, 2010

     I have been using Optimum Nutrition’s 100% Whey Protein (off and on, depending on my current need) for a number of years now. As others have noted here about protein powders, you need to consider what your real NEEDS are and buy accordingly. Let’s face it, unless you are a truly elite athlete (and the vast majority of us are not), you really only need a protein powder to supplement your protein intake while controlling your calorie intake. The best protein sources are properly prepared foods, but they often come with a cost… extra calories, the wrong kinds of fats, allergens (gluten, nuts, egg, etc.), etc. Hence, the need for supplemental protein powders. I have tried a great many powders. I have spent a great deal more than this product and somewhat less. However, even when I was body building (at a high level) I found one “truth”. It was almost impossible to tell the difference, in my body’s progress, between the various protein powders. Other factors were much more important (proper balance of exercise vs recuperation time, exercise programs, matching a training regimen to body type, etc.). That is not to say that there is no difference between protein powders, but that the difference is generally NOT in the way your body responds to the supplement in your exercise program. The difference that the vast majority of people WILL recognize are, IMO (in no particular order): 1. Taste – Taste is very important. If a product doesn’t taste good you won’t use it long-term. A good tasting product also offers a greater variety of preparation options (e.g. it will taste better with just plain water when you are really trying to control calories). Finally, if you insist on using other supplements that don’t taste good in preparation, you can mix them with this product for a better taste. Some protein powders I have tried tasted like poorly flavored, bitter, and acidic chalk. Maybe they were actually better than my experience with them showed, but the taste made me glad to find something (anything!) else. My personal favorite flavors in this brand are the Double Chocolate and Chocolate Mint. 2. Digestibility – Usually, this is noticeable in various forms of digestive upset. I cannot tell you how many other types of protein powders I have tried and had gas, indigestion, reflux, etc. and/or all as a result. This powder is, in my experience very digestible so long as you do not ingest an overly large amount at any one time. This is true for all forms of protein (protein needs HCL to be properly broken down into the amino acids your body actually uses), I have found this product to provide a noticeably lower level of digestive upset than other products I have tried. 3. Basic Metabolic Needs – Most protein powders on the market are WAY overkill when it comes to meeting the body’s training needs. People tend to think that some of the “better” products (those that tend to have high calorie counts relative to gram of protein) are good because they make them feel as though they are stronger/have more energy. What is likely really happening (YMMV), is that the product is partially compensating for their not getting enough rest. This is why many of these same people get injured frequently. I used to have a pamphlet written by Arnold Schwartzenegger when he had temporarily changed his name to Arnold Strong and in it he made a very interesting observation relating to the importance of proper rest relative to very hard workouts: “Don’t run if you can walk, don’t walk if you can stand, don’t stand if you can sit, don’t sit if you can lie down, don’t lie down if you can sleep.” While a good workout is important to physical development, so is PROPER rest! It will help you progress quicker AND help prevent injuries. 4. Value – How well does the protein powder meet the other three needs vs how much it costs. This is where this product “hits it out of the park”. IMO, it meets the first three listed needs in a more than “good enough” manner while still being very reasonably priced. A solid value! In these four categories, I have yet to find a comparable product. Buy this one and I strongly doubt you will be disappointed! For additional reading, an excellent, if old book to look at is Dr. Franco Columbu’s (a good friend of Arnold Schwartzeneger’s from the “Pumping Iron” days) book, The Bodybuilder’s Nutrition Book. While it is becoming a bit dated, the basics of the book lay out a good foundation for off-competition training. Also, while the title implies the book is only for body builder’s, any athlete who is striving to improve and understand their body’s nutritional needs will find this book helpful! Dr. Columbu is a doctor of chiropractic and has a PhD in Nutrition in addition to his years of experience as a top level competitive bodybuilder. Disclaimer: I have no financial interest or personal relationship in/with any of the products discussed in this review.

133. Very good protein powder.

     January 21st, 2010

     I am new to protein powders and so I ordered a few to try them out. This one is the best hands down. The flavor is good and it is low calorie and low fat. I usually mix a scoop of this, 2 cups of skim milk, and a frozen bannana in a blender for a delicious smoothy.

134. Optimum Nutrition Whey

     January 28th, 2010

     Great product, high quantity of protein per scoop/container. The taste isn’t there though, its very easy to stomach and not heavy at all, but it just doesnt taste like anything to me.

135. Taste review for the Strawberry flavor

     February 1st, 2010

     I first tried it by simply blending a scoop full with just water. I could not bare the taste of it. However, during the second time, instead of using water, I used V8 juice. It definitely made it more bearable and easy to drink. I still have to try blending it with milk and perhaps a banana, but this shouldn’t be too bad.

136. Good Source Of protein

     February 4th, 2010

     Hey this is a real good source of protein with 24 grams of it you cant go wrong It was recommended to me by a friend who’s really into the weight-lifting scene and he swears by it plus the chocolate flavor is the best I’ve tasted in a protein shake, but in order to get ripped I also had to shed the fat,I tried lots of thermogenics in the past but found out that this supplement called Muscle-Max works the best when combined.It Helped me to lose 38 pounds in 7 weeks time and got me shredded especially if your on a low carb diet. Of course I’m still kind of new to the fitness scene, but you can find a better explanation at their site at [...] Thanks Jameel Pugh

137. For Bodybuilders Everywhere

     February 6th, 2010

     Value: For the price offered on Amazon, Optimum Gold Standard is hands-down the best choice out there. Now I know that there are other choices which offer more perks, however, almost 80 servings for around 40 dollars makes the choice so much easier. I’ve tried other options, such as Optimum’s HydroWhey, however, I feel Gold Standard is a much better option for my money. Taste: The taste is delicious compared to other protein powders. Some may say that taste should not be a factor when deciding on a protein powder, however, I feel that a protein powder is of no use if you leave it sitting in your cupboard because the taste is unbearable. Gold Standard is delicious when mixed with simply mixed with water, and even better when mixed with a glass of skim milk. I’ve tried other proteins which were drinkable when mixed with milk, but were disgusting when mixed with water. This won’t be a problem here as Gold Standard tastes great with both. The only difference is that the texture with milk will be much thicker (which I prefer) but to each his own. Performance: Gold Standard definitely helps much more with recovery in comparison to other proteins I have taken before. This is mostly due to the quality ingredients ON puts in their products. Just like how you would put premium fuel in a performance vehicle, putting good protein into your body after a workout is essential. Be sure to take an isolate source within 30 minutes after a workout in order to maximize gains at the gym. Overall: Optimum Gold Standard Whey has become one of the most important supplements I take for bodybuilding. I used to only take one scoop of protein on workout days, however, the great value and delicious taste of Gold Standard has allowed me to take protein when I wake up in the morning and in the evening (even on rest days to aid recovery). For those who are serious about bodybuilding, I would recommend stacking Gold Standard with a time-release source of protein before going to bed. Any form of casein protein would be excellent for feeding your muscles overnight. To anyone looking for a new protein powder, or anyone curious about how to supplement their hard work at the gym, Optimum Gold Standard is hands-down the way to go.

138. Who knows if it works, but I'll keep buying it

     February 6th, 2010

     I’m now over half-way through my 2nd Double Rich Chocolate 5.15 pounder and in a month or so I’m sure I’ll be on my 3rd. Occasionally I try to research the best protein for a pre or post-workout snack, but my brain usually starts hurting and I have to lay down. The consensus at least seems to be that protein isolates are the most effective form of protein–and this stuff is mostly just that, with some whey concentrate and whey peptides blended in as well. I figure that covers the bases a bit. And it’s got those amino acids you’re also craving. Whatever. In the last 6 months I’ve added ~100 lbs to my squats/deadlifts and ~50 to my bench. I attribute this mostly to a new 80/20 workout program I’m trying, but obviously nutrition must be playing some part, and I am gulping down a protein smoothie daily. The same smoothie too. The exact same smoothie for weeks and weeks and weeks. I think that speaks for the taste. This has probably already been posted but my recipe is a banana, 1 protein scoop (sometimes 2), 1 tbsp of peanut butter, 2 cups of milk, and a splash of coffee (if its handy), blended up with a hand mixer. Every day. It was pretty delicious months ago and it’s only now starting to bore me, so I might move on to Vanilla for my next tub and do the standard strawberry, banana, milk & honey thing. In my opinion, chocolate protein and strawberries do not mix. Oh yeah, this stuff dissolves pretty completely which is nice, although my Kitchen Aid hand mixer is pretty mean. On the rare occasion I’m spoon-mixing, I get a little bit of the protein globs which feel weird swallowing and cement themselves to the side of your cup. The only real complaint I have about ordering this is trying to find an existing flavor/size combination. Those drop-down selectors include a bunch of imaginary options. Somebody knows what I’m talking about, right?

139. Great WHEY Protein

     February 7th, 2010

     I’m 61, and have been working out in the gym at McConnell AFB as part of a program that includes low fat dieting. Working out makes me want steak, and since I need to cut down on my cholesterol, steak is not good right now. Instead, I mix this powder with skim milk, and drink about two cups as soon as I finish working out. It gives me the protein I need, and helps me avoid steak, fish and other sources of protein than come with cholesterol. It is also the best tasting powder mix i have ever tried.

140. Its OK

     February 8th, 2010

     I generally get Muscle Milk Chocolate, and thought I’d try something different. Its a much bigger box, lots more servings in the box, but I can’t stand the taste..also the drink mix is very liquidy and leaves an almost aweful smell in the shaker sometime even after its washed. I used maybe 1/4th of it to make shakes, and now its just lying in storage and I’m back on muscle milk. Compared to 2-3 scoops in a serving when using muscle milk, this one is 1 scoop a serving. That makes the drink less thick. Just wanted to share what I thought about this product.

141. Optimum Nutrition Gold

     February 8th, 2010

     Amazon.com is the best place to buy Optimum Nutrition Gold. It saves you money in a BIG way. The only down side is the shipping wait but that is only a few days.

142. Best Powder I've encountered

     February 10th, 2010

     This is a good powder. It is tasty and it dissolves quite well in a shaker bottle. Stirring it in a glass it clumped up a little, not as bad as most, but I’ve never encountered a powder that mixes completely by stirring it. I usually put this in a blender with a banana, skim milk and ice cubes, tastes great.

143. Tastes Great

     February 10th, 2010

     Tastes great when mixed with milk, plenty of protein and low calories. Seems to be working. Only negative is as with most protein powders it likes to clump up and not mix in fully.

144. Optimum Nutrition Gold 100% Whey Protein

     February 13th, 2010

     Great source of protein, tastes fabulous! I take 8 ounces of soy milk and mix with protein powder for breakfast. Easy, simple, taste great and holds me till lunch!

145. Great source of protein

     February 13th, 2010

     I thought that the price was reasonable and it was a great source of protein. The flavor is iffy but it does the job. I will probably try some other brands too and might end up back at this one again.

146. Amazon takes forever to refund your money

     February 16th, 2010

     Erroneously ordered and then immediately canceled this item. Amazon has yet to refund my money! Be careful what you order.

147. NOT the best tasting

     February 16th, 2010

     I’ve tried all 17 Optimum flavors and they are NOT the best tasting. I like protein shakes that taste like a dessert with absolutely zero “protein shake” taste. The only flavor I could enjoy a little was “Mocha Cappuccino”, because the bitter coffee after taste masked the “protein shake” taste. If you’re picky and not liking Optimum either, I suggest trying Wellements Pro-Rate Vanilla Cream. It is the only protein shake I can truly enjoy. Don’t get the Wellements chocolate flavor, I only had one scoop of the entire 6lbs bag and had to give it away to my ex-…Yuck. My tongue works very well and yes, I am very picky.

148. Good Protein, got a bad flavor

     February 17th, 2010

     I just received the Cookies and Cream flavor for this product, and it was okay. I was expecting an Oreo type cookies and cream flavor, but this tastes like that fake cookie dough flavor. It is similar to the taste of a cookies and cream Powerbar, except this has too strong of that artificial cookie dough flavor, which is not a good thing. The smell is not what you’d expect for the flavor, it is quite overpowering with the artificial flavor with a hint of coffee as some other reviewers mentioned. I got this flavor because I wanted to try something different, and it won in a coin toss against chocolate. It is drinkable, but I would not recommend this flavor. It tastes a little better in milk, but I usually take my shakes with water. I would give it a 6/10. The price is right and the quality is there. I will be sticking with ON, but want to try Double Chocolate or Vanilla Chai next. tl;dr Cookies and Cream flavor okay. 6/10. Would not recommend this flavor.

149. Tastes Great. Mixes smoothly

     February 18th, 2010

     My amazon shipment arrived recently and I am happy with the purchase. The vanilla ice-cream flavor tastes good and the powder mixes out very well. No lumps or cakes while drinking or in the bottom of glass. Cant speak to effect on my body yet as its early days still but happy with the buy. Beware though the 5lb bottle is humongous! It’s 11 inches tall and 8 inches wide, takes up the space of a whole appliance on my counter! No regrets still.

150. Best Taste - Best Protein to Carb Ratio

     February 22nd, 2010

     I have tried a lot of protein powders, but this is my favorite by far. The Vanilla Ice Cream flavor is good on it’s own in milk or soy milk. That said, I have loved it mixed into lowfat pudding, greek yogurt, frozen fruit & milk smoothies, and I have even mixed it in with my coffee creamer & added it to decaf coffee if I need to jump start my protein total for the day. It is never gritty or chalky – it just disappears into whatever you mix it into. I’ve even successfully stirred it into homemade lo carb dark chocolate gelato (just before freezing it). I’ve never had a more versatile form of protein, and before this I only used soy protein since it had a better taste/texture than whey.

151. Great tasting vanilla!

     February 24th, 2010

     I buy Vanilla ice cream because it has no sugar or sucralose. Unless you get ON’s “Natural” line which has sugar the other flavors are sweetened with sucralose. It has a very natural vanilla flavor. The best of all the proteins I have tried.

152. Using for a Year, But Recently Very Disgusting

     February 26th, 2010

     I am fully willing to accept that this might have been a 1-off experience, but I wanted to leave it here for anyone else that maybe had the same experience. I’ve been using ON’s Whey Vanilla Protein for over a year, specifically the older 2 lbs container that Amazon no longer carried when I went to order it. Instead I got this 5 lbs container. In the past my experience with ON’s Whey Protein was that it tasted very “gentle” — it was an easy protein powder to mix into anything and not taste. I mixed it with milk or water by itself and would take it before and after a workout. After I got the new 5 lbs tub, I did my same routine and took my shake before my workout. I was struck with how chalky and noticeable the taste was. The taste of the new protein was much more pronounced. It’s not a pungent taste, just a nasty sort of chalky taste. I went and worked out and came home and had my 2nd shake that was even more pronounced. I couldn’t get that taste off my palette for about a day and ended up tossing the entire tub of protein. I don’t know if anyone else has noticed the more pronounced taste, but I’ve moved to another protein powder just because I personally cannot stand it. If you are using this and continue to notice no taste and everything is fine, it’s very possible I just got a bad/unmixed batch of protein or something. Other than that, it’s hard to beat the price of the ON Protein, which is what has always attracted me to it on Amazon.

153. Great tasting, excellent pregnancy supplement

     February 28th, 2010

     Having tried many different protein shakes and bars, this one is by far the best tasting. It’s not dessert or anything, but if you make it with at least half of the liquid as whole milk it’s really great for a protein shake. It’s not bad made with just water either. With my last pregnancy my OB suggested that I get at least 75g of protein a day (which is quite a bit if you look at nutrition info). I brought in the nutrition label for this product and she approved it as safe for me to have once or twice a day while pregnant. I’d suggest asking your own OB before starting to drink them all the time, but they’re the best option in my opinion.

154. Better than the costco stuff

     March 3rd, 2010

     Got a good deal on it, its popular, tastes good, and was shipped and arrived on time. Thanks!

155. Whey protein excellent product

     March 3rd, 2010

     I have been using this for about 3 months now and still have not got tired of the flavor. It helps fill the gap for me when I am not getting enough protein due to being too busy to eat right sometimes.

156. 100% WHEY PROTEIN oPTIMUM NUTRITION THE BEST PROTEIN

     March 4th, 2010

     I GAINED 15 KG , IN A 2 MOUNTHS. MAKING EXERCISE AND MIXING WITH CREATIN AND GLUTAMINE. EXCELENT. AND AT BEST PRICE

157. OMG

     March 7th, 2010

     Doesn’t taste as good as Syntha 6, but it is way better in all other aspects. Tastes great, I’ve gained a ton of muscle, gotten a lot more girls, and lost all my hair. Great product, I’d recommend it to anyone who is already bald.

158. Fulfills workout needs

     March 8th, 2010

     I have been using ON for at least 4 months now everytime after I work out. The flavor never gets old, and I mix it with water! It supplies 24 g of protein everytime. That is equivalent to a burger without all the carbs and fat. Recovery rate is fast and I feel stronger everytime I go back to the gym.