With a wealth of flavors to choose from, I reckon Protein Works’ Whey Protein 80 shake is a tasty way to get your protein fix.
Men’s Fitness verdict
Protein Works’ shake has the fewest calories of any of the whey protein powders on test. It delivers 20g protein per 25g serving and is silky smooth once mixed. Plenty of flavors and sizes too.- Rich flavour
- Large option of pack sizes
- Packaging is not 100% recyclable
- May be too sweet for some
Protein Works’ shake has an 80% protein concentrate content – hence the name. It delivers a substantial 20g of protein per 25g serving. That’s enough to promote muscle protein synthesis after a workout, although some people may want more in a serving. I was pleased to see the shake also contains a good amount of branch chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine, making it one of the best protein powders.
Why you can trust Men’s Fitness
Men’s Fitness has had its finger on the pulse of the healthy lifestyle scene since 2001. That means we’ve got more than two decades of experience in the industry and have built up connections with top professionals. As such, we only offer insight and advice from those who know best – and who have the credentials to prove it. In this case, we’ve teamed up with pro nutritionist Rob Hobson, who conducted the testing, and performance coach Matt Lovell, for some insight into key ingredients. Find out more about how we test.
Protein Works Whey Protein 80 in use
Each serving provides 99 calories when mixed with water. It’s low in fat and sugar and is sweetened with sucralose. I found the shake to be a little sweet, but that’s down to personal preference, and you can always dilute with a little more milk or water.
The ingredient list in this shake is pretty small, so there’s nothing unnecessary in here. I really liked the smooth texture, but testing the chocolate silk version I almost found it a little too silky smooth – again that might come down to personal preference. It mixes well with water or milk, so it’s a good option for those looking for something to help build lean muscle mass without the extra energy.
Packaging and size options
The packaging is not 100% recyclable, but the brand says it’s working on this. Protein Works’ Whey Protein 80 is only available online but delivery is quick and there are four size options to chose from – 500g, 1kg, 2kg and 4kg.
If you’re looking for a protein shake that’s smooth and easy to drink and goes easy on the carbs (with just 2.1g per serving), the Whey Protein 80 is a good option. There are 14 flavours to chose from too, ranging from cookies ‘n’ cream and millionaire’s shortbread to strawberry with white chocolate and butterscotch ripple.
| Protein per serving | 20g |
| Cost per serving | £1.25 |
| Sizes | 500g / 1kg / 2kg / 4kg |
| Flavors | 14 flavours available |
How we test the best protein powders
Registered nutritionist (AFN) and sports nutritionist (SENr) Rob Hobson only tested chocolate-flavoured powders to provide consistency in his reviews. He judged them on their taste, texture, solubility and nutritional effectiveness, as well as cost per serving and availability. He also took into account the variety of flavours and any recyclable packaging.
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