3 Best Protein Powders for Recovery from Hard Workouts

I’ve been an endurance athlete for 20 years so I’ve tasted my fair share of recovery protein powders, and Momentous Recovery is one of my all-time favorites. So many recovery drinks taste synthetic or are simply hard to get down (especially after strenuous activity), whereas Momentous Recovery tastes great, is highly palatable, and I know it’s giving my body exactly what it needs after a tough workout.

I typically use it after a strength session in the gym or after a long or hard run, and aim to drink it within 20 minutes of finishing the workout to truly maximize the benefits.

I’m not alone in being a fan of Recovery: World Tour cyclist and Ironman champion Cameron Wurf swears by it after big training days and says it’s something he “looks forward to every day.” (His go-to recovery shake recipe includes a scoop of chocolate flavor Momentous Recovery, frozen bananas, ice, Nutella, and rice milk).

One of the things I love about Momentous Recovery is that you know you’re getting a premium product that’s been double third-party tested (it has Informed Sport and NSF Certified for Sport certifications). Knowing it is free from contaminants and 100% safe for sport is something that obviously gives elite athletes—and anyone using it—total peace of mind.

It includes grass-fed whey protein isolate sourced from Irish dairy cows raised in a sustainable environment. It also includes ProHydrolase, an enzyme blend backed by clinical data that has been shown to improve protein absorption and limit GI distress. The addition of essential amino acids and electrolytes like L-Carnitine, L-Glutamine, and magnesium is also notable.

Recovery is typically for anyone looking to consume more carbohydrates post-exercise and offers a 2:1 ratio of protein to carbs. While most other recovery protein products on the market overload you with sugar, 10 grams of carbs is enough to raise blood sugar and help improve recovery.

The only drawback to this product is price. With high-quality, premium products comes a higher price tag, and at $55 a tub this might not be the best choice for someone on a tighter budget. That said, the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly what’s in the product can be hard to put a price on.

Momentous Recovery is a must-have product for anyone serious about their physical fitness, recovery, health, and wellness—and when you’ve got top endurance athletes like Cameron Wurf looking forward to it at the end of their training days you know you’re onto something special.

You can learn more about the differences between Momentous Recovery and Momentous Grass-Fed Whey Protein in this article.

2. Orgain Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder 

Key Things to Know About This Product

• Protein Source: Grass-Fed Whey Protein Concentrate

• Third-Party Tested: No

• Artificial Sweeteners: No

• Gluten Free : Yes

• Athlete-Relevant Certifications: None

• Free shipping: Yes (orders over $75)

• Subscription: Yes - 15% off  

  
  
  

Product Details:

• Price: $39.99

• Net Weight: 1.82 lbs

• Number of Servings: 20

• Serving Size: 2 scoops (41 grams)

• Flavors: Two - Creamy Chocolate Fudge, Vanilla Bean

• Protein per serving: 21g

• Calories per serving: 140

Pros:

• Good value

• 2:1 protein to carb ratio

Cons:

• Taste

• Doesn’t mix easily

If you’re looking for a good value high protein and carbohydrate recovery powder, Orgain’s Grass-Fed Whey Protein is a strong contender. At $40 for 20 servings it’s hard to find a better value grass-fed protein powder on the market.

With 21g of whey protein sourced from New Zealand cows plus 11g of carbs per serving, it offers a similar formula to Momentous. It also has a complete amino acid profile and 5g BCAAs (branch chain amino acids), making it a great post-workout choice as well as an easy way to increase your daily protein intake.

I found it hard to mix without it clumping and the chocolate fudge flavor tastes a little too synthetic for me with a slightly chalky texture. It’s also not third-party tested, which could be problematic for athletes. It does feature 4g of prebiotic and 2g of fiber which can help digestion. While it can’t be beaten on price, it’s not the greatest tasting chocolate recovery protein supplement.

 3. Gnarly Whey Protein  

Key Things to Know About This Product

• Protein Source: Grass-Fed Whey Concentrate

• Third-Party Tested: Yes

• Artificial Sweeteners: No

• Gluten Free: Yes

• Athlete-Relevant Certifications: NSF Certified for Sport

• Free shipping: Yes (on orders $75+)

• Subscription: Yes - subscribe and save 10%

Product Details:

• Price: $62.95

• Net Weight: 2 lbs

• Number of Servings: 20

• Serving Size: 2 scoops (45 grams)

• Flavors: Two - Chocolate, Vanilla

• Protein per serving: 25g

• Calories per serving: 160

Pros:

• Tastes great

• Mixes well and makes great smoothies

• 25g protein per serving

• NSF Certified for Sport certification

Cons:

• Cost

Gnarly’s Whey Protein is a great option for any serious athlete or fitness enthusiast. Packing 25g of protein per serving—plus 12g of carbs—it’s the perfect way to kickstart recovery from strenuous exercise.

Like Momentous Recovery, it is also NSF Certified for Sport so is guaranteed free from contaminants and banned substances. Both flavors—chocolate and vanilla—taste great and mix very easily in water or milk to form the base of any recovery smoothie or shake.

I was particularly impressed to see it contains prebiotics and probiotics to help support digestion, improve gut health, and maximize protein assimilation. It’s certainly an easy recovery protein powder to get down and sits well in the gut.

The whey protein is sourced from grass-fed, antibiotic-free cows with no artificial sweeteners or preservatives.

Like Momentous, it is also a pricier option at $63 for a two-pound canister, so those on a tighter budget might prefer more wallet-friendly protein powders, but this is certainly a premium recovery product.