Top Pick
- No artificial ingredients.
- Unflavored.
- Gluten and soy-free.
Gaining mass is a tough old business, and it can take several months, or even years, to progress to where you want to be. Considering the high protein and calorie diet needed to gain muscle weight in the gym, it can often be an intense regime to follow. So is there an effective way to gain muscle quicker if you are a hardgainer?
This is where we come in.
In this article, we’ll explain the ins and outs of weight gaining supplements, including the benefits and what to look for in the best ones. Then, we’ll explore the five best weight gainers on the market, for you to see which one will suit your needs best.
The 5 Best Weight Gainers for hardgainers
Now, for the bit you’ve all been waiting for—our top five of the best weight gainers for your perusal.
1. NAKED MASS by Naked Nutrition
The Naked Mass weight gainer is our first on the list for the best weight gainers and is an unflavored powdered supplement. With just three simple ingredients, your body will be filled to the brim with protein, complex carbohydrates, calories, and BCAAs for maximum weight gain.
What we particularly like about this product is the use of nutritional protein supplements—not just any old, poor-quality protein. For example, grass-fed whey protein and casein are some of the best to increase protein synthesis to optimum levels. This means your muscles will rejuvenate a lot more rapidly.
Another great element of this Naked Nutrition weight gainer is the ethos of reducing the steps to get the product from the farm to you. This means it doesn’t just fuel you, but it also prevents unnecessary harm to the environment via air and land miles.
- Serving Facts
- Protein: 50 grams (100 percent of daily value).
- Carbohydrates: 252 grams (84 percent of daily value).
- Sugar: 5 grams.
- BCAAs: 11.5 grams.
- Calories: 1250.
- Pros
- No artificial ingredients, like sweeteners and GMOs.
- Made using natural and pure ingredients.
- Unflavored, so it can be mixed with anything without affecting the taste.
- Three simple ingredients.
- Trusted by sports brands.
- Gluten and soy free.
- Can follow the Naked Mass blog for recipes.
- Cons
- Four scoops per serving size, which is a lot to pack into something like a smoothie.
- Ratio of BCAAs isn’t specified, so it’s unsure whether they’ll be effective.
2. OPTIMUM NUTRITION Pro Gainer by Optimum Nutrition
Our next option comes in an array of different flavors, including banana, chocolate, and fruit punch. This means it can be mixed into smoothies, or just with water, for a tasty pick-me-up—ideal for between meals or post-workout.
The Optimum Nutrition Pro Gainer is made using an array of protein types, including numerous whey proteins. But it’s not just filled with protein and carbs for weight gain, it’s also jam-packed with nutritional vitamins and minerals. This includes vitamins A to E, magnesium, zinc, and copper, which help to keep the inner workings of your body ticking away healthily.
- Serving Facts
- Protein: 60 grams (120 percent of daily value).
- Carbohydrates: 85 grams (31 percent of daily value).
- Sugar: 7 grams.
- Calories: 650.
- Pros
- 15 tasty flavors.
- Easy mixing.
- Filled with nutritional supplements.
- Only requires one heaped scoop per serving.
- Cons
- Made using artificial flavorings.
- No BCAAs included.
- Fewer carbs and calories in this option.
3. BSN TRUE-MASS Weight Gainer by BSN
The BSN True-Mass weight gainer is a great choice, considering the BCAAs and 20 grams of amino acids. Couple this with a matrix of proteins, including nutritional types like whey and caseinate, and you’ve got a recipe for protein synthesis and, therefore, muscle gain.
Plus, the MCTs, or medium chain triglycerides, help to not only boost your nutritional gains but also to boost your exercise endurance to lift those heavier weights.
With fantastic flavors, like chocolate milkshake and cookies & cream, you’ll feel as though you’re getting a sweet treat every time you train. This means you’ll be less likely to snack on sugary foods, so your gains should come thick and fast.
- Serving Facts
- Protein: 46 grams (92 percent of daily value).
- Carbohydrates: 87 grams (32 percent of daily value).
- Sugar: 14 grams.
- BCAAs: 10 grams.
- Calories: 700.
- Pros
- Includes BCAAs.
- Comes in some very sweet, tasty flavors.
- Includes MCTs.
- Provides energy for the gym.
- Cons
- High levels of sugar.
- BCAA ratio uncertain.
4. Dymatize Super Mass Gainer by Dymatize
The Dymatize Super Mass gainer contains really high levels of protein, carbs, and calories, meaning it’s geared more toward bodybuilders. Also, taking into account the extremely high levels of BCAAs per serving, this is seconded.
Despite the really high levels of sugar, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue for consumers of Dymatize, considering a bodybuilder’s workout regime. It should provide you with plenty of energy to get you through.
- Serving Facts
- Protein: 52 grams (104 percent of daily value).
- Carbohydrates: 246 grams (82 percent of daily value).
- Sugar: 24 grams.
- BCAAs: 10.9 grams.
- Calories: 1280.
- Pros
- Comes in some delicious flavors.
- Contains BCAAs.
- Really high levels of ingredients.
- Promotes an intense workout.
- Cons
- Very high levels of sugar.
- No BCAA ratio stated.
5. OPTIMUM NUTRITION Serious Mass Weight Gainer by Optimum Nutrition
Here we have another Optimum Nutrition weight gainer, which also contains very high levels of calories, carbs, and protein to see your gains escalate. Coupled with the vitamins and minerals in this weight gaining powder, this is a fantastic option for boosting your energy in the gym.
This is another option which includes a matrix of proteins, like whey and caseinate, so you should see results quicker. Simply mix any flavor of the Serious Mass weight gainer with fruit, nuts, and milk to create a delicious smoothie to help you consume more calories after a workout. This way, you can bodybuild your way to the top of the scales.
- Serving Facts
- Protein: 50 grams (100 percent of daily value).
- Carbohydrates: 252 grams (84 percent of daily value).
- Sugar: 20 grams.
- Calories: 1250.
- Pros
- Contains lots of vitamins.
- Comes in some great flavors.
- Ideal for taking between meals, post workout, or before bed.
- Should reduce sugar cravings.
- Packed with protein.
- Cons
- Quantities of BCAAs uncertain.
- High amounts of sugar.
Informational guide on Weight Gainers
The Benefits of Weight Gainers for hardgainers
The best weight gainers provide you with ingredients to fuel your workout, to:
- Help boost your energy in the gym.
- Implement the repair and growth of your muscles to gain muscle weight.
- Improve your overall body’s health.
Before we delve into more details, we’d like to make it clear that if you are skinny or a hardgainer and want to build muscle, you can’t simply rely on a weight gainer. Instead, you have to couple this with a vigorous workout routine, mirroring that of a bodybuilder on top of consuming calorie-dense foods.
One reason for this is that if you consume high levels of protein without needing it to repair your muscles, this can actually convert to sugar, and then fat.
What to Look for in the Best Weight Gainers
Now, before we tell you some of the best weight gainers on the market, it’s important you know what to look out for when you’re on the hunt.
High Levels of Protein
When you exercise intensely, your muscles become damaged and the body needs to repair these muscles so they can grow. Protein is responsible for this growth and repair so, especially after the toughest workouts, this is an important factor in the best weight gainers.
BCAAs
BCAAs, or branched chain amino acids, are quite commonly found in the best weight gainers. Made up of three amino acid chains—leucine, isoleucine, and valine—they help the process of protein synthesis.
What’s this, you ask?
Well, when you consume amino acid chains, these are broken down and then pieced back together into the necessary proteins for repairing your damaged muscles. So that’s why BCAAs are so important in the best weight gainers.
Low Levels of Simple Carbohydrates
As I’m sure you’re aware, simple carbohydrates, like sugar, are commonly known to cause fatty weight gain. That said, if you consume more complex carbohydrates, like legumes and vegetables, this is a much better way to provide energy and reduce heart problems. Therefore, the best weight gainers shouldn’t contain a lot of sugar.
Calorie Dense
As you’re no doubt aware, in order to gain weight your body requires a calorie surplus. So it’s only natural that we’d like to see a high level of calories in your diet for muscle gain.
Conclusion
We’ve certainly done the rounds here when it comes to the best weight gainers for hardgainers. Every one of the above has some really positive elements. That said, we have to pick one as our favorite, and our choice is the NAKED MASS by Naked Nutrition.
For starters, this one includes high levels of protein, carbs, and calories, which can really help you to gain weight by promoting the repair and growth of your muscles. What’s more, this is furthered by the inclusion of BCAAs which, as we’ve already seen, are also known for these properties.
What we really like, though, is the use of natural ingredients, and no GMOs or artificial products. This includes protein like whey and casein, which are not only natural but also the best at helping along protein synthesis.
Our only issue with the Naked Nutrition weight gainer is the use of four scoops per serving. That said, if you’re looking for an all natural product that does the trick, this one’s your guy.
