Originally posted by: Special K
Optimum Nutrition is a good brand. Mixibility and taste are both great. The cheapest places to buy are:
DPS Nutrition
1fast400
If you want an even better deal and don't mind buying 25 lbs. of one flavor at a time, go here:
All the Whey
Be warned though, neither the taste nor the mixibility are as good as ON.
Actually the premium choclate flavoring is amazing! (all the whey flavoring).
Also you have to keep in mind the difference between WPI WPC and Casein protein. I am assuiming that they OP wants regular whey, so ON would be the best as it has the most WPI (whey protein isolate) per scoop for the money, but if $$ is not an issue than Synthrax (while a shady company) Nectar is by far the best.
All the cheap proteins out there do work, but they contain high WPC (WP concentrate) counts which can cause bloating, diahrea, and gas, especially with lactose intolerant people, and it isn't abosrbed as well as WPI.
Casein protein gels in your stomach (found in either eggs or things like cottage cheese or milk (beta or alpha casein), and Muscle Milk is almost all casein protein which should not be used post workout as your body needs a nice quick supply, in which a hydrolized WPI (ON Whey etc) to fit into the anabolic window. Casein is better for before bed so your body gets a steady supply of protein while you are asleep and cannot eat and thus keeps you out of a catabolic state.
Also protein bars are crap for the most part and powder is much better for a supplement source, keyword supplement, as your diet still needs to contain lots of protein.
So basically another vote for ON Whey, choclate, strawberry, and rocky road are great, avoid vanillia and java like the plague. For Synthrax Nectar, fuzzy navel is the best protein powder I have ever had (excluding things like MM and Sytha-6).
DPSnutrition has extremely fast shipping, great prices, and great customer service, I always order from them whenever they have my whole order in stock. Discount anabolics is good also.