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Naked Whey Review: Is This Minimalist Protein Powder Worth It?

7.98
Nakey whey protein close up of two flavors with full scoops

Breakdown

Testing Criteria
Taste 6.25 Mixability 8 Digestibility 9 Protein Density 7 Cost 7.5 Nutritional Value 9.5 Third Party Testing 10 Brand Reputation 9.5

Pros

  • Affordable at $1.25 per serving
  • No artificial sweeteners or additives.
  • Only 3 ingredients: whey protein concentrate, coconut sugar, and vanilla flavor.
  • Cold processed to preserve amino acids, omega-3s, and immunoglobulins.

Considerations

  • There can be clumps and foam when mixing, depending on how much effort you put in
  • Contains milk and coconut, which may not be suitable for those with lactose intolerance or tree nut allergies.

Our Verdict

Naked Whey Protein is a high-quality, no-frills protein powder that delivers on its promise of simplicity and purity. With only three ingredients and 25 grams of protein per serving, it’s a solid choice if you’re seeking a clean, effective supplement.

However, it may not be the best option for everyone. If you’re lactose intolerant or have a nut allergy, it’s not a good fit.

Overall, Naked Whey is a reliable and affordable option if you prioritize quality and transparency in your supplements. Just be prepared to put in a little extra effort when mixing to achieve a smooth consistency.

Protein Content 25 Calories 150 Carbs 8 Protein Density 67% Sugar 5 Fat 2 Sodium 75 Sweeteners Organic Coconut Sugar Allergens Milk, Tree Nuts
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Prefer to watch than read? Check out our full review on YouTube:

Hi, I’m Corey 👋🏽

As an ex-NFL/CFL athlete and current personal trainer, I’ve put countless supplements to the test. I have a degree in Sports Administration and a passion for the science behind sports nutrition.

Plus, I’m backed by a wonderful team of doctors, dietitians, and athletes.

You can read more about our testing process here.

Corey Lewis holding Naked Whey protein in the kitchen

Prepping for the taste test!

Naked Whey Protein Overview:

Ingredients Per Serving
Protein 25g
Calories 150
Carbs 8g
Sugar 5g
Fat 2g
Sodium 75mg
Sweetener Used Organic Coconut Sugar
Number of Flavors 6
% of Calories from Protein 67%
Cost* $0.05 per gram of protein; $1.25 per serving

*Cost and ingredients may vary depending on the tub size, retailer, and flavor.

What Makes Naked Whey Different?

Naked Whey stands out from other protein powders by prioritizing transparency and simplicity. Founded in 2014 by former All-American athlete Stephen Zieminski, Naked Nutrition aims to provide supplements with minimal, high-quality ingredients.

Naked Whey is sourced from grass-fed cows in Northern California and Idaho, ensuring a premium product. The company focuses on using as few ingredients as possible, with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.

By offering a clean, simple product, Naked Nutrition empowers you to control your nutrition and tailor it to your specific health and fitness goals. With a commitment to transparency and quality, Naked Whey is a protein powder you can trust.

Putting Naked Whey Protein to the Test:

As usual, we tested 8 factors in total. To learn more about our testing process, see here.

Criteria Naked Whey Average
Taste 6.25 7.35
Mixability 8 7.65
Digestibility 9 8.21
Density 7 7
Cost 7.5 6.71
Nutritional Value 9.5 7.47
Third Party Testing 10 5
Reputation 9.5 7.18

*Note: Averages are calculated using our proprietary database of 350+ protein powders.

Nakey whey protein close up of two flavors with full scoops

Looking forward to trying these out!

Taste Test (6.25)

I tried both the Chocolate and Vanilla flavors of Naked Whey. Overall, the Vanilla flavor took the W scoring a 6.5 out of 10, with the Chocolate flavor scoring a 6 out of 10.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting the taste of Naked Whey to blow me away. It’s hard to get a great tasting protein with only three ingredients.

A lot of the best tasting protein powders out there—like Boba Tea, Ghost Whey, Isopure, and Dymatize ISO 100—have a lot more ingredients and therefore more taste levers to pull. Put another way: imagine the Oakland A’s trying to compete with the Yankees with the 1/5th of the salary cap. It’s not easy!

Overall, despite a decent taste score, Naked Whey isn’t a protein you buy for the taste. It’s one you buy for its clean, simple, and all natural ingredients.

Corey drinking Naked Whey vanilla flavor

Taste testing the vanilla flavor

Corey drinking Naked Whey chocolate flavor

Taste testing the chocolate flavor

Nutritional Value (9.5)

I gave it a solid 9.5 out of 10. Each serving packs 25 grams of high-quality protein from grass-fed cows, and it’s cold-processed to keep all the good stuff like amino acids, omega-3s, and immunoglobulins intact.

Now, when you compare Naked Whey to something like Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein, with 24 grams of protein per serving, Naked Whey comes out on top with its commitment to minimal processing. But keep in mind, Naked Whey is a concentrate, not an isolate like Isopure, so it has more lactose and fat.

Naked Nutrition’s focus on quality, simple ingredients and high protein content makes it a top pick for nutrition. Just remember, if you’re sensitive to lactose or watching your calories like a hawk, you may want to go with an isolate instead.

Naked whey vanilla ingredients label

Close up of the ingredients label (vanilla)

Naked whey chocolate ingredients label

Close up of the ingredients label (chocolate)

Cost (7.5)

As for cost, I gave Naked Whey a 7.5 out of 10. At around $1.25 per serving, it’s not the cheapest option out there, but it’s also not going to break the bank.

When you compare it to something like Six Star Whey Protein, which comes in at about $1.56 per serving, or Dymatize ISO100 at a mere $0.60 per serving, Naked Whey falls somewhere in the middle. But here’s the thing – you’re paying for quality, simple ingredients, and a brand that values transparency.

If you’re looking for a pure, minimally processed protein at an affordable price, and don’t care much about taste, Naked is a good choice. But if you’re big on taste and protein density, there are better options out there.

Third Party Testing (10)

Re third-party testing, it’s simple – either a protein powder is third-party tested, or it isn’t. Naked Whey nails it in this category, earning a perfect 10 out of 10.

The folks at Informed Choice have given Naked Whey their seal of approval, which means it’s been tested for any sketchy stuff like banned substances. This is a big deal, especially if you’re an athlete or just someone who cares about what they’re putting in their body.

At the end of the day, third-party testing is all about trust and transparency. And with Naked Whey, you can trust that you’re getting a clean, quality product without any nasty surprises. That’s the kind of peace of mind that’s worth its weight in gold, if you ask me.

Naked Nutrition Whey Protein VS The Market

Let’s see how Naked Whey compares to other proteins on the market in terms of price:

Product Per serving Per gram of protein Amazon link
Flavcity $3.00 $0.12 Click here
Isopure (Flavored) $2.13 $0.09 Click here
Body Fortress $2.10 $0.08 Click here
Boba Tea $1.92 $0.08 Click here
Muscle Milk Genuine $1.91 $0.06 Click here
SEEQ $1.80 $0.08 Click here
Ghost $1.73 $0.08 Click here
Ryse $1.67 $0.07 Click here
Ascent $1.67 $0.07 Click here
Naked Whey $1.25 $0.05 Click here

*You can read full reviews of each product by clicking on the product name.

**Prices will vary depending on tub size, time of purchase, and place of purchase.

As you can see, Naked Whey is more affordable than many whey proteins on the market. But this isn’t a comprehensive list.

There are certainly cheaper whey protein options out there like Quest, Dymatize, and Gold Standard at $1.25 per serving, $0.60 per serving, and $0.60 per serving respectively.

Let’s see how it compares in terms of protein per serving and calories per serving:

Product Protein Per Serving Calories Per Serving
Clean Simple 20g 110
Flavcity Whey Protein Smoothie 25g 160 to 220
Ghost Whey Protein 25g 130
Naked Whey 25g 150
Dymatize ISO-100 25g 120
MyProtein Clear Whey Isolate 20g 80
Naked Whey Protein Powder 25g 150
Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate 28g 130
Garden of Life SPORT Certified Grass Fed Whey 24g 120

Here’s how it compares in terms of protein density, i.e. the % of calories from protein:

Product % of Calories from Protein
Clean Simple 73%
Ghost Whey Protein 77%
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 80%
Dymatize ISO-100 83%
MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate 80%
Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate 86%
Naked Whey Protein Powder 67%
Flavcity Whey Protein 45% to 63%

As you can see, Naked Whey is middle of the pack in terms of the percentage of calories from protein. If you prefer a denser powder, I would recommend something like Transparent Labs or Dymatize.

Keep in mind, the total caloric intake, and therefore protein density, may vary across flavors.

Naked Whey IS a Good Option if:

  • You don’t care THAT much about taste
  • You want a protein with minimal ingredients
  • You value simplicity and transparency in your protein powder, with minimal ingredients and no artificial additives.

Naked Whey is NOT a Good Option if:

  • You have a lactose intolerance or a milk allergy
  • You’re looking for a 10 out of 10 tasting protein
  • You can’t accord to pay more than $1 per serving

Final Thoughts:

Naked Whey is all about keeping things simple, honest, and as close to nature as possible. If that’s your vibe, then this is your whey.

At the end of the day, it’s about what works for you – your taste buds, your body, and your budget. Take a good, hard look at what matters most to you and what you’re trying to achieve. Weigh the good with the bad, and make the call that feels right for you.

Whether you decide to go Naked or not, just keep pushing forward on your fitness journey. That’s what it’s all about.

If you’re interested in trying Naked Whey, you can purchase it directly from the Naked Nutrition website or through Amazon.

Until next time,
Coach Big C✌🏽

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