Weight gainers are the best muscle builders in 2024

What are gainers?

You swing hard in the gym, do the right exercises, increase the mass, but the mirror is in no hurry to show you the desired rounded shapes. You make even more effort, exercise until you lose your heart rate, even try to eat more - and the result is a teaspoon per hour. And it would not be so offensive, but a friend who trains according to the same program as you has already seen radical changes in six months.

What's the matter? Do not rush to blame yourself and reproach yourself for trying little. Your body may have an accelerated metabolism or poor muscle building. Metabolic rate is an individual trait along with eye color or skin type. For a complete picture of your metabolic processes, you can sign up to an endocrinologist, but for now you can make a verdict: your body quickly burns energy and almost does not accumulate muscle mass.

The decision lies on the surface: start consuming much more protein and carbohydrate foods. Protein is a building block for muscles, and carbohydrates are the energy that an athlete needs for intense training. However, does everyone have the opportunity to eat hearty cereals, rich meat soups, buckwheat with chicken breast 4-5 times a day? Does everyone even have the opportunity to fully eat up to 4 times a day? Of course not.

Special formulations for athletes come to the rescue - gainers. These are powder mixtures that can be dissolved in water / milk / kefir and taken as an additional source of nutrition. Gainers consist of proteins (soy, milk, peas) and carbohydrates ("fast" and "slow"). Do not confuse gainers with regular protein shakes: the latter do not contain (or contain in very small amounts) carbohydrates, while in gainers they are present in a large percentage.

How do weight gainers help you gain muscle mass?

Protein, which is part of the gainers, is a building block for muscles. And carbohydrates provide the body with energy and prevent the body from taking energy from existing muscles. Thus, with intense training in athletes taking gainers, muscle mass grows quickly and rapidly. Attention: the use of gainers without intensive training is extremely undesirable: it leads to the banal obesity of the body. This is another difference between gainers and protein shakes, which can also be taken for weight loss.

The recommended portion of the gainer contains from 350 to 1000 Kcal. Therefore, they are also accepted by those athletes who do not experience problems with weight gain, but who need to quickly get in shape before the competition. Wrestlers who want to move to a higher weight category are also accepted. However, gainers are always a temporary measure. After reaching the desired weight, you need to switch to a regular protein shake to maintain the gained mass.

Recommendations for use

A serving of powder 60-100 grams, diluted with liquid, drink either an hour before training, or half an hour after it - for recovery. If the intensity of training has decreased or the athlete is forced to give up training for a while, there is no need to take gainers, since the body will not grow or even maintain muscle mass without stress.

More about the rules for taking gainers:

Pros of gainers:

• additional nutrition for athletes who simply do not have the opportunity to take full-fledged food often;
• fast set of muscle mass for bodybuilders and powerlifters;
• convenient release format - simply dilute the powder with water / milk / kefir in a shaker;
• quick recovery of the body's strength after a hard workout;
• convenient to take with you on the road or in the hall.

So, you are determined to intensively build muscle mass and introduce a gainer into your diet. How to choose the one that's right for you? The ranking of the best and most popular gainers 2024 will help you with this.

Best gainers 2024

Name	Protein to carbohydrate ratio	Average price, rub.
DYMATIZE NUTRITION SUPER MASS GAINER	5 times more carbohydrates than proteins	3190
MUSCLE JUICE REVOLUTION 2600	Proteins 25%, carbohydrates, etc. - 75%	2700
UNIVERSAL NUTRITION REAL GAINS	Proteins 40%, carbohydrates, etc. - 60%	3650
UP YOUR MASS	Proteins 70%, carbohydrates, etc. - 30%	1430
WEIDER MEGA MASS 4000	3 times more carbohydrates than proteins	3000
OPTIMUM NUTRITION SERIOUS MASS 6LB	Proteins 30%, carbohydrates, etc. - 70%	2700
BSN TRUE-MASS	Proteins and carbohydrates - equally	3600
SAN MASS EFFECT REVOLUTION	Proteins 40%, carbohydrates, etc. - 60%	2900
MASS TECH PERFORMANCE SERIES	Proteins 80%, carbohydrates, etc. - 20%	3900

DYMATIZE NUTRITION SUPER MASS GAINER

This gainer contains a huge amount of carbohydrates, and in percentage terms there are 5 times more of them than the proteins contained. So the product is more suitable for restoring the body's energy balance after intense training. The manufacturing company decided to focus on making the mixture as cheap as possible (within reasonable limits), but the composition still contains some vitamins, trace elements and creatine. This is just a godsend for slender ectomorphs, whose metabolism burns calories at the speed of sound. A portion of 1280 Kcal.

Average price: 3190 rubles for 2722gr.

• effective suppression of catabolism, strong enhancement of anabolism;
• energy value is very high;
• a complex of minerals, vitamins, creatine;
• the price is fully consistent with the high quality of the product.

• very low protein content. Not suitable for those who specifically need to build muscle mass - more to restore the required level of energy in the body.

An overview of the drug from a professional - in the video:

MUSCLE JUICE REVOLUTION 2600

Often chosen by professional athletes, the brand of nutrition. It contains several types of protein (its total content is 25%), a huge amount of amino acids. The rest is complex carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fatty acids, calcium, iron, glutamine and enzymes. A portion (4 scoops) contains 1020 Kcal, of which only 80 Kcal is fat. The mixture is very well absorbed by the body and gives noticeable results.

Average price: 2700 rubles for a can of 2120gr.

• excellent composition, content of substances that help assimilate proteins and carbohydrates;
• high protein content;
• very affordable price;
• there is a package of 5040gr;
• strengthening the body.

• it is difficult to find the right portion so as not to gain excess fat.

Overview of the drug - in the video:

UNIVERSAL NUTRITION REAL GAINS

This mixture actively suppresses catabolic processes in the body, enhancing - on the contrary - anabolic ones. Casein, a number of trace elements and inulin slow down the metabolic process. The high content of various carbohydrates saturates the body with energy, and the complex of several different proteins and many amino acids promotes efficient and rapid muscle growth during intense training. There are options with a variety of food additives to make the mixture tasty. One serving - 605 Kcal.

Average price: 3650 rubles for 3100gr.

• artificial suppression of catabolism and increased anabolism;
• in the composition of various origin proteins and many amino acids;
• very affordable price;
• the presence of different tastes;
• there is a package of 4800 gr.

• there is essentially one carbohydrate - and that's regular sugar. With a decrease in the intensity of training in the body, fat reserves are immediately deposited;
• if the bodybuilder confines himself to some power loads, fat deposition is inevitable - you need to introduce cardio loads, which not all "pitching" likes.

UP YOUR MASS

The blend is high in muscle growth proteins and slow carbohydrates that do not form fat but give the athlete a lot of energy.A distinctive feature of this gainer is the inclusion of a large amount of vitamins and minerals in the composition, i.e. the mixture, among other things, is also a balanced vitamin complex. The gainer enhances anabolism and is generally suitable for both ectomorphs and endomorphs - the only difference is that they need a different amount of powder per dose. There are 520 Kcal per serving.

Average price: 1430 rubles for 908gr.

• slow (long) carbohydrates do not promote fat gain;
• amino acids and casein will quickly restore muscle tissue after training;
• suitable for people with any body type and metabolic rate;
• vitamin and mineral complex;
• there are packages of 908gr, 2270gr and 4540gr.

• only soy protein, not the best;
• some tastes are sugary.

Details about the drug - in the video:

WEIDER MEGA MASS 4000

The composition of this gainer is such that it contains 3 times more carbohydrates than proteins (there are only 20g of them per serving). Hence the low price: carbohydrates are cheaper than proteins. The mixture is obviously not suitable for endmorphs, as it will be deposited with fat. But for ectomorphs, the mixture is very useful. Muscles will grow slowly but surely. In general, the gainer is aimed more at recuperation after training. Contains a vitamin and mineral complex. There are 368 Kcal per serving.

Average price: 3000 rubles for 3000gr.

• very quickly restores the body after an exhausting workout;
• affordable price;
• ectomorphs are gradually gaining weight;
• useful complex of vitamins and minerals.

• weight gain is extremely slow;
• low energy value per serving. Fast product consumption.

More about the composition and action of the drug:

OPTIMUM NUTRITION SERIOUS MASS 6LB

This gainer contains a huge amount of carbohydrates, the powder has the highest energy value. Combined with intense strength training, it delivers rapid weight gain. It can be taken before training as a supply of building materials for muscles, and after - to restore the normal energy level of the body. Great for ectomorphs, but completely unacceptable for endomorphs, as it will turn the latter into round koloboks. 1250 Kcal per serving.

Average price: 2700 rubles for 1360gr.

• huge energy value;
• fast saturation of the body with energy, recovery after stress;
• affordable price;
• vitamin and mineral complex in the composition.

• contraindicated for endomorphs, as it intensively adds fat mass to the body.

BSN TRUE-MASS

This gainer is perfectly balanced with proteins and carbohydrates, they are contained in approximately equal amounts, which ensures muscle growth with minimal risk of gaining excess fat. A complex of proteins of various origins actively nourishes and builds muscles during the afternoon after training, and long carbohydrates practically do not go into fats, but help to better assimilate proteins. There are 626 Kcal per serving.

Average price: 3600 rubles for 2610gr.

• a complex of proteins of different digestibility gives an effective increase in muscle mass;
• slow carbohydrates give almost no fat and help proteins to be absorbed;
• a complex of vitamins and minerals.

• the price is higher than for many other gainers, but it is justified by the composition.

Details about this gainer:

SAN MASS EFFECT REVOLUTION

The blend contains a complex of several proteins combined with casein (for better absorption) and a complex of slow and fast carbohydrates. The composition provides both a quick set of muscle mass and providing the body with a shock dose of energy. This mixture is just a godsend for thin and weak ectomorphs, it can be used with caution by mesomorphs and is contraindicated for endomorphs, as it will add fat on the sides to the latter. In one serving 1105 Kcal.

Average price: 2900 rubles for 2993gr.

• huge energy value;
• very high quality of the product;
• rapid growth of muscle mass;
• improvement of the general condition of the body.

• contraindicated in people with a tendency to be overweight;
• no vitamins, not enough minerals;
• as carbohydrates - regular sugar.

MASS TECH PERFORMANCE SERIES

The composition contains a huge content of proteins and relatively few carbohydrates (and even those are slow) - if with caution, then even endomorphs are suitable. Plus the highest creatine content compared to peers. The product is perfect for those who want to rapidly build muscle mass without being overgrown with fat. Moreover, the product contains Omega-unsaturated fats, which replace saturated fats. In a portion, 1000 Kcal with 63g of proteins.

Average price: 3900 rubles for 3200gr.

• perfectly balanced composition, omega fatty acids, slow carbohydrates - all this prevents the body from accumulating fat;
• huge energy value per serving of the product;
• high content of proteins and keratin, which increases the strength of the athlete;
• even endomorphs are suitable, if you do not exceed the recommended dose and train intensively.

• relatively high cost, however, fully justified.

It is important to remember that gainers should not be thoughtlessly consumed if you go to the gym a couple of times a week and perform standard sets of exercises of low to medium difficulty. These are mixtures for athletes who have at least three intensive workouts a week for at least 1.5 hours each, and they need to take a gainer only on training days. Without training, the gainer will simply bloat you, but not at the expense of muscle, but at the expense of fat. But even a professional can do without gainers, if there is an opportunity to eat well and often, and muscle mass grows well without additional stimulants.

Gainers are designed for those cases when a person does not have the opportunity to provide himself with proper nutrition, while the athlete actively participates in competitions or has global goals in sports. For people with a tendency to be overweight, protein-carbohydrate mixtures are generally contraindicated - they should use protein shakes with as little carbohydrates and fats as possible.