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As a woman who has been powerlifting for six years, discussions around protein are unavoidable. While it’s undeniably best to get your protein from whole foods whenever possible, the fact is that sometimes you need a little help, especially if building muscle is one of your goals. That’s why I supplement my protein intake with a protein powder nearly every day. It’s an easy way to get at least 20 grams of protein per serving, giving me that extra boost I need to achieve my daily protein target. (I aim for 100 grams a day which falls on the higher end of the recommendation of 0.8 to 1.2 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, which is helpful when you’re trying to build muscle.)
To this point, I’ve made do with my collection of plastic protein shaker bottles. My collection is an unsophisticated jumble of freebies I’ve gotten in swag bags from weightlifting competitions and the occasional 5k, and they’re all essentially the same: a tall plastic bottle with a screw-on lid, flip-top spout and a small wire ball rattling around inside. So when I was asked to try some new options, I was intrigued (and a little skeptical). Would a $55 shaker bottle really be that much better than the cheap version I got in a long-forgotten swag bag? I decided to put it to the test.
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Amazon
What we like: The silicone handle and cup holder-friendly shape make this bottle easy to transport.
What to know: If the insulated style tempts you into trying this with a hot beverage, don’t. The contents could leak or even spray out if pressure builds up.
The Brümate MultiShaker, with its variety of finishes and insulated stainless steel interior, promises an easily portable, multifunctional solution to what would otherwise be a single-use gadget. The agitator screws onto the bottom of the lid and has a colander-like design that breaks up protein clumps. The lid also comes with a silicone handle that is comfortable to grip, with enough clearance that you won’t drag your knuckles across the top of the container. The spout is capped with a magnet-assisted lid that you can flip open or close securely with one hand, and the bottle itself has molded indentations that make it easy to hold and carry.
The Brümate won me over pretty quickly. Though I was skeptical of this agitator style, it did an excellent job blending my protein powder, and the insulation kept it nice and cold throughout an hour-long workout. It’s sturdy but not too heavy, and I didn’t experience any leaks or drips when toting it around. And while I often get irritated when I’m encouraged to “accessorize” a product to make it more useful, I do like the fact that Brümate offers straw and hot beverage lids, so you can use this bottle for more than mixing protein powder. With the variety of attractive finishes, it’d almost be a shame not to.
One caveat: While all the lids are top-rack dishwasher-safe, not all finishes are. So, while the iridescent finish of the “dark aura” color is lovely, you must hand-wash it to preserve its looks. Still, the stainless steel interior has no nooks or crannies to trap protein grime, so this procedure is pretty painless. For its combination of looks, utility and price, the Brümate is a winner for me.
Capacity: 26 oz. | Material: Plastic, stainless steel | Agitator Style: Removable infuser-type design | Insulated: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe? Some finishes, yes, but not all
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Amazon
What we like: The Helimix’s smart, affordable design ensures your protein powder dissolves without an agitator.
What to know: Closing the cap tightly requires some pressure, and the finger loop isn’t the most comfortable way to carry this bottle.
It seems that all protein shaker bottles are trying to solve one of the most annoying problems customers face—the agitator itself. The Helimix 2.0 Vortex takes things a step further by doing away with it entirely. This shaker bottle’s unique six-sided shape means that your protein powder and liquid of choice will combine smoothly without the assistance of a wire ball or other mixing agent. I was surprised to find that it worked; my mix was smooth and clump-free after shaking, and it’s also very easy to clean, dishwasher-safe, and has few parts to scrub.
The Helimix is made of BPA-free plastic, and the lid has a small finger loop attached to the cap for transport. This was probably my biggest complaint, since I don’t find finger loops particularly comfortable and don’t feel they account for a range of hand sizes. I also needed a bit of force to snap the cap on the spout; you will definitely want to check this before you start shaking. However, I liked that there weren’t a lot of extra parts to fuss with, and it does its job well and for a very reasonable price, making it a strong runner-up.
Capacity: 28 oz. | Material: Plastic | Agitator Style: None | Insulated: No | Dishwasher-Safe? Yes
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Bolde
What we like: This insulated bottle has a convenient container for protein powder that screws onto the bottom.
What to know: This bottle is wide and heavy and does not have a handle, which can make it a challenge to tote around.
The first thing I thought when I picked up the Bolde bottle was that this thing is sturdy. It’s made of stainless steel, with an internal spiral mixer affixed to the underside of the lid. While the lid is also made of stainless steel, the drinking spout is made of plastic with a silicone seal, which prevents leaks and allays any fears that you might chip your teeth when taking a sip. The bottom of the shaker also unscrews to reveal a small compartment that can easily hold a couple of scoops of protein powder or other supplements. (I could see this being handy for folks who need help remembering to take their vitamins or medications, for example.)
The mixer on this shaker is fixed to the underside of the Bolde Bottle’s lid and has a spiral whisk design. Its fixed position means you won’t hear it rattling around when shaking your protein mix, and it’s also one less thing to lose in the dishwasher. I found the internal mixer did its job well; after 30 seconds, my protein powder was well blended, and I didn’t find stray clumps on the agitator or at the bottom of the shaker. The bottle is hefty and has a maximum capacity of 20 ounces. There were no leaks, either at the lid or at the cap. Cleaning this one is helped by this bottle’s stainless steel construction, which means it won’t retain odors, flavors or bacteria.
One thing I do wish this bottle had was a handle of some kind. The shaker is heavy and wide, and it could be difficult to grip and carry for folks with smaller hands (like myself). It’s also by far the most expensive protein shaker bottle on my list. While it’s not the cheapest option, I also feel like this shaker bottle could survive a nuclear event (or, at the very least, me dropping it in the parking garage at my office), making it a splurge-worthy choice.
Capacity: 20 oz. | Material: Stainless steel | Agitator Style: Removable spiral wire | Insulated: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe? Yes, except for the removable bottom compartment.
The Bottom Line: The Best Protein Shaker Bottles
In my opinion, the Brümate MultiShaker (view at Amazon) is the best protein shaker bottle for its design, price and versatility (and the range of colors is a nice touch, too). If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Helimix 2.0 Vortex Shaker Bottle (view at Amazon) is a cleverly designed and easy-to-clean alternative.
Choosing a Protein Shaker Bottle
How Easy Is It to Clean?
Regularly cleaning your protein shaker bottle is vital for preventing the buildup of bacteria and mildew, and finding a version that makes this less of a chore is going to help make cleaning part of your routine. If the bottle is dishwasher-safe, that’s a good start. Check the lid and spout to see if the seals are easy to clean (seals are an excellent place for mold and mildew to lurk) and if the agitator is removable or just creates more spots for gunk to build up. Once you’ve washed your protein shaker bottle, ensure it’s fully dry before replacing the cap and storing it.
Portability is Key
I often take my shaker bottles to the gym, so I look for things like the shape (will it fit in my car’s cup holders?) and ergonomics (does it have a handle or finger loop? is the bottle too wide for me to hold comfortably?). It also helps if the bottle is somewhat durable since it will clunk around in my gym bag and, let’s be honest, probably be dropped a few times.
Features: Must-Have or Nice-to-Have?
These tests proved that yes, there is a difference between my random collection of free protein shaker bottles and more refined options. You will want to consider whether extra bells and whistles are really necessary in a protein shaker bottle. (For more on this, see the “We Also Considered” section below.) You want a bottle that’s easy to carry around, won’t leave you choking on undissolved protein clumps and can be easily sanitized. Anything beyond that is up to personal preference.
Our Protein Shaker Bottle Tests
I wanted to control my variables as best as possible, so I used the same chocolate protein powder (Garden of Life Sport Whey Protein Powder; view at Amazon) and 8 ounces of unsweetened almond milk for each test. No blender, no other add-ins. I would shake up my drink for exactly 30 seconds, after which I’d observe how well the shaker blended my protein powder and whether it left any undissolved chunks. To most closely mimic real life, I’d also leave the bottle in my sink overnight, then clean it out. (I’m not always disgusting, but when I am, it’s for science.) I would then rate the bottle based on how difficult it was to clean and whether all parts of the shaker bottle were dishwasher-safe or needed to be hand-washed.
I also considered factors like portability. Most of us take our protein shakes to the gym for a post-workout boost, and your protein shake may even be breakfast on a rushed morning. How leakproof the bottle was, even when rattling around a gym bag, was a big consideration. I also noted whether or not the shaker bottle would fit in a standard-size cup holder.
We Also Considered
Voltrx Electric Protein Shaker Bottle ($36 at Amazon): It’s a tempting concept: a protein shaker bottle minus the shaking. The bottle even looks cool, with an LED light and an electric agitator that creates a mesmerizing tornado effect when combined with water. However, I found it unnecessarily fussy for what I needed. The Voltrx still left some protein sediment at the top of the bottle after a 30-second mix, requiring me to manually shake it anyway. Add to that the fact that it has to be hand-washed, and this was a pass for me.
Ice Shaker Shaker Bottle ($35 at Amazon): The Ice Shaker is made of double-walled, insulated stainless steel and promises to keep your drinks ice cold for 30 hours. Challenge accepted: I filled this bottle with ice and let it sit on my counter. After 30 hours, the ice melted, and the water was cold, but not ice cold. This shaker also produced more clumps in my protein shake than the other models I tried, making this one another pass.
Common Questions
How do you get rid of the smell from a protein shaker bottle?
It’s a truth universally known that few things smell worse than the shaker bottle left to its own devices for a couple of days. Some materials, like stainless steel, are better at repelling odors than others. However, the main factor is how long your shaker bottle is left sealed and uncleaned, since bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments (like a shaker bottle left in a car or gym bag). If nothing else, rinse the bottle as soon as you’re done using it, and clean it well when you get home, making sure not to neglect the lid or spout. If you’re forgetful and the resulting smell has you questioning all your life choices, try soaking your shaker bottle in white vinegar and water overnight, then giving it a thorough scrub with dish soap and water.
Do I need a protein shaker bottle?
Whether or not you need a protein shaker bottle depends on whether or not you prefer to mix your own protein shake (buying a tub of protein powder is typically much more cost-effective than purchasing premixed shakes) and whether or not you want to drag out your blender. If you want a quick snack or light meal replacement after a workout, it’s easy to mix a protein powder with water for a quick nutritional boost. Some studies suggest ingesting protein within an hour or two of working out (especially when lifting weights) can help build muscle, and having quick access to a protein powder can quickly solve that dilemma. If nothing else, a protein shaker bottle can be a convenient accessory for increasing your protein intake quickly and easily.
Is protein powder good for you?
Protein powder can be a convenient way to supplement your protein intake, which can be especially helpful if your goal is to build muscle. However, a protein powder is only as good as its ingredients, and supplements are a notoriously unregulated industry. To find a powder that’s right for you, you’ll want to first look for a powder that has been third-party tested to ensure you know what you’re getting, ingredients-wise. The type of protein (for example, if you prefer a plant-based protein versus a whey-based product) and the presence of artificial sweeteners may also influence your choice.
Ultimately, it’s best to remember that protein powder should not be the primary source of protein in your diet. Relying solely on a supplement means you could miss out on the valuable nutrients found in whole foods. While protein powder can be a helpful tool, it’s best used to supplement a balanced diet containing lean meats, fish, eggs, beans and nuts.
Our Trusted Expertise
Katie Tuttle is a commerce editor and contributor to publications such as Food & Wine and The Spruce Eats. She has been powerlifting for six years and testing food and kitchen products for two. She personally tested each of the protein shaker bottles featured in this article.
This article was edited and reviewed by senior commerce editor Brierley Horton, M.S., RD, who has 15 years of experience reporting, writing and editing nutrition and health content.