collagen
Collagen Peptides
Sports Research offers the best balance of quality and affordability for the average consumer. It is Informed Sport certified, ensuring it is a safe and reliable choice for daily supplementation.
Quality & Materials
Hydrolyzed bovine collagen (Type 1 and 3). Sourced from pasture-raised, grass-fed cattle. Single ingredient with no fillers.
Evidence & Testing
Informed Sport certification provides a high level of confidence in the manufacturing process. Uses hydrolyzed peptides for high solubility in both hot and cold liquids.
Brand Transparency
Uses iGen Non-GMO testing and Informed Sport. While they don't publish every COA publicly like Nordic Naturals, their certifications provide a reliable safety net.
Value Assessment
At $0.78 per serving, this is the best value-to-quality ratio on the market. It is accessible without sacrificing basic safety and quality standards.
Why Not Alternatives?
It lacks the Vitamin C found in Momentous and the extreme heavy-metal transparency of Puori, but it beats 'budget' grocery store brands by maintaining third-party certifications that ensure the label matches the contents.
Sources & References
More in Protein Sources
Momentous
Essential Grass-Fed Whey
NSF Certified for Sport + Informed Choice. Cold-pressed, micro-filtered. Consumer Reports found 2/3 of protein powders have concerning heavy metal levels—third-party testing is essential.
Vital Farms
Pasture-Raised Eggs
Certified Humane Pasture-Raised: 108 sq ft outdoor/bird, 6+ hours outside daily. Penn State found pasture-raised have 2-3x omega-3s, 2x vitamin E, 3-4x vitamin D.
Thorne
Whey Protein Isolate
Thorne is the gold standard for clinical purity, holding the NSF Certified for Sport designation which is required by most professional athletic organizations. Their isolate is filtered to remove almost all lactose and contains no artificial sweeteners or thickeners.
Transparent Labs
100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate
This product features one of the highest protein-by-weight ratios in the industry (82-88%) and uses exclusively grass-fed whey from New Zealand. They provide batch-specific Certificates of Analysis (COAs) for every single tub.