Most supplement “guides” online are just ads in disguise. This one isn’t. Here’s what actually matters when you buy protein and creatine, so you stop overpaying for marketing and start buying on the things that count: what’s in the tub, where it’s made, and what it costs per serving.
Creatine: keep it simple
Buy creatine monohydrate. That’s it. It’s the most-researched supplement in sports nutrition, with decades of studies behind it for strength and muscle. The “advanced” versions (HCL, buffered, liquid) cost more and have never been shown to beat plain monohydrate. Paying extra for them is paying for a label.
- Form: creatine monohydrate. Micronized just means it mixes easier, a nice bonus, not a requirement.
- Dose: 3 to 5 grams per day, every day. You don’t need to load. Consistency beats timing.
- Price per serving: divide the price by servings. Good monohydrate is cheap, so you shouldn’t pay a premium.
- Where it’s made: US-made in an FDA-registered facility means inspected standards. Cheap imported creatine is where quality gets murky.
Protein: read the panel, not the front
The front of the bag is marketing. The Supplement Facts panel is the truth. Here’s how to read it.
- Whey isolate: most filtered, highest protein per scoop, lowest in carbs, fat, and lactose. Best for lean protein.
- Whey concentrate: a bit less filtered, slightly more carbs/fat, usually cheaper, richer taste.
- Isolate/concentrate blend: the sweet spot for most people. Good protein, good taste, fair price.
Aim for 20 to 25g+ protein per scoop, and watch for inflated serving counts that make protein look cheaper than it is. Scan for added sugars and long filler lists. Sucralose and stevia are both fine for most people; choose stevia or monk fruit if artificial sweeteners bother your stomach.
The trust signals that actually matter
- Made in the USA, in FDA-registered facilities. About manufacturing standards and traceability, a real quality filter.
- Ingredient transparency. You should see every ingredient and its dose.
- No proprietary blends that hide doses. If amounts are hidden, assume the expensive stuff is underdosed. Walk away.
- Honest, specific reviews beat a wall of generic five-stars.
Your 30-second checklist
- Creatine: plain monohydrate at a fair price per serving?
- Protein: 20g+ per scoop with a short, readable ingredient list?
- Made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility?
- Every ingredient and dose visible (no hidden blends)?
- Does the price per serving actually make sense?
Where Vertex Labs fits
I review supplements with a focus on what’s actually in the tub, and Vertex Labs checks the boxes that matter here: veteran-founded, made in the USA in FDA-registered facilities, with straightforward formulas instead of gimmicks. Their Anchor Creatine Monohydrate is plain monohydrate at $32.97, and their Granite Whey is an isolate/concentrate blend that real users rate well for taste and mixability.
If you want to try them, use code Gee6 for 10% off (one-time purchases; the code doesn’t stack on Subscribe & Save, which is already discounted). Shop Vertex Labs with code Gee6.
Disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I’d actually use. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.