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For this BSN True Mass review, we had the supplement tested by Matt Strong, a competitive powerlifter who knows a thing or two about putting on lean muscle. While there are certainly mass gainer pros and cons, those who decide to take one (someone like you, if you’re here) should know what to look for.
A good weight gainer should have the right ratio of protein and carbs, be low in inflammatory ingredients like added sugars and saturated fat, and have a manageable taste and solubility to make regular consumption simple. How does BSN True Mass measure up to the best mass gainers? Here’s what we found.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Brutally True Reviews to Help You Get Some Brutally True Results
Each nutritional supplement we review is tested personally by the professional weightlifters, nutritionists, and certified personal trainers on our team to give you the good, bad, and ugly of the supplement. We assign each supplement ratings based on our GGR supplement testing methodology for a quick look at our feedback. We give products a rating of 1 to 5 based on a variety of categories, including:
- Quality of the Formulation
- Taste
- Solubility
- Side Effects
- Third-Party Testing
- Price/Value
- Customer Reviews
- Customer Service
BSN True Mass
BSN True Mass
Product Highlights
- Lower calorie weight gainer with a 2:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein formulated to enhance lean muscle growth
- Each serving provides 700 to 710 calories
- Each serving has 85 to 90 grams of carbohydrates, 45-50 grams of protein, and 18-19 grams of fat
- Blend of high-quality protein including pure isolate and hydrolyzed wheys with 10 grams of BCAAs
- Available in Chocolate Milkshake, Vanilla Ice Cream, Strawberry, and Cookies and Cream flavors
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Mixes well
- Milkshake-like texture
- Lower calorie count but solid protein count
- Best suited for lean gains
- High-quality protein blend
Cons
- Higher fat content
- Uses artificial ingredients and sweeteners
Bottom Line
BSN True Mass may be a great option for those seeking lean gains and do not mind artificial ingredients. True Mass is one of the better-tasting supplements that you will find.
A Quick Look at BSN True Mass
Known for its SYNTHA-6 protein powder, which is rich in BCAAs and has fun flavors, BSN (Bio-Engineered Supplements and Nutrition) is an Illinois-based supplement company. True Mass, their mass gainer product, is a 700-calorie, high protein supplement that’s surprisingly light on added sugars. It can help you put on some serious mass, provided you’re OK with some ingredients in the formulation.
RELATED: Mass Gainer vs Whey Protein
Before You Buy
- Ingredients and some nutrition facts change depending on the flavor you order, so make sure to balance your macro goals with flavor preferences when shopping.
- If you buy through Amazon, certain flavors may not be in stock.
Is BSN True Mass Worth It?
The formulation certainly sets one up for weight gain. However, one serving size is three scoops of powder and the entire tub contains about 48 scoops. Not only can the volume be a lot to handle, but this means one tub will only last you a couple of weeks. So the value you’ll get depends on how much you plan to rely on True Mass to support a higher caloric intake.
Great for:
- Hard-gainers who need help boosting the calorie content in their diet
- Those already familiar and comfortable with the large scoop size of mass gainers
- People who want a reliably great-tasting mass gainer
Not recommended for:
- People looking for a standard post-workout protein powder for recovery
- Those who avoid artificial flavors or sweeteners
- Individuals with a high sensitivity to lactose
BSN True Mass Specs
| Price per serving | $4.37 |
| Serving size | 3 scoops (165 g) |
| Flavors | Chocolate Milkshake, Cookies & Cream, Strawberry Milkshake, Vanilla Ice Cream |
| Protein per serving | 46-50 g |
| Carbs per serving | 85-88 g |
| Fat per serving | 18 g |
| Third-party tested? | No |
Experience Using BSN True Mass
We had Matt Strong, husband of GGR Senior Staff Writer Lauren Strong, write a review of BSN True Mass after using it himself. Matt is a competitive powerlifter in the APF (American Powerlifting Federation) with about 7 years of experience and specifically competes with multi-ply gear (think Westside Barbell).
RELATED: Best Supplements for Muscle Growth
Matt had an overall good experience with True Mass and thought it was in the average range for pricing compared to other mass gainers. However, he lamented at the serving size being three scoops, as he went through the tub quickly.
Price Per Serving
We gave it a score of 3 out of 5 for price per serving. On Amazon, one tub containing 16 servings is $69.94, which comes out to $4.37 per serving. If you’ve been around the block with high-calorie protein powder, you know that a high cost per serving is not unusual. However, we did knock down the rating because, for the cost, the value provided in the formulation could be better.
Formulation
We gave this product a 4 out of 5 for formulation. True Mass is relatively low in saturated fat and sodium along with containing some nutrients including calcium and potassium. Furthermore, studies done on bodybuilders1 have shown that the optimal intake of macronutrients to build muscle is a 2:1 carb-to-protein ratio and True Mass adheres to this ratio in their formulation.
The fat comes from medium chain triglycerides (MCT). Though these types of fat are typically associated with weight loss2, medium chain triglycerides are often included in mass-gaining products as a healthy fat source to boost calorie content.
Where things get iffy is the protein source. With this weight gainer there is a protein blend from multiple sources, six sources, to be exact:
- Whey Protein Concentrate
- Calcium Caseinate
- Milk Protein Isolate
- Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate
- Whey Protein Isolate
- Micellar Casein
Now, when considering the different types of protein powder, whey protein isolate is widely considered to be the best choice in terms of the balance between high-quality amino acids and affordability. Though it may seem like more types of protein are better, a whey isolate being mixed with cheaper forms of protein like whey protein concentrate is a red flag.
Not only is whey protein concentrate cheaper, but it tends to have a higher lactose content than isolate or hydrolysate. In any case, it’s novel to see that the protein is first on the ingredient list of this mass gainer. Usually, first on the list is the source of carbohydrates, namely maltodextrin, which makes up most of the protein powder by weight. This isn’t the case with True Mass’ formulation and ~50 grams of protein per serving isn’t half bad, so we gave it a higher rating.
Now, it is sweetened with sucralose and contains soy lecithin along with milk, egg, and wheat products, so if you avoid artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, or have food allergies, be vigilant.
Taste and Solubility
We gave True Mass a score of 4.5 out of 5 for taste as Matt found that it has a great taste, much better than expected. Matt added that his usual mass gainer has a malt aftertaste, but the True Mass chocolate milkshake flavor tastes more like chocolate milk. He also reported that there was no weird aftertaste.
RELATED: Best-Tasting Protein Powder
We gave it a rating of 3 out of 5 for solubility, which is a notoriously tough category for a mass-gaining protein powder. This is because most require you to blend a lot of powder to make protein shakes. Matt concurs with this, saying it usually leads to you having to swallow chunks of powder. He notes that True Mass also has some grittiness that sticks around no matter how much you shake the living daylights out of your blender bottle, however, “The BSN powder is on par with other mass gainers as far as solubility,” he says.
Side Effects
We rated side effects a 5 out of 5 as Matt tolerated BSN True Mass well in terms of digestion and GI tolerance, which kind of surprised him since trying a new formula usually elicits some mild side effects.
Third-Party Testing
We rated this category a 2 out of 5 as BSN Mass Gainer doesn’t have any signs of problematic ingredients, per se, but also hasn’t been screened by a third-party lab for safety and potency.
BSN True Mass vs Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
Product Highlights
- 760 calories per serving
- Each serving provides 53 grams of protein, 13 grams of fat, and 109 grams of carbs
- Formulated to support lean muscle mass
- Carbohydrates are derived from tapioca, oat, and sweet potato sources
- Available in Sweet Vanilla and Chocolate Donut flavors
- Sweetened with Stevia and monk fruit
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Contains creatine monohydrate
- Free from artificial ingredients
- Derived from nature-based sources
- No added sugar
- Gluten-free and non-GMO
- Completely transparent list of ingredients
- Taste
Cons
- High saturated fat count
- Expensive
- Shipping takes a long time
- 1:2 ratio of protein to carb may not be enough for some
Bottom Line
Transparent Labs Mass Gainer is one of the more expensive mass gainer supplements, but it offers high-quality, naturally occurring, and clean ingredients that taste good.
We’ve been known to write a review for Transparent Labs Mass Gainer in the past, so why not see how it compares to BSN? As with True Mass, the specific calories and macros vary slightly depending on flavor, but Transparent Labs has more carbs and grams of protein overall. It also has fewer scoops, but interestingly, the serving sizes are actually bigger than True Mass.
Transparent Labs is also more expensive per serving size, likely because it is third-party tested whereas True Mass is not. Transparent Labs also contains no artificial flavors or sweeteners and even contains creatine monohydrate to promote even further gains in muscle mass.
| BSN True Mass | Transparent Labs Mass Gainer | |
| Price per serving | $4.37 | $5.33 |
| Serving size | 3 scoops (165 g) | 2 scoops (187-194 g) |
| Flavors | Chocolate Milkshake, Cookies & Cream, Strawberry Milkshake, Vanilla Ice Cream | Chocolate Glaze Donut, Sweet Vanilla |
| Protein per serving | 46-50 g | 51-53 g |
| Carbs per serving | 85-88 g | 106-110 g |
| Fat per serving | 18 g | 13-14 g |
| Third-party tested? | No | Yes, Informed Choice |
Customer Experience
Due to BSN products only being available through third-party retailers, return policies will vary depending on where you purchase them. If you need customer service assistance from BSN, you can call them at 1-877-673-3727 where they are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST. You can also send an email to bsnconsumeraffairs@bsnonline.net.
Ordering BSN True Mass
True Mass is not available through the BSN website; it must be ordered through one of five third-party retailers, including Amazon. Through Amazon, you can save 5% to 10% by enrolling in Subscribe & Save at checkout. Just know that Amazon does not allow returns or refunds on dietary supplements in most cases.
Customer Reviews
The average star rating for BSN True Mass on Amazon is 4.5 out of 5 based on 5,987 reviews. Most people love the great taste and its effectiveness, but there is some criticism around its solubility and the large number of scoops.
Final Verdict of Our BSN True Mass Review
It’s important to know that if you’re trying to boost your calorie intake significantly to support muscle growth, mass gainers shouldn’t be your first choice. A high-carb, high-protein diet in a calorie surplus is a good place to start.
RELATED: High-Protein Dinner Options
If this proves too difficult, find a good mass gainer as a last resort. BSN True Mass can be that mass gainer, provided you don’t have allergies or sensitivities given its complicated list of ingredients.
- Talk to a registered dietitian if you’re unsure you need a mass gainer.
- Trie Mass is available through various retailers, so shop around to find the best price.
Full Rating
BSN True Mass
BSN True Mass may be a great option for those seeking lean gains and do not mind artificial ingredients. True Mass is one of the better-tasting supplements that you will find.
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 69.94
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.6
BSN True Mass: FAQs
What is True Mass for?
If you are a hard-gainer or someone who lifts weights regularly but struggles to get in enough calories to build muscle from food alone, a great product like True Mass could help with weight gain.
Who should not take mass gainer?
People who have health conditions that are not amenable to a high protein diet or those with dairy allergies and lactose intolerance should avoid a mass gainer.
What are the ingredients in BSN mass gainer?
The full list of ingredients of BSN Ultra-Premium Mass Gainer is: Protein & Amino Acid Matrix Consisting of (Whey Protein Caseinate, Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Micellar Casein, Hydrolyzed Whey Protein, Egg Whites, Glutamine Peptides, L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine), Maltodextrin, Sunflower Powder consisting of (Sunflower Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium Caseinate, Mono- & Di-Glycerides, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin and Tocopherols), Cocoa Powder Processed with Alkali, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Polydextrose, MCT Powder Consisting of (Medium Chain Triglycerides, Non-Fat Dry Milk, Disodium Phosphate, and Silicon Dioxide), Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Acacia (Gum Arabic), Lecithin, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Papain, and Bromelain.
What is the best mass gainer for skinny guys?
If you’re a hard-gainer looking for a great product to gain weight and put on lean muscle, our roundup of the best mass gainers has plenty of options to choose from:
-Best Mass Gainer Overall: Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
-Best Mass Gainer for Bodybuilding: Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer
-Best Mass Gainer for Smaller People: Crazy Nutrition Mass Gainer
-Best Lean Mass Gainer: BSN True Mass
-Best High-Carb Mass Gainer: MuscleTech Mass Tech Extreme 2000
-Best High-Calorie Mass Gainer: Dymatize Super Mass Gainer
-Best Budget Mass Gainer: Mutant Mass
-Best Natural Mass Gainer: Naked Nutrition Mass
-Best Mass Gainer With Creatine: Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass
-Best Vegan Mass Gainer: Naked Nutrition Vegan Naked Mass
-Best Mass Gainer Protein Powder: Muscle Milk Pro
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Lambert CP, Frank LL, Evans WJ. Macronutrient considerations for the sport of bodybuilding. Sports Med. 2004;34(5):317-327. doi:10.2165/00007256-200434050-00004
- Wang Y, Liu Z, Han Y, Xu J, Huang W, Li Z. Medium Chain Triglycerides enhances exercise endurance through the increased mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism. PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0191182. Published 2018 Feb 8. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0191182
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