Legion Whey+ Protein Review: There’s Really Not Much To Hate

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Over the years, I’ve tried close to a dozen protein powder brands as a strength athlete. I’ve also gained a lot of insight into the supplement industry as a product tester and writer for FeastGood.com.

Legion is one brand whose protein powder I hadn’t tried until about a month ago. Now that I’ve been taking it 4 to 5 days per week for several weeks, I can speak to its benefits and drawbacks.

Key Takeaways

Honest Review Guarantee from FeastGood: Our testing team purchases each product 100% independently and uses the product for several weeks up to several months before writing a review. Learn more about our review process here.

• Legion is one of the most expensive protein powders I’ve seen. A 2lb bag costs between $1.80-$2.00 per serving, well above the average whey protein cost of $1.34. Still, I recommend it to most people looking for a protein powder that mixes well and digests very easily.

• It’s made from milk from grass-fed cows in Ireland, known for producing high-quality dairy. Most flavors have a high protein percentage (80%+), meaning you get a good amount of protein per calorie. For context, avoid protein powders with less than 65% protein percent of calories.

• Legion offers a 100% money-back guarantee for first-time customers, something I haven’t seen other brands offer. If you don’t like a flavor, you can contact the company for a refund. Based on other reviews, Legion may also offer to send you a different flavor for free.

What Is Legion?

Legion is a supplement company founded in 2014 by Mike Matthews, a certified personal trainer and fitness writer. It uses scientific research to determine which ingredients and quantities of those ingredients will help its consumers achieve the best results.

“Too many products are full of low-quality ingredients, junk fillers, and unnecessary additives. There’s a distinct lack of credible scientific evidence to back up their formulations. The marketing claims used to sell them are just getting more and more outrageous…Well, I think things should be done differently, and that’s why I created Legion.”

– Mike Matthews, founder of Legion

In addition to whey protein, Legion sells plant-based protein, casein protein, protein bars, pre-workout, and vitamins.

Its supplements are free from artificial colors, heavy metals, and other toxins.

They also don’t contain any proprietary blends that make it difficult to know the quantity of each ingredient.

Overview of Legion Whey Protein Powder

Legion’s whey protein powder (called Whey+) is made with 100% whey isolate, a fast-digesting protein. It doesn’t contain any refined sugars or food dyes and is made from milk from grass-fed Irish cows.

Each serving (one scoop or 26-34g, depending on the flavor) contains 5.6g of BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) and 12.1 grams of EAAs (essential amino acids).

Depending on the flavor, the macronutrient breakdown per serving is as follows:

• Protein: 21-24g
• Carbs: 2-6g
• Fat: 0-3g
• Sugar: 0-1g

With 100-130 calories per serving, Legion Whey+ allocates an average of 74% of its calories to protein.

It’s not the lowest protein percentage we’ve seen. That distinction belongs to Muscletech, which only allocates 53% of its calories to protein. But other protein powders like Transparent Labs are much higher, with 93% of the calories allocated to protein.

The Legion Whey+ Honey Cereal flavor has 6g of carbs. Fruity Cereal, Cookies & Cream, and Cocoa Cereal have 4g of carbs. Every other flavor has 2-3g of carbs.

Highlights: What I Liked About Legion Whey Protein Powder

Smooth Texture

Of all the protein powders I’ve tried, Legion is the smoothest one. There is no grittiness, and it blends well in water and various foods.

No Side Effects

I’m not lactose intolerant and can eat dairy products without any stomach issues. However, I have rosacea and sensitive skin in general. Some dairy products exacerbate those issues, but I continue to drink whey protein because I prefer it over plant-based protein powders.

With Legion, I haven’t noticed any significant changes in my skin.

That said, I don’t want to guarantee that others won’t experience the same or that it won’t cause stomach issues in people who are sensitive to dairy. Everyone is unique and reacts to things differently. But I’ve been pleased with how well my skin has tolerated this protein.

Digests Easily

I most frequently drink whey protein during and after my workouts. When I sipped on this protein during my workouts, I didn’t feel like I had something heavy in my stomach. It didn’t make me feel nauseous or give me stomach cramps.

Made With Whey Isolate From Irish Grass-Fed Cows

Legion Whey+ is made solely from whey isolate, unlike many other protein powder brands. Whey isolate is what’s left after the fat and lactose content (the sugar found in milk) in whey has been removed. It’s lower in fat and sugar and higher in protein than regular whey.

The whey Legion uses in its protein powder is also sourced from Truly Grass Fed. Truly Grass Fed is an Irish company whose dairy products come from pasture-raised cows. It also ensures the farms it works with follow sustainable farming practices.

Milk from grass-fed cows, in general, has more nutrients than milk from grain-fed cows. But Ireland, in particular, is known for producing high-quality dairy products. Its climate and grass-growing ability mean cows can eat grass more frequently throughout the year.

This is unlike some farming areas of the US, where even “grass-fed cows” may only be able to feed on high-quality grass a couple of months out of the year.

• Legion Whey+ made our list as one of the Best Birthday Cake Protein Powder (check out our full review).

Third-Party Tested and Made in NSF and cGMP Facilities

Legion Whey+ is third-party tested by Labdoor to ensure it doesn’t contain ingredients not listed on the label.

Legion Whey+ is also made in the USA in facilities certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and inspected by the FDA. Its facilities also comply with Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations.

All of these measures help ensure the protein powder isn’t contaminated with things like heavy metals, which can cause cancer when consumed in high quantities, or anything else you don’t want to ingest.

No Refined Sugars or Artificial Sweeteners

I don’t completely avoid refined sugars or artificial sweeteners, but I don’t like consuming them in high quantities. I appreciate companies that don’t use a lot of either ingredient in their supplements.

Legion uses stevia, a zero-calorie, natural sweetener, in its flavors. Some flavors also contain monk fruit extract, another zero-calorie (but very potent) sweetener.

I tested the Cinnamon Cereal flavor, and I like that it is sweet but not cloying (but more on that flavor below). I don’t like my protein powders to be completely bland, but the ones that are too sweet are off-putting.

• Legion Whey+ Protein Review made our list as one of the Best Protein Powder with Stevia (check out our full review)

Drawbacks: What I Didn’t Like About Legion Whey Protein Powder

The Cinnamon Cereal Flavor Has a Weird Aftertaste

I’m conflicted about the Cinnamon Cereal flavor. It tastes very similar to the leftover milk from a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which was one of my favorite cereals as a kid. At the same time, I notice an odd chemical taste when I drink this protein powder with water or mix it with plain yogurt.

It’s not so bad that I have to choke it down, but I’ve stopped having it with water and plain yogurt to avoid the strange aftertaste.

The taste could be due to the stevia, which many people find bitter-tasting. But I usually don’t have an issue with stevia in small amounts, so it makes me wonder how much Legion uses.

I haven’t tried other flavors, so I can’t speak to whether or not this is a flaw in other flavors, too.

It Contains “Natural Flavors”

“Natural flavors” can be found in many food products. They’re flavor enhancers derived from substances extracted from plant or animal sources and carefully crafted by food chemists called flavorists.

The term “natural flavor” isn’t officially recognized by the FDA. As such, there are no laws stating that manufacturers must disclose the exact ingredients and amounts of each in their “natural flavors.”

Furthermore, natural flavors can still contain chemical additives. Only the original source must be a plant or animal source. There’s really no way of telling how natural a natural flavor is. People can and do still experience adverse reactions from foods with natural flavors if they are allergic to an additive in a natural flavor.

To be fair, many protein powders include natural flavors, including Transparent Labs, the protein powder we recommend most often at FeastGood. And natural flavors are safe for the vast majority of people. But I wanted to call out their presence in Legion’s protein powder for anyone wanting to know exactly what they’re consuming.

I also suspect the natural flavors are part of the reason I haven’t been a fan of the Cinnamon Cereal flavor.

It’s Expensive

Legion is one of the more expensive protein powders on the market. A 2lb bag costs between $1.80 to $2.00 per serving, and a 5lb bag costs between $1.38 and $1.54 per serving.

Generally, this is more expensive than Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein. Optimum Nutrition can cost $0.82 to $1.34 per serving, depending on the flavor, size, and where you buy it from. However, I’ve also seen it as high as $1.42 per serving, which isn’t far from Legion’s price.

For the most part, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard’s price is more reasonable, considering you get up to 24g of protein per serving. In contrast, you only get up to 23g of protein per serving in Legion Whey+.

That said, a benefit of Legion over Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard is that Legion only uses whey isolate, while Gold Standard uses a protein blend. Legion also doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners like sucralose, while Gold Standard does.

• Check Out: Legion Stim-Free Pre-Workout Review: Expensive, But Worth It

Legion Whey Protein Review: My Experience

I will definitely add Legion Whey+ to my whey protein powder rotation in the future because of its mixability, easy digestion, and high-quality ingredients. However, I likely won’t stick with the Cinnamon Cereal flavor after I finish the bag I have.

That said, I wanted to give it a fair trial after I received it, so I tried it by mixing it with the following:

• Water
• Coffee
• Oatmeal
• Greek yogurt

In each scenario, the protein powder blended well and maintained its smooth consistency. When I mixed it with water, I mixed it in a shaker bottle and in a glass with a spoon. It mixed well both ways.

When I mixed it with my coffee, I stirred it into about ¼ cup of milk first. I then poured hot coffee over it and used a frother to incorporate it fully. The protein powder wasn’t clumpy at all.

I didn’t love the flavor combination of coffee and cinnamon, though. The French Vanilla, Dutch Chocolate, or Mint Chocolate flavors would likely work better with coffee.

I’ve also mixed this protein powder with Greek yogurt. I found the chemical aftertaste even more noticeable in Greek yogurt than in water. But the taste improved when I added granola to the mixture.

My favorite way to consume this protein powder is to eat it with oatmeal and peanut butter. This combination makes a delicious breakfast or snack. If I eat it this way after a workout, I also add a banana for extra carbs.

I’ll continue to use my bag of Legion’s Cinnamon Cereal whey protein in this way. And I’ll definitely buy from this company again because I appreciate its mission of wanting to change the supplement industry. But I will try a more straightforward flavor like Dutch Chocolate in hopes that it doesn’t have a strange aftertaste.

How Does Legion Whey Protein Stack Up Against Our Criteria For Whey Protein

At FeastGood, we rank protein powder based on eight different criteria. Here is how Legion Whey+ stacked up:

1. Label Transparency

Rating: 4/5

Because Legion’s whey protein is tested by a third party, you can mostly trust that the label is accurate and there are no hidden ingredients.

However, I knocked off a point because you can’t really tell what’s in the “natural flavors.” But other than that, Legion is very transparent about what it puts in its whey protein powder.

2. Fat Content Transparency

Rating: 5/5

Legion provides a full breakdown of total fat, saturated fat, and trans fat in its protein powders.

Here are the fat breakdowns for all of its whey protein flavors:

• Birthday Cake: 2g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Cinnamon Cereal: 1.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Chocolate Peanut Butter: 1g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Cocoa Cereal: 1g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Cookies & Cream: 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Dutch Chocolate: 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• French Vanilla: 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Fruity Cereal: 3g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Honey Cereal: 2g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Mint Chocolate: 0.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Mocha Cappucino: 1.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Pumpkin Pie: 1.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Salted Caramel: 2g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Strawberry Banana: 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

• Unflavored: 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat

3. Effective Ingredients

Rating: 5/5

Legion Whey+ contains whey isolate, not whey concentrate (which isn’t as pure as whey isolate) or a blend of whey isolate and whey concentrate.

This is likely why I haven’t experienced any major skin issues since taking this protein.

I can’t speak to how well it would work for people who are lactose intolerant or experience digestive discomfort from dairy products because I’m not affected by those issues. But because whey isolate is a purer form of whey and has a higher protein content, I gave Legion a high score for this category.

• Legion Whey+ Protein made our list as one of the Best Coffee Protein Powders (check out our full review).

4. Protein Percent of Calories

Rating: 3.5/5

At FeastGood, we consider any protein powder with a protein percentage of 85% or more as excellent, 75-84% as great, 65-74% as reasonable, and 64% or lower as poor.

Most of Legion’s Whey+ flavors fall into the reasonable category. The French Vanilla, Strawberry Banana, and Unflavored options are considered great.

Only two flavors – Fruity Cereal and Honey Cereal – are categorized as poor. These flavors have a longer list of ingredients than most other flavors, which is likely the cause for the lower protein percentage.

Below is the protein percentage for each flavor:

• Birthday Cake: 72%
• Cinnamon Cereal: 74%
• Chocolate Peanut Butter: 72%
• Cocoa Cereal: 74%
• Cookies & Cream: 75%
• Dutch Chocolate: 76%
• French Vanilla: 81%
• Fruity Cereal: 64%
• Honey Cereal: 64%
• Mint Chocolate: 73%
• Mocha Cappucino: 71%
• Pumpkin Pie: 75%
• Salted Caramel: 71%
• Strawberry Banana: 80%
• Unflavored: 83%

5. Taste/Flavor

Rating: 2/5

I’ve already expressed my disappointment in the Cinnamon Cereal flavor when mixed only with water or plain Greek yogurt.

I haven’t tested other flavors, so I’m unsure how they taste. But some reviews on Legion’s website for flavors like Chocolate Peanut Butter also don’t seem very promising.

6. Mixability

Rating: 5/5

Legion protein powder mixes very well and isn’t gritty. When I had it with plain water or coffee, I didn’t have to keep stirring it because it didn’t settle on the bottom.

I’ve never experienced this with any other protein powder.

7. Texture (Thick or Thin)

Rating: Thin

Legion whey protein powder has sunflower lecithin and xanthan gum as thickening agents.

However, it didn’t have a very thick texture, which is also why it mixed easily in various foods and liquids.

8. Satiety

Rating: 2/5

To test this protein powder’s satiety level, I drank it on a rest day around 2 pm, about 3 hours after my last meal, and didn’t consume anything else with it. I became hungry again within an hour.

Mixing it with other foods like oatmeal, banana, and peanut butter increases its satiety and keeps me full for at least a couple of hours. But on its own, it didn’t fill me up.

To be fair, this is expected of a protein powder that only contains whey isolate and doesn’t have casein, which digests more slowly, or high amounts of fat and carbs.

Who Is Legion Whey Protein Powder For?

• Those who want a protein powder that mixes well in water or coffee

• Those who want a protein powder with no refined sugars or artificial sweeteners

• Those who don’t like thick protein shakes

Who Shouldn’t Take Legion Whey Protein Powder?

• Those who don’t want to pay a high price for a protein powder

• Those who want a protein powder that will keep them full for at least a couple of hours

Legion Whey Protein Powder Customer Reviews

To see how its other flavors ranked and how other customers feel about the brand overall, I checked reviews on Amazon and Legion’s website.

On Amazon, Legion Whey+ has 4.5/5 stars from 4,670 global ratings. People like that it doesn’t contain a lot of fake ingredients and has a high protein content. They’re okay with the high price for these reasons. A few negative reviews mentioned the bag is difficult to reseal, but I haven’t had that issue.

Some other negative reviews mention poor mixability. But as I mentioned above, that also hasn’t been my experience, as I find this protein very easy to mix with a spoon or shaker bottle.

Here is the full breakdown of how Amazon reviewers scored this protein powder:

• Value for money: 4.8
• Ingredient quality: 4.8
• Blending power: 4.4
• Flavor: 4.4

On Legion’s website, Whey+ has an average of 4.7/5 stars based on 4,117 reviews. Feedback on the website is similar to feedback on Amazon. But some customers who left reviews on Legion’s website also share my opinion about the Cinnamon Cereal flavor:

Legion Whey Protein Promotions and Discounts

You can save money on Legion Whey+ by setting up auto-delivery on Legion’s website or Amazon. 

Signing up for recurring deliveries every 30, 60, or 90 days enables you to save 10% on Legion’s website.

I also recommend signing up for the rewards program if you plan on buying from the website often. With every purchase, you’ll earn points you can redeem at checkout.

It would also be a good idea to refer a friend who takes protein powder often. If they buy something from your referral link, you’ll receive a $20 credit, and your friend will save 20% on their first purchase. 

When ordering on Amazon, you can save 10% if you also sign up for recurring deliveries for three other eligible products that ship to the same address. Otherwise, you can save 5% on recurring deliveries. Delivery frequencies range from 2 weeks to 6 months.

Additionally, you can catch seasonal flavors like Pumpkin Pie on sale after the season ends. As of this writing, Pumpkin Pie is on sale for 15% off.

Where To Buy Legion Whey Protein Powder

Legion Whey+ is available on legionathletics.com and on Amazon. I’ve also seen it on Walmart.com, but it typically ships from third-party vendors and not from Walmart.

Interestingly, the protein powder isn’t available online at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. However, I’ve seen it at my local Vitamin Shoppe. It’s worthwhile to check a local retailer to see if it carries this brand if you prefer to buy it from a brick-and-mortar store.

Legion Whey Protein Powder Alternatives

1. Transparent Labs

As I’ve mentioned, Transparent Labs is third-party tested and offers full transparency into the test results. You can get a Certificate of Analysis from each batch of product.

• Related Article: Check out my complete review of Transparent Labs Whey Protein.

Transparent Labs protein powder also consists of whey isolate from grass-fed cows. It comes in several delicious flavors, and like Legion, it mixes well and digests easily.

2. PEScience

PEScience is another high-quality, third-party-tested protein powder that comes in many delicious flavors.

I also like that PEScience uses a blend of whey and casein. The addition of casein helps keep you full for longer, even if you take this protein powder on its own.

Related Article: Check out my complete review of PEScience Whey Protein.

My favorite flavor is Chocolate Mint Cookie. When mixed in coffee with a small amount of cream, it tastes like a Starbucks peppermint mocha!

The only drawback is that it contains artificial sweeteners and flavors, which can be an issue for anyone with sensitivities to those ingredients.

Check out our full review of PEScience’s Select Protein.

Legion Protein Comparisons

• Legion Protein vs Transparent Labs

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is Legion Whey Protein Made?

Legion Whey+ is made in the US in a facility certified by the NSF (an organization that verifies that no harmful chemicals have contaminated a food product) and inspected by the FDA. The facility also complies with Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations.

What Is Legion Whey Protein’s Shipping Policy?

For customers in the US, Legion offers free shipping on every order, regardless of order size. For customers in other countries, shipping is free on orders of $199 or more. Shipping within the US can take 3-7 days. Shipping internationally can take 14 days or more, though it varies by country.

What Is Legion Whey Protein’s Return Policy?

Legion offers a money-back guarantee for first-time customers. If you’re not happy with a product, you can contact the company for a refund. You don’t have to return your product or fill out any forms. However, if you bought more than one of the same product and don’t like it, you’ll have to return the unopened items.

Is Legion Whey Protein Third-Party Tested?

Legion Whey+ is third-party tested by Labdoor. You can see the test results on Legion’s website.

Is Legion Whey Protein Good for Weight Loss?

Legion’s whey protein can help with weight loss if you consume it while staying in an overall calorie deficit (eating fewer calories than you burn). Supplementing with a protein powder like Legion can also help you reach your daily protein targets and maintain lean muscle mass when calories are lower.

Is Legion Whey Protein Keto-Friendly?

Legion’s whey protein contains 2-6g of carbs, depending on the flavor. It can fit into a keto-friendly diet if the rest of your daily carb intake is very low. However, choosing a flavor lower in carbs, like French Vanilla (2g of carbs), will make it easier to keep your carb intake low.

Is Legion Whey Protein Gluten-Free?

Legion’s whey protein is gluten-free. However, it is made on equipment that also manufactures wheat products. If you must avoid gluten, it may be best not to take Legion Whey+.

What Are the Best Ways To Mix Legion Whey Protein?

Legion whey protein mixes well in water, coffee, oatmeal, and Greek yogurt. If drinking it with water and nothing else, you can easily mix it with a shaker bottle or with a spoon. Depending on which flavor you get, it will pair well with other foods like fruit and peanut butter.

What Flavors Are Available for Legion Whey Protein?

The current Legion whey protein flavors are Birthday Cake, Cinnamon Cereal, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cocoa Cereal, Cookies & Cream, Dutch Chocolate, French Vanilla, Fruity Cereal, Honey Cereal, Mint Chocolate, Mocha Cappucino, Pumpkin Pie (seasonal), Salted Caramel, and Strawberry Banana. There’s also an unflavored version.

Does Legion Whey Protein Make You Gain Weight?

Legion whey protein on its own will not make you gain weight. However, if you take it and consume more total calories than you burn every day, you can gain weight.

Can You Use Legion Whey Protein as a Meal Replacement?

Legion whey protein by itself isn’t a meal replacement. It doesn’t have enough calories, carbs, and fats to make it a full meal. However, you can combine it with foods like oatmeal and peanut butter to make it a more complete meal. Eating a fruit and/or vegetable on the side can also make it a more balanced meal.

When Is the Best Time To Take Legion Whey Protein?

Legion whey protein is best before, during, or after a workout. It digests easily and, when paired with a carb source, can give you energy before or during a training session. It can also help promote recovery after a workout. You can take it any other time of day, but it may not keep you full for long on its own.

How To Contact Legion

You can contact Legion by visiting the support page on its website. You can call the company at 855-645-5305 (Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM ET) or text ASSIST to 833-217-4329.

You can also contact Legion via email at contact@legionsupplements.com.

References

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Skypala I. J. (2019). Food-Induced Anaphylaxis: Role of Hidden Allergens and Cofactors. Frontiers in immunology, 10, 673. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00673

Smith, R. L., Cohen, S. M., Fukushima, S., Gooderham, N. J., Hecht, S. S., Guengerich, F. P., Rietjens, I. M. C. M., Bastaki, M., Harman, C. L., McGowen, M. M., & Taylor, S. V. (2018). The safety evaluation of food flavouring substances: the role of metabolic studies. Toxicology research, 7(4), 618–646. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7tx00254h