Flavors Tried: Vanilla, Chocolate, Salted Caramel
Price: $2 per shake
Nutrition: 170 Calories, 3.5g Fat, 8g Carbs (5g Fiber & 1g Sugar), 30g Protein
Oikos has had protein drinks for a while with their Oikos Pro line, but those are high-protein yogurt smoothies.
They have now entered the RTD protein shake space, and these shakes have no yogurt to them whatsoever. Although they carry the Oikos name, they are not made with yogurt, and rather looking to compete with the other protein shakes on the market, like Pure Protein and Premier Protein.
I stumbled across these at my local Kroger, and they were on sale for just $2 each, which was enough reason for me to grab a couple and give them a shot.
It turns out Costco also carries them in bulk, which means they’re going to be competing directly with the likes of Fairlife and Nurri.
Each Oikos protein shake packs 30 grams of protein with only 170 or 180 calories. That breaks down to 4g fat, 9g carbs (6g fiber and just 1g sugar), and no added sugar.
On paper, that’s pretty impressive for a ready-to-drink shake, and the added fiber is a nice bonus that sets it apart from similar shakes.
These currently come in three different flavors, and while I initially only tried the chocolate and vanilla, I’ve since found the salted caramel flavor and added it to this review.
Oikos Vanilla Protein Shake Review
Right out of the gate, the vanilla hits with a strong, almost artificial sweetness. It reminded me of Quest’s vanilla shake (not the Quest Milkshake), but much more aggressive in the flavor department.
That “fake vanilla” taste really hits hard, which really hurts this one. If you’re looking for a subtle vanilla, this is not the shake for you.
It’s smooth, with no chalkiness or weird aftertaste, which is a win in the texture department. But the flavor doesn’t quite land for me. It’s not creamy or milk-like like Fairlife’s vanilla shake, which still sits at the top of the category in my opinion.
It’s one of those shakes that tastes fine, but nothing that really stands out in a crowded market of similar options.
If you’re used to drinking protein shakes regularly, this one might hit that “good enough” mark. But if you’re picky about vanilla flavors, this one will be a miss.
Oikos Chocolate Protein Shake Review
Chocolate, on the other hand, is where Oikos Pro really delivers. I was surprised by how much I liked this one.
It’s a smooth, almost dark chocolate flavor, which reminded me a lot of OWYN. It’s significantly less sweet than the vanilla, which I actually appreciate. It gives you more of a rich cocoa flavor without making your taste buds scream.
It still tastes like a protein shake, but in a good way. It doesn’t try to be chocolate milk and fail at it, it just leans into the protein shake identity with a solid flavor and a nice smooth texture.
If you prefer sweeter shakes, this one won’t be for you. But for me, the balance was great.
Oikos Salted Caramel Protein Shake Review
After initially trying vanilla and chocolate and feeling split on them, I needed a tiebreaker. Luckily, I found the salted caramel at another grocery store, so I was able to see if it leaned more towards vanilla or chocolate.
Caramel protein shakes can be iffy because caramel is one of those flavors that can get very artificial very quickly.
To my surprise, Oikos nailed this one. The caramel flavor is not overly artificial tasting by any means, and the saltiness does come through without distracting from the main flavor. Oftentimes companies will overdo it on the salt (or disregard it all together), but Oikos struck a great balance here.
As I drank this one, I was waiting for an aftertaste or off-putting flavor, and it never arrived. I thoroughly enjoyed every sip of this one.
If you’re a fan of salted caramel, this is one of the better protein shakes I’ve had in that flavor.
Final Thoughts: Oikos Protein Shakes
These Oikos shakes are a decent option in the growing world of RTD protein drinks, but they’re not breaking any new ground.
With so many ultra-filtered milk options hitting the market now, it’s tough to compete against those top-tier macros. But these shakes can absolutely compete on shelves with the likes of Premier Protein, Pure Protein, or similar protein shakes.
I think the salted caramel flavor beats both Premier Protein and Quest’s versions, if that helps to put it into perspective.
At under $3 per bottle (when on sale), they’re definitely worth grabbing if you spot them in stores. But this one is definitely dependent on the flavor you opt for: I would not buy vanilla again, but I would absolutely grab chocolate or salted caramel in the future.
If you find yourself curious enough to try one of these, I’d skip vanilla, but you might feel differently.
