Equip Foods Review: Real-Food Supplements for Clean Fuel and Easy Nutrition
Equip Foods sits in a very specific lane: supplements that read more like a short grocery list than a chemistry quiz. The brand pushes a “real food to fuel your body” vibe, and it shows up everywhere—from the ingredient callouts to the way it talks about digestion, bloat, and everyday consistency.
The origin story ties back to performance and recovery. Equip highlights Dr. Anthony Gustin (a board-certified sports physician) as a key figure in the brand’s foundation, with the idea that he wanted cleaner options for athletes because typical products didn’t match the standard he looked for. That “why” matters because it frames the entire product line: less filler, more function, and a heavy focus on sourcing and testing.
Another thing that stands out: Equip doesn’t just sell protein powder and call it a day. The brand builds a “fuel system” with multiple formats—powders, bars, gummies, and targeted staples like collagen and colostrum. On the homepage, Equip also positions itself as widely reviewed and “featured on” major outlets, which signals mainstream reach beyond hardcore fitness circles.
Equip also looks like a company in growth mode. A Business Wire release from June 2025 announced a significant investment in Equip Foods by HighPost Capital, describing Equip as a fast-growing brand focused on simple, clean, real-food supplements (and specifically calling out Prime Protein and its 21g protein positioning). That kind of backing doesn’t automatically mean “better,” but it often means the brand expects to scale, expand distribution, and double down on its top-performing products.
The overall vibe: Equip aims at people who want convenience, but refuse “junk ingredient” compromises. It wants the results, but also wants the label to look calm.
The Beef-First Philosophy: Why Equip Built Its Line Around Nose-to-Tail Nutrition
Equip’s signature move is beef-based protein. Prime Protein, the brand’s hero, positions grass-fed beef as “the new whey,” with a big emphasis on being gut-friendly and dairy-free. The pitch is clear: many people love protein goals but hate bloating, weird sweeteners, and gritty textures. Equip tries to solve that by stripping the formula down.
Prime Protein highlights a “built from beef” approach that includes naturally occurring collagen and gelatin, plus complete essential amino acids (the brand calls out that it’s complete, unlike many collagen-only options). It also answers the question everyone asks: “Does it taste like beef?” The product page says no—and leans hard into dessert-like flavor using real-food ingredients like cacao or vanilla.
The manufacturing story is also part of the appeal. Equip describes a process using “heat, water, and time,” avoiding harsh chemicals or solvents, and sourcing from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows mainly in the U.S., with some sourcing from Sweden. Whether someone buys for the story or not, it signals what Equip wants to be known for: minimal processing (as much as powdered food can claim) and fewer “mystery steps.”
Then there’s the transparency angle. Prime Protein’s page says every batch gets independent lab testing for heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants. Equip also built dedicated content around third-party testing, listing categories like heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead) and other concerns like microplastics/BPA/BPS. And after Consumer Reports published an October 2025 piece on lead levels in protein powders/shakes, Equip published its own page about testing commitments, stating that Light Labs performs tests and that certificates of analysis are available.
That’s the “big picture” difference: Equip doesn’t want to win with flashy flavors or bargain pricing. It wants to win with trust, digestion comfort, and labels that feel boring—in the best way.
The Fan Favorites Breakdown: Prime Protein, Prime Bars, and the Colostrum Wave
Here’s the fun part: what people actually buy. Equip’s best-seller lineup centers on Prime Protein and expands into bars, colostrum (powder + gummies), collagen, and a few functional add-ons like Clean Carbs.
Prime Protein is the headline act. Equip frames it as a complete protein with 21g per serving, plus naturally occurring collagen and gelatin. It also leans into “bloat-free” and “gut-friendly,” especially for people who don’t do well with whey, dairy, or common irritants.
The ingredient simplicity is a major selling point. The product page highlights formulas that can be just three ingredients (example given: beef + cocoa + stevia), and it calls out what’s missing: gums, sugar alcohols, and artificial sweeteners.
Flavor variety looks broad too—Chocolate, Vanilla, Unflavored, Cinnamon Roll, Strawberry, Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter, and Iced Coffee show up on the site’s best-seller area.
Practical note: Equip suggests multiple ways to use it—shake, blend, or bake—and even mentions coffee and baked goods. That makes it easier to stay consistent, especially for people who get bored of shakes.
Prime Bar takes the same “real-food” positioning into an on-the-go format. Equip highlights 20g of grass-fed beef protein and calls out “no seed oils,” plus “third-party tested.” The bar also stands out because Equip positions it as including colostrum (and collagen), which is not a typical mainstream protein bar move.
This is the “busy day” product. It’s for the commute, the travel day, the “forgot lunch” moment, or the afternoon crash that usually leads to vending machine choices. If the goal is clean protein without a shaker bottle, this is the grab-and-go pick.
Equip’s colostrum line is a big part of its current identity. Core Colostrum is positioned as a one-ingredient product sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows, with a focus on immunity, gut health, and recovery. Equip also notes low-temperature processing to preserve key components like immunoglobulins and lactoferrin.
The site also calls out Subscribe & Save options (15% is shown on the product page). That matters for people who want to make it a daily habit without constantly price-checking.
How to Build a Simple Equip Routine Without Overthinking It
Equip sells enough products to tempt a “buy everything” spiral. A better move: match the stack to the actual problem.
If the goal is easy daily protein (without dairy drama)
Prime Protein is the anchor. It’s designed for daily use and flexible mixing. Equip even suggests using it in coffee, oats, pancakes, or smoothies. That flexibility matters because the best supplement is the one that actually gets used.
A simple routine looks like:
- Morning: Prime Protein in coffee or a quick shake.
- Afternoon: Prime Bar for a clean “save me” snack.
If training feels flat or recovery feels slow
Add carbs back in, intentionally. Clean Carbs targets glycogen replenishment and positions itself as a convenient whole-food carb option. Pairing protein + carbs post-workout is a classic recovery strategy, and this format helps when “cook a sweet potato” isn’t happening at 9:30 PM.
If gut support is the focus
Core Colostrum is the most direct “gut and immune” option in Equip’s lineup, based on how the brand positions it. The powder fits people who don’t mind mixing, while the gummies fit people who want the easiest possible habit.
If the goal is joints/skin support, or “stacking” with protein
Collagen fits best as a background player. It can slide into coffee or a smoothie without demanding a whole routine change.
Quick reality check
Equip emphasizes third-party testing and transparency, including heavy metals and pesticide testing and access to COAs. That’s a strong step, but it doesn’t replace common sense. People with allergies, medical conditions, or pregnancy/breastfeeding should check with a qualified clinician before starting any supplement routine.
This is the real win: Equip makes it easier to stay consistent. The routines don’t need to get complicated. Keep it boring. Keep it daily. That’s how results stack up.
The Good, The Not-So-Great, and the “Know Before You Click Buy” Stuff
Pros
Prime Protein leans into “no gums, no sugar alcohols, no fake sweeteners,” and it positions its flavors around simple ingredients like cacao/vanilla/strawberry.
That’s ideal for label-checkers and sensitive stomachs.
Equip repeatedly positions Prime Protein as complete (not just collagen), and it targets people who avoid whey.
Equip states independent lab testing for Prime Protein batches (heavy metals, pesticides, contaminants). The brand also publishes broader testing content and post-Consumer-Reports testing commitments, including Light Labs and COA availability.
Prime Bars and colostrum gummies exist for people who won’t consistently mix powders.
Prime Protein’s page shows “Free Shipping on $90+” and “30-day Returns,” which reduces purchase anxiety.
Cons
Vegetarians/vegans won’t touch it, and some people simply prefer whey or plant protein. Prime Protein also leans hard into beef and bones as the source.
Some Prime Protein flavors use stevia (and the brand calls that out in ingredient messaging). Stevia works for many people, but it still tastes “stevia-ish” to others.
Equip positions Core Colostrum as a one-ingredient product from cows. People with dairy sensitivities may want extra caution, even when the product isn’t “milk” in the usual sense.
Free shipping starts at a stated order level ($90+), so smaller orders may feel less satisfying.
Consumer Reports’ October 2025 coverage highlighted lead concerns across protein powders generally, which shows why consumers ask these questions.
Equip responds with more testing detail and COA access, but shoppers still need to read the results and understand what they mean.
Final Thoughts: Who Should Try Equip Foods (and Who Should Skip)
Equip Foods makes the most sense for people who want protein and functional staples, but feel tired of the supplement industry’s usual tricks. If “no fillers” and “simple ingredients” drives buying decisions, Equip delivers a lineup that stays consistent with that promise—especially with Prime Protein. It’s also a strong fit for dairy-free routines, sensitive stomachs, and anyone who wants protein that doesn’t feel like a chalky science experiment.
The brand’s second big draw is format choice. Prime Bars and colostrum gummies exist for the real world, where people travel, forget meals, and hate mixing powders at work. Add-ons like Clean Carbs also target a practical gap: whole-food carbs feel simple in theory, but consistency is hard, and powders can help.
Equip also tries to win trust with transparency. It says it tests products through independent labs and publishes commitments around contaminants and COA access, including heavy metals and pesticides. In a category where consumers keep seeing scary headlines, that’s a meaningful differentiator—even though it still requires shoppers to read and interpret results with context.
Who should skip? Anyone who avoids animal-based products entirely. Also, anyone who wants the cheapest macros possible will likely find better deals elsewhere. Equip isn’t trying to be bargain-bin. It’s trying to be the “this label looks clean enough to trust daily” option.
For coupon and promo codes: the safest strategy is to check current on-site banners, seasonal promos, and Subscribe & Save offers (15% shows on some products), plus any email sign-up incentives that rotate over time.