Bubs Collagen Peptides Review : Is It Worth It?

If you have been feeling that suspicious creak in your knees every time you squat to pick up a laundry basket, or if your skin is looking a little more “tired” than usual, you have likely fallen down the collagen rabbit hole.

It starts with a simple Google search and ends with you staring at twenty different white tubs of powder that all promise to turn back the clock. That is exactly where I was. I wanted a supplement that wasn’t full of junk, fillers, or artificial sweeteners. I wanted the “cleanest” option available. That search led me to Bubs Naturals.

The short answer is yes, Bubs Collagen is worth it, especially if you are an athlete or someone who is paranoid about heavy metals and impurities in supplements. For the freshest batch and to ensure a portion of your purchase actually goes to the charity they support, I recommend buying directly from the Bubs Naturals website or their official Amazon storefront. Buying direct also guarantees you get the latest packaging, as they sometimes switch between bags and tubs.

My Experience With Bubs Collagen Peptides

I ordered the 20-ounce tub because I believe in committing to a supplement for at least a month to see real results.

When it arrived, the first thing I noticed was the branding—it feels rugged and no-nonsense.

Knowing the brand was founded as a tribute to Glen “Bub” Doherty, a Navy SEAL, gave the product a sense of gravity that other “beauty-focused” collagen brands lack.

Opening the seal, I was braced for that weird, barnyard smell that some bovine collagen powders have. To my surprise, it was almost completely odorless. You really have to stick your nose in the powder to detect anything. I started my first morning by dumping a scoop into my black coffee.

This is the moment of truth for any collagen: the stir test. I grabbed a spoon and gave it a whirl. It dissolved about 95% of the way instantly. There were a few stubborn white specks floating on top, but after letting it sit for thirty seconds and giving it one more stir, they vanished.

The taste—or lack thereof—is impressive. In black coffee, I couldn’t taste it at all. It didn’t add that gummy texture or “beefy” aftertaste that has ruined my morning brew with other brands. It just vanished.

Fast forward three weeks. The first change I noticed wasn’t in my mirror; it was in my gym recovery. I usually have a nagging soreness in my right shoulder after overhead press days. About two weeks into using Bubs, I realized I hadn’t reached for the ibuprofen in a while. My joints felt “oiled,” less stiff in the mornings.

By week four, the cosmetic benefits kicked in. My nails, which usually peel and break if I look at them wrong, were rock hard. I actually had to clip them because they were clicking on my keyboard. My skin felt slightly more hydrated, less prone to those dry patches I usually get around my nose in the winter.

The only hiccup in my experience was the scoop. It was buried at the absolute bottom of the tub. I spent the first three days using a tablespoon measure until I finally dug it out. It’s a minor annoyance, but a messy one. Overall, adding Bubs to my routine felt effortless because it didn’t require me to choke down a gross drink. It just disappeared into my coffee, and the results spoke for themselves.

Read More: My Thoughts On Bum Essentials Pre Workout

Pros Of Bubs Collagen Peptides

• NSF Certified For Sport: This is the heavyweight champion of “Pros” for this product. Most supplements are unregulated, meaning what’s on the label might not be what’s in the tub. “NSF Certified for Sport” is the gold standard of third-party testing. It means every batch is tested for over 270 banned substances and contaminants like lead, arsenic, and mercury. If you are an athlete who gets drug tested, or just a health-conscious person who doesn’t want to accidentally ingest heavy metals, this certification justifies the price tag alone. It offers a peace of mind that cheaper brands simply cannot provide.
• Exceptional Solubility and Neutral Flavor: Many companies claim their collagen is “flavorless,” but they lie. You often get a lingering bone-broth taste that ruins a fruit smoothie or coffee. Bubs is the closest to truly neutral I have found. You can mix it into oatmeal, yogurt, or even soup, and it won’t alter the flavor profile. The solubility is also top-tier. Because it is hydrolyzed (broken down into smaller peptides), it doesn’t turn into a gelatinous blob the moment it hits liquid. It mixes cleanly, which encourages you to actually stick to the habit daily.
• Charitable Impact (The Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation): When you buy Bubs, you aren’t just lining the pockets of a CEO. The company donates 10% of all proceeds (not just profits) to the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation, which helps Special Operations soldiers transition to civilian life through education and recreation. It feels good to know that your morning coffee ritual is helping a veteran get a scholarship or professional training. It adds a layer of purpose to the purchase that makes you feel like part of a community.
• Cleanest Ingredient Profile: The ingredient list is one item long: Bovine Collagen Peptides. There are no gums, no stevia, no “natural flavors” (which can mean anything), and no anti-caking agents. It is Whole30 Approved, Keto-friendly, and Paleo. They source their hides from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle in South America (typically Brazil or Uruguay), which is the industry standard for high-quality collagen. You are getting types I and III collagen, which are the primary building blocks for skin, hair, and connective tissue.

Cons Of Bubs Collagen Peptides

• Premium Price Point: Quality testing costs money, and that cost is passed on to you. Bubs is significantly more expensive per ounce than the giant blue tubs of collagen you see at big-box wholesale stores. If you are on a strict budget, spending $40+ a month on a single supplement might be a hard pill to swallow. You are paying for the NSF certification and the charitable donation. If those things don’t matter to you, you might find the price hard to justify compared to generic alternatives that technically offer the same 20g of protein.
• Packaging Inconsistencies (Bag vs. Tub): Depending on where and when you buy, you might receive a tub or a resealable bag. The bags are notorious for having faulty zippers. Powder gets stuck in the tracks, making it impossible to seal, which leads to the collagen clumping up from humidity. The tubs are great, but sometimes they arrive only half-full (due to settling), which feels like a rip-off visually, even if the weight is correct. Dealing with a bag that won’t close at 6 AM is a frustration you shouldn’t have to deal with at this price point.
• No Scoop or Buried Scoop: As I mentioned in my experience, the “hunt for the scoop” is real. Sometimes, to reduce plastic waste, they might phase out scoops entirely (a trend in the industry), forcing you to use your own spoons. If you rely on the scoop for exact dosage, this is annoying. When the scoop is included, it is often buried so deep that you have to use a fork to fish it out, covering your hand in sticky collagen powder in the process.
• Does Not Mix Well in Ice Cold Water: While it dissolves great in hot coffee or room-temperature water, it struggles with ice water. If you dump a scoop into a glass of water filled with ice, the collagen will seize up and form gummy strings that stick to the glass and your teeth. You absolutely must mix it into room temp liquid first, dissolve it, and then add the ice. If you are an “iced coffee only” person, this adds an extra step to your morning routine that can be irritating when you are in a rush.

Maintenance Tips For Bubs Collagen Peptides

• The “Slurry” Method for Cold Drinks: Since collagen clumps in ice water, use the slurry method. Put your scoop of powder in a glass with just an inch of hot or warm water. Stir it vigorously until it is dissolved—it will look like a clear syrup. Then pour your cold brew, iced tea, or smoothie over it. This guarantees a smooth texture without any gummy chunks. Alternatively, use a handheld electric milk frother. The high-speed whisking forces the powder to integrate even in cold liquids much better than a spoon ever could.
• Storage is Key to Preventing Clumps: Collagen is hydroscopic, meaning it loves to absorb moisture from the air. If you leave the lid off or the bag unsealed, it will turn into a brick. Keep the tub in a cool, dry pantry. Do not keep it right next to your stove where steam from cooking can get into the container. If you buy the bag version and the zipper fails, transfer the powder immediately to an airtight glass jar or a Tupperware container. This will keep the powder loose and fresh for months.
• Cycling and Dosage: The recommended serving is usually two scoops (20 grams). However, if you are new to collagen, start with one scoop for the first week. Sudden high doses of protein can sometimes cause bloating or digestive gurgling until your gut adjusts. Once you are comfortable, you can ramp up to the full two scoops. Consistency is more important than quantity; taking 10g every single day is better than taking 20g once a week.
• Get Creative with Recipes: Don’t limit yourself to coffee. Because Bubs is heat stable, you can bake with it. Add a scoop to your pancake batter, your muffin mix, or your morning oatmeal. It dissolves perfectly in warm soups and bone broths, boosting the protein content without altering the texture. This is a great way to get your collagen in if you aren’t a coffee drinker or if you prefer a savory start to your day.

Read More: My Thoughts On Legion Pulse Pre Workout Supplement

Comparison with Other Brands

• Bubs vs. Vital Proteins: Vital Proteins is the “big blue tub” you see everywhere. The main difference is the certification and solubility. Vital Proteins was recently bought by Nestlé and has faced some complaints about quality changes (clumping issues). Bubs is still independently focused and maintains the NSF Certified for Sport badge, which Vital Proteins generally does not carry on their standard retail tubs (only specific performance lines). Vital Proteins is cheaper and easier to find, but Bubs feels like a higher quality, cleaner product. If you just want cheap collagen, go Vital. If you want purity, go Bubs.
• Bubs vs. Sports Research: Sports Research is probably the closest competitor in terms of quality. They also use hydrolyzed bovine collagen and have good solubility. Sports Research often comes in a “Dark Chocolate” flavor that is incredibly popular, whereas Bubs focuses heavily on the unflavored version. Sports Research is often slightly cheaper per ounce on Amazon. However, Bubs wins on the charitable aspect. If you are torn between the two, it comes down to whether you want a flavor (Sports Research) or a mission-driven unflavored staple (Bubs).
• Bubs vs. Great Lakes: Great Lakes was one of the original collagen brands. They are famous for their green can. Their collagen is excellent, but their packaging is notoriously messy (the powder flies everywhere when you open the can). Great Lakes also processes their collagen differently, resulting in a very fine powder that dissolves almost too fast, sometimes creating a dust cloud. Bubs has a slightly more granular texture that is easier to scoop without making a mess. Great Lakes is a legacy brand with a loyal following, but Bubs feels more modern and athlete-focused.
• Bubs vs. Orgain: Orgain is known for plant-based proteins, but they have a collagen line too. Orgain often mixes their collagen with “superfoods” or probiotics. While this sounds good, it means you are getting less actual collagen per scoop because the space is taken up by other fillers. Bubs is 100% collagen. If you want a “all-in-one” shake, Orgain is fine. But if you want a dedicated high-dosage collagen supplement to tackle joint pain and skin health specifically, Bubs is the more potent, concentrated choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

Bubs Collagen Peptides is not the cheapest option on the shelf, but it is arguably one of the safest and most effective. The NSF certification provides a level of trust that is rare in the supplement industry, making it the go-to choice for athletes and health purists. While the packaging could use a slight upgrade to prevent the “buried scoop” issue, the product itself is top-tier: tasteless, soluble, and effective. If you are ready to invest in your long-term joint and skin health, I highly recommend picking up a tub from Bubs Naturals and committing to the process.