Favorite Energy Food Bars?

S

Scott Free

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Sep 15, 1999
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My daypack is always loaded with a freeze dried dinner, oatmeal, sugar, hot chocolate, tea, and soup. This is emergency food only and is only designed to get me through an unexpected night in the woods. I'm thinking of picking up a couple of energy food bars to keep in the pack but don't know where to start. What's your favorite? Calories are more important to me than nutrition. Usually I pick up a couple of Snickers bars. What should I be buying instead?
 
Hey Scott Free,

I'm an avid camper/hiker, but a rabid cyclist/triathlete, and therefore eat my share of energy bars...

My two favorite brands are Kashi and Lara, based 100% on taste and the ability of my body to process it. Most people that I've introduced them to like them as much as I do. Also, most supermarkets put them on sale 1 for a dollar every now and again, and I stock up every couple of motnhs.

As a side note...Snickers bars are tasty! If you're out for a long time, but are disgusted by XYZ brand, the half/uneaten XYZ Brand bar that's still in your pack is worse than the Snickers.

Buon appetito!
 
I personally like Cliff bars. They're pretty popular with the WSS crew. If all you want is some quick calorically dense food though, there's nothing wrong with the snickers. Find a store that lets you buy them one at a time (I know Krogers and Trader Joe's both do) and grab a couple each time you go, try some until you find one that you like.
 
Snickers, Powerbars, EatMore, fruit bars, hell i'll eat any energy bar or granola bar.
 
Been doing the power bars and they work for me. When you go to starbucks and get tea. You can ask them for honey sticks. I find them to help me on backpacking trips. Just suck the honey out.

Sasha
 
another vote for Kashi and cliff those are my two favorites for back up energy in the woods...
 
Please don't overlook a small jar or two of quality brand peanut butter which provides almost 100 calories per tablespoon. It also satisfies the appetite and provides some reasonably good nutrition at the same time. A 2.5 pound jar of 'Jif,' for example, contains about 6,650 calories and the empty plastic jar has a multitude of uses .
 
I enjoy Cliff bars regardless of setting (Carrot Cake and Peanut butter chocolate chip :drool: )
 
I like Balance bars, Cliff bars, and almond Snickers, and Lara bars, it says thier web page is under construction but the SOG survival bars, while garish are quite good, and packed with, well everything. I remember them having somethign like 800 calories, 300mg of caffiene, 30g protien they are intense
 
An excellent idea for emergency energy, if not the most appealing food

I use them for cycling as well (a 205 km ride in one day a couple of months back) and they are a necessity but they can be hard to choke down - but I suppose that keeps makes then last a while (flavoured sticky cardboard). On the bike when riding in a group I cut them into strips and put in a pouch and try and have a bite every 15 minutes or so - but that is because slowing or weaving in a group of riders can get hairy. Try a few types and find what you like - I have a couple of powerbars in my car kit.

But also some of the standard granola/muesli bars are quite energy dense and more palatable too -and useful as a real snack if the mood takes you - and hence more easily cycled through the kit near use by dates. I have yet to meet anyone who eats a powerbar for fun

On a different note the gels might be of interest as a compliment - they give a spike in energy after 15 minutes for half an hour or so. An advantage if coming to hills late in the day.

There are even energy jelly beans now -they are naturally wrapped and portion controlled they are easy to use without mess and a piece at a time.

Have fun
 
You could always make your own flapjack and add whatever ingredients you like. Then cut and wrap into whatever size portions suit you. Cheap and easy! Freeze the surplus.
 
Try the Clif Builder's Bars. I think they taste better and have a MUCH better consistency compared to regular Clif bars. They have a significant amount of protein, which is very good for you in an active or recovery situation.
 
Cliff Bars, particularly the oatmeal+raisin+walnut. I could almost live on those. I second the mention of jelly beans; the Jelly Belly Sport Beans are good for quick energy. Make sure you drink some water along with them!
 
Rex G said:
Cliff Bars, particularly the oatmeal+raisin+walnut. I could almost live on those. I second the mention of jelly beans; the Jelly Belly Sport Beans are good for quick energy. Make sure you drink some water along with them!
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Cliff Bars are the best tasting energy bars. Someone sent me a case of them when I was in Iraq and they taste so much better than the power bars and other brands. My favorite is the oatmeal, raisin, walnut and the chocholate chip.
 
i tried a couple of cliff bars once, i didn't really think they were that great.

i will basically take anything with at least 200 calories per package that are on sale when i am stocking up for a weekend. i like to take them in the woods with me so that i can avoid cooking when i want to, or to eat while on the move.

i have enjoyed powerbar protein plus, i like the flavor and consistency. i also like the snicker's marathon bars...

i discovered poptarts run about 300 calories per packet, but are mostly sugar. good for straight calories when needed...

i'm also a fan of peanut butter and honey, hard to beat for carbs, protein, and fat. they also satisfy my sweet tooth without filling me up with processed sugars. (i usually stick to natural peanut butter)

there is a good looking recipe for a calorie dump type of food on Marty Simon's website. its under winter 2008: http://weteachu.com/newsletter.htm

EDITED to add;
i also am a big fan of the Nature Valley sweet and salty bars...i have eaten a box of those for breakfast after a cold night in the woods. good stuff.
 
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I like Cliff bars (oatmeal+raisin+walnut, chocolate chip), those nature valley oats and honey bars, and tiger milk bars. I think I do the cliff bars more though.
 
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