Best Energy Bars in 2022


Energy Bars

One of the most important things when hiking is your food intake. Of course, a yummy and healthy breakfast can boost your mood and allow you to hike for a few miles, but it won’t last long. Indeed, during a long hike, you need to constantly hydrate and fuel up for energy.

Energy bars are specially formulated to provide your body with enough calories, carbs, proteins, or fat. There are loads of different energy bar categories that you can choose from that will cater to your preferences. Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer an organic snack, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we have summarized the best energy bars for hiking. All of them are available on Amazon. With hundreds and even thousands of positive online reviews, you’ll surely enjoy these snacks. We’ve included the best energy bar for taste and ingredients, the best bang for the buck, a great real replacement, protein bar, energy chews, an organic and vegan snack, keto, fruits and nuts, a quick snack, and the most portable bar that you can get.

 

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Best overall energy bar for taste and ingredients

1. Kate’s Real Food Energy Bar

Kate's Real Food Energy Bar

Click to view on amazon.com.

Calories per serving: 160
Fat/Protein/Carb Grams: 10g/3g/16g
Other Details: 100% Organic, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, Soy-Free, Kosher

If you’re looking for an energy bar that has a pure natural taste, all organic ingredients including raw honey, fruits, and chocolate, and multiple flavors to choose from, then your go-to snack should be Kate’s Real Food Energy Bar.

These energy bars are well-known for their mixed organic ingredients that produce great-tasting snacks. Unlike other manufacturers that use rice syrup as a sweetener, Kate’s uses raw honey, real chocolates, and real fruits for its products.

As many reviewers have mentioned, this is their favorite energy bar because its texture is unmatched. This snack has a fresh crunch once you bite in it, doesn’t have the gooiness that typically gets stuck in between your teeth, and doesn’t have any powdery aftertaste.

Besides, we’re surprised that each pouch contains 2 servings, which means you’ll end up eating about 300 calories. This may be a bit too much for a single traveler, but you can rest assured that you’ll get all the proteins and carbs you’ll need to continue your journey.

Lastly, Kate’s Real Food Energy Bar comes with different flavors, including dark chocolate mint, peanut butter dark chocolate, lemon coconut & ginger, mango coconut, peanut butter milk chocolate, peanut butter hemp & flax, and dark chocolate cherry & almond. When choosing your preferred flavor, make sure to check the nutrition facts to ensure that you get the nutrients and calories that you’re looking for.

For some people, the $28 price tag can be a bit too much for an energy bar, but we find the price fitting because of the high-quality taste and ingredients. Additionally, since it comes in a pack of 12, you’ll only end up spending about $2.31 per bar.


 

Best bang for the buck

2. Justin’s Maple Almond Butter Squeeze Pack

Justin's Maple Almond Butter Squeeze Pack

Click to view on amazon.com.

Calories per serving: 210
Fat/Protein/Carb Grams: 17g/5g/8g
Other Details: Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Kosher, Orangutan-Friendly Palm Oil

If you are a big fan of peanut butter and maple almonds, this could be the best product for you. Justin’s is proud to say that they are the first nut butter manufacturer to produce protein-packed products in a squeeze pack. Because of this, many hikers prefer to use their Maple Almond Butter Squeeze Pack for long hikes thanks to their portability and great taste.

Many people choose this squeeze pack because of the natural ingredients Justin’s uses. Of course, these include their most famous dry roasted almonds known for providing energy when you’re constantly on the move, as well as organic maple syrup, palm oil, and sea salt.

Since it comes in a squeeze pack, you can put it anywhere in your backpack or fanny pack to ensure that you will easily reach and consume your bar while hiking. Additionally, this packaging allows you to either consume it while you’re hiking, use it as a spread on your bread, or as a topping on your apples.

If you’re not fond of Justin’s famous maple almond butter flavor, you can also turn to their classic almond butter and chocolate hazelnut & almond butter flavors. On Amazon, you can purchase one set of 10 packs for only $13.99.

The only downside that we and many users found is that since it comes in a squeeze pack, you need to completely consume the pack that you open, or else it can make a mess if you decide to put it back in your backpack. Additionally, since you need to squeeze out the contents, you can’t expect to clean all the contents out.


 

Choosing the right footwear for your hike is very important. Wearing the wrong footwear could lead to sore feet and blisters which will prevent you from enjoying your hike to the fullest. Lucky for you, we have a list of the best hiking shoes for men, women, and children all in one article.

 

Best great meal replacement

3. Bobo’s Oat Bar

Bobo's Oat Bar

Click to view on amazon.com.

Calories per serving: 340
Fat/Protein/Carb Grams: 0g/3g/31g
Other Details: Gluten-Free, 100% Organic Coconut Oil, 100% Organic Whole Grain Oats, Non-GMO, Vegan, Soy-Free

If you’re looking for an energy bar that acts as a great meal replacement with simple ingredients, you should check out the Bobo’s Oat Bar. Loaded with 340 calories, you’ll surely feel full when you’re done eating just one pack of these bars.

The Bobo’s Oat Bar is mostly comprised of brown rice syrup and organic rolled oats. Although it can be quite confusing for some people, one pack comes with 2 bars, which amounts to 340 calories. Although you can eat each bar separately, we think it’s better to eat them simultaneously since they become stale once the pack is opened.

These bars come in many different flavors, including the original oat bar, chocolate chip, coconut, lemon poppyseed, chocolate almond brownie, maple pecan, apple pie, peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly, almond butter, peach, coconut almond chocolate chip, cinnamon raisin, cranberry orange, peanut butter chocolate chip, dark chocolate almond with sea salt, and banana chocolate chip.

Since this oat bar mostly contains oats and rice syrup, you can’t expect to see nuts and fruits. Most reviewers mentioned that they love these bars because they’re gluten-free and easy to carry. If you’re in for a long hike, these bars are a great way to refuel your body.

Although, it’s worth noting that these bars contain no fats at all and provide very few proteins. They mostly contain slow-burning carbs, which can be great if you’re far from your campsite.


 

Best protein bar

4. KIND Protein Bar

KIND Protein Bar

Click to view on amazon.com.

Calories per serving: 240
Fat/Protein/Carb Grams: 17g/12g/18g
Other Details: Gluten-Free, Kosher, Non-GMO

In all honesty, the KIND Protein Bar is not the energy bar that provides the most protein, with only 12g per serving. If we were looking for the bar that provides the most proteins, we would have chosen the Clif Builder’s bar, with its whopping 20g of protein per serving. But instead, we chose the KIND energy bar because its proteins mainly come from nuts and because it doesn’t have the same well-known powdery taste as most protein bars.

Many users are pleasantly surprised by the texture and taste of the KIND protein bar. Indeed, unlike other bars, KIND uses different ingredients for their bars, including but not limited to peanuts, almonds, honey, soy protein isolate, glucose syrup, sugar, palm kernel oil, natural flavor, sea salt, chicory root fiber, and many more.

The KIND Protein Bars come in many different flavors, such as crunchy peanut butter, dark chocolate nut (a fans’ favorite!), caramel nut, and almond butter dark chocolate. If you’re looking to up your protein intake while you’re on the move without experiencing the powdery taste of almost all protein bars, then this should be your top choice.

The only downside of these energy bars is that the flavors cover almost half of the entire bar, which means that when you put them inside your backpack or fanny pack, you might find the coating melted. This could result in a messy snack and wrappers.


 

Best energy chew

5. Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews

Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews

Click to view on amazon.com.

Calories per serving: 160
Fat/Protein/Carb Grams: 0g/1g/39g
Other Details: 95% Organic, Gluten-Free

Energy chews are becoming popular in the world of athletes because they can easily boost your energy. These are essentially sugars with different flavors, but the Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews have a different approach.

Honey Stinger uses wholesome ingredients in all their product lines, including their energy chews. Unlike other manufacturers who use artificial sugar and flavoring, just like their name suggests, they use pure high-quality honey.

Also, their energy chews come in different flavors, which include a fruit smoothie, pomegranate passionfruit, pink lemonade, cherry blossom, orange blossom, strawberry, caffeinated cherry cola, and caffeinated limeade. Compared to other fruit snacks, these energy chews don’t have a gooey and waxy texture.

These chews are easy enough to consume. You either pop them into your mouth and suck on them or swallow them. Because of their textures and sizes, you don’t need to drink water to chase the chew down your throat.

Since these energy chews are a high source of sugar, many online reviewers mentioned that taking these chews will shoot up your sugar intake, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes. Another downside is that during warm and hot days, these chews may become sticky, which can leave some residue on their packaging and on your fingers.

Overall, if you’re looking for an easy way to boost your sugar intake, increase your energy, and if you love candies, the Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews is a great choice. On Amazon, one pack of 12 only costs $28.78, making these a great purchase.


 

Whether you’re going on a quick day hike or a multi-day backpacking trip, you’ll need a reliable hiking backpack to help you carry and store your hiking gear. If you’re not sure about which pack you should get, check out our article about the best hiking backpacks to see which ones are our favorites. 

 

Best vegan energy bar

6. Skratch Labs Bar

Skratch Labs Bar

Click to view on amazon.com.

Calories per serving: 220
Fat/Protein/Carb Grams: 9g/4g/33g
Other Details: Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Kosher

One of the many fans’ favorites when it comes to vegan energy bars is the Skratch Labs Bar. With its various flavors, vegan options, and affordability, you can be sure that you’ll find something you love with these bars.

Depending on the flavors that you choose, you’ll find different ingredients and calorie intakes. The flavors include cherries & pistachios, chocolate chips & almonds, peanut butter & strawberries, raspberries & lemons, and savory miso. Their non-vegan flavors include parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes & black pepper.

With hundreds of reviews on Amazon, we’ve noticed mixed feelings about the flavors. Some users said they loved all the flavors of the Skratch Labs Bars. Meanwhile, several buyers stated they didn’t like the savory miso at all.

However, the most common reviews say that these bars fill you up well when you can’t have an actual meal. Some people mentioned that you wouldn’t be able to eat the entire bar in one sitting because it’s already heavy in the stomach. Although, some people admitted that they loved the taste so much that they couldn’t stop eating it.


 

Best keto bar

7. GoodTo Go Soft Baked Bar

GoodTo Go Soft Baked Bar

Click to view on amazon.com.

Calories per serving: 170
Fat/Protein/Carb Grams: 14g/5g/15g
Other Details: Keto Certified, Vegan, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Peanut-Free, Kosher, Non-GMO

Since the keto diet is becoming more and more popular among diet-conscious hikers, we believe it’s appropriate to include the best keto bar in this review. While there are lots of keto energy bars on the market today, we chose to talk about the GoodTo Go Soft Baked Bar because of its incredible taste and its keto-approved by the Paleo Foundation.

The GoodTo Go Sot Baked Bars received a majority of 5 stars reviews on Amazon. Thanks to its superb taste while maintaining its keto efficiency, many people choose this product over its competitors. It comes in many different flavors, which include cocoa coconut, vanilla almond, raspberry lemon, cinnamon pecan, blueberry cashew, chocolate mint, double chocolate, and strawberry macadamia.

If you’re on a strict keto diet, you’ll especially love these bars because, as almost all reviewers said, it’s so delicious. The only downside about the GoodTo Go Soft Baked Bar is that it uses an artificial ingredient called inulin, which a good number of the population has a hard time digesting. This results in bloating and even stomach aches.

Nevertheless, if you know you can handle the ingredients, are on a strict keto diet but still want to hike, you should check out the GoodTo Go Soft Baked Bar.


 

Best fruits and nuts energy bar

8. That’s It Fruit Bar

That's It Fruit Bar

Click to view on amazon.com.

Calories per serving: 100
Fat/Protein/Carb Grams: 0g/1g/22g
Other Details: Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Paleo, Allergen-Friendly, Kosher

Hiking through difficult terrains can be extra challenging if you’re getting hungry by the minute. Thankfully, energy bars like the That’s It Fruit Bar help you regain your strength while being healthy and delicious.

Out of all the products in this review, That’s It is the only manufacturer that uses only two ingredients for their products. Because it’s all plant-based, you can be sure that these bars are vegan-friendly, making them as versatile as ever. It’s also allergen-friendly because it doesn’t contain any milk, egg, fish, sesame, shellfish, tree nut, celery, wheat, peanut, mustard, soy, or even sulfite.

That’s It Fruit Bars comes in different flavors, including apple & cherry, apple & fig, apple & banana, apple & pear, apple plus pear & ginger, apple plus, mango & chili, apple & date, apple & cinnamon, apple & coconut, apple & cranberry, apple & apricot, and lastly apple & pineapple.

This energy bar is awarded as one of Amazon’s Choice, garnering almost 3,000 positive reviews from its users. In these reviews, you’ll often find people praising the taste of these bars while mentioning that they greatly appreciate how diet-friendly they are.

Of course, not all people can agree with this. In a handful of reviews you’ll read on Amazon, people mention that the bars are too dry and hard to eat. All in all, it will depend on your taste buds, but rest assured that That’s It Fruit Bar will give you the energy that you need to continue your journey.


 

Nobody wants to experience a quick day hike trip with excessive weight on their shoulders. Imagine the heavy load and muscle pains you’ll go through by the time you get back home. To help you avoid this situation, read our article to learn how to pack for a day hike.

 

Best quick snack

9. Honey Stinger Waffle

Honey Stinger Waffle

Click to view on amazon.com.

Calories per serving: 150
Fat/Protein/Carb Grams: 7g/1g/21
Other Details: 100% Organic, Kosher, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Option for Gluten-Free

If you’re looking for a quick snack while hiking your way through new terrains, the Honey Stinger Waffle could be the best product to bring with you. Because honey is its main component, you can be sure that it will replenish your energy without sacrificing taste.

These Honey Stinger Waffles come in four different flavors — the classic honey, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. You can also go gluten-free, which is a big plus for people who are on a strict diet. These are wafer-thin, so it’s easy to bring a couple of packs with you on the road.

With over 3,800 reviews on Amazon, you can hardly doubt that this would taste bad. Many people find the waffle so tasty that they couldn’t stop themselves from eating more. Although, some people mentioned that the waffles were too dry and hard. We suggest that you keep these waffles at room temperature to ensure that they won’t harden.

The greatest downside of the Honey Stinger Waffle, however, is that it’s crumbly, especially when it’s been tossed around the backpack for a while. You’ll notice this when you open the pack and the waffle itself is soft and easily crumbles.


 

Best energy bars: Comparison table

FotoEnergy bars Calories per servingFat/Protein/Carb GramsOther Details
Kate's Real Food Energy Bar

1. Kate's Real Food Energy Bar

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16010g/3g/16g100% Organic, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, Soy-Free, Kosher 
Justin's Maple Almond Butter Squeeze Pack

2. Justin's Maple Almond Butter Squeeze Pack

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21017g/5g/8gNon-GMO, Gluten-Free, Kosher, Orangutan-Friendly Palm Oil
Bobo's Oat Bar

3. Bobo's Oat Bar

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3400g/3g/31gGluten-Free, 100% Organic Coconut Oil, 100% Organic Whole Grain Oats, Non-GMO, Vegan, Soy-Free
KIND Protein Bar

4. KIND Protein Bar

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24017g/12g/18gGluten-Free, Kosher, Non-GMO
Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews

5. Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews

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1600g/1g/39g95% Organic, Gluten-Free
Skratch Labs Bar

6. Skratch Labs Bar

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2209g/4g/33gNon-GMO, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Kosher
GoodTo Go Soft Baked Bar

7. GoodTo Go Soft Baked Bar

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17014g/5g/15gKeto Certified, Vegan, Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Peanut-Free, Kosher, Non-GMO
That's It Fruit Bar

8. That's It Fruit Bar

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1000g/1g/22gNon-GMO, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Paleo, Allergen-Friendly, Kosher
Honey Stinger Waffle

9. Honey Stinger Waffle

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1507g/1g/21100% Organic, Kosher, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Option for Gluten-Free

 

Factors to consider when buying energy bars

Energy bars have been a big help for athletes, hikers, cyclists, diet-conscious, and people who need to control their particular food intake. Ingredients can differ depending on the focus of the manufacturer and the flavors included.

Here are a few factors that you should consider when buying energy bars.

  1. Taste

    Of course, it can be difficult to eat things that we don’t like. When choosing an energy bar to bring with you, make sure to read previous users’ reviews first, and taste a bar before your trip. These bars also come in different flavors, so you have a wide range of products to choose from.

  1. Texture

    Not all energy bars are edible — trust us. Throughout hours of research, we found out that some bars are as hard as rocks and almost inedible because of their tastes and textures. That is why it’s important to ensure that you’re comfortable with the texture of the product that you choose.

    While some bars melt with little contact with the heat of the sun, some become as hard as a rock when temperatures start going down. Meanwhile, some bars are created with just the right texture and taste so you won’t be able to stop eating.

  1. Caloric density

    Energy bars are measured based on their efficiency to provide just enough calories/energy for some time. When choosing an energy bar, you must read the nutritional facts of the products. This table can help you determine how far you can go with the product that you eat in a small-time.

  1. Ingredients

    It’s a no-brainer that we should all choose an energy bar that’s made with healthy ingredients. With all the artificial ingredients and flavors popping up on manufacturers’ ingredients lists, you must check if the products that you choose are made with the right elements.

 

Final thoughts

Energy bars are a big help for anyone who needs a quick energy boost. If you’re hiking on a long trail and need a quick snack while you’re on the move, then make sure that you have an energy bar that you can easily reach in your pack. 

While you’re on a hike or a similar kind of activity, it’s important to keep track not only of your water intake but of your food intake as well. It’s perfectly fine, even recommended, to eat something during your hike to keep your energy levels up. This will help you enjoy your hike even more because you won’t be thinking about how hungry you are. 

No matter what your taste and food preference may be, there are tons of energy bar options for you to choose from. The ones that we mentioned above are our favorites and we hope that they will be your favorites too.

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