Registered: 04/07/04
Posts: 221
Loc: Arkansan displaced in the PNW
Big Sur bars. Hands down, 100%, nothing else comes close. But beware, the pack a wallop -- 339 calories a serving, 2 servings a bar! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
The great thing about them is that they can be frozen, so buy several at a time when you find them on sale! Just thaw them out before your next trip.
I use them for meals when I'm doing the intercontinental flight thing, and they are my preferred energy bar for hiking and climbing. I think they taste great, except for the Cran Lemon Twister which is too tart for me, and they don't screw with my plumbing the way Clif bars tend to these days...
Registered: 05/10/04
Posts: 493
Loc: Lynchburg, VA
I was wondering when someone was going to mention these. I ordered some one time based on reading about them over at BPL. They are really good, and they are huge. Kinda like a small brick. You could actually probably eat one for lunch and get full.
Usually I just buy some type of crunchy granola bar from albertsons. Crunchy is a must in winter because chewy bars freeze and also crunchy is very to eat (doesn't require much chewing).
Are you guys paying 3.29 for one of those Superfood Bars? I think I would have to make my own at that price.
I eat Clif Bars and Snickers. For some reason the combination of a a Clif Bar and a bite sized Snickers seems to work very good for me as a snack. I started doing this to get rid of halloween snickers that were left over and after the snickers were gone I went back to the old Clif by itself. But I noticed that it just did not seem to have the same 'punch for lunch'. Not sure why this combo and my metabolism seem to function so well toghether.
Cliff Bars are my 1st choice but nibbling on a Snickers trail bar while eating a Cliff Bar is very delicious...if one can use that word in the same breath as energy bars.
Eric
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"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."
I vote for snickers for quick energy. Some people consider sugar "the white death", but what a way to go. BTW add some granola and dark chocolat for balance. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
I also find myself mixing mars/snickers with clif bars for a bit of variety yet cheaper than all clif bars <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
I get mine at Trader Joe's - 99c for the standard Cliff bar. A lot of people recommend fig newtons as a cheaper equivalent to an energy bar - just not as durable. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
My compulsive nature took over and I tried a Big Sur bar. Very good, big, tasty, more like a dessert, it is that good. The bar is 5 oz. 660 calories and very filling. If you live in So Cal, Mothers Market carries the Big Sur and the Pro Bar.
I also vote with Jason for the Lara Bar, again with the Cherry one the most addicting. When you buy them in bulk at Costco, you get stuck with the other two flavors that aren't nearly as good -- make sure your trailmate gets those. On my last trip to Costco I couldn't find Lara Bars, and they had something called a Trio -- a vegan bar that looked like a Lara -- in its place.
They come to about 70¢ each in bulk at Sam’s club.
They are so good. They taste like a nice good soft candy bar but with all the fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals loaded. I did not get sick of them on multiday trips. I could easily eat 2 bars for a snack/meal.
They do melt a bit more than my marathon snicker bars but this was not a problem as I just licked the wrapper clean.
Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1228
Loc: Eastern MA, USA
"They do melt a bit more than my marathon snicker bars but this was not a problem as I just licked the wrapper clean."
A man on the same thought train.
# 1 NEVER waste chocolate.
# 2 It took plenty of energy to drag my food and sorry self to wherever. Don't waste a bit of it! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> CamperMom
Do any of the 'energy' bars provide an energy boost? The ones I've checked out didn't seem very calorie dense although some were more balanced than a candy bar. Do any of them beat the calorie content of, e.g., mixed nuts (~160-170c/oz)?
FB
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"...inalienable rights...include the right to a clean and healthful environment..." Montana Constitution
IMO, most of 'em do because they contain some sugar and carbs. sugar gets into you the fastest, so if you want an energy boost quick, that's what you want. Nuts and sausage have a higher calorie content per unit weight because they contain lots of fat - in the context of having energy this isn't a bad thing - but while the fat in these will eventually give you energy, it won't do it as quickly as a good old fashioned sugar rush. Hence my reason for carrying high sugar energy bar snacks (Hey, a mars bar even says "energy bar" on it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> along with nuts and sausage and dried fruit. I find I do well with small snackings on those nuts and the like with the occasional sugar boost of a candy bar.
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