10 Best Energy Bars for Hiking & Protein Bars of 2025

Over the last decade, our team has taste-tested and carefully analyzed the ingredients of more than 200 energy bars, gels, and chews. In this guide, we’ll share our favorites that have fueled over 20,000 miles of hiking for the CleverHiker team.

From brands like CLIF, Kate’s Real Food, KIND, PROBAR, Justin’s, and so many more, we looked at nutrition, taste, texture, and weight/packability to figure out which bar is the best overall and which ones are excellent for specific uses.

And for more info, check out some of our other popular gear guides:

Check out this quick list of our favorites if you’re in a hurry, or continue scrolling to see our full list of the best energy bars with in-depth reviews.

Best Energy Bar Overall: Kate’s Real Food Energy Bars ($2.74/bar)

Best Plant-Based Protein Bar: GoMacro Bars ($3.21/bar)

Best Meal Bar: PROBAR Meal Bar ($3.33/bar)

Best Protein Bar for Easy-to-Read Ingredients: RXBar ($2.33/bar)

Best Gluten-Free Protein Bar: KIND Breakfast Bars ($0.99/bar)

Energy Bar with the Best Texture: Bobo’s Oat Bars ($2.74/bar)

High-Quality Ingredients & Unique Flavors: TAOS Bakes Mountain Energy ($2.49/bar)

Quick-Digesting Fuel: Honey Stinger Waffles ($1.71/bar)

Protein Bar with Excellent Texture: LaraBar ($1.11/bar)

Protein Bar with the Best Chocolate Flavors: Gatorade Whey Protein Recover Bars ($1.83/bar)

Best Combo of Macros & Natural Ingredients: MTN OPS Venture Bars ($2.49/bar)

Best Keto-Friendly Protein Bar: EPIC Jerky Bars ($2.67/bar)

Most Filling Protein Bar: CLIF Builder’s Bar ($2.12/bar)

Long-Lasting Energy: KIND Protein Bar ($2.36/bar)

Best Calorie-to-Weight Ratio:  Justin’s Nut Butter Pouches ($1.49/pouch)

Classic Protein Bar with Many Flavors: CLIF Bars ($1.54/bar)

Most Affordable Granola Bar: Nature Valley Crunchy Bars ($0.54/bar)

Great Keto Option: IQBars ($2.09/bar)

Best Energy Chews: CLIF Bloks ($2.90/pouch)

Easy to Digest Protein Bar: Maurten Solid 160 ($3.00/bar)

Low-Cost Energy Bar: Luna Bars ($1.37/bar)

How We Test & Methodology

NUTRITION

This metric is arguably the most important one when analyzing energy bars for hiking. We consider the calorie content and macro ratios, as well as how the macro balance applies to trail activities (for instance, is a given bar better for sustained energy or a quick boost when you’re hitting the wall?).

We also consider the number of calories for the price. To score energy bars for nutrition, we analyze the product labels and have a certified sports nutrition coach weigh in on what type of athlete, activity, and scenario the product is best for.

WEIGHT & PACKABILITY

Packability is a key concern as we evaluate energy bars. To determine a snack’s packability, we look at the weight-to-calorie ratio, the size and shape of the bar, the durability of the packaging, and the potential for melting/smushing/crumbling.

Testing involves taking energy bars for our usual hikes and backpacking trips, noting whether the wrappers feel resistant to tearing, if the bars are larger than expected, and whether the bar crumbles, melts, or otherwise becomes unrecognizable while in the pack.

TASTE

To rate energy bars for taste as objectively as possible, we order variety packs and taste as many flavors as we can. We note any chemical-like tastes (such as from sugar alcohols or artificial flavors), aftertastes, salt factor, sweetness, and how accurate the stated flavor is. We also solicit feedback from co-testers and friends to find out if there is a consensus about the palatability of brands and specific flavors.

TEXTURE

Our testing for this metric involves tasting multiple flavors and describing the texture and mouthfeel, calling out any particularly pleasant or unfavorable experiences. We note details on the density, dryness, chalkiness, crumbliness, or chewiness of each bar. As with taste, we share our bars to get a broader sample of opinions.

Why Trust CleverHiker

We test energy bars like we test all hiking gear: by actually buying the products and taking them along for our hikes. Our contributors have collective decades of hiking experience under their belts, and we have tried dozens upon dozens of energy bars. For the most recent update to this guide, lead gear analyst Amanda Capritto tested more than 20 bars on adventures all across the mountains and coastline of California.

We also had a certified sports nutrition coach and hiker analyze the nutrition facts label of every energy bar we recommend. This added element allows us to ID energy bars for different dietary needs and different situations on trail. We’re also experts in packing for multi-night trips and thru-hikes, so we’re able to analyze the calories-per-ounce of each energy bar so you can fine-tune your pack weight and meal plan. 

Analysis & Results

VALUE

The value of an energy bar lies in its weight-to-calorie ratio. Of course, there are other metrics that matter, but if we’re looking solely at value, we want to know how many cents we’re paying per calorie. This is especially true for multi-night backpacking trips and thru-hikes, when pack weight and nutrition are of the utmost importance. We like to see about one calorie per cent, but we also understand that higher-quality ingredients drive up the price. 

The best-value energy bars (typically 1 cent per calorie) include CLIF Bar, Luna Bar, Nature Valley, and PROBAR. Bars made with primarily whole-food ingredients, like RXBars, EPIC Jerky Bars, Kate’s Real Food bars, TAOS Energy Bakes, GoMacro Bars, IQBars, and Justin’s Nut Butter Pouches will cost more per calorie but perhaps help you avoid tummy troubles if you’re sensitive to particular foods. 

In the middle of the range lie bars like Gatorade Whey Protein Bars, CLIF Builder’s Bars, Larabars, Bobo’s Oat Bars, KIND Breakfast Bars, and KIND Protein Bars. Some, like CLIF Bloks and Honey Stinger Waffles, are quite expensive for the nutrition they provide, though these two in particular serve a specific purpose: They contain quick-digesting simple carbs to provide fast fuel.

NUTRITION

What many hikers don’t know is that the macronutrient balance of an energy bar is equally as important as the overall calorie count. Calories give you an idea of how much objective energy is in a bar, but the macro split is what tells you how a bar will make you feel—right when you eat it, and a few minutes to multiple hours after it goes down the hatch. 

Nutrition is a complex science, but for the sake of simplicity (and making smart nutrition choices on trail), here’s how you can remember when to eat what type of bar: 

• Mostly carbs: Ideal for quick energy; use when you feel like you are hitting the wall; consume at regular intervals (every 30 to 90 minutes) during higher-intensity sections 
• High in fats: Use for sustained energy and meal replacements 
• High in protein: Great for an end-of-day snack or dessert to help with muscle recovery  

Best high-carb energy bars

• CLIF Bloks
• Honey Stinger Waffles 
• Maurten Solid 160
• Nature Valley Crunchy Bars

Best high-protein energy bars

• Gatorade Whey Protein Bars
• CLIF Builder’s Bar
• KIND Protein Bars

Best high-fat energy bars

• GoMacro Bars
• PROBAR Meal Bars
• Justin’s Nut Butter Pouches

Best-balanced energy bars

• Luna Bars
• Kate’s Real Food Bars
• RXBars 
• TAOS Mountain Bakes 

Weight & Packability

Aside from water, food is often the most significant item in terms of pack weight, especially on longer trips without a planned resupply. When we think about weight and packability for energy bars, we primarily consider the number of calories per ounce of weight. 

Here are some of our favorite energy bars with the most calories per ounce (over 125)

• Justin’s – Cinnamon Almond Butter
• Kate’s Real Food – Lemon Coconut & Ginger
• Nature Valley – Packed Peanut Butter & Cranberry
• Nature Valley – Crunchy Oats ‘n Honey
• PROBAR – Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Meal Bar
• PROBAR – Chocolate Coconut Meal Bar
• TAOS Bakes – Caramel Pecan + Cranberries
• Honey Stinger – Cinnamon Waffle
• Honey Stinger – Salted Caramel Waffle

On top of that, we make sure to factor in the composition of the bar and how that affects its ability to hold up throughout a day (or multiple days) on trail. We give specific consideration to how likely a bar is to melt in warm weather or become a pain to eat due to it crumbling or smashing.

Top performers in this regard include Kate’s Real Food bars, RXBars,  TAOS Bakes, Justin’s Nut Butter Pouches, Maurten Solid 160, and CLIF Bloks. On the other hand, any bars that are coated in chocolate or have a crumbly texture tend to lose points in this category.While we love the affordability and convenience of Nature Valley Crunch Bars, for instance, we often find ourselves slurping crumbs out of the wrapper instead of actually eating the bars. Likewise, Gatorade Whey Protein Bars and CLIF Builder’s Bars can become a melty, chocolatey mess.

Taste

No matter how nutritious an energy bar is, you’re not going to want to eat it if it doesn’t taste good. And that’s not really an option when you’re out on trail burning up a bunch of calories. All of the energy bars featured in our guide have their merits, whether they are rich and chocolatey or fruity and nutty. 

Best-tasting bars all around 

• Kate’s Real Food bars 
• RXBars
• KIND Real Food Bars
• Honey Stinger Waffles
• Bobo’s Oat Bars

Best chocolate energy bars

• Gatorade Whey Protein Bars
• Luna Bars
• KIND Protein Bars
• Maurten Solid 160 (Cacao) 

Best fruity energy bars

• CLIF Bloks
• PROBAR Meal bar (Superfood Slam)

Best nutty energy bars

• TAOS Bakes 
• Larabars
• Justin’s Nut Butter Pouches 
• MTN OPS Venture Bars

Texture

Texture truly can make or break an energy bar. If it’s too dry and we have to wash it down with an entire bottle of water, that’s a no-go. If it’s too chewy and we spend the rest of the day picking it out of our teeth, it also may not make the cut. We tested a lot of energy bars with a lot of different textures, and while it’s ultimately a preferential metric, we’ve identified some of the best textures in different subcategories. 

Best soft-baked bars

• TAOS Bakes
• Bobo’s Oat Bars
• Honey Stinger Waffles

Best chewy bars

• Kate’s Real Food
• CLIF Bar 
• Luna Bar

Best crunchy bars

• Nature Valley

Best protein bars

• Gatorade Whey Protein Bars
• CLIF Builder’s Bars
• EPIC Jerky Bars
• KIND Protein Bars

Best energy chews

• CLIF Bloks

Best nut butter

Justin’s

How to Choose an Energy Bar

Choosing the best energy bars for you requires balancing your nutritional needs, dietary preferences and restrictions, flavor and texture preferences, budget, and desired pack weight. 

Price Per Serving

Energy bars usually cost between $1-3 per bar. That’s not bad if you’re just picking up a few, but if you’re stocking up for a big trip, the cost really starts to add up. We like buying bars from REI since we can get singles of each flavor instead of having to commit to a big box of one variety. Single bars at REI tend to be more expensive, but you’ll get 10% off when you buy 10 or more energy foods. If there’s a single flavor you really like, buying bulk boxes from retailers like Amazon typically gets you a decent discount. To get the best value, we also look for lightweight foods that are calorie-dense.

Dietary Restrictions & Preferences

Allergies are a bummer, and it can be difficult to find something that agrees with your body and your taste buds when you’re on a restricted diet. We poured over ingredient lists and marked all of the energy bars on our main list above with GF (gluten-free), NF (nut-free), and V (vegan) to help make it easier to find the right bars for you. We also looked for bars that use organic ingredients and are non-GMO certified to determine which ones provide the cleanest fuel for your body.

Weight & Packability

There are inevitably going to be days on trail when you just can’t be bothered to pull out your cookset. The kind of days when breakfast is a couple of energy bars, lunch is a couple of energy bars, and dinner is tuna in a tortilla… and a couple of energy bars.

Whether you’re stocking up for those days on trail, a marathon, or a walk on the beach, the key is to look for energy foods with a high-calorie count and low weight. We typically look for snacks with 125 or more calories per ounce.

Macros

Calories are not the only consideration when thinking about nutrition on trail. For optimal endurance performance, a mixture of carbs, fats, and protein is essential. Protein is required in substantial amounts to prevent muscle wasting, especially during thru-hikes. Fats provide sustained energy, while carbs provide quick energy. Knowing when to consume these macronutrients is key. As a general rule of thumb, if you’re in need of a rapid boost to support energy levels on trail, eat something high in carbs and very low in the other two macronutrients. If you’re hungry but don’t feel drained or like you’re hitting the wall, eat a more balanced bar.

Taste & Texture

It’s not much fun to eat a snack that doesn’t taste good, no matter how much you need the calories. Certain brands consistently have the best flavors, while others tend to have aftertastes from artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, or other ingredients. In general, we trust all of the brands that appear in our guide to produce tasty energy bars, but it’s always worth perusing customer reviews to see if there’s a buyer consensus about a specific bar. As for texture, you know you best: We’ve outlined which bars are crumbly, chewy, dense, dry, moist, or otherwise. All you have to do is buy accordingly. 

Other Trail Snacks

We love energy bars, but we also like to make sure we have a wide variety of snacks available to us on trail to keep things interesting. These are a few of our favorite staple items that always make it into our food bags:

• Solely Fruit Jerky – Delicious pressed fruit jerky, the only ingredient is organic fruit
• Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky – Vegan jerky with great flavors and texture, we highly recommend the Thai Peanut
• Jack’s Links Jerky – Jerky and pepperoni sticks are savory, sometimes spicy, and packed full of salty, protein goodness

Conclusion

At CleverHiker, our contributors are real people on real trails, trying out products—for real! Our team carefully evaluates each product to ensure it meets the needs of hikers and backpackers, and how the benefits and drawbacks of those products affect their application in the outdoors. For energy bars, we’ve got you covered with options that suit a variety of tastes and dietary needs.