Need a quick fix to get you through a long run or just to top you up during that mid-afternoon slump? Grab an energy bar.
These go-faster snacks have become a staple for sporty types and anyone with a busy lifestyle alike, providing a convenient source of nutrition on the go. There are myriad flavours and recipes on the market, designed for everyone from climbers to triathletes.
So which energy bar is your best bet? Whether you’re fuelling up before a workout, staving off mid-afternoon hunger or seeking a meal replacement for an on-the-go lunch, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choice. Our guide to the best energy bars cuts through the noise, focusing on nutritional value as well as taste, so whether you need something vegan, low sugar, low-calorie or with sustained energy release, we’ve got the perfect bar (or nine) for your diet.
What energy bar suits me?
Look for an energy or protein bar geared towards your chosen sport or pursuit – it’s likely to be tailored to the nutritional needs you need. If you’re looking to refuel during a sporting session, keep in mind that energy bars aren’t generally needed before you’ve hit 75-90 mins of training. After that, however, they’re really useful, as your glucose levels will be running low and you’ll need a top-up to keep performing. Sports nutritionists usually recommend consuming around 60g carbs an hour during sport to stop you from feeling too full. If you’re saving an energy bar for after the gym or as a snack, look for carbohydrates and protein to fill you up and aid recovery, plus natural ingredients and added vitamins.
What key ingredients should I look out for?
Energy bars often come with long, complicated lists of ingredients, but we think the simpler, the better. Look for natural sources of protein, such as nuts, seeds or whey protein to support muscle recovery – 20g and above of protein is good for making you feel full, while meal replacement bars should contain at least 30g.
Complex carbohydrates, such as oats or quinoa, provide steady energy release, while healthy fats from almonds, chia seeds, or coconut are good for making you feel full. Natural sweeteners like honey or dates are better for you than refined sugars - avoid bars high in sugar or artificial additives, as these may lead to energy crashes.
Consider bars fortified with vitamins or minerals for an extra nutritional boost - B vitamins, especially B6 and B12, aid in converting food into energy and enhancing mental clarity. What the bar actually tastes like is important too, of course – if you have a sweet tooth, flavours such as chocolate, peanut butter or coconut will make snack time feel a bit more like a treat. Aim for under 250 calories total if your bar is a snack, or around 400 for a meal replacement.
How we tested
We tried out these bars over multiple days and looked for a great taste and a discernible difference in how we felt and performed during both sporting sessions and daily life.
Find out what we thought below
Fulfil Vitamin & Protein Bar
If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice on the shelves when you’re shopping for an energy bar, we reckon Fulfil ticks all the boxes. Tasty enough to feel like a sweet treat, these bars hit the nutrition balance as well with 204 calories, 20-30g of protein and nine added vitamins packed into each bar.
All the flavours we tried on test were delicious – the chocolate salted caramel and chocolate hazelnut whip iterations taste so much like your favourite candy bars you’ll forget they’re protein-packed. Our top pick for taste.
Buy now £2.45, Amazon
Clif Bar
These hefty bars were designed with hikers and climbers in mind, and they’re perfect for a mid-trail snack but feel too dense for fast-paced exercise. Flavours include chocolate chip or peanut butter and banana, which make a great on-the-go breakfast if you’re camping or before a climbing session (Clif are named after the creator’s dad, by the way, not the rocky face you might dangle off!).
Rolled oats and soy protein will make you feel full and offer slow-release energy. These bars are sturdy too and can survive being chucked in a backpack for a few days of thru-hiking.
Buy now £16.99, Amazon
Grenade Carb Killa Bar
The name is a bit on the gym bro side, but these Grenade Carb Killa bars are designed to be high in protein and low in sugar, so they’re more of an all-rounder source of energy than they sound and are good for getting through an afternoon in the office as well as saving for a post-workout treat.
We like the cheerily nostalgic birthday cake flavour complete with sprinkles, while dark chocolate mint tastes far better than your average protein bar.
Buy now £2.00, Holland & Barrett
ESN Designer Protein Bar
If you’re always dreaming of dessert, pack an ESN Designer Bar in your gym bag. These posh treats take the flavours of your favourite puddings and zhuzh them up into energy bars with rather tempting flavours such as fudge brownie and hazelnut nougat to choose from.
While these bars may taste indulgent, they’ve been designed for athletes to refuel, and contain up to 14g of protein, 15g of carbohydrates and zero added sugars.
Buy now £1.99, Amazon
Lucid Move Bar
Mushrooms are often peddled as a revolutionary way to perk up your health. If you fancy giving ‘functional’ mushrooms a try - which are believed to reduce stress, improve mood and help your immune system, you can now get a boost in a bar.
Vegan and made with 100 per cent natural ingredients, Lucid’s Move bars come in cookie dough or peanut butter and jelly flavours with a dose of Lion's Mane. These bars are expensive, and we didn’t notice any difference compared to eating fungi-free energy bars on a test, but they do taste great and include rice protein to fill you up.
Buy now £14.00, Lucid
KIND Bar
Go nutty for Kind’s bars. The main ingredient is whole nuts, which are a good source of fibre and protein. But there is also soya protein and no gluten, artificial colours, flavours or preservatives added along the way.
Kind’s motto is ‘ingredients you can see and pronounce’ - if you’re confused about glucose, vitamins and myriad other complicated additives, these are a fuss-free snack. There are 16 flavours available – we thought the hazelnut dark chocolate and caramel almond were the most indulgent on test.
Buy now £1.45, Amazon
The Protein Ball Co
If you can’t decide which flavour protein bar you’d like, grab these dinky energy balls instead. They come in ten iterations and we thought they were all pretty tasty on test, from blueberry oat muffin to cacao and orange and lemon and pistachio.
These bite-size balls come in a treat bag, so they’re great for sharing or popping back in your backpack for later. While these are on the snacky side, each packet does contain 10g of protein derived from whey, plus Vitamin B12, Vitamin C and Vitamin D3.
Buy now £18.99, Amazon
TORQ Energy Jellies
Ok, so they’re more soft jelly than crunchy bar, but we’re including TORQ’s new energy jellies here because they deliver a quick hit of tasty energy that’s ideal for long-distance athletes.
Each packet includes six chewy bites offering 30g of carbohydrate total plus glucose and fructose for an energy hit. The fuss-free flavours – choose from berry, lime or orange – are pleasingly tasty. Great for triathletes and anyone else working out for prolonged periods.
Buy now £16.50, Amazon
Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Sweet Coconut Protein Bar
If you love Bounty bars, this snack has your name on it. Optimum’s coconut bars taste more like a naughty treat than something that could form part of a healthy-ish diet, complete with a milk chocolate casing and chewy coconut filling.
They still deliver energy-wise though, with 18g of protein from soy and milk. An energy bar for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Buy now £2.75, Amazon
Verdict
Sporty types should grab a Grenade bar or TORQ’s jellies for a quick energy hit. After something tasty? We rated Fulfil, Optimum Nutrition and ESN for taste on test. For something a little different, try Lucid to see if the benefits of functional mushrooms work for you.
