When you need calories, it's great to have an energy bar that doesn't taste like cardboard, but great-tasting trail snacks can be hard to find. So Active Junky testers put the best food from the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market to the test. We tried a variety of items and brands, ranking them on taste. Here are some of our favorites to pack along on your next trail run or bike ride.
Wisconsin-based Gorilly Goods blew away our testers with these tasty clusters. Slightly chewy and about the size of a quarter, they're bite-sized for quick snacking. Bananas, walnuts, and coconut provide a tasty base flavor, and clusters are coated in 70% cacao dark chocolate for a delicious bite start to finish.
While you may have never heard of Setton Farms, their expertise is evident in the masterful Pistachio Chewy Bites, an Outdoor Retailer favorite. These bars offer a unique sweet pistachio flavor, and a more chewy texture than other nut-based bars. Testers also loved the small size and 110 calories in each bar, perfect for maximum energy when ultralight backpacking or road biking.
Our testers tried GoMacro’s health-conscious Thrive line, which emphasizes macronutrient balance and plant-based protein. We couldn’t get enough of the Caramel Coconut flavor. Light, sweet, and well balanced, their vegan caramel has a nice mellow flavor and hits the spot during trail breaks.
We had never heard of this small wholesale bakery, but their bars do the talking. With a base of pumpkin, chia, and sunflower seeds, they're easy to eat — not too chewy, gooey, or stiff. Testers loved the Cranberry White Chocolate flavor, which uses semi-sweet white chocolate that doesn't overwhelm the cranberry.
These tasty seeds from Skout are raw, but still have a surprisingly nice crunch. The delicious Black Pepper BBQ option is tangy, flavor-packed, and not too overwhelming or salty. Testers also loved the resealable package for quick small bites on the go, which is sometimes not an option with traditional bars.
Bridgford: MRE Mexican Style Beef Wrap
Navitas Superfood+ Bar: Maca Maple
Clif Nut Butter Filled Bars: Coconut Almond Butter
Nature’s Bakery: Double Chocolate Brownie
Picky Bars: Cookie Doughpness
Bonk Breaker: Strawberry Energy Chews
Health Warrior Chia Bar: Coconut