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Submitted by
Joe
a
from Houston Texas
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It does what it is supposed to do. | | Weaknesses: | A little on the soft and gooey side and can be a little irritating to get it out of the wrapper, especially on hot days | | Similar Products Used: | Clif bars | | Bottom Line: | Don't believe all these idiots that say they ate these and almost puked or had to gag them down. Maybe they should have washed their hands before they ate is the only reason I can figure they have for saying those kind of things.
Of course these are not going to be a gourmet treat. What do you expect for a buck? They don't taste too bad for what they are, an energy bar. I just love the brilliant comments that state you have to drink with these...DUHHHHH...of course you need to take a drink when you eat one of these....just like eating any other kind of food.
I like these. My only advice is to give them a chance and don't base your decision to NOT even try them on what you read here. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | FREE samples - Toronto International Bike Show + The Annual Becel Ride for Heart/Ride The D.V.P. | | Strengths: | Price wise - FREE! How can you go wrong? Atleast 12 different flavours to choose from if not more. Tastes great (banana, peanut butter, chocolate) not too sweet. | | Weaknesses: | A little chewy before you can swallow it, A large chunk likes to stick to your teeth, Needs a swig or two of water to clear your mouth. | | Similar Products Used: | Powerbar Harvest, Clif Bar, Herbalife Energy Bar, Met-RX & Powerbar Gel. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek Fuel 90 Disk | | Bottom Line: | A great tasting bar especially in the banana, peanut butter or chocolate flavours. A little chewy so you can't digest it as fast as Powerbar Gel and sometimes it sticks to your teeth. Needs a swig or two of water to clear your mouth.
Bottom Line: I've taken a few dozen FREE samples (apple, raspberry [I think], banana, peanut butter, chocolate & one other flavour that I can't remember during multiple annual visits to the Toronto International Bike Shows + The Annual Becel Ride for Heart/Ride The D.V.P. Then suddenly (by 2004), Powerbar stopped being a sponsor giving away free samples.
Botton Line: The best energy bar on the market and the next best item when compared to their Power Gel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
250savage
a Weekend Warrior
from Lenoir, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | no preference as long as it's dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | grocery store | | Strengths: | filling, nutritious | | Weaknesses: | none, it does what it's supposed to do | | Similar Products Used: | about all of them | | Bike Setup: | Trek fuel 70 | | Bottom Line: | I laugh out loud every time I read about how bad tasting they are. Dang people, you can't spread mustard on a turd and expect it to taste like a hot dog. I think these things taste pretty good, considering what the ingredients have to be to make them work like they are supposed to. Heck, go buy a Snicker or a Kit-Kat if you want great taste. Keep this in mind, then go try a Powerbar. They are good!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gaius Felicitus
a
from Veii, Rome
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Costco | | Strengths: | - Good taste
- Excellent source of nutrients/vitamins/minerals
- Keeps for a long time | | Weaknesses: | - Can get tough & chewy at times
- Slightly gritty texture (MUST be chased with 1-2 c. of water) | | Similar Products Used: | - Clif Bars <-- Don't bother. They provide no energy and the taste is still comparable to that of PowerBar.
- PowerGel <-- Okay taste. Keeps me going through those last laps | | Bottom Line: | PowerBar is an excellent energy bar and after following the instructions on the wrapper, I did my run/workout and felt energized throughout. The taste is just fine and I eat one a day. I took these bars on a trip to Yosemite and it was freezing. The bars kept, contrary to what other people have testified, and tasted just as great as they would have on a warm, sunny day. These bars live up to their name, they give energy and power and I will continue to use them! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
NutsandBolts
a Cross Country Rider
from Saginaw,Tx,USA
Date Reviewed: January 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere there is dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | They come in handy if you break something on your bike and need spme putty to hold it together until you get home. Just add water and mix it with a stick. | | Weaknesses: | They taste like a board. They are hard and dont think you are going to eat one fast unless you have teeth like bugs bunny. I have no idea why this is an energy bar because everytime I eat one It makes me feel like I am going to puke it right back out. | | Similar Products Used: | Goo, the Powerbar Gel is pretty good. | | Bike Setup: | It moves when I pedal it. | | Bottom Line: | I thought all energy bars where the same so I used these until I found something else. These things made me sick evertime I digested one, which is a workout alone. They are hard and if its hot outside its like eating a big chunk of silly putty, you chew and chew and chew. My jaw got sore and I used all my water just to try and digest the thing. I really dont know if they provided any energy or not, I was to busy concentrating on keeping from upchucking so I did not have to stop riding. I guess it is like food, everyone likes something different. I dont like these. I went to gels because they seem to work and are easier and quicker to use, they also take up less room in your pack. If you use a gel and it makes you sick at your stomach try and drinking a little more water, that seemed to work for me. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Weiwen
a Racer
from Ann Arbor, MI
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | nutritious, I'm sure. plus it was edible... | | Weaknesses: | ...but I wouldn't call it food. | | Similar Products Used: | Clif bars (best). | | Bike Setup: | I'm a roadie, sorry. | | Bottom Line: | the taste was abominable. I might as well have eaten chocolate-flavored chalk. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a Cross Country Rider
from wv
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | energy | | Weaknesses: | yuck | | Bottom Line: | This is a great product I use for energy on long rides. I like the vanilla flavor the best. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sprocketeer
a Cross Country Rider
from Narashino, Chiba, Japan (native of New York)
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | One with dirt on it. | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Yoshiki Sports near Tsudanuma Station in Chiba | | Strengths: | Their strong alright--in winter--kind of like chewing on a cycling shoe.
I don't think they taste that bad, especially considering what they are. They really get me going even after I've bonked. | | Weaknesses: | In any kind of warm weather they turn to the consistency of . . . well, you know.
Chocolate is, without doubt, the worst flavor. | | Similar Products Used: | Wegner squeeze jelly--not as potent as a Powerbar, but they do the trick if you're not close to exaustion and go down easy, tasting a bit like applesauce. | | Bike Setup: | Oh, why bother. It's nice, it's a TREK 8000/ZR9000 frame with many component upgrades. | | Bottom Line: | These things do the trick as far as energy goes, which is the only thing that keeps me eating them. They're not filling, but they are the nitris oxide of cycling nutrition. I usually eat one and then have a granola bar so it feels like I've actually eaten something.
I think I'm going to abandon them for summer sports though. The consistency and stickiness of them in the summer makes opening and eating them a nightmare. I don't want to have to be carrying towelettes.
Favorite flavors: Apple & Cinnamon, Banana | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from Oklahoma City, OK
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | All of em! | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Grocery store | | Strengths: | Good for energy. You can hang up posters in your room with it too. | | Weaknesses: | Taste is atrocious! Kind of like eating silly putty with dirt in it. I haven't eaten one in a while. I was eating one a few months back and my mouth decided that it had had enough and demanded I get something new. Also, powerbars are temperature sensetive. Too hot and they melt and stick all over the inside of the wrapper. Too cold and it's like trying to eat a brake pad. | | Similar Products Used: | Clif bars! Yum. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000. | | Bottom Line: | Disgusting. Makes me want to vomit. The chocolate flavor is especially horrible. The only one I could ever barely choke down was apple cinnamon. Energy was okay, but not worth the pain and suffering of having to eat one. Go get a Clif bar. Delicious! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a Racer
from LA
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The oatmeal raisin bar is the best I have tasted. | | Weaknesses: | Melts in hot weather. Not easy to open on the fly. Offends my girlfriend. | | Similar Products Used: | Clif, Balance | | Bike Setup: | Superlight | | Bottom Line: | I had been using Powerbars for a while before I bagan to realize that this is not the best bar out there. I know that they were the first, but their advertisements claiming that they havent changed the recipe might be all too correct. Bottom line, the stuff make me fart like geyser! It took me a while to figure out that if I ate 2 in a day I was headed for real trouble with the girlfriend. In addition the bars are much less convenient that others on the market. The bars melt in temperatures above 72* and freeze in anything below 50*. That makes for a heck of a problem for people using these in the outdoors. It looks like nutrition technology has passed this product, and even a huge marketing budget can convince me to use it again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from Port Byron NY
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bear Swamp | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Purchased At: | Free sample | | Strengths: | The wrapper is very strong | | Weaknesses: | Taste, texture, color | | Bike Setup: | GT i2k XT components | | Bottom Line: | I got this as a free sample, so, I can't ask for my money back. I would rather eat one of my riding sox than another one of these. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tommy
a Weekend Warrior
from TN
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | a store | | Strengths: | it kinda fits in your pocket ok | | Weaknesses: | tastes like sawdust held toegther by some gooey stuff | | Similar Products Used: | real fruits | | Bottom Line: | this stuff is nasty. what are the ingredients? grounded wood and mud with some sugar? :S | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta,Ga.
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Wrapper can be used to hold tube in when you cut a tire.Easy to eat when riding. | | Weaknesses: | Man I hate to be blunt but this stuff comes out almost like it goes in.There I said it.You can lose a tooth when it's real cold. | | Similar Products Used: | Cliff bar. | | Bike Setup: | K-2 | | Bottom Line: | If it works for you and you like it,use it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Weekend Warrior
from Chadds Ford, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Pete's Rock | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Wawa | | Strengths: | Energy Boost thats what it is made for | | Weaknesses: | freezes rock solid
melts
tastes like crap | | Similar Products Used: | cliff bar (that is some good sh*t) | | Bottom Line: | one of the worst products out there | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
d
a
from ny
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | tastes like poo. | | Bottom Line: | tastes like poo. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Webb
a Cross Country Rider
from Tallahassee, FL
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Strengths: | Hmmm . . . it had some strengths five years ago when it was the only energy bar around. | | Weaknesses: | Taste
Can you say TMJ? | | Similar Products Used: | *Clif Bar
*Balance Bar
*PowerBar Harvest
*PowerBar Essentials | | Bottom Line: | Five years ago this was the only energy bar I knew of. I overlooked the stale taste and rock-hard consistency, because there was nothing else around and a friend was a rep so he hooked me up with plenty of free samples.
The only time I will purchase one now is when I'm out on a long ride and I've run out of Clif Bars; I can usually find PowerBars in local convenience stores.The PowerBar Harvest is a lame attempt at copying the Clif Bar formula and the Essentials bar is like getting a yogurt shake at TCBY. Too sweet.
Out of all the energy bars I've tried, nothing beats Clif Bars. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Fulks
a Weekend Warrior
from McGuire AFB, NJ
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mercer, Clayton.... | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Cyclecross in New Egypt, NJ | | Strengths: | Gives a good energy boost. | | Weaknesses: | Tastes like a tootsie roll that's been laying in the hot sun all day on a beach covered in sand. You could probably patch a flat tire with a chunk of powerbar. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Y2K Trek 6000 | | Bottom Line: | Gives a good energy boost, gets rid of hunger, but the taste isn't that great, it melts on hot days, freezes on below freezing days. But it does its job and gives you an energy boost. That's what it's supposed to do. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
hungryboy
a Cross Country Rider
from canadia
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | store | | Strengths: | you could probably use one to boot your tire | | Weaknesses: | extruded... and the taste... my god!
I took one cross country skiing once and it froze solid, I had to break off chunks and thaw it in my mouth.
| | Similar Products Used: | lots | | Bike Setup: | Old 10 speed with upturned bars, squeaky chain, and wobbly back wheel. | | Bottom Line: | They actually work, and I'm unlikely to eat them by accident unless I really need one. So I give em three flaming banana slugs even though I eat clif bars. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kman
a Cross Country Rider
from TX
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Cedar Hill SP | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | None for me. | | Weaknesses: | Too chewy, made me vom. | | Similar Products Used: | Gu and Powergel. | | Bike Setup: | Zaskar | | Bottom Line: | I tried one before a race. I'm sure the ants enjoyed it more than I did. It was a waste of energy just trying to eat the thing. I'm sticking with Powergel. The only problem with Powergel is the fact that you don't get enough from the little package. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cyclegal
a Cross Country Rider
from San Mateo, CA
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Mammoth Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Easy to pack, practically indestructible | | Weaknesses: | some of the flavors quite frankly suck! Gets sticky in hot weather, freezes solid in cold weather. | | Similar Products Used: | Clif Bar, Balance, others | | Bike Setup: | Rockhopper A1 Comp FS and Allez A1 Comp | | Bottom Line: | These are OK, I like some of the flavors, like Banana, Apple Cinnamon, Peanut Butter. By the way I was at a market research test for new flavors a few months back, they are testing some promising new flavors like cheesecake, etc. so watch out! I haven't seen Malt-Nut in awhile (thank goodness - icky!). Talbot's Bikes in San Mateo sells Power Bars as a loss leader at 99 cents apiece, and the Essentials line and Power Gel at $1.29 just FYI. I wouldn't pay more than $1.25 for Power Bar in any case, it just seems silly to pay almost $2 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Urbe
a Cross Country Rider
from Ljubljana, Slovenia
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | beats hunger on ride | | Weaknesses: | sticky | | Similar Products Used: | isostar bar | | Bike Setup: | giant atx 950 | | Bottom Line: | Sometimes gives you feeling that you are eating reinforced concrete if you don't drink water along.
Good for longer rides and on rides where there’s no inn nor hut. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston, MA
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Vietnam | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | I like the taste... really! I would eat this things 10 times a day if I could afford it. I really like the apple&cinn, peanut butter, and choc peanut butter. I'll eat the other flavors if that's all I can get. Do you think someone could stop eating regular food, and just eat powerbars? They seem to wake me up and give me a good amount of energy. One of my other favorite foods are circus peanuts (orange foam-like candy) so people shouldn't really look in my direction for food recommendations... | | Weaknesses: | They get a little hard in the winter. | | Similar Products Used: | clif bars, plus I used to eat a lot of fig newtons when riding. | | Bike Setup: | 1999 Marin Team Marin | | Bottom Line: | You like what you like... I'm not gonna tell you what to eat. If you need help making decisions then ask mommy, or seek counseling. Powerbars make me happy... I just wish I could get them a bit cheaper. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jj amol
a Racer
from pomona,ca
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | everything in every way im skinny and energized | | Weaknesses: | i eat alot cause i love the choclate ones from the essentials too protien plus i can eat 7 protien pluses and 10 essentials | | Similar Products Used: | all sorts i hate met rx | | Bottom Line: | watch your calories fit in these guys as a chocoholics soarce of healthy chocolate | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
lolie pop
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington, Texas
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | what do ya got? | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | none | | Weaknesses: | taste and performance | | Similar Products Used: | a freaking nutri-grain bar | | Bike Setup: | too many to add | | Bottom Line: | This stuff sucks, it makes me sick when riding, even if I eat one 30 minutes before I go, and they don't have half the power as a good shot of honey when riding! I wouldn't go with them unless you wanna puke on the trail! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Bays
a Cross-Country Rider
from Bonneau, SC
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
tsali, thompson loop | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Good long-term energy in the right situation. | | Weaknesses: |
Taste | | Similar Products Used: |
None yet. | | Bike Setup: |
Cannondale Raven | | Bottom Line: | I use these as replacement for a meal 30 min. to an hour before the ride. They're bland so as to not worry about indegestion, bloating, or heaviness. None taste good, but I can handle the chocolate with a Mt. Dew to wash it down. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Park City
Date Reviewed: November 2, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
Great Concept | | Weaknesses: |
- hard to chew
- taste STINKS | | Similar Products Used: |
Mountain Lift (you gotta try it)
Boulder (not very good)
Essentials (too much saw dust)
Clif (OK taste, no nutrition) | | Bike Setup: |
Gary Fisher Joshua | | Bottom Line: | Time for these guys to innovate. If other bars can deliver good nutrition and good taste at the same time, why can't Power Bar? One star is almost too generous. However, I do applaud PowerBar's support for a lot of deserving athletes. Just put some more effort into the taste. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Doanes
a Weekend Warrior
from Westy, CO USA
Date Reviewed: September 10, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Good taste | | Weaknesses: |
Hard on teeth in cooler weather. | | Similar Products Used: |
Steel Bar, Clif Bar, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This is a good bar; not as grainy tasting as the Harvest version, but still difficult to consume in cooler climates. In the Colorado mountains at 10K+ feet, the last thing you want to exert energy on is chewing an energy bar. You can bonk before the bar gets into your system good. Nevertheless, not a bad bar. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chunks
a Downhiller
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: September 8, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Dinosaur Ridge | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Bottom Line: | Obviously invented by orthodontists! When the weather is colder than 60oF, not even a pit bull could bite into one of these. I laud Powerbar for practically inventing the nutrition bar, but, with the Harvest bar and Clif bars out there now, Powerbar should get a clue and let the original Powerbar go the way of the Betamax. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross-Country Rider
from North Evans, NY
Date Reviewed: August 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Allegheny State Park | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
-gives you instant energy and can help you load up on carbs before you work out!
-has a few good tasting flavors
-provides vitamins and minerals essential for a balanced breakfast! | | Weaknesses: |
-can be inconvenient in certain weather
-they cost more than other energy bars | | Similar Products Used: |
clifbar
balance bars
PRbars
tiger sport bars | | Bottom Line: | If you dont particularly like the taste, or get annoyed when powerbars become hard or soft
in extreme weather simply eat one the night before and the morning of your work out. You'll see powerbars are a great way to improve your performance. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nagamba Zulu
a Racer
from South Africa
Date Reviewed: August 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Gives me power for my long journeys. | | Weaknesses: |
Very addictive...I'm up to 12 bars a day! | | Similar Products Used: |
Cliff bar
balance bar
monkey meat | | Bottom Line: | I love powerbars, but I live in the desert, so I have a heck of a time finding 12oz of water to drink with each one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allison Alexander
a Racer
from Newfoundland
Date Reviewed: August 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
-Lots of Carbos
-High Energy
-Convienent | | Weaknesses: |
-Turn hard when its cold
-Go soft when its warm
-Tastes like cardboard | | Similar Products Used: |
Clif Bar
Boost Sport | | Bottom Line: | I have to say, Powerbars sucK! In the winter time they get so hard, you nearly break your teeth off to bite into em, in the summer, when its hot, they get so soft, that its like eating toothpaste.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rick
a Cross-Country Rider
from arlington, va
Date Reviewed: July 26, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
they have carbs | | Weaknesses: |
taste bad, not nearly as good as other bars on the market | | Similar Products Used: |
ironman, balance, clif, promax bars | | Bottom Line: | If I am worn out after a workout and happen to be in 7-11, i might pick up a powerbar. But for the price, Balance bars and Ironman bars are far better, both in taste and in what they provide. These are better than a cheeseburger, but I can't find any reason to pick these over any of the others. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross-Country Rider
from Folsom, CA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Salmon Falls | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
They don't melt as badly as candy bars or even balance bars. | | Weaknesses: |
Most all of them taste like shit. I used to eat them while skiing. On a cold day the berry bars look like a cow's tongue. Malt Nut and Chocolate taste worst than shoe leather. | | Similar Products Used: |
Balance Bars
Cliff Bars
Harvest Bars
Met-rx Bars | | Bottom Line: | Balance bars are by far the best, except they melt badly in heat. But, they have fewer calories and more protein that power bars. I'd be willing to try PB and Oatmeal Raisin Powerbars based on what I've read here, however. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Racer
from Barberton, OH
Date Reviewed: July 12, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Vulture's Knob | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Umm....uhh....you mean good things about Powerbars? I don't know of any... | | Weaknesses: |
I can barely get the packaging open, it sticks in your teeth, tastes awful, and doesn't even supply that much energy. | | Similar Products Used: |
Clif Bar (great taste)
Balance Bar (great taste and energy) | | Bike Setup: |
A real good one for racing | | Bottom Line: | These are awful. I had to bite down into the packaging, because I couldn't open any more than half of it. Buy a Clif bar if you like good taste, and buy a Balance bar if you like good taste and a TON of energy (I mean like, you average 2 mph faster because you have so much more energy)I was going to give them 2 stars, but that would mean they have something good about them. If you like Powerbars, I take it you don't get out much.Joe
http://members.aol.com/seamorebns/mtbextreme.html | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Codega
a Weekend Warrior
from Fall River, MA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Freetown State Forest | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
I'll get back to you. | | Weaknesses: |
compressed feeling, no taste, hard to chew. | | Similar Products Used: |
Clif bar (Yay!) | | Bottom Line: | I bought one of these before work since I had some free time to kill and thought I would test it out. Ow! It's so hard to chew, very compressed and not much taste. Would be impossible to have without fluids. I didn't even bother finishing it. Use it for a last resort or if it's free. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael Lane
a Weekend Warrior
from Medford NY
Date Reviewed: June 28, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
High caloric content. Packaging would survive a nuclear war. | | Weaknesses: |
Tastes like something you scraped of the bottom of your shoe. That is not to say that shoe scrapings are not filling--they are. People with weak teeth best avoid Powerbar unless you like cracked molars. They compress a lot of nutrition into a small space. And I mean COMPRESS! | | Similar Products Used: |
Clif Bar | | Bottom Line: | I MIGHT force down a powerbar on the trail but surely not if I am relaxing at home or at work. In those settings the Clif Bar blows Powerbar away, digs its grave, buries it, and then dances a Jig on the freshly replaced soil. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Collierville, Tn
Date Reviewed: June 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The jury is still out | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Excellent energy boost, and filling enough to have as a meal if wanted. Variety of flavors | | Weaknesses: |
None | | Similar Products Used: |
Balance Bar, Metrex, Tiger Bar, Powerbar Harvest | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is thes are the best for the money. Energy bars are expensive as hell and for $.99/bar they are the most affordable I have found. I have heard most people complain about the texture but I have found it to be more to my liking. I would say that the Chocolate and peanutbutter are my favorite. I'm giving thes bars 4 flaming dog poo-poo's just because nothing is perfect but so far the powerbar is my energy bar of choice. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Pittsburgh
Date Reviewed: June 11, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Think I'm going to tell you! | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Easily digested | | Weaknesses: |
a Little tough to chew | | Similar Products Used: |
Cliff bar. | | Bike Setup: |
Joshua XO | | Bottom Line: | Many flavors, they get into your system fast and give you a boost of energy to keep you going. I buy by the case. As with any energy bar, eat it with lots of water. It will help you digest it faster. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt V
a Weekend Warrior
from Milwaukee, WI
Date Reviewed: June 8, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Anything local | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Low fat, high carbo's (30% simple / 70% complex), variety of flavors. | | Weaknesses: |
They melt. | | Similar Products Used: |
Cliff's Bars | | Bike Setup: |
Trek 6000, RS JETT T2. | | Bottom Line: | Once you get used to the taste, these bars are great. They come in many flavors and are available from your local grocery store (I pay $1/ea).If I'm hungry/tired and eat a PB, I feel more alert. They're good before you ride or as a snack at work (I ate one today because I didn't want to take a lunch).Less than 2.5g of fat per bar. Plenty of carbs, amino acids, nutrients, etc.The big downfall is that the bars melt and become difficult to remove from the wrapper.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Racer
from CT, USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Vietnam | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Good taste, Mant flavors, energy, nutrition. | | Weaknesses: |
None | | Similar Products Used: |
Clifbar, PR Bar | | Bike Setup: |
Tomac 00 Buckshot | | Bottom Line: | These really do work. They give you energy and really help recover. All the flavors are redone and taste waaaay better than before. The new flavors, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Vanilla crisp are really good. This stuff is great. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricksom
a Cross-Country Rider
from Toronto, Ontario
Date Reviewed: May 20, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
They really provide and help maintain energy | | Weaknesses: |
Hard as rock when cold.
Sticky like glue when heated. | | Similar Products Used: |
Cliff bars
PowerGel | | Bottom Line: | Yes, they taste terrible and I find I can't finish the last 1/4 too well. (The trick is to hold off on the water until the end)
Cliff bars taste better and provide more comfort energy (I eat them at the end of a ride), but when it comes down to measuring my performance, I always ride faster and longer with the PowerBar. These PowerBar folks really know what they are doing. Use them for any serious racing or challenging rides.Take a PowerBar about 1 hour before the race, and use the PowerGels during the race. This combination works best for me. And always take with plenty of water. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodbridge
Date Reviewed: May 13, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Boyd | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Convenient source of energy. Peanut, Mocha and banana are my favourites. | | Weaknesses: |
If they are exposed to the cold, they are impossible to chew. | | Similar Products Used: |
Various brands of granola bars | | Bike Setup: |
Gary Fisher Joshua F/S | | Bottom Line: | Better energizer than creatine or caffeine supplements (ie Ripped Fuel). Although taking all three together really rocks - like a turbo charger and almost instant muscle recovery. Makes me very thirsty though. See Brian's review March 23, 1998 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wade Patton
a Cross-Country Rider
from Murfreesboro, TN
Date Reviewed: March 30, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
crooked and fast | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
Easy to pack. | | Weaknesses: |
Price. | | Similar Products Used: |
PB Harvest | | Bike Setup: |
Litespeed Ocoee, Judy SL | | Bottom Line: | Quit griping about the flavors. If you want a Reeses Cup, then carry them. Powerbars are just great for packing. How many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can you stuff into a Camelbak and recognize when it's time to eat. Nip the wrapper with a knife or piece of glass or hangnail BEFORE you go ride if you have difficulties opening them. Don't try to chew a FROZEN one. Stick it somewhere warm for a while (Careful not to get slapped), it'll soften up. I can't tell much difference in the flavors. Oatmeal Raisin and Malt Nut sound good anyway. I eat a PB for breakfast or lunch somedays when I'm not even riding. The local shop gets a buck a pop. I might eat three on a big ride. One before, during, and after. I can afford that. I'd really like a BEER flavored one. Five dead flaming mice. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dean
a Weekend Warrior
from Mill Valley, CA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Blithdale Ridge (Rollercoaster) | | Duration Product Used: |
more than 3 years | | Strengths: |
decent flavors, except for banana. | | Bottom Line: | I buy regular Powerbars and their Harvest Bars (their answer to Clif Bars) by the case. Eat them for breakfast or snack. More expensive than a candy bar, cheaper than a full meal. You have to drink water of juice when you eat one, getting more liquids is probably a good thing anyway. I like to play with the regular ones, molding into different shapes...you can gross out your friends by making turds out of the chocolate flavor bars. Have to keep them from getting cold (they get hard) or too hot (they get nasty and gooey). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a racer
from Minneapolis MN
Date Reviewed: February 20, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
The fondest memory I have for Powerbars is when at a Washington State Race (one of the Northwest MTB Series) the organizers began tossing the gold wrapped bricks into the post-race raffle crowd and many of them (including me) proptly threw them back.
They seem to work during racing, but I am afraid that I really can't swallow them (or open them, or chew them, or enjoy them). Chocolate and wild berry are edible. I am sorry, but I can't give them more than two stars. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Juan-o
a cross-country rider
from Boise, ID
Date Reviewed: February 5, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
If you think of your body as a V12 Ferrari, than you want to put the best high octane fuel in it you can get, a POWERBAR. Of course, if you're an 4 cylinder Pinto, then it doesn't matter what kind of crap you put in it. Get the cheap stuff that tastes like a candy bar, your wallet and taste buds will like it and so will the guys that kick your a$$ out on the trail! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sean butler
a weekend warrior
from Hamilton,Mt,USA
Date Reviewed: January 18, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
How dose power bars help your body and what efects dos it have on your body. Give me the nutrional facts if posible for these power bars; Mocha, Chocolate, plain, Apple cinamon.
Thanks ,SeanP.S please do as soon as possible its important. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KingLouie
a weekend warrior
from Orange County, NY
Date Reviewed: October 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Firstly, let me say that I can't give any nutrient bar a 5 chili based on their price schemes.
Secondly, I'll say that on a nutrient/energy basis, these are not bad. In fact, they're pretty good. It's essential though, to drink a lot of liquids with them.
And, as far taste goes, they could be a little better. They take some getting used to. But that goes also for pretty much all nutrition/fitness bars. Although some are better tasting than others. Now, I like most the peanut butter one, and if you pretend that you're eating one of those Mary Jane candies, you can really come to like it. Now, using this technique, it's still a bit far stretch to say it comes close to something like a butter fingers, but it's still not bad.Soo, as far as function; these serve their purpose.
Now, since taste does matter, otherwise you can arrange to just carry a scringe of nutrient packed liquid and inject at your convenience, I give it 4 chili's. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bob smith
a cross-country rider
from Cape Coral , FL.
Date Reviewed: September 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
We sell powerbars at our stores and I gotta say that alot of them go out of
date before we sell them. They realy don't taste that bad but when you compare
them to clifbars or balancebars there's no compareson. Now the power gels are
pretty good! Choc. is a new flavor that is well worth trying. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ubay
a weekend warrior
from Moraga, CA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
For the best buy, go to Costco: case of 24 for $19.99. There's even a case of assorted flavors so you don't have to have 24 of the same thing over and over. Note: the Powerbites are no longer being sold to the public and are only being used for promotions. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eboos
a racer
from Santiago, Chile
Date Reviewed: September 6, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The first one I had tried was Apple Cinnamon and I thought it was horrable, I did not even finish it. About a month later, I was working the midnight shift and I was tired and hungry as hell. All I had was a Wild Berry flavored Power Bar that a friend left. That was good, and it helped wake me up.I have been using them for the past 6 months and they work great for me. Just make sure you have plenty of water with you. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Caddoo
a weekend warrior
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
A lot of people say these don't taste very good. I happen to think that they taste just fine, and definately do the job. I eat mine about 45 minutes before my ride and it provides the energy needed to do those uphills in the North Georgia Mountains. My favorite flavors are bananah and apple cinnamon. I am going to try peanut butter soon. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrea
a cross-country rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: August 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These bars really are not bad at all. Okay there could be a better assortment of flavours to choose from. But I really do agree they do the job. They provide the extra energy you need out on the trails. The only thing I don't like is they are really hard to chew. My jaw creates a clicking noise and really tires out my jaw! But I feel they provide everything I am looking for
in a energy bar so I put up with it! I purchased a box of 24 from Costco for
$29.99. A much better deal than at your local bike/nutrition store which ranges
from $2-$2.50 a bar. Also these bars do not bloat you up as much as a Cliff bar. Cliff bars may taste awesome but the after effects are not so good!
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
monkeyboy
a cross-country rider
from Redfield, Sd
Date Reviewed: July 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I like powerbars cause they do a good job at giving me energy and fitting anywhere in my back pack, but they need to get some better flavors. Some of them almost made me puke. Some of them I like too so...but, I think they still need to get better flavors. Anyways these things are good at giving u quick energy without using gel. I like them, and I give them 4 flaming bananas. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr. Peabody
a cross-country rider
from Wauconda, IL
Date Reviewed: July 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Maybe I'm just too un-picky, but I think these things taste fine. The texture gets kind of weird, ranging from oozing primordial slime to tungsten carbide brick, but hey, variety's the spice of life. And once you get the crocodillian bite and thrash your head around opening procedure down, the packaging isn't a problem, either. The nutrient content in the things would make mom proud of you. The only complaint I have is the friggin' price -- $1.00 to 1.49. I wait until they're on sale for like $0.75 and then buy dozens of 'em. Five of those flaming dead mice or whatever those things are. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Chan
a cross-country rider
from Vancouver B.C.
Date Reviewed: June 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've tried all the power bar flavors and I like just about all of them. I
bought a box from Costco for the first time last month so I would have something for my
for my 40 km to and from work in Surrey. They do need some getting used to
as far as wrapper, and texture goes. I just wish people would stop and
read all that they are getting from it in the way of nutrition. It is the best of the lot. Just QYBching about how you can't open it or how your glass jaw can't chew it. This stuff ain't for whoosies whiners, and posiers. The bottom line is this; if you want the best product for the job of keeping you going without bonking, THIS IS IT!!!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Gatherum
a cross-country rider
from New Hampshire
Date Reviewed: June 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
PowerBars rule!!Nuff said. The best flavors are Peanut Butter and Wild Berry. I think that the Chocolate look like dog crap. And I have a hard time eating them after thinking of that. But If you like them more power to you. Cliff bars gives me cramps and the runs after. That realy sucks! Buy them by the box at a whole sale store then they are about $.75 a piece, | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a weekend warrior
from Tennessee
Date Reviewed: June 21, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Power Bars are OK if you don't have anything else to eat. When it is cold out you can also use them the scrape the snow and ice off of your truck's windshield. Kind of hard to eat while riding. Peanut butter is my favorite flavor.
Have ot tried the new Harvest stuff. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a weekend warrior
from NE Ohio
Date Reviewed: June 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Peanut Butter rules. I also tried chocolate which is up there but not as good as PB. As long as they are warm, you shouldn't have any problems with eating them. They give you lots of sustained energy and don't give you a heavy feeling stomach like Clif Bars give me. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony
a cross-country rider
from Boise
Date Reviewed: April 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I paid about $1200 for my last Powerbar. No kidding. On a cold day, I ripped a molar apart with a rock-hard Powerbar -- required a root canal and a crown. To make things worse, they truly taste horrible. They've come out with a new Clif-like product called Harvest Bar, which should tell you something about the quality of the original Powerbar. If I could give zero stars, I would. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a weekend warrior
from Redondo Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: March 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I decided to post this on the most-read brand of fuel food on this site. I think all these brands are good if you're dying of hunger out on the trails and you need something to tide you over until you can get to Fatburger on the way home, but if you *REALLY* want some energy, you need to take some supplements. Although it's made mostly for bodybuilding and such, Creatine Monohydrate (aka Creatine Phosphate, Creatine Phosphate Monohydrate) gets right down to the basic needs of your body, at the cell level. You can buy this stuff at GNC and pay an arm and a leg, or go to a Sam's club and get the Joe Weider brand pretty cheap. Once you use this stuff regularly, you'll have like double the energy you had before, and you'll get a hell of a lot stronger. It works like this: (I'm no Bio major or anything, this is just how I understand it)Your muscles work by releasing the energy stored in a large molecule called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) by breaking one of the phosphate bonds and converting it to Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP). Once this happens, the ADP molecule just kind of sits around and is generally useless. As a byproduct of this reaction, nasty things like Lactic Acid are formed, which makes your legs feel like they're going to burst into flames. Once your muscles run out of ATP, you bonk. Creatine helps your body replace the ATP as it's used by supplementing the natural levels of Creatine in your body that you get from red meat and green leafy veggies. So, you'll be able to crank up those hills and still have enough energy left to catch some wicked air off the table at the top. Of course, it's expensive, and there really hasn't been a whole lot of research done on the stuff as far as side effects go, but I used the stuff for three months and my liver and kidneys are fine....Just thought I'd throw this one out there for some discussion. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn
a racer
from South Carolina
Date Reviewed: March 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I think powerbars are great! They might not taste the best in the world, but they do their job. The oatmeal bars are by far the best, even though they all taste pretty much the same: bland. But these aren't designed to be great tasting. If you want something that tastes good, go out and buy some ice cream and stop complaining. They get the job done and that's all that matters. The price is not too bad if you buy them by the box. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kelly Conger
a weekend warrior
from Feasterville, Pa
Date Reviewed: February 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I like them, although they are too hard (especially if cold). I can open them fine and have never had a problem with digestion. I like all the flavors (I'm strange like that) My only gripe is PRICE? Can someone help me out here? I pay between $1.50 and .99c per bar! Anyone tried the powergels? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan Leduc
a cross-country rider
from BC Canada
Date Reviewed: February 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These Powerbars are great for racing and give me the energy I need to finninsh the race well. When there cold there the harddest this to bite but good. The I have tried the PowerGel but some of it tastes bad, The vanilla is not good When the weaters hot and your body temp is hot then you want to eat somthing that tastes good not bad. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Edwards
a
from Luleå, Sweden
Date Reviewed: January 27, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The newer bars on the market are quite tasty, I would like to see more protean added as well as antitoxins. They freeze too easy (I'm an alpinist) and take along time to melt in your mouth. They also take alot of water to absorb, when hydration is a problem in the mountains. But as of today I have not found a better substitute, or energy, compactness, and tast. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Gladden Jr.
a weekend warrior
from Collegedale, TN
Date Reviewed: January 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These things are awesome. They actually work when it comes to energy. Stay away from the banana ones though. Yuk!! I don't know why you guys have trouble opening the wrappers. Just grab em' and tear it open. Duh! The oatmeal raisin ones are the best. Make sure that you drink plenty of water along with them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zaskar
a cross-country rider
from Minneapolis
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
PBs are great!! OK OK some of the flavors taste like honey and sawdust but that's why they make eight flavors. Pick one you like Einstein! Be careful how much you eat and when you eat it. Overall it's a great product packed with energy that essential to staying in contention. The Gel is even better!! more suited to the xc-racer. Better taste and works immediately. Try some. Tropical fruit rules. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a racer
from Ontario
Date Reviewed: October 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
There great they give you all the nutrients you need without having to eat a meal or feel bloated. But they are to concentrated to eat during a race so have it half an hour before. (with lots of water) | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick S.
a weekend warrior
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: October 8, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Assuming they work and are properly formulated to rejuvenate your energy, they taste like crap. I can't get myself to eat them on the trail when I'm near exhaustion and feel like puking. Recommend eating them in the morning before your ride. Don't eat too big a breakfast, because these bars are really filling. Don't eat them too fast either.
Heard that PowerGel works faster and tastes better on the trail. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete LaVerghetta
a
from Philadelphia PA USA
Date Reviewed: September 8, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
PowerBars - look scary, taste OK, but work. They keep you from bonking. The company supports grass roots cycling events like races and tours! They gave us 500 samples of PowerGel for my club's century ride. The wrapper can fix a hole in the sidewall of your tire - ever get a nail or some other sharp object through the sidewall? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a weekend warrior
from Connecticut
Date Reviewed: September 7, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I've tried others, but always end up going back to Powerbars. If you really read the labels, Powerbars give the the most bang: the right mix of carbos, not too much protein(but enough), and lots of vitamins--incl. vitamin E. I drink a lot of water anyway, so that aspect never bothered me. The packages are EASY to open once you figure out how, and the flavors aren't that bad--malt-nut tastes kinda like a bit-o-honey. Finally, they only cost .99/bar thru Nashbar, and are even cheaper (though fewer flavor choices) at BJ's wholesale club. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Davidson
a cross-country rider
from El Corte de Madera, California
Date Reviewed: August 27, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I'm alergic to nuts so what flavours does that leave? Lets see. Chocolate and Mocha... what choice! They don't digest well, they require too much water to break them down. Taste like shit. One good point is that they are the most filling energy bar if you can finally force it down your throat.Clif bars and Okanagan fruit bars (if you can find them) are still the best. V02 Max are a bit better than Powerbars . | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
W. Sandifer
a cross-country rider
from Independence
Date Reviewed: August 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The wrapper is made to withstand a nuclear war. I really like the Oatmeal Raisin. The others get sickly sweet. They get too gooey during the summer so I have them at home for breakfast. So overall, the Powerbars stay at home and Clif bars go on the trail. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy
a cross-country rider
from Dallas
Date Reviewed: July 31, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Great concept, too many compromises.
These slabs of extruded goo taste okay--sort of like previously chewed sugary cereal--but they don't stand to the alternatives. Other bars aren't temperature sensitive and have packages that open sans wire snips.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a weekend warrior
from Lansing, MI
Date Reviewed: July 27, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The race coordinators were giving PowerBars out for free when you signed up. I chose berry flavor but they also had mocha. Anyways my friends told me how much these things make you shit but I didn't believe them until I went an used the Porto-potty and witnessed what looked like a toilet full of berry and mocha colored crap.
This is definetly not a good product for people nervous about to race. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brown streak
a cross-country rider
from minnesota
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I ate a pile of these bloody things during a 24 hour team race. I felt
horrible the whole time so I can't tell if they work or not, but I do
know that they messed up my gut something awful. I swear I was on the pot
every hour on the hour. Other members of my team experienced similar
deleterious effects to the digestive tract. So be warned: use in
moderation, or you (and everyone around you with functioning nasal
passages) will pay the price. Since the above-mentioned scarring experience,
I've switched to Little Debbie low-fat granola bars, which are easy to
open, easy to chew, and you can buy 8 for the price of one powerbar.
Who cares what's in them--they seem to work. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Power Bar Eater
a cross-country rider
from 3rd Rock From The Sun
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Geez, I bought them once (two of them), and I liked them (I gotta to agree, however, to the apperance of this stuff - yep! Like dog manure (sp?) ). Wrapper... Maybe I'm like damned or something but I had no problem whatsoever.A bit hard, though... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Kalina
a cross-country rider
from Chicago
Date Reviewed: June 26, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Hey, they are cheap, convenient and they work great. So who cares what they taste like. The new oatmeal raisin is a winner. Nearly tastes like real food. Best flavor of the lot. As to the complaints about how hard the wrapper is to open. I've never had a problem with it. Just open it like a bag of chips, by pulling apart at the top. And hey, I always thought that the art of opening a Power Bar WHILE riding was a rite of passage for any good rider. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl Nelson
a weekend warrior
from BC CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 8, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
hmm....looks like poo, tastes like chocolate. I don't care what anybody else says about this bar; it is GREAT! I take one before every hard ride and basketball game and it gets me FLYIING! Thing is though...it is very stickyand very sweet. and the wrapper is VERY ANNOYING! especially when the baris hot and soft! could have been a 5 if it was cheaper ($2.00CAN) andhad a BETTER F*CKING WRAPPER! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SMACK
a weekend warrior
from Vancouver, B.C., eh!
Date Reviewed: June 6, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
These babies taste about as good as the bugs I swallow while riding, and have about the same amount of energy (which is pretty good, really!). If you go into the cold, powybars freeze up and are near impossible to chew, so go for the cliff bars in that case. I only like the chocolate, though some I know can endure the fruity flavors. Hate the packaging, but Dr. Genius had a good idea about precutting the bag, but I aint that anal. I'd rather rip into em with my incisors to impress others! ;-} | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stirling Mclaughlin
a weekend warrior
from Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: April 9, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
During a long ride today I got a chocolate powerbar from a fellow rider. It was very cold out so it was stiff as lead when I first bit into it. still, if you need it in your hands it warms up. All in all I didn't think it tasted that bad. It tasted like...well...a nutrition bar. it had a good boost and it lasts awile so I'd say give it a shot.stirling | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Skunk
a weekend warrior
from Mass.
Date Reviewed: April 2, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I love these things! They really help get you going on a long, demanding run and they are easy to eat on the fly. The only problem is the flavor. All of them exceps Banana taste like sh-t. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a cross-country rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: March 27, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
PowerBars being hard and stiff to eat, well don't keep them in the freezer
read the damn label they say to keep warm. Also when you are buying them from discount clubs (costco etc) check the expiration date. They work alot better than granola bars and fig bars due to the type of carbohydrates contained in them. Calories don't count when you've Bonked or are running low on carbs.
75% of some granola and fig bars calories come from fat...Which if your body has ran out or is running low on fuel (bonk) are useless. I'm not some wannabe that has read a book I am a University educated personal fitness trainer that has done extensive study in nutrition and have came to the conclusion that PowerBars are one of the best sources of energy if you actually want to eat it vs Gel's that you just swallow. Minus one for the packaging but if you put a smalll cut in the wrapper right before your ride they are a lot easier to open. Of course you have to pick a good location in your ride to eat it...on a downhill isnt a good choice | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stewart jarvis
a cross-country rider
from milton ontario canada
Date Reviewed: March 15, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Power bars are great they taste good. They keep me going whether im working for 8 hours or riding hard at the gym or on the track. Also good in a weight workout. The fruit flavours suck but the chocolate, mocha and malt nut are good. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Munga
a weekend warrior
from PA
Date Reviewed: March 11, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Taste remarkably like the dial soap I used to get my mouth washed out with as a kid. They have about the same consistency. Packaging's a pain in the butt and its like chewing cold caramel. The nutrition is good but because there are good alternatives like ClifBars out there it gets a 1. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Glass
a weekend warrior
from CT
Date Reviewed: February 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
After my last review I went to BJ's price club where I picked up box of 24 for $22.00. I have figured out the wrapper (in fact, they give instructions for opening the Kevlar wrapper, very trick). The bars do what they are supposed to, i.e. an energy boost. Also, for me, a bonus. I tend to bonk while sitting at my desk! These bars do a great job of preventing the low blood sugar, or what ever it is, that makes me feel like a lunatic when I havn't had enough to eat. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan G
a weekend warrior
from CT
Date Reviewed: January 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I ate one of these things 40 miles into a 62.5 mile road ride on a hot August day. Not only was it tiring eating the bar but I had to fight to get it out of the wrapper. Stopped at a convenience store so had a quart of Gatorade to was it down with. Several miles later felt the energy kick in and made it home to some Sapporo (Japanese and excellent) beers. I wasn't going to try them again but think I will during some winter trail riding. Four for antibonk. Two for the damned wrapper wrestle. Looks like a three | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Kramer
a cross-country rider
from Fredericksburg, VA
Date Reviewed: December 19, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Power Bars like most energy products are acquired taste. I think the Chocolate ones the best. They do get hard in the winter. To soften them put them in the legs of your shorts (top of thigh) for a few minutes before eating them (it warms and softens them). Drink plenty of water. They really keep your fire stoked during ultra rides. I ate six on a 50 mile mountain bike ride. Never felt the bonk. They also provide your body with the must needed minerals. I am a fan. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Wang
a weekend warrior
from Berkeley, CA
Date Reviewed: December 2, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I was looking at the nutritional value for one of theses puppies and found that they are pretty good for you! It's like 100% USRDA for several nutrients!In terms of giving you quick energy, I think they work well enough. I can definetely tell when I'm riding. Getting them down when you're hungry really isn't that hard, too.I know a lot of people who hate the taste of PowerBars. I also know a lot who like them quite a bit (I'm one of these). I like Mocha, Malt-Nut, and Apple-Cinnamon. Bannana is okay. I hate the Chocolate and Mixed Berry flavors, and I haven't had a chance to try Peanut Putter.PowerBars aren't as cheap as candybars, but they are pretty cheap compared to other energy bars. At Costco, you can get a box of 24 for 20 bucks. If you're looking for an energy bar for sports, or for just a snack, I'd suggest PowerBars if you can handle the taste/texture.
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Submitted by
willi felix
a cross-country rider
from switzerland
Date Reviewed: November 16, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Good Stuff that keeps you riding for as long as you whant.. (i did the Trondheim to Oslo Race in Norway this Year..) A lot of People complain like => does not look like real food... Hope not. I am always looking forward to come home after a good ride and get some REAL Food... But ON the Trail, there is no better choice than a Apple-Cinnamon PowerBar... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kenneth Anderson
a cross-country rider
from South Carolina
Date Reviewed: November 15, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Well, they don't taste all that good, but you get used to it. I can really tell a differnce riding. I feel great. Once me and a friend ate a slimjim before riding and felt awful(just a warning). But the Powerbars make you feel great. It is hard to eat while riding, but just take about a minute brake and stuff one down then go kick butt! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CoryG
a cross-country rider
from
Date Reviewed: November 15, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
The powerbar energy bars are ok. They are not good for during a ride because they require so much water to get down. Also, they are hard on the jaw. While trying to eat one, my jaw muscles got so tired I could hardly chew. Taste is not bad, but it isn't a candy bar. Stay away from the one with the Apple in it. Feels like you are eating saw dust or particle board. These bars are best left for a pre or post ride snack where you have access to lots of water. Can't say if they helped my riding, but better than going hungry. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank
a racer
from Altus, Oklahoma
Date Reviewed: November 14, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Awesome snack for pre or post ride. Go down kinda hard while riding. I stay away from wild berry and mocha, while malt nut, chocalate, and bannana I eat like candy bars. Powergels are INCREDIBLE for on bike nutrition and they taste great. I like the flavor and consistency much better than anything else i've tried | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darin Chester
a weekend warrior
from W. Sacramento, CA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Power Gel is the best. Ive used Gu and feel it doesnt have the right texture. Power Bars are great also, easy to devour, and provides just the right amount of nutrients for that long ride back to the car. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Seguin
a cross-country rider
from Alaska
Date Reviewed: August 5, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Pretty good taste (Apple-Cinnamon and Berry), but hard to eat. In mildly cold
conditions(0-20F) these things assume the consistency of an Oak branch(the Malt-Nut
has the same flavor). They are extremely difficult to eat, and you must use both
hands to break pieces off(working back and forth), then get a strenuous oral
workout chewing them. Best remedy is to carry them close enough to your body to
add extra flavor :) I finally managed to get used to the flavor and texture,
then tried a Clif Bar. Sorry, PowerBar! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lee
a
from weekend warrior
Date Reviewed: July 18, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Powerbar.
They don't taste bad, but there are plenty of things I'd rather eat,
including Clif Bars and Trader Joe's Nonfat Granola Bars. The only
advantage that Powerbars seem to have over the others is the added
vitamins and minerals.
At Trader Joe's (a grocery store chain), a single Powerbar costs $0.99.
That is the same as a Clif Bar. Trader Joe's Fat Free Granola Bars cost
$1.99 for six, which is $0.33 each, but it take two of them to give the
same calories as a Powerbar or Clif Bar (so $0.66 for the equivalent
calories of a Powerbar). None are cost effective as regular food, but
are convenient to carry around as emergency food out on a ride. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Benz OuYang
a weekend warrior
from Berkeley, California
Date Reviewed: July 4, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I had my first taste of Powerbars while I was attending a Cal football game and these were being given out for free. I took 4 or 5 but after my first bite, all my ill-gotten Powerbars were my friend's. Yuck!
My second experience with them was much more pleasant--my friend gave me some banana-flavoured 'bars to prevent me from bonking and those tasted pretty good in addition to them actually working. Nowadays, when I ride, I'll bring along some Powerbars because they taste good and they work.
Some things I've found out about Powerbars: 1) if you don't want to munch on a piece of rock, warm them up and they'll be soft and chewy; 2) the mocha flavour is the best I've tried (although I've to admit that chocolate BTU stokers taste better); 3) drink plenty of water with these to hasten effectiveness; 4) they can be had for about $0.90 each when you buy them at Costco. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis V
a weekend warrior
from Jersey City, New Jersey
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
For me part of the appeal of Powerbar is exactly that it doesnt taste like food, is hard to chew, and needs to be taken with lots of water. It gives me a feeling of active participation in the whole nutrition process. Kind of the same reason I drive manual transmission and use GripShift. All the top energy bars probably have about the same nutritional content but a psychological energy boost is not bad too. Besides if I wanted something comfy and delicious, I'd order pizza and surf with the tv remote. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott Deane
a cross-country rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I tried power bars for the last few all day rides Ive gone on. I like the
way the Malt flavor tasted, and Chocolate wasnt bad, but the rest taste like
hay. Theyre also expensive, at about $1.25 per bar, at best. They are easy to
carry, though, and are a decent way to get some food quick on the trail. If you
dont mind dropping the money on them, theyre good, but there are cheaper ways. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan K.
a
from truckee
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I'm not a big fan of Powerbars but the Banana flavor is delicious! I'm not kidding when I say that it tastes better than any banana bread or cake I've tried. I'm a big banana eater and these bars are the best tasting long training ride food I've ever tasted. It's only food but when it's helpful and tasty I think that's something to get excited about. And with Powerbars less expensive than the competitors it's worth it. | | Overall Rating: |
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$ 1.50
