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Health & Wellness Nutrition

Best PowerBars

Updated December 2021
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
PowerBar Performance Energy Bar, Chocolate
PowerBar
Performance Energy Bar, Chocolate
Holds Up in Heat

This energy bar holds up in extreme temperatures without losing its flavor or chewy texture.

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Holds Up in Heat
Bottom Line

This energy bar holds up in extreme temperatures without losing its flavor or chewy texture.

Pros

Great chocolate flavor highlights this very chewy protein bar, which also contains less fat than competing products. Doesn’t melt, even on hot days spent hiking or training.

Cons

There’s a strong aftertaste, and some find the bar too sweet.

Best Bang for the Buck
PowerBar Protein Snack Bar, Peanut Butter Caramel
PowerBar
Protein Snack Bar, Peanut Butter Caramel
Tasty Energy Booster

A PowerBar favorite based on taste, but its protein content is much lower than other bars.

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Tasty Energy Booster
Bottom Line

A PowerBar favorite based on taste, but its protein content is much lower than other bars.

Pros

Provides on-the-go energy with a smaller 12g protein boost. Best for a between-meals snack. Tasty, with a great texture that is neither too chewy nor too crumbly.

Cons

Loaded with sugar, at 12g per bar.

PowerBar Protein Plus 20g, Chocolate Peanut Butter
PowerBar
Protein Plus 20g, Chocolate Peanut Butter
Balanced, Easy to Chew

A 20g protein punch is packed within this soft, easy to chew bar, making it a good post-workout snack.

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Balanced, Easy to Chew
Bottom Line

A 20g protein punch is packed within this soft, easy to chew bar, making it a good post-workout snack.

Pros

Its soft texture is much easier to chew, something those with dental work, braces, or chewing issues will appreciate. Has a balanced flavor with very little aftertaste. High protein-to-carb ratio, and an added fiber boost.

Cons

The chocolate coating melts easily in warm temperatures.

PowerBar Clean Whey Protein Bar, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
PowerBar
Clean Whey Protein Bar, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Gluten and Soy-free

For bodybuilders who suffer through whey supplement shakes, this offers slightly less suffering – in chewy bar form.

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Gluten and Soy-free
Bottom Line

For bodybuilders who suffer through whey supplement shakes, this offers slightly less suffering – in chewy bar form.

Pros

Gluten- and soy-free, with whey and milk protein isolates as the source for an impressive 20g of protein.

Cons

Annoyingly gummy and hard to chew, with a strong aftertaste.

PowerBar Protein Plus 30g, Chocolate Brownie
PowerBar
Protein Plus 30g, Chocolate Brownie
For Muscle Building

For those looking to augment lean muscle growth, this is a tasty protein bomb.

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For Muscle Building
Bottom Line

For those looking to augment lean muscle growth, this is a tasty protein bomb.

Pros

A huge hit of protein blasts muscles with a combination of soy, casein, and whey. Plus, 4 grams of fiber to move things along. Bar has a balanced texture that is slightly chewy, with a bit of crumble. Great chocolate flavor with little aftertaste.

Cons

All that protein and fiber has its price: gassy side effects for some.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
How We Tested

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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First Reviewed
December 11, 2021
30
Models
considered
26
Hours
researched
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Samantha Bookman
Written by Samantha Bookman

Updated December 2021

PowerBar is one of the anchor brands of the sports nutrition market. The company started in the 1980s by distance runner Brian Maxwell and nutritionist Jennifer Bidulph. Their goal was to create a bar that would prevent elite athletes from “hitting the wall” during endurance events like marathons by supplying plenty of carbohydrates and other nutrients. Since then, the variety – and protein content – of PowerBars has expanded. There’s now a wide choice of PowerBars for every activity – from snack bites for kids after soccer practice, to protein-loaded whey bars aimed at body builders. Fun fact: PowerBar’s logo colors are the same as those of UC Berkeley, Maxwell’s alma mater.

Our Top Picks
PowerBar
Best of the Best
PowerBar
Performance Energy Bar, Chocolate
Bottom Line
This energy bar holds up in extreme temperatures without losing its flavor or chewy texture.
Shop Now
PowerBar
Best Bang for the Buck
PowerBar
Protein Snack Bar, Peanut Butter Caramel
Bottom Line
A PowerBar favorite based on taste, but its protein content is much lower than other bars.
Shop Now
PowerBar
Top Pick
PowerBar
Protein Plus 20g, Chocolate Peanut Butter
Bottom Line
A 20g protein punch is packed within this soft, easy to chew bar, making it a good post-workout snack.
Shop Now
PowerBar
Top Pick
PowerBar
Clean Whey Protein Bar, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Bottom Line
For bodybuilders who suffer through whey supplement shakes, this offers slightly less suffering – in chewy bar form.
Shop Now
PowerBar
Top Pick
PowerBar
Protein Plus 30g, Chocolate Brownie
Bottom Line
For those looking to augment lean muscle growth, this is a tasty protein bomb.
Shop Now
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