1 Gatorade G Series PRO Prime
£30 (20 sachets)
23.6g carbohydrates/sachet, 98kcal/sachet
gatorade.com

This large sachet contains 118ml of liquid so it’s less viscous than standard gels you’d use during training or racing. With a blend of carbohydrates and B vitamins, it’s designed to be consumed 15 minutes before exercise, rather than during it. The Gatorade is sweet and easy to drink, and the limited volume means it doesn’t get sickly. The sachets are fragile though, with two of them spilling their contents pre-testing.

Verdict: 4/5

2 Ultimate Sports Nutrition Epic Pro
£43.39 (1kg)
51.9g carbohydrates/ 500ml, 280kcal/500ml
usn.co.uk

USN’s Epic Pro All-in-One is designed to be used before, during and after long periods of exercise (over three hours) and has a pleasant tropical flavour. It’s one of the most energy-laden products on test with 51.9g of carbs per 500ml, plus 16g of protein. The thick consistency is fine in cooler conditions but when the heat is on it can be hard to drink. Mixing the drink is also tricky; a proper mixing bottle is advisable.

Verdict: 4/5

3 SiS GO Energy
£24 (1.6kg)
47g carbohydrates/ 500ml, 187 kcal/500ml
scienceinsport.com

SiS GO has a light, easy-to-drink consistency and flavour, making it one of our favourites. It’s more refreshing than some other drinks, and although the orange flavour tested is slightly synthetic, it’s pleasant to drink and easy on the stomach. Unlike some of the thicker drinks it doesn’t feel like you’re taking on loads of carbs, but the 47g per serving tells a different story. A scoop would be handy, unless you have a bottle with measurements on the side.

Verdict: 4/5

4 CNP Elite Energy
£24.99 (1.6kg)
30g carbohydrates/ 500ml, 120kcal/500ml
cnpprofessional.co.uk

The Elite Energy drink is easy to mix and dissolves well. The tropical flavour is quite sweet but not overly so, though it does have a slightly artificial aftertaste. However the drink is easy to consume during rides and causes no stomach irritation. The 30g of carbohydrates per 500ml puts it in the middle of the energy content range, and the added electrolytes should aid hydration. The 50l tub works out at pretty good value for money, too.

Verdict: 4/5

5 TORQ Energy
£27.99 (1.5kg)
30g carbohydrates/ 500ml, 120kcal/500ml
torqfitness.co.uk

The ‘natural pink grapefruit’ flavour we tried was the most natural tasting on test and had a light consistency. There was a noticeable fruity acidity to the flavour, which was refreshing after more sugary drinks. The powder was one of the easiest to dissolve, leaving no lumps or residue, and the packaging is easy to reseal without taking up much space. TORQ suggests you use three items from its range – drinks, gels and bars – per hour of exercise.

Verdict: 5/5

6 High5 EnergySource
£29.99 (2.2kg)
45g carbohydrates/ 500ml, 180kcal/500ml
highfive.co.uk

The High5 ‘tropical samba’ flavour is predominately orange and is very drinkable, despite being slightly sweeter than average. It contains natural flavouring from a range of fruits – perhaps High5 just use a lot of orange. The powder doesn’t dissolve well initially but will disappear after extended shaking. Having used EnergySource before during stage races we know that it performs well, and our testers commented on how easy it is to drink.

Verdict: 4/5

7 Zipvit ZV1 Energy Drink Elite
£20.99 (1.4kg)
31.7g carbohydrates/ 500ml, 128.6kcal/500ml
zipvitsport.co.uk

The ‘fruit punch’ flavour of Zipvit’s drink tastes like Vimto but it’s not overwhelmingly sweet and is very drinkable. The consistency is light, and it’s easy to swill out of a bottle without leaving a congealed mix in the bottom. The carb content isn’t that high but electrolytes and minerals are included to combat dehydration. The resealable pack keeps things fresh and takes up less space in your pack but finding the scoop can be a challenge.

Verdict: 4/5

8 PowerBar Isoactive
£23.99 (1.32kg)
28.6g carbohydrates/ 500ml, 116 kcal/500ml
powerbar.com

PowerBar Isoactive is an isotonic drink designed to restore lost electrolytes, as well as providing carbohydrates for energy. The orange flavour we tested is palatable but has a slightly bitter aftertaste, and the powder requires a good shake for it all to dissolve without lumps. A 500ml serving gives you 28.6g of carbohydrates, which is comparatively low, but the electrolytes are an added benefit over some of the other drinks.

Verdict: 3/5

9 Accelerade
£26.50 (30 servings)
30g carbohydrates/ 500ml, 121kcal/500ml
pacifichealthlabs.com

When you open the tub the first thing you notice about Accelerade is the powder’s strong smell and radioactive colour when mixed. Don’t let this put you off though, as the taste (we tested ‘tangy orange’) is good and not too sweet. It’s also not overly thick and is easy on the stomach. Relatively little powder is used for each serving and it mixes easily. It’s designed to be drunk before, during and after exercise, and provides 30g of carbohydrates per 500ml.

Verdict: 4/5

10 Kinetica 100% Energy
£19.99 (15 sachets)
46g carbohydrates/ 500ml, 187kcal/500ml
kineticasports.com

Kinetica’s 100% Energy drink reminded us of Um Bongo. The suggested serving gave a weak taste, which will appeal to some as it’s not overpowering, and the initial flavour is good but did leave a funny aftertaste. The unusual serving size is a pain – one sachet makes 350ml rather than the 500ml needed to fill a standard bottle. The powder didn’t dissolve well, with residue in the bottle and lumps in the drink.

Verdict: 3/5

High5 EnergyBar Peanut
£29.75 for 25
highfive.co.uk

This new flavour of High5 EnergyBar goes down well on long rides. Each bar contains a decent 269kcal from 31g carbohydrate, 8g protein and 13g fat. That breakdown illustrates that this isn’t a snack you want to wolf down before a short, sharp interval session, but for a steady release of energy it’s great.

The flavour is as much of dried fruit as it is peanuts, and the texture is moist and easygoing. It’s not something you’d be tempted to eat outside of training but the pack opens quickly, the bar goes down easily and it doesn’t fall apart if left half-eaten in your back pocket.

1 CNP Elite HydroMax Gel
£2
cnpprofessional.co.uk

The initial taste explosion of this pineapple gel from CNP made us worry that several would be intolerable rather than tropical, but this Team Sky and British Cycling-developed isotonic mix clears the palette quickly so that isn’t an issue. There’s no sudden final furlong jolt to the carb mix but it works well to support sustained effort without needing extra washing down. However, even with a few vitamins thrown into the recipe it’s still very expensive.

Verdict 3/5

2 PowerBar PowerGel Hydro
£1.60
powerbar.com / powerbar.co.uk 

PowerBar’s isotonic gel runs a 2:1 maltodextrin:fructose mix for versatile fuelling whether you’ve missed breakfast to make a dawn swim or for steady slurping on a longer ride/run. The fast-tearing pack saves struggling and it’s wet enough not to need swilling down with a drink. The 50mg of caffeine will keep you perky. The very synthetic, acidic taste pushed the limits of palatable for several testers though.

Verdict: 3/5

3 SiS GO Isotonic Gel
£1.29
scienceinsport.com

The original isotonic gel means no desperate water swigging after you’ve swallowed and it’s vegan-compliant too. It’s a bugger to open fully enough to get full flow so breaking out the gel flask might be a good idea. Calorie payload is low for its size too. The mostly maltodextrin mix means a very smooth and progressive energy delivery though, so the SiS gel works well at all intensities. Taste is gentle enough for long events too and it’s really well priced.

Verdict 4/5

4 MuleBar Kicks Fast Natural Energy Gel
£1.50
mulebar.com

MuleBar’s hook-topped gel is compact, easy to open and packs an impressive amount of energy into each packet. It’s fully organic too. Natural flavours are appealing at lower intensities but the mix of 40 per cent fruit juice concentrate and brown rice syrup hits your system with a proper wallop. That makes trialling before a big event essential as the strength of taste and sugar levels can be extremely sickly in hot and hard conditions.

Verdict 2/5

5 Zipvit ZV7 Energy Gel
£1.49
zipvitsport.com

While its pack size suggests an isotonic gel, the sticky shampoo consistency signals the splurge of a jumbo portion of ‘needs water with’ goo. As a result Zipvit‘s offering packs double the 2:1 maltodextrin/sugar load of most similar priced gels, which is great for value. The sugary taste and fast energy delivery means it needs treating with respect even at low intensities. The mess of half-eaten gels makes it better for flask use not back-pocket action.

Verdict 4/5

6 USN Vooma Energy
£1.59
usn.co.uk

USN specialise in power sports and their gel has some interesting ingredients including amino acids, L-carnitine and creatine, making it more of a mini supplement meal than a quick energy fix. The maltodextrin/dextrose/sucrose mix gives a steady energy delivery that’ll surge into your bloodstream rather than spike. However, many of our testers found the strong synthetic taste too much to finish one gel, let alone several.

Verdict 3/5

7 High5 IsoGel
£1
highfive.co.uk

As you might guess from the size, High5’s Isogel is an isotonic mix that you can bosh without reaching for your bottle immediately afterwards. It’s not the easiest gel to get open on the go, but the mix of maltodextrin and glucose delivers energy gently enough not to spike or crash obviously. The 15 per cent fruit juice recipe tastes usefully neutral, with no stickiness after swallowing, although it can cause heartburn after you’ve had a few. At a quid a go, it’s a bargain too.

Verdict 5/5

8 Maxifuel Viper Boost
£1.70
maxishop.com

Both Maxifuel’s Viper Boost and Active Gel are  isotonic mixes, which makes them good for long or hot events where accurate hydration is an issue. Despite a definitely synthetic initial taste, they registered low on the aftertaste and nausea radar even when we were flogging ourselves through the final furlong. The Quadcarb mix of starch and sugars starts working fast without jolting too badly. The Boost gel packs a serious 100mg caffeine dose so use wisely.

Verdict 3/5

9 GU Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gel
£2.70
guenergy.com / tclsports.co.uk 

As the smallest packet here, but costing a pound more than most, this pouch from one of the original gel producers has some explaining to do. It certainly packs a lot of calories into a small gulp in a glucose/fructose mix for versatile useability. It’s mildly caffeinated (35mg) and laced with amino acids too, but the dark chocolate enriched cake-mix texture takes almost as much swallowing as the price. Standard GU Energy Gel is a more reasonable £1.55.

Verdict 3/5

10 TORQ Gel
£1.40
torqfitness.co.uk

TORQ’s all-natural rhubarb and custard was THE favourite flavour of our test team, making this gel of the few we genuinely look forward to. The pack opens easily and while it leaves your mouth sticky, you’re not going to choke if you don’t drink within seconds. The 2:1 maltodextrin/fructose energy delivery is fast enough to catch a sudden fade but won’t unbalance you on steady runs. While the pack is small, calorie count is high, so the price is reasonable.

Verdict 4/5

Triradar.com is the online home of Triathlon Plus – the best source of triathlon training advice, triathlon gear reviews and triathlon news.

Log your training for free at the TriRadar.com Training Zone.

Have every issue delivered to your digital device by getting Triathlon Plus through Apple Newsstand, Google Play or Zinio. Subscribe to the print edition with massive savings at MyFavouriteMagazines.

Join the conversation on the Triathlon Plus Facebook page, follow us on Twitter @TriathlonPlus.



SiS GO+ Nitrates Gel
£1.90 (60ml)
scienceinsport.com

we’ve always been fans of SiS GO gels, the drinkable isotonic energy pouches. This new high-tech formula shares the same easygoing consistency but is designed to be a dietary supplement rather than an energy-delivery product (there are just 34kcal per portion).

Since researchers first found a clear link between consumption of nitrates and endurance performance a couple of years ago, a few companies have launched products aiming to satisfy the new market for this magic ingredient. Taste can be a problem though, and unfortunately this suffers on that front.

We used it as instructed, taking the gels for four days before a big ride. The riding itself felt easier, though improved spring fitness could have been as much a factor as the nitrates. However, no matter how quickly we downed the gels, or mixed them with juice (as suggested), the difficult taste meant we’d need a very special event to warrant taking these again.

Goody Good Stuff sweets

Goody Good Stuff sweets
http://www.goodygoodstuff.com/; Asda; Waitrose
£1.49 per 100g bag

Sweets might not be top of most athletes’ nutrition selection list, but we often find ourselves nibbling on treats during long rides to get an instant sugar fix – and our guiltiness at doing so has just lessened thanks the natural recipes of Goody Good Stuff.

With a range of four yummy gummy varieties and another quartet of sour chews on offer, there’s something to satisfy every sweet tooth. All of the range is free from artificial colours and have been culled to the bare essentials, meaning they’re free from fat, meat, dairy, gluten, egg, nut soy, wheat and gelatine. All the gummies are vegetarian and the sours are certified vegan.

We found they tasted great, kept us buoyed up when feeling low on long rides and were easily digested, making them a good replacement for more processed treats.

1. Accel Recover
£1.49
www.pacifichealthlabs.com

Weight 53g | Carb 60% | Protein 15% | Fat 9%

Accel have blended chocolate and peanut butter together into a nougat-style mix. It’s a bit dry in texture but chews down easily. The triple-source protein mix is potentially more potent per gram. Its 4:1 carb:protein ratio makes it suitable for general use.

Verdict: 4/5

2. Pulsin Maple and Peanut Protein
£1.59
www.pulsin.co.uk

Weight 50g | Carb 34% | Protein 24% | Fat 24%

Pulsin’s vegan-friendly, gluten and dairy-free bar is high in fat, and the cacao butter and carob flavouring make it a hard-going chew. It’s not bad value though.

Verdict: 3/5

3. Clif Builder’s Bar
£1.99
www.cliffbar.co.uk 

Weight 68g | Carb 40% | Protein 29% | Fat 12%

This has a nice texture and taste. Its high protein content makes it a potent recovery recipe and it’s vitamin and mineral enriched if you’re concentrating more on your training than your cooking.

Verdict: 4/5

4. Multipower Protein flapjack
£1.49
www.multipower.com/uk

Weight 70g | Carb 48% | Protein 26% | Fat 11%

The protein/carb balance in this should make for a versatile bar and it’s pretty low cost. However, the substance under the thin veneer of chocolate is more like MDF than flapjack. It’s a stiff chew that rapidly dissolves, leaving an unpleasant sticky residue.

Verdict: 2/5

5. Mule bar refuel
£1.89
www.mulebar.com 

Weight 65g | Carb 58% | Protein 20% | Fat 10%

Mule Bar’s Refuel is the only Fair Trade bar on the market. The chocolate chunks help to break up the fruity consistency and avoid any dry aftertaste. The high fruit content means it’s a high calorie snack with a relatively low proportion of protein, but that makes it potentially more versatile outside of pure recovery use.

Verdict: 4/5

6. High5 Protein bar
£1.99
www.highfive.co.uk

Weight 50g | Carb 44% | Protein 27% | Fat 10%

High5 is the only bar we actually enjoyed eating. The 20% milk chocolate, high cocoa content and palatable texture help. The high proportion of protein to carbs makes it an excellent weight- conscious recovery snack.

Verdict: 4/5

7. SIS Rego
£1.99
www.scienceinsport.com

Weight 55g | Carb 39% | Protein 36% | Fat 12%

The Rego bar packs a higher protein percentage than any of the others here. It tasted good with a fast digesting texture under a thin chocolate skin. That meant we never struggled to eat one straight after training.

Verdict: 4/5

Triradar.com is the online home of Triathlon Plus – the best source of triathlon training advice, triathlon gear reviews and triathlon news.

Log your training for free at the TriRadar.com Training Zone.

Have every issue delivered to your digital device by getting Triathlon Plus through Apple Newsstand, Google Play or Zinio. Subscribe to the print edition with massive savings at MyFavouriteMagazines.

Join the conversation on the Triathlon Plus Facebook page, follow us on Twitter @TriathlonPlus.



Torq Recovery Plus+
£50 – 1.5kg, £22 – 500g
www.torqfitness.co.uk

This new hot recovery drink from Torq features all the training benefit claims you’d expect. These include HMB for slowing muscle degradation, amino acids to buffer lactic build-up, cocoa antioxidants, potassium and sodium for fluid regulation, zinc for tissue repair and iron. Where it differs to other products is that it is designed to be drunk twice daily during hard training and used in addition to Torq’s regular recovery drinks to promote both recovery and performance enhancement. While we can’t comment on the veracity of this scientifically, we did feel good while using the drink – once the skin tingling sensation from the Beta-Alanine had faded. Recovery Plus+ also has a metallic, salty taste overpowering the chocolate that may put some off and at two drinks a day it’d end up costing around £35 per month plus the cost of the usual recovery drink.

Cynics might suggest that the marketing of sports nutrition is a seething mass of often contradictory, cherry picked, pseudo science that ends up extremely confusing for the end user. There are some basic truths that hold most of the time for most athletes though so at the risk of vast oversimplification here’s our bite sized bar nutrition break down.

The major constituent of all the bars here are carbohydrates. These vary from slow release fibre rich cereals, through faster to break down starches to fruit based fructose sugars then quick acting simple sugars.

Fat contains over double the calories pre gram but in general it’s less efficient and slower for the body to convert into energy, particularly when you’re exercising hard. There’s a big difference between the ‘good’ fats found in nuts and seeds and artery clogging saturated fats when it comes to overall diet too.

We’ve deliberately left high protein ‘recovery’ bars out of this test. A lot of research suggests a small amount of protein (a ratio of 1g of protein to 3-4g of carb is often quoted as ideal) can help steady carbohydrates processing.

Fibre is important in your overall diet but can cause digestion problems if your body is already working hard. The same is true of sodium (salt) and over strong flavours which might be fine on a steady ride but can give you the gip if you’re really going for it.

Finally there are a whole host of extras that some bars use as a chewy chat up line. These can range from chocloate or yoghurt toppings to supplemental vitamins or even stimulants such as caffeine or guarana. If you think you’re missing these in your lunching life then give them a go, but from experience, the simpler the snack the less likely you are to see them again.

Don’t think that expensive energy bars are your only option for eating on the go either, shop around and you might be very surprised at how close the nutritional breakdown of a malt loaf, breakfast bar or even a jam sandwich is to some of the bars here.

1. High5 Energy

£1.19 
www.highfive.co.uk
Weight 60g

This fruit-based bar is a good fast fix reviver but best nibbled steadily for a slower release. The ingredients of all four flavours are mostly dried-fruit based, bulked up with starch sugars and oats. What little fat there is comes from natural oils and it’s low in sodium. The relatively strong but not overpowering flavours are all natural with no nuts, artificial colours or sweeteners. It’s easy to open, moist enough to chew easily and temperature stable too. There’s very little protein (High5 do a separate 27% protein bar) and that’s backed up in a fair old rush of energy shortly after eating. This is great if you need a quick pick up, but generally it’s better being nibbled gradually rather than gobbling down in one.

Verdict

Easy to eat, decent value, best used when you need a fast fix of energy.

Performance 3/5
Value 4/5
Overall 3/5

2. High5 Sport

£1.19
www.highfive.co.uk
Weight 55g

High5 sweeten their mixed oat and fruit bar with a generous yoghurt or chocolate topping and it’s tasty enough to bring out on a tea break without people thinking you’re a freak. The 20% chocolate top isn’t ideal from a pure performance slant, but sugar percentage is actually lower than High5’s Energy bar and the fat percentage higher. That correlates with the fact it doesn’t seem to spike your energy levels as noticeably if the easy eating gets the better of your “one bit at a time” intentions. It’s one of the higher calorie bars here which makes it better basic value, and great for long rides, but beware if you’re weight watching. It opens easily, works in a range of temperatures and has no nuts, artificial colours or sweeteners either.

Verdict

Limited flavours but very easy eating candy-coated chunk of mixed source energy.

Performance 3/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

3. High5 4:1 Bar

£1.19
www.highfive.co.uk
Weight 50g

Definitely the most ‘techy’ bar in High5’s line up, and as such the one that comes closest to the usual ‘monkey poo’ criticisms of more focused fruit-based performance bars. It isn’t something you’d unwrap at elevenses and, while it’s soft whatever the weather, the recipe means it takes longer to chew down than most. There’s only one flavour (cranberry) available. As the 4:1 name suggests, it has three times the protein and 50 per cent less simple sugars than the other High5 bars for a more sustained release that works well during and after training. It’s free from nuts, artificial colour and sweetener and easy to open too. Stickiness means it gets very messy very quickly if left half-eaten though.

Verdict

Versatile during/after energy balance for  hard training, but sticky single flavour  .

Performance 4/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

Winner of the Triathlon Plus Value Award

4. SIS Go Bar

£1.20 
www.scienceinsport.com
Weight 65g

The cobbled texture of rice, oats and soya nuggets in the Go bar mean chewing is slightly slow – particularly when cold – but there’s no stickiness afterwards, which is great in hotter temperatures or during higher intensity use. A decent amount of protein and the overall recipe mix means energy arrives controllably and it’s a decent post-ride or run choice. None of the flavours are too sweet either and they stay palatable even after eating several in a row on a long day or heavy weekend of training. Loose packaging makes it easy to pull open even with gloves on and there’s a 40g, £1 option for smaller appetites. Fat is very low, they’re vegan friendly and free from artificial colouring, flavouring, preservatives and nuts.

Verdict

Chewy, but otherwise very versatile, easy on the stomach, high-performance snacking.

Performance 5/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

5. Clif Bar Energy

£1.25
www.2pure.co.uk
Weight 68g

This distinctively free-form splat of a snack might look like something you’d find on your shoe after running with a vegan dog but in taste and texture terms, Clif bars are in a different class. They even passed muster for the kids’ packed lunches. They’re a bit more fatty and fibre-rich than most of the bars we tried and there’s a fair amount of chewing to do before they’re on their way. There’s plenty of protein in the rice/oat/soy/fruit mix, though, and energy delivery is stable and steady whatever intensity you’re working at, though they are better suited to slower stuff. Clif use as high a proportion of organic (70%) and ethically sourced ingredients as possible, they’re resistant to extremes of temperature and they’re good value too.

Verdict

A bit slow to chew but great value and all- round performance with wholesome ethics.

Performance 5/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

Winner of the Triathlon Plus Gold Award

6. Zipvit ZV8

£1.30
www.zipvitsport.com
Weight 65g

Despite oat flakes and rice crisps well up in the mix this actually has one of the lowest carb servings on test. A mix of ‘polydextrose’, fruit sugars and nuts gives predictably steady overall energy delivery. Supplemental vitamins, pantothenic and folic acids are designed to aid energy delivery and overall recovery too. Flavours aren’t too overpowering or queasy, even if you’re working really hard between mouthfuls, and it chews down really fast. We’ve used it before, during and after rides and it’s worked well enough in each situation (including very hot and very cold weather) to make it one of our favoured bars. Packaging disintegrates easily and leaves it vulnerable to fluff and filth if you’re a half now, half later snacker.

Verdict

Versatile, quick eating energy delivery  without a bellyache backlash.

Performance 5/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

Winner of the Triathlon Plus Peak Performer Award

7. Powerbar Ride

£1.35
www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk
Weight 55g

The opposite end of the Powerbar spectrum to the Energize bar (p96), the Ride bar gets a chocolate flavoured whey protein-enriched coating over a mixed fructose and glucose caramel paste with soya crisps, peanut butter and oat fibres. It’s vitamin bolstered, but vegetable oil and simple sugar syrups are well up in the mix. That means a lot of fat in the stats, including over 8 per cent saturated fats, which is almost double that of any other bar here. The comparatively low carb proportion means a slow release that only really works at low intensities but there’s a lot of protein for recovery purposes. Both flavours taste synthetic and the chocolatesque coating does them no favours in hot pockets either.

Verdict

Protein packed but synthetic-tasting fake chocolate coated, high-fat disappointment.

Performance 2/5
Value 2/5
Overall 2/5

8. Torq Bar

£1.35
www.torqfitness.co.uk
Weight 45g

One of the real feel-good content crusaders, Torq assure as much of their ingredients are organic and fairly traded as possible. Moreish flavours make them initially easy on you as well as the world, although the more fruity ones can be quite strong to handle if you’re hammering your racing or training. The high carb/sugar to minimal protein ratio means they hit your system pretty hard too, but that’s offset by the new smaller 45g size that means their gels and drinks all pack the same punch for easier energy strategising. They’re as cold tolerant as you’d hope from a UK product too, but being extra nice to farmers and furry friends inevitably comes at an extra cost per gram of product.

Verdict

Fast acting, moreish energy from responsible recipes, but strong taste and weak value.

Performance 5/5
Value 2/5
Overall 4/5

9. Pulsin Beond Berry

£1.39
www.pulsin.co.uk
Weight 40g

This totally raw ingredient date and almond-based bar also delivers a one per cent Acai berry superfood payload for those who value even the most marginal of gains. It’s fully organically certified too, so the warm fuzzy feeling about the environment will last as long as the powerful raspberry flavouring. The almonds and other bits keeping it together means a lot of fat (16.7 per cent), but that and the super-soft consistency means it chews down quickly. You will need to eat most of a second bar to get the same carb load as most of the bars here, which works out expensive. The high protein content potentially makes it a good post-workout option though.

Verdict

Organic raw ingredient, high-protein bar, but high price for low superfood content.

Performance 3/5
Value 2/5
Overall 2/5

10. Mule Natural Energy

£1.50
www.madison.co.uk
Weight 56g

Another slightly awkward to open bar thanks to a tight, sticky wrapper, but at least the Mule bar’s tricky packaging is compostable if you bring it home (or it accidentally blows away). A high proportion of the ingredients are organic and/or Fairtrade too, so it’s a low-guilt gobfull. A high percentage of starch syrups and fruit mean it packs a rapid energy delivery, chews down quickly and, for once, the wide range of flavours are as appetising as they sound. That does mean potential to trigger an energy spike if you get greedy but pack size is slightly smaller than average which helps steady snacking, if not relative value.

Verdict

Very tasty, fast-acting fruit based bar,  but awkward to open and high price.

Performance 4/5
Value 2/5
Overall 3/5

11. Powerbar Energize

£1.50 
www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk
Weight 65g

Powerbar have massively expanded their energy bar range to include more palatable options, but the Energize bars will appeal to lantern-jawed hardcore fans of the original bars. It’s definitely not convenience food as the wrapper is a sod to open on the move and even at room temperature there’s a lot of chomping to do to put it in the past tense. The powerful flavours need a tolerant palette – or a rapid rinse with water – too. The C2Max dual source (fructose/glucose) mix does seem to perform well particularly over longer, lower intensity sessions though – where the opening and chewing issues are less of an issue too. There’s enough protein in there to make it worth finishing after training if you didn’t manage during.

Verdict

Awkward opening, dubious texture and arduous chewing but good performance.

Performance 3/5
Value 3/5
Overall 3/5

12. Pulsin Energy Bomb

£1.59
www.pulsin.co.uk
Weight 50g

This gluten-free veggie nugget is designed to kickstart your workout or raise your game in the final furlong with a hit of ginseng, green tea and guarana. It certainly seems to work too, properly pepping us up even at the end of the dreaded first week back to work and serious training after Christmas. The mix of fruit, rice malt and whey protein means release is more restrained so you’re not eating an energy hand grenade either. Not everyone is tolerant of the obvious buzz of stimulants in a sports context though. Saturated fat and fibre levels are high too and they’re not cheap. That does pay for eco-electric, locally prioritised production values though.

Verdict

Sustained release ethical energy with a  mental kickstart, but not cheap.

Performance 3/5
Value 2/5
Overall 3/5

13. Pulsin Berry Burst

£1.59
www.pulsin.co.uk
Weight 50g

Not your average sports energy bar but the “ultimate in-between meal snack” built from dates, cashew butter, goji berries, unroasted chocolate and rice malt and powders. That makes it one of the fattiest bars in the test and the rich texture and taste didn’t agree with everyone either. The carb/protein balance makes it a reasonable all-rounder in terms of energy provision for longer, steadier rides (where the fat is less of an issue). There’s a lot of vitamin C if you’re worried about scurvy, while iron and protein levels are designed to beef up vegetarian athletes. Antioxidant elements will appeal to those who subscribe to their benefits too.  Ethical credentials come at a cost though.

Verdict

Antioxidant and vitamin C-rich slow-burn eco bar, but high in fat and price .

Performance 3/5
Value 2/5
Overall 2/5

14. Maxifuel Viper Boost

£1.99 
www.maxifuel.com
Weight 45g

Maxifuel’s Viper Boost puts a varied mix of sucrose, rice flour, ground almonds, starches, fructose and glucose syrups under a relatively thick (14 per cent) dark chocolate skin. Relatively low sugar percentage with high protein and fat content makes it a steady energy delivery bar. Its infamous reputation comes from the caffeine and guarana buzz’ ingredients for kick-starting workouts or restoring flagging focus in the last gasp of a race. Like most stimulant-enriched products, tolerance before queasiness kicks in varies between athletes. Add a crash as noticeable as the boost and you need to check how these bars work for you before racing with them. Very pricey, too.

Verdict

Highly charged bars with a real buzz but expensive and need using carefully.

Performance 3/5
Value 2/5
Overall 3/5

15. Chimpanzee Energy

£1.99
www.harris-active.co.uk
Weight 55g

Chimpanzee bars are another contender for the ethical energy market, with 31% organic content, “1% for the planet” profit share membership and vegetarian society approval. The packaging is easy to open even on our roller test and it’s a soft and easy eat  with the fruit pieces, oats, soybeans and rice crisps chewing down quickly – albeit with lingering shrapnel. The 3 flavours are distinctive and more-ish too and while they’re not cosmetically appealing they taste good enough to come out at tea break. While fat is relatively high, saturated fats are low and the carb:protein balance is bang on 4:1 so it delivers it’s energy in a sustained and versatile way. Buy in bulk though or they’re vastly expensive.

Verdict

Refreshingly distinctive flavours with versatile protein rich energy balance but bulk buying essential.

Performance 5/5
Value 3/5
Overall 4/5

16. 9Bar

£0.85
www.9bar.com
Weight 50g

Looking like a block of bird seed under a carob carapace 9bars come in a range of 6 easy eating flavours. The amount of seeds (and often nuts too) plus vegetable fat and oil gives them an extremely high fat %. The balance also means slow relatively inefficient energy release so they’re best for fuelling long steady sessions, replacing missed meals or as a recovery option. At over 250Kcal per average bar they’re not for weight watchers either. The seeds are packed with minerals, vitamins and amino acids though and they’re dairy, gluten, yeast, egg plus artificial sweetener, preservative and colour free too. This means most allergy/ethically restricted eaters have only got the nuts to worry about and they’re very well priced as well.

Verdict

Very tasty, low cost and nutritous seed bars but extremely fatty and less suitable for high intensity work.

Performance 3/5
Value 5/5
Overall 4/5

OVERALL VERDICT

So at the end of a month of desperate calorie expenditure and aching jaws we can certainly say there’s a very broad range of taste and texture options from tea-break-friendly chocolate-coated treats through to suspect-looking mush and bars that look and taste like leftover emergency rations from the lunar landings. There’s a big difference in the way they deliver their energy, how much protein, fat or other things are mixed in and whether they turn you into a training raver or will keep even the most ecocentric hippies happy.

The more we ran, rode, swam and most of all chewed, the more a few of the bars stood out. High5’s Sport bar was the nearest to a treat, while their 4:1 bar works really well for intensive training. While Zipvit’s bar was never the most tempting initially it slipped down easily and kept us going particularly well whatever our work rate. Torq’s bars scored highly for performance too but they’re bloody expensive.

That leaves us with two clear winners. If you don’t mind trading a bit more fat and fibre for a more ‘snacky’ style taste and texture then Clif Bar are the way to go. For lean, clean, slightly chewy but otherwise versatile eating before, during and after all types of exercise, though, we have to give the Go ahead to SIS.

Triradar.com is the online home of Triathlon Plus – the best source of triathlon training advice, triathlon gear reviews and triathlon news.

Log your training for free at the TriRadar.com Training Zone.

Have every issue delivered to your digital device by getting Triathlon Plus through Apple Newsstand, Google Play or Zinio. Subscribe to the print edition with massive savings at MyFavouriteMagazines.

Join the conversation on the Triathlon Plus Facebook page, follow us on Twitter @TriathlonPlus.



GU Roctane Ultra Endurance
£35:$30 (12 servings)
www.guenergy.co.uk:guenergy.com/store

This powder-based drink from GU is caffeinated, carbohydrate-rich and tasty – pretty much all you need for endurance races. Each two-scoop serving (around 600ml) provides 59g of carbs, which are split between simple and complex sugars, as well as sodium, potassium, caffeine, taurine, amino acids and beta alanine. Designed to be taken in conjunction with GU Gels, the Roctane drink was delicious during long or hard efforts. The tropical fruit flavour was neither too sweet nor bland, and the caffeine wasn’t overpowering either making it a real contender for your energy powder needs. At £2.92 per serving, it’s expensive if used everyday.

Verdict
A tasty energy-filled drink that worked brilliantly. Expensive if used regulary.

Performance 5/5
Value 2/5
Overall 4/5



This review was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine. Save time and money by having every issue delivered to your door or digital device by subscribing to the print edition or buying digitally through Zinio or Apple Newsstand.

You’ll find loads more triathlon gear and kit reviews in triradar.com’s Gear section

Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TriathlonPlus and follow us on Twitter @TriathlonPlus.



Torq Bar
£29.20
www.torqfitness.co.uk

On paper, Torq’s latest weapon in the sports nutrition war ticks all the boxes: over 33g of carbs per 45g bar; a mix of simple and complex carbs for instant and sustained energy; less than 1g of fat; and Ribose, a natural sugar which Torq claim hastens cellular recovery by providing the body with the material needed to directly produce ATP, which is in turn broken down into energy. In contrast to a lot of the gritty competition, the chewy, moist Torq bars, which are packed with fruit and oats, are easy to get down quickly. The bars have been remodelled to a smaller size so they now form part of Torq’s Fuelling System, delivering the same amount of carbs as one Torq gel or 500ml of Torq energy drink. All five flavours of the bar were delicious (with organic mango proving particularly popular), they sat well in the stomach and definitely provided a good energy boost. The fairtrade credentials, easy-open packet and decent value at £1.21 per bar are welcome too.

Verdict
Quality ingredients, great taste and plenty of energy make the Torq Bar a winner.

Performance 5/5
Value 4/5
Overall 4/5

This review was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine. Save time and money by having every issue delivered to your door or digital device by subscribing to the print edition or buying digitally through Zinio or Apple Newsstand.

You’ll find loads more triathlon gear and kit reviews in triradar.com’s Gear section

Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TriathlonPlus and follow us on Twitter @TriathlonPlus.