I am very excited because we are answering the question regarding the best energy bars for runners! Our team did thorough research, and we came up with five top-rated bars that you will love.
But before that, check out our buying guide on why you need energy bars and how to choose them.
The 5 Best Energy Bars for Runners
1. KIND Bars
2. Power Crunch High Protein Energy Snack Bars
3. BSN Protein Crisp Bar
4. ZonePerfect Nutrition Snack Bars
5. Picky Bars Real Food Energy Bars
The Best Overall: Kind Bars
Free of Gluten & Trans Fat
Low glycemic index
High Fiber
Very Low Sodium
Actually Taste Good!
Why Runners Need Energy Bars?
Imagine this situation – you’ve been through an exhausting day at work. You haven’t had the time to eat properly, and you feel very tired.
Although you planned to go running in the evening, it doesn’t seem like you have the energy for it.
That is where energy bars come into play. They will give you the boost you were looking for to endure intense training sessions.
Apart from taking them before running, you can also take them after the training is over. The right combination of ingredients will ensure that they minimize fatigue and reduce recovery time.
Finally, energy bars can be an amazing snack and even a meal replacement in some cases. If you are on a weight loss program, these bars can help you to achieve the desired amount of nutrients and calories healthily.
If you haven't tried energy bars yet, you should give them a shot to discover why they are so popular among athletes.
How to Choose the Best Energy Bars for Runners
You can choose between thousands of different energy bar brands out there. The question is how to choose bars for lovers of running.
Here are the crucial factors you should consider when picking an energy bar.
What Ingredients Should an Energy Bar Have?
For an energy bar, everything starts and ends with ingredients. Runners should pay attention to two crucial groups – carbohydrates and protein.
Carbs may give you that additional boost of energy when you need it the most. If you need a bit of extra push to endure the training, carbs will provide it.
On the other hand, the protein will protect your muscles and speed up their recovery. It aims to minimize fatigue and accelerate the recovery process while boosting muscle size. Apart from this, fibers promote satiety and may ensure optimal digestion of the bar.
Make sure always to read the ingredient label, and check out the components of the bar you plan to buy. The goal is to have as many real foods and natural ingredients as possible.
What Ingredients Should You Avoid?
A high level of sugar is not good for anyone, especially those having issues with blood sugar levels. The maximum amount of sugar should be set to about five grams per bar.
Additionally, make sure that there are no artificial sweeteners or flavors, or that their quantity has been reduced to a minimum. If you are sensitive to gluten and dairy, you might have problems digesting an energy bar that contains them.
You might get bloated or gassy, which is not something you want, especially during a running session.
Choose Your Favorite Texture and Taste
If you need to be careful about the ingredients, you have a lot more freedom regarding the texture and the taste of the energy bar.
As for the texture, these bars are usually crunchy and crispy. You can even find some that are chewy, although they are not present as much on the market.
The taste can vary from sweet and chocolaty flavors to surprisingly salty ones. You should figure out what rubs your belly the right way.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different tastes because you may find multiple flavors that you like.
5 Best Energy Bars for Runners - Reviewed
1. KIND Bars
Here is an interesting mixture for an energy bar. KIND decided to combine dark chocolate with sea salt and nuts.
As the company explains, they took whole nuts and sprinkled them with Brazilian sea salt. After that, they used dark chocolate to drizzle the bar.
- Contains 12 (1.4 oz) KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt bars
Almonds are the integral ingredient of this product. The item has a low glycemic index, which means it shouldn’t affect your blood sugar levels. It is also non-GMO, gluten-free, and kosher.
You won’t find trans fats in KIND bars, but you will find fibers. The label states that a single bar contains six grams of proteins, too.
Some users may need a while to get used to an energy bar with sea salt. However, if you are looking for something else than a sweet flavor, you may be surprised how this product tastes.
Pros
Cons
- Contains 12 (1.4 oz) KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt bars
- NUTRITIONALLY DENSE- KIND bars lead with heart-healthy almonds as the #1 ingredient, providing you the nutrition your body needs with a delicious and satisfying crunch
- PACKED WITH GOODNESS- These bars are gluten-free with 6 grams of protein, 5 grams of sugar, and are a great source of healthy fibers
- WELL BALANCED- These KIND bars have a low glycemic index, to better manage and improve blood sugar levels
- INDULGE- Made with the highest quality non-genetically modified ingredients to ensure our bars not only taste great, but are kind to your body
2. Power Crunch High Protein Energy Snack Bars
Athletes are the primary target group of these energy bars, and we are not talking only about runners.
Those that are going through intense training will appreciate Proto Whey, which is an additional boost of protein that secures maximum absorption of this nutrient.
You will receive 14 grams of protein per a single bar, which is quite generous. Keep in mind that the product also contains five grams of sugar.
Pros
Cons
3. BSN Protein Crisp Bar
Are you a fan of a crispy bar texture? If the answer is yes, you may want to consider the BSN energy bar.
The first thing that you notice is the generous amount of protein, which totals to 20 grams per bar.
- GLUTEN-FREE PROTEIN CRISPS AT ONLY 230-240 CALORIES PER BAR – help fuel your body with these macro-friendly BSN protein bars
You can expect a blend of milk and whey protein concentrates and isolates. The product is free of gluten, and it shouldn’t contain more than four grams of sugar per bar.
However, the list of ingredients includes sucralose, which some users might not like.
You can choose between numerous different flavors ranging from cookies & cream to salted toffee pretzels. With that variety, the chances are you will find the one that suits you.
- GLUTEN-FREE PROTEIN CRISPS AT ONLY 230-240 CALORIES PER BAR – help fuel your body with these macro-friendly BSN protein bars
- PREMIUM PROTEIN BLEND – 20g of protein from high-quality whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, and soy protein islolate
- LOW-SUGAR PROTEIN BAR WITH 5G SUGAR OR LESS – satisfy your sweet-tooth while only taking in 2-5g of sugar
- PROTEIN BAR WITH UNIQUE CRUNCHY TEXTURE – sink your teeth into a light, crispy snack for recovery or anytime you want extra protein
- EASY SNACK OPTION – convenient enough to travel anywhere: on the go, at the gym, or during work without interrupting your day
Pros
Cons
4. ZonePerfect Nutrition Snack Bars
If you would like your energy bar to have chocolate, ZonePerfect might have a product for you.
- MANAGE HUNGER: 15g protein to help manage hunger
- IMMUNE SUPPORT: 18 vitamins & minerals, including vitamin C and zinc to support a healthy immune system
- MADE FOR TASTE: Delicious flavor and nutrition you need to make the most of your day
- ENERGY METABOLISM: Includes B vitamins to support energy metabolism
- TASTE GUARANTEE: If you’re not 100% satisfied with the taste, we’ll give you your money back
The mixture of chocolate, raisins, and roasted almonds should provide optimal taste and nutrients.
When it comes to taste, you can expect a sweet flavor, even though there are no artificial sweeteners in this bar. If chocolate is not your favorite, feel free to experiment with other flavors, too.
As for the nutrients, the product contains 19 minerals and vitamins. They should not only help you push through the training and accelerate recovery, but they will also provide an immunity boost.
A fairly generous dose of 15 grams of protein will help to both recover and build your muscles.
- MANAGE HUNGER: 15g protein to help manage hunger
- IMMUNE SUPPORT: 18 vitamins & minerals, including vitamin C and zinc to support a healthy immune system
- MADE FOR TASTE: Delicious flavor and nutrition you need to make the most of your day
- ENERGY METABOLISM: Includes B vitamins to support energy metabolism
- TASTE GUARANTEE: If you’re not 100% satisfied with the taste, we’ll give you your money back
Pros
Cons
5. Picky Bars Real Food Energy Bars
Picky Bars launched an energy bar with nine different flavors.
- Picky Bars Real Food Energy Bars Ah, Fudge Nuts: Contains 10 Real Food Energy Plant Based Protein Bars in Ah, Fudge Nuts flavor for the perfect bar to snack or fuel any adventure
- Delicious Chocolate Protein Bar: Our Picky Bar Ah, Fudge Nuts bar is fudgey goodness that tastes more like a peanut butter brownie than an energy bar should
- Real Food, Athletically Balanced Bars: Gluten Free, Vegan, Non-GMO Plant Protein bars with 7 grams of protein
- The Picky Bar Nutritional Philosphy: We created a real food energy bar balanced for sport; that means easy-to-digest, feel-good ingredients carefully mixed in a macronutrient harmony that can support big workouts, without the chemicals or cheap fillers found in lots of sport-specific products
- Picky Bar Products All Contain Three Macronutrients: Our bars, oatmeal and granola contain Carbs, Fat, and Protein that serve key purposes in keeping energy stores topped off and the body running right; Picky Bars & Picky Oats have carefully crafted, intentional nutrient balance to serve athletes and generally active people with the fuel they need
Five of them are suitable for vegans, such as fudge nuts, almond, and blueberry.
The nutrition value may vary depending on the flavor, but you can rest assured that you will get a generous dose of carbs and protein. Since the product is free from gluten and dairy, that means the protein is plant-based.
The total dose of carbs is set to 24 grams per serving, which should be enough to give you the energy to get through that intense running session. The ingredients have been carefully chosen, but the bar still seems a bit pricey, especially when compared to others.
- Picky Bars Real Food Energy Bars Ah, Fudge Nuts: Contains 10 Real Food Energy Plant Based Protein Bars in Ah, Fudge Nuts flavor for the perfect bar to snack or fuel any adventure
- Delicious Chocolate Protein Bar: Our Picky Bar Ah, Fudge Nuts bar is fudgey goodness that tastes more like a peanut butter brownie than an energy bar should
- Real Food, Athletically Balanced Bars: Gluten Free, Vegan, Non-GMO Plant Protein bars with 7 grams of protein
- The Picky Bar Nutritional Philosphy: We created a real food energy bar balanced for sport; that means easy-to-digest, feel-good ingredients carefully mixed in a macronutrient harmony that can support big workouts, without the chemicals or cheap fillers found in lots of sport-specific products
- Picky Bar Products All Contain Three Macronutrients: Our bars, oatmeal and granola contain Carbs, Fat, and Protein that serve key purposes in keeping energy stores topped off and the body running right; Picky Bars & Picky Oats have carefully crafted, intentional nutrient balance to serve athletes and generally active people with the fuel they need
Pros
Cons
Conclusion: 5 Best Energy Bars for Runners
Ultimately, I should pronounce the winner of our roundup for the best energy bars for runners.
KIND bars will take the title of the number one bar on the market. The bars are free from gluten and artificial sweeteners, and they have a low glycemic index, which makes them suitable for those that have issues with their blood sugar levels.
The addition of sea salt makes their flavor specific and worth trying, too. Make sure to check out our reviews once again before you make the final call.
Taking a moment to think is the best way to ensure that you will choose a bar that meets your expectations.
Hi, Jeremy Here,
I am the the guy behind Train for a 5K. On this site, I share everything that learned along my running journey. The content I create is the running training I wish I had before we started this journey. About Me.
Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API