10 Best Clif Bars – 2024 Buying Guide
Not convinced? Read our full reviews below.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Effectiveness
We made sure to check the Cliff Bars we featured here to see how effective they are and how well they work at curbing hunger and giving us an energy boost. You want to make sure you are making a smart choice when it comes to what you put in your body and we understand this. This is why we made sure to test and carefully review the effectiveness of these products before adding them to our list!
There are many different bars available on the market but not every bar gives you the energy you need. Some are just sweet, useless bars which make you fatter and they are really unhealthy. Energy bars are perfect not only for sports person but also for somebody who has every intensive plan of the day and he or she needs a bit of energy. Runners adore bars as they provide energy and are good at the same time.
The thing is that you need to think what the word "good” means for you. From our experience, we know that chocolate, nutty and peanut butter flavors are the most adored. There are also many fruity bars that taste also really good and they’re absolutely delicious. Producers are aware that everyone is different and that’s why you have full choice of tastes.
Product Purity
Along with being effective you want to make sure the power snacks you use during your runs and workout sessions are made from high quality ingredients. We here at RunnerClick made sure to check the ingredient lists and checked for product purity on every Cliff Bar we included here for you. It is essential that the products we put our trust in live up to those expectations and we did our best to check this for you.
Ingredients are the most important part of the product, they give taste and they also make the bar healthy or less healthy. Going through the shop and checking the ingredients may be fun at first but we usually don’t have time for this. What’s more, we really often don’t understand many names of the sweeteners and artificial flavors. Our golden rule when it comes to ingredients is that the longer the list of ingredients is, the more artificial sweeteners and artificial staff are in the bar. The simplest ingredients are the better.
If you see for example fructose corn syrup, you may be sure that this is artificial one. If you have peanut butter flavor or chocolate, it can be really helpful how these were made- are they natural or they are just creams with taste similar to peanut butter or chocolate. We really try to choose these bars which have more natural ingredients like chia seeds or any kind of oats. Even if you don’t have time, quick glimpse at the labels will make you decide whether you want a product or not.
Value
The value of energy bars and protein bars and healthy workout snack bars like Cliff Bars comes down to the value they represent. The combination of healthy ingredients, beneficial nutrients and effective formulation makes them a great choice that will help you get the most out of your runs and workout sessions. Our review team made sure to look at the balance between cost and the benefits provided to you.
As there are many different brands offering energy bars, the prices aren’t the highest although there are some brands that offer rather expensive sports meals. Clif bars aren’t really expensive and you can provide a lot of fuel to your body very fast. The best option to save some money on the burs is to buy them in the packages. It really depends on the brand how many bars are there in the package but it’s really worth trying. For the first time, we recommend to buy the bar individually as in case you don’t like the taste, you don’t need to eat it anymore.
We know that if you spend money on bar, you want high quality product that is worth these money. Clif bars are one of the best on the market, they provide enough proteins, carbohydrates . When you check the price, don’t forget to check how big is the portion. Some producers offer really low price but they size of the bar is also very small. We recommend to check the ingredients first as they are most important than the price. The cost of the bar may really depend on the flavors- bars with less popular fruits may be a little bit more expensive. And if you need to tighten the belt but you still want good bar, you can always look for bars on sales.
Versatility
One reason so many runners and athletes love Cliff Bars is that they are versatile. They work well as healthy snack, an energy boost, a filling protein treat, or as a meal replacement when you are on the go. The versatility of these bars has made them the go-to choice for many people each and every day. It is this versatility and ease of use that makes them so well known and sought after as well.
Every runner has different diet as it really depends on personal preference. Some people love to eat vegetables every day and they don’t like meat very much. Other prefer to eat mostly milk based products and meat but the most important is to provide your body enough proteins, vitamins and many other important things. There are many recommendations how much fiber, protein or carbohydrates should you provide to your body but it’s rather very personal thing. As a runner, you should think about what you eat as for example proteins are very important as they help to build the muscles.
It’s worth to look for the bars that provide a lot of carbohydrates in short period of time to give you more energy even if you feel tired and sleepy. The bar should be some kind of fuel for your body so there should be enough calories in the bar. You may wonder how many calories do you need? Well, it really depends on how much you eat but the bar with around 200 calories will be the best option in most cases.
People who want to lose weight or are afraid of gaining weight, they tend to look for products which have less than 150 calories and it’s bad because these bars won’t give you enough power and energy. On the other side, there are bars that have more than 300 calories but they’re more like a replacement of the meal and they’re not great for people who deal with obesity or are overweight.
Materials
Healthy ingredients and minimal additives are used in the formulation of most Cliff Bars. You get ingredients that provide the nutrients your body needs for energy and for cell regeneration and overall health maintenance. These material components have stood the test of time and are what people have come to expect when they reach for a Cliff Bar. Our team made sure to find the best of the best for our list here!
The materials or ingredients a product is made from is hugely important, especially for runners. You work hard to stay in shape and treat your body well and you don't need a bunch of artificial, potentially toxic ingredients in your system. Clif Bar knows this which is why they take pride in only using all natural ingredients in their products that are sourced from reputable sources. 70% of the ingredients in every Clif Bar are organic, and everything is non-GMO and all natural. Some products do come with a nut allergy warning so be sure to be aware of this before you buy if you have nut allergies of any kind.
10 Best Clif Bars
1. Chocolate Chip
They’re the most popular of the bunch and they’re the ones that kicked off the Clif brand! These are tasty, they give a good pre-workout kick and they are full of the great nutritional content which you’ve found above.
Read moreNutrition
These bars have 45g of carbs, 250 calories, 10g of protein and 4g of fiber. Combine that with the standard 23 added vitamins and minerals and non-GMO ingredients with an organic certificate, and you’ve got a treat you can trust.
Taste
The chocolate chips give a nice texture and offer a slightly more dark kick to the bar itself which gives nice depth and doesn’t allow the sweetness to take over. Really nice density in the texture, and the chocolate chips provide a really good mouthfeel.
Cost and Value
These are marginally cheaper than most of the other Clif energy bars. These are also vegan, like many of Clif’s bars.
2. Oatmeal Raisin Walnut
This is a lot of people's favorite flavor and for good reason. A lot of us have fond memories of oatmeal raisin cookies and this option satisfies that craving while giving you plenty of energy for running, working out, or just living and active lifestyle. Be sure to have water on hand, as the texture can be a bit dry.
Read moreEffectiveness and Product Purity
With 10 grams of protein and 43 grams of carbs these have plenty of energy to keep you going and enough protein to help you start to recover after your workout. With ingredients that are 70% organic, non-GMO, and all natural you can feel good about putting one of these in your body.
Value and Versatility
This are about the same price as all Clif Bars so they may seem a little expensive, but it's a good value considering all of the calories and nutrition they pack. These are great for before, during, or after workouts or runs, as well as taking with you hiking, and the individually packaged servings make it easy to care it with you anywhere.
Materials
This option is made with high-quality ingredients that you can feel good about feeding yourself or your friends and family
3. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut
Tasty on the go snack if perfect for those who want a boost of energy before the training but they want also something to keep their stomach full. This bar is a big hit, it has natural flavor, you don’t have a chemical aftertaste and you can enjoy it wherever you want.
Read moreNutrition
4g protein, 9g total fat, total carbohydrate is 28 g, it has 12 g of sugar. It has about 70 % of organic ingredients which is fantastic.
Taste
If you have ever tasted macadamia, you know how tasty it is. However, the mix of this nut and white chocolate is a real masterpiece when it comes to bars. There are whole grained that you can crunch and it’s really amazing.
Cost and Value
The price is very good, it’s high quality product and the price isn’t very high. It’s also cheaper to buy the bars in the package.
4. Nut Butter Filled
These are a little different, as they're stuffed with a tasty and creamy peanut butter filling. They have a little fewer carbs than the bars above, which might appeal to some, with a decent amount of protein and no unnatural ingredients.
Read moreNutrition
Here you will find 230 calories, 26g of carbs, 3g of fiber and 7g of protein. There are no added vitamins and minerals here, which is a shame, but all of the ingredients are non-GMO and they are still pretty healthy on the whole. They are soy-free.
Taste
The creamy peanut butter center is really lush and decadent, and the outer section sort of tastes like a no-bake brownie, without a crazy amount of sweetness. The two textures meld together really well, though the outer layer can be a little too hard for some. The oats add a nice mouthfeel to complement and balance out everything.
Cost and Value
They're around an average price for a top-notch health bar that is soy-free.
5. Chocolate Brownie
Another energy bar, another scrumptious and tasty treat! These have 45g of carbs, 9g of protein, a lovely rich flavor as well as another really nutritious profile. The ingredients are good and healthy and it’s incredible that something this luxurious can be so good for you!
Read moreNutrition
You’ll find on this list that the nutrition of the energy bars is all pretty similar with only marginal differences. These have no GMOs, vegan-friendly, 70% organic ingredients, certified organic, made with rolled oats and with the fantastic addition of 23 vitamins and minerals. These give a good, healthy energy boost!
Taste
A chocolate bonanza! These have cocoa and chocolate chips, which make for great texture and a proper chocolate fix. Something this decadent really shouldn’t be this good for you. They are also not too sweet!
Cost and Value
For this product, you get around an average cost for a good energy bar. These really are very similar to a brownie with a nice chewy density and varying flavors of chocolate for good hints of subtlety.
6. Peanut Toffee Buzz
This option is a fairly new flavor, and is the company's response to customers repeated requests for a flavor with added energy. So Clif formulated this tasty treat with caffeine to give users that extra jolt to get them going in the morning or whenever they're going to need to be active but are feeling a bit tired.
Read moreEffectiveness and Product Purity
The 41g of carbs will get you going, and the 10g of protein will help you recover post-run or workout. This one is non-GMO, has not artificial ingredients, and is made with mostly organic ingredients.
Value and Versatility
This one runs about average as the other products on our list, although if you buy in bulk you can save some money. Because of the caffeine content this one isn't as versatile as others on our list and it's not recommended to take close to bedtime or it could disrupt our sleep patterns.
Materials
As always, Clif makes their bars with mostly organic ingredients that are sourced from trusted partners. They stand behind their products with excellent customer service so don't be afraid to contact the company if you have any questions.
7. Cool Mint Chocolate
These are perhaps the tastiest of the bunch, so combine that with the great nutrition you get from Clif bars, it’s clear why they top the pile. They give a great energy kick with 43g of carbs. They also contain 9g of protein to help you recover. These are made with organic rolled oats and the ingredients are completely natural.
Read moreNutrition
These have 49mg of green tea caffeine to give you a real kick as well as complex carbs to keep you going throughout your workout. There are 5g of fiber, 23 added vitamins, and minerals and they are certified organic with 70% organic ingredients.
Taste
They’re delicious! With a rich chocolate base and a minty kick which cuts through the heaviness, they offer a real balance of flavor and plenty of nuances. Many claims that this flavor is the best of all the Clif bars, and they have a good basis! They have a creamy drizzle on the top for extra decadence and a nice dense texture.
Cost and Value
For this product, you get a pretty-low cost affair! These have no GMO ingredients at all, are vegan-friendly and weigh in at 250 calories per bar.
8. Builder’s Protein - Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch
Another great protein bar with 20g of the stuff to keep your muscles growing, with great nutrition and a really decadent flavor perfect for lovers of peanut butter. It’s a protein bar which is a cut above the rest in many ways.
Read moreNutrition
The bar has 280 calories, 29g carbs, 2g fiber, 20g protein, and 23 added vitamins and minerals. The protein is soy-based, there are no GMOs and 35% of the ingredients are organic. It’s a healthy kick and they're also vegan-friendly!
Taste
These have a lovely taste and texture. There’s one layer of soft chocolate and a crunchy cereal-style interior. The textures complement one another perfectly and there’s a real kick of peanut butter luxury. They’re dipped in cocoa for a nice finish and they don’t taste too sweet, with a good amount of depth.
Cost and Value
Again, they are a little pricey, but this is what you expect with a high-quality, nutritious protein bar.
9. Apricot
This flavor is one that people either love or don't. If you love the tangy and sweet flavor of dried apricots however we think you'll enjoy it. As with all Clif Bar's these are made with 70% organic ingredients.
Read moreEffectiveness and Product Purity
These pack a good energy punch and also have nine grams of protein to help your body recover and repair muscle after workouts. This one has no GMO's or artificial flavors and is made with 70% organic ingredients. A couple of reviews noted that a nut allergy warning that wasn't there before has been added so if you have nut allergies this isn't for you, even though it's strange for there to be nuts in the apricot flavor.
Value and Versatility
These are great for before, during, and after your run. The size and individual packaging make it easy to take along with you wherever you go and it's a great snack for active people even if they aren't runners.
Materials
All Clif Bar's are made with high-quality ingredients that are sourced from reputable sources. As with all energy bars, be sure to drink lots of water after or during consumption to help with digestion.
10. Berry Pomegranate Chia
This fruity bar is one of the kind. It doesn’t matter if you run 10 miles or 30, or maybe you ride a bike, this bar is a great source of energy and it will give you the power to do your best.
Read moreNutrition
This bar has so many minerals and vitamins. It is one of the most liked bars because of the number of proteins- it’s 9 g so it’s a big amount. Total carbohydrate is 45 g. this one has 250 calories per serving which is good. It contains soy. It’s made mostly from organic ingredients. There are zero grams of trans fat. They’re not gluten-free.
Taste
Combination of strawberries, cranberries, pomegranates, and organic chia seeds gives you amazing fruity taste. It’s sweet but not too much.
Cost and Value
This one may be a little bit more expensive as the taste is less common but it’s not a big difference. Still totally worth the money.
