The Best Energy Bars for Runners

Whether you’re looking to power a workout, build more muscle mass, improve muscle recovery, or stave off a case of the hangries, energy bars are an excellent option. They’re portable, convenient, and perfect for when you’re on a tight schedule. That wasn’t always the case – if you’ve ever eaten the original Powerbar, you know we’ve come a long way. But with improved options comes overwhelming choice – how do you know which the best energy bar is for your athletic needs?

Every bar claims they’re better than the rest when it comes to nutrition, taste, or performance. There are energy bars with protein, caffeine, or extra carbohydrates, made from any variety of all-natural/organic/gluten-free/scientifically optimized ingredients. We’ve noshed on them all and analyzed their nutritional charts, all so we can help you find the best energy bar for your running needs.

These are the top energy bars that work for any situation you may find yourself in as a runner, be it all-day trail adventures or post-workout hunger.

The best energy bars for runners

The best energy bar for endurance workouts: That’s It Apple + Mango

$22, That’s It

Sometimes less is more, and this fruity bar proves that point. Containing only apples and mango on its ingredient list, That’s It will appeal to athletes who are looking for a more natural way of fueling. All of the calories in this bar come from fast-digesting carbs, which is certainly beneficial when hitting your stride. For most workouts, you want a bar without much protein or fat, as these can slow down digestion leading to stomach woes. (Just make sure you experiment with this fruit-based bar during training to gauge stomach tolerance.) This all-fruit bar holds up very well during multi-hour workouts and the mango helps make your sweat session taste like the tropics.

The best energy bar for protein: David

$39, David Protein

The new guy on the energy-bar street is named David and claims to contain the most protein per calorie of any bar you can buy. At 28 grams of protein for just 150 calories, that is a believable assertion. A total of 75% of the calories in each bar hail from protein, which is impressive. The protein you get comes from a mash-up of milk protein isolate, collagen, whey protein concentrate, and egg white, so it’s top-notch stuff to help with muscle-repairing and -making efforts. There aren’t any caloric sugars in the mix if you are trying to cut back on your sugar intake – instead, the sweetness hails from non-caloric sweeteners allulose and polydextrose.

Pro tip: Heat the fudge brownie-flavored bar in the microwave for a few seconds. It tastes like warm chocolate fudge.

The best energy bar for pre-workout fueling: Bob’s Original Fig Bars

$33, Bobo’s

A tender oat-based crust and a sweet-tart fruity stuffing come together in a bar that is a delicious modern-day upgrade to old-fashioned Fig Newtons. Before working up a sweat, you want a bar higher in carbohydrates, so you’re ready to perform like a champ; but you also want to be wary of consuming a bar with too much fat or fiber, since these can slow digestion to gunk up your system and cause digestive woes. Seventy-seven percent of the calories in this Bob’s bar come from carbs, and there are only moderate amounts of fiber, fat, and protein so will give you a blast of last-minute energy without making you feel weighed down.

The best natural energy bar for athletes: Larabar PB & Jelly

Larabar

For two decades now, Larabar has been acclaimed for its whole food bars, and this one is no exception. Consisting of a mere four whole-food ingredients – dates, peanuts, unsweetened cherries, and sea salt – the bar is pure nutrition, texture, and taste wizardry. It also meets the needs of those who are going plant-based or gluten-free. There is a nice balance of carbs, fat, and protein to help satisfy the macro needs of athletes, all in one jersey-pocket-friendly package. Chocolate-coated bars could never.

The best energy bar for between-workout snacking: KIND Fruit & Nut

Find a KIND Retailer

When hunger strikes and you require a hit of nutrition, bars are your best friend. But a snack-worthy bar should not be a calorie or sugar bomb. Kind bars, made with deliciously satisfying crunchy peanuts and almonds, are a less-than-200-calorie option with only five grams of added sugar. The dried fruits provide valuable quality carbs for endurance athletes. It feels like eating trail mix in tube form, though be warned: it’s far too sticky to bring along on hot workouts.

The best energy bar for sensitive stomachs: Skratch Labs Raspberry + Lemon

$30, Skratch Labs

Skratch is known for its sports drinks, but its line-up of bars is a great fuel option for athletes with GI issues. Many bars contain sugar alcohols, added fibers, protein powders, and gluten, which can be hard on the stomach. Scratch avoids those ingredients using a nut and seed butter blend, real fruit, and gluten-free grains, plus lemon peel for a wallop of bright flavor. For multi-hour workouts, the tender and toothsome bar is an excellent addition to your fueling plan and a welcomed respite from the sugary gels and drinks. Its calorie and carb count also make it a great choice for recovery.

The best high-calorie energy bar for athletes: Probar Superfruit Slam

$40, Probar

When you are burning through piles of calories, you want a bar with piles of calories. The peeps at Probar aren’t shy about delivering a bar for the lofty caloric needs of gung-ho endurance athletes. The melange of helpful ingredients in this calorie-dense bar include cashew butter, oats, dates, and flax seeds. The bright berry flavor comes through, and the texture has just the right amount of chew – not too soft and not too brick-like. You can use this bar to get the calories you need after a hard exercise session, as a partial meal replacement if you don’t have the time or energy to cook up all your food, or even during all-day efforts since it won’t turn to a crumbly mess in your pocket.

The best energy bar with caffeine: Quantum Salted Peanut Butter Crunch

$20, Quantum

Most sports nutrition products touting caffeine on the label contain too little caffeine to actually improve performance or make you feel more alert. These squares buck the caffeine-light trend by offering up 100mg of the stimulant, which is roughly what you’d get in a strong cup of coffee. There is also a nutritious ingredient list featuring peanut butter, dates, plant protein blend, and chia seeds. And, yes – as the name implies, there is also a pleasant hit of saltiness.

The best energy bar for flavor: Picky Bars Moroccan Your World

$20, Picky Bars

Yes, a bar can be a passport to flavor. This enticing energy bar is imbued with classic Moroccan cuisine ingredients, including turmeric, ginger, pistachios, and apricots – not quite tagine in bar form, but definitely reminiscent. The nuts, seeds, and dried fruit provide solid amounts of quality fats and carbs for endurance athletes, and there is enough sodium to help replenish this electrolyte if you’ve been working hard. It’s worth noting that the bar is free of dairy, gluten, and soy if you are trying to steer clear of these for digestive health.