I picked up two flavors to try out, Strawberry and Peach flavor. They also come in a Blueberry and Cran-Raspeberry. REI is carrying them in stores now for easy to find, as do many natural food stores that have an energy bar section.

The bars are not big, compared to their sibling ProBars. At 1.7 ounces they are a true snack item not a “meal bar”.

The nutritional info is 160 calories, 2 grams fat, 4 grams fiber and 3 grams protein. They are truly low sodium at 20 mg, which for those on sodium restricted diets makes this a boon.

So do they work? Yes and no.

Pros: The bars are very soft, even with my braces I could eat them easily. The texture is good. Children will be more likely to take to these bars than many of the heavy protein bars out there. They stay flexible. Nice packaging. Innovative use of Chia seeds in a commercial food.

Cons? I was hoping I think for a sweeter bar – think how Lara Bars are naturally sweet from all the dried fruit. One doesn’t need salt in food when it is sweet but what I found is the bars are neither sweet nor savory. I hate to say it, coming from someone who lives on a lower sodium diet….I kept thinking “it needs salt or it needs to be sweeter”. So don’t expect that it will be sweet since it is fruit based! On a side note it would be neat if they would list the potassium content in the bars – I strive for a diet high in it when hiking and a listing makes shopping easier.

The other big issue is the price. At $2.30 per bar even for this foodie that was steep. Bars this size tend to run $1.00 to $1.75 each. Breaking the $2 barrier makes them a treat and not an everyday hike treat in this economy.

So…my recommendation is pick up a bar and try it out before committing to a case. It will depend on your taste buds!

~Sarah