First Look at New CLIF Bar & Energy BLOK Flavours – Taste Tested by The Hiker’s Nutritionist

CLIF’s new snack flavours just dropped, so The Hiker’s Nutritionist, AKA Jess, did what any trail-hardened snack fiend would do: she ate a bunch of them, took notes, and reported back.

There’s nothing worse than being halfway through a hike, sweaty, slightly feral, and realising your only snack option is the crusty sultanas rejected from previous adventures. And unfortunately, staring into your pack like it might produce a croissant doesn’t make one appear.

Whether you’re out on a flat 5km stroll or rising early for a 20km mountainous slog, what you eat can be the difference between feeling indestructible or hitting the wall when you’re nowhere near finished. You want to make sure your snack gives you a mix of fast and slow-release energy, as well as fibre and protein to help you feel full and aid digestion.

As the Hiker’s Nutritionist, I spend a lot of time comparing snack bars for the trail, and they aren’t remotely built the same. From bars advertised as high-energy that have fewer calories than an electrolyte, to ones coated in chocolate that seem to melt the moment the sun peeks over the horizon, choosing a good one isn’t an easy task. 

CLIF Bars are high on my list of good choices for a hiking snack, so I was thrilled to review their latest flavour additions (and their makeup).

Gonna eat these, for science!

New CLIF Energy BLOKs and Bars Flavours

CLIF Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch

Calories: 265
Fat: 8.4g
Carbs: 34.7g
– Sugar: 16.3g
Protein: 10.8g
Fibre: 5.5g

Best For: Mid-hike energy

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This bar is the most well-rounded option in the new CLIF lineup, with a solid balance of carbs, protein, fat, and fibre. That combo means it digests slower than pure carb snacks like the CLIF BLOKS chews (more on those further down!) and keeps you fuelled for longer, making it a great choice when you’ve already been walking for an hour or two and want to avoid an energy slump.

The 10.8g of protein is a win for helping repair muscle micro-damage as well as helping you feel full. The 5.4g of fibre (respectably high!) also helps curb hunger, which can spike when you’re on your feet all day, and keep your digestive system chugging along as it should. 

With 16.3g of sugar per bar (25g per 100g), it also offers a fast-acting energy boost. Outside of strenuous physical activity, I typically recommend choosing snacks with less than 5g/100g of sugar, which is quite common advice for good health. But when hiking, you’re burning energy fast, and a higher sugar intake like this will be used for immediate energy, without the negatives.

Flavour: 5/5

This one doesn’t taste like the description – the only hint of chocolate was in the aftertaste, and even that was mild – but despite the lack of choc, it’s delicious!  The flavour is mild, nutty, and slightly creamy. I could eat seven of them! Well, probably not, but it’s very moreish. 

The texture is firm with delightful chunks of peanut throughout. Definitely have some water on hand to wash it down. 

CLIF Chocolate Almond Fudge

Calories: 264
Fat: 7.4g
Carbs: 36g
– Sugar: 16g
Protein: 10g
Fibre: 5.5g

Best For: Mid-hike energy

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With a near-identical macronutrient profile to the Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch, this bar offers a similarly solid balance of carbs, protein, fat, and fibre, making it another excellent all-rounder for hiking. 

The 36g of carbs (with 16g of sugar) delivers quick energy, while the 10g of protein and over 5g of fibre help slow digestion slightly and promote fullness. This is the kind of bar that’ll keep your energy levels stable without needing to constantly snack.

Flavour: 4/5

This has a strong dark chocolate flavour and is the most deserving of the ‘choc’ description in the name out of all the bars I tested. It’s quite rich and may be overwhelming for non-chocoholics. I’ll be reserving this one for dessert, and due to the intensity of the flavour, one bar at a time is all I’d want. 

The texture is quite dense, and it’s filling. I actually took longer to eat this than the comparable Choc Chip Peanut Crunch because of the extra chewing required to break it down. Want to extend your dessert experience? This is the bar for you!

CLIF Nut Butter Filled Chocolate & Peanut Butter Bar (Plant Protein)

Calories: 226
Fat: 10.8g
Carbs: 26.3g
– Sugar: 9g
Protein: 7g
Fibre: 3g

Best For: Late-hike grazing or a slower-burning snack for moderate intensity hikes

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This bar provides more sustained energy, thanks to its higher fat content, fewer carbohydrates, and moderate protein. The 10.8g of fat helps slow digestion, which keeps your blood sugar more stable compared to the higher sugar CLIF bars above. That makes it a great option for steady refuelling when you’re feeling a bit flat but aren’t quite ready to stop for a proper meal.

The 7g of protein add muscle support, and unlike the above CLIF Bars, this one includes small but useful amounts of micronutrients like magnesium, iron, and vitamin E. This is handy if you’re out all day in hot or challenging conditions and more closely replicates whole foods, which contribute many micronutrients.

Flavour: 4.5/5  

This bar smells much stronger than it tastes and has a creamy flavour, with chocolate appearing in the aftertaste. It’s very soft and crumbly, and falls apart in your mouth, most likely due to the delightful peanut butter centre. 

Despite the softer texture compared to the others (this one will stick to your teeth a little!), it’s still got a good variety of crunch. While the flavour is hard to marry up with the label, it’s delightfully moreish.

CLIF BLOKS Energy Chews – Salted Watermelon

Calories: 100 (per serving)
Fat: 0g
Carbs: 24g
Protein: 0g
Sodium: 50mg
(Each pack = 2 servings. AKA 3 BLOKS is one serve)

Best For: Quick-hit energy during climbs or hot hikes

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BLOKS are more commonly used among trail runners than hikers. That’s because the maltodextrin used is a fast-absorbing carbohydrate source that provides a quick surge of energy. For hikers, this makes them ideal as an aid to combat steep climbs without scheduling an additional rest break to refuel.

BLOKS are a combination of pure carbs and sodium, and with only 100 calories per serving, they aren’t going to make you feel remotely full or satisfied. This isn’t a snack or lunch, it’s fuel for immediate use. The Salted Watermelon Flavour has double the amount of sodium compared to other BLOKS flavours, but it’s nowhere near enough to be problematic in terms of intake if you’ve consumed an electrolyte drink. 

Take these on sweaty hikes when your energy is lagging and you need some extra oomph in your legs to get you to the top of the next hill.

Flavour: 5/5

The enticing aroma of sweet watermelon hits you the moment you crack open the packet, in a good way. They’re effectively a cube-shaped, super-dense gummy bear with a more refined, slightly salty flavour. I found them very well balanced, but if you don’t have a sweet tooth, you might not enjoy them as much as the rest of us. 

Either way, make sure to follow these up with water and swish it around your mouth to get the sugar off your teeth (this protects your enamel and is a great habit to create with any sugary snack). If you’re able to carry a snack bag in a hip belt or easily accessible pocket, a few salty nuts will also offset the sweetness.

How to Get the Most Out of CLIF Snacks

1. BLOKS are most effective when consumed with water. Always sip some water after chewing to help your body absorb the maximum amount of carbohydrates and electrolytes
2. Pair CLIF Bars with a whole food for the ideal snack break. Add a piece of fruit, whether that’s an apple or dried mango, some jerky, or even a handful of mixed nuts. The extra fibre, fat, or protein will help slow digestion, leading to more gradual energy release and reducing the chance of an energy crash later on. If you’re chasing fast energy, opt for CLIF BLOKS instead
3. Snack before you feel hungry. It’s a lot easier to maintain energy than to catch up when you’re already exhausted. Aiming to snack every 90-120 minutes is a good ballpark, especially on longer hikes
4. CLIF Bars and BLOKS are a great emergency backup. Even if you’ve got lunch packed and it’s a short hike, throwing a few bars and some BLOKS in your pack just in case is always a good idea. The weight is negligible, they have a long shelf life, and they’re calorie-dense

Final Thoughts

CLIF’s range is well-designed for hikers. The bars are durable, produced without chocolate casings so they don’t melt, are easy to eat on the move, and thoughtfully portioned. While they’re not a replacement for whole foods, they fill the gaps in between meals when fresh foods are inconvenient, and they keep your body primed for adventure.

So next time you’re loading your pack, think beyond the low-protein, low-energy muesli bars. I grabbed a packet of Uncle Toby’s Muesli Bars for a quick comparison and found they average around 120 calories, 2g protein, 18g carbohydrates, 5g sugars, and 3.5g fat. Sure, they’re tasty, but they’re not going to fuel your performance like a CLIF Bar will.

I’m forever saying this, and it’s because it’s true – food is fuel. And every adventure hits better when your tank is full. See ya out there!

Check out The Hiker’s Nutritionist for more of Jess’s food and fuel breakdowns for the outdoors, including a review of the rest of the CLIF Bar flavours.