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Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > Clif Bar > CranRazz Shot Bloks > Test Report by Jennifer Koles

Blok
CLIF SHOT BL
Blok
KS

Organic Energy Chews

CRAN-RAZZ Flavor

Test Series by Jennifer Koles
Field Report - June 17, 2007

Blok

Personal Information

Name:  Jennifer Koles
Age:  32
Gender:  Female
Height:  5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight: 140 lb (64 kg)
Email address: jennksnowy at yahoo dot com
City, State, and Country:  Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Backpacking Background

I started taking overnight backpacking trips three years ago in the Uinta Mountain Range in Utah. I found myself taking entirely too much gear. I am finding out slowly how to minimize my needs and not require extra luxuries. My previous outdoor experiences consisted of 4-wheel-drive camping in primitive areas and day hiking. I use a four season convertible tent or a three season tent for my shelter. I plan to take more trips, increase my duration, and reduce my two to three day backpack base weight from 17 lb (8 kg).

Initial Report

May 4, 2007

Product Information

Manufacturer: Clif Bar & Co.
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Manufacturer Website: www.clifbar.com
MSRP: None indicated on website.

Weight Listed on Package: 2.1 oz (60g)
Actual Weight (per package) : 2.25oz (64 g)

Flavor Tested: Cran-Razz
Flavors Available: Margarita with salt, Piña Colada, Cola (with Caffeine), Lemon-Lime, Strawberry, Black Cherry (with Caffeine), Orange (with Caffeine)

Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Brown Rice Syrup Solids, Pectin, Citric Acid, Colored With Purple Berry Concentrate, Natural Flavor, Coconut Oil, Carnauba Wax.

Package

Product Description

A package of Shot Bloks contains two servings at 100 calories each. Each serving consists of three blocks that are approximately 1 in (2.54 cm) cubes. The cubes remind me of gelatin squares that I used to make when I was a child, but these are much smaller. They are more dense than the gelatin squares that I used to make. I did notice that the Bloks are slightly sticky to the touch.

The manufacturer states on their website "They're simple-to-handle, easy-to-chew, and provide similar nutrition to SHOT® gel, so they'll fit seamlessly into your training and racing nutrition program."

nutritional label

The primary ingredient in the Shot Bloks is brown rice syrup. The manufacturer states on their website that the rice syrup provides easily assimilated carbohydrates for working muscles. Brown Rice Syrup is very sweet and consists of approximately 50% soluble complex carbohydrates, 45% maltose and 3% glucose. The glucose in brown rice syrup is easily absorbed thus leaving lesser provision for fat accumulation. The maltose and complex carbohydrates components of this kind of syrup takes a longer time to digest thus maintaining the energy flow for longer period.

The Bloks are composed of carbohydrates from the following sources: brown rice syrup, evaporated cane juice, and brown rice syrup solids. The pectin serves as a gelling agent or a thickening agent of the Bloks. This is how the Bloks keep their shape and texture. The citric acid ingredient serves as a natural preservative and can also used to add an acidic (sour) taste to foods. The manufacturer indicates on their website that the Bloks are composed of 50% complex carbohydrates and 50% simple carbohydrates.

The Bloks contain mineral salts known as electrolytes. The electrolytes allow for normal bodily function by allowing electrical impulses to travel properly throughout the body. Electrolytes are lost while sweating during physical activity. Since the Bloks contain electrolytes it seems realistic to me that I can maintain my body's electrolyte balance or increase my electrolyte level by consuming the Bloks. Well, that is what this test is all about.

The packaging indicates to consume 3 to 6 Bloks every hour during activity. The packaging also indicates to follow consumption of the Bloks with water. There is no suggestion of how much water to consume.

The Bloks are the first product in the Clif Shot line to be USDA certified organic. They contain a minimum of 95% Organic ingredients.

 

Field Report

June 17, 2007

Performance in the Field

The Clif Shot Bloks have been consumed over a period of time lasting just over a month in duration. I have consumed one to three packages per day on each trip.

They have been consumed in the following conditions and locations:

Wasatch Mountain Range, Utah: Multiple days spent in this mountain range during a total of five trips. Areas include the Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, and Logan Canyon. Elevation ranged from 5,400 ft (1,646 m) to 10,500 ft (3,200 m). The weather was sunny and cloudy on various days with no precipitation. High temperature was 93 F (34 C)

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming: Consumed during a two day overnight trip. Elevation was at 6,900 ft (2,103 m) and the high temperature was 65 F (18 C) with a low of 23 F (-5 C). There was some rain showers during this trip but mostly cloudy skies.

The Bloks have a pleasant taste that does not come across as overly sweet to my taste buds. I can not detect a cranberry or a raspberry taste. I think they have a slight berry taste. Gummy and chewy is how I would describe the consistency of the Bloks. However, they are not overly gummy, nor sticky that they become stuck to my teeth. They are not overly sweet or tart. Which in my opinion is good.

I think they are a very yummy supplement. However, after I ate three packs I became bored of the taste and the texture. I wanted something different. My teeth also felt like there was a coating of sugar caked on them. I think I became bored of the taste since I only had the flavor with me that I was testing.

I found the size to be just right, not so large as to be uncomfortable putting them in my mouth but large enough to be satisfying to chew.

As the manufacturer recommended I consumed the Bloks followed by water. Initially after eating them I noticed that I feel thirsty. This was easily remedied by drinking water. On one occasion I drank water followed by a protein endurance drink after consuming the Bloks. Also on one occasion I consumed water followed by the Clif Shot Cran-Razz powder mixed with water. I found that combination too sweet after consumption of the Bloks.

After consumption of the Bloks I noticed a spike in energy in approximately 20 minutes. I found that I can last an hour with moderate activity before needing to eat more Bloks. I also noticed that with intense activity I still developed muscle fatigue when I did not consume some protein and only the Bloks.

After being exposed to high and low temperatures the consistency did not change drastically. They became hard and difficult to chew at an outside temperature of approximately 23 F (-5 C). While being exposed to a high temperature of 93 F (34 C) they became softer in consistency. However, the Bloks showed no signs of melting.

I found that they provide me with an adequate amount of nutrition as a supplement between meals. I was not very satisfied when I just ate the Bloks instead of a meal. On one of my trips I consumed a half package and then the other half after 30 minutes for my breakfast meal. I found myself hungry in about an hour. I could eat them on an empty stomach with no queasiness.

After the Bloks were exposed to air because I did not seal them in a bag they became slightly harder in consistency than a freshly opened package. They were not stale, just noticeably not as fresh. This is noticeable after about 2.5 hours of air exposure.

I do not care for the package design. I found myself on several occasions opening the package with my teeth. I experienced this problem before this test while riding my bike. I just assumed it would be easier to open the package while walking or standing still. If I did not open the package with my teeth and at the top seam sometimes the force when opening it would be so much as to completely burst the seam and some of the Bloks would fall out. I also found that if I consumed half a package and stored the remaining three Bloks inside the package inside my pack or pocket that they migrated out of the packaging. I would like to see some type of closure on the packaging and an easier opening.

THINGS THAT ARE GREAT

  • Convenience
  • Energy boost

THINGS THAT ARE SO SO

  • Package design
  • Taste after about three packages


Summary

I really enjoy using the Shot Bloks as a supplement. They are very convenient and have a yummy flavor. They give me an energy boost on the trail. The only thing I would change about them is maybe considering a different package design that is easier to open and to help keep the unused Bloks fresh.

Remarks

This concludes my Field Report. Thank you Clif and backpackgeartest.org for providing me with the opportunity to test the Clif Shot Bloks.

 


Read more gear reviews by Jennifer Koles

Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > Clif Bar > CranRazz Shot Bloks > Test Report by Jennifer Koles



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