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Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > Clif Bar > Berry Shot Bloks > Test Report by Greg McDonald
CLIF SHOT BLOKS
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TESTER INFORMATION
I have been camping for 15 years, 11 of them have been spent hiking in the backcountry. My hikes are almost exclusively in Florida and generally range between one and three nights. My all-time favorite hike was a 10 day expedition in the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. I consider myself a lightweight but comfortably equipped hiker, with a pack averaging between 25 and 30 lb (11 and 14 kg).
INITIAL REPORT
Product Information
Manufacturer: Clif Bar & Company
Year of Manufacture: 2008 Manufacturer's Website: http://www.clifbar.com/ MSRP: $1.99 per FASTPAK Listed Weight: 2.1 oz (60 g) Measured Packaged Weight: 2.3 oz (65 g) Measured Packaged Dimensions (Approximate): 5.75 x 1.5 x .75 in (15 x 4 x 2 cm) Flavor Tested: Mountain Berry Flavors Available: Cran-Razz, Lemon-Lime, Strawberry, Pina Colada, Orange (25mg caffeine), Black Cherry (50 mg caffeine), Cola (50mg caffeine), Margarita (triple the sodium). The Product in Depth
The SHOT BLOKS are basically little blocks of energy. The SHOT BLOKS are designed to deliver carbohydrates and electrolytes to my body while, for the purposes of this review, hiking. Each FASTPAK contains 6 SHOT BLOKS. The SHOT BLOKS are cubic in shape. The Mountain Berry flavor is purple in color and measure about .875 x .875 x .625 in (2.2 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm) individually. Compared to proteins and fats, carbohydrates are the easiest compound for the body to process into energy and are therefore the body's preferred source of energy during a workout. Continual replenishment of carbohydrates is important during an activity such as hiking, which is one of the reasons why I keep an assortment of small foods within easy reach while on the trail. Each serving of SHOT BLOKS delivers 24 g of carbohydrates, of which 50% are complex carbohydrates and 50% are simple carbohydrates. The simple carbohydrates are just simple sugars that are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream for a faster burst of energy. Complex carbohydrates take longer for the body to break down and will therefore steadily release into the bloodstream to help mantain energy levels over longer periods of time. The SHOT BLOKS also contain electrolytes that the body sheds through perspiration. Electrolytes are natural salts, such as sodium and potassium, found in the body that serve to conduct electrical signals from the brain to muscles and nerves. When the body sweats to cool itself it also sheds these natural salts. This isn't too big of a deal when working out at the gym or playing pickup basketball with some friends, but if I'm sweating and my body is really working hard over an entire day on the trail it is critical that those salts be replenished to avoid cramping (among other more dangerous things). Each SHOT BLOKS serving contains 70 mg of sodium and 20 mg of potassium. According to Clif, the FASTPAK is 33% smaller than the older packaging used for the other flavors of SHOT BLOKS. It is not clear whether 33% smaller refers to the dimensions of the packaging, the weight, or both. The stated purpose for the redesign is to make it easier to consume SHOT BLOKS on-the-go and reduce the waste of excess packaging. Both the individual packaging and Clif's website indicate that I should consume 3 to 6 individual BLOKS (or 1 to 2 servings) per hour during activity. The FAQ section on Clif's website recommends experimenting with different levels of consumption to find out the best balance for me and my personal replenishment needs. On the package, Clif advises that I "Always follow consumption with water" but it doesn't give any indication of how much. This led me to believe it was probably personal preference, but the FAQ section once again came through for me and advises I "follow with a mouthful of water". Not exactly a precise measurement for the detail-oriented out there, but good enough for me. The last bit of relevant information I could find was the "expiration date" of sorts for the SHOT BLOKS. Clif guarantees the SHOT BLOKS fresh for 12 months from when they are packaged. On the FASTPAKS I received, the date "07 Oct 09" is printed below the barcode on the back. I have to take a moment and commend Clif Bar & Co. on how well they have designed and put together their website. It is aesthetically very cool, easy to navigate, and is absolutely packed with both "beginner" and "intermediate" information about the products. This new flavor and packaging were not yet available, but for every other product I was able to find tons of FAQs and nutritional information. I'm no nutritionist and I still found the information clearly presented and easy to understand. Top notch, and worth commending. Taste Test
When I first opened the box and grabbed one of the individual FASTPAKs I was a little surprised by what I felt. I suppose I didn't really know what to expect, but for whatever reason I hadn't counted on the individual BLOKS being quite so large and squishy. Putting it to the Test
The CLIF SHOT BLOKS is a pretty cool product that has a lot of things going for it. My initial research seems to indicate that they have a large portion of what my body needs to sustain itself while pushing it on the trail. Furthermore, they come in a convenient and thus far easy-to-use package. Perhaps most importantly, they taste pretty good and are easy to put down. So far, so good. The only thing I've found so far that jumped out at me was a typo I noticed on the retail display box that the SHOT BLOKS came packaged in - it seems somebody left the "r" of off "Flavor". Whoops. Field Locations and Conditions
The trail locations where I have been enjoying the SHOT BLOKS include day hikes in Jonathan Dickinson State Park and the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, as well as overnight trips on the rim trail of Lake Okeechobee and the Ocala National Forest. On the dayhikes the SHOT BLOKS have been my primary snack food (along with a bag lunch). On the overnights, the BLOKS have been supplemented with the original Clif bars. Field Performance: The Packaging
Overall I'd say the packaging on the new SHOT BLOKS is a winner. The minimalist packaging keeps the size and weight down to barely more than the food itself and means less garbage for me to pack out of the backcountry. One of the best things about the packaging is how easy it is to actually eat from it. Field Performance: The BLOKS Themselves
The BLOKS seemed to do a wonderful job of supplementing my body's needs during my hikes. I can't really measure a performance boost too much because I obviously can't rule out a placebo effect. Having said that, when I used the BLOKS as my primary source of carbohydrates on hikes I always felt as though I had plenty of energy to keep going. From this I feel confident in saying that the SHOT BLOKS supported my body very well. Final Thoughts
I like the SHOT BLOKS. I've worked them into my eating routine on the trail and will definitely continue to eat them. My favorite things about the SHOT BLOKS are the taste, the packaging, and the nutritional value. The two things I'd like to see Clif do from here are to add perforation along the CUT HERE lint to make the package easier to get into and to add some additional flavors in the same packaging for more varieties. Read more gear reviews by Greg McDonald Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > Clif Bar > Berry Shot Bloks > Test Report by Greg McDonald |