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Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > Clif Bar > Blueberry Crisp Bar > Test Report by Kevin Hollingsworth

Clif Bar - Blueberry Crisp Bar
TEST SERIES BY KEVIN HOLLINGSWORTH
 June 15, 2007

 CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT

Tester Information 

Name: Kevin Hollingsworth
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Height: 6’ 1” (1.9 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Email address: kholling55@yahoo.com
City, State, Country: Williamsburg, Virginia. USA

I started backpacking and camping when I was in the Scouts. I spent 20 years in the military, which curtailed my personal outdoors adventures. While day-hiking, I normally carry a light load, a waist pack with mostly food and water, with a few other things. On three to four day trips, I will carry a pack weighing about 45 to 50 lb (21 to 23 kg). I prefer to hike in the mountains. I have been hiking in Colorado, Korea, Egypt, and most recently the Eastern part of the United States.


INITIAL REPORT 
May 4, 2007

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer:  Clif Bar
Year of Manufacture:   2007
URL:  www.clifbar.com

 Listed Specifications:
Weight: 2.4 oz (68 g)
Shelf Life: 11 months

Note: All measurements are mine (unless otherwise specified)
Weight (Packaged): 2.8 oz (78 g)
Weight (Bar): 2.7 oz (76 g)
Flavor: Blueberry Crisp
MSRP: Not available

Clif Bar

Manufacturer's Description: 

  • Wholesome and hearty flavor that tastes homemade
  • Bursting with organic oats and organic nuts
  • Certified organic by QAI
  • 23 vitamins and minerals
  • Entirely natural — no artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives
  • No trans fats, hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup
  • Good source of Protein
  • Rich in anti-oxidants
  • Baked with real blueberries and organic almonds

 Clif bars are marketed as natural energy bars that are “a great-tasting, convenient source of energy for any activities”.  They are a mixture of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber and listed by the manufacturers as a moderate glycemic index food.  They are made from 70% organic ingredients, certified by Quality Assurance International (QAI) and contain no genetically modified ingredients. There are 14 other flavors, to include: Apricot, Black Cherry Almond, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Almond Fudge, Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch, Cookies 'N Cream, Cool Mint Chocolate, Cranberry Apple Cherry, Crunchy Peanut Butter, Lemon Poppyseed, Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, and Peanut Toffee Buzz. In addition, there are three seasonal flavors offered: Spiced Pumpkin Pie, Caramel Apple Cobbler, and Iced Gingerbread.

 The Blueberry Crisp contains the following ingredients and vitamins/minerals:

Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, ClifPro™ (Soy Rice Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Rice Flour, Malt Extract], Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour), Blueberry Fruit Pieces (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Blueberry Puree Concentrate, Brown Rice Syrup, Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Natural Flavor), Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Dry Roasted Almonds, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Toasted Oats (Organic Oats, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice), ClifCrunch™ (Organic Oat Fiber, Inulin [Chicory Extract], Organic Milled Flaxseed, Organic Oat Bran, Psyllium), Blueberries (Blueberries, Apple Juice Concentrate), Organic Date Paste, Almond Butter, Organic Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Citric Acid.

Vitamins & Minerals: Dicalcium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Ferric Orthophosphate (Iron), Beta Carotene (Vit. A), Zinc Citrate, Phytonadione (Vit. K1), Biotin, Niacinamide (Vit. B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vit. B5), Potassium Iodide, Manganese Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Selenite, Thiamin (Vit. B1), Chromium Chloride, Cyanocobalamin (Vit. B12), Sodium Molybdate, Folic Acid (Vit. B9), Riboflavin (Vit. B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vit. B6).

Clif Bars also give the following allergy warning:

“Allergen statement: Contains soy and almonds. May contain traces of dairy, peanuts, and other tree nuts. We source ingredients that are not made using wheat, dairy, and are not genetically engineered. May contain nutshell fragments”

According to the website, you should eat a bar 1 to 2 hours before physical activities to prevent the “sugar high and crash associated with refined ingredients and sweeteners.”

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

When I receive the Clif Bars, they came in a caddie box of twelve bars. Also in the box were two Fact Sheets, one listing all of the Clif Bar flavors with the ingredient list for each, and the other on the Blueberry Crisp Clif Bar.  The outside of the caddie box lists the ingredients, Nutrition Facts, and information on the manufacturers, Clif Bars & Co. This information is also listed on each individual wrapper.

 Clif Bar  Unwrapped

Each bar was individually wrapped in a foil like pouch. The pouch is approximately 5.5 x 3 in (14.0 x 7.6 cm). The bars themselves are 3.4 x 1.9 in (8.6 x 4.8 cm). They are about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) thick. Being name Blueberry Crisp, I thought that they would be somewhat hard, but they are actually soft and flexible. They are also a little bit sticky to the touch, but does not leave my fingers with that sticky feeling.  To me, the bars look like a bunch of oats, nuts and some blueberries mixed together in a paste. They smell sort of like a candy bar. The bars actually tasted pretty good. They are not too sweet, salty or dry tasting. They taste like blue berries, nuts and roasted oats. I am looking forward to see how well they taste after days on the trail, and to see if they actually work as an energy source.

SUMMARY

I would like to thank both, BackpackGearTest and Clif Bar, for the opportunity to test the Blueberry Crisp Bar. This concludes my Initial Report. The Field Report will be amended to this report in approximately two months from the date of this report. Please check back then for further information.

 


LONG TERM REPORT 
June 15, 2007

 

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

I took a multi-day trip to Shenandoah National Park. The terrain was mountainous with the elevation around 3000 to 4000 ft (900 to 1200 m). The weather was initially cloudy with some scattered showers. The weather cleared at midday on the second day and the rest of the trip was sunny. The average daytime temperature was 60 to 75 F (15 to 24 C), dropping to approximately 55 F (13 C) after sunset.

I also took a multi-day trip to the Smokey Mountains National Park. The terrain was mountainous with the elevation around 2000 to 3000 ft (609 to 900 m). The weather was cloudy with scattered showers, mostly in the late afternoon or evening. The normal daytime temperature was 75 to 85 F (24 to 29 C), with a drop to approximately 65 F (18 C) after sunset.

In addition to the multi-day trips, I completed three day hikes. The weather was normally clear or with a slight cloud cover. The temperatures were around 70 to 85 F (21 to 29 C). The elevation was at sea level and the terrain was wooded.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

This is my first occasion to try the Clif Bar line, and I was not disappointed.

One of the most important aspects of food that I take with me on a trip is the taste. The Blueberry Crisp bars tasted good, not just the first time I ate one, but every time I ate them. I never got tired of eating them. The flavor was nutty with a blueberry taste. The bars were sweet with a slight taste of something like honey, but not too sweet that it tasted like a candy bar. The bars were not at all salty. But after eating them, I did find myself wanting to drink some water to wash them down with.

The consistency of the bars was sort of like a crunchy, nutty paste. They were firm and they were kind of sticky. At higher temperatures, over approximately 80 F (27 C), the bars became flimsy and stickier.  To see how the bars would react to the cold, I put bars in the freezer, 9 F (-12 C), and refrigerator, 33 F (1 C). In both cases, the bars became harder, with the one in the freezer becoming rock solid and pretty much inedible. After warming the bars up, they returned to their normal consistency, without any noticeable difference in taste.

 The bars were packaged in a foil like package. The package stayed airtight throughout, never ripping, rupturing or losing its seal.  The package was also very easy to open. I never had a problem ripping open the package and then using the package to hold the bar while I was eating. This help with keeping the stickiness off my fingers.

 One purpose of the bars is to provide energy. The makers suggested eating the bars one to two hours before exercise. I normally don’t eat much on the trail. So I would normally eat a bar mid-morning and maybe one mid-afternoon, and on my day hikes, I tried to eat one about an hour after I started.  The bars kept me full, and provided me with the energy I needed for a few hours.

SUMMARY

I am overall pleased with the Clif Bar Blueberry Crisp bars. They tasted good, were a quick source of energy and were overall a good snack during those long hikes. I look forward to tasting the other Clif Bar flavors.

I would like to thank both, BackpackGearTest and Clif Bars, for the opportunity to test the Blueberry Crisp bars.

 


Read more gear reviews by Kevin Hollingsworth

Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > Clif Bar > Blueberry Crisp Bar > Test Report by Kevin Hollingsworth



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