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Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > Honey Stinger Just for Kids > Test Report by Michael Pearl

HONEY STINGERS JUST FOR KIDS
TEST SERIES BY MIKE PEARL
LONG-TERM REPORT

INITIAL REPORT - June 20, 2014
LONG TERM REPORT - September 12, 2014

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Mike Pearl
EMAIL: mikepearl36ATyahooDOTcom
AGE: 40
LOCATION: Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
WEIGHT: 155 lb (70.30 kg)

I have a great appreciation for the outdoors and get out at every opportunity. I am a three-season backpacker and year round hiker. Currently, my trips are two to three days long as well as an annual week-long trip. I utilize the abundant trail shelters in my locale and pack a backup tarp-tent. I like to cover big distances while still taking in the views. I have lightweight leanings but function and reliability are the priority. I mostly travel woodland mountain terrain but enjoy hiking beautiful trails anywhere.


INITIAL REPORT

SPECIAL GUEST TESTERS

I called in the reinforcements for this test. This being an item for kids, I have two of the (self proclaimed) "coolest kids on the trail", my seven and five year old daughters. Both have a sweet tooth. My older likes most things chewy. My younger likes most things fruit. Both enjoy hiking, the older likes rocky summits and younger likes streams and waterfalls.

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: EN-R-G Foods, LLC
Year of Manufacture: 2014
Manufacturer's Website: www.honeystinger.com

The Just For Kids come in four varieties listed below. (Images courtesy of the Honey Stinger website.)

*Weights listed below are per packet*
IMAGE 1
MSRP: US$5.19 per box of 5 packets
Listed Net Weight: 0.8 oz (23 g)
Measured Net Weight: 0.8 oz (23 g)

IMAGE 2
MSRP: US$5.19 per box of 5 packets
Listed Net Weight: 0.8 oz (23 g)
Measured Net Weight: 0.8 oz (23 g)

IMAGE 3
MSRP: US$4.99 per box of 6 waffles
Listed Net Weight: 0.5 oz (15 g)
Measured Net Weight: 0.5 oz (15 g)

IMAGE 4
MSRP: US$4.99 per box of 6 waffles
Listed Net Weight: 0.5 oz (15 g)
Measured Net Weight: 0.5 oz (15 g)

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

We received one box of all four varieties of the Just For Kids snacks. I passed one packet of each around to my 7 and 5 year old daughters. I asked them what they thought about them and why. They both said they were good because there are people on the package doing healthy activities. My older daughter added that there are no artificial colors.

READING THE LABEL

Both the waffles and the chews are made with organic ingredients and contain no artificial colors or flavors, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup. When making food choices these are things my family prefers.

Based on the ingredients and information on the Honey Stinger website these are meant to be snacks. All four varieties are quick burn simple carbohydrates from sugars. In addition each variety has some other "pluses" as well. The chews provide a full day's worth of vitamin C. The Honey Waffle provides a small amount of fat and salt. The Chocolate Waffle provides a small amount of fat, salt and protein.

TRYING IT OUT

We divided up one package of each variety for a quick taste test. Here's the ranking, first being most favored.

Seven year old - Mixed Berry Chew, Chocolate Waffle, Sour Citrus Chew and Honey Waffle

Five year old - Honey Waffle, Chocolate Waffle, Mixed Berry Chew and Sour Citrus Chew

Me - Honey Waffle, Chocolate Waffle, Sour Citrus Chew and Mixed Berry Chew

We all thought each had flavor and texture appropriate for the description. It was agreed that we look forward to hiking with these snacks in our packs.

SUMMARY

My children and I believe the Honey Stinger Just For Kids snacks are smartly packaged, tasty treats. My daughters and I had to restrain ourselves from eating more before getting out for a hike. These snacks seem like a good addition to our trail lunches. They will provide a welcome sweet boost of quick energy.


LONG-TERM REPORT

LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

IMAGE 1

Mt. Sunapee, Newbury, NH - 4.8 mi (7.7 km) climbing to 2700 ft (820 m), 80 F (26 C)and sunny. Wet and buggy to start, hot and humid along the way then sunny and breezy at the summit. Great mix of dense forest, rocky stream crossings and a few rock scrambles.

Wheeler Pond, Vermont - Two nights at Harstel-Martens cabin.
Day 1 - 2.5 mi (4 km) at 1400 ft (420 m), 75 F (24 C) and breezy. Rocky and muddy pond loop trail.
Day 2 - 5 mi (8 km) to 2400 ft (730 m), 80 F (26 C) humid and buggy. Dense forest to steep rocky climbs to exposed rock cliffs.

Mt. Cube, Orford, NH - 4 mi (6.4 km) to 2,900 ft (880 m), 84 F (29 C) and windy at the summit. Dense hardwood forest, boggy col to exposed summit.

Balch Hill, Hanover, NH - 2 mi (3 km) to 950 ft (290 m), 90 F (32 C) and calm. Variable trail that changed from dry, flat and wide to rocky, wet and narrow.

Trail Maintenance - Appalachian Trail, Pomfret, VT - 4.4 mi (7 km), elevation range 775 - 1295 ft (236 - 395 m), 70 F (21 C). Trail rolls up and down through mixed hard and soft wood forest.


PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

Feedback on the Honey Stinger Just for Kids Snack which my junior BGT'ers renamed stinger snacks, is almost all positive. They liked the taste, texture, flavors and "energy" of the snacks. They disliked the small portion size. On our Mt. Cube hike which is an almost constant uphill hike the girls decided they needed extra energy. They made a waffle fruit chew sandwich. It was decided this was the best! And that Honey Stinger should start package snacks this way.

My observation was both kids liked these snacks. They were eager to get to set points for snack time. They seemed to have a little more pep to their step after snack time. The ultimate measure was they both asked to go for a hike, knowing there were more Honey Stingers to test. They even ask to join me on a trail maintenance hike!

When asked if they like the snacks the answer was a forceful yes. Following up with why, first was an even more forceful "there're yummy!" Then came "because they make my stomach quiet," "give my legs power" and my favorite "they make the view better."


SUMMARY

In conclusion the Just for Kids snacks were a much enjoyed addition to our trail menu. Both of my guest testers asked where we could buy some stinger snacks for their next hike. As a hiker I am pleased whenever my children enjoy the outdoors. Sometimes this means providing the right "incentives." As a parent I am all too conscious of what the incentive is. If the Just for Kids snack incorporated some seeds and/or nuts, some type of protein and complex carbohydrate we would pack them on every hike.

This concludes the Long-Term Report. Thank you to EN-R-G Foods, LLC and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to try Just For Kids snacks.

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1.5 Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
Read more gear reviews by Michael Pearl

Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > Honey Stinger Just for Kids > Test Report by Michael Pearl



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