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Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > LARABARs 2006 > Kevin Pferdner > Initial ReportHumm Foods LÄRABAR Initial Report December 19, 2005
Name: Kevin Pferdner Age: 32 Gender: Male Height: 5' 11" (1.8 m) Weight: 175 lb (79 kg) Email address: kpferdner@yaho.com City, State, Country: Cottonwood Heights, Utah, USA
Backpacking Background: I have been backpacking for nearly 20 years. Most of my experience has been in Utah with exception to one trip in the Wind Rivers in Wyoming. My trips cover from one to six days in the backcountry and can cover terrain from a few to over 50 miles (81 km) in one trip. I usually cover higher elevations of 8,000’ (2,438 m) to 13,500’ (4,115 m). My experience has been limited to 3 seasons as I usually take the time in the winter to backcountry ski instead of taking multi-day backpacking trips. I consider my backpacking style to be moderate in weight.
Product Information: Company: Humm Foods Website: www.larabar.com MSRP (US): $1.65 per individual bar or $27.00 per box of 16 bars
Product Weight Stated Weight Received Calories Cherry Pie 1.7 oz (48 g) 1.9 oz (54 g) 190
Product Weight Stated Weight Received Calories Ginger Snap 1.8 oz (51 g) 1.8 oz (51 g) 220
Product Weight Stated Weight Received Calories Chocolate Coconut Chew 1.8 oz (51 g) 1.9 oz (54 g) 220
Product Weight Stated Weight Received Calories Cashew Cookie 1.7 oz (48 g) 1.9 oz (54 g) 230
Product Weight Stated Weight Received Calories Apple Pie 1.6 oz (45 g) 1.9 oz (54 g) 190
Product Weight Stated Weight Received Calories Banana Cookie 1.8 oz (51 g) 1.9 oz (54 g) 210
Product Weight Stated Weight Received Calories Pecan Pie 1.6 oz (45 g) 2.0 oz (57 g) 220
Product Weight Stated Weight Received Calories Cocoa Mole 1.8 oz (51 g) 1.9 oz (54 g) 200
Product Description: LÄRABAR’s are energy bars that are packed with uncooked raw ingredients. Humm Food’s philosophy is to build on a foundation of a health, mind body and spirit by the use of foods that are consumed in their whole and natural state. Their website is full of all sorts of information on their products. What makes LÄRABAR (per their website) unique is:
It is interesting to note that there is a weight difference between the actual and the listed weights on the package. On average they appear to weigh 1.9 oz (54 g). Each bar is slightly different in dimension, mostly in length. The Apple Pie bar is 3 ½” x 1 ¾’ x ¾” (89 mm x 44 mm x 19 mm, LxWxD) in size. The Cherrie Pie bar is 3 ¼” x 1 ¾’ x ¾” (83 mm x 44 mm x 19 mm, LxWxD) in size. Regardless of the minor length differences, these bars are comparable in size to most candy bars and other similar energy bars. None of the bars feel hard to the touch. However, Cocoa Mole, Ginger Snap and Pecan Pie seem overly soft with the rest of the bars feeling firm to the touch. I have not opened any of the bars yet so I am not sure whether or not they are sticky or leave an unpleasant residue on my fingers which may not be an issue to many but is one of my own pet peeves.
Packaging: I received my LäraBar’s in a case with a mixed variety of 2 bars per flavor totaling 16 bars in all. The bars appear to be well sealed. I have not tested how well the packaging stands up to abuse, water or freezing temperatures but this will be included in my next report. However, information is easy to read and available on the wrapper.
Ingredients:
Availability: I have been to a few local grocery (Albertson’s and Ream’s) and outdoor retail stores (Gart Sports and Dick’s Sporting Goods) and have been unable to come across these bars. I was surprised about Gart Sports who recently merged with Sport Authority since their corporate headquarters are right in LäraBar’s backyard of Englewood, CO. According to LäraBar’s website I should be able to find their product at any Wild Oats, REI or Kroger’s store (here in Utah that would be Smith’s Food & Drug). I was able to find them at REI and Smith’s Food & Drug but only a limited variety was found. Neither store had all 8 flavors available. They can also be ordered via an easy search on the web with many retailers that will ship them straight to my home mostly by the box. From the pricing that I have seen in the stores, they seem in-line with other similar energy bars.
Test Plan: Over the next month I will be out backcountry skiing and snowshoeing and will give the bars a run for their money in a cold high altitude climate. I will most specifically be trying to gauge their effectiveness in giving me an extra boost in energy to get up and down 3,000 vertical feet (914 m) of off-piste terrain. The temperatures will be 5 to 32 F (-15 to 0 C). I want to see how they stand up to cold temperatures. I will also take note of my satisfaction whether or not I feel full, sick, empty or nauseous.
Let’s face it, if it doesn’t taste good few will continue to buy the product, no matter the nutritional benefits derived from its consumption. How do they taste and how is the after-taste? I will take one of each flavor and have a taste test among friends and family to get a broader opinion on taste. Although this is purely subjective, like the taste, I will try and describe the texture of each flavor of bar the best I can. Does it stick to my fingers? My biggest gripe about most finger foods is whether my fingers wind up sticky.
At this point I don’t have any concerns over the product and look forward to testing them.
I would like to thank Humm Foods in allowing me to participate in this test. Read more reviews of LARABAR gear Read more gear reviews by Kevin Pferdner Reviews > Food > Energy Bars and Drinks > LARABARs 2006 > Kevin Pferdner > Initial Report | |||
