UTHH top picks: The best energy bars to fuel a busy day on-site

Published November 2, 2024

Energy bars are a quick, convenient way to stay fueled through even the longest day on the job site. Packed with simple ingredients, good carbohydrates, and calorie-dense nutrients, these energy bars will help you power through any project without hitting a wall. Our top pick is CLIF bars for their simple ingredients and wide availability, but we also loved Skratch Labs’ tasty vegan option and the dessert-like taste of Honey Stinger waffles.

Under the Hard Hat’s top 5 energy bar picks

UTHH best overall: CLIF Bar

What we love	Things to consider
– Readily available at most grocery stores – High carbohydrate content – Variety of flavors – Moderate amounts of protein per bar	– Large bar size takes longer to eat – Not gluten-free

With the largest bar size and 45 g of carbohydrates, CLIF bars are the perfect choice to fuel intense workdays or physically demanding jobs. We like that CLIF bars are popular and available at most grocery stores and even some gas stations—there is no need to detour to Whole Foods to find them.

They’re also non-GMO, made with 70% organic ingredients, and contain a blend of protein, fat, and fiber to slow digestion and deliver sustained energy. However, the larger bar size may be a hindrance during busy days as it takes longer to eat than the smaller, two-bite bars featured elsewhere on the list.

Nutritional facts (Cool mint chocolate)

68 g serving size
250 calories
43 g carbohydrates
17 g sugar
10 g protein

Best indulgence: Honey Stinger Energy Waffle

What we love	Things to consider
– Great taste and texture – Quick to eat – Certified organic ingredients	– Breaks easily—not the best choice for tossing in your pocket or lunch pail – Very low protein content

Technically this one isn’t a bar, but we couldn’t leave the delicious Honey Stinger Energy Waffle off the list. Two thin waffle wafers with a layer of sweet honey filling inside taste more like a dessert than an energy bar. We love the indulgent taste and texture of the Honey Stingers, inspired by the classic Dutch stroopwafel. However, the waffle texture can be a bit crumbly and sticky to eat—not ideal when you’re working with tools or fine details. They’re also very low in protein, which may not provide enough sustenance on busy days.

Nutritional facts (Honey Waffle)

30 g serving size
150 calories
18 g carbohydrates
10 g sugar
1 g protein

Best organic and gluten-free: Kate’s Real Food

What we love	Things to consider
– 100% organic – Great taste and texture, with no artificial ingredients	– Pricey – Limited availability – Crumbles easily

Kate’s Real Food bars offer a 100% organic energy source with gluten-free ingredients, including almond butter, oats, brown rice crisps, coconut, and honey. The lemon coconut flavor is our favorite—a welcome change from most energy bars’ typical chocolate-based flavor profile. However, it may be harder to find these bars on a quick grocery store run or if you’re working in rural locations.

Nutritional facts (Lemon Coconut)

260 calories
34 g carbohydrates
18 g sugar
6 g protein

Best vegan: Skratch Labs Bar

What we love	Things to consider
– Great choice for vegans – Comes in savory options – Good texture, with bits of natural fruit and nuts	– Nut-based bar isn’t appropriate for allergy -aware environments – Lower protein content than other bars

Made without honey or dairy products, Skratch Labs makes a great-tasting energy bar with real food sources of healthy carbs, including nut and seed butters, oats, and nuts. The cherry pistachio flavor is delicious, but with only 4 g of protein, it may not keep you feeling full as long as the other bars on the list.

Nutritional facts (Cherry pistachio)

260 calories
34 g carbohydrates
11 g sugar
4 g protein

Best peanut butter: KIND Energy Peanut Butter

What we love	Things to consider
– Simple ingredients – Widely available	– Nut-based options may not be suitable for all settings

KIND bars have a reputation for delivering energy boosts via simple, natural ingredients, and the KIND Energy Peanut Butter bar is no exception. These chewy bars have whole-grain oats, creamy peanut butter, and some peanut chunks to give a satisfying crunch. These bars are relatively small yet calorie-dense, so you can down this bar in just a few mouthfuls and get back to work.

Nutritional facts

250 calories
32 g carbohydrates
13 g sugar
10 g protein

Best fruit-based: Larabar

What we love	Things to consider
– Simple ingredients – Sweet, chewy texture	– Not as calorie-dense or carbohydrate-rich as other bars – High sugar content for its size

These bars source their energy primarily from fruit—dates, dried apples, and raisins. Add almonds, walnuts, and cinnamon, and you’ve got tasty, fruit-based Larabars free from gluten, soy, dairy, and GMO ingredients. Many energy bars are oat- and nut-based, so the sweet, fruity taste of Larabars can come as a welcome change, especially if you like unique flavors like Apple (which is reminiscent of apple pie) and coconut cream.