Finding the right protein bar can be extremely difficult. There are just so many to choose from on the market today. So many companies are attempting to join in on the fun of the market by making a product and slapping “protein bar” on the packaging.
This is enough to fool the everyday consumer, but not us. We refuse to stand by and let you select the wrong protein bar when you buy your goods online or inside a retail outlet.
As human beings we have a natural sweet tooth. Many humans appease this sweet tooth with the use of a candy bar like a Twix or a Snickers bar. There are so many other healthy alternatives that can take care of that sweet tooth while promoting a healthy way of life and muscle gains.
Spoiler alert: it’s not a candy bar, it’s a high quality protein bar.
A Comparison of Our Top 5 Protein Bar Picks
OUR #1 RATED |
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 Outright Bar  Our Top Pick For:
9.6 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5% |
OUR #2 RATED |
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 RedCon1 MRE Bar Our Top Pick For:
9.4 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10% |
OUR #3 RATED |
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 RedCon1 B.A.R. Our Top Pick For:
9.3 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10% |
OUR #4 RATED |
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 Sinister Labs SinFit Bar Our Top Pick For:
9.0 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5% |
OUR #5 RATED |
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 OhYeah! ONE Bars Our Top Pick For:
8.8 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5% |
PRODUCT | DETAILS | OUR RATING |
|---|---|---|
Outright Bar Save 5% with coupon code INFORMANT | Our Top Pick For:
Highlights:
|  Our #1 Rated 9.6 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category |
 RedCon1 MRE Bar Save 10% with coupon code INFORMANT | Our Top Pick For:
Highlights:
| Our #2 Rated 9.4 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category |
RedCon1 B.A.R. Save 10% with coupon code INFORMANT | Our Top Pick For:
Highlights:
| Our #3 Rated 9.3 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category |
Sinister Labs Save 5% with coupon code INFORMANT | Our Top Pick For:
Highlights:
| Our #4 Rated 9.0 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category |
 OhYeah! ONE Bar Save 5% with coupon code INFORMANT | Our Top Pick For:
Highlights:
| Our #5 Rated 8.8 out of 10 in the Protein Bar Category |
Why Should I Eat a Protein Bar?
The Issues with The Protein Bar Market
One of the biggest issues facing the protein bar market is what we already described above. So many consumer package goods companies are creating them, loading it with poor quality protein, putting 20g of protein on the label and people just assume it is good. That is not the case.
Not every protein bar is good for you. Not all should be treated equal. Walk into a gas station and look at them lining the shelves. They are camouflaged in with the candy bars. We don’t mean this in the way that they are put next to the candy bars, but the fact that a lot of these “protein bars” are actual candy bars!
Don’t waste your time and your health by purchasing poor quality products. Fitness Informant has complied a comprehensive list of the the five best protein bars on the market today! Stop being fooled. It’s time to get educated!
Our Testing Process
We examined four different areas of each protein bar when we compiled our rankings:
- Ingredients Profile
- Taste
- Texture
- Value
Ingredients
We rate each protein bar on five different categories. We start by looking at the ingredient profile. We investigate the types of protein and the other ingredients used to make the finished product The higher quality protein sources and less fillers, the better score the bar would get. We also look at the macro nutrients of each product. A lot of individuals want to know calories, total fat, total carbohydrates and total protein.
Taste
Next we look at the taste of the protein bar. We look at taste in two ways. The first is does it taste like the label says? For example, does a cinnamon twist protein bar actually taste like a cinnamon twist? Second, we judge the overall taste of the product. We combine these for one score.
Texture
Texture is very important to the protein bar category. Texture encompasses the hardness of the bar, the chewiness, the crunch and the chalkiness. A good textured bar will have a nice combination of all the good things about texture.
Value
Finally, we talk about the products value. Value is the combination of ingredient profile, taste and texture as it relates to price and to the competition. Just because a product is “cheap” in terms of price tag, does not mean it is a value. You need a combination of ingredient profile, taste, texture and price to be a good value.
Please Note: Many of the top 10 lists you find online are written by content writers with no in-gym or supplement experience who are paid by the word count to write an article for a website trying to generate money.
These lists are influenced by brands who pay for placement. These lists contain protein bar supplements that are, for the lack of a better word, garbage.
The following products on our best of list were used by the author of this article. He used the protein bars through the duration of a full box. Sample packs were not used in determining our rankings.
Stop relying on faulty information that is influenced by outside writers and money. This list is the real deal. We don’t steer you wrong. Be Informed. Live Fit.
Fitness Informant's Protein Bar Rankings:
Now the moment you’ve all been waiting for, here’s our list of our top 5 rated protein bars:
#1 Outright Bar
9.6 out of 10
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5%
The Highlights:
Outright Bars were created by Marc Lobliner to be a fuel source for all people, not just fitness fanatics, that was a much cleaner alternative to what is on the market today.
Outright Bars are not marketed to the traditional bodybuilding community. Marc decided NOT to brand it MTS because he wanted to appeal to the all-family demographic. With simple ingredients and a taste and texture to go with it, he did just that.
Outright Bars are made from peanut butter, honey, protein powder, oats, chips and sometimes cocoa powder. It doesn't get more simple than that. They pack in 15g of protein, which compared to the competitive set is less, but again you have a much cleaner profile with a high quality protein source. If you haven't tried an Outright Bar you need too.
Who Makes It
Outright is technically its own brand, but it is owned by Marc Lobliner and uses MTS Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate. So you could say it is a MTS brand (most websites list it under MTS as well). Mark Lobliner decided to brand is separately from MTS because of the all-family appeal these bars have. The Outright brand has made protein bars, both peanut butter and almond butter base, nut butter spreads and protein wafers.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 15g Protein – MTS whey protein isolate
- 26g Carbs – much of it coming from natural peanut butter, honey and chocolate chips
- 12g Fat – coming from the natural peanut butter
- Soft Texture – these are essentially peanut butter balls made into a bar form, that's the texture we're talking about
Bottom Line:
The Outright Bar became our #1 rated protein bar due to three very simple reasons. The first is the ingredient profile. It is simple, single digits and all real ingredients everyone on the planet knows. The second is the taste. These things taste amazing. Whether you are having the peanut butter base or the almond butter base, they delivery. The third is the texture. The Outright Bar is extremely soft for eating but doesn't fall into your lap. Oh, let's not forget they are affordable as well.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5%
#2 RedCon1 MRE Bars
9.4 out of 10
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10%
The Highlights:
MRE Bars from RedCon1 are some of the most popular bars in the world right now and our current #1 rated protein bar. Why? It’s because they are delicious, but they are also different than the rest of the category. MRE Bars don’t utilize whey protein like the others one on this list, they use whole food sources.
So what do we mean, whole food sources? RedCon1 put beef protein, salmon protein and chicken protein as the main sources of protein in these bars. Sounds gross, huh? I can assure you that these are NOT gross and they taste phenomenal. They also have the best texture of bars I have ever had. You can actually see the whole food sources in the bar.
There is a reason MRE Bar overtook our #1 spot...they expanded with new flavors and helped affordability with discount options.
Who Makes It
RedCon1 may be the hottest brand in the supplement industry. Owned by supplement industry veteran Aaron Singerman, RedCon1 became an overnight success with their lineup of quality supplements, ambassadors, marketing programs and slogans.
RedCon1 continues to gain momentum with the more products they release and the more countries they get released in. RedCon1 is here to stay, and they have a goal of becoming the #1 supplement company on the planet.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
Bottom Line:
MRE Bars from RedCon1 are the most exciting bars to hit the category in a long time. The fact that they don’t rely on the popular whey makes them an attractable protein bar for those who have issues with dairy. On top of that, they are amazing tasting with quality sources of macros.
MRE Bars are quick to sell out as soon as they come in due to their popularity. I would grab some of these while you can. You won’t regret it. Time will tell if they get to our #1 spot. You can read the full MRE Bar review here.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10%
#3 RedCon1 B.A.R.
9.3 out of 10
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10%
The Highlights:
B.A.R. is another protein bar from RedCon1 that makes our top 5 list. CEO of RedCon1, Aaron Singerman, said he broke his cardinal rule with B.A.R., creating two separate products in the same category. Well, it appears that it is working.
B.A.R. is different from the MRE Bar because it uses whey protein versus the beef/chicken/etc protein from MRE. This means that the protein source in B.A.R. is more bioavailable than MRE. B.A.R. is also different in that it is inspired by your favorite childhood and adulthood cereals.
The B.A.R. uses real cereal pieces and whey protein crisps to give us amazing flavor profile, texture and 20g of solid whey protein. RedCon1 took a chance with a cereal protein bar because Quest failed, but RedCon1 won't.
The B.A.R. is a refreshing bar to the category that offers a different, but pleasant texture, vibrant/bold flavors and a macro profile we can all be proud of.
Who Makes It
RedCon1 is the maker of the B.A.R. as well as the MRE Bar. No other brand has two items on this list, but RedCon1 does. They changed the category with MRE Bar, and the B.A.R. is making breakfast great again. RedCon1 is also one of the hottest, fastest growing brands in the history of the sports nutrition industry.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 20g Protein – protein from whey protein
- 20g Carbs - macro friendly on carbs
- 4g Added Sugar – minimal added sugars and these bars still taste amazing
- Real Cereal Pieces – there's real Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops
- Crunchy but Soft Texture – texture of the whey protein crisps adds a nice element to the B.A.R.
Bottom Line:
RedCon1 B.A.R. is going to be a successful bar in a category in which the one time category leader failed at. Taking on "breakfast" occasion can be hard in protein bars, but RedCon1 has done it successfully. They have been so successful that the B.A.R. is also consumed outside of breakfast more-often than not.
B.A.R. is just shy of MRE for now due to only three flavors available, but it could climb the rankings if they keep adding your cereal favorites.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 10%
#4 Sinister Labs SINFIT Bars
9.0 out of 10
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5%
The Highlights:
SINFIT Bars had a long run atop our rankings list as #1 until recently getting beat out by MRE. SINFIT Bars are solid, filling and delicious bars that deserve to be in anyone's top 5.
First, they use two quality protein sources to make the bar. The first ingredient listed is whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate. Other bars typically are using a milk protein, nothing wrong with that, but not as high as quality as whey.
Next, they are HUGE. These bars are 83g each. They contain 30g of protein. This is going to be more than most. With that, however, comes an increase in the other macronutrients. You get 16g of fat and 28g of carbs. This might turn some people off, but these are so big you could use it as a meal replacement or just eat half and save the rest for later.
The taste is amazing too. They are close to being one of the best tasting bars on the market today, their score is reflective of that!
Who Makes It
Sinister Labs was our Breakout Brand of the Year in 2017 for their commitment to creating quality food products. The name Scott James may not mean anything to you, but he’s been known to build quality companies in the sports nutrition space. He has done it again with Sinister Labs. He also brought Mr. 212, Flex Lewis, on board to be part of this wonderful company.
Sinister Labs also makes protein pancakes and nut butter spreads that are amazing. If they continue to release products that are like these, I don’t think anyone will be able to stop them!
What's In It?
One serving contains:
- 30g Protein – high quality (whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate)
- 83g Bar – these bars are HUGE, so big that they can be a meal replacement bar or you can getaway with only eating half and saving the other half for later
- 8g Sugar – a little higher than we’d like, but this is with 7g of added sugars – but over 83g bar it’s minimal
- Tasty Coating – the coating on these taste amazing…you almost feel like you’re eating candy
- Soft Chewy Center – the texture is out of this world
Bottom Line:
SINFIT Bars make our top ranking list due to their incredible taste, soft, non-chalky texture and 30g protein per bar. These bars are huge, so they will justify a higher price tag. But wait until you try one…you will want to eat the whole box.
Sinister Labs was able to create a great taste, without the chalkiness and without compromising the healthiness of the product. If you haven’t tried SINFIT Bars I would run, not walk, to our link below to buy these! You won’t regret it. Read our full SINFIT bar review here.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5%
#5 OhYeah! ONE Bar
8.8 out of 10
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5%
The Highlights:
OhYeah! ONE Bar by ISS Research gained popularity on QUEST Bars when Quest Nutrition changed their formulation on their original QUEST Bar (they have since gone back to the original formulation due to complaints). There was room for a new player in the protein bar space and OhYeah! ONE Bar capitalized on that. It utilizes a high quality ingredient profile while staying macro friendly. It gives us superior taste and texture compared to others and they don’t even inflate the price!
OhYeah! ONE Bar tops our list because they were able to make a great tasting protein bar with an awesome texture all while maintaining quality ingredients and being macro friendly. ONE Bars contain only 5g of NET carbs and 7g of fats.
They are able to keep carbs low and fats even lower. ONE Bars also contain 21g of protein from whey protein isolate and milk protein isolates, a high quality protein blend. They are also gluten free which is big in the fitness community. One area of highlight is the sodium count is also really low on these compared to others.
Who Makes It
ISS Research makes a lot of different products for the sports nutrition industry. They do brand most of their products under the OhYeah! umbrella but they also carry other items like Victory Bars which are very popular.
What's In It?
One serving contains:
Bottom Line:
OhYeah! ONE Bars were able to secure our #1 spot in 2017 because they use high quality ingredients while creating a macro friendly bar that is great tasting, with superior texture and at a great value. They give you everything you want in a protein bar.
ONE Bars were able to capitalize on what Quest Bars did in terms of ingredient quality and macro compliance while creating a better tasting product. Read our full OhYeah! One Bar Review here.
Use coupon code INFORMANT to save 5%
This completes our full list of the best rated protein bars for 2018. Each of the products we tested above earned the right to be on this coveted list. Each one had a great ingredient profile that promoted a healthy way of life and contributed to muscle gains.
Comment below with your thoughts!
