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Clif Bar Mini

7
£1.19

VERDICT:

7
10
Mini-sized version of the classic, steady-ride vegan energy bar that you either hate or love
Familiar product in a smaller size
Good flavours
Vegan
Can stick to the throat a little
Best suited for steady long rides
Non-recyclable wrapper
Weight: 
338g

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The Clif Bar Mini is not a new addition to Clif's popular and well-established nutrition range when it comes to flavours, but the smaller 28g size is still a welcome addition to the Clif family. Clif's bars have long been an energy staple for cyclists and for very good reasons too – you can buy them at most cycling and outdoor stores and they come in numerous flavours.

> Buy now: Clif Bar Mini for £8.99 for 10 from Amazon

Clif Bars are made with a host of ingredients, including rolled oats, fruits and nuts, and each of these mini bars offers between 108-111kCal, 4g of protein and around 16g of carbs per serving.

The ingredients are: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Rolled Oats, Soy Protein Isolate, Organic Cane Syrup, Organic Roasted Soybeans, Rice Flour, Cane Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate', Organic Soy Flour, Organic Oat Fiber, Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Cocoa Butter', Barley Malt Extract, Sea Salt, Natural Flavors, Soy Lecithin and Organic Cinnamon.

Yes, that's one hefty list of ingredients for such a small bar. Clif says that 70% of the ingredients are organic and the bars are fully plant-based, including vitamins B6 and B12, which vegans often lack in their diet.

The 28g Mini size is about half that of a traditional Clif Bar, and after testing, I'm convinced I prefer the smaller size – but that still doesn't bring these any closer to being my favourite cycling energy bars.

2022 Clif Bar Mini - Crunchy Peanut Butter.jpg

This is because in addition to their long list of ingredients, regular Clif Bars offer about 266kcal per serving, and although the 37g carb content is great, the full-size bars also come with a hefty dose of protein and fats, which gives them a slower-release action than some of the more carb-heavy energy bars.

> How to eat right for sportives and long rides

Nutrition is a very personal thing and your needs also depend on what type of riding you're doing. Personally I prefer to eat a lot of carbs during my rides, and preferably have the protein and fats after the ride – or well before – unless I'm bikepacking. The Clif Mini bar solves this, as I was able to get a good dose of protein, carbs and fats, and then complement the bars on rides with something more carb-heavy, such as energy gels or different bars.

And although I like the Clif Bar flavours – the Minis are available in chocolate chip, peanut butter crunch and white chocolate macadamia – their hearty consistency and the strong taste of some kind of sweetener (or perhaps one of the many syrups) mean I don't want to eat too many of them.

2022 Clif Bar Mini - White Chocolate Macadamia.jpg

I've never really had the urge to consume a full-size Clif Bar at once, which meant most of the time I left half of the bar for later. The Clif Mini bars solve the issue I had – that of the full-size bars left open in my pocket or bag crumbling away before I got to finish it.

Granted, having multiple small bars results in more empty wrappers, and Clif Bar's aren't recyclable... but unfortunately this is the case with most cycling energy bars.

Value

Then we have the price. These bars cost £1.19 a pop, though a box of 10 is widely available for less than a tenner. For reference, regular-size Clif Bars cost about £1.90 each, but they are double the size, which means double the calories and so on.

The Rawvelo bar I reviewed recently also costs £1.90 each as does the Torq Bar that Liam tested, so the Clif Minis are pretty much on point with their pricing when you take their size in to count – though the Rawvelo bar comes in a recyclable wrapper, which I personally think is a huge bonus.

Conclusion

Overall, I think Clif Bars, whether mini or not, serve a purpose on long, steady rides where fast-release carbs are not as important. They are not the most 'clean' ingredient energy bar, and the wrappers are not recyclable, but if you like the flavours, I think the Clif Bar Minis are a much more digestible size than the full-size one.

Verdict

Mini-sized version of the classic, steady-ride vegan energy bar that you either hate or love

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Clif Bar Mini

Size tested: 280g

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"It's everything you love about CLIF BAR®, now in snack size!

Made with wholesome, nutritious plant-based ingredients, 108-111 calories, and 4g plant-based protein, each great-tasting CLIF BAR®

Mini is portioned to deliver a delicious snack-time pick-me-up."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Available in three flavours with varying ingredients, each bar weighs 28g.

Clif says: "CLIF BAR® is the original energy bar made with wholesome ingredients that deliver energy. CLIF BARs have whole ingredients you can see and taste, such as rolled oats, fruits and nuts. Each bar contains B6 and B12 which contribute to the normal release of energy for use in the body. The bars are also a source of protein and fibre."

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The smaller size.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The more of these you eat, the more empty wrappers... and the wrappers are not recyclable.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Compared with the Rawvelo and Torq bars, which are both £1.90 each, the Clif Mini bars are similarly priced but they do have a longer ingredients list than, for example, the Rawvelo bar, and the flavours are very divisive – you either like them or not.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes – for long, low-intensity rides or bikepacking

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 30  Height: 164cm  Weight: 52kg

I usually ride: Specialized Tarmac Sl6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb, Ultra-distances

Suvi joined F-At in 2022, first writing for off-road.cc. She's since joined the tech hub, and contributes to all of the sites covering tech news, features, reviews and women's cycling content. Lover of long-distance cycling, Suvi is easily convinced to join any rides and events that cover over 100km, and ideally, plenty of cake and coffee stops. 

Add new comment

4 comments

Avatar
Global Nomad | 8 months ago
0 likes

i just wish they would make the wrapper easier to open on the bike...clif bars have been my go to choice since SiS stopped making bars.

Avatar
Surreyrider replied to Global Nomad | 8 months ago
0 likes

I'm in Mallorca now and have been using the mini bars - you're right about them being a faff to open. I've also tried Maurten solid bars and really like them. 

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to Surreyrider | 8 months ago
3 likes
Surreyrider wrote:

I'm in Mallorca now and have been using the mini bars - 

careful, the hotels overcharge for using the mini bars, sometimes even for opening them.

Avatar
Calc replied to Global Nomad | 8 months ago
0 likes

Yep. I now take some scissors and snip a little starter cut into the end of each wrapper before heading out. Doesn't need to actually break the seal of the wrapper, just need somewhere for a tear to start.

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