I recently heard about the UK launch of a new protein bar called Barebells. This Swedish import sounded like a taste and texture contender to my beloved Carb Killa bars, so you can imagine my interest was piqued. I found them on proteinpickandmix – so ordered a few in my tireless quest for the perfect protein bar.
Barebells are available in three different flavours: Coconut-Choco, Caramel & Cashew and Cookies & Cream. All three Barebells possess a soft texture like a Snickers bar, but none of the guilt-inducing ingredients. There is a softness and airiness to them unlike the denser protein bars out there. Calorie-wise they possess an excellent balance of macros at 197 Kcals per 55g bar, with 20g protein, 16g carbs and 7g fats. These would make a great addition to anyone’s healthy snacking plan.
Coconut-Choco: My first Barebell - and it’s a good start. The texture is soft and creamy and the taste is spot on – a yummy mouthful of moist coconut in each bite. The bar is covered in desiccated coconut – maybe a little too much, making it slightly messy to eat. I had mine post-workout at the gym and the coconut flecks went everywhere. Despite the mess I still rate this an outstanding bar from both a taste and texture perspective.
Caramel and Cashew: This is a great tasting bar with notable hint of caramel and cashews. For my fellow nut lovers this is a deeply satisfying experience, as the bar is layered with morsels of cashews. Once again my only gripe is that it is a tad messy to eat, with the cashew bits going all over the place. But this is a problem I can happily live with.
Cookies and Cream: This was my favourite of the lot, and a definite contender to Carb Killa’s equivalent flavoured bar. This chocolatey bar is brimming with morsels of cookie nestled atop the surface. Unlike the others, this one is super easy and clean to eat, and I was able to leave the gym with my dignity intact.
So what is my final verdict? This range is great and barring some of the messiness I really can’t fault them. I would still give a slight edge to the Carb Killa range by virtue of the fact that most of their bars have a gooey centre, which gives it a slight advantage. However, I think that Barebells is a brilliant addition to the muscle food family and should be a welcome addition to your pantry.