Patagonia Provisions Apricot + Almond Bar

A non-GMO, organic energy bar that tastes great and has a backpacker-acceptable caloric density of 100 calories per ounce. The small size lends it to stashing in small pockets (but not so much for satiety). These are expensive, just as most organic, non-GMO products are.

Here are the ingredients as listed on the package:

Organic Dried Apricot, Organic Dried Pear, Organic Dried Apple, Organic Almond, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate, Organic Baobab Fruit Powder, Organic Black Chia Seeds

Here is the nutritional information:

• Serving Size  1 bar (35 g)  
• Servings Per Container  1 
• Calories  120 (Calories from Fat 30) 
• Total Fat  3g (5% Daily Value) 
• Saturated Fat  0g (0%) 
• Trans Fat  0g 
• Cholesterol  0mg (0%) 
• Sodium  5mg (0%) 
• Total Carbohydrate  21g (7%) 
• Dietary Fiber  4g (8%)  
• Sugars  13g 
• Protein  2g 
• Vitamin A  (8%) 
• Vitamin C  (4%) 
• Calcium  (2%) 
• Iron  (4%)
  
  

Prologue

I’ve bought enough stuff from Patagonia over the years that they keep mailing me the artsy color catalogs every season. You know, the ones showing people that are way cooler than you and are doing cool things in cool places...

When I first saw their advertisement for Patagonia Provisions it caught my eye. I’m a fan of their apparel products and their top-shelf customer service, so I was curious what kind of food product an (mostly) outdoor apparel company would produce. So when Trailspace offered the chance to review some of them I was happy to accept. 

What is it?

Patagonia Provisions Apricot + Almond Bar is  a non-GMO energy bar for anyone needing on-the-go energy snacks.

Taste & Flavors

Patagonia makes three flavors of fruit and almond energy bars currently: apricot, Inca berry, and mango. I was sent a box of 12 apricot bars.

These taste really, really good. There is a sharp tartness that I really like and I can pick up pleasant after-tastes of fruit. Maybe this is too much info, but I also like discovering the little bits stuck in your teeth that resurface over time (until you brush and floss).

My wife also really likes these and I had to hide them from her for “testing purposes”. :)

Bite and Mouth Feel:

The bars have a solid bite and mouth feel, with a bit of a fruit-leather texture, and I suspect the chia seeds give them more solidity but it’s hard to say for sure as the almonds are chopped and it could be those making for such a solid feel. They are the right amount of chewy for me, meaning they aren’t too hard to chew but you feel like you are eating something with substance.

Energy

These offer 120 calories per bar in a 1.2-ounce package with 13 grams of (natural) sugars and 3 grams of fat.  They have an acceptably good caloric density of 100 calories per ounce (my personal minimum for any food on a long, weight-conscious backpacking trip) and like I’ve experienced with other dried fruits and nuts, worked well to provide energy while active while also being easy on the stomach.

Satiety

These are energy bars and not meal replacement bars, so I didn’t expect them to make me feel full. But the 1.2-ounce size is very small. I can eat one in three moderate bites and the whole thing is over very quickly leaving me feeling like I wanted more.

Packaging & Portability

Patagonia says that unopened packages require no refrigeration and are shelf stable for 8 months. That long shelf life lends itself well to pre-loading a resupply box or just stocking up for future trips.

While the small serving size is a con in terms of satiety, it’s a pro for stashing these in a backpack hip belt pocket or possibly a running pack or vest.

Price

At $2.29 per 1.2-ounce bar at 120 calories, these are not a great value strictly in terms of calories per dollar (with no consideration given to quality of ingredients which may be a factor to some). A Clif bar is about $1 per 250-calorie bar, a ProBar Bite organic energy bar is about $1.50 for 140 calories, etc...

Conclusion

These Patagonia Provisions bars are good tasting energy bars, but the price is high enough that I would only consider them as an occasional splurge and not as a staple in my food kit. For those folks for whom money is of no concern, go for it!