I’ll never forget the time I came home and found my buddy Don passed out on the kitchen floor. Ants were crawling across his face and he was curled in a fetal position on the linoleum. M&Ms were scattered everywhere, a jar of peanut butter was tipped over and the contents were spread messily because he was snoozing on it. Dang bro! I tried to shake him awake but he wasn’t having it. Probably one of the best cyclists I know. He took a brutal ride up and down through the Santa Cruz Mountains, trying to push himself harder, and ran out of food. After an intense ride, and carb consumption, he crashed on our floor. 20-30 years ago we didn’t have as many choices when it came to recovery drinks, sports nutrition bars or anything else that could be packed easily for a ride or run. Generally you packed a sandwich and Gatorade or some odd lot to get your energy and hoped to get back home. Gels, Nutrition bars and a host of other items were a long way from being perfect.

The Cree Indians used to pack a mixture of fat and protein they called Pemmican and it was used as a high-energy food by Europeans involved in the fur trade. Anytime fatigue sets in due to energy loss it’s called ‘Bonking.’ The best way to bring up your energy after your performance drops is to eat something nutritious. But how do you find something that has good energy and calories? One thing I have always disliked are the super sweet, and artificial tasting Clif Bars. Some bars are just like that. So now what?

Enter Bonk Breakers.

Bonk Breaker was created by two elite level athletes. They decided to provide fresh, simple flavors in a palatable energy bar. We carry Bonk Breakers at the running store where I work part-time at. The $3.00 dollar price tag turned me off at first. I always wanted to give them a try so I purchased three. I purchased the Peanut Butter and Jelly, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and the Apple Pie. Thank God for employee discounts.

The company did a good job with the packaging. There’s a tasty picture of a Bonk Breaker on each wrapper. I wasn’t sure how they’d taste.

Bonk Breakers come in many flavors. The wrapper was easy to open. This is important for cyclists or runners who hate fiddling with a wrapper too tough to open while you’re in motion. I have to say, I liked the taste a lot, because it was natural tasting and not artificial like some of the other bars on the market. The bar is a bit soft, and lacks the hardness of some energy bars, and they taste almost as if it’s a home-baked item. Easy to chew on and doesn’t get stuck to the roof of your mouth or teeth. The bars are non-GMO, and have wholesome ingredients that are gluten free & dairy free.

I tried the other flavored bars and those tasted good too. They definitely provide an athlete the energy needed to get a workout done. Each bar I purchased and tried lacked the aftertaste of a competitor’s bars. I enjoyed these. I’ve purchased energy gels but they taste disgusting and the aftertaste stays with me for miles after drowning the taste in water.

As they say in their advertising, “Bonk Breaker® Nutrition products embody a whole foods philosophy of creating simple, high quality, REAL food ingredients into great tasting bars and chews that provide both a delicious snack and a competitive edge.” I believe they’ve done a really good job.

Yes, retail on these is right around $3.00 dollars. Should I complain? No. the Bonk Breakers contain high-quality ingredients. I would actually pay more for these bars then an artificially flavored bar. You can also get BonkBreakers at a slight discount price at some stores if you search around.

There are nearly a dozen flavors to choose from. I was happy with the bar. You don’t have to eat the whole thing at once. It can be cut in half for easier consumption. The company also sells Bonk Bites. These are another option that can be put into a baggie. These are smaller, consumable energy chews.

I recommend Bonk Breakers whether you are an elite athlete or a weekend warrior. Excellent job.

Functionality: 5/5 Excellent to use when exercising

Weight: 4/5 A little heavy but can be cut into portions.

Durability: 4/5 Good ingredients but won’t last forever.

Cost: 3/5 A bit pricey but you are paying for quality

Comfort: NA

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