TREK
Peanut Butter Crunch
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A fully vegan, gluten-free bar that skips artificial sweeteners yet still tastes like a candy bar—while packing 16g of complete soy-based protein and a bold peanut center.
When to choose TREK Peanut Butter Crunch
Best for plant-based snackers who want a genuinely sweet, peanut-forward bar between meals or after the gym. Skip if you avoid peanuts or soy, or if chicory root fibre tends to upset your stomach.
What's in the TREK bar?
TREK’s Peanut Butter Crunch leans fully plant-based: the protein backbone is soya protein isolate (24%), with a cameo from pea protein in the chocolate-style coating and a natural lift from peanuts themselves.
The peanut flavor is the real deal—peanut butter (12%), peanuts, and peanut flour—rounded out with a chocolatey coating and a soft caramel layer.
Macros skew “snack that satisfies”: protein lands around the category average, fat sits a bit higher thanks to nut butter and confectionery oils, and carbs are on the lower side—but most of those carbs are sugars from fruit and classic syrups.
Expect a creamy, crunchy bite with more dessert energy than “ultra-clean, slow-burn” minimalism, plus a notable manganese boost courtesy of ingredients like peanuts, cocoa, and coconut.
- Protein
- 16 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 15 g
- Sugar
- 11 g
- Calories
- 229
Protein
1615MIDSoya protein isolate does the heavy lifting here (it’s listed at 24%), supported by a little pea protein in the coating and the peanuts themselves. That adds up to 15.5g of protein—about average for the category—delivered by a complete, highly digestible plant protein. If you’re avoiding soy, know it’s the dominant source.
Fat
109MIDFat comes primarily from peanut butter and peanuts (mostly monounsaturated), with extra richness from palm kernel, palm, sunflower, and coconut oils in the coating and caramel. This mix raises saturated fat a bit and gives the bar its firm, creamy texture—typical of coated bars. Overall fat is above average for protein bars.
Carbs
1520LOWThe carbs are a blend of whole-food and refined sources: dates and apple fiber on one side; glucose syrup, rice syrup, date syrup, and grape juice concentrate on the other. Syrups bring quick, sweet energy, while chicory root fiber helps blunt the spike a touch—so expect more “instant fuel” than slow-release carbs. Total carbs are modest, but a large share are sugars.
Sugar
114HIGHAbout 10.5g of sugar comes from dates/date syrup and grape juice concentrate alongside traditional sweeteners like glucose and rice syrup. There are no artificial sweeteners—the sweetness is from fruit and refined syrups—so it tastes genuinely sweet. Fiber and fat cushion the rise somewhat, but if you track free sugars, this isn’t a low-sugar bar.
Calories
229210MIDAt 229 calories, it sits mid‑high for the category. Roughly 40% of calories come from fat, with protein and carbs splitting most of the rest—so it eats like a satisfying snack rather than a “light” bar. The nut-and-oil combo drives staying power between meals.
Vitamins & Minerals
Manganese reaches roughly 24% of daily value, likely coming from manganese‑rich ingredients such as peanuts, cocoa, and coconut components. It’s a small but meaningful micronutrient bonus supporting normal metabolism and antioxidant enzymes. No other vitamins or minerals cross the 10% DV mark.
Additives
A short, familiar additive list keeps texture on point: lecithins (from soy or sunflower) emulsify the coating, and glycerol holds moisture in the caramel. The bar also uses refined ingredients—chicory root fiber, multiple syrups, and natural flavors—so it’s more processed than a dates‑and‑nuts‑only bar, but without artificial sweeteners.
Ingredient List
Chicory root
Oil palm fruit
Sunflower seeds
Yellow pea seeds
Tuber of Cyperus esculentus
Defatted cacao bean solids
Corn, wheat, potato, tapioca starches
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Coconuts
Vegetable oils and animal fats
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“girlies this thing was so good. Definitely worth a try.”
“God I love Trek”
“Trek Cocoa Oat protein flapjacks. GF, GM free, and vegan. Discovered these when doing a lot of hiking, but they're always with me now; car glovebox, backpack, jacket pocket. At 227 Calories a bar, if you get hungry then you don't have to risk an unknown snack, meal. I buy in bulk.”
Main Praise
Across Reddit and Amazon, the through-line is taste: the peanut-chocolate-caramel combo disappears fast, with one Redditor summing it up as “so good” and another simply, “God I love Trek.
” Reviewers also like that the sweetness comes from dates and syrups instead of the usual artificial sweeteners, which gives the bar a more “real food” profile and a cleaner finish.
Vegans and gluten‑free eaters appreciate not having to compromise—this one ticks both boxes and still feels indulgent. The 16g of protein is respectable for a layered, sweet-leaning bar, and the soy base means the amino acid profile is complete.
Hikers and busy commuters call it a reliable, satisfying pocket snack that actually tides you over. On Amazon it averages about 4.
2 stars, reflecting steady approval from people who want flavor first with solid nutrition in the background.
Main Criticism
Not everyone is smitten. A common gripe is efficiency: compared with ultra-lean 20g whey bars, the protein-to-calorie ratio here feels modest for the gym‑max crowd.
Others note price creep and occasional texture quirks—“claggy” or a touch dry—especially among those who prefer softer, nougaty bars. A few Redditors mention digestive rumblings, likely tied to chicory root fibre or the tigernut flour in the coating; both are high in fermentable fiber and can bother sensitive stomachs.
And while the sweetness comes from fruit and syrups rather than artificial sweeteners, that also means it’s not a low‑sugar bar by sports‑nutrition standards. Media roundups echo the theme: tasty and more natural than many, but not the lightest on sugar or calories.
The Middle Ground
In the clash between flavor fans and macro hawks, the truth sits squarely in the middle. If you’re chasing maximum protein per calorie and minimal sugar, user “unknown” on Reddit has a point—this isn’t built like those chalky-but-efficient 20g, diet-sweetened bars.
But if you want a plant-based bar that actually tastes like peanut butter, with no artificial sweeteners and a recognizable ingredient list, TREK makes a strong case.
The texture divide is real: some call it “claggy,” others love the crunchy‑creamy layers; temperature and personal preference play a role here, so you may want to try one before committing to a case.
As for digestion, chicory fibre and tigernut flour are helpful fibers for many, yet a fast-track to bloat for some—FODMAP‑sensitive folks, take note and test with half a bar first. Sugar-wise it’s honest: about 11g, mostly from fruit and syrups, cushioned by fat and fiber; not “sugar-free,” not a sugar bomb either.
What's the bottom line?
TREK Peanut Butter Crunch is a candy‑adjacent protein bar that doesn’t fake it: real peanut butter, a chocolate-style coat, caramel, and 16g of complete plant protein in 229 calories. It’s vegan, gluten‑free, and free of artificial sweeteners, with a small bonus of manganese from ingredients like peanuts and cocoa. ” Reach for it when you want a peanut fix that actually fills you up—on the way to the gym, in the car between meetings, or in a hiking pocket.
Skip it if you avoid soy, chase the leanest macros, or know chicory root fibre doesn’t love you back. For everyone else, it’s an easy yes: a tasty bar that prioritizes flavor and decent protein over austerity.