RedCon1 MRE Bar
The taste king per Fitness Informant, ranked lower because whole-food bars historically show more batch-to-batch variability.
Consolidated from 9 cited sources across 6 outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 3 positive sources
- 5 mixed sources
- 1 unconvinced source
1 of 3 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.
r/Protein reports the formula changed for the worse with a slimy consistency, and r/LowCalFoodFinds calls the Cookies and Cream version the worst bar the poster ever tried. It also sells at a per-bar price near the top of the category, making the regression unforgivable.
Flagged 17 September 2026
Pros & cons
- ✓ Number one rated protein bar in Fitness Informant's rankings
- ✓ Delicious, whole-food sourced
- ✓ Fitness Informant once called MRE the most exciting bar to hit the category in a long time
- ✓ Strong taste and whole-food formulation
- ✗ Whole-food formulations have historically been more prone to texture and freshness variability across batches
- ✗ Formula changed for the worse, with a slimy consistency reported by owners
- ✗ The Cookies and Cream version is called the worst bar the poster ever tried
- ✗ Sells at a per-bar price near the top of the category
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.
Evidence 2 articles, 1 video review and 6 community sources
3 positive sources
Bulldog Nutrition Editorial Team · reviewer · Aug 2026 The Redcon1 MRE Bar comes closest with its whole-food ingredient list, but even it is designed as substantial between-meal fuel rather than a full meal replacement.Read O oppermanfitness oppermanfitness · 10.5K subscribers · Oct 2018
It's a pretty damn good It's a pretty damn good macro blend, guys. Says use in 4 oz of water. So, you already know. If you want to see reviews with water, make sure you watch that [ ] hippie at Fitness Deal News, TJ.Watch I Instagram Instagram post
All of these are whole food proteins (no whey 🙌), which is why I love them—they’re easy on the stomach but still pack 24g of protein per serving.View post
5 mixed sources
The Redcon1 MRE Bar gets mixed reviews on price — some call it "straight fire" and worth it for taste and digestion, while others question it at $15 a bar. If you catch it on sale like the GNC 90¢ shake deal, most people say it’s a solid buy, but at full retail it’s a tougher sell.View post F Facebook Facebook post
The Redcon1 MRE Bar gets mixed reviews on price — some call it "straight fire" and worth it for taste and digestion, while others question it at $15 a bar. If you catch it on sale like the GNC 90¢ shake deal, most people say it’s a solid buy, but at full retail it’s a tougher sell.View post F Facebook Facebook post
The Redcon1 MRE Bar gets mixed reviews on price — some call it "straight fire" and worth it for taste and digestion, while others question it at $15 a bar. If you catch it on sale like the GNC 90¢ shake deal, most people say it’s a solid buy, but at full retail it’s a tougher sell.View post M
Muscle Science Ryan Hale · reviewer · May 2026 If that window is your priority, a hydrolyzed whey isolate is simply the better-matched tool, and the MRE protein shake is not the optimal choice for rapid post-workout amino acid delivery. The ISO100 protein review analyses a hydrolyzed WPI against the same criteria used here.Read I Instagram Instagram post
Macros aren't perfect but not too bad. The construction of the bar made me think this was gonna be good looked alot like a barebell at first glance.View post
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #7 of 16 on our protein bars tier list, in D tier. That placement draws on 9 cited sources across 6 outlets.
1 of the 9 sources with a clear view is critical of it: r/Protein. Whole-food formulations have historically been more prone to texture and freshness variability across batches. Formula changed for the worse, with a slimy consistency reported by owners. The Cookies and Cream version is called the worst bar the poster ever tried. Sells at a per-bar price near the top of the category.
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