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Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 8:10 am
by TahoeJeff
Since both seen to be hated, which do you hate more?

(I am fond of both, and don't understand the animosity?!?!?)

Re: Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 8:28 am
by oldranger
Don't care for Cliff Bars but really like the different flavored Spams, especially in Mac and Cheese. But probably not the healthiest food. So maybe once a year, usually when traveling with our little travel trailer.

Re: Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 8:44 am
by apeman45
I hate neither. It's just a matter of priority. There are too many other delicious meats like pepperoni, salami, tuna packets, hamburger crumbles and slim jims just to name a few. I don't love Cliff Bars but don't hate them either. A couple peanut butter flavored bars usually find their way into my pack just for variety. I rarely get to eat them since a friend absolutely loves them so they are useful in barter situations when food is running low. I've always joked that they look like they've already passed through someone's digestive track. I went to a party once at the Cliff Bar headquarters in Emeryville. Very cool company with all kinds of outdoor perks and the employees I talked to loved it there. I end up buying them a lot in the Costco variety bulk pack so I usually have some around but eventually eat them. I've had a can of spam in my pantry for 12 years. That's for the zombie apocalypse.

Re: Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:06 am
by zacjust32
Not a fan of cliff bars, I'll occasionally buy one on the road and after 2 bites remember that I don't like them. Fried spam is a favorite of mine, and the singles are perfect. Hmmmm... now I'm wondering if you could dehydrate or jerky spam to save some weight.

Re: Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:15 am
by Wandering Daisy
I "hate" neither. Although I like the more cookie-texture and seemingly less sweetness of Cliff bars, they are quite bulky- I usually do not use them if I am trying to cram a lot in the bear can. Spam packets are simply nice for variety. I would not want to take more than one and they certainly are cheap. As for healthy eating? All sausage type meats are relatively unhealthy, but none will ruin you for a short time on a backpack trip.

I am of the generation who grew up when spam was a popular new food, so perhaps it subconciously also brings up fond memories of camping trips from childhood.

Perhaps this should be moved to the "food" section.

Re: Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:19 am
by giantbrookie
I like both, but the guess the true test is that I'd eat fried spam (esp as in worked into spam musubi) at sea level, whereas Clif Bars don't work for me unless I'm hiking. Clif Bars have been go-to snacks for hard hikes for me since the late 90s. Oatmeal Raisin and the Blueberry Crisp are my two favorites, but I'll use the chocolate overload guys (mint chocolate chip; and the brownie one) as caffeine (coffee) substitutes in the morning of backpacking trips so as to prevent the afternoon caffeine withdrawal issues (rather than bringing along a coffee making setup). Oddly I hadn't thought of bringing Spam on backpacking trips, but this thread makes me reconsider, given that both my kids love fried spam.

Re: Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:29 am
by TahoeJeff
I think WD pointed out in a different thread that spam comes in single serving foil packages. Easy portioning and garbage pack out.

Re: Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:12 am
by AlmostThere
Clif bars sit in my stomach like a brick on backpacking trips. I have a box of them at the office, it was cheap at Dollar General and don't upset my stomach in that context. Spam has never been anything of interest to me. Hate is too much waste of energy for either... I simply prefer other things for backpacking.

Re: Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:30 am
by maverick
Spam was never my thing, Cliff Bars were okay when they came out, but got tired of them pretty quick. This years backpacking seasons food selection will be interesting/challenging for me since I decided to go vegan in late December, and have eliminated all soy products too (except for tempeh).

Re: Spam or Cliff bars?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 12:22 pm
by mrphil
I'll eat either, but don't care for either. Sick of Clif bars, and they're heavy and not particularly nutritional. I have recently tried the new bars with nut butter, and they're a nice reinvention for the most part. Hard to find these days, but the one that I've always found the best was apricot. If I find them, I'll still by a box to keep with food stuffs and a few in the daypack, just in case.