Raise The Bar Fitness Subscription Review – June 2017

Raise the Bar is a subscription box offering snack bars and protein bars, teas, and samples of other fitness-related supplements (e.g., pre-workout powders, etc.).

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

This review is of the Starter, $17.99 a month, box. 

The Subscription Box: Raise the Bar

The Cost: $17.99 for the “Starter Box” with at least 5 protein and/or snack bars, $39.99 for the “Intermediate Box” with 10 bars and 10 teas, or $64.99 for the “Advanced Box” with 20 bars and 20 teas.

The Products: Protein and snack bars, immune boosting teas, and occasional other fitness supplement samples, all designed with your personal health goals in mind.

Ships to: US (free)

Check out all of our Raise The Bar reviews and the Fitness Subscription Box Directory for more health and fitness oriented subscription boxes!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

This box did not include an information card, probably because boxes can differ based on how you fill out your profile.  For example,  I chose “Health Maintenance” since I am at my goal weight, and “vegetarian.”  (You can also choose weight loss or muscle building-type goals, can choose a kosher box, and can list food allergies separately.)

However, there was some product literature for Vital Body, one of the companies whose products were in the box.

Vicia Almond Noir (1.83 oz x 2) – Total Value $6 (buy a box of 12 for $36)

I got two of these last month as well…I like them, but I would like to see a bit more variety. The chocolate coating does not melt in the heat, which is key, and they do actually taste pretty good. (Seriously, these have been everywhere lately.)

Sante Matcha (2 g x 2) – Total Value $4?

This company requires registration to see information in their store, so the value is an estimate based on other matchas I found online (this is ceremonial grade, meant to be consumed as a drink, so it is greener than culinary grade and I estimated a higher value than last month, when we got culinary grade). I don’t really care for drinking matcha (have tried on numerous occasions, so I put it in a smoothie anyway). You get a lot more antioxidants from eating matcha than from just drinking green tea.

Vital Body DBR BCAAs in Pink Lemonade (1 serving) – Value $1.98 (buy a bag of 30 servings for $59.50)

I always love discovering new BCAA products (BCAAs are branched chain amino acids and can help with post-workout muscle recovery and delayed onset muscle soreness). This also has lots of minerals and is caffeine free (yay, since I work out at night). But, I’m not sure I would buy this regularly because, even though it doesn’t taste that bad to me, it has creatine, which can cause you to gain quite a lot of water weight. (Creatine is also proven effective to help build muscle.) I received this same sample last month, as well.

Justine’s Protein Cookie in Raspberry White Choc (2.3 oz) – Value $3.99

These are made in New Zealand but there are a few flavors in the Raise the Bar shop (find the shop at the link in the product name). This is mostly whey protein and does give the feel of whey protein compressed into a cake, although it is less dense than I expected. There is a little tanginess or tartness that I suppose is the raspberry; I couldn’t really detect the white chocolate.  These are available in several different serving sizes, which is nice if you are counting calories.

Health Warrior Lemon Goldenberry Superfood Protein Bar (1.76 oz) – Value $1.83 (buy a box of 12 bars for $21.99)

I’m familiar with Health Warrior bars from other boxes. They are vegan, if that is of concern to you. Because of all the relatively dry chia, they are a bit gritty.  I do think the lemon goldenberry flavor is nice – tart with just the right amount of sweetness.

Bar by Proteinbar.me in Vanilla Almond (2.08 oz) – Value $5

This is one expensive protein bar. (You can get a larger number for less per bar, but the one-bar price is good if you only want to try it out.) I also think the name is hilarious. This has a texture that is an odd (but not bad) combo between a thick wafer cookie and a denser protein bar. You can taste both the vanilla and the almond. Apparently o, ly one flavor is available right now.

Verdict: I calculated a value of $22.80 for the June Raise the Bar. For the second month in a row (I’ve only received two months so far), the value is several dollars above the month-to-month cost of the box, which is wonderful for a box containing all food. Although I am a little disappointed to get a repeat item this month (Vicia bars), at least it is something I like. I definitely value the ability to choose health goals and dietary preferences so I can actually use everything in the box (I like whey protein a lot more than most vegan protein sources). And if you are a regular consumer of protein bars (I am), this is a good way to discover some new brands.

What did you think of the June Raise the Bar?