Maurten built its reputation on liquid hydrogel, but the Swedish brand also brings its philosophy to solid food. The Solid 160 targets runners who want to vary textures over long distances without giving up the digestibility that made the brand's name. RunMorph cross-checked independent reviews to see whether the bar format keeps the same promise as the gels.
© Maurten, official photo used for editorial purposes
The Maurten Solid 160 is an oat and rice energy bar with 40 g of carbs and 202 kcal, designed to vary textures during long efforts without upsetting your stomach. Pre-cut into two 20 g portions, it follows the same no-nonsense logic as the rest of the Maurten range: few flavors, no frills, a lot of digestive reliability. The very neutral, almost bland taste can put off runners who want tastier fuel, and the price stays high for everyday training use.
Maurten made its name with hydrogel gels, favored by part of the elite field for how well the stomach tolerates them at high intensity. The Solid 160 carries the same philosophy over to a bar: little taste, no surprises, one single goal, delivering carbs without upsetting your gut. Where other brands rely on indulgent flavors to make fueling go down easier, Maurten owns a purely functional approach.
It joins an already broad nutrition lineup at RunMorph, next to the Gel 160, its liquid counterpart, and the Baouw Barre énergétique Extra, which sits at the opposite end with a focus on flavor and organic ingredients. The Solid 160 also comes in a cocoa version for a touch of variety, without ever leaving the neutral, sweet register that defines the whole brand.
RunMorph tip: use the two pre-cut 20 g portions to split your intake over a long run instead of eating the whole bar at once, especially if you're not used to eating solid food while running at a steady pace.
| Brand | Maurten |
| Model | Solid 160 (neutral flavor) |
| Format | 55 g bar, pre-cut into 2 portions of 20 g of carbs |
| Base | Gluten-free oats and rice flour |
| Energy | 202 kcal / 855 kJ per bar |
| Carbs | 40 g, of which 17.2 g sugars |
| Fat | 3.3 g, of which 0.5 g saturated |
| Protein | 2.3 g |
| Salt | 0.61 g |
| Diet | Vegetarian and vegan |
| Official price | About €3.45 each |
© Maurten, official photo used for editorial purposes
RunMorph cross-checked two French reviews based on several weeks of use in running and cycling. Both covered the Solid 160 alongside the rest of the Maurten range, which let us compare feedback across different sports.
On digestibility, both reviews agree without reservation: no issues at all, no heaviness, no nausea, even for a tester who describes himself as having a sensitive stomach. Everyone praises the texture as easy to chew and swallow, even at moderate effort, and you don't need much water to wash a bite down. The pre-cut format with two 20 g halves stands out as a real practical plus: you can split your intake on the bike or on the run instead of eating the whole bar at once.
On taste, however, both reviews describe a very neutral profile, literally "cereal mixed with sugar," with no distinct flavor. One review notes that it isn't unpleasant but can put off anyone looking for something tastier, with the cocoa version adding a little more enjoyment without turning into a treat. One review also points out that the bar tastes sweeter than the gels or the drink from the same range. Keep that in mind if your palate tires of repeated sweetness over a long distance.
| Maurten Solid 160 | Baouw Barre énergétique Extra | |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Functional, neutral | Indulgent, organic |
| Carbs | 40 g | Varies by recipe |
| Format | 55 g, pre-cut in 2 | 50 g, XXL format |
| Taste | Very neutral | Pronounced, indulgent |
| Origin | Sweden | France, Made in France, organic |
| Price | ~€3.45 | ~€3.25 |
Both bars target the same use during long efforts, but with diametrically opposed philosophies. The Solid 160 bets on neutrality and pure digestive reliability, even if that means giving up any taste enjoyment. The Baouw Extra takes the opposite approach: an organic, indulgent recipe for runners who want eating on the run to stay at least a little enjoyable. If digestion is your absolute priority on race day, the Solid 160 wins on neutrality and on its place in an already structured nutrition system (Drink Mix, Gel, Solid). If you want an organic French alternative with more character, the Baouw Extra remains the go-to in our catalog for this niche.
The Solid 160 keeps the same promise as the rest of the Maurten range: digestibility first, even at the expense of enjoyment. It's an excellent choice to vary textures in the marathon or ultras without any digestive risk, and less relevant if you want fuel that stays pleasant to eat again and again over several hours.
The Maurten Solid 160 successfully brings the brand's hydrogel philosophy to solid form: flawless digestibility, easy-to-read carb delivery, a practical format you can split. The very neutral taste is the price you pay for that reliability, and the cost clearly limits everyday training use. 7.8/10, a safe bet for racing, less obvious for regular use.