Flavoured crisps are better suited to a relaxed break than as planned main fuel for a long or intensive bike ride. For rides like these, your carbohydrate intake should match the effort involved. When choosing crisps, consider the flavour, ingredients and how much you’ll actually eat. The manufacturers’ products reviewed here contain around 47–50 g of carbohydrates and 33–35 g of fat per 100 g.
If you’re preparing for a long or intensive ride, you need to plan your carbohydrate intake to match the effort involved. ERNÄHRUNGS UMSCHAU explains that sports nutrition requirements depend on factors including exercise intensity and body weight; the flavour of a snack is no substitute for planning.
For a relaxed break, you might be more interested in paprika, a spicy kick or Sour Cream. The figures from Lorenz, funny-frisch and Chio show that even when flavours differ, you should compare the fat, salt and carbohydrate content of each variety separately.
If you’re looking for a vegan variety or need to avoid certain ingredients, don’t assume the flavour name tells you what’s in the recipe. The German Food Federation explains that relevant allergens must be identified in the ingredients list on prepacked foods.
For a long or intensive ride, first plan your fuelling around the effort involved. If you’re choosing a snack for a break, then compare the flavour, ingredients and nutritional information for the specific variety.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Planned carbohydrate intake | Compare the carbohydrates and fat per 100 g, then work out the figures for the amount you plan to eat. | For a long or intensive ride, I want to plan my fuelling around the effort involved rather than relying on a bag of crisps. This planning need is the main consideration for around 50% of consumers. |
| Flavour | Choose between paprika, spicy and Sour Cream according to your taste; check the nutritional information for each variety separately. | For a leisurely break, I’m mainly looking for a savoury snack and don’t expect the seasoning to help me on the ride. Flavour is the main reason for buying for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list on the pack you’re buying. Look out for highlighted allergens and any vegan labelling. | If I want to avoid certain ingredients or shop vegan, the recipe matters more than the variety name. This question about ingredients takes priority for around 20% of consumers. |
As well as carbohydrates, the varieties reviewed contain around 33–35 g of fat per 100 g. A 30 g serving of these examples works out at around 14–15 g of carbohydrates; whether you need fuel, and how much, depends on the ride.
Plan your carbohydrate intake for a long or intensive ride separately from the snack you fancy during a break. ERNÄHRUNGS UMSCHAU relates recommendations for carbohydrate intake to the demands of the activity.
Vegan labelling relates to the ingredients; it doesn’t automatically mean a product is low in fat or salt. The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre does not automatically consider vegetable and pulse crisps a healthier alternative to potato crisps.
Compare the specific type of snack and its nutritional information for energy, fat, carbohydrates and salt per 100 g. Lentil crisps are still lentil crisps, not a variety of potato crisps.
Lorenz lists whey powder and cheese powder in Crunchips Paprika; funny-frisch also lists milk ingredients in Chipsfrisch Sour Cream & Wild Onion. The manufacturers label other specific paprika varieties reviewed as vegan.
Check the ingredients list on every pack you buy. Don’t assume the information for one variety applies to another flavour or recipe.
Figures per serving are only useful if the serving matches the amount you actually eat. The German Food Federation says that the mandatory nutritional information is shown per 100 g in the table.
Use the figures per 100 g as a common basis for comparison, and work them out for your portion if needed. Remember to check the fat and salt, too.
Crunchips Paprika is a useful example of classic paprika-flavoured potato crisps.
Two Chipsfrisch varieties show how the ingredients can differ between flavoured potato crisps.
Red Paprika and Hot Peperoni offer a comparison between paprika and spicy seasoning.
The brand offers a comparison between different types of snacks: REWE sells both potato crisps and crisps made from lentils or chickpeas.
These flavoured potato crisps could be just the thing for a savoury break or a snack after a leisurely ride. For a long or intensive ride, keep your planned fuelling separate. When choosing a variety, also check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack.
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A paprika-flavoured option for a snack break. The pack contains 185 g; check the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack to see how they fit your planned portion.
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A choice for a snack break when you fancy a Sour Cream & Onion flavour. The pack contains 185 g; check the ingredients list, especially if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
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A spicy option for a snack outside your planned ride fuelling. The pack contains 185 g; assess the ingredients and nutritional values separately from how hot it is.
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For a break when you fancy a classic paprika flavour rather than Sweet Paprika. The pack contains 185 g; compare the ingredients and nutritional information with those of other paprika varieties.
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A Sour Cream variety for a savoury snack break. The pack contains 150 g; check the ingredients list for this specific variety rather than relying on information about Crunchips Paprika.
Potato crisps aren’t a reliable choice for planned main fuel on a long or intensive ride. In the manufacturers’ examples reviewed, 30 g works out at around 14–15 g of carbohydrates, as well as fat. ERNÄHRUNGS UMSCHAU explains that carbohydrate intake during sport depends on the demands of the activity.
funny-frisch labels Chipsfrisch ungarisch as vegan, and Chio labels Red Paprika as vegan on their product pages. This doesn’t apply to all paprika crisps: Lorenz lists sweet whey powder and cheese powder in Crunchips Paprika. So check the ingredients list on the pack you’re buying.
No, the flavour name is no substitute for the ingredients list. According to the manufacturer, the funny-frisch Sour Cream & Wild Onion variety reviewed contains milk ingredients. The German Food Federation explains that relevant allergens must be identified in the ingredients list on prepacked foods.
Start with the figures per 100 g, then work them out for the amount you plan to eat. The German Food Federation says the mandatory nutritional information includes energy, fat, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and salt. You should check the ingredients and allergens separately, too.
No, the ingredient alone doesn’t determine whether something is suitable as ride fuel. The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre doesn’t automatically consider crisps made from vegetables or pulses healthier than potato crisps. Compare the nutritional information for the specific product and plan your fuelling separately for long or intensive rides.