Price: $4 per cannister ($2 per serving)
Nutrition (for 12 chips): 150 Calories, 10g Fat, 5g Carbs (0g Sugar), 10g Protein
Power Crunch is best known for their wafer-style protein bars, and while they’re not my absolute favorite bars on the market, they’ve always been a solid option on shelves.
So when I spotted their new protein chips at my local grocery store, I was certainly intrigued, but not overly optimistic. The bar for protein chips has been set very high thanks to brands like Quest and Legendary Foods, and these chips also came with a pretty hefty pricetag, so I proceeded with caution.
With all of those things in mind, I opted to only buy the Hot & Spicy flavor for this review, but they do offer a handful of other flavors.
Power Crunch Protein Crisps come packaged in small canisters, just like Pringles. Each package contains two individual cans, and each can has 2 servings inside (12 crisps per serving).
One serving is listed as 150 calories and 10g of protein, but the full canister totals 320 calories and 22g of protein, which doesn’t add up on the surface. It’s just a rounding issue causing the individual serving size to seem lower in calories and protein, but for all intents and purposes, each serving is closer to 160 calories and 11g protein.
For a plant-based protein chip (something they don’t call out, which is baffling to me), those macros are actually pretty solid. Sure, they don’t quite hold up next to Quest Chips or Legendary Popped Protein Chips in terms of macros, but those chips are nearly made up exclusively of whey protein.
Power Crunch uses a blend of potato and pea protein, making these essentially just a potato chip with some protein added to it, but a solid non-dairy option if that’s something you’re looking for.
Now let’s talk about flavor and texture. These chips definitely bring some heat. They’re not quite as intense as Quest’s spicy chip flavors, but the spice lets you know it’s there. If you’re sensitive to spice, you’ll probably want to steer clear, because these will get your lips tingling a bit.
But if you enjoy a little kick without feeling like your mouth’s on fire, the spice level hits a nice balance.
As for texture, these are very Pringles-like in shape and crunch (yes, you can do the duck beak thing), but there’s one big difference: they’re noticeably thicker.
Thanks to the pea protein, they have a little more chew and tend to stick in your teeth a bit more than a regular potato chip would. The pea protein taste is barely noticeable, which makes the slight difference in texture a non-issue for me.
You do get a slight earthy aftertaste, but it doesn’t dominate the flavor, and if you’re not overly sensitive to that kind of thing, you might not even pick up on it.
Overall, I really enjoy the Power Crunch Protein Crisps. They’ve managed to create a protein chip that actually tastes like a chip, which is far from the standard when it comes to protein snacks.
The texture is crunchy, the flavor is bold, and the plant-based formula is surprisingly clean-tasting with minimal aftertaste.
That said, these aren’t going to dethrone Quest Chips or Legendary Foods in terms of protein content or taste. If dairy isn’t a concern for you, I’d still reach for Quest Chips first because they pack in more protein, fewer calories, and have unmatched flavor. But if you’re looking for a non-dairy option or just want to mix things up, these are worth trying.
The real issues here are the price and packaging. Since it’s a canister containing two servings, once it’s open, you’re very likely to consume both servings.
And if you do eat the whole can in one sitting, it’s a $4 snack. That’s steep for a handful of chips, no matter how good they are.
Don’t expect them to revolutionize the protein chip game, but give them a shot if you need a plant-based option. You can do far worse.
