In 1999 I backpacked 400 miles of the Appalachian Trail. My food consumption included Mountain House turkey tetracinni, a Bear Bar, and 5 Zone bars/day.
Amazingly, the ratios were almost perfect. I was never hungry. Others were famished, craving pizza most of all.

Those bars were important. They were not coated. No, they were not delicious, but they did what they were intended to do. At that time there were two "flavors" available. Still, I was quite satisfied.

Now I am again planning a thru-hike. I see coated ZonePerfect bars. Coated will not do in that they, like other candies, will melt in the heat. Do the bars on this site have coating? How do they compare to the bars in '98 and '99?

The "Zone Perfect" bars in stores are not the same as the "Zone" bars available from Dr. Sears, and only available on his website - which are excellent. (Apple Cinnamon is on sale right now at half-price (before shipping)). Dr Sears split from Zone Perfect, and the bars you had then might have been the those when Dr. Sears was still with that Co. - before he left and went on his own because of philosophical differences.