10/19/2026
🙌 5/5. Keep it real
ICE FISHING SNACK SHOWDOWN🎣 — BEEF JERKY (ORIGINAL/HICKORY FLAVOURS)
This week we're putting beef jerky to the test. Four different brands, four different styles, and some pretty big differences in price.
I'm looking at taste, texture, availability, value and overall snack factor. Here's how they stacked up 👇
🥇 LOCAL JERKY PLUS — 5/5 ⭐️
This one checked a lot of boxes for me. It's a muscle-cut jerky with a great flavour profile, and you can definitely pick up the hickory taste. Nice and smoky without being overpowering.
It's muscle jerky, so you've got that more natural meat texture, but it's not overly dry and still has a nice chew to it.
It's also locally made right here in Sudbury and is pretty easy to find at a lot of local convenience stores.
The price is higher than the other products here, at $23.32/100g. Considering the quality, availability and supporting a small local business, the higher price is definitely worth it in my opinion.
🥈 GREAT CANADIAN MEAT — 4.5/5 ⭐️
This is another great choice that's also made in Ontario. The flavour was leaning more towards sweet and smoky. You get hints of soy, brown sugar and smoke without any one flavour taking over.
It's got a medium firmness. Not overly hard to chew, but definitely more substantial than a ground jerky.
It's also widely available and reasonably priced at $11.75/100g. That's actually the best value of the five.
Great flavour, good texture, easy to find and good value. Hard to argue with this one.
🥉 JACK LINK'S BEEF STRIP — 3.9/5 ⭐️
Jack Link's Beef Strip is probably the most familiar option on the list.
This one has that typical ground beef jerky flavour, with a bit of pepper and some hickory in the background.
It's easy to chew and has that slightly processed texture you'd expect from a beef strip, but I didn't find it unpleasant.
The big advantage here is convenience. You can find it pretty much everywhere, and at $2.99 for 25g, it's an easy, affordable snack to throw in the sled or tackle box.
Interestingly, it works out to about $11.96/100g, putting it almost neck and neck with Great Canadian Meat for value.
The bag is much cheaper, but when you compare the actual price per gram, there's barely any difference.
4️⃣ MCSWEENEY'S — 3.7/5 ⭐️
A little different from the others because this is a sugar-free jerky, which is a nice option for anyone looking to avoid added sugar or who has dietary sensitivities.
The flavour is pretty good, with mild smokiness and hints of garlic and pepper.
The texture is a little softer than the other muscle-cut jerkies, and a bit crumbly, which makes it easier to chew and get through a piece a little quicker.
It's available at some convenience stores and comes in at $14.27/100g.
Not my favourite of the bunch, but definitely a solid option, especially if you're looking for a sugar-free jerky.
🏆 FINAL RANKING
🥇 Local Jerky Plus — 5/5
🥈 Great Canadian Meat — 4.5/5
🥉 Jack Link's Beef Strip — 3.9/5
4️⃣ McSweeney's — 3.7/5
For an ice fishing snack, I'm looking for something that tastes great, isn't a pain to chew, is convenient and is easy to throw in the sled.
Local Jerky Plus takes the win this week! 🏆
What beef jerky should I try next? 👇
