ENERGY GELS
A quartet of sugar sachets that are supported by science. But how do they taste? Do they flow nicely? And how about value? James Witts gets squeezing
APTONIA ENERGY GEL
£3.99 for four The first incarnation of this gel was face-achingly sweet, but, thankfully, the Decathlon-distributed brand has since dropped the butter and toned down the viscosity and sweetness to create a delicious burst of energy. That burst is 23g of carbs (derived from a mix of glucose, fructose and maltodextrin) per 32g gel, which is impressive as, unlike its rivals here, it leaves little volume for water. Despite that, it’s effortlessly consumed, but you might want to complement it with other gels the longer you train to avoid flavour fatigue, and, as always, test before racing. It’s also loaded with vitamins B1, B6, B12, E and zinc, stated as 30% RDA for each, and is a fine price (£2 per hour). Top stuff. decathlon.co.uk
HIGH5 ENERGY GEL
£21.99 for 14 High5 is known for stirring up credible products at good prices. These work out at around £1.57 each, which isn’t bad, but they’re also around 40p more expensive than a standard High5 gel. So why the price hike? Firstly, is the addition of isomaltulose, which has a lower GI than glucose and is digested more slowly. This stream of sugar avoids blood spikes so you can sustain a higher effort for longer. Without access to a lab that’s hard to assess, but we didn’t experience any stomach problems (23g per 62g sachet leaves plenty of room for water) or bonking. The gel has also been enhanced with 70 ocean minerals for electrolyte top-up, albeit trace amounts. Still, it’s a credible addition. highfive.co.uk
OTE LEMON AND LIME
£1.60 The viscosity of this lemon and lime gel’s similar to High5, so flows smoothly. It’s also rather tasty thanks to the fruitjuice concentrate, but thanks to the alchemy of food science, that concentrate features lemon and apple rather than lime. Each 56g sachet comprises 20.5g of carbs via fructose and maltodextrin. That’s the lowest on test, which raises the palatability stakes but lowers value for money as, if you’re aiming for a pretty standard 60g carbs per hour, you’ll need three of these (or £4.80). Ease of use is OTE’s byword with two opening options – tear to sip or tear to gulp. Because of its fluid-like status, we always tend to gulp. That’s a personal thing, but worth noting. otesports.co.uk
SIS ISOTONIC
£45.00 for 30 SiS’s product range has grown beyond recognition, but it’s the long-standing Go Gel that continues to eclipse it. Like times gone by, the Go Gel delivers 22g of carbs per 60ml serving from maltodextrin with water filling out the remainder. As High5 and OTE’s offerings showed, this easy-flowing composition’s standard these days. But ‘more experienced’ triathletes will remember gels of the past resembling toothpaste. If you had no water chaser, your gums would cling together. SiS’s isotonic option changed all that. As for taste, blackcurrant’s tasty and much nicer than the fruit-salad alternative that we’ve tested before. Value’s good, though you’ll need three per hour (£4.50). scienceinsport.com