MAURTEN GEL 100

£2.90 Do these ground-breaking hydrogels warrant a purchase?

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge consumed Swedish company Maurten’s drinks en-route to his staggering 2:00:25 time during Nike’s Breaking2 project in 2017. The world of elite and amateur athletes alike took notice, specifically of the company’s USP: its hydrogel delivery.

The theory goes that sodium alginate forms a hydrogel when exposed to acidic conditions. This means that when the glucose and fructose mix enters the stomach, the alginate forms a jelly-like structure around the carbs, which protects it and accelerates gastric emptying. In turn, absorption of carbs across the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream is enhanced. The result is reduced gastro distress and the potential to consume more carbs per hour than you’re used to.

Unlike their drinks, which includes sachets containing up to 80g of carbs, the Gel 100’s limited to 100cals (or 25g carbs), but we managed to consume three in an hour with no stomach issues.

The texture sits between a conventional energy gel and Secret Training’s more solid Juice Bar. It’s unusual but you soon acclimatise to the difference, and there’s something comforting about swilling the contents around the mouth to break it down before swallowing. Taste is neutral and pleasant, which is down to the appreciated lack of flavourings; in fact, each gel features just six ingredients. It’s a shame that such a minimal ingredients list comes at such a high price, but presumably that’s the cost of innovation. JW maurten.com