Precision Fuel & Hydration PF30 Gel
£29.99 for 15 gels, precisionhydration.com
Precision Fuel & Hydration’s PF30 gels pack a bigger-than-average 30g hit of carbohydrates into one of the smallest and most stashable gels going. In fact, at 51g per pouch, you won’t find many gels that offer a better energy-to-weight ratio and they’re brilliantly running belt friendly. I can easily fit a marathon’s worth in a Naked Running Band, for example. When it comes to taste, the flavour is deliberately neutral: so they’re sweet, but quite nondescript.
That’s a good thing for staving off the dreaded taste fatigue that can come when you need to eat a lot of gels during longer endurance efforts. However, if you’re a fan of fruity gels or those faux-dessert flavour gels, these might be a bit plain. The consistency is somewhat similar to Maurten Gel 100s (more on those next), with a thicker texture than most carbohydrate energy gels.
It’s almost what you’d get if Jelly Baby innards were super loose. But it’s light, easy to swallow and not too sticky in the mouth. It’s preferable to slug a bit of water after a gel, but I found I could eat these without. That’s not true of all gels. The carbs come in a 2:1 ratio of glucose to fructose. This dual-fuel formula aims to speed absorption for more efficient carbohydrate uptake and less risk of gastric upset. The energy boost is even, without the rush-and-crash that comes with some gels. The compact pouch has an easy open top that rips off easily with your teeth or your hands. That gel consistency means the contents don’t come gushing forth all over your hands, either.
There’s nothing worse than sticky hands when you’ve got four miles before the next opportunity to wash them off. It’s worth noting that Precision Fuel & Hydration also offers the same gel in a 90g resealable pouch that still fits in a running belt, but offers the added benefit of letting you top up your carbs in smaller, regular amounts. Great if you’re working on that stomach strength. There’s also a caffeine option. Taste: ★★★★★ Energy: ★★★★★ Portability: ★★★★★ OVERALL: ★★★★