Maurten Gel 100

£32.95 for 12, maurten.co

Maurten hit the headlines when superhuman runner, Eliud Kipchoge, used its carbohydrate drinks mix en route to smashing all kinds of marathon records. However, because us regular athletes don’t get Kipchoge’s mid-race bottle service, Maurten made a gel, too. The Gel 100 gels use the same delivery ‘technology’ to get energy into the system fast without tummy troubles. But while the 160 and 320 mix carbohydrate drinks turn to gel in the stomach, the hydro gel in these compact, lightweight and easy-to-handle packs is already formed. The soft jelly texture is surprisingly pleasant. Like Precision Fuel & Hydration’s PF30 gel, it has a completely neutral taste, to help avoid taste overload.

The packs are nicely stashable and relatively easy to open on the move. The carb jelly slips down easily, without leaving too much of an unpleasant residue – or aftertaste – in the mouth. So you can take these without water, but they are better followed by a few gulps. The energy comes from a blend of fructose and glucose (with a ratio of 0.8:1). The result is a pretty smooth power-up that’s largely crash-free.

The regular Gel 100 packs 25g carbs per 40g gel. But if you want a bigger hit of carbs in the same single-serve sachet, Maurten Gel 160 now offers 40g carbohydrate in each larger 65g gel. That’s not quite as portable, but then you need to carry fewer gels to hit your hourly energy needs.

The downside: once you’ve opened the 65g gel, you’ve got to get it all down. There’s no resealable option and the packs won’t hold gel once they’re open. I’ve used Maurten Gel 100 a lot in recent years and I’ve found the packs aren’t quite as robust as some. On occasion, if I’ve been a bit careless about where I put them in my bag or suitcase, I’ve found the packets can split. Taste: ★★★★★ Energy: ★★★★★ Portability: ★★★★★ OVERALL: ★★★★