Veloforte Energy Gels

£29.99 for 15, veloforte.com

If you can’t stomach gloopy gels, Veloforte’s all-natural ‘nectars’ offer a completely different take on energy gels. They use simple, natural ingredients and are designed to be easier to swallow, fresher on the palate and lighter on the gut. Each compact and portable 33g pouch packs a pretty standard 22g hit of carbs, along with added electrolytes to support hydration. You’d need three of these to hit that 60g carbs per hour recommended for most people. If you’re used to regular gels, the almost-liquid consistency can take a bit of getting used to. It’s more like a syrup than a gel.

It slips down more easily without water than thicker gels, but the runny, almost-cordial style of some flavours has a sweetness that leaves you wanting a drink to wash them down. The other benefit to having a syrup rather than a thicker gel is you can add this to water and make a carb drink – perfect if you want added energy in your drink bottle.

The all-natural flavours are interesting, too, with unique combinations such as beetroot and lemon, cherry and guarana, and blackcurrant and elderflower. In testing, some of these took a little getting used to, but they’re a welcome antidote to the chemical faux flavours of many gels. The date, lime and ginger is a favourite: sweet, but zingy and a little fresh.

The beetroot was a bit more challenging. When I needed to take more than three or four gels in a single session, I found the Veloforte Energy Gels worked best when used every second or third gel, as a change of pace from other flavours.

All Veloforte’s gels have added electrolytes to support your hydration, and there are two caffeine options with 75mg of slow-acting caffeine from guarana for an extra mental energy boost. Taste: ★★★★★ Energy: ★★★★★ Portability: ★★★★★ OVERALL: ★★★★★