ENERGY GELS
When you’re struggling halfway through a run or ride, there are now a wide variety of gels – beyond the high-fat, high-sugar chocolate bars of old – for providing an instant hit of energy, getting your levels back up in an instant. The majority contain added electrolytes, too, to aid hydration and focus.
Protein Rebel Maple Ignite Energy Gel £17.01 (9 gels), proteinrebel.com
Just wow! I tried this gel (if you can really call it that, as it’s just two ingredients – maple syrup and salt) on a cold and wet trail run in November. As soon as the sweet, salty syrup hit my tongue it bounced off my taste buds. I was instantly energised and the weather suddenly felt like less of an issue.
WHY WE LIKE IT
• Great flavour – nice amount of salt to enhance the maple
• More runny texture than most gels makes it easier to consume
• Just two ingredients – no thickeners or sweeteners
WHAT YOU GET
• 24g carbs
• Naturally-occurring electrolytes (110mg sodium, 90mg potassium and 27mg calcium)
• 100% natural ingredients
Precision Fuel & Hydration PF90 Gel £14.99 (3 gels), precisionhydration.com
These are perfect for anyone doing ultra-endurance activities with high carbohydrate demands. Sports nutrition literature suggests if you’re exercising for three or more hours and you want to push hard, you should be aiming for 60-90g carbs per hour – that’s a lot! The larger serving in these gels makes hitting your carbohydrate requirements a breeze, but my advice would be to slowly increase your intake to train your gut to tolerate those very high numbers.
WHY WE LIKE IT
• Easy to gulp down, even when you’re a bit dehydrated
• Neutral flavour that’s perfect when you’re tired and facing ‘flavour fatigue’
• Perfect if you've been on the move for three hours or more
WHAT YOU GET
• 90g carbs per pouch (each pouch contains three servings)
• No artificial ingredients
• Neutral taste