'No one wants to try a new gel for the first time in the middle of a marathon and learn that it makes them sick'
A handful of gels we tested. Photo: Karen Iorio Adelson If you’re training for a half or full marathon this fall, your long runs are now likely getting even longer, and you might be looking for sustenance — like those gooey energy gels you’ve seen other long-distance runners slurp down — to get you to the finish line.
The general rule of gel consumption is to have one 15 minutes before exercising and then one after every 30 to 45 minutes of your workout or race. They’re best consumed with water, which helps them go down a little easier. Of course, this is all subject to personal preference. Some people will only use gels on runs longer than ten miles, for example, and many replace the pre-workout gel with a snack like a banana.
$30 for 24 Buy at Amazon Buy $2 Buy at REI Buy TODO: uncomment this when Narrativ is able to add appropriate styling GU Energy Gel Chocolate Outrage While this chocolate Gu flavor also contains caffeine, sodium, and amino acids, it has less of all three than the Roctane version and would be fine for shorter or less intense workouts. It also tastes rich and chocolatey, and isn’t overly sweet, even without the sea salt.
$3 Buy at REI Buy Muir Energy Gel Cashew Vanilla For an all-natural, organic gel, Muir’s Cashew Vanilla packs a big punch. With 90 milligrams of caffeine and 145 calories, it’ll get you through a long workout and would be perfect to pack for a marathon. Like chocolate, vanilla is a popular gel flavor, and although lots of brands have their own spin on it, this was the tastiest of the bunch.
$2 Buy at REI Buy Hammer Nutrition Energy Gel Montana Huckleberry I’ve never eaten a real huckleberry, but based on this smooth, tasty gel, I think I’d like it. The internet says they’re closely related to blueberries, which makes sense as this gel tastes a little like blueberry-pie filling. Other fruity gels veer toward the artificial side and taste like Jolly Rancher versions of actual fruits, but this one isn’t fake tasting at all .
$23 for 24 Buy at Amazon Buy Clif Shot Energy Gel Strawberry Made with organic strawberry concentrate, this gel has a bold, fruit-forward, and sweet flavor that’ll definitely appeal to strawberry lovers. Paired with a sip of water, it actually tastes pretty refreshing when you’re miles into a run. With 25 milligrams of caffeine from green tea and 95 milligrams of sodium from sea salt, it’s a good pick if you want to avoid artificial flavors but still get an effective gel.
$27 for 24 Buy at Amazon Buy $2 Buy at REI Buy TODO: uncomment this when Narrativ is able to add appropriate styling Honey Stinger Organic Energy Gel Mango Orange In my testing notes I described this gel as “surprisingly good.” That’s probably because I’ve never personally been into citrusy gels; I always thought they’d be a little too acidic to enjoy while running.
$30 for 24 Buy at Amazon Buy GU Energy Gel Salted Watermelon While lots of gels have salt in their formulas for electrolyte delivery, only a few make it a prominent part of their flavor profiles. In the past few years, though, Gu has introduced some salty flavors like this very summery watermelon one. It tastes a little bit like a watermelon-flavored candy, but in a way that’s still appetizing.
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