Difference between revisions of "Comparison of Energy Gels"
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| − | Energy gels are a useful component of many endurance runner's training and racing. In marathon distance racing, energy gels can make an important difference - [[When to eat Energy Gels in the Marathon]] | + | Energy gels are a useful component of many endurance runner's training and racing. In marathon distance racing, energy gels can make an important difference - [[When to eat Energy Gels in the Marathon]]. |
| + | ==Special Thanks== | ||
| + | I'd like to thank Chris at the University [http://www.runforyourlife.com Run For Your Life] store for his help with this article. Chris has talked to many runners about their experiences with different Gels and his help was the inspiration for this article. Chris was even able to provide me with some samples of Honey Stinger that he does not normally stock. | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
| + | This table is ordered by ease of digestion. | ||
{| {{table}} | {| {{table}} | ||
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Name''' | | align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Name''' | ||
| Line 9: | Line 12: | ||
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Sodium''' | | align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Sodium''' | ||
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Potasium''' | | align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Potasium''' | ||
| + | | align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Caffeine''' | ||
| + | | align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Ease of digestion | ||
| + | (higher is better)''' | ||
| + | | align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Recommended for''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | | Hammer Gel||90||23g||2g||trace||20mg||0mg||0mg/25mg/50mg||5||Sensitive Stomachs |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | | Gu||100||25g||5g||0g||50mg||40mg||0mg/25mg/50mg||4||General Use |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Gu Roctane||100||25g||5g||1.7g||125mg||55mg | + | | Gu Roctane||100||25g||5g||1.7g||125mg||55mg||0mg/35mg||4||Rich Marathoners |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | Clif Shot (new formula)||100||24g||12g||0g||90mg||50mg | + | | Clif Shot (new formula)||100||24g||12g||0g||90mg||50mg||0mg/25mg/50mg/100mg||4||A Gu Alternative |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | PowerBar Gel||110||27g||10g||0g||200mg||20mg | + | | PowerBar Gel||110||27g||10g||0g||200mg||20mg||0mg/25mg/50mg||3||Those needing extra electrolytes |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | | + | | Accel Gel||100||20g||13g||5g||115mg||30mg||0mg/20mg||2||Improved Recovery and Ultradistances |
| + | |- | ||
| + | | Honey Stinger||120||29g||29g||0g||50mg||85mg||0mg||0||Not Recommended | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | ==Hammer Gel== | ||
| + | Hammer is noteworthy as one of the easiest to digest gels. It is nearly all Maltodextrin dissolved in a greater volume of fluid than other gels. The lack of sugars and electrolytes makes this far easier on the digestive system, and is recommended for runners who have issues with other types of gel. | ||
==Gu== | ==Gu== | ||
For marathon distance racing, I prefer Gu over all other gels I've tried. It contains only 5g of fructose, with the rest of the calories coming from the more easily digested Maltodextrin. I find that Gu can be consumed without any extra water as long as it is taken a bit at a time and [[How to eat a Gel|mixed with saliva]]. Some of the flavors can be a little strong, but the 'plain' Gu has a light cola flavor. | For marathon distance racing, I prefer Gu over all other gels I've tried. It contains only 5g of fructose, with the rest of the calories coming from the more easily digested Maltodextrin. I find that Gu can be consumed without any extra water as long as it is taken a bit at a time and [[How to eat a Gel|mixed with saliva]]. Some of the flavors can be a little strong, but the 'plain' Gu has a light cola flavor. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
==Gu Roctane== | ==Gu Roctane== | ||
| − | This is an expensive variant on Gu, and I've not noticed any difference when using it. The amount of amino acids that are added is quite small (1.7g) and the benefits do not seem to justify the cost. | + | This is an expensive variant on Gu, and I've not noticed any difference when using it. The amount of amino acids that are added is quite small (1.7g) and the benefits do not seem to justify the cost, which is roughly double the cost of standard Gu. On the other hand, if you are |
==Clif Shot (new formula)== | ==Clif Shot (new formula)== | ||
| − | + | The new formula Clif Shot uses Maltodextrin like other Gels and is remarkably similar to Gu though it has slightly more sugar making it a little more difficult to digest. The previous formula used brown rice syrup that I found harder to digest and left a bitter aftertaste – nasty stuff. | |
==PowerBar Gel== | ==PowerBar Gel== | ||
| − | This gel is noteworthy because of | + | This gel is noteworthy because of its higher sodium content that may help alleviate [[Hyponatremia]] and [[Cramps]]. I found the flavor stronger than Hammer, Gu or Cliff, but still quite pleasant. You may need to drink some water near the time you take PowerBar Gel due to the extra electrolytes. |
| − | == | + | ==Accel Gel== |
| − | + | I like the 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio of Accel Gel, and I often use it in ultramarthon races. There is more sugar than I would like at 13g and the thin consistency makes it harder to eat slowly and mix with saliva. | |
| + | ==Honey Stinger== | ||
| + | Honey contains only simple sugars rather than the Maltodextrin that other Gels use. This makes this gel much harder to digest than other Gels, and much sweater. This is the only Gel I've tried that has given me digestive problems when taken slowly. I also found the sweetness overpowering and unpleasant, though the honey aftertaste was quite pleasant. I would not recommend Honey Stinger Gels. | ||
Revision as of 17:12, 16 May 2011
Energy gels are a useful component of many endurance runner's training and racing. In marathon distance racing, energy gels can make an important difference - When to eat Energy Gels in the Marathon.
Contents
1 Special Thanks
I'd like to thank Chris at the University Run For Your Life store for his help with this article. Chris has talked to many runners about their experiences with different Gels and his help was the inspiration for this article. Chris was even able to provide me with some samples of Honey Stinger that he does not normally stock.
2 Overview
This table is ordered by ease of digestion.
| Name | Calories | Carbs | Sugar | Protein | Sodium | Potasium | Caffeine | Ease of digestion
(higher is better) |
Recommended for |
| Hammer Gel | 90 | 23g | 2g | trace | 20mg | 0mg | 0mg/25mg/50mg | 5 | Sensitive Stomachs |
| Gu | 100 | 25g | 5g | 0g | 50mg | 40mg | 0mg/25mg/50mg | 4 | General Use |
| Gu Roctane | 100 | 25g | 5g | 1.7g | 125mg | 55mg | 0mg/35mg | 4 | Rich Marathoners |
| Clif Shot (new formula) | 100 | 24g | 12g | 0g | 90mg | 50mg | 0mg/25mg/50mg/100mg | 4 | A Gu Alternative |
| PowerBar Gel | 110 | 27g | 10g | 0g | 200mg | 20mg | 0mg/25mg/50mg | 3 | Those needing extra electrolytes |
| Accel Gel | 100 | 20g | 13g | 5g | 115mg | 30mg | 0mg/20mg | 2 | Improved Recovery and Ultradistances |
| Honey Stinger | 120 | 29g | 29g | 0g | 50mg | 85mg | 0mg | 0 | Not Recommended |
3 Hammer Gel
Hammer is noteworthy as one of the easiest to digest gels. It is nearly all Maltodextrin dissolved in a greater volume of fluid than other gels. The lack of sugars and electrolytes makes this far easier on the digestive system, and is recommended for runners who have issues with other types of gel.
4 Gu
For marathon distance racing, I prefer Gu over all other gels I've tried. It contains only 5g of fructose, with the rest of the calories coming from the more easily digested Maltodextrin. I find that Gu can be consumed without any extra water as long as it is taken a bit at a time and mixed with saliva. Some of the flavors can be a little strong, but the 'plain' Gu has a light cola flavor.
5 Gu Roctane
This is an expensive variant on Gu, and I've not noticed any difference when using it. The amount of amino acids that are added is quite small (1.7g) and the benefits do not seem to justify the cost, which is roughly double the cost of standard Gu. On the other hand, if you are
6 Clif Shot (new formula)
The new formula Clif Shot uses Maltodextrin like other Gels and is remarkably similar to Gu though it has slightly more sugar making it a little more difficult to digest. The previous formula used brown rice syrup that I found harder to digest and left a bitter aftertaste – nasty stuff.
7 PowerBar Gel
This gel is noteworthy because of its higher sodium content that may help alleviate Hyponatremia and Cramps. I found the flavor stronger than Hammer, Gu or Cliff, but still quite pleasant. You may need to drink some water near the time you take PowerBar Gel due to the extra electrolytes.
8 Accel Gel
I like the 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio of Accel Gel, and I often use it in ultramarthon races. There is more sugar than I would like at 13g and the thin consistency makes it harder to eat slowly and mix with saliva.
9 Honey Stinger
Honey contains only simple sugars rather than the Maltodextrin that other Gels use. This makes this gel much harder to digest than other Gels, and much sweater. This is the only Gel I've tried that has given me digestive problems when taken slowly. I also found the sweetness overpowering and unpleasant, though the honey aftertaste was quite pleasant. I would not recommend Honey Stinger Gels.
