Running Gels

[Junibug]

Hi, can anyone recommend some decent running gels? I bought some bog standard ones from Sports Direct and they are grim! I know they're not the nicest things to ingest but was hoping someone may have found a brand that's actually relatively palatable :) Thanks all x

It really is trial and error I'm afraid. I can stomach SIS ones the best but others get on with Hi-5.

SIS are quite thick and gloopy whereas Hi-5 are watery. Try both on a long run in training (separate runs obviously) and see what you can stomach. And never, ever, try anything new on race day!

as a PP, it’s all trial and error and personal preference. I’d all about given up on gels until a friend recommend Kendal - of Kendal Mint Cake fame. I got the ‘welcome pack’ which is a bunch of different products and got on really well with them and are now all I use.

https://www.kendalmint.co.uk/products/kmc-welcome-pack

I like the SIS beta ones but they are expensive. Otherwise the high5 ones are fine for texture but the taste...the caffeine ones are bitter and the orange ones to me taste like cinnamon.

I don't run but I take gels on long bike rides. I find Hi 5 suit me best and I prefer the citrus flavoured ones but it's really a matter of trial and error unfortunately.

Trial and error. The SIS ones give me 💩

I second these, really gentle on the stomach. I use the non caffeine ones (lemon/mint and raspberry/mint are my go tos). I tend to buy the refill and use the soft flask day to day, but the individual ones are handy for races.

Haha! I thought you were using ‘gels’ as an ultra posh ‘girls’ (not being a running gel myself, I didn’t know what they were!)

I use torq gels and as PP have said I've experimented with different brands and different flavours pre- race day. Torq black cherry yoghurt are my favourite although I got a deal on the cherry Bakewell flavour so have quite a lot of those to get through!

The torq ones sound really nice. Another option is Spring which are not really gels as they are rice based so a bit more like baby food but they do the job and I find them more palatable.

Protein rebel Maple syrup gels- literally just maple syrup and salt.

I did try just putting maple syrup in a small squeeze flask but it went all frothy and weird.

I have done the Torq ones too and they aren't too offensive.

I think the Hi5 gels, in particular the raspberry ones are the best. They're easier to get down because they're more like a drink. The cola flavour caffeine SIS is basically the only one of that brand I can stomach, but I do actually like it. I think because 'cola' is already such an artificial taste it feels more familiar than some of the others. Maurten gels are expensive but have a much milder taste, (kind of like icing sugar in my opinion) so that might be a good option for something different. Torq do some interesting flavours.

I think the bottom line is that it's incredibly individual and you really need to buy a random selection to discover which ones you personally find the least grim. And then because variety makes them easier to stomach, rotate a few of the least gross whenever you do a long run/race.

Torq, Maurten, SIS beta (i don't like other SIS), Hi5

I prefer less "flavoured" ones as they all taste grim after a few hours so I prefer the neutral torq or maurten. SIS beta if I need a real kick, they're like rocket fuel.

Maurten for race practice and long runs as they are pricey.
Kendal Mint
Huma - I really like the mango one, but that is out of stock at the moment.

You need to experiment though, and I find that during the race, I prefer to mix it up and not have the same one every time I have a gel.

I get all mine from X Miles.

https://xmiles.co.uk/collections/nutrition/type_gel?

Maurten for sure. Used them a few weeks ago for the first time and they haven't given me any issues. The texture is a bit firmer though and people often have issues because you have to kind of chew. It's also expensive. Heard Precision and OTE are really good too - but more watery compared to Maurten. Depends on what you prefer!

The Precision ones are great, and their chews are even better.

I'm struggling with the caffeine ones, giving me cramps. Is it worth persevering to find one that works, do they make that much of a difference? Training for a marathon.

If caffeine is giving you problems, then just ditch them.

Some people like to take it to give them a speed boost, but I can't say that it's made much of a difference to me.

Gu or torq for me!! I never got in with caffeine ones so just ditched them!!

good luck with the marathon training!!

@xsquared and @JollyHostess101 thank you 🙌