'Poopspiration' should have been a rating factor for these gels, though you probably can't work that out in one sitting. maybe currency per hour (how many needed x cost) could be a good metric?
As for the opening - I love the gels that have the packaging created in a way that when you open it the bit you tore off stays with the pack, less pieces to worry about throwing away later.
@@ob-1990 But they only have 22 grams of carbohydrates. I have to eat two gels to get the same carbs that other brands offer in one gel. So in the end it is not cheaper.
Precision Fuels PF30 is expensive (approx £2.40 each) but have decent 30g carbs, and the tag to help keep the top with the pack. Taste is "inoffensive"/refreshing citrus. Also packs are quite a lot smaller than the Styrkr
Noooo... for opening test to be 10/10, it requires you not to drop the end you bite. We don't want to throw garbage on public roads. So Styrkr gel is good.
The Maurten gels are my favorite. I love the neutral flavour, tho I don’t find it overly sweet. It’s almost like a goop marshmallow. It does not leave a weird aftertaste like many other gels. I appreciate how they are designed to be consumed without the need for water afterwards. That’s useful on long 8hr rides. They are expensive.
Echo that. I know this is personal, but I can ride a century on Maurten gels and bars without the gut rot or nausea that other tested products sometimes give me. I don't love the texture, but I think of them like a softer Cliff cube. Wine guns and Haribo are always stashed in a pocket for long rides too. 🎉
having struggled with long endurance rides my whole life due to my guts and having tried basically every gel on the market in addition to various different kinds of food and homemade cakes, flapjacks and stuff, the Maurten gel immediately solved it for me. It was like night and day, honestly. going from five hours of riding and then horrific gut cramps and needing to stop, to breezily just riding as long as i want, double or triple the time - regardless of any review it's all i will buy these days. In fact, it's all i can buy, if i want to continue to do long rides. Nothing else works for me
Agreed with Maurten gels. I also like how they are designed to be consumed without needing water afterwards. Really useful on super long (8+ hr rides). They might be expensive, but the great texture, good taste, and lack of needing water really sells it for me
@@flattrack33 I agree as well. They didn't like the texture, but it's a game changer on the bike. Easy to squeeze it all out and doesn't drip and get your entire universe sticky.
Best (and cheapest)) gel = table sugar + sodium citrate for electrolytes. I also add some mct powder to give it a slight "coconut" taste and off to the races.
100%. Nobody should be using these stupid gels/drinks mixes unless given them for free. £10 p/h if you’re a strong/heavy rider going fast or far is ridiculous, especially considering the packaging waste.
Haribo deserves more in openage because you can open it before the race and not have to rummage. I stick mine in my back pocket or top tube bag, and it's so easy. Glad the haribo/sweetie general did well though. Jam sammiches and sweeties for life!
Being a type 1 diabetic, I need to carry a source of fast acting carbs, so Mentos fruit do the job quite nicely, and are individually wrapped so don't stick together in pocket.
Note it's an advantage if the top doesn't tear off completely, those little bits are hard to control and the chances of dropping them (littering) is high. I actually squeeze a few gels into a mini squeeze bottle, Isopak make one with a twist-sealable lid - no sticky mess in your pocket and big enough for easy handling. It does take two hands to twist open though - or just destroy the lid by twisting with your teeth.
Great video! Just wanted to mention that our gel meets all of Will's recommendations: 1:0.8 ratio, 45g CHO, and an optimized Electrolyte Mix. If you plan on doing a second part, we'd be happy to send you some gels to test!
It is crazy just how subjective the taste is for these. I actually prefer the Maurten gels because they are not like an overly sweet syrup. And I much prefer their gelatin texture as it doesn't leak and run everywhere if you tear the package. That said, the price is obscene for all of these products. I routinely use Trolli brand SourBrite Crawlers as training and race fuel.
Kendal Mint Gels should be on this list. Not huge amounts of carb but the mint flavour really does help not just to cleanse your palette but a bit of a mental boost too I find
Kendal Mint gels are garbage, they use artificial sweeteners in them, taste ok but full of Sucralose, no sports gels should contain artificial sweeteners, SIS also use Acesulfame K and should be avoided. Torq have the best and most natural ingredients.
Surprised there wasn't a Precision gel in the mix! I enjoy their original "neutral" flavour, and the opening is the best I've tried! No idea how well they're doing on the science, though... I agree with the Torq flavours being some of the best, on some long rides I make sure to have a couple of their lemon drizzle to have as "pudding". 😛
Interesting video! Powerbar Hydrogel (Cherry) with caffeine is my favourite. Used them in a 100 miler road race. Had no issues consuming after 5 hours.
I support the other comments about littering, the top not detaching is an advantage, but you do need to be able to get the gel out after. Great video, my go to is percy pigs, high5 for cheap gels, and salt stick tablets for electrolytes. I jave used some weird guava blocks wrapped in a leaf but cant remember the name!
This was hilarious and useful! I watched the whole thing at regular speed. For your next video: Stinger (honey,) Hydrate (Cane Sugar, not sugar free, Raspberry Lemonade has caffeine,) Maple Syrup packets, Honey, Maple "leaf" Candy, Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies, Nature Valley Granola bars (popular,) PayDay peanut bar, Pistachios, and my favorite on a ride: Nature's Bakery Fig Bars. My wife likes Gatorade Gummies. I used to use Powerbar Powergels too.
I still remember when I ate my first Maurten gel. I was exhausted and it tasted like a very sweet candy. So good! Also the texture was lovely. Very palatable, Nowadays I have a pack of vegan candies from Lidl. I have an opened bag in my pocket. Less expensive and super easy to eat. No point of going back to gels anymore unless there is a race etc. I highly recommend using soft candies.
Agreed, it's crazy to spend this much on naff tasting high waste carbs when you can get most of the benefits from a packet of gelatine free sweets and some electolytes in the bottles.
For long events I use a silicone flask where i can fit usually 3 gels. This way I can consume what i need without the faf of having to open the sachets, eating them all and properly disposing it after. SiS and GU are my favorites.
I rate the torq gels highly, lots of flavours and easy on stomach. I stay away from SIS.. always need a $hite after. I’d buy a cade media gel btw. Make em!
I'm by no means a racer or performance athlete but I go on decent rides multiple times a week. Usually I just take some candy with me in a little reusable bag. I prefer black licorice but they can get really sticky in hot weather so sometimes I opt for some sugar coated fruity stuff instead. Dried fruit is also nice every now and then, (de-pitted) dates, apricots, prunes, figs and just a regular banana. I then add some lime juice, salt and sugar or honey to my water bottles. It's cheaper (especially cause you can buy most of these in bulk), a lot less wasteful and it doesn't ruin my digestive system.
So funny how some people in the comments love Maurten - personally they are the devil's goo for me. I cannot stand the consistency or taste at ALL and much prefer the easy to consume SIS. Interesting video and comparison!
For an all day gravel ride, a big old bag of Aldi snakes in the lunchbox, half a kilo aud $2.29. 10.9 grams of carb per snake, 8 snakes an hour. Bargain. Plus they taste just fine and have a little sodium as well.
Didn’t Will just sort of describe what Torq do. They use a unit system with 1 unit being 30g carbs. So a gel is 1 unit, a bar is 1 unit, 500ml mixed drink powder is 1 unit etc etc.
precisely, and they also have (some) electrolytes. Im more a runner than a cyclist but I find the torq range very useful for runs, especially when im attempting to carry like 9 gels over a marathon... the last thing i want is to also carry sodium tablets and other stuff.
Surprised that the Decathlon gels were not included! :) I found the Decathlon brand ones were quite good - not too sickly (re: High5) or dull (SIS). Also, they are small and easier to open and they have a small extra piece on the packet that stops the end falling off into your mouth (and then your spit it out) or making litter.
From a cost/carry quantity, can't beat a carb drink if you don't need a 2nd bottle with water. The mixture can be adjusted as well, based on your needs, as opposed to gels. Maybe worth investing in a BIG water bottle and keep the 2nd bottle for carb mix.
Ive used the SIS Beta Gels with great success, i also opt for the one with additional 200mg of Caffiene for closer to the end of races for that additional kick.
@@izi941 Yep, but on amazon S&S i can buy High5 energy powder, 2 scoops = 46g of carbs at 1:1.5 mixture ration AND comes with electrolytes for $13.. its 2.2kg of powder.. i tried making my own matlo+fructose 1:1 but it actually comes more expensive and not worth it, and Sugar, well sugar is just fine but sicknening after 3 hrs.. i usually use 900ml bottles (x2) for 3hrs + and 500ml pouch in the back, can easily get 120g in each bottle and take an extra few gels and or a bar.. does fine. If i raced, i still wouldnt spent that much on these.. all the people who use / advertise them get them for free from the company and are influencers, cannot see many people paying and using most of these things themselves.
Despite using SiS for like 10 years I started using maurten last year and it is so much kinder on my stomach. Interestingly ineos have made the same switch this year.
It’s a real shame you missed Precision Hydration from this test, it’s the best gel I’ve found and they do a 90g version with a screw top which is great for 3hr rides, as you can tune your carb intake in conjunction with your bottles.
Does anyone only use gels? Surely for longer rides you're better to run two bottles, one with carbs, the other with electrolytes. Then top up with bars and gels if needed. Or run a dual carb/electrolyte mix such as Precision Hydration Carb & Electrolyte Drink Mix. Then you're also taking on fluids. With a can of full fat Coke for the last 10km...
While getting dragged around home bargains I noticed scifit isotonic gels, so I grabbed a few of each to try, blue raspberry and wild berry, 23g of carbs in each
Maximuscle used to make one called Viper and it was amazing gave a good kick or energy without caffeine. They then changed the formula to be athletic compliance and it was never the same. I’d love to know what was in it
SiS isotonic is a rippoff - they just sell you a lot of water. I calculated that for Mallorca 312, I'd need to spend €1000 to fuel my ride. €7-8 for a kilo of maltodextrin and fructose mix, plus a pinch of citric acid and salt. It works out at €0.32 per 40g carbs
Good to know my cheap caffeine gels don’t taste awful because they are cheap. Top tip, get a litre bottle to fill with coke ed bull - the big size lets you shake out the fizz without it exploding
SIS Isotonic FTW for me as the flavor is very light. I can't stand gels that taste like I just licked the frosting off a wedding cake. As for any kind of gummies, like Haribos, I avoid them like the plague as they stick to one's teeth which can be a dental issue.
I use to grab a handful on KFC imitation honey sauce every time I ate there. The price was free. I'm guessing it was straight high fructose, so good enough at the price. PS for bikepacking I mix honey & peanut butter 1/2 & 1/2 in a PB jar that fits in a water bottle cage. Just stick ur finger in for glob, then lick it off ur finger.
Should have tried Sponser ones. At least the packaging is very unique and I think 10/10 for opening. What I find good is that you can even close it (tooth paste like system)
I once nearly threw up in a race when I took a maurten gel without trying it before and got that chewy texture in my mouth instead of the expected honey-like usual gel consistency.
Does the UK have a very particular gel market? Not many of these are common/available in Germany and also there were a few big players from the world tour missing.
Last year i came across a drink mix called Formula 369. Im interested to hear what you would think if this. Especially since it is a carb drink mix and while it is unflavored, it is very sweet. But i did find that i didnt have to have gels while on my rides.
I love the texture and simple taste of the Maurten gels, but I'd rather have a nice latte for my $5. I personally mostly run carbs in my bottle or the DIY sugar flask (Check out Jesse Coyle for recipe), supplemented by fig cookies and Haribo for my long rides. I like how you judged these! I don't think I've seen any of the Cade folks try the sugar-flask/diy-mega-gel, I'd be interested to see what you think. (Try making it with cranberry juice, it cuts the sweetness nicely!)
Good Idea to find the best gels, even if its not fully scientific. You should do a series out of it and test more gels. Try MNSTRY Mango gel, its gonna be the first 10/10! Im shure they send you a sample ;)
Hi guys. great vid. love the channel as always. Completely unrelated to nutrition... but... I feel like you've probably tested more Ali Express groupsets than most people... do you have a favourite brand? I'm doing a budget build hill climb bike based on an old Orbea Onix found on Marletplace. cheers. James.
Rode the length of Thailand: 0 gels
Day in studio (no riding): all the gels 💩
🤣
'Poopspiration' should have been a rating factor for these gels, though you probably can't work that out in one sitting. maybe currency per hour (how many needed x cost) could be a good metric?
As for the opening - I love the gels that have the packaging created in a way that when you open it the bit you tore off stays with the pack, less pieces to worry about throwing away later.
Decathlons own do that, and they’re so good. Cheap and pretty good for average rides.
@@ob-1990 But they only have 22 grams of carbohydrates. I have to eat two gels to get the same carbs that other brands offer in one gel. So in the end it is not cheaper.
Precision Fuels PF30 is expensive (approx £2.40 each) but have decent 30g carbs, and the tag to help keep the top with the pack. Taste is "inoffensive"/refreshing citrus. Also packs are quite a lot smaller than the Styrkr
@@Maxibsayeah I wouldn’t suggest them for pros / racers. But if you’re an average maybe.
Sponser has a “tooth paste” like packaging..meaning you can even take a sip and close it.
I really hope they’ll test their products too
Noooo... for opening test to be 10/10, it requires you not to drop the end you bite. We don't want to throw garbage on public roads. So Styrkr gel is good.
Agreed, I don’t see the point of going cycling if you just trash the nature around yourself. 😢
True that
Especially with winter gloves. 6D gels are good for this too.
Gels from Sponser are I think only to get 10/10 for opening…you can even close them, taking small sips more often instead of a big one in 1 go
@ small sips? It's not some fancy wine eh.
in my opinion the best gel by far is whichever is on sale that particular day
The Maurten gels are my favorite. I love the neutral flavour, tho I don’t find it overly sweet. It’s almost like a goop marshmallow. It does not leave a weird aftertaste like many other gels.
I appreciate how they are designed to be consumed without the need for water afterwards. That’s useful on long 8hr rides.
They are expensive.
Also the Maurten are the best for running since it doesn't get goop everywhere. Much easier to eat while running. But I never use them for cycling...
Echo that. I know this is personal, but I can ride a century on Maurten gels and bars without the gut rot or nausea that other tested products sometimes give me. I don't love the texture, but I think of them like a softer Cliff cube.
Wine guns and Haribo are always stashed in a pocket for long rides too. 🎉
having struggled with long endurance rides my whole life due to my guts and having tried basically every gel on the market in addition to various different kinds of food and homemade cakes, flapjacks and stuff, the Maurten gel immediately solved it for me. It was like night and day, honestly. going from five hours of riding and then horrific gut cramps and needing to stop, to breezily just riding as long as i want, double or triple the time - regardless of any review it's all i will buy these days. In fact, it's all i can buy, if i want to continue to do long rides. Nothing else works for me
Agreed with Maurten gels. I also like how they are designed to be consumed without needing water afterwards. Really useful on super long (8+ hr rides).
They might be expensive, but the great texture, good taste, and lack of needing water really sells it for me
+1 for Maurten Gels. Specifically around helping the gut.
@@flattrack33 I agree as well. They didn't like the texture, but it's a game changer on the bike. Easy to squeeze it all out and doesn't drip and get your entire universe sticky.
Agree. Once you get used to the texture they are great.
Best (and cheapest)) gel = table sugar + sodium citrate for electrolytes. I also add some mct powder to give it a slight "coconut" taste and off to the races.
I use sugar + sodium citrate as a drink mix. But as a gel???
@@andrewmcalister3462 Since I heat it and then put it into a flask after cooling, it's a "gel" for me. Does that paint a better picture for you?
@@LouieBaLLz What ratio of water to sugar do you use to get gel consistency?
100%. Nobody should be using these stupid gels/drinks mixes unless given them for free. £10 p/h if you’re a strong/heavy rider going fast or far is ridiculous, especially considering the packaging waste.
@@andrewmcalister3462 Can't really give a ratio because I just eyeball it depending on how much sugar I'm using for the ride length and intensity.
I have been waiting for this video a long time. Love it, especially the Haribo 👏👏👏
Haribo deserves more in openage because you can open it before the race and not have to rummage. I stick mine in my back pocket or top tube bag, and it's so easy. Glad the haribo/sweetie general did well though. Jam sammiches and sweeties for life!
I never tasted a gel I liked, I just use Haribos
Great minds think alike good sir!
big fan of Haribo as well but for racing I really like the MNSTRY Gels with Mango flavor they just taste like those freezer Ice sticks
Same, and I can tolerate a lot more Haribo as gels
Just stay away from the sugar-free ones 💩💩💩
@ wait there are sugar free Haribos 😱 that should be illegal
Precision Fuel & Hydration by far the best 💪
Being a type 1 diabetic, I need to carry a source of fast acting carbs, so Mentos fruit do the job quite nicely, and are individually wrapped so don't stick together in pocket.
@@derekhobbs1102 just carry jelly babies or haribos. 5 jelly babies it 22g of carbs. Will sort you out very fast
Note it's an advantage if the top doesn't tear off completely, those little bits are hard to control and the chances of dropping them (littering) is high. I actually squeeze a few gels into a mini squeeze bottle, Isopak make one with a twist-sealable lid - no sticky mess in your pocket and big enough for easy handling. It does take two hands to twist open though - or just destroy the lid by twisting with your teeth.
So good to have Will back!!!
No Decathlon gels? The best packet, and the cheapest price, both by far.
This video made my day. Best duo so far.
Great video! Just wanted to mention that our gel meets all of Will's recommendations: 1:0.8 ratio, 45g CHO, and an optimized Electrolyte Mix. If you plan on doing a second part, we'd be happy to send you some gels to test!
no Precision fuel hydration?
Sounds like Will needs to make his own gel! Maybe a DIY gel video
He has
I was just peacefully watching cat videos and somehow I’m watching two guys taste test energy gels.
It is crazy just how subjective the taste is for these. I actually prefer the Maurten gels because they are not like an overly sweet syrup. And I much prefer their gelatin texture as it doesn't leak and run everywhere if you tear the package. That said, the price is obscene for all of these products. I routinely use Trolli brand SourBrite Crawlers as training and race fuel.
I would love to see another video with more options! Honey Stinger, GU and more
Gu are not that good when you're in intensive training or racing, the texture is hard to swallow
Imo Gu is the worst to consume, like trying to swallow toothpaste.
Kendal Mint Gels should be on this list. Not huge amounts of carb but the mint flavour really does help not just to cleanse your palette but a bit of a mental boost too I find
Kendal Mint gels are garbage, they use artificial sweeteners in them, taste ok but full of Sucralose, no sports gels should contain artificial sweeteners, SIS also use Acesulfame K and should be avoided. Torq have the best and most natural ingredients.
SIS Beta and Amacx are my go-to gels currently. Have used them for many events, with Tailwind in my bottles for carbs and electrolytes.
Golden syrup. 50:50 glucose: fructose and £1.30 for 750g
Taken straight from a squeezy bottle or mixed with water or similar?
@wandering_pete for my last marathon I put 250g in a 250ml soft flask from decathlon and topped it up with water
@ Thanks.
Surprised there wasn't a Precision gel in the mix! I enjoy their original "neutral" flavour, and the opening is the best I've tried! No idea how well they're doing on the science, though... I agree with the Torq flavours being some of the best, on some long rides I make sure to have a couple of their lemon drizzle to have as "pudding". 😛
Glorious, two men on a sugar high! Rating increased with the blood sugar level ... no bias intended 🙂
i love episodes with Will
Two guys one saucer.
Opening during a race should be top priority by these companies. Mainly for racing.
Agree this should be a priority for racing. Because if you are not racing, there are cheaper sources of carbs eg. Haribo
You need to try Nduranz gels. My favorite so far! And so cheap also! 45g of carbs only 1€
Nduranz are the best around 2 euros, 45g of carbs, 0.73 g of salt, 1:0.8 ratio, tasty good openage
Interesting video! Powerbar Hydrogel (Cherry) with caffeine is my favourite. Used them in a 100 miler road race. Had no issues consuming after 5 hours.
and one can open without loosing part of packaging
@norberts482 yes, the opening is a 10/10 with no litter 😄
I like Maurten.
The SIS apple is pretty good, their Beta series is pretty good as well.
Really good report.
I understand this was supposed to be hard hitting research journalism, but end result was comedy gold.
Great video, laugh out loud funny at times but still informative. Can you do one on hydration tablets / drink mixes?
I have a mini pair of scissors in my tool kit and always give my snacks a little snip for easy opening!
You should include jelly babys, they are my go to engery source with a few dates
💯 My energy intake for my last 100 mile ride started with soft muesli bars, with jelly babies for the last hour…
I agree on jelly babies. Also, 5g of carb per jelly belly makes it easy to count if you wish! 😀
@@Amused-Yak Jelly Babies ftw.
I feel validated. Harribo in the top tube bag pre opened. 👌
Precision Hydration for the win. Tried a fair few others, but they’re the best. Worked for me on numerous rides and 3 marathons.
I support the other comments about littering, the top not detaching is an advantage, but you do need to be able to get the gel out after. Great video, my go to is percy pigs, high5 for cheap gels, and salt stick tablets for electrolytes. I jave used some weird guava blocks wrapped in a leaf but cant remember the name!
This was hilarious and useful! I watched the whole thing at regular speed.
For your next video: Stinger (honey,) Hydrate (Cane Sugar, not sugar free, Raspberry Lemonade has caffeine,) Maple Syrup packets, Honey, Maple "leaf" Candy, Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies, Nature Valley Granola bars (popular,) PayDay peanut bar, Pistachios, and my favorite on a ride: Nature's Bakery Fig Bars. My wife likes Gatorade Gummies. I used to use Powerbar Powergels too.
For the opening part you need to remember that most of these gels are developed with running in mind so hands are used for the opening.
I still remember when I ate my first Maurten gel. I was exhausted and it tasted like a very sweet candy. So good! Also the texture was lovely. Very palatable, Nowadays I have a pack of vegan candies from Lidl. I have an opened bag in my pocket. Less expensive and super easy to eat. No point of going back to gels anymore unless there is a race etc. I highly recommend using soft candies.
Agreed, it's crazy to spend this much on naff tasting high waste carbs when you can get most of the benefits from a packet of gelatine free sweets and some electolytes in the bottles.
Can you describe the packaging? Id like to find them in lidl.
Haribo! ❤
Only issue is that it will ruin your teeth.
@@sarahtoustra7127 Not if you swallow them - go for smaller ones like the Starmix or Goldbears, followed by a chaser of water.
For long events I use a silicone flask where i can fit usually 3 gels. This way I can consume what i need without the faf of having to open the sachets, eating them all and properly disposing it after. SiS and GU are my favorites.
I rate the torq gels highly, lots of flavours and easy on stomach.
I stay away from SIS.. always need a $hite after.
I’d buy a cade media gel btw. Make em!
Nduranz gel is not sold in the UK?
opening without loosing the end: powerbar … it will definitely keep the package in one peace 10 of 10
I'm by no means a racer or performance athlete but I go on decent rides multiple times a week. Usually I just take some candy with me in a little reusable bag. I prefer black licorice but they can get really sticky in hot weather so sometimes I opt for some sugar coated fruity stuff instead. Dried fruit is also nice every now and then, (de-pitted) dates, apricots, prunes, figs and just a regular banana. I then add some lime juice, salt and sugar or honey to my water bottles. It's cheaper (especially cause you can buy most of these in bulk), a lot less wasteful and it doesn't ruin my digestive system.
Huma chia based gels, the best hands down, 10/10 no notes. The end.
So funny how some people in the comments love Maurten - personally they are the devil's goo for me. I cannot stand the consistency or taste at ALL and much prefer the easy to consume SIS. Interesting video and comparison!
The sugar rush exhibited in this video was hilarious 🤣 good info though 👍
you missed the opportunity to test cheap decathlon gels, but very very interesting. This really got me into the ideal of making my own gel
For an all day gravel ride, a big old bag of Aldi snakes in the lunchbox, half a kilo aud $2.29. 10.9 grams of carb per snake, 8 snakes an hour. Bargain. Plus they taste just fine and have a little sodium as well.
I use pure Maple Syrup in reusable flasks, it has a 1:1 ratio, tastes good and I can get a 500ml can for the price of 2 gels here in Quebec
Chargels! They are the non caffeine version of the gels they sell at convenience stores in Japan. Imported directly by Morinagas American subsidiary.
I'm Dutch and I still know what you mean by "bitty" 😂🍼
SIS varies greatly by flavor. Pineapple is amazing. Berry is -2 of 10. And they do sell a version with electrolytes for sweaty days.
Didn’t Will just sort of describe what Torq do. They use a unit system with 1 unit being 30g carbs. So a gel is 1 unit, a bar is 1 unit, 500ml mixed drink powder is 1 unit etc etc.
precisely, and they also have (some) electrolytes. Im more a runner than a cyclist but I find the torq range very useful for runs, especially when im attempting to carry like 9 gels over a marathon... the last thing i want is to also carry sodium tablets and other stuff.
Surprised that the Decathlon gels were not included! :)
I found the Decathlon brand ones were quite good - not too sickly (re: High5) or dull (SIS). Also, they are small and easier to open and they have a small extra piece on the packet that stops the end falling off into your mouth (and then your spit it out) or making litter.
From a cost/carry quantity, can't beat a carb drink if you don't need a 2nd bottle with water. The mixture can be adjusted as well, based on your needs, as opposed to gels. Maybe worth investing in a BIG water bottle and keep the 2nd bottle for carb mix.
Cliff gels are a fav
Ive used the SIS Beta Gels with great success, i also opt for the one with additional 200mg of Caffiene for closer to the end of races for that additional kick.
Hi 5..before and during were highlighted
Unacceptable hate on high 5. They taste like juice they’re so good
Cheap and good.. I actually use High5 Powder.. 2 scoops 46g of carbs. Take 3 bottles and your good for 5 hrs with some spare gels and a stop!
What I got from the video they said it’s the best price/performance for an average rider/non racer 🤔
@@izi941 Yep, but on amazon S&S i can buy High5 energy powder, 2 scoops = 46g of carbs at 1:1.5 mixture ration AND comes with electrolytes for $13.. its 2.2kg of powder.. i tried making my own matlo+fructose 1:1 but it actually comes more expensive and not worth it, and Sugar, well sugar is just fine but sicknening after 3 hrs.. i usually use 900ml bottles (x2) for 3hrs + and 500ml pouch in the back, can easily get 120g in each bottle and take an extra few gels and or a bar.. does fine. If i raced, i still wouldnt spent that much on these.. all the people who use / advertise them get them for free from the company and are influencers, cannot see many people paying and using most of these things themselves.
Despite using SiS for like 10 years I started using maurten last year and it is so much kinder on my stomach. Interestingly ineos have made the same switch this year.
Couldn’t agree more I’m all about the SIS betas. I wasted too many Mortan gels trying to rip them open lol
As a Swede i would've loved to see Umara in this test! They're supposed to be great and in my pretty limited experience they are.
It’s a real shame you missed Precision Hydration from this test, it’s the best gel I’ve found and they do a 90g version with a screw top which is great for 3hr rides, as you can tune your carb intake in conjunction with your bottles.
Does anyone only use gels? Surely for longer rides you're better to run two bottles, one with carbs, the other with electrolytes. Then top up with bars and gels if needed. Or run a dual carb/electrolyte mix such as Precision Hydration Carb & Electrolyte Drink Mix. Then you're also taking on fluids. With a can of full fat Coke for the last 10km...
While getting dragged around home bargains I noticed scifit isotonic gels, so I grabbed a few of each to try, blue raspberry and wild berry, 23g of carbs in each
You should try decathlon ones, VERY cheap and also great in quality, defo worth the price
Maximuscle used to make one called Viper and it was amazing gave a good kick or energy without caffeine. They then changed the formula to be athletic compliance and it was never the same. I’d love to know what was in it
SiS isotonic is a rippoff - they just sell you a lot of water. I calculated that for Mallorca 312, I'd need to spend €1000 to fuel my ride.
€7-8 for a kilo of maltodextrin and fructose mix, plus a pinch of citric acid and salt. It works out at €0.32 per 40g carbs
Good to know my cheap caffeine gels don’t taste awful because they are cheap. Top tip, get a litre bottle to fill with coke
ed bull - the big size lets you shake out the fizz without it exploding
I hope you plan to do an Ironman right after eating all those gels!
Does Kendal mint cake come as a gel?
SIS Isotonic FTW for me as the flavor is very light. I can't stand gels that taste like I just licked the frosting off a wedding cake. As for any kind of gummies, like Haribos, I avoid them like the plague as they stick to one's teeth which can be a dental issue.
Loved this show, can you do the same with the tablets you put in your water bottles please.
would also liked to have the stuff from mnstry tested, they are getting quite popular right now. Anyway, great video, more videos with Will!
So glad you did haribo.
I got two mega packs of seasonally themed Haribo in a post Christmas sale for 0.99 each.
Should last me all season 😊
Beta Fuel, my go-to gel.
I use to grab a handful on KFC imitation honey sauce every time I ate there. The price was free. I'm guessing it was straight high fructose, so good enough at the price.
PS for bikepacking I mix honey & peanut butter 1/2 & 1/2 in a PB jar that fits in a water bottle cage. Just stick ur finger in for glob, then lick it off ur finger.
Try SIS double shot expresso... Love it
Should have tried Sponser ones. At least the packaging is very unique and I think 10/10 for opening. What I find good is that you can even close it (tooth paste like system)
I once nearly threw up in a race when I took a maurten gel without trying it before and got that chewy texture in my mouth instead of the expected honey-like usual gel consistency.
Any take on Precision Fuel gels? 🤔
SIS keeps on opening or leaking if I put in my bag. I hate having a sticky mess on my fingers and handlebars
Does the UK have a very particular gel market? Not many of these are common/available in Germany and also there were a few big players from the world tour missing.
Last year i came across a drink mix called Formula 369. Im interested to hear what you would think if this. Especially since it is a carb drink mix and while it is unflavored, it is very sweet. But i did find that i didnt have to have gels while on my rides.
How about energy blocks/chews next? Skratch v. SIS v. Clif v. Percy Pigs!
What’s happened to the podcast? I neeeeeed ittttttt (thx 😘)
Will Needs to develop his own gel!
I love the texture and simple taste of the Maurten gels, but I'd rather have a nice latte for my $5. I personally mostly run carbs in my bottle or the DIY sugar flask (Check out Jesse Coyle for recipe), supplemented by fig cookies and Haribo for my long rides. I like how you judged these! I don't think I've seen any of the Cade folks try the sugar-flask/diy-mega-gel, I'd be interested to see what you think. (Try making it with cranberry juice, it cuts the sweetness nicely!)
Good Idea to find the best gels, even if its not fully scientific. You should do a series out of it and test more gels. Try MNSTRY Mango gel, its gonna be the first 10/10! Im shure they send you a sample ;)
Why not take into account the price? These things aren't cheap - hence the high5 gels are rather a popular buy...
High5 gels are one of the best I've had.
Hi guys. great vid. love the channel as always. Completely unrelated to nutrition... but... I feel like you've probably tested more Ali Express groupsets than most people... do you have a favourite brand? I'm doing a budget build hill climb bike based on an old Orbea Onix found on Marletplace. cheers. James.