Gels and Chews

Recent Gel/Chew Reviews

Run Gum Energy Gum

A quick and easy way to get an energy boost. Lightweight and easy to consume. I don't usually consume caffeine other than a morning cup of green tea as I am pretty caffeine sensitive. So I was a little hesitant to test Run Gum Energy chews. Providing 50 mg of caffeine, 20 mg of Taurine, and vitamins B6 and B12, one Run Gum chew is fairly equal to a can of Red Bull. This made me a little wary of how my body might react but I figured I would give it a try during my three-days-a-week mountain bike… Full review

Huma Chia Energy Gel

Awesome nutritional, energy, and hydration supplements. I mainly mountain bike due to crushed nerves in my leg. However, I do receive an occasional injection to sedate the nerve. It only last a few days for me. That said, I have tried all the other energy products that were available. My bike shop owner knows I’m diabetic and how other gels, chews, waffles etc either tear up my stomachs (at the worst possible timing) or shoot my sugar out the roof. He said he found this new product at sea otter… Full review

EnergyBits and RecoveryBits

EnergyBits and RecoveryBits use algae as their main ingredient, an energy dense food source. A good substitute for the standard protein bar. I often am offered the chance to try new and unusual products, EnergyBits and RecoveryBits definitely fit into this category. Both products are made from 100% algae. The Energy Bits one ingredient is spirulina algae and the Recovery Bits are comprised of chlorella algae. While this may seem an odd choice for consumption, algae is one of the most energy dense… Full review

Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews

This is my go-to energy snack while hiking! I'm addicted! I always have a few bags in my hip belt pockets. Grapefruit is my favorite flavor. They are easy to open, easy to eat while hiking, and so delicious. This is what I ALWAYS bring on every hiking trip for snacks and energy. I chose to review these awesome energy chews because I eat them all the time while hiking. They are my favorite grab-and-go snack. There are several flavors to choose from. They are a bit pricey but worth it to me. I found… Full review

UnTapped Maple Packets

Untapped All Natural Athletic Fuel (which I will call "UnTapped" for the remainder of this review) might be one of the simplest energy supplements out there. It is a small foil pouch of pure maple syrup. That means 26 grams of carbs in one small, easy-to-consume shot. If you like the taste of maple syrup and can handle the super-sweet taste, they are a worthy addition to your arsenal. INTRODUCTION UnTapped is an elegantly simple energy supplement  — it is a one-ounce foil packet of pure, organic,… Full review

Clif Shot Bloks

A fruit-flavored organic energy chew with great flavor and no filling feeling. However, I found I need to consume a whole pack (six chews) in order to feel any energy increases. Taste:There are some creature comforts that we deprive ourselves of while out on the trail. Because of my sweet tooth, I always crave sweet treats while on the trail, but some of my favorites—cookies, candies, and baked goods—don’t lend themselves well to being stuffed in a pack. When I set out to find a snack that… Full review

ProBar Bolt Energy Chews

Natural tasting chews filled with B vitamins and electrolytes, which are quite filling compared to other chews. I'd recommend these energy chews for trail runs, training days, or workouts, but there are better options for long trips in the backcountry. I enjoy trail running and have been trying several different trail snacks over the years. Most times I make my own, but decided to get a box of the ProBar Bolt Organic Energy Chews. There are four different flavors (as of July 2015) and like other… Full review

Clif Organic Energy Food

I was provided with four flavors of CLIF organic energy food: pizza margherita, banana mango with coconut, banana beet with ginger, and sweet potato with sea salt. All four were reasonably tasty, with some specific preferences outlined below. I felt the fruit-based ones were better for on-the-go energy, whereas the others were more filling and felt more like a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack than high-carb energy. The packaging makes these easy to carry, eat, and re-seal. BASIC DETAILS Each packet… Full review

GU Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gel

Although I'm not an energy gel enthusiast, these gels did a fine job at giving me a little boost when needed. The flavors were pleasing and the texture was thick, but very easy to manage. I've tried two different flavors during two different pursuits. The first being a 5.5 mile city run in hot weather (and I haven't run in a looong time), the second being a 5 mile hike on muddy hilly terrain.  The energy gels were given to me by a GU representative at an urban 5.5-mile race that my brother-in-law… Full review