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GU Energy Gel

rated 4.0 of 5 stars
photo: GU Energy Gel gel/chew

I have tried all the flavors of the GU energy gel. The one that tastes the best to me are the strawberry banana and the peanut butter. The chocolate is way too filling and the mocha (caffeine in the ingredients) make me feel way too thirsty during the run.

Pros

  • Great size
  • Easy to open while running
  • Great for a boost before and during a running event

Cons

  • Takes a little getting used to the tastes
  • Caffeinated packs cause a little more dehydration than usual

Just this year running has become a very successful hobby of mine. While training for my fist half marathon I used GU. The first flavor I used was strawberry banana. The texture was comparable to syrup. The next few flavors I tried were the caramel, mocha (with caffeine), vanilla and chocolate.

Although I tried the other flavors available strawberry banana seamed to taste the best. Vanilla would be my least favorite. Chocolate filled me up too much and mocha caused me to be a little more dehydrated as usual while running.

Immediately I felt the boost they provide as I took them while training. I felt like I was running harder and longer than usual which was amazing training. During the half I used one at the very beginning and one at the nine mile marker. The crash is not really noticeable for me.

This is the only product I have used as a pre and during cardio activities. I really have nothing to compare to it because they do extremely great for me. These packs are light and easy to open during the run. 

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $1.25 each pack

Original Review: January 8, 2013 rated 2.5 of 5 stars

Energy gel of last resort. Tastes like a mouth full of frosting.

Pros

  • no sugar high crash

Cons

  • taste
  • texture

Gu seems to be the best know brand of energy gels so they show up often at races. I've used these during races and have been given packages of them for training and have never had a problem with the formulation. They don't make me sick even on extended runs and they don't seem to cause a sugar high and crash.

What I really hate is the taste and texture, like a mouth full of cheap canned frosting.  In the cold it can be even thicker. I find myself putting off having a gel just because it isn't a pleasant taste.

Update: January 8, 2013 rated 4 of 5 stars

Best tasting gel that Gu offers. Not saying it is the best tasting gel, just it is their best tasting gel.

Pros

  • Taste
  • Effective

Cons

  • Cost

In my neverending quest for a food to eat while trail running I tried these. Unlike GU's regular gels theses are neither as sickeningly sweet nor as pasty thick, these are fine as far as gels go.

As far as the nutrition, I don't know if branch amino acids, vitamins and anti-oxidants help or are just marketing mumbo jumbo. These gels did not cause a sugar high/crash and they seemed to provide even energy for an hour or so.

These gels work as well as anything else on the market and their only drawback is that packet for packet these are twice as expensive as most other gels.  

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $35

Original Review: January 8, 2013 rated 2.5 of 5 stars

Energy gel of last resort. Tastes like a mouth full of frosting.

Pros

  • no sugar high crash

Cons

  • taste
  • texture

Gu seems to be the best know brand of energy gels so they show up often at races. I've used these during races and have been given packages of them for training and have never had a problem with the formulation. They don't make me sick even on extended runs and they don't seem to cause a sugar high and crash.

What I really hate is the taste and texture, like a mouth full of cheap canned frosting.  In the cold it can be even thicker. I find myself putting off having a gel just because it isn't a pleasant taste.

Update: January 8, 2013 rated 4 of 5 stars

Best tasting gel that Gu offers. Not saying it is the best tasting gel, just it is their best tasting gel.

Pros

  • Taste
  • Effective

Cons

  • Cost

In my neverending quest for a food to eat while trail running I tried these. Unlike GU's regular gels theses are neither as sickeningly sweet nor as pasty thick, these are fine as far as gels go.

As far as the nutrition, I don't know if branch amino acids, vitamins and anti-oxidants help or are just marketing mumbo jumbo. These gels did not cause a sugar high/crash and they seemed to provide even energy for an hour or so.

These gels work as well as anything else on the market and their only drawback is that packet for packet these are twice as expensive as most other gels.  

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $35

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Specs

Price Current Retail: $1.40-$38.40
Historic Range: $0.73-$38.40
Reviewers Paid: $1.25-$35.00
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