What Are Your Favorite Energy Gel Flavors?

Bryon Powell of iRunFar shares his favorite energy gels and asks which are your favorites.

By on March 26, 2010 | Comments

Yesterday, I was organizing the iRunFar offices while also helping my girlfriend pack for the Marathon des Sables stage race. That combo led to my pondering, “What gels would I take for an unending stage race?” Fortunately, I had all my energy gels laid out on my desk. I’ll let you know what I’d bring, as I think it’s representative of my favorite gels. What are your favorite energy gels when you fit the trails?

My Fin du Monde Stage Race Gels

  • Clif Shot: Double Espresso – A great, earthy taste and 100 mg of caffeine (about as much as a cup of coffee) make this my wake up gel whether it’s breakfast time or late at night.
  • Gu Energy Gel: Jet Blackberry – I received some sample Mountain Berry Gus. They’ve disappeared quickly. I’ll be sure to throw at least one in the pack for every long adventure until they run out!
  • chocolate agave number 9Chocolate Agave #9 – This low glycemic index (46) gel gel has fewer calories (70) than most gels. An enjoyable, complex chocolate taste from just two ingredients – organic agave and breakfast cocoa. Note the lack of added salt. Unlike other gels, this is not a significant source of electrolytes. Adjust accordingly.
  • Gu Energy Gel: Vanilla Gingerbread – I’m pretty sure Gu originally named this flavor “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Gingerbread”… or at least they should have! The best thing about this gingerbread is that it’s not going to go stale in a week. Just thinking about this gel makes me want to eat on. I just may. They’re that good.
  • Gu Energy Gel: Just Plain – Plain. Good and simple. Plain Gu is the gel I eat when I don’t feel like eating a gel or, often enough, when I want a Plain Gu.

Of course, this being the selection for an unending stage race, I’d include primarily “energy dense” gels. Good thing I created an energy gel comparison chart last year that looked at energy density. (iRunFar Energy Gel Comparison article)

Comments?
That’s it from me. Let us know what your favorite energy gels are and why!

Bryon Powell

Bryon Powell is the Founding Editor of iRunFar. He’s been writing about trail running, ultrarunning, and running gear for more than 15 years. Aside from iRunFar, he’s authored the books Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and Where the Road Ends: A Guide to Trail Running, been a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, written for publications including Outside, Sierra, and Running Times, and coached ultrarunners of all abilities. Based in Silverton, Colorado, Bryon is an avid trail runner and ultrarunner who competes in events from the Hardrock 100 Mile just out his front door to races long and short around the world, that is, when he’s not fly fishing or tending to his garden.