Perhaps I oversold it with the title and graphic. When you’ve learn earlier critiques, you need to know that I don’t imagine there are scrumptious power gels, solely palatable ones that do the job.
Vanilla Bean and Peanut Butter power gels by GU Power Labs and Hammer Vitamin are a step above being simply “palatable.” I nonetheless wouldn’t wish to eat them daily, however for races just a few instances a yr? They ain’t dangerous.
The 2 OGs are main gamers in sports activities diet for a purpose. Their power gels merely work and are reasonably priced in contrast with some newcomers.
For this evaluation, I’ll focus much less on efficiency and extra on their flavors and elements.
(I imply, what’s there actually to say about efficiency? Tens of hundreds of endurance athletes, together with high professionals, are utilizing their merchandise. That’s proof sufficient.)
GU Vanilla Bean Power Gels
I first tried Vanilla Bean on the Tarawera Ultramarathon 100km in 2017 (nice race, extremely suggest). The occasion had it at an assist station round 80km. Free gels? Hells yeah! I grabbed a pair for the ultimate stretch and was pleasantly shocked by the respectable style. This power gel has been a part of my fueling technique ever since.
Elements and dietary information
GU Vanilla Bean offers 100 energy and 22g of carbohydrates per packet, simply what the physique wants. The power gel additionally consists of further goodies corresponding to 450 mg of branded chain amino acids (BCAA) , 60 mg of sodium, 20 mg of caffeine, and electrolytes potassium and calcium. It’s a well-balanced possibility.
The vast majority of the carbohydrates come from maltodextrin and fructose.
In contrast with different sugars, maltodextrin requires much less water to digest, and it’s a great way to get fast energy with out turning into dehydrated. We additionally clarify why fructose is utilized in power gels right here.
Style and consistency
The consistency of Vanilla Bean is the usual GU affair, leaning to the thicker facet of the spectrum. The ingredient record simply states “pure taste,” so I’m unsure the place the vanilla taste is extracted from. When you’re a fan of vanilla ice-cream or vanilla milkshake, it’s a syrupy model of that sort of style.
Clearly, I nonetheless wouldn’t wish to eat Vanilla Bean day by day, however the style isn’t dangerous as race gas.
Packaging
GU is likely one of the first to package deal power gels in this kind of broad on the backside and slim on the high design. It’s a format that endurance athletes are very used to by now. It’s simple to tear open with two arms or rip open with one hand and your enamel. All the pieces works correctly.
Hammer Peanut Butter Power Gel
The primary power gel I had ever bought was from Hammer. The model provides a big selection of flavors, not fairly as many as GU, however with 12 totally different choices, there are loads to select from. The corporate has probably the most various product portfolios, starting from drink mixes, bars, and day by day dietary supplements to clothes, books, and even CBD balms.
Elements and dietary information
Hammer Peanut Butter offers 100 energy and 20g of carbohydrates per sachet. The gel can also be maltodextrin-based. It comprises rice dextrin and dextrose, however the two elements are used for flavoring and preservatives, respectively, contributing minimally to the general carbohydrate content material.
Hammer performs up its BCAA elements, which assist with stopping muscle tissue breakdown and fatigue throughout train.
- Maltodextrin
- Water
- Tapioca syrup
- Power Sensible (grape juice, rice dextrin)
- Pure peanut butter (dry roasted peanuts)
- Cultured dextrose
- Salt
- Ascorbic acid
- L-Leucine
- L-Alanine
- L-Valine
- Potassium carbonate
- L-Isoleucine
Style and consistency
I’m a giant peanut butter man. A kind of maniacs that eat peanut butter straight out of the jar with a spoon, so this taste is true in my wheelhouse.
The power gel has pure dry roasted peanut butter, which contributes to the nice taste. I typically unfold the gel over toast for a carbohydrate-dense pre-workout meal. Concerning the feel, it’s a thick syrup, the identical as different Hammer power gels. No surprises.
Packaging
Hammer and GU implement comparable packaging designs, so I don’t have a lot so as to add right here. Nevertheless, Hammer offers power gels in a jug as properly. When you’re extra environmentally aware, you’ll be able to pour power gels into your flasks and bottles straight from the jug and make power drinks as a substitute.
This works properly for exercises and longer races the place you’d carry your individual water. It additionally permits extra exact personalization as you’ll be able to decide if you happen to want a kind of concentrated gas.
Nevertheless, packets are nonetheless the higher possibility for non-elite marathoners and half-marathoners who received’t have the luxurious of their very own water bottles positioned all through the course.
Conclusion
- In case you are a fan of vanilla milkshakes and peanut butter, I believe you will discover these two power gels very acceptable.
- Hammer and GU have been within the power gas enterprise for many years, so their merchandise, by way of effectiveness and packaging, merely work.
- Whereas they use synthetic elements and preservatives, I don’t eat power gels day by day or for his or her well being advantages. For racing functions, I received’t fret over it.
- In case your abdomen agrees extra with pure elements, listed below are our picks for the very best all-natural power gels.
