Tested: GU Energy Gel

While I always thought $1 for a tiny gel packet was a rip-off, GU energy gel was one thing I couldn’t live without during a mountain bike race. Real food was too much of a hassle, and PowerBars just took too long to chew while navigating teeth rattling singletrack!

Every mountain bike race I did, it was a sure bet that I had at least one GU in my pocket or tucked under my shorts!

Why choose GU?

I first chose GU due to the neat name, but it turned out to be a perfect choice. First, GU comes in many flavors. You’ve got chocolate and coffee, fruity flavors, and even a “plain” flavor for those with sensitive tastebuds – surely one tastes good to you.

Just as important, the flavors actually taste good! I really like GU gels and could eat them all the time!

Next, the packets are easy to carry, easy to open, and easy to squeeze. You just tear the small tab off the top and you’re all set. There is no excess bulk to the package like with the Hammer and Clif Shot gels.

Best of all, GU gel gives me good energy boost. While all energy gels are basically the same thing (100 calories of quick energy from sugar,) there is something about GU that just makes me feel better. After having a GU, I always seem to get this uplifting feeling where I actually feel the energy returning to my body.

Other energy gels may provide me with calories, but none of them give me that energizing feeling I get with GU.

Science, Ingredients, and Nutrition

The GU website has a complete description of how GU works. I’ll summarize here.

You first get a shot of natural fructose, which will quickly build up your energy levels. That gives the maltodextrin time to be absorbed and broken down, maintaining your glucose levels for extended energy. The electrolytes and calcium keep you hydrated and make sure your blood and muscles are functioning optimally.

Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, valine and isoleucine, serve as another fuel source, aid in recovery, and can improve mental performance and reduce fatigue. Antioxidant vitamins C & E defend muscles from assault by free radicals, while chamomile works as an anti-inflammatory. Ginger soothes the stomach, a nice bonus if the race includes gut-wrenching climbs!

Whatever the exact formula is, GU did a good job with it!

Vanilla bean ingredients:

MALTODEXTRIN (GLUCOSE POLYMERS), FILTERED WATER, FRUCTOSE, GU AMINO ACID BLEND (LEUCINE, VALINE, ISOLEUCINE, HISTIDINE), POTASSIUM AND SODIUM CITRATE, GU ANTIOXIDANT BLEND (NATURAL VITAMIN E AND VITAMIN C), SEA SALT, NATURAL VANILLA, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUM CARBONATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, GU HERBAL BLEND [CHAMOMILE, COLA NUT (HAS CAFFEINE), GINGER], FUMARIC ACID, PECTIN

Nutrition Facts:

100 calories
55mg sodium
40mg potassium
25g carbs
3g sugar

But while you won’t get fat and protein in a GU gel, you get more than just sugar. You’ve got the antioxidants, amino acids, ginger, etc.

GU Gel Taste Test

Here are my thoughts on the eight different flavors of GU gel:

Vanilla Bean

A sweet vanilla flavor. It’s not quite a true vanilla bean flavor, but it’s not the same as imitation vanilla. Basically it’s sweet and tastes a bit like vanilla once you swallow it. I’d say it’s the sweetest GU flavor.

Tri-Berry

Tastes mostly like red raspberry. It’s pretty sweet, too. There is a hint of strawberry in there, especially in the aftertaste, and I think that sweetens up the raspberry. I’m not sure on the third berry; probably blackberry.

It’s a good berry flavor. It used to be my favorite GU, but has since been replaced by the recently added Strawberry Banana flavor.

Chocolate Outrage

This gel is thick and chocolaty. It contains actual unsweetened Belgian chocolate. While it’s not as delicious as a chocolate bar from Belgium, and doesn’t have that melty texture like a piece of Dove chocolate, it’s like a moderately good piece of dark, bittersweet chocolate.

It’s great on a cold day when it thickens up like a chocolate milkshake. It’s messy in the summer though, so watch out.

Espresso Love

Espresso is possibly my new favorite flavor! It really does taste like espresso. The flavor comes from “natural coffee flavor” rather than actual coffee, but it pulls off a great taste regardless. If you like espresso, you will love this gel!

Just Plain

This is basically a weaker version of Vanilla Bean. It’s not flavorless like water, but it’s definitely not strong and overpowering. So while this is definitely not “plain,” it’s probably the least potent flavor of gel available.

Lemon Sublime

An interesting lemon lime flavor. Each time I have one, it reminds me of something else. I just can’t compare it to anything else. It’s not too sweet, not too sour, nor too weird. I would rate it “pretty good.”

If you like lemon lime products though, you’ll probably enjoy this one.

Orange Burst

Not a realistic orange, but not totally artificial or too sugary. It reminds me of orange Gatorade. The taste is alright but nothing that blows me away.

Strawberry Banana

I always liked banana (my second favorite flavor,) so I was disappointed to see GU replace it with Strawberry Banana. But once I tried this, I was excited!

The Strawberry Banana is awesome. It is very sweet and delicious. It tastes mostly like banana but with some sweet strawberry flavor in there as well.

So Strawberry Banana actually beats out Tri-Berry and Espresso Love as my favorite flavor!

My final verdict is…

GU is my favorite gel. It tastes great, contains good ingredients, comes in good packaging, and provides the best energy boost I’ve had from a gel. All around, a perfect gel.

If you need a gel for your endurance sports adventures, GU is my recommendation.

Official website: www.GuEnergy.com

Buy online: www.REI.com | www.PerformanceBike.com